Dwyer wants Jackets to lead nation in rushing

LINK - Associated Press, Augusta Chronicle

ATLANTA --- There's been talk about coach Paul Johnson adding more passing to Georgia Tech's run-first offense this season.

That's fine with Jonathan Dwyer. But Dwyer's goal is clear: The reigning Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year wants to be the leader of the nation's best rushing attack.

"I know if we go out and dominate like we're supposed to, there's no doubt we can be the No. 1 rushing offense in the country," Dwyer said.

"With the talent we have, we are capable of doing it as long as we stay humble and play hard each and every game we have."

Dwyer thrived in the first year of Johnson's option offense last season. He led the ACC with 1,395 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns as a sophomore.

Johnson is asking Dwyer to be better this year.

"Because he has so much ability and can be a great player, we are going to push him and make him be his best," Johnson said, adding the 6-foot Dwyer's "weight is up a little bit" from his listed 235 pounds.

"It's not like he's slowed down a great deal, but I just know he could be that much faster if he would drop a few pounds," Johnson said. "That's where I need to push him to be in the best condition he can be and challenge him on his blocking. Those are areas where he is not as good at as running the football.

"When I challenge him, I don't want to take away from the fact that he's a great football player."

Led by Dwyer, Georgia Tech ranked fourth in the nation with its 273.2 yards rushing per game. Johnson's former team, Navy, was first at 292.4.

Johnson's offense utilizes three running backs. But unlike a wishbone, two A-backs line up wide in the spread formation instead of directly behind quarterback Josh Nesbitt and Dwyer, the B-back.

It was a new look to the ACC, and the results in the 9-4 season were impressive.

No other team in the league ranked among the nation's top 50 in rushing.

Florida State was second in the league and only 60th in the nation with its 179.1 yards rushing per game, almost 100 yards behind the Yellow Jackets.

Dwyer sais Georgia Tech's running game is just getting started.

"They just saw a sample of what was going on last year," Dwyer said of opposing defenses. "We didn't even put in the whole offense.

"I think we're still going to surprise some people this season with our offense."

Dwyer's confidence, and the confidence of the entire team, was boosted by a nine-win season in Johnson's debut. The Yellow Jackets ended a seven-year losing streak to state rival Georgia and narrowly missed earning a spot in the ACC Championship Game.

The 2008 success came despite Johnson having few players recruited for his offense and severe shortages of depth and experience at several positions, including the three running backs in his spread formation.

There is better depth and expectations for continued improvement because there are only six scholarship seniors on the 2009 roster. Georgia Tech was No. 15 in the USA Today coaches preseason poll.

Suddenly, Georgia Tech is being discussed as a possible challenger to Virginia Tech and other ACC powers.

The preseason respect requires an adjustment for Georgia Tech's players.

"We have a target on our backs, but I do not think we did the best that we could last year," Dwyer said.

"We messed up on some games we should have won. I still think we can surprise some teams this upcoming season."

Georgia Tech returns 17 starters, including Nesbitt, who joined Dwyer in the ACC's top 10 rushing leaders last year. Also back on offense are top receiver Demaryius Thomas and running back Roddy Jones, who rushed for 214 yards in the 45-42 win over Georgia.

The biggest preseason concern is the defensive line, where three senior starters must be replaced.

Johnson isn't ducking the soaring expectations.

"We'll be a better football team this year," Johnson said.

"Now will we win more games? I don't know."

Georgia Tech opens against Jacksonville State on Saturday before another home game against Clemson, followed by a visit to Miami and a return to Atlanta to face North Carolina.

"We'll know where we stand in the ACC by October," Johnson said.

It's not as if October will provide a break in the conference schedule.

"The next two are Virginia Tech and Florida State. Those are our first five conference games," Johnson said.

"Our goal is to be playing for something meaningful in November. If you can get to that point, then that's all you can ask for."

USA Today - Dwyer delivers the goods for Georgia Tech

Photo Credit: Dale Zanine, US Presswire

Check out this article by By Andy Gardiner, USA TODAY.

One of the more eye-catching handouts at the Atlantic Coast Conference football media kickoff last month was the stack of life-size posters of running back C.J. Spiller that Clemson distributed to promote his Heisman Trophy candidacy. The 5-foot, 11-inch image of Spiller in an all-orange Tigers uniform certainly made an impression on Georgia Tech junior Jonathan Dwyer.

"I think that's pretty cool," Dwyer said. "I'll have to ask Dean Buchan (Tech's sports information director) where my poster is."

Though Dwyer was laughing when he said it, there is nothing funny about his credentials for national recognition. He was the 2008 ACC player of the year, not Spiller. And Dwyer is the player most national scouting reports list as the league's top professional prospect.

Continue Reading...

We're not the only ones getting shot down

While plenty of Tebow and McCoy for Heisman t-shirts still exist, at least someone else is getting shut down:

A minor league baseball team had "What Would Tim Tebow Do?" Night. Seems a bit over the top. And no doi you're gonna get shut down. They're just making money off the guy. We just want to support our favorite team's best player.

Read about it here.

Dwyer Named First-Team All America by SI

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/football/ncaa/08/25/all.america.team/index.html

T-shirts not kosher with Georgia Tech

A beautiful shirt that is no longer available online...

