It might appear that Georgia Tech football has been revamped completely, with new head coach Chan Gailey returning to the collegiate ranks from the NFL, where he served as offensive coordinator with the Miami Dolphins under Dave Wannstedt. But the Yellow Jackets will maintain continuity on offense, as Gailey has kept highly regarded Bill O'Brien as his offensive coordinator.

Gailey was head coach at Troy State in 1983 and 1984; in '84, the Trojans posted a 12-1 record and captured the Division II national championship. In 1993, he was head coach at Samford, where he succeeded Terry Bowden, who moved on to Auburn.

	Chan Gailey moves from the Dolphins to the head post at Georgia Tech.

OFFENSE
Gailey and O'Brien will be breaking in a new QB. Tennessee transfer A.J. Suggs appears to have a slight edge going into the fall over talented redshirt freshman Damarius Bilbo.

Suggs, who sat out last year due to his transfer, is a straight-drop-back type, while Bilbo combines impressive athletic ability with an above-average arm.

On ESPN Radio's "Weekend GameDay" show last Saturday (hosted by me and Andy Pollin), Gailey said he might go with a two-QB system. The feeling is that Bilbo, though inexperienced, is far too talented to be standing on the sidelines.

Replacing Joe Burns, who rushed for over 100 yards in six games last season, won't be easy. But Burns, while a solid college running back, lacked game-breaking speed and went undrafted in April before signing as a free agent with the Buffalo Bills. In the second half of spring practice, converted junior DB Tony Hollings caught fire at tailback, showcasing the shiftiness necessary to make defenders miss and create yardage when the initial hole appears to be clogged. However, Hollings had some fumble problems, leading to concern about how dependable he'll be in game situations. Junior Jermaine Hatch could be back in the mix after sitting out last season with a knee injury. Hatch was limited in the spring, with no contact, making him a wild card come the fall.

Suggs and Bilbo will have plenty of experienced targets to throw to, as wide receiver is Tech's strongest position. Seniors Kerry Watkins and Will Glover and junior Johnathan Smith are the primary options, with talented sophomore Nate Curry looking to make a successful return from a major knee injury that occurred last August. A pair of highly regarded freshmen, Xavier McGuire and LeKeldrick Bridges, will also try to push their way onto the field.

In Gailey's system, the tight end is utilized mainly as a blocker; under O'Brien, the tight end wasn't a major part of the aerial attack, either. Junior John Paul Foschi and senior Will Heller both figure to see significant playing time this season.

On the offensive line, Gailey is set at left tackle with blue-chip sophomore Nat Dorsey, who burst onto the national scene last year when he neutralized North Carolina DE Julius Peppers. To make up for the graduation loss of David Schmidgall, versatile junior Hugh Reilly has shifted from guard to center. At right tackle, coaches reportedly like the potential displayed by sophomore Kyle Wallace.

DEFENSE
With a new QB to develop and the huge question mark at tailback, at least Gailey and new defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta (who came from North Carolina) have nine starters returning on defense. While they lack imposing size, this is a speedy and athletic group that has a ton of experience. There's no question that Gailey will rely heavily on this veteran D to come through early in the season as the offense takes shape.

Up front, blue-chip senior DE Greg Gathers is the major headliner -- and deservedly so. Without question, he is Georgia Tech's best defensive lineman since Marco Coleman in the early '90s. The concern is at defensive tackle, where Tech has lacked a collapse-the-pocket type who can make big plays behind the line of scrimmage. Opening at tackle will be senior Gary Johnson and sophomore Alfred Malone. A name to watch out for this year (and in the future) is physically gifted freshman George Cooper (6-foot-5, 255). Cooper could be a factor right away at either defensive end or even tight end. Cooper is the type of athlete that coaches want to get on the field as soon as possible.

The strength of the Yellow Jackets defense is at linebacker, where junior MLB Daryl Smith figures to provide an All-American-type performance. Last year, Smith suffered a dislocated elbow in late September against Clemson, which kept us from seeing the best he has to offer. Look for Smith to return to his freshman form, when he made his mark as one of the nation's elite young linebackers. Junior Keyaron Fox and senior Recardo Wimbush have plenty of speed and impact capability on the outside.

Senior FS Jeremy Muyres operates as a quality center-fielder type, while depth has been developed on the corner with four players figuring to see significant action. Senior Marvious Hester is the lead cover man, while junior Jonathan Cox has the edge over junior Albert Poree for the other starting job. Following a great spring, senior Kelley Rhino is viewed as more than just an exciting and determined punt/kickoff returner. Rhino played well at cornerback and could see action in extra-DB situations.

OVERVIEW
The Yellow Jackets have plenty of talent but face a transitional year, with Chan Gailey replacing George O'Leary as head coach. Plus, they're breaking in a new QB and tailback. Gailey has been successful as a college head coach and an NFL offensive coordinator. Meanwhile, Bill O'Brien is viewed as a top-flight offensive coordinator, and defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta has made his mark as an excellent strategist.

While a quality staff is in place, this season's success depends largely on how quickly A.J. Suggs and Damarius Bilbo develop in what could be a two-QB system. Having a proven running back would take some pressure off the young QBs, but that's not the case here. With Joe Burns moving on, the spotlight is on former DB Tony Hollings at tailback. Hollings showed promise in the spring but had some troubles with fumbles, so he'll need to prove he can take care of the football in game situations. The starting offensive line looks fairly solid, led by standout OT Nat Dorsey, but depth is a problem.

The defense features speed and quality veteran personnel, highlighted by sack artist Greg Gathers. Gathers figures to receive a tremendous amount of attention as opponents focus on limiting his dominance, if possible. The concern on D is a lack of size overall and the lack of big-impact playmakers on the interior of the defensive line.