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Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets(Last Year: 9-4)
2009 College Football Season Preview:
Star Players:
QB Josh Nesbitt, RB Jonathan Dwyer, RB Roddy Jones, WR Demaryius Thomas, DE Derrick Morgan, LB Kyle Jackson, OLB Cooper Taylor, CB Mario Butler, SS Morgan Burnett, FS Dominique Reese.
Draft/Graduation Losses:
QB Calvin Booker, T Andrew Gardner, OL A.J. Smith, T David Brown, DE Michael Johnson, DT Darryl Richard, DT Vance Walker, DT Elris Anyaibe, OLB Tony Clark, CB Jahi Word-Daniels.
2009 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Offense:
The hardcore college football fans were on the edge of their seats last season to see if Paul Johnson’s triple-option offense would work in the ACC; 3,611 rushing yards later, we see Johnson proved all of the haters wrong.
Georgia Tech hardly passed the ball with only 165 passing attempts last season. Therefore, junior quarterback Josh Nesbitt must improve his completion percentage next season. I am really not concerned at all with yards per attempt in a collegiate option system, but a 43.9 completion rate is absolutely horrendous.
The only reason Nesbitt is starting on this team is because of his wheels. He ran the ball 172 times in 2008 for seven touchdowns with a solid four-yard rushing average. Nesbitt is really just another running back, but his completion percentage needs to be above 50 percent next year. Watch for more teams in the ACC to play Cover Zero and bring nine players in the box with press coverage on the outside.
The star and leader of this offense is none other than junior Jonathan Dwyer, who is arguably the best tailback in the nation. Dwyer racked up more than 1,600 total yards last season, 13 touchdowns, and a 6.98 rushing average. He has great size and enough burst to turn the edge on defenses. If teams feel he can transition to a man-blocking system at the next level, he will be a first-round pick in all likelihood.
The other name you need to know is sophomore tailback Roddy Jones. Jones is the lightning to Dwyer’s thunder and should be in line for bigger statistical production next season. He averaged 8.52 yards per carry, but I think he will see more touches in 2009.
The only receiver on this team who does anything is junior Demaryius Thomas. Thomas caught 75 percent of all balls thrown to receivers in 2008 with a total of 39 receptions. Paul Johnson is clearly only comfortable with Thomas catching the football. However, since Thomas only accounted for 4.85 percent of total offensive plays last season, he is hardly a concern to defenses with Nesbitt’s weak, inaccurate arm. Like I said, if you run Cover Zero, you should limit the Yellow Jacket offense.
The offensive line looks more like it came off a high school bus. The average starter is 270 pounds, and the starting tackles combine for only 510 pounds. However, you can’t argue with results or scheme. Tech was seventh in the nation in rushing average (5.56), 11th in rushing touchdowns, and fourth in rushing yardage per game. Will the losses of tackles Andrew Gardner and David Brown be larger than we project?
There is one stat we are forgetting about: Beating Georgia Tech is all about turnovers. Tech had a +11 turnover margin in wins and -9 turnover margin in losses. This is because with bad field position, it is hard for a rushing offense to get explosive plays and drive down the field. If you don’t fumble or throw interceptions, Georgia Tech is very beatable.
2009 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Defense:
Georgia Tech had a very solid defense in 2008. They ranked 28th in scoring defense, 23rd in yards per play, 34th in yards per rush, and 22nd in yards per pass attempt.
However, with the losses of pass-rushing specialists Michael Johnson, Darryl Richard and Vance Walker, this defensive line will not be the same, especially up the middle at defensive tackle.
Derrick Morgan is one of the top NFL prospects on this defense at end. He is 6-4, 270 pounds, and has very good athleticism. I think he is flying under the radar, so expect him to have a breakout junior season. Junior Ben Anderson and sophomore Jason Peters are undersized at defensive tackle, so we should expect Tech to not be as effective against the run this season. Michael Johnson might be missed more than we think at end. Junior Robert Hall takes his spot, but he only produced 1.5 tackles for loss last year and is a big weak point for Tech defensively.
There is a lot of hype for freshman defensive tackle D.J. Barnes. At 6-7, 325 pounds he could be a big (pun intended) sleeper in the ACC this season.
The leader of the linebacking corps is sophomore Kyle Jackson. Jackson plays both MIKE and WILL for the Jackets, and was third on the team in tackles last season with 59 leading all linebackers. Tech has some good athletes with potential at linebacker, including Cooper Taylor and Brad Jefferson. This unit might take their play up a notch next season.
The defensive backfield is arguably the best in the ACC. Junior Morgan Burnett is a potential first-day draft pick at strong safety. Burnett had 93 tackles, seven interceptions and eight pass breakups last year. His speed will go under the microscope of NFL scouts.
Junior free safety Dominique Reese and junior corner Mario Butler are also names you need to know on this defense. With one year’s experience as sophomores, expect both players to create more turnovers next season and play improved deep coverage.
2009 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Schedule and Intangibles:
Georgia Tech needs to find a consistent punt return option. Tyler Melton was mediocre last season with a 5.73 average and eventually lost his job. Whether it is Melton or Roddy Jones, somebody needs to step up.
Scott Blair is a solid punter, but terrible beyond 40-plus yards in place kicking. He was 0-of-6 from beyond 40 last season.
The Georgia Tech non-conference schedule is very respectable. They go into Starkville to face the Mississippi State Bulldogs for their fifth game. Tech also travels to Nashville to play Bobby Johnson’s Vanderbilt Commodores who are always a mentally tough, well-coached team with limited talent. They finish off the season against rival Georgia at home.
The ACC is a conference in which there simply is not anybody willing to claim the throne. In the Alantic Conference, four teams were tied for last place based on conference record at 4-4. The first place team in either division was 5-3 in the ACC.
Florida State, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech and North Carolina all have the potential to get a BCS bid by winning the ACC Championship, but it is really too close to call confidently at this point.
2009 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Positional Rankings (1-5 stars):
Quarterbacks |
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Offensive Line |
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Secondary |
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Special Teams |
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Coaching |
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2009 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Analysis:
The Yellow Jackets may not look like it, but I believe they will be a more improved team in 2009. Their defensive backfield and linebacking corps is far more experienced, which should lead to big plays on defense and less mistakes. The ACC has a ton of parity, but if Georgia Tech limits their turnovers like they did last season, they should have a defense that wins them a game every so often.
The offensive line might be a bit of a concern, but I hate to doubt Paul Johnson. Between Nesbitt, Dwyer, and Jones, the Yellow Jackets can control the time of possession and force opponents to make mistakes in the passing game. I like Tech to win the ACC and gain a corrupted BCS bid next season.
Projection: 9-3, ACC Champions
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