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Home > Terence Moore > Archives > 2008 > September > 13
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Ga. Tech shows winning potential in loss
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Blacksburg, Va. — Who cares that Georgia Tech spent its season opener manhandling Jacksonville State? Winning at Boston College was impressive, but flukes do happen, you know. So, with Virginia Tech across the way, this was the test on Saturday inside orange-and-loud Lane Stadium to see whether the triple-option era of Paul Johnson with the Yellow Jackets is more the present than the future.
It’s the present.
Definitely the present.
That said, if the Jackets can do something about silly penalties and brutal turnovers while continuing their rapid growth in Johnson’s offense, they’ll become a force in the ACC. As for now, they are just a neo-force at 2-1 overall and 1-1 in the conference after a needless 20-17 loss to Virginia Tech.
“Seems like our toughest enemy is ourselves,” said Tech fullback Lucas Cox, telling the truth, after the Hokies’ game-winning field goal down the stretch was spurred by the Jackets getting flagged for two personal fouls on the drive.
But enough of the bad stuff for the moment. Let’s return to the coming-out party for Johnson’s beloved offense. It was effective in mighty spurts courtesy of Josh Nesbitt’s legs and arm. We mention his arm with an asterisk, though. The few times he threw (eight, to be exact), he was mostly highly effective. His passes produced 109 yards, mostly to wide-open receivers, and the easiest 41-yard catch and run for a touchdown you’ll ever see. He also lost two fumbles and threw an interception.
Even so, this isn’t the same Nesbitt or set of Jackets who couldn’t separate an A-back from a B-back, Z-back or camelback in spring practices.
“I almost have the offense down pat now,” said Nesbitt, a soft-spoken sophomore who is threatening to speak loudly with his play. “I understand all the reads. I understand the responsibility I have. It’s the little things I have to work on. My footwork. Making the right reads. Being more of a leader in the huddle.”
Courtesy of Nesbitt’s maturation, Johnson was comfortable enough in just his third game on the job at Tech to throw the full force of his offense against an opponent for the first time. He ran the triple option a little in the Jackets’ first two games, but he ran it “80 percent of the time,” according to Nesbitt, against the Hokies.
Not only that, it was working, when Nesbitt wasn’t fumbling.
Translated: Nesbitt remains a work in progress with this offense. Even so, you kept seeing his promise with all of his crisp pitches for long gains. Plus, he executed the offense so perfectly before halftime that he ran his way to first downs on third-and-11, third-and-12 and third-and-six.
There also was the shock factor of Johnson’s offense regarding the pass. Since it was so rarely seen on the sun-splattered afternoon, the Hokies weren’t ready when it appeared. So Roddy Jones had nobody within a Virginia pine of him during his 41-yard trip to the end zone in the second quarter. The play gave the Jackets a 9-7 lead, but Virginia Tech eventually pulled ahead 17-9 in the fourth quarter.
Just like that, the Jackets needed a triple-option something. They got it when Nesbitt tight-roped his way down the sideline for an 18-yard touchdown. He followed that by tossing a pass to a lonely Cox in the end zone for the two-point conversion and a 17-17 tie to show how far and fast Johnson’s offense has come.
It will go further and faster when Nesbitt can pitch the mistakes away.
