Georgia Tech Setting Sights on ACC title

CNNSI.com said they'd go 3-9. Athlon Sports said they only had three projected sure wins. Even typically Georgia Tech-friendly CollegeFootballNews.com had the Jackets going 6-6.

Media types questioned whether coach Paul Johnson's triple option offense would succeed in a BCS conference. In addition, the Jackets were only returning only nine starters from last year's 7-6 team.

It was probably going to be a forgettable season on the flats.

But a current No. 21 rank in the AP and ESPN/USA polls makes Georgia Tech the highest ranked ACC team in college football. Success wasn't supposed to happen for at least a couple of years, but Paul Johnson and his staff had other ideas.

The Yellow Jackets are right in the thick of the ACC title chase. They still have to hope Virginia Tech loses one more ACC game to clear a path to conference title game, but if you've seen the Hokies' offense lately, you know it is a real possibility.

So how have the Yellow Jackets been so successful?

Let's start with the defensive line. They are the ACC's best front four and arguably one of the five most talented in the nation. According to NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper, Jr. The Jackets have three players—Vance Walker, Michael Johnson, and Darryl Richards—who will all be drafted within the first three rounds of next year's NFL draft.

Possibly the most talented of the bunch is sophomore defensive end Derrick Morgan, who chose Georgia Tech over Penn State a couple of years ago.

This defense leads the nation in tackles for loss with a whopping nine per game, and rarely with the benefit of a blitz in David Wommack's defensive schemes. In addition, safety Morgan Burnett is tied for the most interceptions in college football. The defense is getting turnovers, and hasn't allowed a single team to score more than 20 points against them.  

On offense, the Jackets have started three different quarterbacks through seven games due to injury. This certainly is not exactly a recipe for success, but Paul Johnson is making it work.

Starter Josh Nesbitt is still a work in progress, but his potential is limitless. At 6'1", 210 pounds with 4.5 speed, Nesbitt was made for this offense. He did miss a month of football due to a hamstring injury, but his cool demeanor and will to win was evident in his game-winning touchdown pass to wide receiver Demaryius Thomas in the Jackets' 21-17 victory at Clemson.

Speaking of Thomas, he had 230 receiving yards against Duke. Who says a Paul Johnson offense doesn't reward wide receivers?

Backup quarterback Jaybo Shaw is a little more polished at running the offense than Nesbitt, and has led the team to wins over Mississippi St. and Duke. He doesn't have Nesbitt's physical gifts, but he's a very capable backup. Finally, the ACC's leading running back, Jonathan Dwyer, might be the best combination of speed and power in the conference.

What might be more important than the individual players is the mindset Coach Paul Johnson brought to this team. His faith in the offense is unwavering, and he demands the best of his players. A two-time national champion at Georgia Southern and five straight bowl game appearances at Navy prove Johnson is a winner.

Before the Clemson game, Paul Johnson was asked if he was happy about the surprising 5-1 start, and he stated, "I wouldn't have taken it." That about says it all.