Total Offense 68th (400.8 yd per game) and a 6.0 yards per play average (11th in the ACC)
-A major improvement after being in the bottom 1/3 of CFB the last few years, now in the middle of the pack despite having played some of the better defenses through the first six games in the conference.
Total Defense 71st (382.3 yd per game) 5.32 yards per play average (8th in the ACC)
-Also a major step in the right direction, but not where Geoff Collins would like it to be.
3rd Down Offense 103rd
-This is the killer right now 34.2% conversion rate only six P5 teams worse right now and getting behind the sticks on first downs has been part of the issue with this stat especially in the Duke and Clemson games.
3rd Down Defense 96th
-Again this hurts a lot as they also have a bad 4th down defense number (92nd in the country) as well and are not getting off the field and letting teams sustain too many drives. Also, you always want your offensive number to be higher and the defense lower and they are inverted here showing some of the pains the offense and defense are still having in year three.
Passing Completion Percentage 52nd at 63.4%
-Another big positive after being in the basement the first two years in CFB, GT is now above the middle tier in passing completions.
Fewest Penalties Per Game 37th at 5.67
-Again a good stat to judge how the team is doing and they are much improved after focusing on this in the offseason and making it a major focal point for the whole team after a ton of issues in 2020 after a pretty clean 2019 season.
Fumbles Recovered 14th (6)
-This is a bunched up stat with a lot of teams the leader has just eight and the next group at seven is pretty big, but a huge step up for the defense here.
Fumbles Lost 21st (2)
-Again this was a killer stat last year as Jeff Sims was responsible for a ton and this year they have only lost two fumbles both ironically on plays where the ball carrier got hurt, Jeff Sims fumble against NIU and Jamious Griffin's fumble against KSU.
Thrown Interceptions 73rd (5)
-GT was among the league leaders until the last two games when Jeff Sims threw back-to-back two pick games. This needs to get better as well.
Red Zone Defense 28th (13 TDs in 20 trips)
-Another real positive stat is GT's red zone defense that has been stingy allowing only 15 scores in 20 tries including two FGs to put them in the top 1/4 of CFB this season.
Red Zone Offense 93rd (20 scores in 25 attempts but 7 FGs)
-The red zone offense was so bad that going three for three against Duke only put them in the top 100 after being near last in the country going into that game. Tech has hit seven FGs in the red zone and that is too many and they've had five scoreless trips and two of those cost them wins.
Passes Intercepted 88th (3)
-This one is a little bit of a bummer I'm sure for Thacker and Collins as Juanyeh Thomas had the first INT by a defensive back in the Duke game in the 4th quarter of game six. Charlie Thomas had the other two interceptions this season and both were against KSU. This is an area where improvement is needed in a big way. The DBs haven't even had their hands on a lot of balls.
Rushing Offense 61st (166.8 yd per game)
-This is decent, but the run game has not been up to the standards that GT has set in the past both under Collins and previous coaches. As the OL heals and Sims continues to progress that should open up this area for more production.
Run Defense 76th (154 yd per game)
-This one is weird due to playing three run-heavy teams NIU, KSU, and Duke, and one that doesn't run well in Pitt. I guess this is one that will be more telling later in the season. The yards per carry is only 3.5 which is very respectable.
Sacks Allow 85th (2.5 per game)
-Not a great stat and a lot of this is due to the mixing and matching on the OL versus QBs holding it too long or anything else.
Scoring Defense t-72nd (25.67 ppg)
-Too high especially after only playing two good offenses this season in Pitt and UNC.
Scoring Offense 69th (28.5 ppg)
-Shows how tight the margins have been with only one blowout each way KSU and Pitt for GT, also not enough points per game at the pace of play GT is using.
Time of Possession 106th
-This again is a tale about the offense and the inability to maintain sustained drives, the defense not getting off the field on third downs and the pace of play mixed in.
Passing Effiency Defense 112th out of 130 schools (151.72)
-This has been bad, GT has also faced two of the top QBs in the next NFL draft in Sam Howell and Kenny Pickett so that hasn't helped, but this number has to improve.
