Georgia Tech's special season taking form

1. DEFENSE: This might be the first time Georgia Tech's defense has ever been one of the short takes ... well, at least in a positive way. The Jackets allowed Miami to drive for long touchdowns on two of its first three possessions, but gave up only three points the rest of the game. They forced two turnovers, nearly had two others (Miami twice had fumbles reversed on replay) and often pressured quarterback Brad Kaaya, sacking him twice. The Hurricanes also rushed for 107 yards, including 24 in the second half, after Tech's defense had been allowing an ACC worst 194.2 per game through the first four games.

2. OFFENSE: You know what else helps a team's defense? When a team's offense keeps the opponent's offense on the sideline. The  Jackets, who rush for 318 yards, had an incredible 40 minutes, 45 seconds in possession time -- more than doubling Miami's possession time (19:15). It helps that Tech, which had fumbling problems early in the season, did not turn the ball over, the offensive line has evolved into a strength and quarterback Justin Thomas continues to make the correct reads on the option. Zach Laskey led the Jackets with 133 yards rushing.

3. IT'S ALL SET UP: Coach Paul Johnson isn't assuming anything. But he likes his team, believes it's getting better and there's no question things set up nicely for the Jackets the rest of the season. After beating Virginia Tech and Miami, the consensus two best teams in the ACC Coastal Division, Tech could be favored in its next five conference games: Duke, at North Carolina, at Pittsburgh, Virginia, at North Carolina State. The Jackets close their ACC schedule  Nov. 15 against Clemson. There certainly is a better feeling about this Tech team than any since the ACC title team of 2009.

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