Following Georgia Tech’s 35-28 win over North Carolina on Saturday, Yellow Jackets quarterback Tevin Washington was asked if he thought the thin pass coverage he had been facing would continue. Not a fool, Washington said he hoped so.
“Until they start respecting the pass, we’ll keep hitting big pass plays,” said Washington, sitting next to his playmaking partner, wide receiver Stephen Hill.
What would have been laughable a year ago barely registered Saturday. Tech is not throwing any more than it did last season or in any of coach Paul Johnson’s first three seasons at Tech. The Jackets are just doing it better by an almost improbable degree.
Other key benchmarks are slightly improved, although against a slightly tougher schedule. For example, Tech had already played two ACC games by this point last year.
Through four games, Tech has only one fewer fumble and lost fumble than it did a year ago through the same span, 11 and five compared with 10 and four, respectively. They had an even turnover margin after four games in 2010, but have a plus-3 margin this year. Penalties are down 38 percent in number and a hair less in yardage.
On defense, Tech is giving up 5.1 yards per play and has forced eight turnovers. Last year, the numbers were 5.4 and six.
Tech’s per-play rushing average is better at 7.2, but was hardly shabby last year at 5.9 after four games.
The big difference is almost everything about the passing game. After four games a year ago, Tech was 15-for-45 for 320 yards and three touchdowns against one interception. The lone interception might be the only similarity. After four games this season, the Jackets are 31-for-47 for 927 yards and eight touchdowns with one interception. They have the highest passing efficiency rating in the country.
Tech averages 19.7 yards per attempt — highest in the country — compared with 7.1 last year.
After finishing last season as the least accurate team in the country, completing 38.1 percent of its passes, Washington is on track to challenge the single-season school record for completion percentage. He’s 27-for-42 (64.3 percent), a tick below Joe Hamilton’s 66.6 percent in 1999.
The protection has been considerably better, and Washington has proved better at delivering passes on target than Joshua Nesbitt was. Hill’s play, which placed him on the Biletnikoff Award watch list Friday, is vastly improved. After the win over North Carolina, Hill noted how he scouts opposing defenses on video during the week, studying coverage schemes and individual defensive backs.
Before the Kansas game, center Jay Finch noted the rapport that developed over the summer between Washington and receivers, as well as the line and Washington.
“Quarterbacks can trust the receivers to know that he’s going to look right when he’s supposed to catch the ball,” he said. “There’s trust all around with Tevin and us to keep defenders away from his feet. [The trust] makes everything run.”
And pass.
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