Whether it is the Miami Dolphins’ Wildcat formation or Georgia Tech’s Triple Option, old school seems to be the new fad in football these days.
Even though this style of play is well documented in college football history, No. 18 Georgia Tech (6-1, 3-1 ACC) has found a way to stump many a defense en route to its first-place standing in the ACC Coastal Division. Stopping this formation must be a priority if Virginia (4-3, 2-1 ACC) wishes to extend its three-game winning streak Saturday in Atlanta.
The triple option formation includes two running backs in the backfield, and gives the quarterback the choice to toss the football to either back or even run it himself.
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets’ throwback style, however, does not appear to faze Virginia coach Al Groh.
“That style of offense has a long history,” Groh said. “Some years back, it was the prevalent style of play, so it’s not as if something’s been invented that never worked before.”
Georgia Tech, led by sophomore quarterback Josh Nesbitt, has executed this offense to near perfection thus far. The Yellow Jackets lead the ACC in rushing, averaging 248.1 yards per game, 145 more yards than Virginia.
Georgia Tech features a multi-faceted rushing attack, led by sophomore running back Jonathan Dwyer, who runs for an ACC-leading 97.7 yards per game. Dwyer’s production is complemented by Nesbitt’s athletic ability at quarterback, as evidenced by his rushing average of more than 73 yards per game in the five contests he has played in this season. Georgia Tech’s ground attack is so effective and nuanced that Nesbitt has not attempted more than 13 passes in a single game and has not completed more than six.
Still, Groh recognizes how dangerous the Yellow Jackets can be when they elect to pass.
“They’re very high in the conference in passing efficiency,” Groh said. “Getting back to the old wishbone history, when Oklahoma, Texas and those teams were really running wild with it, it was always the play-option pass that seemed to break everything open.”
Despite this dynamic offensive assault, Groh does not think his team needs to change its entire style of play.
“Coaches will say that this is ‘assignment football,’” Groh said, “but what does that mean last week was? Everybody for himself? Just run around and try to make tackles? It was the same thing. Whatever the run is — whether it’s a power run, a toss-sweep and option play — there’s a way that the defense is designed to fit on the play.”
Nevertheless, Virginia must find a way to improve its run defense against Georgia Tech, as the Cavaliers are 10th worst in this category in the ACC. In Virginia’s four wins this season, the Cavaliers have only allowed about 88 yards per game on the ground, compared to the almost 225 rushing yards per game it has allowed in its three losses.
It may not help Virginia that senior linebacker Antonio Appleby may be absent for Saturday’s game. Appleby is Virginia’s second leading tackler.
Perhaps the emergence of junior linebacker Darren Childs can help fill the void on defense for the Cavaliers. Childs replaced Appleby at linebacker when he left the game with an injury against North Carolina in the first quarter.
“This [was] the biggest game of my life, without question,” Childs said.
Childs has been appreciative of the opportunity to display his big-hitting abilities on the field.
“After you haven’t played for about 3.5 years — last time you played an actual full game — and you do it in a good fashion, it’s kind of like a big deal,” Childs said. “It’s a good feeling; that’s all I can say.”
Childs is not the only Cavalier who feels reinvigorated by his recent play. Sophomore quarterback Marc Verica has enjoyed great success during the team’s winning streak, as well.
“Not a lot of people would’ve thought we’d be in this position after we went down to Durham [to play against Duke], but, you know, now we are,” Verica said. “We’re not content, we’re not satisfied and we’re just going to continue to work hard. If we take it one game at a time, maybe we will find ourselves in position to really do something big this season.”
Verica will try to take another step Saturday against Georgia Tech; however, he faces a challenge he has yet to overcome — winning on the road.
“Just executing right off the bat would really help us — sustaining drives, establishing something — because when you do that, you can really take the crowd out of it,” Verica said.
Virginia’s inability to sustain drives and perform well early plagued the team on the road against Connecticut and Duke. Whether by turnovers — Virginia had eight in the two games — or having to resort to field goals, the Cavaliers found difficulty in establishing rhythm in their previous road conquests.
But after gaining confidence by winning three consecutive games at home and demonstrating an ability to come from behind to win against a ranked opponent, this Virginia team may be more prepared now to battle on ACC opponents’ home turf.
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