Johnson plays ‘What if?’ with Nesbitt’s injury
I don’t know if you’re in the habit of reading the Dalton Daily Citizen, but if not, you probably missed a comment from Paul Johnson about the 2010 season. Johnson was up in Rocky Face near Chattanooga Tuesday night with AD Dan Radakovich, softball coach Sharon Perkins and play-by-play man Wes Durham for the north Georgia segment of the Tech spring caravan. This is part of Chris Whitfield’s report.
“If you want to be realistic, we were very disappointed,” Johnson said. “Truth be told, though, we were 5-3 on the road on a Thursday night in Blacksburg and what happens?”
Starting quarterback Joshua Nesbitt breaks his arm is what happens, and the Yellow Jackets won just one of their last five games, including losses to Georgia in the regular-season finale and a 14-7 loss to Air Force in the Independence Bowl.
“You never know,” Johnson said. “Do you win eight or nine games if your veteran quarterback is in there? We were in every ballgame and had 600 yards of offense against Georgia.”
While I somehow see the discussion headed for comments like, “Tech would have crushed Georgia if Nesbitt were healthy” and “Paul Johnson is an excuse-making crybaby,” I hope we can veer the discussion in a different direction.
Let’s go with Johnson’s implying that Tech could have gone 8-5 or 9-4. My question is, how much does Tech going 6-7 color your feelings about 2011? I get the sense that a lot of you all are a little leery about the season. Would you be more optimistic if Tech had done better with Nesbitt healthy, or would you feel the same way?
If you would feel more optimistic, the sort of ironic thing is that Tech in a way is better off for 2011 because of Nesbitt’s injury because of the experience Tevin Washington got.
Anyway, what do you think?
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145 comments Add your comment
I'm VERY concerned
April 20th, 2011
12:24 pm
We’ll see what happens this weekend. Ken, if your presumption is true, then Washington should show signs of much improvement this weekend. We’ll see…
Tech Fan
April 20th, 2011
12:34 pm
I think if we would have had Santa Clause in at nose tackle we would have been better defensivley.
JM
April 20th, 2011
12:35 pm
I’ll be in the stands cheering for the Jackets. Just like last season.
jlo
April 20th, 2011
12:36 pm
I am cautiously optimistic….glad he does “what if” from time to time. He thinks like we do, cause you have to wonder, especially in the VT game, what if Nesbitt stayed healthy…..glad to hear the Def is improving. That killed us at times last year
Buzz
April 20th, 2011
12:38 pm
We WILL struggle at QB position…. Tevin Washington is ok but not an acc starting QB. So I hope we have someone better then him but it doesn’t look that way until Vad Lee can get some experience. Our defense can only get better so I would say another 6-6 or maybe 75 record. High end would be 8-4. To HELL WITH GEORGIA!!!!!!
D A DoubleU G
April 20th, 2011
12:38 pm
Couldn’t help but chime in on this one……
You Techies ride UGA fans a LOT for playing the “what if” game. So before you go declaring yourselves the “what if” National Champions, let me send out a quick reminder of what happened when Nesbitt was in his prime, and the Dawgs came a calling in Atlanta…..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=al8yCWnt8J0&feature=related
Hope you Techies have a GREAT day! It really is just your football team I hate. You guys are alright.
JM
April 20th, 2011
12:38 pm
This offense will get the yards. The players just need to limit turnovers. Turnovers lead to 21 points for uga last year. It’s hard to overcome turnovers.
George Stein
April 20th, 2011
12:38 pm
That we had 600 yards of offense against UGA suggests the result would have likely been similar with Nesbitt. I don’t think any of the turnovers would have changed. The defense and turnovers cost us that game.
The fact is the defense didn’t support an eight or nine win season last year and we didn’t have the threat of the deep ball to keep defenses honest. That didn’t stop us from running all over teams but it kept us from having the quick strike drives we’d grown accustomed to in 2008 and 2009.
Tech Fan
April 20th, 2011
12:41 pm
“Couldn’t help but chime in on this one……” Yeah, thats what you sound like….
mountain_jim
April 20th, 2011
12:42 pm
Considering coach chooses to run an offense that gets his quarterback beat up on nearly every play, he can not and should not assume his starter will be available for the entire season.
If his offense did not get his quarterback so beat up around the arms and shoulders each play, he might not have so badly underthrown the pass that got intercepted that caused the tackle that caused the broken arm.
He needs at least 2 caliber option quarterbacks with this offense, and he really needs a third who can come in and pass effectively when far behind.
But he is too stubborn to believe any of that, and in my opionion, will never have as good a season with GT as he did with Chan’s players until he adds a passing offense, with shotgun, to go with his option offense.
mountain_jim
April 20th, 2011
12:43 pm
that’s at least 2 starter caliber option QBs
collegeballfan
April 20th, 2011
12:43 pm
Concerned about the offensive line – that is where the offense really runs or sputters.
GIVE ME A BREAK
April 20th, 2011
12:43 pm
Looking forward to a good season with lots of improvement. I think Tevin’s experience,from last year, will show up in a possitive way.
ramblingbuzz
April 20th, 2011
12:44 pm
Is the glass half full or half empty? While I am disappointed in last season’s record, I think Washington getting some game expereince is a good thing. However it won’t matter if the defense can’t stop anyone this coming season. And I still can’t get over that loss to Kansas last year; Nesbitt played in that game.
