ESPN: Tech’s Dwyer is the nation’s second-best back
I tried to make the point last week, but nobody ever listens to me. But maybe you folks will take heed when somebody employed by the Worldwide Leader says something. So here goes:
Bruce Feldman of ESPN.com Insiders presented his list of the nation’s 10 best backs, and he ranks Jonathan Dwyer of Georgia Tech No. 2. (Who’s No. 1? Caleb King? Uh, no.) Since this is one of those links that requires registration, I’ll provide Mr. Feldman’s top 10:
- Jahvid Best, California
- Dwyer, GT
- Quizz Rodgers, Oregon State
- Charles Scott, LSU
- Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma State
- LeGarrette Blount, Oregon
- C.J. Spiller, Clemson
- Evan Royster, Penn State
- MiQuayle Lewis, Ball State
- Noel Devine, West Virginia
It’s a nice list, as lists go — heavy on the Pac-10, which is fine by me. And Georgia fans should note that the Bulldogs will face three of the top five. But it’s from Feldman’s description of Dwyer that I find my sustenance:
“Despite playing in a major college football media market, Dwyer still is a bit under the radar. But he has everything necessary to make a Heisman run: power, excellent speed and a system (the Triple Option) where it’s hard to key on him. In 2008, he ran for almost 1,400 yards while he and his teammates were still in the incubation stage of Paul Johnson’s system. The scary part was this 233-pounder still had runs of at least 58 yards in four of Tech’s final five games of the season. Putting a talent like Dwyer in the Triple Option feels a little when Steve Nash met Mike D’Antoni.”
The Nash/D’Antoni comparison is pithy and apt, but the point I sought to make last week is that Dwyer isn’t just a “system back.” He’d be great in the “I” or the veer or the single wing. But in this system he’s all but unstoppable. If he’s not a Heisman candidate, my name isn’t Pepper Rodgers.
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162 comments Add your comment
John Morgan
August 8th, 2009
2:04 pm
Dwyer may have a weakness.. How many passes thrown and completed?
John Morgan
August 8th, 2009
5:08 pm
Wouldn’t that be awesome.. He takes a pitch out and jump passes like Harry Gilmer, after drawing the defenses up to stop the run.. That could have been the thing that could have kept us in the game with LSU..
John Morgan
August 8th, 2009
5:15 pm
For you who are young and don’t understand:
http://rolltidebama.com/blog/?p=41
gatech 1954
August 8th, 2009
7:19 pm
UGA must still have the taste of sour grapes in their mouths. Remember, they were suppose to finish #1 in the nation last year. They didn’t even finish #1 in their own state! Go Tech!!
John Morgan
August 8th, 2009
7:31 pm
Yes.. I am old. I remember the days when the “Golden Hurricane” was great I have seen Trippi and Sinkwich in the same backfield. I never saw Clint Castleberry. I have seen mosty of the Alabama greats although I was too young to see Dixie Howell, Don Hudson, and “the other end” Again.. To those who are young, that was the “Bear”. I never saw Johnny Mac Brown(Alabama)whip ass on the west coast team in the Rose Bowl but I heard about it all my young life..I do remember, although didn’t see it, the whipping of Sou Cal by the Golden Hurricane out there in the early 50’s.
Then came 1953. Can you imagine the NCAA’s suddenly deciding that players must play both ways with limited substitution. Tech had a formidible half back, Leon Hardiman who couldn’t play defense. That is what happened in 1953. The NCAA screwed us. Many things happened in that period.
ND is out of time outs so a ND player fakes an injury against SMU to give ND time to score and win. I don’t remember if SMU had Doak Walker or Kyle Rote in that game..
Watch out for ND in the future. They will do anything legal or illegal to win unlike the teams that Tech plays in this part of the US.
You should have seen the Brown High team of 1950 that Dodd recrruited. Pepper at QB etc. Add Leon from Chattanooga and John Hicks Jr..from Talladega. Awesome..
During that era Tech was also Line Backer U. George and Larry Morris etc.
I can only wish for the return of the dominance which the Golden Hurricane exhibited over 50 years ago.
Remember this. Blocking is based on single wing type. The guards pull. The wild hog is single wing more or less. Things that worked are just reinvented..Athletes are athletes.
LSU destroyed Tech with a philosiphy that I learned a long time ago. ND was running a similar offense. Don’t take the fake. Destroy the QB on every play. One man.. One assignment. It goes on from here. Each defensive player has an assignment irrespective.to fakes etc.
LSU did that and practiced without a ball.
If Dwyer can pass, this can be negated.
Bill Donnan
August 9th, 2009
10:39 am
And just what exactly has Caleb King done?
Clem
August 9th, 2009
9:18 pm
Jdawg and buddies: the best thing about those 90,000+ folks in Fred Sanford Stadium every Saturday is it lets all those trailers air out some…
rm54
August 9th, 2009
9:58 pm
ga fans remember he out ran ur db last yr to the end zone so ga fans u needs to get a head start now to try & catch him before he get to the end zone again ga fans it hurt so bad to finally see that tech is better & will win this yr to so get prepare for a atl butt kicking
GTRuffDawg
August 10th, 2009
8:45 pm
Remember when Dion Sanders was being criticized for mentoring Devin Hester at the U…He said we all Florida……..Well…..We all Georgia, Go GT… Go Dawgs. I see Dual Conference Championships in the state of Georgia this year. GT’s Offense and the Dawgs top D and O Line…Its gonna Happen.
Not Disappointed
August 11th, 2009
11:47 pm
GTRuffDawg I wish it was more bloggers like yourself. I to believe in the state of Georgia. The only time I don’t pull for the Dawgs is when they play my Jackets. I hope GSU Panthers can one days represent this state as well. Go Jackets!
BobbyGodd
August 13th, 2009
11:55 am
AnotherDayinParadise….if you compare the 100+ D1 programs you might be shocked to find that GT’s allotment of sold tickets is above average. Tech has sold more season tickets than Miami, Maryland, Duke, Wake Forest, and Boston College. We are comparable with FSU, UNC and NC State. Only Clemson and VT have sold more than 5000 seats above GT. And each of those schools are like UGA with large student enrollments and with huge alumni in the area. Tech lacks both due to the nature of it being an engineering school rather than a Physical education or social services school like UGA.
Hard to believe Dwyer was considered the second best back in Georgia behind King that went to UGA. No Doubt…another case where second best is better than being a Dawg!
just the truth
August 19th, 2009
10:57 am
I’m going to tell you the real deal. I wouldn’t trade Anthony Allen for any UGA running back now. He’s the one that’s going to break the hearts of many teams this year and next. While teams are keying on Dwyer…. Allen will be gone! Just wait.