GT FOOTBALL - Brent Key Year 2

[Techster]

If you look at our record (we still have one game to play), you might say not much has changed for GT. Good to average team. Finished 2023 with a 7-6 record, and we're currently 7-5 with the chance to win 8 games. Not much cause to get excited about, right? Well, let's dig a little deeper and look at some numbers:

Overall FEI:
2023 - #50
2024 - #36
Delta: 14

Offensive FEI:
2023: #31
2024: #23
Delta: 8

Defensive FEI:
2023: #77
2024: #45
Delta: 32

In Key's year 2, our record may not have changed much, but our metrics have improved across the board. IMO, this team could have been a 9 win team right now with an opportunity to win 10 games in a bowl game. Unfortunately, that's football. You can play your best all season, and still lose to a better team. You can also play poorly and lose to inferior teams in the last few minutes. Both happened to us.

Another good metric to look at is what is Key doing off the field. The lifeblood of any program is recruiting:

According to 247 and ON3:

247 Rankings:
2024: #33
2025: #18
Delta: 15

ON3 Rankings:
2024: #33
2025: #23
Delta: 10

By any metric, you can say this program is ascending. GT is at the point we have to tweak the smaller things to make gains on the big things. We still have lapses during games that cost us dearly. We need improvement at LB and DL. Our WR play needs to be more explosive to help our already strong running game. So on, and so forth. However, that all comes with time. Everything is trending in the right direction for GT football. Next season sets up to be a special season if we don't have injuries in key spots. We have our future QB in Philo, a MONSTER OL recruiting class along with an excellent DB class. RB looks good for the next few years. Key needs to shore up our "weaknesses" in portal, and he seems to be able to address that every season.

We are in good hands, GT fans. This program may not have the "sizzle" of Colorado and Prime, and we may not be UGA/Texas/Oregon at the moment, but Key is setting up for GT to battle toe-to-toe with those type of programs. The next challenge for Key will be how he handles losing key assistants. Faulkner is on borrowed time at GT, and if Santucci keeps up this kind of improvement, he'll be a candidate at other places. We'll cross that bridge when we get there.

Till then, good times are coming...

 

[Northeast Stinger]

Good post.

The eye ball test confirms the metrics. Anyway you look at this team it is measurably improved over last year. Ever since Key took the reins this team has looked more resolute and confident.

 

[SecretAgentBuzz]

And that improvement in 2024 comes with significant injuries and a really tough schedule. With some luck next year…

 

[southernhive]

I agree, Good positive post.
A telling sign will be how the AD handles other schools coming for Faulkner or Santucci with more money for lateral moves. I don't mind so much if Faulkner or Santucci take Head Coaching jobs at another school, but to leave for more money at the same position will be a barometer. That will tell me how serious we are to compete with the Big Boys.

 

[Sheboygan]

I knew after one game he was an improvement over TFG. What is becoming more and more apparent is that he has learned from his “mentors”. IMO, he will continue on that upward trajectory. His challenges are to continue to retain good coaching, and replace with an upgrade if needed. Also to continue to sell/ promote the culture of the program as a special place to build a successful life - in, or out of, football.
As an alum, I am extremely proud, impressed and excited for the future of the program.

 

[RamblinRed]

I agree this program is moving in the right direction. This was a better team than last year overall. Still plenty of room for improvement.

There is one FEI metric that you did not show that was a major issue this season - Special Teams
Special Teams FEI
2024 #109
2023 #64
Delta -45

If we want to improve from 7 wins we have to have better special teams play next season. There wasn't any part of special teams this year that were good.
You could argue special teams potentially cost GT 2 wins - UGA where we missed the short FG and L'ville where the blocked FG returned for a TD largely put that game out of reach. There were other games where special teams were not good as well.

If special teams was just roughly similar to 2023 GT probably has 1-2 more wins.

At the place GT is at now it is the little things that tend to make a big difference. The difference in talent in most of those teams 30-60 is relatively small. It is who executes better. Who plays cleaner football. Who makes the big play on offense or defense at a crucial spot in the game - that can be the difference between being around 25-30 vs being around 55-60.

 

[4shotB]

I knew after one game he was an improvement over TFG.

