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by
Joel Welser
#27 Georgia
Tech Yellow Jackets
Atlantic Coast Conference
2006 Record: (9-5, 7-1)
Coach: Chan Gailey (37-27 at Georgia Tech,
61-38 overall)
Starters Returning: 17 (7 offense, 8 defense,
2 specialists)
Offensive Starters Lost: QB Reggie Ball, WR
Calvin Johnson, TE George Cooper, OL Mansfield Wrotto
Offensive Starters Returning: RB Tashard
Choice, FB Mike Cox, WR James Johnson, OL Andrew Gardner, OL Matt Rhodes, OL
Nate McManus, OL Kevin Tuminello
Defensive Starters Lost: DT Joe Anoai, LB
KaMichael Hall, CB Kenny Scott
Defensive Starters Returning: DT Darryl
Richard, DE Adamm Oliver, DE Darrell Robertson, LB Philip Wheeler, LB
Gary Guyton, DB Avery Roberson, S Jamal Lewis, S Djay Jones
Starting Specialists Lost: none
Starting Specialists Returning: K Travis
Bell, P Durant Brooks
Great football teams have great lines on both sides
of the ball, and that is exactly what will put Georgia Tech in the hunt for an
ACC title. The absence of quarterback Reggie Ball is not a big deal, but there
are some questions regarding the receivers without Calvin Johnson.
Offense:
The offensive line is not the most dominating group
around, yet with four starters returning, they do have plenty of experience.
That line, along with fullback Mike Cox, will be tested as Georgia Tech will
have to depend on the running game. Tashard Choice rushed for a conference high
1,473 yards last season and has no problem carrying the load. Senior Rashaun
Grant and sophomore Jamaal Evans are decent backups to Choice.
Taylor Bennett spent the last two seasons as a
backup to Ball before having a breakout game in the Gator Bowl last season.
Bennett threw for 326 yards and three touchdowns in the bowl game and cemented
himself as the new starting quarterback. Without Calvin Johnson to throw to, the
passing game will look a lot different. Junior James Johnson has proven to be a
great number two receiver, but now he needs to shoulder more of the load. The
rest of the wide receivers are relatively inexperienced, but there is plenty of
talent in Demaryius Thomas, Greg Smith, Correy Earls and Andrew Smith.
Defense:
Adamm Oliver and Darrell Robertson are a lethal
combination coming off the ends. Throw in Michael Johnson off the bench, and few
teams can claim to have a better group than the Yellow Jackets. GT has to find a
replacement for defensive tackle Joe Anoai, but fellow starter Darryl Richard
returns. Along with the frontline, the linebackers, led by Philip Wheeler, will
give nightmares to any opposing running back.
Luckily for the opposition, the quarterback will not
have as many bad dreams. The Georgia Tech secondary took the ramblin’ out of
ramblin’ wreck last season. Strong safety Jamal Lewis was a first-team all-ACC
honoree last year, but can only do so much. Starting free safety Djay Jones
returns, as does Joe Gaston after missing last year with a knee injury. The
defensive backs have experience, but that did not help much in 2006. It should
not be any worse than last year, but a drastic improvement is not very likely
either.
The Bottom Line:
While the offense finds its rhythm, it is nice to
have one of the best punters in the nation. Durant Brooks averaged an NCAA high
45.52 yards per kick. With a little better job from the coverage team, Brooks
can be the difference in a low scoring, grind it out game. Placekicker Travis
Bell showed improvement last season and, with another off-season of improvement,
can become one of the better kickers in the ACC.
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