Georgia Tech’s option-based offense gets a reputation as a scheme that grinds out games – three yards and a cloud of dust. That’s simply not true. 

And to hear Virginia Tech’s coaches talk as they prepare to play the Yellow Jackets on Saturday, the players on the perimeter – like outside linebacker Cody Grimm, cornerback Rashad Carmichael and free safety Kam Chancellor – will play a huge part in this game.

You might think that wouldn’t be the case because the Jackets just like the run, run, run. Few teams run more and pass less. The Insects rank fourth nationally in rushing attempts per game (54) and 118th of 120 in passing attempts (12.5). The Hokies are close –  11th in rushing attempts (44.3) and 116th in passing (18.2). But the rainy game against Miami – 55 rushes, nine passes – certainly accounts for some of that disparity.

The Jackets rank 24th nationally in yards per game (426.7, including 277 rushing), and their biggest plays come when they can bounce the ball outside of the tackle box, said Hokies defensive backs coach Torrian Gray.

“Our perimeter run fits, our perimeter reads, our perimeter discipline is paramount with these guys because they have home-run hitters,” Gray said. “If those guys get on perimeter and we don’t fit it right or we see something and not do our job, it’ll be a touchdown or it’ll be a 50-yard gain. That’s the points we’re stressing.”

In short, Gray summarized his players’ mission by saying his players must “secure the perimeter.” And no, he did not say this with an Arnold Schwarzenegger accent, though it would have been funny if he did.

How much of a big-play threat are the Jackets? Just as much as any other ACC team – which is logical, based on their high national rank in total offense.

Consider that 6.1 percent of their plays result in runs of 20-plus yards or passes of 25-plus. The only teams ahead of the Jackets in that category are Miami (6.7), Virginia Tech (6.7) and Florida State (6.3).

Want a bigger sample size of plays? Try this: 17.3 percent of the Jackets’ plays yield runs of 10-plus or passes of 15-plus. Only three other ACC teams are at 17 percent or higher: Miami (17.9), North Carolina State (17.7) and Virginia Tech (17.6).

“They’re hitting a big play or two, minimum, each game,” Gray said. “In their close games, those plays are making a difference. So with the success they’re having running the ball, and then to get a 50-, 60-yard catch or a touchdown – that’s been the difference for why they’re having success.”

(As a quick aside, those big-play percentages for the Hokies – 6.7 and 17.6 – are much higher than last season, when they were 3.4 and 12.1. This season, 10.1 percent of their passes are covering at least 25 yards. Last season: 3.8. This season, 5.3 percent their runs are going for 20-plus. Last season: 3.3.)

Back to Georgia Tech. The Jackets’ biggest big-play weapon is junior Demaryius Thomas, a 6-3, 229-pound wide receiver who is putting up some impressive numbers despite limited opportunities.

Thomas has 26 catches for 620 yards and four touchdowns this season. Fourteen of his catches have gained 15-plus yards, including eight for 25-plus. Thomas ranks 15th nationally in yards per game (103.3), second in yards per catch (23.9) and – here’s the wild stat – 91st in catches per game (4.3).

Thomas is the main reason why 16 percent of Georgia Tech’s passes have gained at least 25 yards – most, by far, in the ACC, despite the Jackets throwing the ball so infrequently. The Hokies’ 10.1 is second.

“I don’t know if I’ve seen a better receiver on film than him,” Gray said. “I haven’t seen him drop any balls. And I haven’t seen him miss many jump balls with another defender. So that’s the scary thing about this offense.”

If you want those raw big-play numbers, here they are. (I had to crunch them to figure out the rankings and figured I would list them in this space for context’s sake.) I also included percentages, to put things on an equal playing field for teams that pass or run more than others.

The list is organized from best big-play team to worst. That ranking is based on the percentage of the team’s plays that have gained 20-plus yards on rushes or 25-plus on passes. To give you an idea of how each team’s offense performs as a whole, its national rank in yards per game is next to its name. 

