GEORGIA TECH: Jackets strive for championship

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Georgia Tech didn’t stay out of the Top 25 for long.
The Yellow Jackets re-entered after a one-week hiatus, placing No.20 in the USA Today’s coaches poll and No. 22 in the AP mediapoll. Tech also ranked 20th in the BCS standings.
Tech’s heartstopping 31-28 win over Florida State thisweekend sets up a noon showdown on Saturday. The Jackets (7-2, 4-2)visit North Carolina (6-2, 2-2), ranked No. 19 in both polls. Theyare two of five Coastal Division teams with two losses; for now,everyone is chasing Tech.
The Jackets became bowl eligible for the 12th straight year, butdefensive end Michael Johnson said that was never the goal.“That’s old news, going to a bowl,” he said.“We want to compete for championships around here.That’s the attitude we want to have and the way we want tocarry ourselves, not just going to a bowl. That’snothing.”
Here are five things that emerged about Tech and the ACC from theweekend:
1. Nesbitt can take charge
Some fans clamored for quarterback Jaybo Shaw after JoshNesbitt’s three turnovers in the loss to Virginia.
But Nesbitt demonstrated Saturday why coaches never wavered.Nesbitt was in total command until he turned his ankle on athird-quarter keeper.
He threw accurately (4 of 5 for 55 yards), ran hard (61 yards on 14carries) and did not turn the ball over. And he made good optionreads, creating long runs by Jonathan Dwyer, Roddy Jones and MarcusWright.
Shaw played brilliantly against Mississippi State and Duke. AgainstFlorida State, he ran seven times for 5 yards and underthrew hisonly pass for an interception. Coach Paul Johnson remains confidentin Shaw; the true freshman will be needed in Chapel Hill ifNesbitt’s ankle doesn’t heal.
2. Defense is showing cracks
After giving up 11.6 points in their first five games againstDivision I teams, the Jackets have allowed an average of 26 pointsthe past two weeks. Tech blew an early 11-point lead againstVirginia and nearly lost an 11-point fourth-quarter lead to FSU.
“We keep on letting people get back in the game,”Johnson said. “[This offense is] putting up points for us.We’ve just got to do a better job of keeping people off thescoreboard.”
3. Special teams steps up
Georgia Tech brought the ACC’s worst kickoff return unit andone of the top kickoff coverage units to Saturday’s game. Youwouldn’t have known that by the way they performed.
The Jackets’ revamped return unit unleashed Roddy Jones for46 yards on its first chance and averaged 29.3 yards.
On the flip side, kicker Scott Blair made three more tackles onkickoffs, giving him eight this season. FSU averaged 26.3 yards andbroke a 64-yarder in which Blair barely saved a touchdown.
“We’ve worked so hard on that dang kickoffreturn,” Johnson said.
4. It’s not a strong 7-2
Five of Tech’s six ACC games have been decided by sevenpoints or fewer. Every game seems to come down to one or twofourth-quarter plays.
Safety Cooper Taylor made the biggest one Saturday, forcing alast-minute fumble that Rashaad Reid recovered in Tech’s endzone.
“This team is probably good enough to win most of theirgames, all their games, and they also can lose every game,”Johnson said. “We’re not a dominant football team oneither side of the ball; we’re not. But we have some goodplayers, and when we play hard and play fundamentally sound, Ithink we can play with anyone on our schedule.
“And hopefully we’ll keep getting better.”
5. Look out for the ‘Canes
Miami has won four straight after an improbable 24-17 victory atVirginia.
The Hurricanes needed a desperation 26-yard touchdown pass fromJacory Harris to Laron Byrd to force overtime. Harris threw anotherscoring pass in overtime, then Miami stripped the ball fromVirginia tailback Cedric Peerman.
Miami (6-3, 3-2) helped Georgia Tech by giving Virginia its secondloss. The Hurricanes can help the Jackets again Nov. 13, when theyhost Virginia Tech. Miami visits Bobby Dodd Stadium on Nov. 20.