You would have thought the same about me, my dog, my wife or any randomly selected poster from the Swarm!

 

[Ramble1885]

worst case scenario we have Chan Gailey 2.0 and that's WORST case at the moment. Chan at least had us bowling year in and year out.

Last season and this season have brought some fun memories. Let's hope the ball keeps rolling.

 

[Techster]

I agree this program is moving in the right direction. This was a better team than last year overall. Still plenty of room for improvement.

There is one FEI metric that you did not show that was a major issue this season - Special Teams
Special Teams FEI
2024 #109
2023 #64
Delta -45

If we want to improve from 7 wins we have to have better special teams play next season. There wasn't any part of special teams this year that were good.
You could argue special teams potentially cost GT 2 wins - UGA where we missed the short FG and L'ville where the blocked FG returned for a TD largely put that game out of reach. There were other games where special teams were not good as well.

If special teams was just roughly similar to 2023 GT probably has 1-2 more wins.

At the place GT is at now it is the little things that tend to make a big difference. The difference in talent in most of those teams 30-60 is relatively small. It is who executes better. Who plays cleaner football. Who makes the big play on offense or defense at a crucial spot in the game - that can be the difference between being around 25-30 vs being around 55-60.

Yup. I always forget about ST FEI. Definitely a big factor in winning close games.

 

[slugboy]

Yup. I always forget about ST FEI. Definitely a big factor in winning close games.

We talk a lot about kickoffs, kickoff returns, and field goals, but punts were a weak spot this year. Snaps might have been part of it.

 

[gtchem05]

I agree this program is moving in the right direction. This was a better team than last year overall. Still plenty of room for improvement.

There is one FEI metric that you did not show that was a major issue this season - Special Teams
Special Teams FEI
2024 #109
2023 #64
Delta -45

If we want to improve from 7 wins we have to have better special teams play next season. There wasn't any part of special teams this year that were good.
You could argue special teams potentially cost GT 2 wins - UGA where we missed the short FG and L'ville where the blocked FG returned for a TD largely put that game out of reach. There were other games where special teams were not good as well.

If special teams was just roughly similar to 2023 GT probably has 1-2 more wins.

At the place GT is at now it is the little things that tend to make a big difference. The difference in talent in most of those teams 30-60 is relatively small. It is who executes better. Who plays cleaner football. Who makes the big play on offense or defense at a crucial spot in the game - that can be the difference between being around 25-30 vs being around 55-60.

Totally agree that special teams cost a win or two probably this year. However, I do want to comment on the missed short field goal in the UGA game. It was tipped by a UGA player. Still a special team’s mistake, but a different part of special teams.

I don’t think the kicker himself is a large part of the problem. In fact, I think Birr is pretty talented, but could be a little more consistent. The blocking, snap, and hold, definitely have been a problem at times during the season.

I really hope that we stop using the punter as the holder. Seems like a good way to get your punter hurt and also eliminates throwing options on a fake. I’d much prefer a 3rd- or 4th-string quarterback to be the holder.

I also think that there were some improvements on special teams when the special teams coach who started the season was dismissed. Hopefully we’ll have special teams in working order from the get-go this fall.

 

[Sheboygan]

You would have thought the same about me, my dog, my wife or any randomly selected poster from the Swarm!

True

 

[yeti92]

I agree this program is moving in the right direction. This was a better team than last year overall. Still plenty of room for improvement.

There is one FEI metric that you did not show that was a major issue this season - Special Teams
Special Teams FEI
2024 #109
2023 #64
Delta -45

If we want to improve from 7 wins we have to have better special teams play next season. There wasn't any part of special teams this year that were good.
You could argue special teams potentially cost GT 2 wins - UGA where we missed the short FG and L'ville where the blocked FG returned for a TD largely put that game out of reach. There were other games where special teams were not good as well.

If special teams was just roughly similar to 2023 GT probably has 1-2 more wins.

At the place GT is at now it is the little things that tend to make a big difference. The difference in talent in most of those teams 30-60 is relatively small. It is who executes better. Who plays cleaner football. Who makes the big play on offense or defense at a crucial spot in the game - that can be the difference between being around 25-30 vs being around 55-60.

