Georgia Tech football: Simplified defense passes first test

Georgia Tech ended a three-game losing streak on Saturday by defeating Boston College at home, 37-17, and did so by simplifying its schemes on defense.

Inside linebacker Quayshawn Nealy told Ken Suigiura of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

"Just being able to not think about a lot of things, just go out there and play," he said. "We didn’t have too many calls out there (Saturday). It was just pretty basic. It just came down to the players."

This was the Yellow Jackets' first game since the firing of defensive coordinator Al Groh after the team gave up 40-plus points in three consecutive losses to Miami (FL), Middle Tennessee and Clemson.

Head coach Paul Johnson said that he wanted to simplify the defense so players could play with a free mind and faster feet, and it appeared to work on Saturday when Georgia Tech held Boston College to 47 plays and 296 yards of total offense, both season lows for a Yellow Jacket opponent this season.

With the win, Georgia Tech improved to 3-4 on the season and will host Brigham Young next Saturday.