Florida Firecats - af2 Football

2009 season at a glance: After having won nine games in his first season at the helm at Georgia Tech, Paul Johnson gave quite the performance benefit, while he not only led the Yellow Jackets in their school record 13 consecutive bowl games, but posted 11 victories overall (up from 1990 champion), and took home ACC title. Team's lone regular season loss came to Miami in time and against rival Georgia, late in the season, an eight-game win streak sandwiched in between, including a statement of victory over Virginia Tech (28-23) and nailbiter against Wake Forest (30-27 in OT). Victory in the Coastal Division certainly did not come easily, but the Yellow Jackets to Tampa, where he served on the Clemson team sneaking into the home in early September (30-27). In perhaps the most impressive and vivid ACC title game until now, technology has come out on top in a 39-34 slugfest. The award was Georgia Tech first appearance in the Orange Bowl since 1966, and although the result of a collision with Iowa was not a positive for the Yellow Jackets (24-14 loss), it is still a very successful year for Johnson and his team.

2010 ANALYSIS:

Work: Who said that the "one-trick pony," fail to achieve lasting success is to never be an offensive strategy, Johnson is Gameday. Yellow Jackets had no secret that they planned to switch football team last year, a robust 422.1 meters of total offense on the tour, 295.4 punishment came to earth. The loss column stand Jonathan Dwyer (1395 meters, 14 TDS) May seem like a difficult thing to overcome, but the Yellow Jackets return versatile QB Joshua Nesbitt (1037 meters rushing, 18 TDS) and 6-0.239-pound senior RB Anthony Allen (618 meters 9.7 YPC, six TDS). Allen will now step in and take the lion's share of carries, but the problem is, if you can avoid the dropoff in production.

According to Johnson, there should be.

"I think Anthony is a very good player. I hope that our production will not fall in this position, and I do not think it will."

Nesbitt will also use a lot of who she is and will always be a threat to run the ball. Two areas of interest going in 2010, the loss of three starters along the offensive line and the premature departure of standout WR Demaryius Thomas (Denver Broncos). Senior center Sean Bedford (6-1, 274) will be responsible for the production line together and he is as good as anything out of the wedge, acquiring All-ACC first team honors in 2009.

Defense: Defense Technology had its ups and downs before the season, and probably would be better than it was, given the talent throughout. With eight starters returning to the mix, and the addition of Al Groh as defensive coordinator, there is hope for more consistency in 2010.

Johnson certainly see a new arrival in the plus.

"Al was a great football coach. He has a lot of energy and I think it will be good for our program. We are thrilled that a man like that on our staff. I think our players are excited about the direction."

However, it will be difficult to mitigate the loss of star-caliber player as rush end Derrick Morgan (first-round pick), Linebacker Sedric Griffin and safety Morgan Burnett. Senior LB Brad Jefferson returned to the hands and will be on more leadership in 2010 after receiving All-ACC third team honors a year ago, with a team-high 95 tackles. The defensive line with three starters returning, as well as secondary, large pointed horns played in Mario Butler (45 addresses, two Ints) and Jerrard Tarrant (58 tackles two Ints).

Special Teams: Kicking game returns intact, as senior PK Scott Blair and junior Chandler P Anderson are ready to go in 2010. Blair was a 14-and-20-field goal attempt in 2009, but has an impressive 5-of-7 from more than 40 meters. Anderson had a strong season as well, averaging 42.3 yards per punt and net average of 38.1 leads to the ACC. Tarrant is responsible for two points on defense and two on punt returns he will again bring his playmaking ability to return games this season.

Outlook: This could be a little down in Atlanta, when the team is apparently still has enough talent that is 14 postseason appearances in the series. However, according to last year's 11 victories are possible. Non-conference program was a few weeks, South Carolina State, Kansas, Tennessee and the Middle Georgia program, but all of Georgia is winnable game. ACC slate is very heavy, especially on the road, where Tech must take on the likes of North Carolina, Wake Forest, Clemson and Virginia Tech. NC State, Virginia, Miami and Duke came to Bobby Dodd Stadium, and there are probably three more victories there. Yellow Jackets will have to win some close games on the road this year, but Johnson was the offensive philosophy of controlling the ball and that should help in such situations is a stretch. Winning second straight ACC crown is unlikely, but it is competitive week in and week-out is almost a guarantee.