Other top 50 numbers
50th in KR defense
49th in Turnover Margin
-A major improvement after being in the bottom 1/3 of CFB the last few years, now in the middle of the pack despite having played some of the better defenses through the first six games in the conference.
Total Defense 71st (382.3 yd per game) 5.32 yards per play average (8th in the ACC)
-Also a major step in the right direction, but not where Geoff Collins would like it to be.
3rd Down Offense 103rd
-This is the killer right now 34.2% conversion rate only six P5 teams worse right now and getting behind the sticks on first downs has been part of the issue with this stat especially in the Duke and Clemson games.
3rd Down Defense 96th
-Again this hurts a lot as they also have a bad 4th down defense number (92nd in the country) as well and are not getting off the field and letting teams sustain too many drives. Also, you always want your offensive number to be higher and the defense lower and they are inverted here showing some of the pains the offense and defense are still having in year three.
Passing Completion Percentage 52nd at 63.4%
-Another big positive after being in the basement the first two years in CFB, GT is now above the middle tier in passing completions.
Fewest Penalties Per Game 37th at 5.67
-Again a good stat to judge how the team is doing and they are much improved after focusing on this in the offseason and making it a major focal point for the whole team after a ton of issues in 2020 after a pretty clean 2019 season.
Fumbles Recovered 14th (6)
-This is a bunched up stat with a lot of teams the leader has just eight and the next group at seven is pretty big, but a huge step up for the defense here.
Fumbles Lost 21st (2)
-Again this was a killer stat last year as Jeff Sims was responsible for a ton and this year they have only lost two fumbles both ironically on plays where the ball carrier got hurt, Jeff Sims fumble against NIU and Jamious Griffin's fumble against KSU.
Thrown Interceptions 73rd (5)
-GT was among the league leaders until the last two games when Jeff Sims threw back-to-back two pick games. This needs to get better as well.
Red Zone Defense 28th (13 TDs in 20 trips)
-Another real positive stat is GT's red zone defense that has been stingy allowing only 15 scores in 20 tries including two FGs to put them in the top 1/4 of CFB this season.
Red Zone Offense 93rd (20 scores in 25 attempts but 7 FGs)
-The red zone offense was so bad that going three for three against Duke only put them in the top 100 after being near last in the country going into that game. Tech has hit seven FGs in the red zone and that is too many and they've had five scoreless trips and two of those cost them wins.
Passes Intercepted 88th (3)
-This one is a little bit of a bummer I'm sure for Thacker and Collins as Juanyeh Thomas had the first INT by a defensive back in the Duke game in the 4th quarter of game six. Charlie Thomas had the other two interceptions this season and both were against KSU. This is an area where improvement is needed in a big way. The DBs haven't even had their hands on a lot of balls.
Rushing Offense 61st (166.8 yd per game)
-This is decent, but the run game has not been up to the standards that GT has set in the past both under Collins and previous coaches. As the OL heals and Sims continues to progress that should open up this area for more production.
Run Defense 76th (154 yd per game)
-This one is weird due to playing three run-heavy teams NIU, KSU, and Duke, and one that doesn't run well in Pitt. I guess this is one that will be more telling later in the season. The yards per carry is only 3.5 which is very respectable.
Sacks Allow 85th (2.5 per game)
-Not a great stat and a lot of this is due to the mixing and matching on the OL versus QBs holding it too long or anything else.
Scoring Defense t-72nd (25.67 ppg)
-Too high especially after only playing two good offenses this season in Pitt and UNC.
Scoring Offense 69th (28.5 ppg)
-Shows how tight the margins have been with only one blowout each way KSU and Pitt for GT, also not enough points per game at the pace of play GT is using.
Time of Possession 106th
-This again is a tale about the offense and the inability to maintain sustained drives, the defense not getting off the field on third downs and the pace of play mixed in.
Passing Effiency Defense 112th out of 130 schools (151.72)
-This has been bad, GT has also faced two of the top QBs in the next NFL draft in Sam Howell and Kenny Pickett so that hasn't helped, but this number has to improve.
Other top 50 numbers
50th in KR defense
49th in Turnover Margin
