Defending Paul Johnson's Triple Option

When GT's offense is most dangerous, the midline is really hitting. The outside veer, rocket sweeps, and other things are devastating, but Tech hits with the force of an ICBM when the midline is humming. Basically, Dwyer will run through A gap, and if the 3T squeezes him, Nesbitt will pull it, and be running vertically and chewing acreage while he is doing it. Check these 2 clips against Miami in 2008.

*In this example the C does a great job cutting the NG, the 3T gets caught in the wash, the MLB gets slammed into by the PSG and the OLB over pursues opening up a huge cutback lane. The thing that is scary is even if the OLB didn't over pursue, he is blocked, so the play is there anyway.


Dwyer's 1st TD (UM v GT 2008)

In this clip, GT runs the play to the weakside, and use the motion man (Jones) to block down on the support player (the free), the DT hammers Dwyer, and there is no one for Nesbitt and its off to the races.


Josh Nesbitt's Long Run (UM v GT 08)

Your standard meatball announcer or tailgating pop warner coach will say, play an 8 man front with the CBs manned up and 1 S in the middle of the field. Well as someone who has a love affair with all sorts of double slot formation, you are going to get a 4 vert or a vertical switch concept where you have 2 guys going vertical up the numbers and 2 up the hash which means somewhere you have Kavell Connor chasing a cat. Not good. You can also get the old run and shoot choice route shoved down your throat. One slot motions and runs a fat post, while the other slot runs a shallow cross. The backside WR runs a smash while the frontside WR runs a go. This is a cover 3 and man killer.

When GT is mashing your defense with the midline, GT is really effective at turning on their outside game. PJ is very patient and does not panic if you get up a score or two. Once the inside stuff started hitting against UGA in 2008, they Dawgs manned up the corners, ran a 4-4, and tried to overload the box. PJ will mix up blocking schemes and really get after you good. Here in the Miami game, the 3T took Dwyer, the S got cut by the playside back, and the OLB took the QB leaving no one for the pitchman.


Roddy Jones' 40 yard run against Miami

Here in the 2008 UGA game, UGA's answer was man coverage. The S screamed downhill, but because the CB was manned up, when the WR went inside to crack, the CB went with him, and there was no one on the perimeter.


Roddy Jones - Long Run - GT v UGA 2008

The final nail in UGA's coffin was a defense that had been on the field entirely too long that was no longer tackling, but rather hitting.


Roddy Jones TD - GT v UGA 2008

SO HOW THEN SHOULD STEELE ATTACK?

In the first match-up our DT and Maye took away the midline stuff, while Clemson lateral speed on the outside helped us take away the outside. Steele will have to continue to mix-up looks to try to keep PJ off balance because PJ will find and exploit weaknesses in a defense that is predictable of the course of the game.

Nesbitt is the guy that drives Georgia Tech's offense not Dwyer and if Nesbitt can keep and follow Dwyer up the middle for 4 to 6 yards like in 4th quarter of the Clemson game then we are in trouble. The QB keepers have given Clemson fits all year, so finding the answer prior to the GT game should be priority number one for Steele.

Another key will be limiting Tech's passing game, which Clemson did well in the first game; however, GT passing attack has improved as the season has progressed. Nesbitt is throwing the ball better and overall the passing game is much more fluid. Of course All-ACC WR, Bay-Bay Thomas, is the key weapon when Nesbitt drops back to throw. Clemson needs to make sure Thomas is matched-up with a taller, physical corner on every snap. Chancellor on Thomas is a match-up asking for big plays against us.

Georgia Tech's offense isn't a ball control offense, it is a big play offense, so Clemson has to score TDs, all while allowing our defense to rest and be coached up.