ATLANTA- Georgia Tech football coach Brent Key spoke to the media on Tuesday as the Jackets continue preparations for North Carolina. Key spoke about the challenge the Tar Heels represent along with facing former coach Geoff Collins now the defensive coordinator at UNC. This will mark the second time this season Tech has faced a former defensive coordinator after seeing Kevin Sherrer at Georgia State in week two in Atlanta.
Key was brought home to Tech from Alabama as the offensive line coach for Collins in 2019 and he was quick to shoot down anything about this game being about the former Jackets head coach.
"I wish for nothing but the best for Geoff except for the this Saturday," Key said. "He is a good football coach on a staff of good football coaches and this isn't the first time we've gone up against someone that we worked with before."
When asked if the personal relationship with Collins will impact any of the game plan, Key said that has zero influence.
"It really doesn't and I think I got asked the same question before we played Georgia State with guys that have been on staff here and we worked together, it doesn't (make a difference), you might know a little bit philosophically about the way that they think, but look at Georgia State, you go out there and plan for one thing and get some other things and you have to make adjustments and go play."
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Key said he thought the Duke game was a good football game just as a fan of football with two good teams going against each other and he enjoyed watching the game back and they were fortunate to come out with a win. Key said they looked fresher and faster out there and he talked up the environment the students created and how awesome it was. He said the students have been outstanding this year and he hopes to continue building upon that and get more and more students into BDS to make it really loud for opponents and that is a nice building block for the future of Georgia Tech football.
Players of the Week:
Defense Jordan van den Berg, he said that he got his first start opposite Zeek Biggers and he was able to affect the QB and had a couple of TFLs and he is really proud of his development and the job that Jess Simpson has done with him.
Offense: The GT O-line and TE Ryland Goede, Ryland played over 70 snaps in the game and had to start with Jackson Hawes out and played a really good football game. The O-line got their groove back again in the fourth quarter and were able tod do what he wants them to do to win the football game.
Key said he has been proud of the defensive improvements they've made week to week, but they still have a long way to go.
Key said when they met on Sunday he noticed how cool it is that Tyler Santucci and Buster Faulkner have the same mindset and same beliefs about football and the improvement they expect to see. They know nothing is ever going to be perfect, but that is what they strive for and they are not going to "kiss the crack of heir butts" all day long on the improvements the team is making either.
They improved dramatically last week especially in run defense and they got an early kickoff at UNC this week against a very talented UNC roster who has been playing a tough stretch the last couple of weeks and those are the scariest teams to go against with some things going on up there and they have talent and they've shown glimpses of how good UNC can be this year so it will be a challenge.
Key said it is cool going against Mack Brown who is the 6th winningest coach of all-time in CFB and has the most active wins with 279. He is a legend and he is excited to compete against him again.
Key said the depth on the DL has really been a noticeable improvement and the guys are down to playing 25-30 plays a game instead of 60-65 a year ago and they are fresher and Jess Simpson's way of having them attack upfront and how they play the game and penetrate gaps and disrupt things up front is big. They aren't always going to pressure the QB straight away but they are taking away gaps and flat walling things allowing the LBs to clean up and run free to make plays. Jess is a great teacher and Tucc behind him coaching LBs has them playing as one unit and playing hard and that is what he wants for four quarters.
I asked about Omarion Hampton and that challenge this week against the top RB in the ACC and one of the best in the country after they shut down Star Thomas last week who had been rolling, he said that Omarion is a really good football player, but the interesting thing about the UNC offense is their balance 55/45 run/pass and they aren't just going to run 70% of the time and they mix in the RPOs and add ons and then take shots down the field. He said the second and third level are very important in this game defensively on the run/pass plays and they have to control the game up front.
Key talked about the flow of the game on Saturday and he said that the first quarter is always about the opening scripts offensively and opening calls on D and then things settle in the second quarter and the third quarter coming out of halftime unless it is a blowout is usually pretty balanced and then the fourth quarter is when you use your best stuff, best calls and you are playing the game and playing situational football. Key said they preach to the team all the time it is about taking the game to the fourth quarter and the body blows start adding up over the course of the game and two or three-yard runs become bigger runs and it isn't necessarily even doing anything differently, but you are getting creased out of a gap or line movement is a step slower. Key said he thought Buster did a great job of not letting Duke create negative plays last week and that is what they've thrived on as a defense and they had just six negative plays which is too many for GT but less than what Duke has been averaging a game.
