Can Calvin Johnson end Ga Tech's rut?

ATLANTA - Calvin Johnson has played himself on a new college football video game. Made some pretty good catches, too.

Almost as good as the ones he makes in real life.

Georgia Tech's sophomore receiver is poised for greatness after a brilliant rookie season, one in which he turned the improbable into the routine with one-handed, behind-the-back, twist-this-way, turn-that-way catches.

No less an authority than Chan Gailey, who once coached a guy named Michael Irvin, can recall a receiver with Johnson's gifts.

"I've never had one like this - big, fast, great hand-eye coordination," said Gailey, heading into his fourth year as the Yellow Jackets coach.

Not even Irvin?

"Never," Gailey repeated.

One of Johnson's teammates, fellow receiver Damarius Bilbo, turns up the hype meter by throwing another hallowed pass catcher into the mix.

"He's the closest thing to Randy Moss, but he's bigger and faster," Bilbo said. "When he's not catching the ball, he's out there blocking on every play. I don't know Randy Moss. I don't want to say anything bad about him. But I think he takes some plays off. Not Calvin. He's a humble guy and he gives it everything he's got, even in practice."

Johnson is the sort of player who inspires a range of nicknames - from the obvious (C.J.) to the admiring (Spiderman, which he was dubbed by an opposing cornerback after several improbable catches) to the witty (Consensus, as in consensus All-American).

"He's a freak of nature," Bilbo said. "He can catch the ball with one hand better than most guys can catch with two."

Johnson could be just the guy who helps the Yellow Jackets escape a three-year rut. This team seems to do the same thing every season: win seven games, break even in the Atlantic Coast Conference, knock off a ranked opponent, lose to a team it shouldn't, and wind up with a minor bowl bid at the end.

Gailey, who suffered a heart attack just before spring practice but is fully recovered, said this team has the talent to break through.

Then again, maybe not.

"Whether we do it or not remains to be seen," Gailey said. "A lot of factors go into being a good team and taking it to the next level. If we hit on those and a few other things go our way, it can happen. It's like Auburn last season. A lot of things have to go right."

One thing that seems to have gone wrong for the Yellow Jackets: the schedule. It's hard to envision any wins out of trips to Auburn (13-0 last season and the defending Southeastern Conference champion), Virginia Tech (defending ACC champ) and perennial power Miami. And then there's the home finale against Georgia, which has beaten its state rival four years in a row.

The Yellow Jackets need a young offensive line to come together quickly, and they need more consistency from junior quarterback Reggie Ball. He threw half of his 18 interceptions in three games, the sort of up-and-down performance that Gailey won't tolerate this season. The defense has eight returning starters, led by end Eric Henderson, linebacker Gerris Wilkinson and linebacker-turned-safety Chris Reis.

And, of course, there's Johnson. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound phenom broke all of the school's freshman receiving records - 48 catches for 837 yards and seven touchdowns - but the numbers, as good as they were, only tell part of the story.

There was his coming-out at Clemson, where Johnson caught two jump balls for TDs in the final two minutes of a stirring comeback victory.

There were his two spectacular third-down catches on a game-winning drive against North Carolina State, including a one-handed grab on a ball thrown well behind him that ranked as one of the best plays of the year by any player and even left Johnson saying, "Wow!"

There was the brilliant finale against Syracuse in the Champs Sports Bowl, when he made a diving catch in the end zone, jumped over a Syracuse defender to haul in a 51-yard pass down the sideline, and scored on a reverse.

"I just want to improve on what I did last year," said Johnson, whose quiet, low-key demeanor is a direct contrast to the way he plays. "I had no idea what I was getting myself into. This year, I have a better idea about running routes and the matchups I'll face."

There was one humbling game for Johnson.

The freshman got the clampdown treatment from Miami cornerback Antrel Rolle, who has the size and speed to handle big receivers and went on to be the No. 8 pick in the NFL draft. In Georgia Tech's 27-3 loss to the Hurricanes, Rolle limited Johnson to two catches for 10 yards.

"That one game showed me I still had a lot to work on," said Johnson, who was matched in single coverage with Rolle most of the day. "He bumped me a few times. He was just real strong. I knew I would have to hit the weight room this summer."

