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By RJ Sepich Series History The Last Time 2012 Georgia Tech Season Review
The Johnson File Coming off his first bowl victory in five attempts with the Yellow Jackets, Paul Johnson enters his sixth season as the Georgia Tech head football coach. The man who led Georgia Southern to two Division I-AA championships and turned around the Navy program has also been a success at Georgia Tech, steering the Yellow Jackets to five bowls, two ACC Championship Games and an Orange Bowl berth. His 148-65 career record in 16 seasons as a head coach is a testament that his old-school triple-option offense can still succeed at any level of modern college football. A man who didn't play college football and usually goes what's trendy and popular, Paul Johnson hopes to continue to prove naysayers wrong with a veteran Georgia Tech squad that has high hopes in 2013. Looking at the Yellow Jackets Offense: 4 starters lost, 7 returning 1. Lee set to become starter - After receiving sparse playing time at quarterback last season, redshirt sophomore Vad Lee appears to be the favorite to become the new Georgia Tech quarterback following Tevin Washington's graduation. The athletic Lee posted more than 1,100 yards of total offense and scored 13 touchdowns as a redshirt freshman, with his big-play ability allowing Coach Paul Johnson to use him in certain situations. Considering his obvious talent, Lee could become a star this season if he improves his decision-making skills to effectively run Georgia Tech's complicated offense every play. 2. Experience at every other position - Lee could be the only non-upperclassman to start for the Georgia Tech offense this season. Running backs David Sims and Robert Godhigh and offensive linemen Ray Beno, Will Jackson and Jay Finch are all projected senior starters, while running back B.J. Bostic, wide receivers Corey Dennis and Darren Waller and linemen Shaquille Mason and Morgan Bailey could all start as juniors. That amount of experience around Lee should make the quarterback's difficult challenge of directing the triple option just a little bit easier - and that much harder for opposing defenses. Defense: 3 starters lost, 8 returning Keys to Victory
2. Don't let the crowd intimidate - By this point in the season, Pitt will have already traveled to Duke, Virginia Tech and Navy for away games, so handling the crowd noise and atmosphere that ACC fans create shouldn't be a problem for the Panthers. But with a homecoming crowd of 50,000-plus likely to fill Bobby Dodd Stadium to see a new ACC opponent, Pitt would benefit greatly from quieting the rowdy Ramblin' Wreck faithful with an early big play. Check back next week for a preview of Pitt's week 9 opponent, Notre Dame. |