Key said on Collins D compared to here there are similarities but like any D he tweaks it every week and they have to prepare for things they haven't put on film this year like wrinkles, twists and blitz patterns or matchups.
Key said that Jackson Hawes tried to go on Saturday, but couldn't and he is day-to-day, they think he is really good and really tough but don't want him hurting himself trying to go when he shouldn't. He said he was very pleased with Ryland and how he played and he said that position is banged up. They demand a lot of versatility from that position lining up on the LOS or off the ball or on the ball or split wide and have motions and other stuff so it is a lot but they have a deep group and they have some confidence in the guys that can play.
Key said this week is big about keeping momentum going and they've struggled coming off wins and they are playing on the road at a traditional rival UNC and if you can't get excited about that you have ice water running through your veins.
Key said that Trey Cooley and Trelain Maddox are day-to-day or week-to-week, he doesn't expect you will see either this week.
Key on Chad Alexander he played all over special teams last year as a true freshman and worked his butt off over the last year to become a better RB and he goes back to a moment this summer after a scrimmage in the stadium where he hit full speed and he pulled him over and said that's it. He gives a lot of credit to Norv McKenzie and Buster for helping develop him as a RB and he is a solid #2 for them now and runs really hard when he is in with explosive runs and he was banged up early in the year and he was happy to announce to the team he is on scholarship and he has earned every bit of it.
I asked about the culture of the D and how it is impressive to see a guy like LaMiles Brooks play well despite the emergence of Taye Seymore at safety. Key told the story of recruiting LaMiles at Bama in ninth grade again and then he said the guys are real and know why someone is playing or not playing and there are no surprises on the players side from the staff on either side, their job is to put the best 11 on the field and ideally have a rotation. He said having that rotation has really helped Taye develop and he is getting better and better,
Key said that Jamal Haynes has improved a lot with overcoming setbacks and adversity that used to set him back and he did a great job on Saturday playing at 100% for the first time this season.
After the presser, Key told me why he called the timeout at the end of the first half after Jamal Haynes' big run. He felt like with the two penalties and then the TD they had surrendered all of the momentum to Duke and Duke was getting the ball out of the half. They wanted to try to hit a quick run and then take a shot down the field. They didn't get enough yardage to take a shot at the end zone but when he saw Duke players jogging off the field after Haynes' run he decided to make them come back out and defend one more play. He felt like that slowed them down a little momentum wise.
Key was brought home to Tech from Alabama as the offensive line coach for Collins in 2019 and he was quick to shoot down anything about this game being about the former Jackets head coach.
"I wish for nothing but the best for Geoff except for the this Saturday," Key said. "He is a good football coach on a staff of good football coaches and this isn't the first time we've gone up against someone that we worked with before."
When asked if the personal relationship with Collins will impact any of the game plan, Key said that has zero influence.
"It really doesn't and I think I got asked the same question before we played Georgia State with guys that have been on staff here and we worked together, it doesn't (make a difference), you might know a little bit philosophically about the way that they think, but look at Georgia State, you go out there and plan for one thing and get some other things and you have to make adjustments and go play."
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Key said he thought the Duke game was a good football game just as a fan of football with two good teams going against each other and he enjoyed watching the game back and they were fortunate to come out with a win. Key said they looked fresher and faster out there and he talked up the environment the students created and how awesome it was. He said the students have been outstanding this year and he hopes to continue building upon that and get more and more students into BDS to make it really loud for opponents and that is a nice building block for the future of Georgia Tech football.
Players of the Week:
Defense Jordan van den Berg, he said that he got his first start opposite Zeek Biggers and he was able to affect the QB and had a couple of TFLs and he is really proud of his development and the job that Jess Simpson has done with him.
Offense: The GT O-line and TE Ryland Goede, Ryland played over 70 snaps in the game and had to start with Jackson Hawes out and played a really good football game. The O-line got their groove back again in the fourth quarter and were able tod do what he wants them to do to win the football game.
Key said he has been proud of the defensive improvements they've made week to week, but they still have a long way to go.
Key said when they met on Sunday he noticed how cool it is that Tyler Santucci and Buster Faulkner have the same mindset and same beliefs about football and the improvement they expect to see. They know nothing is ever going to be perfect, but that is what they strive for and they are not going to "kiss the crack of heir butts" all day long on the improvements the team is making either.
