Let’s resume normal preseason operations and turn our attention to repeating as ACC Champs and beyond. First question is “What are the odds of repeating?”  Tracking NCAA football odds can be difficult, but again that’s what makes this fun.  Now for some analysis.

The Jackets have quite a few negative traits that preseason prognosticators tend to focus on when they give their best guess.  Tech loses a 1000+ yard rusher, the #1 receiver in the ACC, first round defensive end, and an All-ACC safety. The “experts” will question, “How do you replace that much talent to repeat as Champs?”  The answer is you don’t, but perhaps that’s the wrong question to begin with. It’s presumes, too heavily in my opinion, that wins are based on the accomplishments of a small group of players.  That’s far too simple, especially at Tech.

For the first time in memory I’m very comfortable where Tech is as a football program.  I’m not that overly concerned about the losses.  In fact the only concern for me in personnel is replacing Thomas.  But then again there is some real talent there (Stephen Hill) and I believe the departure opens up other opportunities in the passing game rather than throwing up a prayer and relying on Thomas to run under it.  And let’s face it, that was the extent of the passing game last year.  That must change, and I’m confident it will by sheer necessity.  And that is where my confidence goes back to the coaching staff and of course Paul Johnson.

You see, I believe. I believe that Coach Johnson isn’t an idiot. I believe he can adjust, tweak, and then expose his opponents.  In other words, the need to efficiently pass the ball will force Johnson to work and find the pieces to make it happen.  It may not be orthodoxy, but it will work because it has to.  The other losses in personnel are very replaceable.  Honestly, the B-back is going to rush for 1000+ yards a season at Tech, and if he doesn’t then Tech will lose.  History shows it isn’t so much the person running the ball as it is the system.  Furthermore, running backs are highly overrated in any offense.  Not to take anything away from The Diesel, he was great and made great plays, but a good offensive line will give a lot of average backs a good amount of press.  Tech has plenty of viable options, pun intended, for running backs in 2010.  They will find one, probably The Predator Allen, who can get the job done.  The offensive line should be better still, and that’s a good thing. Allen will rush for 1000+, and perhaps Nesbitt and an A-Back will come close as well.  The day will come when Tech has three 1000 yard rushers.  This could be that year.

The defensive losses are a non-issue.  Granted, D.Morgan was a beast and won the ACC championship for us in the end.  But in reality the defense can’t really be worse.  The fact that Morgan had to win the game for us is a testament to just how bad things had gotten on defense.  The loss of BallHawk Burnett actually opens the door for moving Can’t Cover My Shadow (name protected) to a position where he too can ball hawk, which proved his strong suit.  And yes, Cooper is back from injury as well as the 2008 ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year, Kyle Jackson (though I haven’t heard much on these fronts).   Furthermore, the addition of Al Groh at Defensive Coordinator more than makes up for any losses.

So, no the question isn’t so much talent, but has it ever really been at Tech? Talent is often overstated and overrated, look no further than UGA. Does anyone historically do less with talent? No, the more relevant question for repeating is how Tech will improve and at what speed.  The good news is that Tech has plenty to improve upon and Coach Johnson knows it.  I think we all know he isn’t satisfied with one ACC Championship. As great as it is, it came with much room for improvement.  Johnson’s a perfectionist, firing Dave Wommack and hiring Al Groh sent a clear message that the status quo, that even winning ACC Championships, while great, isn’t the final goal. Winning every game is.  I’m confident Tech will improve in many of those areas that were so obvious while also sustaining its success in other areas.  Will it be enough to hold off the rest of the ACC Coastal who may improve as well?  We will start to find out in 50 days.

Where do you put the odds of coasting in the ACC?