Tech Fan
April 20th, 2011
12:46 pm
Just the tought of having Washington as our best option at quarterback makes me crindge.
Tech Fan
April 20th, 2011
12:47 pm
thought
R&B
April 20th, 2011
12:47 pm
“we had 600 yards of offense against Georgia”
And 8 less points than they had.
mountain_jim
April 20th, 2011
12:47 pm
and until he add’s that passing offense he will not be able to recruit players good enough to make it work – chicken or egg, at this point, unfortunately.
If you were a great WR or passing QB would you be recruited to play for this offense? No. The more time teams have to prepare, and the better than Dline is, the less succesful this offense is in the big games.
GT Alum
April 20th, 2011
12:47 pm
It’s not like Tech had looked terribly impressive with Nesbitt in there. We lost to Kansas, NC State and got embarrassed by Clemson with Nesbitt in there. And Nesbitt got hurt because he had just turned the ball over to VT. We were still plagued by turnovers, poor blocking and an inability to complete many passes when Nesbitt was at QB. And I don’t think whether or not Nesbitt was in the game really impacted all the special teams gaffes last season.
Before the season, everyone was saying the hard part of Tech’s season was the 2nd half. Given how we played in the first half, I don’t know that we would’ve done much better with Nesbitt. Maybe we would’ve beaten VT and/or UGA. Hell, as close as the UGA game was, and as many mistakes as we made, I think if we played that game 10 times, even with Washington at QB, we’d win at least 5 times. That game could’ve gone either way, but it went to UGA.
PAUL R.
April 20th, 2011
12:50 pm
I think that PJ’s comments are on point. We were about to take Va Tech – and Washington has a problem any time he gets near a goal line. His drives, never really look like drives. I hope QB 2 stands tall and wins the starting job,
Washington has got a long way to go to prove he is a leader – and a winner.
JasonGT
April 20th, 2011
12:50 pm
Last year our problem was in the red zone, not with getting down the field. A lot of quarterbacks could run our offense and get the ball down the field. It takes something special to run the spread in tight spaces w/o a passing game. I’m more than a little disappointed that Days isn’t performing any better in spring practices. As for Vad Lee, I think I would take talent over experience with our offense. Speed and playmaking ability are what made Nesbitt so great. Those making something out of nothing yards got us into paydirt more than a few times, and Days and Washington just don’t show that ability.
Tech Grad
April 20th, 2011
12:52 pm
Nesbitt has had ZERO success against UGA.
It was all Roddy Jones in 2008, Nesbitt only rushing for 40.
In 2009 Nesbitt only rushed for 41 yards.
To say he would have had any impact on the 2010 UGA game is not logical. The fact that he was out, may have contributed to more people getting carries in 2010, which resulted in better offensive output.
Dallas Jacket
April 20th, 2011
12:58 pm
I will never be overly concerned with the offense. The defense was the problem last year. If what the AJC is saying is true, Groh has done a very good job getting the players to buy into the 3-4 this spring.
GT Class of 1995
April 20th, 2011
12:58 pm
JasonGT. I couldn’t agree with you more. I’ll take Vad Lee any day before playing Washington and Days this season. Washington and Days simply are not passing QB’s. Honestly, Nesbit wasn’t that accurate last year. Vad Lee can put the ball on the target! I’m not saying Vad would start the first game, but surely he’d get playing time by game 3 and finally work him into being the starting QB by the time we hit some true ACC competition.
GT fan
April 20th, 2011
12:59 pm
I am pretty sure we would have had a couple more wins with Joshua. Think about it we were beating VT like a red headed step child before he got hurt and would have won going away. Even if we still turned the ball over against UGA ( which we wouldn’t have) we still would have had a senior QB leading us down the field instead of a high school QB at the end of the game. I am pretty sure we are at least 8-5 if Nesbitt doesn’t get hurt.
GT fan
April 20th, 2011
1:02 pm
Tech Grad, in 08 we would have gotten spanked with out Nesbitt he ran the offense to perfection that game, an option QB can not have good stats and still have a great game like UGA 08.
George Stein
April 20th, 2011
1:03 pm
As to your question, Ken, I think we will be pretty good next year. I think the defense will be improved and the issues with the offense were not related to skill. In general, interceptions are a product of skill (or lack thereof) while fumbles are a function of luck. I expect that will correct itself this year, particularly the crippling ones in the redzone.
GT Alum
April 20th, 2011
1:09 pm
George Stein -
Fumbles are not a matter of luck when you’re making pitches behind people and not carrying the ball securely, which was a big part of our troubles last year.
George Stein
April 20th, 2011
1:14 pm
You’re wrong, GT Alum.
DawginLex
April 20th, 2011
1:15 pm
Ask the same question to us about UGA.
What if Matthew Stafford had stayed for his senior year?
answer:
He didn’t play defense.
Neither did Nesbitt.
Wouldn’t have mattered for either team.
GT Class of 1995
April 20th, 2011
1:16 pm
George Stein: The ‘luck factor’ on fumbles is which direction the ball bounces to enable easy recovery.
D A DoubleD UG DUMBa@@
April 20th, 2011
1:16 pm
you didn’t mention Nesbitt other start against the crime pups? Why not……….?