They improved dramatically last week especially in run defense and they got an early kickoff at UNC this week against a very talented UNC roster who has been playing a tough stretch the last couple of weeks and those are the scariest teams to go against with some things going on up there and they have talent and they've shown glimpses of how good UNC can be this year so it will be a challenge.
Key said it is cool going against Mack Brown who is the 6th winningest coach of all-time in CFB and has the most active wins with 279. He is a legend and he is excited to compete against him again.
Key said the depth on the DL has really been a noticeable improvement and the guys are down to playing 25-30 plays a game instead of 60-65 a year ago and they are fresher and Jess Simpson's way of having them attack upfront and how they play the game and penetrate gaps and disrupt things up front is big. They aren't always going to pressure the QB straight away but they are taking away gaps and flat walling things allowing the LBs to clean up and run free to make plays. Jess is a great teacher and Tucc behind him coaching LBs has them playing as one unit and playing hard and that is what he wants for four quarters.
I asked about Omarion Hampton and that challenge this week against the top RB in the ACC and one of the best in the country after they shut down Star Thomas last week who had been rolling, he said that Omarion is a really good football player, but the interesting thing about the UNC offense is their balance 55/45 run/pass and they aren't just going to run 70% of the time and they mix in the RPOs and add ons and then take shots down the field. He said the second and third level are very important in this game defensively on the run/pass plays and they have to control the game up front.
Key talked about the flow of the game on Saturday and he said that the first quarter is always about the opening scripts offensively and opening calls on D and then things settle in the second quarter and the third quarter coming out of halftime unless it is a blowout is usually pretty balanced and then the fourth quarter is when you use your best stuff, best calls and you are playing the game and playing situational football. Key said they preach to the team all the time it is about taking the game to the fourth quarter and the body blows start adding up over the course of the game and two or three-yard runs become bigger runs and it isn't necessarily even doing anything differently, but you are getting creased out of a gap or line movement is a step slower. Key said he thought Buster did a great job of not letting Duke create negative plays last week and that is what they've thrived on as a defense and they had just six negative plays which is too many for GT but less than what Duke has been averaging a game.
Key said on Collins D compared to here there are similarities but like any D he tweaks it every week and they have to prepare for things they haven't put on film this year like wrinkles, twists and blitz patterns or matchups.
Key said that Jackson Hawes tried to go on Saturday, but couldn't and he is day-to-day, they think he is really good and really tough but don't want him hurting himself trying to go when he shouldn't. He said he was very pleased with Ryland and how he played and he said that position is banged up. They demand a lot of versatility from that position lining up on the LOS or off the ball or on the ball or split wide and have motions and other stuff so it is a lot but they have a deep group and they have some confidence in the guys that can play.
Key said this week is big about keeping momentum going and they've struggled coming off wins and they are playing on the road at a traditional rival UNC and if you can't get excited about that you have ice water running through your veins.
Key said that Trey Cooley and Trelain Maddox are day-to-day or week-to-week, he doesn't expect you will see either this week.
Key on Chad Alexander he played all over special teams last year as a true freshman and worked his butt off over the last year to become a better RB and he goes back to a moment this summer after a scrimmage in the stadium where he hit full speed and he pulled him over and said that's it. He gives a lot of credit to Norv McKenzie and Buster for helping develop him as a RB and he is a solid #2 for them now and runs really hard when he is in with explosive runs and he was banged up early in the year and he was happy to announce to the team he is on scholarship and he has earned every bit of it.
I asked about the culture of the D and how it is impressive to see a guy like LaMiles Brooks play well despite the emergence of Taye Seymore at safety. Key told the story of recruiting LaMiles at Bama in ninth grade again and then he said the guys are real and know why someone is playing or not playing and there are no surprises on the players side from the staff on either side, their job is to put the best 11 on the field and ideally have a rotation. He said having that rotation has really helped Taye develop and he is getting better and better,
Key said that Jamal Haynes has improved a lot with overcoming setbacks and adversity that used to set him back and he did a great job on Saturday playing at 100% for the first time this season.
After the presser, Key told me why he called the timeout at the end of the first half after Jamal Haynes' big run. He felt like with the two penalties and then the TD they had surrendered all of the momentum to Duke and Duke was getting the ball out of the half. They wanted to try to hit a quick run and then take a shot down the field. They didn't get enough yardage to take a shot at the end zone but when he saw Duke players jogging off the field after Haynes' run he decided to make them come back out and defend one more play. He felt like that slowed them down a little momentum wise.
