In Part 4 of the CANE 2012 opponent series, we're going to preview the 2012 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
Paul Johnson is back for his 5th season in Atlanta. Whenever you see a Johnson-coached team, you know its going to be the Triple Option you see on O. Case in point, last year was another decent year, going 8-5, after starting 6-0. The M.O. of a Johnson-coached team is a strong running game, but a pitiful passing game. GT was 2nd in the nation in rushing, but 112th in passing. If you're going to win big in major college football, you have to have balance and that's something GT doesn't have at all. However, now, Johnson has his personnel in place.
They do bring RS Senior QB Tevin Washington (6' 205) back to run the Triple option and one of the backs he'll rely on this year is senior A-back Orwin Smith (6' 202), who was named to the preseason watch list for the Hornung Award. He's rushed for 1,157 career
yards, but he also ranks among Tech's all-time prolific kick returners with 1,357
yards and he has more than 500 yards receiving. If he gets 3,041 yards, he will become just the fifth player in
Yellow Jacket history to accumulate more than 4,000 career all-purpose
yards. Also they have a bruiser for a blocking back in RS Junior FB David Sims, but also a productive back, who in 2011, rushed for 698 yards and 7 TDs and another receiving.
When you look at their O-Line, they do have experience back in 2012. The key to that line is RS Junior Jay Finch (6’3" 285). He returns to be their starter at Center. He had an illness that caused a big weight loss and the offense struggled without him. Other O-Linemen returning for them in 2012 are fellow RS Junior LG Will Jackson (6’3", 285) and RS Senior RG and All-ACC Omoregie
Uzzi, a (6'? 3", 300). All three were redshirted as incoming freshman in order to have the
appropriate amount of time to get a feel for the Triple Option and how to execute it properly. This is going to be a line that will be reckoned with in 2012 and now, they have solid depth in the trenches. Their starting tackles will be RS Junior Ray Beno (6’2", 295)., and either fellow RS Junior Tyler Kidney, (6'2" 262 and a former walk-on); or RS Sophomore Morgan Bailey, (6’4", 295). In 2011, both Beno and Kidney played substantial time in a three tackle rotation along with Phil Smith who has
since transferred, and Bailey saw the most action and he might win the job at RT. Other O-Linemen returning for them are RS Sophomore Catlin Alford (6’3", 291), who will likely be the backup to Finch at center, but if need be, he can also play at the guard position, RS Senior Nick
McRae, (6’3", 291), who has also played both the
center and guard positions the past several seasons and has played a lot of time at both positions, and the only one on the line, who started every game in '11 is last season, Sophomore Shaquille Mason (6'1" 300), and will push Jackson for the starting spot at LG. Mason was the starter in the Sun Bowl when Uzzi was out due to injury. This line is deep and is very talented. To further illustrate that, also coming into the fold are RS Freshmen Bryan Chamberlain (6’4", 295), Erin Joe (6’3", 295), and Trey
Braun, (6’5" 295), and a RS Junior J.C. Lanier,
(6’4", 300).
Defensively, off the bat, they were dealt a big setback when their All-ACC LB Julian Burnett (120 tackles, 1 sack) suffered a neck injury against Utah in the Sun Bowl. He will not be playing in '12 and his future is in serious doubt. Burnett will not play this season and his career may be over as well. Al Groh will have to do magic with the defense, without Burnett's services. However, the secondary that he has to work with, will be strong again in '12. They have three starters back from their 28th ranked pass defense (197.85 ypg). and they return six starters with no recorded sacks among the group. One of those three starters back on Defense is Junior CB Louis Young (6'1" 201), who had 52 tackles (3 TFLs), 1 INT, 5 passes broken-up, 1 QB hurry, and a forced fumble. The 2nd starter back for them is Senior CB and 4th team Preseason All-ACC, according to Phil Steele, Rod Sweeting (6' 184). In '11, he had 56 tackles (37 solo, 3 TFLs), 10 pass break-ups which was tied for 5th in the conference, and was their team leader in INTs with 3. He also had a fumble recovery and forced 2 fumbles. The third key starter back on Defense for them is, 4th team Preseason All-ACC, according to Steele, Senior DE Izaan Cross (6'4" 300). In 2011, he had 32 tackles (1 TFL), a fumble recovery, 2 QB hurries, and 4 pass break-ups. He's also their most decorated player on the team with 28 career starts and also their only starter back on their D-Line in 2012. Also back for them is their leading tackler in 2011 Junior Isaiah Johnson (6'2" 205), who had 87 tackles, and Junior LB Jeremiah Attaochu (6'3" 240), who was their leader in sacks with 6. Both are 2nd team preseason All-ACC, according to Steele. In 2011, their D couldn't catch a cold when it came to stopping the run. They'd better have a much better pass rush in 2012, or it could be another long year for Groh's D in Atlanta.