GT Class of 1995
April 20th, 2011
1:18 pm
Has any one else heard rumors of additional formations in our playbook this year? With Vad on board, running a few option plays out of the pistol would be right up his alley…
PJ and the truth 2 different things
April 20th, 2011
1:18 pm
PJ it was 512 not 600 . Sticking with his M.O. its the players fault.
George Stein
April 20th, 2011
1:19 pm
Partially correct, 1995. Whether the ball was even fumbled in the first place is also a product of luck.
GT Class of 1995
April 20th, 2011
1:21 pm
George Stein: OK, there were a few plays where a fumble was created while carrying the ball by an A-back or B-back and being hit right on the ball, forcing the fumble. This I would say is bad luck.
Dodd Squad
April 20th, 2011
1:22 pm
We will hit 9-4 at minimum. Anyone who doesn’t believe this hasn’t been to the scrimmages/practices. Obviously, there are the cynics….but until CPJ’s offense fails in the season, I have no reason to doubt our scoring ability. The thing that has hurt us the most has been fumbles and defense. CPJ can only do so much with fumbles….I think the players will take that up upon themselves. The defense has improved drastically. There is very good reason to be optimistic.
Tech Forever
April 20th, 2011
1:25 pm
I think none of it matters one iota. Tech will finish somewhere between 9 and 6 wins and go to a lower tier bowl and lose to Georgia. I have over 40 years of history to support this prediction. Now in 2012 we SHOULD see the writing on the wall of a potential special season….but not this year.
Kahle
April 20th, 2011
1:34 pm
I just pray the defense has improved under Coach Groh, that our recievers actually help us rather than cripple our team, and that we win our bowl game.
CPJ make the tech fans proud….GO Jackets!
Kahle
April 20th, 2011
1:35 pm
receivers*
Jacket Backer
April 20th, 2011
1:35 pm
I’m not very confident in Washington at this point. He did not show me much last year. Yes, I do think we win a few more ballgames last year if Nesbitt had played the entire season. However, injuries are a part of football. Others needed to step up last year and they did not.
I’m anxious to see the spring game and observe the mindset of the team. This will be an important season for CPJ. He needs an 8-9 win season or the naysayers are going to be out in full force.
As always…..Go Jackets!!
Dawglasville
April 20th, 2011
1:43 pm
George Stein Bear Bryant said @, “A lot of people say Alabama is lucky. I say, ‘That’s funny because the harder we work the luckier we get.’” I love that quote.
Nesbitt would have made a difference. I think that if I was a Tech man, and I know this chaps some, but I’ll ask it anyway – At what point do the bowl losses start to bother me? I know we are talking about Nesbitt. He is a warrior and could have very well brought you to 8 or 9 wins. If you get the 8 or 9 wins and lose the bowl game does that bug you? I think that CPJ’s bowl record at Tech and Navy is 2-6 or 3-7. I didn’t look up Southern when I did it. Richt has his own problems. Outside of beating Tech we haven’t done anything in the last two years, so believe me, I’m not crowing. Dooley had a losing bowl record and fans harped on that back in the day. I believe that Tech would benefit more than any team in the nation if they went to a playoff. What do you think?
Coach Grohbo
April 20th, 2011
1:50 pm
I hate it for Josh, and we can speculate all we want about beating VPI, Air Force, and Georgia with him.
But I like our schedule this year. All the big games (except Miami) are at home and I have confidence Tevin will do well.
That said, I still have very little confidence in whether we will be able to stop anybody who has a passing game or whether our scout team can give our defense enough of a full-speed look to fix our problems on that side of the ball.
Hey Double DA (man that's so correct
April 20th, 2011
1:51 pm
I read 8-5 or 9-4 not National Champions, there a point when you exaggerate something to the point that it’s a lie.
I make fun of Georgia fans like the one that told me before the 2008 season me knowshon was better than Herschel and Stafford was a better COLLEGE qb than Tebow or the Georgia fan at the 2009 game in Atlanta that my Industrial Engineering degree was easy, her major…….Communication. Easy compared to Electrical Engineering or Mechanical, but not compared to Communication……….How smart do you have to be, not to go to how hard the degrees are?
2HLLWGA
April 20th, 2011
1:51 pm
I do think we are in a better spot. Experience helps a lot with this offense. Washington could not get his head above water when he had to come in. We were always just short in every game afterwards. UGA was just short, VT was just short, AF was just short and Miami was an aberration…
I remember there were many similar complaints about George Godsey when he came in and he was very good for two years.
T3
April 20th, 2011
1:52 pm
So many comments from so-called Tech fans are just plain stupid.
I am VERY confident in the 2011 GT team.
In 2008, a rough Spring practice left the media and all the other so-called exxperts preaching
Doom & Gloom. But that was 3+ years ago, when GT was putting in the TO for the very first time.
In 2008, GT went 9-3.
Remember how the SI & ESPN experts picked GT to win only 3-4 games in 2008.
Remember the “former” AJC reporter who flatly wrote the GT’s 2008 season
was going to be a disaater.
IMHO, the only 2011 games with question marks are:
1. Clemson
2. Miami
3. NCState
It will be tough to beat Miami. If GT can beat Clemson or NCState or both,
then it will come down to GT & Miami for the Coastal Division.
