Keys for Georgia Tech vs. North Carolina

As noted earlier this week, the Jackets beat substantial odds to beat Pitt despite giving the ball away that frequently (and allowing a punt return for a touchdown).

“It’s clearly something we’ve got to get better at, or it’s going to cost us a game, no question about it,” Johnson said.

2. Stay healthy

Short of running away from contact, there's obviously no way of ensuring an injury-free game. But the Tech offensive line, which has played particularly well thus far, is in a position where an injury to any of the five starters would put the Jackets in a position of inserting a player who, at the least, lacks significant experience. With offensive tackles Andrew Marshall and Jahaziel Lee declared out, the next player in if there's an injury to a tackle or guard will probably be sophomore walk-on Bailey Ivemeyer, whose experience has mostly consisted of playing at the end of blowout wins. Ivemeyer may prove up to the task, but it's reasonable to conclude that Johnson isn't eager to have to find that out on Saturday.

3. Keep Surratt in the pocket

North Carolina has run into trouble on third down, where the Tar Heels have converted 31.5 percent of their third downs. Tech, meanwhile, has been strong defensively on third down after finishing 126th in FBS last year at 49.2 percent. The Jackets rank 14th at 26.5 percent through games. One way they can continue to build on this strength is to keep quarterback Chazz Surratt from making plays with his feet in passing situations. That means the edge rushers like Anree Saint-Amour and Antonio Simmons not taking angles that are too wide and the defensive tackles such as Kyle Cerge-Henderson and Desmond Branch pushing up the pocket. Surratt is a dual-threat quarterback who can run draws and keepers. He has nine runs of 10 yards or more, fifth in the ACC.