Jackets face challenge at Virginia

Georgia Tech will seek its third win of the season and its second in ACC play Saturday at Scott Stadium, Virginia’s unforgiving abode.

To defeat the Cavaliers, in pursuit of their first Coastal Division championship, would take a heavy undertaking.

Here’s what to watch for during Tech’s attempt: Major challenge at quarterback

Tech defensive coordinator Andrew Thacker made his respect for Virginia quarterback Bryce Perkins clear when he referred to him as “one of the best players in our conference, period.” Thacker compared Perkins to Heisman Trophy winners Tim Tebow and Cam Newton because of his unorthodox throwing motion, the difficulty in tackling him due to his size (6 feet 3 and 215 pounds) and the fact that, “as the momentum of the game continues to go, he gets better and better and better. So, an unbelievably huge challenge.”

This season, Tech has not faced the likes of Perkins, who has gained 596 rushing yards (while losing 209 yards, much of it from sacks), run for seven touchdowns and averaged 241 passing yards per game with a 64.3% completion rate.

Tightly defending underneath routes, tackling well and not letting him find creases in the pass rush will be high priorities.

Eyes on James Graham

Tech quarterback James Graham came into last Saturday’s game against Pittsburgh after an excellent set of practices, but he never found his rhythm against the Panthers.

His second throw would have gained a first down but was dropped. After that, he missed on a few throws and “kind of started playing on his heels,” offensive coordinator Dave Patenaude said.

After completing two of nine passes, he was replaced by Lucas Johnson at halftime. Johnson was knocked out of the game and Graham returned.

This Saturday will be a test of the redshirt freshman’s resiliency. Patenaude said Graham was “moping around” on Sunday before Patenaude told him that nothing more could be done about the loss, “so let’s learn from what you didn’t do well and let’s move on.”

Graham practiced well Tuesday, Patenaude said. If Johnson isn’t available, the likely backup is freshman Jordan Yates.

Scott Stadium, den of terror

Scott Stadium has proved a strangely difficult place for the Yellow Jackets to win. Since they upset then-No. 1 Virginia in 1990 on their way to a share of the national championship, the Jackets are 2-11 in Charlottesville. Tech has lost there five times when ranked.

It took Tech’s 2009 ACC championship team (a title since vacated) or one of Virginia’s least competitive teams in history (2013) for the Jackets to return from Scott Stadium victorious.

In that same time span, Tech has won more at Georgia (five times), Clemson

and Virginia Tech (four times) and Miami (three times), despite the Hokies and Hurricanes not having joined the ACC until 2004.

Boost the running game

While the passing game has provided some big plays — in 122 pass attempts, Graham has completed 12 passes for 20 yards or more and seven for 30 yards or more, which is a fairly robust rate — that aspect of Tech’s attack has overall been inconsistent.

The run game has been better, but the Jackets could definitely use some pop to advance their drives. According to the website bcftoys.com, Tech averages 1.23 points per drive overall (122nd nationally), but a microscopic 0.15 points per drive on possessions that begin inside its 20 (125th).

Finding a way to bust a big run — Tech has one run of 40 yards or more this season, tied with Virginia for last in the ACC — would take a lot of stress off the offense to crank out first downs.

Virginia might not be so compliant. The Cavaliers are ranked No. 21 in the FBS in defensive yards-per-carry at 3.34 yards. Tech will have to dislodge, in the vivid phrasing of Patenaude, “girthy inside guys.”

Limit mistakes

A phrase that coach Geoff Collins invoked Saturday after the loss to Pittsburgh was one familiar to Tech basketball fans, as coach Josh Pastner repeated it endlessly in his first season: “margin for error.”

Tech lost to Pitt in part because it fumbled on the doorstep of the goal line, gave up a 61-yard touchdown because of correctable mistakes, and missed a 34-yard field goal attempt. The errors and red-zone shortcomings submarined a day in which Tech blocked a punt and forced three turnovers.

Ball security, red-zone efficiency (Tech is last in FBS in that category), limiting kick and punt returns (Virginia is No. 1 in kickoff return average in FBS) and avoiding penalties, among other things, will be necessary for Tech to have a chance Saturday. Blocking a punt or kick for a fourth game in a row wouldn’t hurt, either.

ESPN’s Football Power Index projects Tech to have a win probability of 8.7% against Virginia. An optimist might point out that percentage is almost a third better than Tech’s pregame win probability against Miami.

ALYSSA POINTER / ALYSSA.POINTER@ AJC.COM Tech quarterback James Graham, who helped the Yellow Jackets win their home opener against South Florida, had a rocky start last Saturday against Pittsburgh. After an early throw for a first down was dropped, he missed on several attempts and never seemed to find his rhythm against the Panthers. The redshirt freshman hopes to have a better day against Virginia in Charlottesville, where Tech has found it difficult to win.