In 2010 both VT & UGA both had an extra week to prep for GT.
While GT lost both games (both resulting from losing Nesbitt),
CPJ flat-out made Bud Foster and Todd Grantham look stupid.
For 2011, GT is going to be as good or better than the 2008 GT team that went 9-3.
And yes, GT will beat UGA.
GTBob
April 20th, 2011
1:58 pm
At what point do the bowl losses start to bother me?
Bowl losses are pretty much the same as any other loss just less important. So they bother me for a few days, then I get over it and watch pro football.
T time
April 20th, 2011
2:04 pm
attitudes
injuries
tunovers
inexperience
there are the big reasons tech struggled last year
tech wont have these same problems this year
10 wins is very possible
We_Run_This_Country
April 20th, 2011
2:12 pm
anything less than 8 wins will be a disappointment….realistically, you can expect 9 wins…TW will start the year with SD finishing it up.
Hal
April 20th, 2011
2:16 pm
Washington will have to improve a lot for us to beat the competition. I don’t see great things from him based on what I’ve seen so far. The big problem are 1. Eliminate fumbles and turnovers
2.The play of the Offensive line is inconsistent.
3.Get a defense any defense.
Get those problems solved and the rest will take care of itself.
Jacket Backer
April 20th, 2011
2:32 pm
Dawglasville,
I think you make a valid point. I do think GT would benefit from a playoff system for the obvious reason that teams do not have 4-5 weeks to prepare for the TO. However, Gailey was not winning many bowl games either.
Bowl games to me are a crap shoot because of all the off time before the game. It’s almost like starting the season over again. Any momentum built up from the regular season is gone. I HATE the bowl system and wish a playoff system would start today ( i’ll get off my soap box ) ) ….For me, any loss hurts but I don’t put as much stock in bowl games. I think most players would just as soon pass on these lower tier bowl games. In reality, if you’re not playing in the big game then the rest of them are pretty much irrelevant.
Ken Sugiura
April 20th, 2011
2:33 pm
Mountain Jim – I wouldn’t say Johnson isn’t trying to bring in a quarterback who can pass. remember, he inherited nesbitt. tevin washington threw for more than 5,000 yards in high school. i’m sure if he can get a quarterback who can pass effectively, he will. remember, too, nesbitt got hurt after an interception, not while running the offense.
i have to say i’m a little surprised by the optimism calling for nine or 10 wins. i’m not saying you’re off-base, but it seems like i’ve mostly read and heard from fans more pessimistic than you.
BigTimeTECHFan
April 20th, 2011
2:46 pm
Yes, GT had 600 yard off offense in the UGA game, but key difference with having Nesbitt verses Washington would have been those last two drives Tech had, Washington panic’d, Nebitt would have been better. But also the year before UGA was trying to take Nesbitt out of the game by going for his legs after the play stopped so he may not have played the full game anyway.
DawginLex
April 20th, 2011
2:46 pm
T3,
You are in dreamland if you think UGA’s defense is going to even closely resemble last year’s train wreck. The last time UGA had a D-line like the one that will play in 2011 was 2009 and Tech got 55 yards rushing on 39 carries WITH NESBITT.
Tech will win at least 8, maybe 9 this year but you are in dreamland if you think Tech is going to get 500 yards vs UGA this year.
You will continue to have problems with athletic fronts like UGA,Miami,clemson,NC and NCSU.
Your defense will be improved as well.
not spewing just telling you the truth. This UGA defense will be the best Richt has had since Van Gorder left.
GTfan2011
April 20th, 2011
2:57 pm
DawginLex,
I agree your line should be better, but you lost all your LBs and part of your secondary… I don’t think I’d go so far as to say this will be the best defense since Van Gorder left. But yes, your defense should be better as should ours… but then in both cases that could be considered damning with faint praise.
dawgfan
April 20th, 2011
2:57 pm
Johnson must have missed the part where he lost to 3-9 Kansas WITH Nesbitt. He also must have missed the part where he lost to 6-5 Georgia the year before WITH Nesbitt. What an arrogant clown.
You can have your 600 yards big mouth. We’ll take the W’s every day of the week and twice on Sunday.
DawginLex
April 20th, 2011
3:00 pm
Ogletree and Jarvis Jones will be all-SEC. The only concern is the secondary but if the front 7 is doing its job, it can mask a lot of secondary problems. We don’t play Arkansas and they have the best throwing game in the SEC.
Folks won’t run on the Dawgs in 2011 like they did in 2010.
reebok
April 20th, 2011
3:03 pm
I think Washington will be much better this year, but we can’t hold on to the all, we can’t stop anybody, our special teams are bad and we are undersized on both lines. I don’t think we have the athletes to compete the the good teams. I hope I’m wrong.
BYRDDAWG
April 20th, 2011
3:06 pm
It will be very interesting to see how this team does without Nesbitt….He was a great option QB! I remember watching the Tech- Clemson games 2 yrs ago ….with him you won both but without him I think you would’ve lost both! That said the ACC looks wide open this yr & tech’s toughest games are at home which should help….
reebok
April 20th, 2011
3:07 pm
DawginLex, how are you today…I agree that your D will be better than last year’s…I think Tech’s will be also…both could hardly be worse. I also think you have a favorable schedule after your first 2 games, which will be very tough ones.
