GT's Johnson talks Hawkeyes

Georgia Tech football coach Paul Johnson talked Hawkeyes during a Monday morning news conference in Atlanta.

Iowa (10-2) faces Atlantic Coast Conference champion Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 5. Tech beat Clemson, 39-34, in a topsy-turvy ACC title game on Dec. 5.

Tech started its Iowa preparation Monday.

The marquee matchup is Tech's "flexbone" rush offense against Iowa's nationally ranked defense.

"They're a tremendous defensive football team," Johnson said. "I've known [Iowa defensive coordinator] Norm Parker for a while and he has a great reputation. They have some outstanding players and they play well together as a team.

"They're probably similar to North Carolina or Clemson in that they're big up front. They're just a good defensive team."

The Yellow Jackets' offense is led by running back (B-back in flexbone parlance) Jonathan Dwyer. The 6-0, 235-pounder has rushed for 1,377 yards and 14 touchdowns this season. Quarterback Josh Nesbitt, a 6-1, 214-pounder, has 991 yards and 18 TDs. He's completed only 47.7 percent of his passes, but has 10 TDs to only four interceptions.

Dmaryius Thomas, 6-3, 229, is Tech's leading receiver with 46 catches for 1,154 yards and eight TDs. He averages 25.1 yards a catch, second in the FBS.

Iowa's defense has forced 29 turnovers this season, second in the Big Ten.

"I think they do a great job in zone coverage and they break to the ball well and they can get pressure with their front four," Johnson said. "When you can do that, you can drop seven back into coverage and have some interceptions. Plus, nobody can run the ball on them. They generally play with six guys in the box and can stop the run, so they have some guys dropping. They're well coached and they have some good players. They're pretty good."

Iowa's offense against Tech's D is the decided undercard.

The Hawkeyes rode quarterback Ricky Stanzi's up-and-down performances to a 9-0 start, which included a five interception, two TD and 300 yards in a comeback win over Indiana.

Johnson noted Iowa's offensive line on Monday.

"They have some big guys that lean on you and mash you a little bit," Johnson said. "Then, they'll throw some play-action at you. Their quarterback Stanzi will be back for this game, which will be a big help to them. They don't beat themselves and they're very well coached. I think they've showed a lot of character in that they've come from behind in several games this year and did what they had to do to win."

The Hawkeyes won seven games after trailing this season.

"Offensively, they kind of have a style of their own," Johnson said. "They have some big offensive linemen and they try to run the ball at you and throw some play action. I don't think we've played anyone that resembles what they do offensively."

Defensive end Derrick Morgan (6-4, 272) leads Tech's defense with 18 tackles for loss and 12 sacks. Rover Morgan Burnett (6-1, 210) leads Tech with four interceptions. Linebacker Brad Jefferson (6-2, 237) is Tech's top tackler with 90, including eight tackles for loss.

Tech's rush defense unplugged down the stretch. In their last two games (a loss to Georgia and a victory over Clemson), the Jackets allowed 662 rushing yards. Is that the real Tech or is it the Tech defense that allowed just 53 rushing yards the two weeks before that (wins over Wake Forest and Duke) poor stretch?

"I think anytime you struggle as much as we have, there has to be a little lull to it," Johnson said. "If I knew exactly what the answer was, then we wouldn't be struggling. The players have to be accountable, the coaches have to be accountable and we have to look at everything."

Iowa has sold something in the neighborhood of 15,000 tickets for the Orange Bowl. Tech has sold 9,000. Johnson isn't worried if the game turns into a Hawkeye home game.

"Unless they can put them in the game then it's really not going to matter," Johnson said. "Hopefully, we'll have good fan support. I don't think it's going to make that big of a difference."