College Football Preview – Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

was good under Chan Gailey, but they failed to do two things: beat Georgia and win the ACC.



But outside of those two failures, the Yellow Jackets were a pretty good team under Gailey – you saw their NCAA Football Betting Odds latst year. Now Paul Johnson takes over and although there will be high expectations after the rebuilding process is done, there is some uncertainty in the meanwhile.

Offense

After Johnson took over for Gailey, expected starting quarterback Taylor Bennett left the Yellow Jackets with quite the vacancy.

Johnson’s option attack is a vast change from the pocket-passing style of defense they employed last year, which means a speedy quarterback is needed. Josh Nesbitt might be that guy and he’ll battle Auburn transfer Calvin Booker for the job.

There will be three returning starters to the offensive line, including four-year left tackle Andrew Gardner. This unit allowed the fewest sacks in the ACC last year so the continuity is a good sign.

The Yellow Jackets will have to replace Tashard Choice, who was the team’s best runner over the last two seasons but Jonathan Dwyer looks capable. He flashed some good potential in the limited carries he had last year.

Defense

The Yellow Jackets have one of the best defensive lines in the nation but unfortunately don’t have much to back it up beyond that.

Defensive tackles Vance Walker and Darryl Richard combined for 24.5 tackles for a loss last year while Michel Johnson looks like an emerging star off the edge.

But outside of that, the Yellow Jackets have only two returning starters in the back seven. Shane Bowen returns at linebacker while Jahi Word-Daniels is the only returning starter in the secondary.

Word-Daniels will be working with a unit that is still a work in progress. The other starters around him will have to be figured out in the preseason.

Outlook

After losing 16 starters and introducing a head coach who will employ the option, it is pretty clear that the Yellow Jackets are in full-flight rebuilding mode. They had a disappointing season last year but will have to bottom out this year before they can get back to competing in the Coastal Division of the ACC.

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