Yellow Jackets on the run

There are a couple certainties leading up to Saturday’s pivotal showdown at Scott Stadium. Virginia (3-3, 2-0 ACC) has history on its side, having won every home affair since the monumental collapse in 1990.
Quarterback Jameel Sewell, nursing a sore ankle, practiced fully on Wednesday with the Cavaliers and deems himself ready to play.
Another given is that Georgia Tech quarterback Josh Nesbitt will run. And he will run some more.
One of the most versatile performers in the nation, Nesbitt spearheads the triple-option Yellow Jacket offense that has churned out yardage at a staggering clip.
Georgia Tech (6-1, 4-1 ACC) ranks second in the country in rushing, averaging 281.6 yards per game.
Individually, Nesbitt ranks 34th in the country and has amassed 625 yards on the ground through seven games and has operated the option fluidly.
“As in any system, the quarterback position is the key, and decision-making is one of the significant talents,” Virginia coach Al Groh said. “Those things that are evident to observers from a distance, whether they’re throwing it overhand or throwing it underhand on options, people from a distance just see the physical skills. But the decision-making process is one of the primary skills in being a really good quarterback, and the decisions that the option quarterbacks have to make come so quickly, frequently within a split second of the ball being snapped, and right at the line of scrimmage as opposed to further back.
“I’d say that one is more difficult than the other, but one happens faster than the other.
And so accumulated experience in that type of system, fast decision system, option offense, it’s really critical to a player being able to play well. So it’s very, very evident that Josh is now a season and a half into this offense as opposed to a half season the last time that we saw him.”
Nesbitt made history earlier this season, running for over 100 yards in back-to-back games, but he has sprinkled in a passing attack at times. That may not sneak into the game plan, however, against Virginia’s strong pass defense.
“He can certainly throw the ball when it is called,” Virginia linebacker Denzel Burrell said. “You never know when it might be coming so you have to be ready for it at all times.”
While many of the concepts from Georgia Tech’s offense remain the same, tweaks have been put in place. Some of that has led to fewer carries at fullback and a greater number of attempts from Nesbitt.
Jonathan Dwyer, the Yellow Jackets’ top tailback, is used quite frequently but ranks behind Nesbitt in yardage and carries.
Regardless, Georgia Tech is 12th in the BCS standings and will win the Coastal Division should it win the final three league games.
“I would say they’re certainly bright enough not to diminish [Dwyer’s] effectiveness in the offense,” Groh said, “but what has increased is the overall contribution and effectiveness of the quarterback.”