DAVIE, Fla. — While the No. 10 Iowa Hawkeyes spent their New Year’s Eve away from the gridiron, the No. 9 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets had their first day on it since arriving on Wednesday in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
Preparing for the 2010 FedEx Orange Bowl in Miami on Jan. 5, the ACC squad held its first practice on Thursday at Nova Southeastern University, the first of four practices for Georgia Tech leading up to the BCS contest next week.
Like the Hawkeyes, members of the Yellow Jackets watched an ample amount of game tape over the past month and came away from the film study with one observation: The Hawkeyes’ physicality is unlike anything they’ve seen.
“I’m going into the game thinking it’s going to be the most physical game I’ve ever played in,” Georgia Tech quarterback Josh Nesbitt said.
Nesbitt added Iowa’s defense reminded him a lot of Clemson, a team Georgia Tech defeated twice this season, including a 39-34 victory in the ACC Championship Game that enabled the Yellow Jackets to be in South Florida this week.
As far as which part of the Hawkeye defense left the biggest impression on him, Nesbitt immediately pointed to Iowa’s linebacking corps consisting of seniors Pat Angerer and A.J. Edds, and junior linebacker Jeremiha Hunter.
“They’re fundamentally sound,” Nesbitt said. “We just got to go in the game and be ready to play.”
Meanwhile, Georgia Tech B-back Jonathan Dwyer provided a slightly more interesting response. The sophomore said Iowa’s defense reminded him of the guys he faces in practice every week.
“Our coaches preach discipline,” Dwyer said. “[The Hawkeyes are] a fundamental team, so we just have to go out there, play our game, and be fundamentally sound as well.
“You’re going against one of the top defenses in the country. Who doesn’t want to go against that?”
But it wasn’t just the Yellow Jacket offense picking up on the Hawkeye physicality. Team members on the defensive side of the ball also took notice of Iowa’s offense as well.
Junior defensive end Derrick Morgan, highly regarded as a potential top-five NFL draft pick should he forego his senior year at Georgia Tech, said Iowa had a better offensive line than any opponent the Yellow Jackets have faced all season — both in ACC play and out-of-conference.
“They’re obviously big, the biggest we’ve probably seen all year,” Morgan said on Thursday. “They have good feet, good footwork, and they just have really good technique. It’s always good to go against talent like that.”
While fundamentals and physicality are areas Georgia Tech intends to primarily work on this week, Dwyer said the Yellow Jackets have gained more confidence over the past month since they became ACC champions in Tampa.
“If we go out and play our game, we have a shot at controlling the clock,” he said. “If we play fundamentally sound on offense, defense, and special teams, we have a chance to win the game.”