FootBallJacket
April 20th, 2011
3:10 pm
What if…. the coach did what all coaches MUST do and plan for these “What if” scenarios. Why are there only 3 kids out there even trying to be a QB (at the last scrimmage I saw) and there were 5 bad place kickers? CPJ needs to pay attention to ALL his players even the redshirts and second team guys. Every year on every team someone valuable gets hurt or suspended, you never know when your third string QB is going to have to play but if he does he better be ready to do so. Last year it seemed Washington barely knew the plays.
MC
April 20th, 2011
3:12 pm
PJ is so FOS. Watch what happens this year with HIS recruits. LMAO!
Dawglasville
April 20th, 2011
3:12 pm
GT Bob – very healthy. You’ve probably added years to your life. My dad went to Tech, watches every game he can, and still has a spring in his step win or loss. At 67 he looks great.
Jacket Backer – Oh, there is no doubt you are in better hands. I love the option. I hate that we can’t stop it. I guess that losing bowl games would be a bigger deal at UF, Bama, Ohio State, Texas, were you are expected to win national titles. That expectation level has not been at UGA or GT on a consistent basis in a long time.
juvenal
April 20th, 2011
3:12 pm
last year was bad because of the year before, so this year ahead on expectations…..& you never know if there will be one magic player….
Why Not
April 20th, 2011
3:16 pm
1. The OL play has to improve. The GT lineman are primarily run blockers they will NEVER EVER be good or even adequate pass blockers at least not drop-back style pass blockers.
2. The D has to improve, if not then we’re in for a LONG season.
3. If special teams play is on par with last year we’re in for a LONG season.
4. QB has to get better as the season progresses. I look for Lee or Days to emerge the starting QB. If the QB doesn’t get better as the season goes along then we’re for a BAD, LONG season.
That being said I think the GT football team will be vastly improved, maybe a 9 or 10 win season IF we get good OL play, improved defense and special teams, and a QB who throws a ball the WR will catch.
GT hulk
April 20th, 2011
3:20 pm
GT is hurting at QB, Washington is no ACC qb and the second teamer cant handle the ball, just hope this Vad Lee gets a shot, he was super in high school, hopefully college will pan out as well
You Can't Miss
April 20th, 2011
3:23 pm
Place your putt on the right line, stroke the ball just the right speed and you CAN’T miss.
dawgfan
April 20th, 2011
3:25 pm
GT lineman aren’t even run blockers. They are good at what they do, which involves a lot of cutting and diving at the knees of defenders (most of the time legally, but sometimes not so much). Johnson has said himself that he needs smaller agile lineman for his offense because it requires a lot of mobility. This is an inherent weakness in his offense. Guys that are big and can move well are typically found on defense. Whenever Tech faces a team with guys like that your offense becomes very ordinary. Fortunately for you, you don’t see too many teams like that in the ACC.
But Tech’s biggest problem of all is on defense. Johnson has never had a good defense anywhere he’s been. NEVER.
Thanks.
Stinger 2
April 20th, 2011
3:27 pm
The “what if” quotes from CPJ are what you would expect
to cover up for a dismal finish to the 2010 season. I have been a GT fan since 1952 and always will be no matter
who the coach is. I am a fan of the school not the coach. The fans cannot choose the coach but we can voice our opinions about him. If I cannot say something nice then I don`t have an opinion.
GT45
April 20th, 2011
3:29 pm
You could hear crickets in Blacksburg before the injury! It would have changed the whole season around, I believe, if we had won, and Nez stayes healthy. We didn’t have an identity last year-no leader. This year will be different-maybe even special!
GT45
April 20th, 2011
3:34 pm
Dawgfan, no disrespect, but we put up the numbers with our O last year. The problem is with what your paragraph ended on-the D. Hopefully, that changes some this year. I know you will point out certain games that we didn’t score many, but every O hits a wall some games.
Hayseed Dixie
April 20th, 2011
3:50 pm
O Line, and offensive blocking in general is what I’m curious to see.
Tech needs to consistently bleed the other team for 3 to 4 yards on every play, and that’s a function of the above.
If that happens, we really don’t need to pass (even if fans want it, I certainly do). And the defense doesn’t have to be on the field as much, because our offense is doing its Time of Possession thing.
If there’s anything that I’m disappointed in over CPJs tenure, it’s that the blocking and o-line play took a dive last year.
Keith in W.R.
April 20th, 2011
3:59 pm
I know that one of UGA’s TD wouldn’t have been scored. No way that Nesbitt would’ve made that pitch to Roddy Jones (who was covered rather smothered), that the Dawg LB ran back for a TD. Jaybo Shaw wouldn’t have made that pitch.
dawgfan
April 20th, 2011
4:19 pm
Fine. You don’t have to believe me. I could care less. But hear me now and believe me later. That offense will NEVER get you anything more than a sporadic All Crap Conference title. Never ever ever. This is a far cry from all the hype about Paul Johnson during the 2008-2009. You Techies were talking a big game about becoming a player on the national scene and even national titles. Its never going to happen Techies. A big, fast, and well coached defense will always eat your lunch because your lineman are too small. Always. Like I said though, you play in the ACC so that isn’t so much of a problem.
