Yet more from Paul Johnson
Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson had his season-ending press conference on Friday. The Yellow Jackets went 6-7, their first losing season since 1996.
This is a paraphrased portion of the press conference.
On if the defense will play better as defensive coordinator Al Groh starts to get more of this type of players:
I think that’s its important with any scheme. Better players the better you are going to be. Good players are good players.
You fit your scheme to players. That’s what coaching is.
You have to build around what they can do. That’s the way it is with any scheme.
After losing three starters in the secondary, who could you see stepping up there? Rod Sweeting, for example?
That’s another position we have some young guys. I think we will be OK there.
What about A-back?
Another young guy, B.J. Bostic. We’ve got to find a way to get him on the field.
What about Jemea Thomas?
Right now he’s a safety but he could play corner.
Do you think this season will help players who may have a sense of entitlement?
If they don’t understand what happened this year but they aren’t really smart. Sometimes it has to happen to you before you realize it can happen.
That’s one of the things we’ll talk about the team meeting on Tuesday.
How do you want to be? What are you going to do to get there?
All of the players will say they want to win all the games, but what are they going to do to make it happen.
Is it fair to say that chemistry and leadership were the two biggest factors in this season?
I don’t know if there was one. Probably a number of things. We need to work on it and address them all. It’s nothing that’s not fixable.
On having a team mostly made up of “his” players:
These were my kids since the day I took the job. If I have to read that one more time, it makes me want to throw up.
I didn’t divide them: These were this guy’s recruits and these where this guy’s recruits.
We lost four really good players early. Did that have an impact? Yes. You take the four best players out of any class and it’s going to leave an impact. It’s not just losing them, it’s losing the leadership.
We still have one group of guys that were here when I got here and another group that was mostly recruited when I got here.
Any changes in responsibilities on the coaching staff?
Right now, nothing planned other than tweaking the special teams some.
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135 comments Add your comment
GTFan
January 7th, 2011
4:20 pm
LAST
We_Run_This_Country
January 7th, 2011
4:47 pm
With CPJ, GT is setting itself up for a promising future. Looking forward to 2011. Go Jackets!
gt4ever
January 7th, 2011
4:57 pm
Hmmmmmmm, not much to comment about….. We have become less than competitive…. We can’t even compete with a service academy….. Pathetic!
GT man
January 7th, 2011
5:10 pm
Hope PJ gets someone that can catch a punt.
Jacket Backer
January 7th, 2011
5:36 pm
Can’t compete with a service academy?? We lost by 7 points with our backup QB, numerous players out due to suspension and 2 fumbled punts by our backup punt returner. CPJ will get this thing back on track. It was just a bad year. Nothing went right. Don’t forget, AF came very close to beating OU in Norman so this was not a bad team.
Hayseed Dixie
January 7th, 2011
5:39 pm
PJ has someone who can catch a punt, his name is Jerrard Tarrant. He got hurt, so the 2nd stringer went in.
I don’t know if you’ve ever coached kids before, but you don’t pull them cause they make one mistake.
CPJ bashers, please, just shut the hell up: you’re useless. We’re one year removed from a conference championship and you boys are bitching worse than a drunk divorcee on Christmas.
Fight the real enemy: Paul Hewitt.
WrexNFx aka Ol' Wrex
January 7th, 2011
5:47 pm
Sorry CPJ!
I’m not buying your crap!
You start off last off-season by acting as if losing Dwyer & crew weren’t a big deal, in fact you made comments that you could plug anyone in at B-Back and get over 1,000 yds.; NOW after getting a boot put in your a.$.$ by such great HCs as:
Turner Gill
Randy Shannon
Daboo Swinney
Now you wanna cmoe back AFTER THE FACT and gripe about losing talent early, yet in pre-season you said this was your deepest tema since you’ve been at GT.
Your smug a-hole arrogance about your Offense led you to believe that Dwyer’s big-play home-run capability was no big deal and you could put anyone in at B-Back and not miss a beat, and instead of “MANNING-UP” and admitting you were WRONG, you now say after the fact that the talent loss hurt.
You thought that any ol’ 6-4 WR could and get jump balls like Bay-Bay, and you were proven to be wrong again.
Even after all your mis-calculations, you still cannot man-up and admit that YOU screwed this season up big-time CPJ.
Shame on you for being such a coward and being in denial about your own failures.