MIAMI (51 – 390.2)
Run (10-plus/20-plus): 23/6 … 3.5 percent rushes 20-plus
Pass (15-plus/25-plus): 33/15 … 10.0 percent passes 25-plus
Percent of plays that gained 10-plus on rushes or 15-plus on passes: 6.7
Percent of plays that gained 20-plus on rushes or 25-plus on passes: 17.9

NORTH CAROLINA STATE (51 – 390.2)
Run (10-plus/20-plus): 31/9 … 4.4 percent rushes 20-plus
Pass (15-plus/25-plus): 41/12 … 5.9 percent passes 25-plus
Percent of plays that gained 10-plus on rushes or 15-plus on passes: 5.2
Percent of plays that gained 20-plus on rushes or 25-plus on passes: 17.7

VIRGINIA TECH (54 – 387.7)
Run (10-plus/20-plus): 40/14 … 5.3 percent rushes 20-plus
Pass (15-plus/25-plus): 26/11* … 10.1 percent passes 25-plus
Percent of plays that gained 10-plus on rushes or 15-plus on passes: 6.7
Percent of plays that gained 20-plus on rushes or 25-plus on passes: 17.6
*Equals the Hokies’ number of 25-plus passes from last season

GEORGIA TECH (24 – 426.7)
Run (10-plus/20-plus): 46/12 … 3.8 percent rushes 20-plus
Pass (15-plus/25-plus): 22/12 … 16.0 percent passes 25-plus
Percent of plays that gained 10-plus on rushes or 15-plus on passes: 6.1
Percent of plays that gained 20-plus on rushes or 25-plus on passes: 17.3

FLORIDA STATE (25 – 426.0)
Run (10-plus/20-plus): 26/8 … 4.2 percent rushes 20-plus
Pass (15-plus/25-plus): 40/18 … 8.2 percent passes 25-plus
Percent of plays that gained 10-plus on rushes or 15-plus on passes: 6.3
Percent of plays that gained 20-plus on rushes or 25-plus on passes: 16.1

WAKE FOREST (25 – 426.0)
Run (10-plus/20-plus): 25/3 … 1.3 percent rushes 20-plus
Pass (15-plus/25-plus): 37/17 … 8.7 percent passes 25-plus
Percent of plays that gained 10-plus on rushes or 15-plus on passes: 4.7
Percent of plays that gained 20-plus on rushes or 25-plus on passes: 14.6

DUKE (44 – 397.5)
Run (10-plus/20-plus): 15/3 … 1.6 percent rushes 20-plus
Pass (15-plus/25-plus): 45/13 … 5.0 percent passes 25-plus
Percent of plays that gained 10-plus on rushes or 15-plus on passes: 3.6
Percent of plays that gained 20-plus on rushes or 25-plus on passes: 13.5

MARYLAND (82 – 343.3)
Run (10-plus/20-plus): 20/3 … 1.4 percent rushes 20-plus
Pass (15-plus/25-plus): 36/11 … 5.3 percent passes 25-plus
Percent of plays that gained 10-plus on rushes or 15-plus on passes: 3.3
Percent of plays that gained 20-plus on rushes or 25-plus on passes: 13.4

BOSTON COLLEGE (107 – 300.7)
Run (10-plus/20-plus): 28/8 … 3.7 percent rushes 20-plus
Pass (15-plus/25-plus): 20/8 … 5.3 percent passes 25-plus
Percent of plays that gained 10-plus on rushes or 15-plus on passes: 4.4
Percent of plays that gained 20-plus on rushes or 25-plus on passes: 13.1

VIRGINIA (96 – 325.0)
Run (10-plus/20-plus): 21/6 … 2.9 percent rushes 20-plus
Pass (15-plus/25-plus): 24/11 … 7.1 percent passes 25-plus
Percent of plays that gained 10-plus on rushes or 15-plus on passes: 4.7
Percent of plays that gained 20-plus on rushes or 25-plus on passes: 12.5

NORTH CAROLINA (115 – 282.2)
Run (10-plus/20-plus): 24/2 … 1.0 percent rushes 20-plus
Pass (15-plus/25-plus): 22/7 … 4.2 percent passes 25-plus
Percent of plays that gained 10-plus on rushes or 15-plus on passes: 2.4
Percent of plays that gained 20-plus on rushes or 25-plus on passes: 12.2

CLEMSON (102 – 316.6)
Run (10-plus/20-plus): 19/3 … 1.5 percent rushes 20-plus
Pass (15-plus/25-plus): 18/10 … 6.3 percent passes 25-plus
Percent of plays that gained 10-plus on rushes or 15-plus on passes: 3.9
Percent of plays that gained 20-plus on rushes or 25-plus on passes: 10.5

Georgia Tech’s option-oriented offense poses a big-play threat, and Virginia Tech must “secure the perimeter” to prevent those plays.