The Daily Orange

Syracuse football players and fans are all too familiar with Georgia Tech's offensive attack and aggressive defense since the Yellow Jackets dropped the Orange 51-14 in December's Champs Sports Bowl.

It doesn't look like a fluke.

With many key players returning on offense and defense, Georgia Tech started 2-0 and is ranked No. 16 in the Associated Press poll. It is the first time the team has been ranked since 2001.

Head coach Chan Gailey, who's coached three teams in the NFL, took the position at GT in 2001. He is the only coach in Yellow Jackets history to guide the team to three bowl games in his first three years.

"Chan has done a tremendous job and got his team rolling," Connecticut head coach Randy Edsall said. "They are very talented and deserving of the ranking they have."

Edsall will have his hands full with Georgia Tech when the Huskies travel to Atlanta this weekend.

Much of the reason for the Yellow Jackets' early success is the play and leadership at the offensive skill positions. Junior quarterback Reggie Ball (4 total TDs, 1 interception) commands the balanced offense, surrounded by senior tailback P.J. Daniels (100 yards per game), senior receiver Damarius Bilbo (131 yards, 1 TD vs. North Carolina) and one of the most talented wide-outs in the country in sophomore Calvin Johnson (90 yards per game).

Saturday's win over UNC proved to be a breakthrough day for Bilbo and Ball, who reached career highs in catches and throwing yards, respectively.

"They have done a fantastic job of getting some outstanding athletes in their program," Edsall said.

When asked who jumps out at him from Georgia Tech, Edsall answered, "Where do you want me to start?"

That is what is so tough about the Yellow Jacket attack. Johnson draws double coverage as an outstanding 6-foot-4-inch receiver. He opens the field up for the 6-foot-3-inch Bilbo, as well as the running game for both Daniels and Ball.

"(Johnson) could get us open if he just stood there with two or three defenders on him," Bilbo said.

Bilbo also impressed UNC coach John Bunting.

"I'm not surprised; he's a good athlete," Bunting said. "He also completed a pass throwing it back to the quarterback. He's a talented guy."

Even with Bilbo excelling and double coverage on Johnson, it doesn't mean Johnson doesn't get his touches. Gailey explained that with Johnson demanding double coverage, other players like Bilbo get open. When they succeed, "then it opens up a little more for (Johnson)," Gailey said.

While the offense gets a lot of attention, the Georgia Tech defense is also playing extremely well. The defense has experienced players of its own, but its most outstanding asset is its speed. The unit forced eight turnovers in two games, and with the offense only giving the ball away on one interception, the Yellow Jackets have a great turnover margin of +3.5 per game. Gailey is pleased with the defense, especially its ability to force turnovers, which the group struggled with last year.

"We recruit defense first, and then the numbers that are left over we recruit offensively," Gailey said.

That must have some wondering how GT got all their weapons - especially Johnson - on offense.

"I mean I can't imagine that there's a better wide receiver in the country than him," Edsall said. "I'm sure everyone that is going to play against him (Johnson) was hoping that freshmen guys could leave after one year, but we don't have those rules in football."

Performers of the week

Ball's performance against North Carolina netted him the ACC Offensive Player of the Week. His career-high 320 yards passing was the most yards a Yellow Jacket has thrown for since 2001.

Gaines Adams of Clemson tore through the Terrapins with eight tackles, four of them for a loss of yards, and two and a half sacks. One sack came at the end of the game to stop Maryland's driving offense. Adams was awarded the Defensive Line Player of the Week.

While Maryland had trouble stopping Adams, the Terrapins had no problem getting the ball to tight end Vernon Davis. Davis was named National Tight End of the Week. He caught six balls for 140 yards, including a 29 yard touchdown reception.

Virginia Tech cornerback Roland Minor was the Defensive Back Player of the Week. He returned an interception 23 yards for a score, and was a part of a Hokie defense that surrendered a mere 35 yards of total offense to Duke.

Eagles in the spotlight

Former Big East member Boston College (AP No. 17) will host Florida State (No. 8) in a primetime matchup at 7:45 p.m. on ESPN.

The network's College Gameday, a weekly college football preview show, will broadcast from the BC campus.

This is the first real test for the Eagles since leaving the Big East, where it finished in a four-way tie for first place last year. Boston College is 2-0 after beating up BYU and Army. Expect the Eagles first ACC conference game to be a little more of a challenge than its first two contests this year. As of Wednesday, BC is a one-point underdog to the Seminoles.

Big weekend

The ACC and Big East clash in what should be three interesting contests this weekend. Virginia will face off against Syracuse in the Carrier Dome, Connecticut will travel to Georgia Tech and Rich Rodriguez leads the undefeated West Virginia Mountaineers to College Park to face Maryland.

"It's always a very big game on our schedule," Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen said. "It's a very intense rivalry, and it ought to be another good football game."

In what could be the best game during the weekend of great matchups, the No. 20 Clemson Tigers will host No. 13 Miami at 3:30 p.m. on ABC. Miami, which is 0-1, is trying to avoid its first 0-2 start in 27 years. Look for the Hurricanes to be crisper after having 11 days to think about the dismal loss to Florida State, in which Miami scored seven points.

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