WHITE AND GOLD
January 7th, 2011
6:08 pm
well if CPJ is going to throw up then PUKE ON DUKE, lol, and for that matter also Miami, VT, Clemson, UNC, Kansas, NC St and Va too
Honestly, it is the dogtards on these blogs who despise CPJ and trying to irritate him by giving all the credit to “Chans players”. If Chan could have done anything with them GT would not have fired him. Lost to Wake in the ACC title game 9 to 6 with Calvin Johnson which says it all right there.
Just wish GT and CPJ would try and bring back Giff Smith. That is my only request. GO JACKETS
WHITE AND GOLD
January 7th, 2011
6:13 pm
Dear Hayseed, when a coach puts a 2nd string player in the game to return a punt and he fumbles, you are right shame on the player but if the coach puts the same player back in 2 minutes later to return the punt and he fumbles a 2nd time, then it is shame on the coaching staff. The majority of GT fans are glad we have CPJ, but that doesn’t mean we think the GT football team is perfect and doesn’t need tweaking
GT Dad
January 7th, 2011
6:13 pm
Hoping for better year next year. On a side note, went to Shreveport. On the bus from outer parking, a gentleman from there commented that “he wondered how many Tech players would be left for the game”. He said his brother-in-law was a taxi driver and he said he had carted Tech players all over at all hours. Sounds like the discipline that we hear about wasn’t really there……..
Hayseed Dixie
January 7th, 2011
6:16 pm
WrexNFx aka Ol’ Wrex
“Shame on you for being such a coward and being in denial about your own failures.”
Are you serious?? Have another drink, you jackwagon.
On the scale of cowardice which is worse? A head coach with fans, alumni and a board to answer to or “wrecks in effect” on the AJC blog?
I know, I know, I should never call out anyone who calls Randy Shannon a “great” HC. They’ve already lost touch with reality.
Remind me, how many ACC Championships do Shannon and Swinney have, again?
just saying
January 7th, 2011
6:17 pm
whether is true or not, it did seem when the 4 juniors decided to leave for the NFL, GT and the coaching staff practically called the limos and held a parade. I mean, it would have been nice if we could have read where CPJ and the staff tried their best to persuade them to stay even if they didn’t. Other coaches with the same problem this year around are quoting in the papers around the country how they are trying to convince their star player(s) to stay. I do not see anything wrong with that, in fact, you are crazy if you don’t. Just saying
Hayseed Dixie
January 7th, 2011
6:18 pm
@WHITE AND GOLD
If he puts in the 3rd string and he bumbles it, then you guys are howling like children.
Either way the special teams fumble bitching is feminine nitpicking at its worst.
SHREVEPORT
January 7th, 2011
6:19 pm
that GAMBLING in Shreveport in the casinos with free drinks must have made an impression, if you are wondering where players were late or what they were doing
WHITE AND GOLD
January 7th, 2011
6:23 pm
hayseed, fans who spend money for airline tickets, hotels, etc.. to go to a bowl game have a right to say something, doesn’t mean they do not donate money to GTAA or not proud of GT..lighten up
no need for name calling, did I call you a name
Caleb Queen
January 7th, 2011
6:30 pm
I DID NOT TOUCH THAT WHITE GURL, COACH!
Snoopy
January 7th, 2011
6:52 pm
Dawg Fan Here – Look – Both our gridiron squads really stunk it up this season..
Maybe we can blowup the record books from 2010 & have better teams in ‘11…
Would be cool for BOTH squads to come into Grant Field (I’m old) like 10 – 1 with all the marbles to play for… The State Championship!!
UGA=YAWN
January 7th, 2011
6:53 pm
Aargh, You asked hime really TOUGH questions. Grow some balls. This season was that absolute worst and yet you guys always walk on egg shells when you interview him. Let me at him in an interview!!!
Rodney Dangerfield
January 7th, 2011
7:16 pm
Old Wrex is a cancer to the Tech Blogs on the AJC. Paul Johnson needs to own up and have a one on one meeting with Ole Wrexxy so Wrexxy can share some of his infinate GT hate. I think Old Rex must have assassinated Fire Paul Johnson to become the biggest GT hater on the AJC blog. But keep it coming Wrackz because you make me laugh.
ccrider
January 7th, 2011
7:18 pm
aka Ol’ Wrex; Why do you constantly come on the Tech Blog, pretending to be a Tech fan when everyone on the Tech and Bulldog blogs know your just posing to try to make Tech look bad? Oh, you an idiot , that’s why!
