Sunday, November 01, 2009
Sports

One QB stepping up …

The Buzz: What's movin' and shakin' in the world of sports

Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images

Georgia Tech’s football team has won just one outright conference title in 56 years. (Of course, the Jackets operated as an independent or weren’t eligible for the ACC crown between 1964-82.) But all that could change. Win against visiting Wake Forest on Nov. 7 and take Duke the following Saturday, and all that’s left is the ACC title game next month in Tampa. After a slow start to the season, some fans had questions about quarterback Josh Nesbitt (above). But after a four-game run that left him fourth in the conference in rushing and tied for second in touchdowns scored (not to mention helping Tech rank second nationally in rushing and 10th in passing efficiency), some of those naysayers are calling him a leading candidate for ACC Offensive Player of the Year. With the ball in his hands on every play in Tech’s triple-option attack, it could be argued that no player in college football has done more for his team. Who would’ve thought?

 … and one stepping back?

The city’s other big league quarterback, the Falcons’ Matt Ryan (below), has many singing his praises. But even he has his detractors. And while they’re relatively few in number, they do make their opinions known through radio call-in shows and Internet chat rooms: He was overrated at Boston College. He was a bad pick at No. 3. He fell apart down the stretch last season (68.5 average passer rating last four games) and is doing it again this year. Heading into Monday’s game at New Orleans, Ryan is 14th in the NFL with a 90.2 passer rating. There’s much to be decided with more than half the season remaining, but at least Ryan’s not in the neighborhood of No. 29 Matthew Stafford (65.5), No. 31 Mark Sanchez (61.5) and No. 34 JaMarcus Russell (47.2)—or Michael Vick (N/A).