Otherwise, Johnson had a jaw-dropping, did-he-really-make-that-catch sort of season.

It's all there. The height and leaping ability to jump over most cornerbacks. The speed to run by them. The massive hands that seem to gobble up the ball. The innate ability to play the game at a different speed, slowing things down in his own mind so he doesn't give up on passes that are tipped or seem totally out of reach.

The Yellow Jackets knew this guy was different before he ever played a game. During preseason practice last year, Johnson pulled off a turning-around, one-handed catch in practice that might be better than anything he's ever done in a game.

"A lot of my teammates get on me. They say I plan my catches," Johnson said. "It's just reaction."

When Johnson grabs the controls of the latest college football video game, he usually plays with a team other than Georgia Tech. A few times, though, he's checked to see how Cyber Johnson stacks up as a receiver against Calvin Johnson.

"I've seen myself make a lot of good ones on the video game," he said, shaking his head and grinning.

Then it was time to head to the field, where fantasy becomes reality.

The 2005 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets:

COACH - Chan Gailey, fourth season, 21-17 record; career record, 45-28.

LAST YEAR - 7-5 overall, 4-4 Atlantic Coast Conference (tied for sixth); beat Syracuse 51-14 in Champ Sports Bowl.

OFFENSE - The Yellow Jackets are counting on junior quarterback Reggie Ball to become more consistent. While showing flashes of brilliance, Ball also had 18 interceptions - half of them coming in three games. Gailey said that won't do in 2005, and the coach hasn't ruled out giving redshirt freshman Taylor Bennett a look. Whoever is at quarterback will be throwing to one of the country's top receivers, sophomore Calvin Johnson. He was simply brilliant a year ago, setting Tech freshman records with 48 catches for 837 yards and seven touchdowns. Johnson was named to the All-ACC team and was an easy choice as the league's rookie of the year. P.J. Daniels led the team with 714 yards rushing, but he also missed four games with injuries and wasn't at full strength coming into the fall. He could be pushed by Tashard Choice, a transfer from Oklahoma. The offensive line looks a bit shaky with only two returning starters.

DEFENSE - Two-time All-ACC end Eric Henderson leads the defense, but depth along the front line is a concern. Three-year starter Travis Parker didn't qualify academically, ending his college career, and Darryl Richard is expected to miss the season after tearing up a knee in spring practice. Gerris Wilkinson made the All-ACC team at middle linebacker, ranking second in the conference in tackles. Chris Reis continues to move around where needed, shifting back to safety - his original position - after a productive year at linebacker. Reis will take over for All-ACC safety James Butler. Safety Dawan Landry and cornerbacks Dennis Davis and Kenny Scott give the Yellow Jackets plenty of experience in the secondary.

SPECIAL TEAMS - The Yellow Jackets are solid at both key spots with kicker Travis Bell and punter Ben Arndt. Bell set a school record with 15 straight field goals, while Arndt had a decent net punting average of 35.9. Andrew Economos, long snapper the last three years, will be replaced by senior tight end Gavin Tarquinio.

KEY LOSSES - S James Butler, OT Kyle Wallace, OT Leon Robinson, C Andy Tidwell-Neal, DE Travis Parker, CB Reuben Houston.

OPENER - Sept. 3, at Auburn.

OTHER PIVOTAL GAMES - Sept. 24, at Virginia Tech; Oct. 22, at Miami; Oct. 29, Clemson; Nov. 12, at Virginia; Nov. 26, Georgia.

OUTLOOK - The Yellow Jackets have been in a rut the last three seasons, going 7-6, 7-6 and 7-5 under Gailey. Each year bears a striking resemblance, with only one winning streak of more than two games during that span. Tech simply hasn't been able to get on any sort of roll, though it did end the last two seasons with bowl game routs. The Yellow Jackets have the talent for a breakthrough season, but a brutal schedule will likely keep them around the.500 mark. Tech will be hard-pressed to get even one win these road games: defending SEC champion Auburn, reigning ACC champion Virginia Tech, powerhouse Miami and Virginia. The Yellow Jackets get Georgia at home, but haven't beaten the Bulldogs since 2000. All of which seems to add up to another season of around 6-5.