missing the first three games with an undisclosed injury and could | Forum
Mitglied jcy123
Feb 4 '20
ATLANTA -- Ted Roof is looking to solve Georgia Techs abysmal rankings in takeaways and third-down stops. Bryan Bulaga Super Bowl Jersey .Roof, in his fourth season as defensive coordinator, knows those will be keys when the Yellow Jackets play Duke on Saturday.Roof had a record of creating big plays with his aggressive defenses at Minnesota, Auburn and Penn State before his return to Georgia Tech, his alma mater, in 2013.This year has been a struggle. Georgia Techs six takeaways are the fewest in the Atlantic Coast Conference and rank 119th in the nation.Roof, Dukes coach from 2003-07, said his coaching emphasis on creating turnovers is as strong as ever.If I had an answer for you Id give it to you and better yet wed do it, more importantly, Roof said Monday. Weve just got to keep trying. If you just stay after it and stay after it one day it happens and one (turnover) can lead to two and two can lead to three.The Yellow Jackets 126th-ranked third-down defense was a focus of coach Paul Johnsons weekly news conference on Tuesday. Opponents have been successful on almost half of third downs (50 of 101).Weve got to be better on third downs and try to get off the field, Johnson said. Weve beat that horse to death, but thats the bottom line. ... I think if we could be better on third down everything will fall into place and make everything better.Georgia Tech (4-3, 1/3 Atlantic Coast Conference) snapped a streak of three straight losses by beating Georgia Southern 35-24 on Oct. 15. Johnson said the defense made some plays but added that two fourth-quarter touchdowns by the Eagles made the score disappointing.The Yellow Jackets defense played well in allowing only 31 combined points in wins over Boston College, Mercer and Vanderbilt to open the season.Their defense obviously has some special components about it, said Duke center Austin Davis, who added the defense is overshadowed by the constant focus on Georgia Techs spread-option offense with its triple-option plays.Everyone always thinks Georgia Tech triple option, Davis said. ... Georgia Techs defense doesnt get as much credit as they should.More credit would come with attention-grabbing big plays. So far the defense has three interceptions and three fumble recoveries. Defensive tackle Patrick Gamble has three sacks. No other player has more than one.Roof said hes determined to find ways to create more turnovers.It frustrates you because its such a big component of winning and losing, he said. At the same time youve just got to keep working and stay after it.Saturdays visit from Duke (3-4, 0-3) is crucial for Georgia Techs hopes to salvage its season. The Yellow Jackets play road games against two Top 25 teams the next two weeks -- No. 21 North Carolina and No. 25 Virginia Tech.---AP Sports Writer Joedy McCreary in Durham, North Carolina, contributed to this report.---Online:More AP college football: http://collegefootball.ap.orgReggie White Super Bowl Jersey . The Nashville Predators were glad their captain was still on their side. Weber had a goal and two assists, and Roman Josi scored the shootout winner to lift the Predators to a 4-3 win over the Flyers on Thursday night. Dean Lowry Super Bowl Jersey . As he recorded his 23rd and 24th points of the evening, a segment of the sellout Air Canada Centre crowd expressed their appreciation for the Raptors point guard with a smattering of MVP chants. http://www.packersonlineteamstore.com/dexter-williams-jersey.html .Y. - Free agent outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, fresh off winning the World Series with Boston, reached agreement with the rival New York Yankees on a seven-year contract worth about $153 million, a person familiar with the negotiations said Tuesday night. CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- North Carolina improved enough defensively last season to edge Pittsburgh on the way to winning an Atlantic Coast Conference division championship.Roughly a year later, its unclear if the Tar Heels are capable of doing it again.The teams that finished 1-2 atop the Coastal Division meet in their league openers Saturday, with the Tar Heels facing the familiar challenge of trying to hold up physically against the Panthers pounding ground game. But unlike last year -- when the Tar Heels defense went from awful to adequate -- that unit doesnt enter the game with many positives.Theyre coming off a performance coordinator Gene Chizik described as soft.Soft defense is a choice, and thats the choice we made, Chizik said. Weve got to improve this week or this game could get ugly.UNC (2-1) ranks 106th nationally against the run (226.7) and allows 28 points per game. That includes last weekends 56-28 win against James Madison in which the Championship Subdivision team scored touchdowns on its first three drives, while both Chizik and head coach Larry Fedora later noted they didnt remember the Tar Heels making a good defensive play until the second quarter.Pitt (2-1) is ranked 21st nationally in rushing (239 yards per game), with tailback James Conner cracking the 100-yard mark in each of the past two games. Two years ago, Pitt ran for 305 yards at UNC -- Conner had 220 yards and four touchdowns -- but the Tar Heels held Pitt to 153 in last years 26-19 road win while Conner was out recovering from a knee injury and being treated for lymphoma.Pitt has its own defensive concerns after allowing 640 yards in a loss at Oklahoma State.After a loss last week, I think we respond well to adversity, Panthers defensive end Ejuan Price said, and were not thinking so much about redemption but about getting on the track.---Some other things to know about Saturdays Pittsburgh-North Carolina matchup:TRUBISKYS ROLL: UNC quarterback Mitch Trubisky enters with momentum. He completed 24 of 27 passes for a career-high 432 yards last week. That included setting a single-game program record by completing his last 18 passes. He enters this one with a progrram-record 156 throws without an interception. Josh Jackson Super Bowl Jersey. And hes coming off a game when he finally connected on the deep ball.PITTS PASS DEFENSE: The Panthers were especially vulnerable to the pass last week, surrendering 541 yards through the air -- including a national-best 296 yards receiving by James Washington. So how will Pitt handle UNCs attack if Trubisky is connecting with deep threat Mack Hollins or receiver Ryan Switzer? Fundamentally you have to play with good technique, Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said. Thats what we try to play at every position on the field. You better play good technique when youre playing against great wide receivers.PETERMAN PROGRESSING: Narduzzi is quick to defend quarterback Nate Peterman, who passed for a season-high 237 yards against Oklahoma State with a touchdown and an interception while completing less than 50 percent of his passes (14 of 29). Narduzzi said Peterman has played above average the last two weeks, adding: If he continues to do that, we will be fine.DEFENSIVE HEALTH: UNC has been shorthanded on the defensive line, but could be close to full strength. Two-year starter Dajaun Drennon practiced fully this week after missing the first three games with an undisclosed injury and could play, while junior tackle Naz Jones is listed atop the depth chart after missing last week with an apparent concussion.FRIENDLY RIVALS: Conner and Switzer have struck up a friendship over the years, with Switzer even paying tribute to Conner last fall after the 2014 ACC player was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma by writing #ConnerStrong on his cleats before the 2015 ACC title game.That friendship takes a breather as Conner and the Panthers try to snap a three-game series skid. Hes one of my better friends, Conner said of Switzer, but I know he wants to take some kicks back on us.---AP Sports Writer Will Graves in Pittsburgh contributed to this report.---Follow Aaron Beard on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/aaronbeardap and the APs college football site at http://collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '
