This is truly becoming a special season on the flats. Saturday the Yellow Jackets dismantled a decent Duke Blue Devil squad 49-10. The win enabled Georgia Tech to clinch the ACC’s Coastal Division Title and secure a spot in the ACC Championship game. The Jackets improve to 10-1, and might be the country’s best one loss team.

Quick, name me 4 other offenses in college football as good or better than Georgia Tech’s offensive attack. I didn’t think you could either. This offense rolled up 519 yards of offense against Duke. When you think all the Jackets can do is run, Georgia Tech goes and throws for over 200. QB Josh Nesbitt threw two touchdowns passes of over 30 yards, and RB Jonathan Dwyer had  another 100+ yard rushing game. Paul Johnson has his offense scoring points and running up yards like it’s a pinball machine. The concern for Tech has always been its defense. Saturday they showed up.

Against Duke’s potent passing attack, the Jacket’s held the Blue Devils to 10 points and 281 total yards. That’s only 20 points given up by the Jacket’s defense the last 6 quarters. Not to shabby for the much maligned group.

Now the Yellow Jackets get a BYE week to finally rest after playing non-stop games since September. I am sure the players will enjoy the break. They’ll need the rest time, because after the BYE week comes the two games that will truly define the Jacket’s season. The Jackets will play archrival Georgia in 2 weeks, then likely the Clemson Tigers in the ACC Championship for the right to represent the ACC in the Orange Bowl.

In two years Paul Johnson has taken a program mired in mediocrity and turned them into the ACC’s best team. Yellow Jacket fans thank their lucky stars everyday that Johnson came to coach at Georgia Tech.

For more articles on Georgia Tech, the ACC, and other sports topics please visit my blog: All About Sports.

If you’re Georgia Tech, this is what you’ve been preparing for all season a chance to win the Coastal Division Title. It’s right there for the Jackets. All they have to do is beat the lowly Duke Blue Devils, but this version of the Blue Devils isn’t the same as previous ones.

Duke is 5-4 and 3-2 in the conference. They are two games from being bowl eligible. When was the last time you could say a Blue Devil team had any chance at a bowl game in November. Their passing offense is ranked 11th in the country, while the Jackets are ranked 98th in the nation in pass efficiency. The Jackets have struggled in pass defense all year. Come on your saying it’s Duke for goodness sakes!

The Jackets did not play especially well Saturday picking up numerous penalties. One penalty negated a touchdown by WR Stephen Hill. In every great season though, you are entitled one get of jail free card, and the Jackets used it against Wake Forest. They didn’t play well, and they still won. Paul Johnson going for it on 4th and 1 in OT was either crazy or brilliant, but fact is it worked and the Jackets sit 9-1. They’ve now moved to number seven in country in both polls, and everything the Jackets have worked for can be had with a win over Duke.

I don’t see the Jacket’s underestimating Duke. Duke Head Coach David Cutcliffe has quietly done a tremendous done with them and they will have Georgia Tech’s full attention. Paul Johnson and Georgia Tech know what’s at stake in this one.

We’ve discussed the victory over Virginia Tech already, but a win like that deserves just a bit more attention. It’s been since 1962 that Georgia Tech has beaten a top 5 team at home. Before moving onto the Virginia Cavaliers, let’s enjoy this one just a little while longer, with a few great highlights of the historical win.

If you have time please check out my blog All About Sports to read more of my thoughts on Georgia Tech, the ACC and other sports topics.

Select the links below to view the great videos of the game.

ESPN Highlights of GT Victory over Hokies

GT Fans Rushing the Field

There’s that one guy out there that still doesn’t believe you can win BCS Level football running the triple option offense. It is ok whoever you are out there. Just keep believing that, while Paul Johnson and his Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets just keep winning.

The latest opponent the Jackets beat were the team that has been the class of the ACC for the last half decade. A 28-23 gutsy win over the Virginia Tech Hokies.

I have lot of respect for the Hokies; they’ve earned it. Frank Beamer and Bud Foster are some of the best coaches around, but Paul Johnson one-upped them Saturday night.

Bud Foster came up with a tremendous game plan to stop the Jackets triple option offense. In the first half, I began to wonder how Georgia Tech would score. Then Johnson calls a deep pass to All-ACC receiver Demaryous Thomas, 51 yard gain. Jackets go in for the score, and its 7-3 at the half.

In the 2nd half Johnson attacked the edges with the pitch, and the QB keeper since the dive was effectively taken away. Josh Nesbitt just as he did last week, minus a couple of bad pitches, ran the offense beautifully. The Jackets gained 314 yards rushing against the Hokies. When was the last time a Bud Foster coached defense gave up that many rushing yards? When was the last time a team was more physical than Virginia Tech?

Now it’s all in front of Georgia Tech. They are in the thick of the Coastal race. If they run the table, and Miami is the Coastal Representative, they could still go to a BCS game. Next up are the Virginia Cavaliers. The suddenly resurgent Cavs actually lead the ACC’s Coastal division, because they have yet to lose an ACC game. I might have to check, but I don’t think Georgia Tech has won in Charlottesville since 1990.

That’s interesting, that year GT played for the national title. This year, I don’t think that’s in store, but it’s shaping up to be a year to remember on the flats. They must maintain their focus. I know Paul Johnson will preach that to them this week before heading to Virginia.

Did you see Georgia Tech’s exhilarating 49-44 win over Florida State that didn’t end until early Sunday morning due to a 78 minute lighting delay? What Georgia Tech did Saturday was the take on a talented, motivated Noles team at FSU and still came away with a victory. That’s the mark of really good team, to beat quality opponents on the road.

Tech put up 401 yards rushing, and Josh Nesbitt ran Paul Johnson’s triple option offense wonderfully. Nesbitt’s game  was defined by one play. Florida State recovered a fumble, and then Nesbitt promptly ripped the ball out of the FSU defender’s hands giving Georgia Tech the ball back. The Jackets scored the deciding TD on that drive. Nesbitt is Georgia Tech’s most fierce competitor at quarterback since Joe Hamilton was manning the position nearly a decade ago.

The victory sets up the Georgia Tech vs Virginia Tech game Saturday in Atlanta as the game of the year of the ACC. The Miami\VT game was a big one, but was to early in the season to be called “The ACC’s Game of the Year”.  What’s on the line in this one?

A victory for Virginia Tech would probably give them the ACC’s Coastal Division. The Hokies would have wins over both Miami and Georgia Tech. The scenario for the Canes and Jackets to win the Atlantic would require a collapse by Virginia Tech and alot of luck. In addition the Hokies are now getting press as a darkhorse national title team, and why not? With Tyrod Taylor starting to show some consistency passing, the running game getting in gear, and the defense starting to look like typical Bud Foster defenses, it can happen. The Hokies are in the top 5. Either Florida or Alabama is going to lose, and Texas still has Oklahoma to play. Looking at Virginia Tech’s schedule, the Jackets are easily the Hokies most formidable opponent left on their schedule.

For the Jackets a win would put them smack in the middle of the ACC Coastal race. They would have one loss along with Miami and Virginia Tech, and then the race is a wide open. If all three are tied, having beaten each other, it will come down to the various ACC tiebreakers. There’s a chance then the ACC could get a second BCS team in. Offensively the Jackets have scored 91 points in their last 2 games. The Hokies are far better than FSU or Mississippi State on defense. They have shown some susceptibility to the deep pass, though. They gave up over 350 passing to Duke a couple of weeks ago. Expect to see Nesbitt try some deep throws to WR Demaryous Thomas. 

The Jackets defense on the other hand is going have to find a way to contain Virgina Tech’s offense. Dave Wommack’s defense has given 76 points in their last two games. FSU scored 5 straight Touchdowns to start Saturday’s game, and ran up over 500 yards of offense. The Jackets just don’t have a lot of size or talent on that side of the ball, and I’d give Wommack a D for his coaching of the defense this year. Defensive players are taking poor angles, using poor technique, and just simply look out of position. The short passing game has killed the Jackets this season. It might be Georgia Tech’s MO this season, just try to outscore people.

There is plenty on the line in this one with a matchup of 2 of the ACC’s best teams. It should be a great one.   

If you missed the relatively easy Georgia Tech victory at SEC Opponent Mississippi St. something happened that’s going to give opposing defensive coordinators nightmares. The Yellow Jackets threw the ball, and they threw it well. Josh Nesbitt was a tidy 11 for 14 for 266 yards a TD. WR Demaryius Thomas had 8 catches for 174 yards and TD. Who says WR’s at Tech don’t get the ball thrown to them?

What was especially impressive about the passing game was how well Nesbitt threw it. He threw short passes intermediate passes and long passes with accuracy and strength. It’s the best I’ve ever seen him throw it while at Georgia Tech. If he can do this consistently then, the Jacket’s offense becomes that much more dangerous. There simply shouldn’t be questions about this triple option offense anymore. Tech proved against Mississippi State if they need to throw it, they can and they will. As a side note, Paul Johnson is now 3-1 against the mighty SEC since his arrival at Georgia Tech. Back to the Miss. St. game.

The defense did not play so well. They did come up with 5 turnovers, but gave up 487 yards to the Bulldogs spread option offense, and in general the tackling was pretty sloppy. That will have to be improved. With the Bulldogs taken care of, the Jackets jump back into the ACC with a visit to Tallahassee.

Under every pre-season scenario that I looked at the Yellow Jackets season, I chalked this game up as a loss. Florida State might be crossing the line from inconsistent to just plain mediocre. The Jackets have an opportunity to join Miami and Virginia Tech as the class of the ACC. At the moment the Canes and Hokies are in my opinion just a little ahead of the Jackets. After those three it’s anyone’s guess.

The Jacket’s Nole’s rivalry once a upon a time was on it’s way to being the ACC’s marquee game. When FSU was steam rolling ACC opponents 9-10 years ago, the Jackets were the one team in the ACC to consistently play the Noles all 4 quarters. They never broke through back then. By the time the Jackets finally beat FSU last year, they hadn’t played each other in years, and the Noles were a shell of their former self. For a lot of Jacket fans though last year ended years of frustration after all those close losses in the late 90s and the early part of this decade.

The first game I ever attended as a Georgia Tech student was the 1992 game with Florida State. The 29-24 loss is the still the most frustrating loss I’ve ever attended. Charlie Ward was the Nole great leading the 4th quarter comeback, and for that last year seemed like poetic justice when FSU fumbled late going in for the winning touchdown.

It’s going to be tough down there for the Jacket’s. The Nole’s backs are against the wall, and they will be an unsightly 2-4 with a loss. Beware the wounded animal. This game scared me before the season started and it scares me now. 

Before Miami’s 31-7 loss to Virginia Tech, they were the talk of the nation. Was the U Back? They ran into a buzzsaw Saturday in Blacksburg, but that’s a good Cane’s team. They’ll be heard from again. Virginia Tech is never far from the discussion of best team in the ACC Coastal Division. After their win over Miami, they are the team to beat.

What about Georgia Tech? 

They came up with significant win Saturday, a 24-7 victory over #22 UNC. The Yellow Jackets win says to the rest of the ACC, they will be a factor in the ACC all year. 

After the Miami game, people were questioning the triple option offense and the defense was struggling. Tech was one game from being an afterthought. Make no mistake North Carolina is going to win a lot of games this year, and they still have Miami and Virginia Tech to play. For Georgia Tech though, this was an absolute must win. The Jackets would have been 1-2 in the ACC with a loss.

This is what I like about Paul Johnson, you might win one game against him, but he just doesn’t lose 2 games in a row. His team came out focused and ready to play. I figured the offense would eventually get their yards, but what really was good to see was the Georgia Tech defense play well. They really controlled the line of scrimmage against a very good defensive front for North Carolina. I think the switch to the 4-3-4 defense from the 4-2-5 defense allowed Tech to get more guys on the line of scrimmage, making it easier to throw in a blitz or two. The Tar Heels only had 17 yards rushing. DE Anthony Egbunwie who replaced the injured the Robert Hall was a nice complement to star DE Derrick Morgan and had a good game.

The offense made some strides today too. Somewhat hit or miss during the first three games of the year, they played consistent all day. The Yellow Jackets had 317 yards on the ground against a defense that was only giving up 52 yards a game rushing. Jonathan Dwyer had 158  yards on 19 carries. 

Next up for the Jackets is a tricky game at Mississippi State. Tech beat the Bulldogs last year 38-7, but I think MSU is a better team this year. Bulldog head coach Dan Mullen’s spread offense will be a challenge for the Jacket’s defense. They gave LSU all they could handle Saturday in a 30-26 loss. The Jackets will need another solid around effort to win in Starkville.

For the first time in Paul Johnson’s tenure at Georgia Tech, Johnson is facing a little bit of adversity. After an ugly 33-17 loss down in Miami last Thursday night, I ask the question What’s Wrong at Georgia Tech?

