But Tech’s biggest problem Saturday against Georgia was no different than what its biggest problem has been for four years under coach Paul Johnson. Their defense stinks. They can’t stop anybody or intimidate anybody. Two many games come down to pinball games.

Bad defense got Dave Wommack fired after two seasons. Bad defense under Al Groh should leave his future uncertain at the end of a two-year contract. Groh hasn’t said definitively that he wants to come back, but the question Johnson needs to ask himself is: Do I want him back?

This is no minor issue. Johnson has won 34 games in four seasons. The Jackets’ 8-4 record this season going into their bowl finale certainly is not worse than most projected at the outset of this season, and it’s probably better. But when you have a defense that ranks 43rd in yardage, 56th in points allowed and 89th in third-down conversion, you’re not going anywhere.

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Tech is no better off on defense today than it was when they fired the last guy. Nationally, under Wommack the Jackets finished 28th (2008) and 54th (2009) in total defense. They were 64th in Groh’s first season and went into this week 43rd. Scoring defense in the past four seasons: 20th and 38th, respectively, under Wommack; 37th and 56th (entering the week) under Groh.

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But the head coach isn’t going anywhere. Groh, we’re not so sure. And when Tech fails, it’s usually not because of the offense.

I am Chris Bosh

Georgia Tech won’t host Georgia until Nov. 26. But that doesn’t mean you aren’t already thinking about the game. Tell us your favorite play in the rivalry, and the AJC will try to track down the players involved and tell you what they remember about that game and what they are doing now. Please send your favorite (just one, please) and why to Doug Roberson at droberson@ajc.com.

"There's been guys pretty much since I've been here that you try to feed the ball to. You try to feed Jon [Dwyer] the ball, so you try to scheme to get him the ball. You didn't want to let them take him away. Anthony [Allen] was a little bit like that. This bunch ... it doesn't matter [who gets the ball]. You know what I'm saying. You just kind of run the system. If they want to take away David Sims, then OK, we'll give it to Orwin Smith. If they want to take away Orwin, then we'll give it to whoever. It's not so much tweaking it to get the ball to certain individuals as it is just kind of running the system." - Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson

Georgia Tech must find replacements for departed QB Joshua Nesbitt and RB Anthony Allen, both former first-team All-ACC selections. Tevin Washington stepped in for an injured Nesbitt late last season, but he faces a challenge from redshirt freshman Synjyn Days this spring. Charles Perkins, Richard Watson and former QB David Sims are competing for the right to replace Allen at the B-back position. The secondary needs three new starters.

Maryland Terrapins at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, FSN (7:45 p.m. ET)
The Terrapins hope their visit to Atlanta goes a little more smoothly than UNC's or Virginia Tech's. A loss against the Jackets' could really torch an already flimsy resume.
KenPom.com prediction: Terps 71-66, 74 poss.

One player who had no trouble raising his stock today was Kentucky's Derrick Locke. For his size (5-11, 182), be flashed some real toughness in early blocking drills (Georgia Tech's Anthony Allen and Tulsa's Charles Clay, not so much - guys were getting by them), and then really surprised with his ability to blast through the tackles.

Listen y'all I know vick. That glove was for my nephew who is 3. Not for me.

Richt has such a solid overall track record at Georgia that he shouldn't have trouble keeping his job as long as the Bulldogs beat Georgia Tech to become bowl eligible. But if the Bulldogs lose to their in-state rival, Georgia officials might decide to turn the page. Georgia has faced problems on the field (a combined 13-11 record) and off the field (an embarrassing series of player arrests) over the past two years. Richt's early success at Georgia bought him plenty of capital, but he might not be able to survive a 5-7 season that includes losses to the Bulldogs' three biggest rivals: Auburn, Florida and Georgia Tech.

But as boisterous as his arrival in New Jersey has been, Mr. Morrow's journey to this stage in his career has been anything but. After being named "Mr. Basketball" in North Carolina in 2004, he struggled to distinguish himself in four seasons at Georgia Tech. "I saw him a couple times in college and he didn't really light it up," said Mr. Kerr, who was the general manager of the Phoenix Suns when Morrow was preparing for the 2008 NBA Draft. "He got a little lost on his team. It just didn't seem like he really blossomed there. Then he got lost in the shuffle as far as the scouts are concerned."