New defense makes strides for Yellow Jackets
Anree Saint-Amour has been the most consistent player on the Georgia Tech defensive line. But his role may change this week against No. 2 Clemson.
“He’s played well,” coach Paul Johnson said. “We’re going to use him in a different situation coming up this week.”
Johnson said he wasn’t quite ready to specify what new role the senior would take.
Saint-Amour had four tackles and one tackle for loss in Saturday’s loss to Pittsburgh. He has eight tackles and two tackles for loss in the first three games.
“I feel like we’re getting better, as far as playing hard, running to the ball,” Saint-Amour said. “We’ve got to figure out how to put a full game together.”
The defense took a step forward it its growth over the weekend, Johnson said. That was one of the positives that emerged from the loss to Pittsburgh. Johnson said the defense played better and “I hope it continues to grow” under new defensive coordinator Nate Woody.
“We still gave up 21 in the first half,” he said. “We could have tackled better. … All in all, it was an improvement on defense. But I think the players and staff expects more and so do I.”
Johnson acknowledged that one of Pitt’s touchdowns came after a botched faked punt gave Pitt the ball at the Tech 26. The Panthers scored three plays later.
“You don’t have to let them score a touchdown,” Johnson said.
There are still areas that need improvement for the Tech defense, particularly in the area of getting to the quarterback. Tech failed to have a sack last week against Pitt after posting two the previous week against South Florida.
“There were a lot of mistakes in the first half, as well as a lot of missed tackles,” Saint-Amour said.
“The coaching was there, the game plan was there. We’ve just got to be where we’re supposed to be and make the tackles. I feel like we did that in the second half … In the first half we just weren’t where we were supposed to be.”
Georgia Tech will honor the uniforms worn by the 1990 NCAA Championship team. It will feature navy blue jerseys, white pants and gold helmets. That team went 11-0-1 and was voted No. 1 in the UPI poll.
