Yellow Jackets creating a buzz

At 2-0, Georgia Tech is yet to be tested, which is remarkable since one of its victories came against Notre Dame. Last week's 69-14 win over Samford was a controlled scrimmage, but the 33-3 win over Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., drew some attention.

Which is why Boston College has no problem staying focused for Saturday night's game against the Yellow Jackets in Atlanta's Bobby Dodd Stadium. Tech may be the best team in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Yellow Jackets made it to the ACC title game against Wake Forest last season, but lost, 9-6. They are meeting BC for the first time in the three seasons the Eagles have been in the conference.

But the Yellow Jackets' running game is no mystery. Senior tailback Tashard Choice has picked up 306 yards and run for four touchdowns in the first two games, which leads the ACC and is ninth overall in the country. Sophomore Jamal Evans had one touchdown and 60 yards, and freshman Jonathan Dwyer picked up 138 yards and scored three touchdowns against Samford.

"They haven't had to throw the ball much, so I'm a little nervous what their quarterback can do," said BC linebacker Jolonn Dunbar, referring to Tech's Taylor Bennett.

Bennett hasn't had to do much more than hand off in the Yellow Jackets' first two games, but coach Chan Gailey said that while there might be some new twists, the basics should not be a surprise. "We're going to run the ball and we're going to blitz a lot," said Gailey, who acknowledged Tech would have its own problems dealing with an Eagles offense led by Matt Ryan, who has thrown six touchdown passes.

Boston College has scored 75 points in its first two games against ACC opponents.

"It's a test for our pass defense and our pass rush," said Gailey. "The thing that is unique about Boston College is that they are a dual-threat offense. They can run it, and run it well, and they can throw it, and throw it well. That's one of the reasons that they are 2-0 against good football teams."

Gailey conceded that the one-sided nature of both victories -the Yellow Jacket starters barely played a half against Samford - allowed Tech to use only part of its playbook.

"We have some things that we haven't done, and that we will be doing, not only in this week but in weeks to come," said Gailey. "You can't throw all those things that you've practiced in the spring and in the preseason out there in one week, so we will be doing some different things."

One BC strength stands out for Gailey.

"They are physical," he said. "They are extremely physical. The other thing that happens is that when you get a lead, the other team is throwing it every down. Then every time they get a sack, that's negative rush yards. But they are very physical. Their front seven are big and strong, and it'll be a challenge for our offensive line. We aren't the biggest people in the world."

Gailey said the difference between a Jeff Jagodzinski-coached team and one run by former BC coach Tom O'Brien is the offense.

"The defenses are the same," he said. "Offensively, they are a little more diverse. There is a little more formation, personnel groupings - and things like that are unique to Jeff and what he's trying to do. You can really see the influence of the pro game in his stuff over the past two or three years, and what he's brought to Boston College. The unique thing to me is that they are a team that has changed coaches, yet hasn't missed a beat."

Neither has Tech, which is ranked No. 15 - the highest of any ACC team - and has hardly missed a step even though marquee wide receiver Calvin Johnson went to the Detroit Lions. Tech returns an offensive line with four two-year starters and a deep pool of talented running backs, as well as an aggressive defense with eight returning starters.

Tech is clearly a cut above Wake Forest and North Carolina State, and Jagodzinski and the Eagles know it.

"We're going to have our work cut out for us," said Dunbar after looking at the tapes of Tech's first two games. "But we're looking forward to it."

Mark Blaudschun can be reached at blaudschun@globe.com.