Through the first four weeks of the season, the Ramblin’ Wreck of Georgia Tech was more like a ramblin’ wreck. They were 1-3 with their only win coming over Western Carolina, an FCS school. In losses to Clemson, Mississippi, and UCF, they were outscored 110-20. Then came a coaching change that was followed by an upset of 24th-ranked Pitt on the road. They are now a far more dangerous team than they were just a week ago. Here are what I think are five keys to victory for Mike Elko’s Duke football team.
Take care of the ball
Like Virginia’s defense, Georgia Tech’s has been very adept at creating turnovers. So far, the count is six interceptions and they have recovered five of the ten fumbles they’ve created. The Blue Devils have turned it over exactly twice all season-both were interceptions. Take care of the football, don’t kill drives, and don’t give the Yellow Jackets’ offense a short field to work with.
Riley needs to be Riley
Duke’s sophomore quarterback Riley Leonard has been outstanding so far. He’s made good decisions, been a very accurate passer (completed 72% of his throws), and has proven to be a dangerous runner. Last week, he faced a Virginia defense that had a lot of sacks and quarterback hurries to that point, it will be the same this week. Tech’s defense has twelve sacks and fourteen hurries. Leonard handled Virginia’s pressure with his pocket presence, mobility, and knowing just when to take off and run. If he does that again this week, it is going to be a long night for Yellow Jacket defenders.
ALSO READ: Riley Leonard is turning into one of the ACC’s best
Playing an angle
Pitt was able to sack Tech quarterback Jeff Sims four times and were credited with six hurries. They did it in large part by using blitzes from various angles. One time it would be a cornerback, another time it was an outside linebacker, and at other times the blitz came straight up the middle. They harassed Sims into completing just eleven of his twenty-six passes. The Blue Devils have mostly relied on using only their defensive lineman to get a pass rush and it hasn’t worked out all that well. Of the team’s nine sacks, the defensive line has accounted for just six sacks in five games. The Blue Devils need to take a page from Pitt’s gameplan and come at Sims from different angles.
Make him claustrophobic
Sims is a dangerous runner. Don’t get too caught up in his rushing total, because yards lost to sacks are included. He’s a good ball handler who can run the read option and can chew up yardage in a hurry if given an opening. Although he’s been sacked a lot, if he decides to run, he is a problem in the open field. At 6’4” and 219 pounds, he can punish tacklers. The Blue Devils need to keep him contained to tight spaces. Make him feel claustrophobic and don’t give him room to operate.
ALSO READ: What did we learn in the win over Virginia?
Make it another long night
If I noticed anything while watching Georgia Tech’s offense against Pitt, it is how often the Panthers manhandled, confused, or just plain beat right guard Joe Fusile. He was beaten often and badly. Blue Devils’ defensive tackle DeWayne Carter is very capable of making things miserable for him again. If he does so, it is going to have a big impact on disrupting anything Sims wants to do. Target Fusile and create havoc in the Tech backfield.
A win puts the Blue Devils one win away from bowl eligibility with just half the regular season gone. WynnBET lists them as a three-point favorite on the road. Saturday’s game at Bobby Dodd Stadium, just off of I-85 on the Georgia Tech campus, kicks off at 4 p.m.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.