The loss to Cuse was by 3 and we missed a FG earlier in the game. 3 games easily flipped by good special teams.

 

[Mattmc10]

I am a big fan of Key. He has improved our program drastically.

He has brought Tech back to being what we are best at, a scrappy program that punches above their weight. The numbers and eyes show continuous improvement. We were in every game this year except for ND at the very end. Special teams / King out really caught up to us in that one.

His recruiting has been impressive. He has a great sales pitch for potential recruits and a contagious passion for the school. The combo of him + J Batt + President Cabera has us in the best position in a while for long term success.

My ask for improvement from Key - I hope he evaluates his tactics at the end of the half and games. IMO we play scared in these moments rather than going for the kill. We had an outstanding QB for most of the year, we should put trust in him at the end of half/games. The defense improved drastically. Trust them if the offense has to punt the ball back with 50 seconds left.

 

[Northeast Stinger]

worst case scenario we have Chan Gailey 2.0 and that's WORST case at the moment. Chan at least had us bowling year in and year out.

Last season and this season have brought some fun memories. Let's hope the ball keeps rolling.

I know your point is rhetorical and you are not suggesting that it will be like Chan Gailey 2.0 but I can’t contain my giddy enthusiasm to say that Key is not cautious and conservative like Gailey. Key will use any weapon he has and if he had Calvin Johnson in an ACC Championship he would have thrown to him 30 times until he got a comfortable lead.

 

[George P. Burdell]

I agree that the program has significantly gotten better in year 2 under Key. With a healthy King, I think we have at least 2 more wins as well. I believe King got injured in the first game against FSU and that's why his passing has been massively down (both attempts and completions) compared to last year. After weeks of resting his shoulder, we finally saw a healthy King in the UGA game and the fantastic passing numbers he put up.

My biggest criticism of Key is his time management during games. There are several times I can remember where he should have used timeouts to save clock and we wound up having to kick a FG in the red zone because there was no time left. Then there are instances where he takes a timeout for no good reason.

The other improvement I want to see is short yardage situations. For a running team, we have been stopped numerous times in games where we just needed a yard/inches in a critical situation (incl the UGA game in OT). Under CPJ, we were pretty much automatic in those. We sort of had that when Pyron would come in to run the ball, but it also didn't work several times this year either. What I would give to see us do a QB sneak from under center every once in awhile.

 

[RonJohn]

What I would give to see us do a QB sneak from under center every once in awhile.

They did that at least a couple of times this year. I think one was against Miami and the OLine pushed them about three yards downfield.

 

[RamblinRed]

I agree that the program has significantly gotten better in year 2 under Key. With a healthy King, I think we have at least 2 more wins as well. I believe King got injured in the first game against FSU and that's why his passing has been massively down (both attempts and completions) compared to last year. After weeks of resting his shoulder, we finally saw a healthy King in the UGA game and the fantastic passing numbers he put up.

My biggest criticism of Key is his time management during games. There are several times I can remember where he should have used timeouts to save clock and we wound up having to kick a FG in the red zone because there was no time left. Then there are instances where he takes a timeout for no good reason.

The other improvement I want to see is short yardage situations. For a running team, we have been stopped numerous times in games where we just needed a yard/inches in a critical situation (incl the UGA game in OT). Under CPJ, we were pretty much automatic in those. We sort of had that when Pyron would come in to run the ball, but it also didn't work several times this year either. What I would give to see us do a QB sneak from under center every once in awhile.

I really disliked the run out of shotgun on 3rd/4th and short - especially with Zach because everyone knew exactly what was coming.
If you are going to basically broadcast what you are doing at least go under center and use the tush push.

 

[Ash]

For a running team, we have been stopped numerous times in games where we just needed a yard/inches in a critical situation

This. For all of our talk of being a run first team, we had trouble just running the ball for short yards in critical situations. Is it because of our small RBs? Blocking scheme? I don't know.

 

[yeti92]

I really disliked the run out of shotgun on 3rd/4th and short - especially with Zach because everyone knew exactly what was coming.
If you are going to basically broadcast what you are doing at least go under center and use the tush push.

Agreed, we seemed to do the most predictable thing possible in those situations and it had very low success because of it.