Around ACC Spring Football: Georgia Tech

Editor’s note: This is the seventh of an 11-part series looking around ACC football this spring

Year one under Paul Johnson, the Yellow Jackets won nine games and went to the Chick-Fil-A Bowl.

Season two was all too familiar to Tiger fans as Georgia Tech took the ACC title in Tampa.

But in year three, the spread option attack hit some turbulence to a 6-7 record.

Johnson has two key spots in his offense to fill in and work on this spring – one, QB with Tevin Washington taking Josh Nesbitt’s spot, and secondly, the B-back spot that lines up behind the QB in the spread option scheme.

It’s also year two of the move to a 3-4 scheme under former Virginia coach Al Groh.

The usual constant, whether it’s a three linebacker-four man front or vice versa with the Jackets – the secondary – returns no starters from their defensive backs.

More on the Yellow Jackets…

Georgia Tech

Returning Starters by Position

Offense (6)

QB: N/A*

RB: 2 (46 career starts)

WR: 1 (10 career starts)

O-line: 3 (34 career starts)

Defense (5)

D-line: 3 (55 career starts)

LB: 2 (33 career starts)

DB: N/A

Kicker/Punter (0)

PK: N/A

P: 1 (9 starts)

*QB Tevin Washington took over for Josh Nesbitt for the final four games of the season including the bowl game (went 1-3).

Outgoing Starters: 12

Offensive Leader: AB Roddy Jones – The senior A-Back in Paul Johnson’s spread option rushed for 1,388 yards and 14 touchdowns in his career. He averages 7.46 yards per carry, which leads all returning ACC running backs.

Defensive Leader: ILB Julian Bennett – On a Georgia Tech defense that isn’t returning much, Bennett led the Yellow Jackets in tackles with 89, had two forced fumbles and an interception in 2010.

Key Issues This Spring: 1) Replacing Anthony Allen at B-Back – In Johnson’s first two seasons, he had Jonathan Dwyer (3,226 career rushing yards and 35 touchdowns). In year three, he had Anthony Allen at B-Back for 1,316 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns. Here in year four, Johnson has the backs on the wings, but is looking for the next great B-Back.

2) Washington becoming the man – Tevin Washington took over in the second half at Virginia Tech last season, due to an injury to starter Josh Nesbitt, and played out the rest of the season. He was 25/61 for 417 yards with 2 touchdowns and 3 interceptions passing – rushed for 514 yards and 4 touchdowns. He’s not quite the bowling ball rusher that Nesbitt was, but Washington seems to have the tools to be a better passer, which would add another dimension to this offense.

3) Restocking the secondary - As you can see above, everybody’s gone off from a unit that finished 34th nationally in pass defense.

More Around ACC Spring Football

Boston College

Florida State

Maryland

NC State

Wake Forest

Duke