Georgia Tech notebook

Tech has registered 14 tackles for lost yardage in the past two games, in contrast to 21 in the first four games, and outside linebackers Anthony Egbuniwe, Steven Sylvester and Jeremiah Attaochu are showing up in the right places at the right times more frequently as per the defense's design.

Yet there are some hard-to-explain oddities.

Opponents have scored more points (49) in the third quarter than all others (30, 38, and 31 in the first, second and fourth), and Tech is surrendering 6.21 yards per rush in the third quarter. By contrast, the Jackets are allowing 2.21 yards per rush in the fourth quarter (3.85 in the first, and 4.39 in the second).

When faced with a third down and between 1 and 3 yards, Tech is allowing just 1.33 yards per rush. Opponents have run nine times for 12 yards in those situations, gaining two first downs.

"I don't know if the word 'simplified' is right," said defensive line coach Andy McCollum. "But a confused player cannot play as fast. We've taken some of the confusion out [of assignments and reads]."

Egbuniwe said, “It’s all about your eyes. Coach [Groh] said you can have 20-20 vision, but if you’re looking in the wrong place when you’re out there, you’re blind on the field. You’ve got to look at the right things, and read your keys.”

Line changes don’t bother QB

Quarterback Joshua Nesbitt said it doesn't matter to him when there are changes on the offensive line, where Austin Barrick will start at right tackle this week because of Phil Smith's ankle injury. That will be Tech's fifth combination of starting linemen in seven games.

Even if one lineman is capable of pulling quicker than another, Nesbitt said he has a bigger problem adjusting himself to the speed of the entire offense rather than that of individual teammates. He has to check his adrenaline.

“In games, I tend to get faster,” he said. “I have to slow myself down sometimes, but it doesn’t have anything to do with who’s playing the line.”

Drew Hill, trendsetter, returns

Tech's honorary captain Saturday will be Drew Hill, who proved long before Demaryius Thomas that a wide receiver can move from an overwhelmingly run-heavy attack at Tech to the NFL.

Hill, a Newnan native, played at Tech from 1975-78, and in his first three seasons the Jackets passed the ball even less than they do now. He led Tech in receptions as a junior in 1977 with seven. Tech attempted only 64 passes that season, eight fewer than this season's team has attempted.

Yet the 5-foot-9, 170-pound Hill was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the 12th round in 1979, and played 14 NFL seasons with the Rams, Oilers and Falcons. He finished with 634 receptions for 9,831 yards and 60 receiving touchdowns.

Hill is in the Tech Hall of Fame.