The Secret to Tech's Success

Sorry to wear out the Total Quarterback Rating theme, but here's another post on the topic. The stat accurately rates both passing and running signal-callers, and serves as a barometer to the overall success of the team. ESPN has published this rating since 2004, and with Georgia Tech having perhaps its best season in the past eleven years, it is no wonder that Justin Thomas is having by far the highest rated season over that span.

The rating accurately compares quarterback play from year to year. Based on the rating, Justin Thomas is by far the best quarterback the Jackets have had in some time. In parenthesis is the QB's overall national rank, which until this year has been quite poor.

83.8 Justin Thomas 2014 (5) sophomore
50.8 Josh Nesbitt 2009 (63) junior
49.9 Reggie Ball 2005 (67) junior
49.5 Tevin Washington 2012 (76) senior
48.9 Tevin Washington 2011 (81) junior
46.3 Reggie Ball 2004 (54) sophomore
43.8 Josh Nesbitt 2008 (85) sophomore
43.5 Reggie Ball 2006 (73) senior
43.2 Vad Lee 2013 (104) sophomore
42.8 Taylor Bennett 2007 (90)
41.6 Tevin Washington 2010 (88) sophomore
38.5 Josh Nesbitt 2010 (96) senior

Thomas is the highest-rated ACC quarterback this year, ahead of the troubled Jameis Winston. Having led the Jackets to an ACC Coastal Division championship, Thomas would be a deserving choice for ACC player of the year and first team All-ACC.

This has been the first year that Tech's quarterback has been rated higher than UGA's. It is therefore no wonder that the Dawgs have dominated the series during that time.