And did it ever occur to you Techies that Johnson’s offense is prone to turnovers? You act like its just some freak thing. When you’re pitching the ball around in the backfield every single play like a hot potatoe while everything is moving at warp speed it is not a freak thing. You’re going to have turnovers and sometimes lots of them. Try to use a little common sense for once Techies. I know its hard for you but just try.
Thanks.
surfrider
April 20th, 2011
4:32 pm
Tech lost last year the games it won the two years before basically, close and down to the 4th quarter. Record Vs. UGA since Bill Lewis era…O’leary 3-4, Gailey 0-6, Johnson 1-2…….UGA always top 15 in recruiting Tech top 50 it seems. Bobby Ross only one class in top 25 in recruiting and wins NC in year 4. Defense gets betters and passing and special teams Tech will be a contender, if not then it’s the same. Beat the dawgs and 6-7 is a lot more palatable. Better days appear to be ahead on the flats.
DScottGT91
April 20th, 2011
4:36 pm
I see us with 7-8 wins. We will win 1-2 games no one really expects us to, and lose 2 that will drive the fan base crazy.
You guys can give up on Vad Lee for 2011 – no way CPJ starts a true freshman; just won’t happen. I sure hope Tevin Washington is better than I think he is.
No matter what – GO JACKETS!!! (Since 1983, when I first figured out there was another school in this state).
mountain_jim
April 20th, 2011
4:38 pm
Ken Sugiura – If you re-read my post on page 1 – I said he got hurt tackling after his interception – but if he was not so beat up in the arms and shoulders on every play his passing accuracy could be better and that interception might not have happened. And he missed plays and time in other games and seasons and you can’t expect a QB who takes that number of hits to last the season, imho.
And it does not matter how good of high-school passing QB he brings in, if he can’t recruit WRs who can get open and catch and can’t teach pass-blocking to the oline and has no shotgun package to give the QB time to see the defense instead of tripping over his oline while dropping back. His passing scheme appears to be send 2 men out and throw a jump-ball in the air downfield.
mwh6767
April 20th, 2011
4:40 pm
I usually don’t read or post on comments that much anymore because of fans of another school usually over run the comments with crap and not football talk. On the Nesbitt issue , I really don’t think there is a question that Gt wins the Vt game if he doesn’t get injured. The offense hadn’t clicked that well last season except for the UNC game where they just owned the ball and executed. This offense WILL put up points and be effective it has proven that. Stats don’t lie in this respect. So suggust that its turnover prone, I say yes and no. When you are breaking in new guys it can be(See start of 08 and this last year.). People forget that Allen was playing a new position, Smith was tech’s best a-back and then here comes Washington. In 09 when everybody was returning the offense ran smooth, result 10 wins. The key really is this defense and its improvement. Hope it improves, looks like we are finally getting the right type of LB’s to run the defense.
We_Run_This_Country
April 20th, 2011
4:50 pm
the DEF will be much improved….and if we can hold our opponents to sub-20 avg per game, it will be an easy 10 win season…..with CMR on the hot seat again this year, I can’t wait to get the Dogs in ATL….could be the end of his regime!
dawgfan
April 20th, 2011
5:00 pm
Anytime you disagree with a Tech fan you’re just saying “crap” and not talking about football. Oh never mind…
Mwh6767, this is college football. I think you’ll find that you’ll be breaking in new players very frequently, if not all the time. You’re not going to have the luxury of 3 or 4 year starters in the backfield very often. Nobody does. Players graduate, leave early for the NFL, drop out of school, get injured, etc. Every college football team on earth has to deal with attriion. That’s a lame excuse. If new guys can’t hold on to the ball in Johnson’s offense that is very much a Johnson problem. This makes his offense, by definition, turnover prone.
Thanks.
Reality
April 20th, 2011
5:10 pm
Dawgfan says ” A big, fast, and well coached defense will always eat your lunch because your lineman are too small.” With that being said, GT should never have to worry about UGA.
GTBob
April 20th, 2011
5:14 pm
And did it ever occur to you Techies that Johnson’s offense is prone to turnovers?
In 2009 we only turned the ball over 18 times. 10 less then UGA and top 30 in the country. As far as I know CPJ was there that year. This past year Navy and Air Force were both in the top 16 in turnovers lost. It has little to do with the system and alot to do with smart decision making. Our players made terrible decisions this year and paid the price over and over again. You can blame Johnson for not having them well prepared but the offensive system itself is not the real cause.
T3
April 20th, 2011
5:17 pm
Dawginlex:
Not sure where you get your stats:
2009, 55 Yards on 39 carries ?? Do you frequently just make up BS ??
According to the ESPN, GT had 205 Yds Rushing on 51 carries
and 340 Total Yards Offense. Nesbitt missed the entire 2nd Quarter
of the 2009 game.with the injury.
According to ESPN, the rush stats show that GT doesnt
have much trouble rushing against UGA’s so-called “athletic front.”
2008: GT rushed for 407 Yds vs.UGA (with Nesbitt)
2009: GT rushed for 205 Yds vs UGA (Missing Nesbitt 2nd Quarter)
2010: GT rushed for 411 Yds vs UGA (No Nesbitt / Back-Up QB)
Born2Buzz
April 20th, 2011
5:23 pm
I’m surprised CPJ didn’t use the old “if if’s and but’s were candy and nuts” quote. We might have won a few more but maybe not.