So as some people hypothesized, the GT Athletic Association wasn't too keen on us selling our t-shirts with Dwyer's name on them, even though it was for zero profit.

As a result, you will be able to pick one up at no charge on game days before kickoff at the Mash on the Gas tailgate, located next to "the shaft" by the student center.

Sorry for the inconvenience. We weren't out to get anyone in trouble. We just want to grow some support, so please stop by and say hi and pick up a shirt if you're around!

We will not be available to bring shirts to the Jacksonville State game. Sorry. See you at Clemson (which yes, I know, is a white out, but you can hold onto it).

Dwyer USA Today's #1 ACC Player

Top players

Offense: RB Jonathan Dwyer (Georgia Tech), 6-0, 235: Led the ACC in rushing in 2008 with 1,395 yards and scored 12 touchdowns.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/2009-08-25-bonus-acc-capsule_N.htm

Sporting News says Dwyer will challenge for NCAA rushing title

WE SAY: Georgia Tech running back Jonathan Dwyer will challenge for the NCAA rushing title, and the Yellow Jackets will win double-digit games for the first time since 1998.

Former Georgia Tech All-American JOE HAMILTON says: "You know, at first Jonathan wasn't too enthused about being a fullback with his hand on the ground. Then he saw what he could accomplish in Coach (Paul) Johnson's offense and he just flourished in it. He's going to lead the nation in rushing because we'll be more comfortable in the option offense. People thought they had trouble stopping us last year—wait until they see the offense this season."

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: JONATHAN DWYER, RB, Georgia Tech

http://www.sportingnews.com/college-football/article/2009-08-24/college-football-preview-acc-predictions

Dwyer ESPN's No. 9 Heisman Candidate

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/heisman08/index

Dwyer one of CBS' Top 8 Heisman Hopefuls

One of the sleepers on this list, but he did have nine 100-yard rushing games, including four in the final five games. If he can get the ball a little more, he has a chance to rush for 1,700 yards, which will make him an automatic Heisman contender.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/heisman

T-shirts orders temporarily on hold

Due to concern about using Jonathan Dwyer's name on the t-shirts we've made, we've temporarily taken the online orders away.

We'll get them back up as soon as we get the persmission needed. We will not be selling the t-shirts for any profit, just at production costs so as many people as possible can show Dwyer their support.

In the meantime, the site is still going strong to continue the Fight for Dwyer for Heisman!

NCAA 2010 As It Should Be

We all know that football video games are one of the best ways to have your program (or player) in the spotlight. In fact, there is often no better celebration of a season's success than to have the team or player's picture on the box cover. So to keep this spirit in line with the Dwyer Brigade's goal of getting #21 the respect he deserves as well as showing that Georgia Tech is the real deal, I think we should begin to petition EA Sports to use the following cover for next year.

Dwyer Brigade shirts are here!

So order away (to the left there)! They'll only be $8 for a limited time.

You'll also be able to pick one up at the Mash On The Gas tailgate on game days.

Let's fill Bobby Dodd Stadium with the Dwyer Brigade!

JD to be featured on 'Football Saturdays in the South' tomorrow

The show will air tomorrow on Raycom at 4 pm ET:

http://www.theacc.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/082109aaa.html

2009 CFN Preview - Unit Rankings ... RBs

1. Georgia Tech

With all due respect to Oklahoma and USC, Georgia Tech, too, belongs in the discussion when it comes to the nation’s most talented collection of running backs. Not only is Jonathan Dwyer a bona fide All-American candidate, but he’s now surrounded by a terrific ensemble that’ll keep defenses from focusing on stopping him. If opponents commit too many resources to stopping the junior, Roddy Jones, Anthony Allen, and Marcus Wright will make them pay.

http://cfn.scout.com/2/887668.html

Athlon 2009 Heisman Watch: Jonathan Dwyer

http://www.athlonsports.com/college-football/17419/2009-heisman-watch-jonathan-dwyer

Dwyer #1 RB on Mel Kiper's 2010 Big Board

#1 RB and #13 player overall. Don't forget, he's a Junior.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft10/insider/news/story?id=4411477&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnfl%2fdraft10%2finsider%2fnews%2fstory%3fid%3d4411477 (must have ESPN Insider... lame)

JD on Maxwell Award watch list

given to the outstanding collegiate football player in America:

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/acc/0-6-543/ACC-has-six-on-Maxwell-Award-watch-list.html

Dwyer doesn't need a poster

but we'll give him a website and some t-shirts...

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/preview09/news/story?id=4390992

Dwyer is Sports Illustrated's #1 Player in the ACC

After leading the league in rushing, averaging seven yards per carry and notching nine 100-plus yard games, Dwyer became the first sophomore to win ACC Player of the Year honors. A hard-nosed runner, he's a perfect fit for Tech's flexbone offense.

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0908/cfb.top.10.acc.players/content.10.html#ixzz0OhNBwtRG

Welcome to the Dwyer Brigade

Here you will find all of the reasons Jonathan Dwyer should bring the Heisman Trophy back to Georgia Tech, home of John Heisman himself.