Tech’s defense is a trainwreck, and that’s on Johnson

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When things go wrong at Georgia Tech, there is a tendency by many to overanalyze the things that really don’t matter.

For example, the people who never really liked Paul Johnson or the option offense he brought with him to The Flats will pounce on his facial expressions, his shoot-from-the-lip attitude or his offensive philosophy rather than what really has been this program’s undoing: They can’t cover, they can’t tackle and they don’t punch anybody in the mouth on defense.

Tech gives away as many scholarships to players on defense as they do on offense. But clearly there’s a talent discrepancy. They employ as many coaches on defense as they do on offense. But guess who looks more stressed in day-after film sessions?

“Nobody beats a block, nobody tackles anybody, nobody covers anybody,” Johnson said. “That about covers it.”

Here’s the problem: It’s all on him.

Because even if offense is his forte, these are his players, his coaches and his program.

What happened Saturday was inexcusable. Again.

North Carolina rolled for six touchdowns, 48 points and 636 yards. The past six ACC opponents have consumed yardage the way Labradors consume a dropped platter of meatballs: 320, 442, 355, 407, 559, 623.

The Yellow Jackets, who trailed heavily favored North Carolina only 20-17 for 42 glorious seconds in the second quarter, saw the Tar Heels go on a 28-3 run the rest of the game. They lost 48-20.

That makes seven consecutive true road losses (excluding neutral-site games). The last game of the season is against Georgia in Athens, the site of Tech’s last win in an opponent’s stadium in 2014. Tech plays at Virginia Tech next week, but if it loses by four touchdowns in Chapel Hill, what’s going to happen in Blacksburg?

The lost dropped Tech to 5-4, including 2-4 in the ACC. Those who remain confident of bowl eligibility are hitching those hopes on a home game against Virginia in two weeks. Because there’s always a Virginia.

“Really disappointed with the way we played,” Johnson said. “Didn’t do a very good job as coaches evidently getting them ready to play. We played about as poorly as you can play on defense, and we weren’t much better on offense or special teams.”

That’s the thing about 28-point losses. There’s plenty of blame to go around.

But this was expected to be a better season than a year ago (3-9, 1-7). It really hasn’t been by that much. Tech’s two ACC wins came over Boston College and Duke, who have a combined conference record of 1-10. The past four conference opponents have scored an average of 38.7 points.

Tech barely hung on for a 38-35 win over Duke last week because of some late-game heroics by quarterback Justin Thomas. Thomas suffered an “upper-body injury” (which appeared to be in the jaw area) in the third quarter.

He left the game and didn’t return. Lucky him.

But this was on the defense more than the offense, even with red-zone failures. If defensive coordinator Ted Roof has skid marks on his face this morning, it’s no wonder. But Johnson hired him and recruits the players and sets the tone.

“I guess I’m ultimately responsible for all of it,” he said.

“There’s a ton of mis-tackles and a ton of missed whatever. Not getting much of a pass rush and not being able to cover is a deadly combination.”

Is there a defensive philosophy?

“Yeah, I’m sure we’re trying to get a stop,” he said.

OK. Good plan.

The Tar Heels had 250 yards of offense in the first quarter. Here’s the good news: They did not maintain that pace.

Throwing out end-of-half drives, North Carolina scored on eight of nine possessions: six touchdowns, two field goals, one punt. It took only 1:45 for them to drive 75 yards for a touchdown on the opening possession. It scored another touchdown on a 36-yard run on fourth-and-1. Tech’s ACC-worst, FBS-worst third-down defense also continued, with the Heels converting eight of 13 situations.

Humiliation, everywhere.

The Jackets battled back to close to 20-17 on a 4-yard touchdown run by Dedrick Mills. Then came this sequence: Cornerback Step Durham bit on a fake toss and there was no backside help on receiver Bug Howard, allowing quarterback Mitch Trubisky to complete an easy pass that turned into a 68-yard touchdown. The Jackets drove back down the field, but botched a red-zone situation, then had a field-goal attempt blocked. So they left the field down 27-17 instead of possibly tied or ahead, and the second half was a grease fire (two fumbles leading the North Carolina touchdowns).

Safety Corey Griffin said the defense’s mistakes are all over the board. Is that concerning nine games into the season?

“Yeah, very,” he said.

“It’s definitely embarrassing. I’m embarrassed. The team’s embarrassed. Coach Johnson’s embarrassed. The whole coaching staff.”

All share the blame. But there’s only one name at the top of the flowchart.

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