As for 2011, I think we are primed for a solid season, at least 9 wins. Look at the schedule:
2 warm up games, then Kansas at home for some payback.
3-0 going to the UNC game. It’s at home and they have a new QB and lost of lot of starters from last years squad. Butch still hasn’t figured out the TO.
Say 4-0 going up to Raleigh. If Wilson is still there we are in trouble.
Say 4-1 with Maryland at home. New coach still figuring things out.
5-1 going to Charlottesville. This is the trap game. We never play well at UVA and London is in his 2nd year. We should still have the edge but it’s a toss up. Groh will walk home if we lose.
So I’ll say 6-1 going to Miami. Another new coach but it is in South Fla and they still have a big athletic DL. Another toss up.
We might lose @ UVA and win @ Miami, or vice versa. Or go 2-0 or 0-2 in those games. I’ll be cautious and say we lose one.
6-2 with Clemons at home. Is Kyle Parker still the QB? If so we should win it. He completely imploded last year as the season went on. CPJ wants to kick Dabo’s butt after last year.
7-2 for the VT Thursday night game. No more Tyrod and hopefully a healthy GT should mean another W.
8-2 going to Durham. Another trap game. The Dookies have got to get better eventually, right?
9-2 for the battle with the Doggies. Another toss up but we really need to win this one this year.
10-2 possible, 9-3 likely, 8-4 means we blew one we should have won. No more 7-5’s, 6-6’s.
AMG
April 20th, 2011
5:51 pm
Tech will be very good this year and the reason is the defense. Two years ago defense was not a word anyone wanted to discuss and last year, though not better overall showed spots of improvement and hope for the future. If Tech has a defense , not a world class one, but a decent one they will win alot of games. The offense has never been the big problem. I also think this is the team that will win multiple ACC championships in the years to come.
The offense is full of potential stars, two a backs that could be great and three other abacks that are good. 3 B backs that are good , one that could be a big star. No offense to Tevin, but the other two QBs have a much higher upsides. If Days wins the job it will be great, if not look for a true freahman to be starting by the end of the year. Either way the offense will be solid, plus we start the year with three scrimmages. The O line is full of young talented guys, they will be fine by the end of those three games. I fully expect Tech to win 9 games this year, next year looks like we should be a preseason ranked team. I am very thankful for Tech having coach Johnson and I hope Tech fans will show support to this team instead of nit picking every last thing that doesn’t go well the way other programs have. Don’t ruin a good thing!
TechRedNeck
April 20th, 2011
6:07 pm
If,If,If. Woulda, shoulda, coulda. The 2010 season is over. Now we gotta get over it. I hope I’m wrong but I’m not excited about the 2011 season. Alot of young players. Many questons.As far as the dawg people go, Who the hell cares? They don’t have anything to run their months about. They were beat by some small conference school in their bowl. They have many questons also.
BuzzOff
April 20th, 2011
6:09 pm
I can’t wait to see Boise State deliver spank the DAWGS the first game of the season. It will set the stage for yet another losing season for Mark Richt – probably his last…
Jack G
April 20th, 2011
6:21 pm
What if—-I like that and will play along—What if we had better coaching—–just saying—–its a game everyone can play.
Outside Observer
April 20th, 2011
7:21 pm
dawgfan, I disagree with your original point about Johnson recruiting smaller, more mobile guys for the O-line. If that was the case, there wouldn’t have been any discussion about moving TJ Barnes to the O-line, or moving JC Lanier to the O-line. Both were considered potential NTs, with Barnes being the biggest guy on the team and sticking it out on the defensive side of the ball. I think your point is correct in the edge blockers don’t need to be as big. It’s how we got away with an offensive tackle who was about 265. The middle blockers need to be bigger though to break open some holes in the interior of the d-line. The smaller exterior blockers cause pass rush problems for us as they typically go against the best DEs on the team. It’s the give and take of every offense. As far as if it can win a national championship, that depends the most on having a great defense. Our offense will score and grind it out on the other defense. But if we can stop the other team’s offense and force a few turnovers, we could compete with anyone. Not saying it will happen, but I don’t view our offense as a hindrance as others might.
Phil mcgroin
April 20th, 2011
8:06 pm
I’m a big GT fan but with that being said, i just don’t see TW as what it takes to really make this offense explode. He is not horrible but just not what makes it go. We have got to find a passing threat and some WR’s that can freakin catch! Hill is dropping everything again so far and there is no sign that the offensive line will be worldbeaters either.
I think the defense will be better in 2011 but i really think the offense will be more of the same. Some games we may score near around 30 but others we will struggle. Let’s not forget the special teams fiasco form last dew years which has also cost us games! There are more questions than answers simply put! Any GT fan doesn’t think so is just a homer. I think we can win 7 or 8. That is the ceiling in my opinion.
UGA = YAWN
April 20th, 2011
8:08 pm
No matter what he says – YOU NEED A BACKUP PLAN. We obviously did not have one.
Covers Dixie like the Dew
April 20th, 2011
8:08 pm
WHAT IF ?
Josh Nesbitt was 25-10 as the starting QB.
Tevin Washington is 1-4.
Tokyo jacket
April 20th, 2011
8:08 pm
T time, very well said. I think that Tech’s attitude and D will be much better. It’s amazing how the W’s start to add up when a team plays good defense and plays with passion for the whole game.
