Hope you’ll join us for the live blog for the game tonight. It’s kind of weird being here for a 7:30 start. The last time it happened for a Saturday home game was the Florida State game in 2015, a game that Tech fans remember fondly. (The Yellow Jackets will wear the white on white on white uniforms they wore in that game, also. Which was also homecoming, as is this weekend on campus.)
Things to watch:
1. How does Tech do in the red zone. It has been a point of concern for coach Paul Johnson, who said it was as bad as he can remember (or words to that effect) Tech’s touchdown percentage is 70.8 percent on red-zone trips, which is actually better than last year’s rate (61 percent) and in the ballpark for where the Jackets have been in recent seasons. Perhaps a better number would be touchdown rate inside the 10-yard line.
Tech has two field goals inside the 30-yard line. Last year, Tech had four such field goals, none in 2015 and five in 2014.
2. Does Tech throw the ball more? You can’t argue with how effective the passing game has been, at least statistically speaking. Another thing Johnson said on his radio show was that he wants to throw the ball more, but that pass protection/route running/passing has precluded him from calling more plays, as well as the general effectiveness of the running game. Tech has averaged an 88/12 run/pass ratio, averaging 8.4 passes per game. Johnson said he’d like to see between 15 and 20 passes per game.
3. Can the defense bounce back? After the Jackets gave up 481 yards to Miami and 6.5 yards per play, Tech will try to regain the form it showed against Pitt and North Carolina. Wake Forest is not as dynamic offensively as Miami, but better than North Carolina and Pitt. Worth noting: Wake Forest has lost the ball three times in six games, a very good number.
I’ll be back with updates, observations and injury reports throughout the game. Hope to hear from you.
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