Johnson says whole team shoulder blame for loss

Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson said Monday that quarterback Josh Nesbitt shouldn’t have to shoulder the blame for Saturday’s loss.

Nesbitt fumbled twice in the third quarter, was sacked four times and was intercepted on Tech’s final drive as Virginia won 24-17.

“It’s like we told him today going over the film, as long as you learn from it, it’s not a loss,” Johnson said. “The kid’s played four games [actually five]. He hasn’t played. He can hardly set his damn feet when he goes back to throw, there’s somebody in his face every second. …

“There were a lot of guys who made a ton of mistakes that cost us the game — it wasn’t Josh Nesbitt,” Johnson continued. “You hope he gets better. If they [the turnovers] continue, you’ve got to give somebody else a chance.”

Johnson said backup Jaybo Shaw had a good week of practice last week and if he has another this week, “we may play him some. But it’s a feel thing.”

Injury update

Cornerback Jahi Word-Daniels (hamstring) and safety Dominique Reese (concussion-like symptoms) did not practice Monday and are considered day-to-day.

Johnson said Word-Daniels “is more of a reach” to play against Florida State this weekend.

Word-Daniels got hurt at Clemson and missed Saturday’s loss to Virginia. Reese missed the second half Saturday. Without those starters, Tech’s secondary got burned by Virginia quarterback Marc Verica; he hit 29 of 39 throws for 270 yards.

Only freshman wideout Tyler Melton, who injured his knee at Clemson, has been ruled out for Saturday.

Game info

Saturday’s 3:30 p.m. game against Florida State is nearly sold out, with only a handful of scattered tickets remaining. For tickets, call 1-888-832-4849.

Kickoff time for Tech’s Nov. 8 game at North Carolina won’t be announced until Sunday. ESPN/ABC is using its six-day option for that game and Clemson-Florida State.

The kickoff time and the network will be announced by noon Sunday.

Quarterback Mike Cox?

Tech’s starting fullback last year, Mike Cox, nearly found himself taking snaps in the NFL.

At halftime of the Kansas City Chiefs’ Oct. 19 loss to Tennessee, the rookie was told by his running backs coach he was next in line if third-string quarterback Tyler Thigpen was hurt.

Brodie Croyle and Damon Huard already had left with injuries, and Ingle Martin, the emergency quarterback at the time, wasn’t in uniform.

“I know the offense better than anyone on the team. I didn’t know if he was joking or not after Damon went down,” said Cox, a 6-foot, 252-pounder whose brother Lucas Cox plays A-back for the Jackets.

“The only quarterback left was Tyler. If he went down, I don’t know what all they would really do. I got a little nervous. I was like, ‘Is he kidding or not?’ “

Lucas Cox enjoyed the story.

“If I ever saw Michael Cox back there taking a snap, I would die,” he said. “I have absolutely no idea what he would do.”

Praise for Florida State

Former Auburn coach Pat Dye, a voter in The Sporting News’ Legends Poll, has high praise for Florida State. He ranks the Seminoles 10th in the country while putting Georgia Tech at No. 24.

“I think they could even beat Florida,” Dye said of the Seminoles. “They look like the old Florida State teams to me, with great speed and great defense. They’re running the ball much better and playing better defense than they have in the past few years.”

Big numbers

Safety Morgan Burnett stands alone.

The sophomore leads the nation with six interceptions after his first-quarter pick against Virginia. Five players are tied for second with five.

Burnett is closing in on the Tech record of nine, set by Jeff Ford in 1969 and tied by Willie Clay in 1991. He has intercepted one more pass this season than the entire team did last year.