Maybe you think oh its just one game, but a disturbing trend is starting to be seen beginning with the Georgia game last year. This team just gives up too many points, UGA – 42, LSU – 38, don’t care about Jacksonville St, Clemson – 27, Miami – 33. That’s 35 points a game against the Jackets last four quality opponents. Miami also held the Georgia Tech rushing offense to 95 yards and 17 points.

This has put Johnson in the position of answering questions about his offense, and defense, with a tough UNC team coming to town that beat Georgia Tech 28-7 last year. If the Jackets fall to 1-2 in the ACC with losses to Miami and UNC, their ACC title chances are virtually gone before October. You’d be asking UNC and Miami to lose 3 times in the ACC, just to the win the tiebreaker, and you haven’t even played Virginia Tech yet. 

So what can Georgia Tech do? Was Miami just that much more ready to play?

Defensively, I say yes. Just like any game when you win the line of scrimmage you win the game. Miami did a fantastic job of staying at home and taking the dive play away. Remember though against a very good Clemson defense the Jackets ran for 301 yards. I’m not ready to give up on Paul Johnson’s offense yet. He just has too much experience to not make adjustments there. Give Miami credit they had the Tech game circled on their schedule.

Where I am really concerned is the defensive line. Wow Miami manhandled Tech upfront. Some Georgia Tech fans said their smaller d-linemen (none over 285) would actually have more success, because they would be quicker. I don’t buy that argument ever. You need size along the defensive line and the Jackets simply don’t have it. The linebackers aren’t making plays either. 

What can defensive coordinator Dave Wommack do? How about blitzing more? At least try to create some pressure. You get beat you get beat. You are getting scored on with what you are trying. Jacory Harris is playing lights out right now for Miami, but up next is T.J. Yates at North Carolina. He’s a pretty solid drop back passer as well. Give him time and Tech will give up another 300+ yards in the air.

I believe the offense will be fine, but if the defense doesn’t starting picking it up then Tech will be out of the ACC picture by the end of next weekend. I hope Wommack is working on something, because running his base 4 down linemen isn’t going to get it done.    

Lost in the excitement of the thrilling victory over Clemson are the significant contributions of two lesser-known Georgia Tech players in that game. Anthony Allen is a running back who has been sitting out for year due transfer. Scott Blair is a much-maligned FG kicker who was one of the Yellow Jackets biggest marks.

Allen, a transfer from Louisville, came to Georgia Tech with impressive credentials. He is the Louisville record holder for most rushing yards in a game at 275. Word around Tech was that Allen looked really good in practice. Jacket fans couldn’t wait to see him on the field. Thursday night showed what he’s capable of. He scored Georgia Tech’s first touchdown with an 82 yard TD run. He finished the game with 127 yards rushing on just 5 carries. He also made a critical 24 yard catch on a 3rd and 9 play on a drive that ended in a FG, that tied the score at 27. That brings me to the player who made the FG Scott Blair.

Scott Blair was 12 for 19 last year on FGs and didn’t have a made kick over 40 yards. He was coming off the previous game against Jacksonville St. where he missed a FG and had a failed XP try. I know I was getting nervous about Blair. Against Clemson though, Blair came through big time.

He nailed the game winning FG first off, but also hit his other 2 attempts. His kickoffs were high and deep helping control the great Clemson return men C.J. Spiller and Jacoby Ford. What else? He also threw a touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas on a fake FG. I believe this game will do wonders for Blairs confidence.

While RB Jonathan Dwyer gets a lot deserved publicity, and Demaryius Thomas is the All-ACC WR, the Yellow Jackets are getting contributions from less well known players as well. This will pay dividends as the year continues for Georgia Tech.   

Year after year Georgia Tech and Clemson play the most competitive series in the South.

Tonight was another classic. Georgia Tech nearly blows a 24 point lead to hold off a furious Clemson rally 30-27.

A couple of thoughts. Please no more questions about Paul Johnson’s offense. It was stuffed for 2 quarters, but he found a way to move the offense to 2 late FG’s. No more questions about Dabo Swinney either. He can coach.  

Clemson’s defense is great. You always hear about the DEs Bowers and Sapp, but the DB’s Chancellor and Butler are as good a pair of corners as you’ll see.

Both of these teams will be contenders in the ACC race all year long. I’ll be in Miami next week to see the Jackets take on the Canes. I’m hoping for a 3-0 start!