So, after what seems as forever ago, I’m back. Due to different problems and conflicts I haven’t been able to post in a while. Rather than sit here and talk about why, let’s just dive right in.

Here is an excerpt from Scout’s 2009 ACC preview of Georgia Tech:
Georgia Tech Begins: March 23 Game: April 18

The early spring buzz … Boy, have things changed around Atlanta in a matter of a year, or what? Last March, the program was all about getting acclimated to first-year head coach Paul Johnson and his option offense. This March, the Yellow Jackets will be looking to fine-tune that system, specifically QB Josh Nesbitt, while moving up in the ACC pecking order. Tech has had a very quiet offseason, only making news on signing day with a solid class that addressed both sides of the ball and capitalized on last year’s nine-win season.

The big spring question is … How far along will the offense be compared to last year? As good as the Yellow Jacket attack was in 2008, Johnson knows it can be more efficient and explosive now that the learning curve is flatter. Jonathan Dwyer and Roddy Jones form one of the most dynamic backfield tandems in the country, and the line returns enough able bodies to offset the loss of LT Andrew Gardner. The fate of the option hinges on Nesbitt, who played to mixed reviews as a sophomore and had some problems with durability. If he regresses, Johnson won’t hesitate to give the ball to second-year point guard Jaybo Shaw.

The most important position to watch is … the defensive line. This is the one area where Tech genuinely needs to rebuild after losing three starters, who earned all-conference honors in 2008. Without Vance Walker, Darryl Richard, and Michael Johnson, it’ll be up to junior DE Derrick Morgan to be the new show-stopper. Helping him out along the front four, among others, will be Jason Peters, Robert Hall, and Ben Anderson, who’ll have a chance to parlay this spring into a starting assignment.

Spring attitude… After winning nine games, including an upset of Georgia, Georgia Tech will enter the 2009 season with high expectations and the wind at its back. Even getting throttled by LSU in the Chick-fil-A Bowl did little to douse the enthusiasm surrounding the program. The Yellow Jackets will spend almost a month of the spring working out the kinks on offense and retooling the interior on defense. Considering the talent in the offensive and defensive backfields, they’ll be thinking Coastal champs after nearly winning the division a year ago

Along with the specific Tech preview, here’s what they said about Tech in the basic ACC preview:

The Top 5 Players Who Need A Big Spring
1. Jacory Harris, QB Miami
2. Willy Korn, QB Clemson
3. Dominique Davis, QB Boston College
4. Derrick Morgan, DE Georgia Tech
5. Greg Little, WR North Carolina

The 5 Biggest ACC Spring Storylines
1. Is Virginia Tech going to find more offensive firepower now that the defense needs some rebuilding?
2. Is Christian Ponder the quarterback Florida State can count on for a full season?
3. The emergence of Russell Wilson as more of a leader and playmaker for NC State.
4. The Georgia Tech offensive line. Can it overcome a rocky year to be a positive?
5. Dabo Swinney. Was the end of 2008 a mirage for Clemson? Was Swinney really the right choice?

The Spring ACC Team Rankings
1. North Carolina
2. Georgia Tech
3. Clemson
4. Virginia Tech
5. Miami
6. Boston College
7. Florida State
8. NC State
9. Virginia
10. Wake Forest
11. Maryland
12. Duke

The Pre-Spring Call For Player Of The Year
1. Jonathan Dwyer, RB Georgia Tech
2. Mark Herzlich, LB Boston College
3. Tyrod Taylor, QB Virginia Tech
4. C.J. Spiller, RB Clemson
5. Alex Wujciak, LB Maryland

Now, enough for football, last night Tech played easily their second best game of the season on the hardwood in front of home fans at Alexander Memorial.
Lewis Clinch continued his hot streak with a thirty point game on senior night. He had twenty in the first half. He’s hit at least six treys in the the past four games, averaging right around 25 per contest in that span.
I think after two down years Clinch might be doing just enough to get another shot at the NBA. Hopefully he can follow in the footsteps of Anthony Morrow, go to a camp and make a team.
Alade Aminu also played well last night, defending and rebounding very well.
Gani Lawal continues to impress, but let’s hope not enough so that he leaves after this year. Just imagine our starting lineup next year with Udofia, Shumpert, Peacock, Lawal and Favors. Dnagerous. Along with Bell, Miller, Storrs and other highly touted freshmen coming in it could be a great year for the Jackets.

That’s all for now, I’ll be back soon,
JE