The Georgia Tech defense is going to take the hit for the Monday night's loss to Virginia Tech, but the unit actually played well for significant stretches of the game.
The Hokies were able to score a touchdown easily on their second possession of the game. But past that, the Jackets held Virginia Tech on seven consecutive possessions that included three-and-outs, followed by a drive that ended in a missed field goal.
Head coach Paul Johnson said he thought the defense played well until the end, when Logan Thomas and Demitri Knowles connected on a 47-yard touchdown pass play, with Knowles getting behind cornerback Rod Sweeting. The Jackets played without their starting cornerback Louis Young and inside linebacker Daniel Drummond, who were out with suspensions, and safety Fred Holton (undisclosed injury).
Jamal Golden, who played safety and cornerback, was in his first game as a starter and safety Coray Carlson also played his first game of extended minutes.
For more in-depth coverage on the upcoming game, visit Georgia Tech blog From The Rumble Seat as well as Virginia Tech blog Gobbler Country. For more news and notes from around NCAA football, head over to SB Nation's college football hub.