BC facing an offense with power to run it up
The genius is in its simplicity, which ironically makes it complicated. Say hello to the triple option offense Boston College will encounter when it meets Georgia Tech in Saturday afternoon's home opener at Alumni Stadium.
It is old-fashioned football, with a running back - called the B-back - directly behind the quarterback, where the fullback would line up in most offenses. Lined up next to the B-back, set on the inside shoulders of the tackles, are the A-backs in this run-dominated scheme, which does not require great speed or size, but rather precision and discipline.
"These guys create unique problems," said BC defensive coordinator Frank Spaziani, whose job is to contain an attack that produced 349 rushing yards in last Thursday's 41-14 win over Jacksonville State.
Spaziani knows he has better athletes than Jacksonville State, but he also knows Georgia Tech's offense can create havoc for any defense that has even the slightest breakdown.
"What it does is make you spend all your time preparing for assignments," said Spaziani. "You simply have to be at the right place at the right time. Everybody has to do their job."
Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson won a pair of Division 1-AA national championships at Georgia Southern and turned Navy into a tough matchup for every defensive coordinator the Midshipmen faced in six years in Annapolis, Md.
"Our system is not much different from what everyone else is running," said Johnson, who was hired last December to replace Chan Gailey, who produced six straight seasons of seven or more wins but basically was fired for going 0-6 against Georgia. "But they're doing it from the shotgun and we're doing it from under center."
To run the offense successfully, you need a versatile quarterback and a sturdy B-back, who gets hit on almost every play, whether it's carrying the ball or diving into the line of scrimmage on a fake.
Last season under Johnson, Navy averaged a scant 10 passes per game. Still, the quick-strike capability was evident, as the Midshipmen produced 22 touchdown drives of two minutes or less.
Against Jacksonville State, Georgia Tech had six TD drives of six or fewer plays, each consuming three minutes or less.
Johnson's offense is not for everyone. When Gailey left and Johnson arrived, quarterback Taylor Bennett, wide receiver D.J. Donley, and tight end Colin Peck transferred, which left the offense in the hands of quarterback Josh Nesbitt and B-back Jonathan Dwyer, as well as tackle Andrew Gardner, who was named Atlantic Coast Conference offensive lineman of the week for his efforts in the Jacksonville State game.
Johnson, who can be a disciplinarian, said he is intrigued by the preparation necessary to be a successful coach.
"I enjoy the chess matches of the games," said Johnson. "It's one of my favorite things about coaching."
In Spaziani, Johnson faces a veteran coordinator who also excels at football's version of chess.
Spaziani has emphasized the need for each of his players to complete his assignment properly Saturday.
"[Johnson's] good, very good," said Spaziani, who said that facing Navy the past few years has helped him prepare for Georgia Tech. "But it takes a lot of discipline. It's different than what you are used to [when preparing for games]."
Spaziani knows the Eagles will also have to deal with the Yellow Jackets' cut blocking. It is close to chop blocking, which could draw penalty flags - and cause serious injuries.
In practice this week, the Eagles' defenders are focusing on getting to their spots and waiting, rather than flowing with the ball. A mistake in judgment could result in a touchdown.
Saturday's game is at noon, with the gates opening two hours before kickoff . . . BC did not have a penalty or a turnover in last Saturday's 21-0 win over Kent State. The last time the Eagles were not flagged was Nov. 17, 1979, in a 27-10 win against Syracuse . . . Quarterback Chris Crane's two rushing touchdowns against Kent State matched the number Matt Ryan had last season Eagles running back Jeff Smith (shoulder) and defensive back DeLeon Gause (ankle) returned to practice yesterday.
Mark Blaudschun can be reached at blaudschun@globe.com. 