Georgia Tech's Paul Johnson praises practice efforts for Virginia game

ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 3: Head Coach Paul Johnson of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets chats with players late in the game against the Alcorn State Braves on September 3, 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia. Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)

Credit: Ken Sugiura

Credit: Ken Sugiura

ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 3: Head Coach Paul Johnson of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets chats with players late in the game against the Alcorn State Braves on September 3, 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia. Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)

If Georgia Tech players’ heads have been in the clouds following their stunning 22-16 win over Florida State last Saturday, they haven’t shown it on the practice field.

Coach Paul Johnson praised the team's efforts in its Tuesday and Wednesday practices, the days with the heaviest workloads in installing the game plan. The Jackets play Virginia Saturday in Charlottesville, Va.

"You get in a routine when you play on Saturday, and we’re in that routine," Johnson said. "We’ve had two really good practices, I think."

Johnson said he has been encouraged by the pace and quickness with which players were moving and “the way we’re going about things. We’ve cut back a little bit – we’re not out there as long – but it’s been good.”

For Johnson and his high standards, it’s significant praise.

In Tech’s practice routine, the team corrects errors made in the previous game in the Monday practice, but then “flushes” the game and focuses strictly on the upcoming matchup. However, the impact of such an emotional victory can linger, whether in causing continued reverie or inspiring excessive confidence against the next opponent. The game ended Tech’s five-game losing streak and also the Seminoles’ 28-game winning streak against ACC opponents.

“You’d hope, but you never know,” Johnson said, asked if players had moved past the FSU game. “But we’ve had two good days of practice.”

The team finishes with a lighter practice Thursday before traveling to Charlottesville Friday.