Five questions

When Georgia Tech athletic director Dave Braine hired Chan Gailey, he mentioned the Georgia native in the same sentence with legendary coach Bobby Dodd.

Three seasons later, Gailey has yet to live up to that reputation. Dodd won 165 games and a national championship in 22 seasons with Tech. Gailey has led the Yellow Jackets to three seven-win seasons.

Georgia Tech went 7-5 last season, including a 51-14 thrashing of Syracuse in the Champs Sports Bowl.

The Yellow Jackets have been to eight consecutive bowl games. Georgia Tech, though, has finished sixth or worse in the Atlantic Coast Conference under Gailey, and they haven't beaten rival Georgia since 2000.

Georgia Tech also has failed to string together two quality wins in a row the past two seasons. In 2004, the Yellow Jackets rallied to defeat Clemson in an overtime thriller, but then came back flat the next week in a 34-13 trouncing at North Carolina.

Here are five questions to ponder before the Yellow Jackets begin their season Sept. 3 against Auburn:

1. Can the Yellow Jackets break their string of seven-win seasons and get Chan Gailey off the hot seat?

The Yellow Jackets open at Auburn before playing at Virginia Tech three weeks later. Georgia Tech later has to play Miami, Clemson, Virginia and Georgia. Winning seven games will be a tough task.

Gailey is on the hot seat with two years remaining on his contract. Losing to Miami and Virginia Tech is understandable. Failing to beat Georgia and not making a bowl game will be tough to swallow.

2. What can wide receiver Calvin Johnson do to trump last season?

Johnson earned ACC Rookie of the Year, first team all-ACC and freshman All-American honors in 2004. He set school freshman records in catches (48), reception yardage (837) and touchdown receptions (7).

The 6-foot-4, 225-pounder is touted by Athlon Sports as a preseason first-team All-American. He will be expected to increase those numbers. A fitting goal: 60 receptions, 1,000 receiving yards, 10 touchdowns.

3. Can Georgia Tech survive with Reggie Ball at quarterback?

For Ball (right), the 2003 ACC Rookie of the Year, college football has been a roller coaster ride. He is sixth on the school's career passing list with 4,143 yards. He is also on pace to break Eddie McAshan's career record of 52 interceptions.

Ball was named most valuable player of the Champs Sports Bowl after throwing for two touchdowns and running for another.

He ended the season with more interceptions (18) than touchdowns (16).

Georgia Tech returns only two starters on the offensive line, which could complicate matters for Ball. He does have a huge target in Johnson, but he has to improve upon his 51 percent completion percentage for the Yellow Jackets to be successful.

4. Can the defense recover from its off-season losses?

Georgia Tech's defense carried last year's team, finishing 12th nationally in total yardage (297.9) and 21st in scoring allowed (18.92).

In the off-season, the defense took huge hits: defensive end Travis Parker, a three-year starter, is ineligible because of academic woes; tackle Daryl Richard will miss the season with a knee injury; and cornerback Reuben Houston is off the team after being indicted on felony drug charges.

Despite the losses, the Yellow Jackets return leading tackler Gerris Wilkerson and defensive lineman Eric Henderson, second team all-ACC performers in 2004.

If defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta can fill the three holes, the defense should be stellar again.

5. Will P.J. Daniels return to his 2003 form?

Daniels was a first-team all-ACC selection after gaining almost 1,500 yards in 2003. He missed four games last season with knee and leg injuries.

Daniels is a difference-maker when he's healthy, and so far, so good. He proved himself in the Champs Sports Bowl, rushing for 119 yards and two touchdowns.

If he stays injury-free, Daniels will be one of the top backs in the ACC.

- Chris Gay