Nesbitt shows off passing skills

By Ned Barnette

For the AJC

DURHAM, N.C. -- Georgia Tech quarterback Josh Nesbitt says he doesn’t mind the perception that Tech is mostly legs and little arm. After all, Tech has the second most productive rushing game in the nation.

But Saturday against Duke, Nesbitt got to go to the air. He enjoyed it. Duke didn’t.

Nesbitt was a crisp 6-for-10 with no interceptions while throwing for 195 yards and two touchdowns. His 289.9 passing-efficiency rating was the second-best single-game total in school history.

“It felt good throwing the ball,” Nesbitt said.

Figuring out the passing-efficiency rating is complicated. Nesbitt’s passes, though, were simple and direct. He called his 32-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Stephen Hill late in the first half his best pass of the season.

Tech coach Paul Johnson said his team went to the air because it had an advantage: Tech’s receivers were taller than Duke’s corners.

“The corners were out there on those receivers man-to-man by themselves,” he said. “We had a huge height advantage, so we tried to throw some up deep and take advantage of that. Stephen Hill made a great catch.”

Said Nesbitt, “I just put it up and give them a chance to go get it -- and I know they’ll go get it.”

Duke linebacker Vincent Rey said it was hard to contain a team that struck a fine balance between passing and running.

“They are very good,” he said. “Offensively, they run their scheme close to perfect. You have to play close-to-perfect defense. ... They did a good job of selling the pass and then handing the ball off.”

Nesbitt said a good passing game isn’t about pressing.

“You just have to be patient,” he said, “and take whatever they give.”

On Saturday, Duke gave up a generous 519 yards -- 306 rushing, 213 passing.

Nesbitt said he doesn’t mind whether people think Tech is a rushing machine.

“You never get tired of scoring and and winning,” he said. But he added, “It was good for our team to show off my arm and put the defense on their heels a little bit.”