On Special Teams, they were just horrible in 2011. How horrible you ask? Consider this: They only had a net of 19 yards per kickoff return and only 8 on Punt returns. If you have to go 80 yards on every drive, you're not going to win. If it wasn't for that Triple option of theirs, it would have been much much worse. They could be more dangerous in 2012 with a stronger return game, hell it can't get any worse than it was in 2011 for them.
When I look at GT in 2012, I think Washington will be better running that offense. If they get any sort of a decent passing game, they will be very very dangerous. The key will be the defense. This has been the M.O. with Paul Johnson teams in Atlanta and even going back to when he was in Annapolis with Navy, when teams solve the triple-option, as many have over the years, when they are behind, and they have to throw, they don't win, because their passing game is just horrendous. It puts more strain on the defense and when it gets tired, that's when you become more effective against them. That said, Johnson coached-teams win about nine a year, but this year, it'll be tough to get 8-9 wins again this year.
Their schedule is daunting. They do have to go to Blacksburg to open the season, but they get Miami and UVa at home, but have to also go to Clemson and to Athens to end the season with UGa. My prediction for Georgia Tech in 2012 is 7-5.
In Part 5 of the series, I will preview the 2012 NC State Wolfpack.
Defensively, off the bat, they were dealt a big setback when their All-ACC LB Julian Burnett (120 tackles, 1 sack) suffered a neck injury against Utah in the Sun Bowl. He will not be playing in '12 and his future is in serious doubt. Burnett will not play this season and his career may be over as well. Al Groh will have to do magic with the defense, without Burnett's services. However, the secondary that he has to work with, will be strong again in '12. They have three starters back from their 28th ranked pass defense (197.85 ypg). and they return six starters with no recorded sacks among the group. One of those three starters back on Defense is Junior CB Louis Young (6'1" 201), who had 52 tackles (3 TFLs), 1 INT, 5 passes broken-up, 1 QB hurry, and a forced fumble. The 2nd starter back for them is Senior CB and 4th team Preseason All-ACC, according to Phil Steele, Rod Sweeting (6' 184). In '11, he had 56 tackles (37 solo, 3 TFLs), 10 pass break-ups which was tied for 5th in the conference, and was their team leader in INTs with 3. He also had a fumble recovery and forced 2 fumbles. The third key starter back on Defense for them is, 4th team Preseason All-ACC, according to Steele, Senior DE Izaan Cross (6'4" 300). In 2011, he had 32 tackles (1 TFL), a fumble recovery, 2 QB hurries, and 4 pass break-ups. He's also their most decorated player on the team with 28 career starts and also their only starter back on their D-Line in 2012. Also back for them is their leading tackler in 2011 Junior Isaiah Johnson (6'2" 205), who had 87 tackles, and Junior LB Jeremiah Attaochu (6'3" 240), who was their leader in sacks with 6. Both are 2nd team preseason All-ACC, according to Steele. In 2011, their D couldn't catch a cold when it came to stopping the run. They'd better have a much better pass rush in 2012, or it could be another long year for Groh's D in Atlanta.
On Special Teams, they were just horrible in 2011. How horrible you ask? Consider this: They only had a net of 19 yards per kickoff return and only 8 on Punt returns. If you have to go 80 yards on every drive, you're not going to win. If it wasn't for that Triple option of theirs, it would have been much much worse. They could be more dangerous in 2012 with a stronger return game, hell it can't get any worse than it was in 2011 for them.
When I look at GT in 2012, I think Washington will be better running that offense. If they get any sort of a decent passing game, they will be very very dangerous. The key will be the defense. This has been the M.O. with Paul Johnson teams in Atlanta and even going back to when he was in Annapolis with Navy, when teams solve the triple-option, as many have over the years, when they are behind, and they have to throw, they don't win, because their passing game is just horrendous. It puts more strain on the defense and when it gets tired, that's when you become more effective against them. That said, Johnson coached-teams win about nine a year, but this year, it'll be tough to get 8-9 wins again this year.
Their schedule is daunting. They do have to go to Blacksburg to open the season, but they get Miami and UVa at home, but have to also go to Clemson and to Athens to end the season with UGa. My prediction for Georgia Tech in 2012 is 7-5.
In Part 5 of the series, I will preview the 2012 NC State Wolfpack.
No comments:
Post a Comment