Yellow Jackets report: Strategy and personnel

May 2, 2008
The Sports Xchange

Strategy and personnel · Inside slant · Notes, quotes

2008 OUTLOOK: Georgia Tech faces many questions with the transition to the new coaching staff, not to mention the loss of 16 starters, including both specialists. The Yellow Jackets, who were a disappointing 7-6 last season and 4-4 in the ACC in 2007 after winning the Coastal Division title in 2006, also have two early road conference games (Boston College, Virginia Tech) that could put them in an early hole in the division race. The advantage they will have is that not many opposing defenses in the conference have had to face the kind of run-oriented, spread offense new coach Paul Johnson employs.

SCOUTING THE OFFENSE
Only four starters return on the offensive side of the ball, all three of them in the interior line. Senior LT Andrew Gardner was All-ACC in 2007 and has started every game of his career. RT Cord Howard and LG Dan Voss, both juniors, had a combined 13 starts last year. Sophomore QB Josh Nesbitt, who backed up Taylor Bennett, was hampered by a groin injury in the spring but still figures to hold the No. 1 spot over senior Calvin Booker. Sophomore Jonathan Dwyer looks to take over as the primary running back, with juniors Jamal Evans and Greg Smith and redshirt freshman Roddy Jones competing for the two spots at A-back, a slot position that also has some running responsibilities. Sophomore Demaryius Thomas (35 catches in 2007) looks to start at wide receiver.

SCOUTING THE DEFENSE
The defensive unit is as depleted in terms of returning starters as the offense with only four returning starters -- DTs Vance Walker and Darryl Richard, LB Shane Bowen and CB Jahi Word-Daniels. Walker was first-team All-ACC in 2007, and Richard is a solid run-stopper. Senior DE Michael Johnson probably earned a starting spot in the spring, but sophomores Derrick Morgan and Robert Hall, who missed most of 2007 because of injury, also are in the picture. Sophomore Anthony Barnes and redshirt freshman Kyle Jackson will go into the fall flanking Bowen at linebacker. Sophomore S Dominique Reese had a starting spot nailed down until slowed by a hamstring injury. The rest of the secondary needs to be sorted out in the preseason.

SCOUTING THE SPECIAL TEAMS
Nothing was settled in the spring as far as successors to P Durant Brooks and PK Travis Bell. Junior Mohamed Yahiaoui, who was a kickoff specialist and backup placekicker in 2006 before sitting out 2007 as a redshirt, sophomore Scott Blair, who handled kickoffs last year, and redshirt freshman Chandler Anderson got looks at both roles (punter, placekicker). Sophomore Kevin Crosby is also in the picture as a punter. Junior Tyler Evans is back as the punt returner (9.3 average) and Dwyer looks to be the primary kickoff returner.

ROSTER REPORT

--Former Tech great Joe Hamilton, who quarterbacked the Jackets to a share of the 1998 ACC championship, has joined his alma mater as assistant director of player personnel. He will assist in recruiting, among other duties. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Hamilton hopes the move will eventually lead to an on-the-field job as an assistant.

Tech had a long list of players on the sidelines in the spring but could play starting roles this fall. They included Bowen (shoulder), Howard (foot), OG A.J. Smith (elbow), WR Greg Smith (broken collarbone), Reese (groin) and Thomas (hamstring).