Rodney Dangerfield
January 7th, 2011
7:20 pm
I didn’t see were you asked CPJ about the QB situation next year. Is the position wide open or are we relying on Tevin Washington. I have nothing against Tevin Washington as I am sure that he is a bright young man. But Tevin Washington the football player put me to sleep during the bowl game. I mean, watch Tevin run, watch Tevin give the ball to Anthony, or watch Tevin throw a pass that seemed to take an eternity to reach it’s destination, just wasn’t very fun to watch. So Tevin, if you are reading this, and I truly hope you have better things go do, try pitching sometime. That is our homerun.
Worm
January 7th, 2011
7:56 pm
Vad Lee or BUST!
Delbert D.
January 7th, 2011
8:06 pm
Might be some over-analysis here.
If failed 4th-down conversion were counted as turnovers, the Jackets were 22/40, in effect 18 “turnovers.” Opponents were 10/21, 11 “turnovers.”
If missed field goals counted as turnovers, the team was 15/17, and opponents were 11/19, so that is in the Jackets’ favor.
I doubt if it matters much if a punt in either situation would net only 15 yards difference.
old yeller
January 7th, 2011
8:28 pm
Don’t be concerned or critical. Paul Johnson will find a quarter back to run this team and his system, guaranteed. He has never failed to pick talent at the scheme he runs. He has a lot of talent to choose from and a lot of talent at the Q.B. position coming in.
GTdude
January 7th, 2011
8:30 pm
Dont talk about recruiting, we gave those espnu 150 players at uga a run for their money.
Delbert D.
January 7th, 2011
8:34 pm
According to Chip Towers (Dec. 9), Vad Lee’s scheduled was to be today. Anybody know anything?
old yeller
January 7th, 2011
8:37 pm
Also for those UGA fans talking about Tech’s high school offense. Season average for 2010, G.T. 407 yards per game, UGA. 385 yards per game. Shut up already!!!
Good grief
January 7th, 2011
8:41 pm
Old Yeller I’m with you bro. UGA fans want PJ to lose and be unsuccessful because they hate Tech and are scared. “Lookout for the High School offense or “Gimmick Offense.” Please, get a life. The Pro style is, guess what, GIMMICK!!!!!!!!! The spread, the pistol, they are all gimmicks. So here’s a “COME ON MAN” espn style. Once PJ get’s a QB that can throw and run, and a defense, lookout!
Max Sizemore
January 7th, 2011
8:44 pm
“You fit your scheme to players. That’s what coaching is.” Sure, coach, except when it comes to YOUR offense.
sasquatch
January 7th, 2011
9:02 pm
are there really 35 bowl games? maybe someone needs to pass a law………..
old yeller
January 7th, 2011
9:03 pm
Max, your fan’s don’t comprehend what you are talking about. Want to clean it up a little?
WrexNFx aka Ol' Wrex
January 7th, 2011
9:14 pm
re:
old yeller
January 7th, 2011
8:37 pm
____________________-
Comparing Stats doesn’t tell the entire story.
GT played in a crappy ACC and had the 70th toughest schedule in all of CFB and played a Service Academy in their Bowl Game.
UGA.y played a schedule ranked in the mid 30s as far as difficulty and they had to play in the SECheat, had GT played in the SEC we would have very likely had a record of 5-7 or 4-8 and not gone to Bowl, if CMR & UGA.y had GT’s schedule and played in the A.She.She, then CMR probably wouldn’t be on any hot seat at all, maybe a warm seat.
Your Yardage Stats doesn’t take into account that the ACC since CPJ has arrived has been pure crap, while the SECheat has a chance to have its 4th straight MNC, and in most years the SECheat sends TWO teams to BCS Bowls, come thing the ACC has NEVER DONE.
In summary STATS ARE FOR LOSERS, the only stat that is important is the FINAL SCORE!
old yeller
January 7th, 2011
9:29 pm
Seem to remember the G.T. high school offense putting up over 1/2 thousand yards over your S.E.C. glamor team this year. That was over 100 yards more than your vaunted offense did against G.T. Don’t talk about your achievements in the SEC this year. You won against a bad team by a hair. Final score is what counts, you should know. Seven and Six is not world beaters. That’s not good with all the talent the school has.
old yeller
January 7th, 2011
9:52 pm
Ole’ Wrex, you should know about final scores that count. Your team was on the tail end of 6 of them this year. If not for lady luck would have been more. You still there?
