2008 overall record: 9-4

2008 conference record: 5-3, Coastal Division Co-Champions

Returning starters Offense: 9, Defense: 8, Punter/Kicker: 2

Top returns RB Jonathan Dwyer, WR Demaryius Thomas, QB Josh Nesbitt, RB Roddy Jones, C Dan Voss, DE Derrick Morgan, S Morgan Burnett, S Cooper Taylor, K/P Scott Blair

Key losses OT Andrew Gardner, DE Michael Johnson, DT Darryl Richard, DT Vance Walker, CB Jahi Word-Daniels

Fall Fantasy Question

The Offensive Line. It remains the biggest concern, in part because injuries slowed the progress this spring. Senior guard Cord Howard missed most of the spring, starting center Dan Voss missed all of the spring after shoulder surgery, Nick Claytor, who started at tackle last year after David Brown went down with an injury, missed all of spring and had back surgery, and the line was the weak link last year.

Team Breakdown

Quarterback – Josh Nesbitt, an athletic quarterback with a powerful arm, runs the show in Paul Johnson’s triple option offense. At the beginning of the 2008 season Nesbitt got by on his athleticism, but by the end of the year, he really began to master the offense to the tune of over 800 rushing yards in Tech’s final two regular season games. Nesbitt will not be asked to throw much, but will need to improve on a 43.9 completion percentage. What I like about Tech is that they have some experience at backup. Jaybo Shaw started in a victory over Duke throwing for 230 yards, and played most of the game in a win over Mississippi State. Not the runner  that Nesbitt is, he’s a more accurate passer. Tevin Washington is the likely third string quarterback. 2008 Stats: Nesbitt – 54 for 123, 808 yards, 2 TDs, 5 INT, 172 rushes for 693 yards, 7 TDs. Shaw – 15 for 24, 321 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, 63 rushes for 200 yards, 3 TDs.

RunningBack Jonathan Dwyer, thanks ISM.com

 Running Back – They have the returning ACC Offensive player of the year in Jonathan Dwyer, who gained 1,395 on the ground. Next is Roddy Jones, who rushed for 690 yards last season, including a game against the Georgia Bulldogs in which he rushed for over 200 yards. The Jackets obtain the services of Louisville transfer Anthony Allen. He only holds the Louisville single-game rushing record. After that, you have running backs Lucas Cox and his 7.7 yards per rush, Marcus Wright, who rushed for over 3,000 yards his senior season in high school, and Embry Peebles who runs a mid 4.3 40-yard dash. The Yellow Jackets are flat out loaded at this position. 2008 Stats: Dwyer – 200 rushes for 1,395 yards, 12 TDs, 8 receptions for 209 yards, 1 TD. Jones – 81 rushes for 690 yards, 4 TDs, 8 receptions for 155 yards, 1 TD.

ACC Rank – 1

Wide Receiver – You don’t really think of wide receivers with the run-first offense of Georgia Tech, but they have a good one. Demaryius Thomas caught 39 passes for 627 yards last year, including a 230 yard effort against the Duke Blue Devils. At 6-3, 229, Thomas is a physically imposing WR, who has made several pre-season All-ACC lists. Sophomore Tyler Melton will probably start at the other WR position, but he may be pushed by four-star 2009 WR recruit Stephen Hill. 2008 Stats: Thomas – 39 for 627 yards, 3 TDs. Melton – 5 for 53 yards.

ACC Rank – 7

Tight End – Tech employs no Tight Ends in their offense. Expect more of the same out of this position as Paul Johnson plans to use more run-and-shoot elements, geared towards his wide receivers to his triple option offense. 2008 Stats: None to report.

ACC Rank – 12

Defense - Georgia Tech lost the power up front as defensive end Michael Johnson won’t be back, nor will his comrades defensive tackles Darryl Richard and Vance Walker. Starting Cornerback Jahi Word-Daniels graduated as well. Needless to say, however, the Yellow Jackets will need to revamp its D-line which is its only real defensive question mark. The good news is that Tech’s star safeties are back in Morgan Burnett and Cooper Taylor.

ACC Rank – 7

Kicker/Special Teams – Junior Scott Blair has the kicking job down, but watch for a small competition in the fall camps just to try and spark a little more productivity out of him. He returns from a sophomore campaign that yielded a 94% extra point accuracy and 63% field goal accuracy. I would expect most of Blair’s points to come from extra points versus field goals, just like it was last year. No one scored any touchdowns via special teams last year. 2008 Stats: Blair – 33 for 35 extra points, 12 of 19 field goals, longest field goal was 39 yards.

ACC Rank – 7

2009 Schedule

Sept. 5 Jacksonville State
Sept. 10 Clemson
Sept. 17 at Miami
Sept. 26 North Carolina
Oct. 3 at Mississippi State
Oct. 10 at Florida State
Oct. 17 Virginia Tech
Oct. 24 at Virginia
Oct. 31 at Vanderbilt
Nov. 7 Wake Forest
Nov. 14 at Duke
Nov. 21 BYE
Nov. 28 Georgia

Related posts:

1. Virginia Tech Hokies Team Preview 2009
2. Clemson Tigers 2009 Team Preview
3. FSU Seminoles 2009 Team Preview
4. Maryland Terrapins 2009 Team Preview
5. Virginia Cavaliers Team Preview 2009

Tags: Georgia Tech