Special teams a mixed bag for Georgia Tech vs. Pitt

Georgia Tech fans help team mascot Buzz into the stands by fans during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Pittsburgh, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jon Barash)

Credit: Jon Barash

Credit: Jon Barash

Georgia Tech fans help team mascot Buzz into the stands by fans during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Pittsburgh, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jon Barash)

Special-teams play has been an area of concern for Georgia Tech since its 42-41 double-overtime loss to Tennessee on Labor Day.

In that game, kicker Shawn Davis missed two field-goal attempts, while kickoffs and kickoff coverage were problematic for the Yellow Jackets.

In Saturday’s 35-17 win over Pittsburgh, a special-teams blunder reared its head again on a punt from freshman Pressley Harvin in the second quarter. Airing out a high kick that landed near the west sideline at the 20-yard line, Tech had a chance to make a tackle and swap field position while leading 14-7. Instead, two Yellow Jackets over-pursued Quadree Henderson and missed their tackles, allowing him to go 80 yards for a touchdown.

“Other than the punt return for a touchdown? I thought we kicked the ball well,” coach Paul Johnson joked when asked about the kicking. “Even the one they returned for a touchdown, the kid kicked the ball all the way between the numbers and the sideline … it was a great punt. We just missed a couple of tackles. And we’ve got to re-evaluate who’s on that team. I thought we covered the kickoffs pretty good.”

Freshman T.D. Roof has been a bright spot on special teams, and he added two more strong tackles Saturday. Davis made all five of his extra points, and though he didn’t manage a touchback on his kickoffs, the best return Henderson managed was 29 yards.