The 2-2 Virginia Cavaliers travel to Atlanta Saturday to meet the 3-2 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Former Wahoo skipper Al Groh, the poet and the pilot will be calling the shots on defense for the Rambling Wreck. I for one am just glad he’s gone, and is now someone else’s problem.
Georgia Tech runs the triple-option, and quarterback Josh Nesbitt is the perfect guy for commanding this type of extremely difficult-to-defend attack. They are the only team in the ACC that runs this offense, and off the top of my head the only other schools in FBS that run it are Air Force, Army, and Navy. The Naval Academy is where Tech’s coach Paul Johnson was the head coach from 2002-2007. Wake Forest employs a run-heavy attack, but it’s not exactly a true option, wishbone offense.
Tech leads the ACC in rushing offense with almost 300 yards per game. Their 267 rushing attempts also leads the ACC, and GT has only thrown the ball 66 times in five games. Crazy numbers for the modern day.
Tech’s pass defense is middle of the pack this season, and if Virginia is going to have a chance Saturday the Wahoos must be much more proficient moving the ball down field. Groh’s 3-4 defense is not exactly clicking on all cylinders yet for Georgia Tech.
Virginia is third in the conference in passing yards average, which is much higher than I would have thought at this point in the season. Verica is still the starter for the time being, but look for redshirt freshman Ross Metheny to get some time at the quarterback position if Verica becomes interception prone again, something that has certainly plagued him during his tenure. Verica has looked quite solid at times so far in 2010, but has made bad decisions in the red zone, and he tries to force the ball into his receivers at times.
Speaking of receivers, Virginia’s Kris Burd has been an outstanding weapon for offensive coordinator Bill Lazor’s balanced attack. Burd leads the Hoos in every single receiving category. He has one TD catch in each of Virginia’s first four contests. Dontrelle Inman has also been playing well for the Hoos this season. Senior TE Joe Torchia’s surgically-repaired shoulder has been re-injured, and he’s out for the GT game.
Can Virginia get back to winning? Can the Hoos shake off the terrible effects of that disastrous outing last week against the Seminoles? Two years ago Verica had an outstanding game in Atlanta and upset Georgia Tech at home. Unless Keith Payne and Perry Jones have HUGE games for Virginia I just don’t see Jim Reid’s defense shutting down the option attack of Josh Nesbitt. If Tech turns the ball over three or four times, something that is possible in the crazy option offense, and if UVA can stay in their defensive lanes, the Hoos could surprise Tech and come out with an improbable win.
More likely, Georgia Tech wins 35-17. Go Hoos!