Snoopy
January 7th, 2011
9:52 pm
To Hell with you’s GT mo fo’s… I try to paint a better pic for both programs & all you talk about is putting up half a thousand yards on us…
F U All..
Scoreboard!!!
Stats are for losers!!!
Snoopy
January 7th, 2011
9:53 pm
Yeller This!!
Suere you & your elk swallow!!
old yeller
January 7th, 2011
9:55 pm
Hey Snoopy you should know you guys have been there with the stat’s thing. I think the only thing you have ever painted is a house.
RAID
January 7th, 2011
9:58 pm
Good Grief, I hardly think any UGA fan is scared of what Tech brings to the table….After all even as low as UGA is they always seem to get well against you!……..Now, lets us bow our heads……UGA has cancer(or so they say) and our last mascot committed suicide…….I’m see’ing a pattern here, same as poor coaching,…….It’s gotta get better for the both of our fan bases……….Just friendly sick humor from a Dawg fan………Go Dawgs!
Stumpknocker
January 7th, 2011
10:07 pm
Looks like “wrex” is hiding behind that sec bullsh!t. Shame his dawgs have become lower tier placeholders in that conference……….to which he might reply how his mighty team has won 9 of 10 against us ………and to which I might reply all things eventually end and might even reverse in our favor.
old yeller
January 7th, 2011
10:09 pm
Thanks RAID for bringing some sense into this. I don’t really think G.T. is scared of what UGA brings to the table either. Also I do not think either team will get any lower than this past season. Time will tell, but this rivalry will get much more heated and closer in wins and losses in the next few years.
GTfan2011
January 7th, 2011
10:28 pm
Wrex,
Up to your old tricks again I see. Why would you defend a UGA team that was terrible? We nearly beat them in athens even though we were obviously not great and playing with our backup QB.
I’m confused, so you wish that CPJ would’ve opened the season and run down his team by saying that he didn’t expect them to be any good because we lost four guys to the NFL.
old yeller
January 7th, 2011
10:45 pm
Don’t try to figure out Wrex, Snoopy, Max, or Sanford. It will make you loose all reason and drive you nuts.
GT fan
January 7th, 2011
11:10 pm
I have faith that Coach Johnson will get the job done next year. If not then its up to Rads to deal with it. Like some one already said…PAUL Hewitt is the problem right now! Fire his lazy A@@ ASP.
Congrat to the Lady Jackets…damn good team. Thanks Coach Joseph.
SilentCC
January 7th, 2011
11:24 pm
I have this fear that “long-term contract” Coach Johnson is going to become like “long-term contract” Coach Hewitt. Did Radakowski EVER think he would be in a situation like this?
old yeller
January 7th, 2011
11:37 pm
First of all lean how to spell. His name is Dan Radakovich. His problem is with Hewitt. Not Johnson. As athletic directors go he is top class.
old yeller
January 7th, 2011
11:45 pm
That would be learn not lean. Sorry.
Hayseed Dixie
January 7th, 2011
11:55 pm
@WHITE AND GOLD
Sorry if you thought I was calling you a name, that certainly wasn’t my intention.
I just find it less than amusing that folks complain about CPJ a year after a conference championship.
Anyone remember a cold, wet, 6-3 vs. Wake Forest? I sure as hell do, even thought we had Tashard Choice and Calvin Johnson suit up that day. Reggie Ball’s 53rd career INT. (That’s not a typo.)
My idea of hell would be having to watch *that* game over and over again.
Our program is light years away from that, and much of it is Paul Johnson.
old yeller
January 8th, 2011
12:22 am
Hey White and Gold, I go back further, I was there in the fog, drizzle and cold, when Theron Sapp broke the drought. My idea of hell would be to watch that game again. It took a week to warm up.
Huh?
January 8th, 2011
12:48 am
Look, just ignore Wrex. He and Fire Paul Johnson and a handful of other folks come here and pose as Tech fans as if that adds credibility to what they’re saying. There are legitimate questions to be asked but you can’t have a rational discussion with them. As such, stop trying and perhaps eventually they’ll take their talents elsewhere.
ob/hb
January 8th, 2011
2:55 am
Better National recruiting, recruiting and recruiting will make Tech beter!