M'baliz Icheen
April 20th, 2011
8:16 pm
Phil, I think you’re a little off target about 2011. Last year’s problems were D, redzone scoring, and (very un)special teams. I see significant progress for this year in D and special teams. I’m not sure yet about the red zone. We win the AF and VT games w/ better D. So, that’s at least two wins right there. As far as I’m concerned we’ve only been really BEATEN in about three or four games in CPJ’s tenure. We lost the others, but were in the ball game. That’s pretty impressive. A little bit of motivation and things go a different way.
As far as I’m concerned and from what I’ve seen/heard so far, I think the 2011 squad would have won against KU and AF for sure, and possible VT, UGA, and Clemson. That puts us at 8-11 wins. I’m good with that spread for 2011.
2 field goals and a cloud of Bobo
April 20th, 2011
8:18 pm
No way GT would have ended up 6-7 with Nesbitt at QB all season.
K
April 20th, 2011
8:26 pm
The defense has got to be better!
The Defense has got to come through this year.
GssiT
April 20th, 2011
8:26 pm
There’s no “what if’s” from this season ticket holder. CPJ ,being an avid golfer, should know better,too. Injuries are a big part of any type competition. Somebody has to step up. Nobody did. I’ll play “what if” with you. “What if” Vad Lee is a player??????? Will he play???????
Perhaps
April 20th, 2011
8:42 pm
another injury created a situation for McKayhan that was a “what if”.
@born2buzz…NC State has a new QB this year even if Wilson decides he will play football again-as second string…
Tech 2011
April 20th, 2011
8:43 pm
I dont know how many of you got to see Vad Lee play in person last year, but having a son in the sport in the state of NC I got to see a ton of high school games. Vad Lee was by far the most talented kid I saw play in the past couple of years. The kid is the real deal. I think it will be very hard to keep him off the field even as a true fresh.
wrong guy
April 20th, 2011
8:48 pm
I also have a what if…..what if you had persuaded Jaybo Shaw not to leave and had he taken over chances are we may have won a few more, we would not have struggled against Duke and would have had a win vs. Air Force. Should have sent Tevin to Ga Southern
What If
April 20th, 2011
9:16 pm
What if Vad Lee is a player?….
He is a player. That’s not even a “what if”. This kid is the real deal. Tevin and Synjyn don’t hold a candle to this kid when it comes to passing or scrambling.
Vad Lee reminds me of Tyrod Taylor. “You couldn’t catch him in a phone booth!”
Ron
April 20th, 2011
9:20 pm
I hope we get to see Vad Lee passing some balls on Grant Field after the game is over this weekend. I think after the first scrimmage, Vad was throwing some passes with his father on the field.
don draper
April 20th, 2011
9:40 pm
I dont recall anyone making excuses for us when we beat Tech in 2009 without AJ Green and several others – you just show up and play, unless you are Tech of course (then you blame the refs and whine about injuries).
Gary
April 20th, 2011
10:25 pm
Well obvioulsy had nesbitt played the ga game, it would have been a much different outcome. Those early failures of not getting first downs and fumbles late would have been averted. But who cares at this point
mtraininjax
April 20th, 2011
10:44 pm
Unless Johnson’s defense can stop anyone, who cares who is running the offense. The NC State game last year showed the problems with the D and we shall see if Groh has the players or if he got new ones from the Supermarket. Bottom line, Jaguars and NFL, if they play, are a better place for my dollars and rear end. 3 prime time games, I am staying in Jax until the GA game, where I attend every year, win or lose. So I hope tech can go undefeated this year, as always, but D is the key.
Old Tech Dude
April 20th, 2011
10:55 pm
So PJ thinks we win if JN doesn’t go down. What does that say about our chances next year with a QB that PJ thinks wasn’t up to the task. Sorry but I see a continuation of the slide back to mediocrity.
Concerned
April 20th, 2011
11:02 pm
These are generalizations…so I know there are exceptions.
Here is the problem with the Triple Option – which I believe is the best offense ever invented.
In this day and age, it is difficult to recruit to…
No big time lineman want to come because they won’t be prepared for the league.
No big time QB for the same reason.
No big time WR for the same reason.
Most big time RB’s will stay away because of sharing carries and not being able to show the league they can catch the ball out of the backfield.
Defensive issues because you will never be prepared to play an efficient passing offense.
Big time defensive players might be adverse to coming to Tech for the above reason.
Say what you want about Chan – and we all have – Tech seemed to be recruiting some big time players. I am not sure PJ can get some of the same caliber athletes as Chan.
So here is where I think we are…
Usually win 7-9 games with Chan and feel as if we underachieved due to our talent
or
Usually win 7-9 games with PJ and feel as if we overachieved due to our talent.
I know there are exceptions, but this is what it seems like to me.
what ifs are for non fans
April 20th, 2011
11:09 pm
all teams have injuries. good an great teams over come them. weak teams succomb to them.
we were a weak team last year and uga has been a weak team since mark richt took over.
GT fan...
April 20th, 2011
11:32 pm
The “experts” make predictions based on their opinions from a team’s record the prior season, and layout each game in the upcoming season as if it will be perfect weather, all players healthy, and NO turnovers.
TURNOVERS (and turnovers NOT recovered by your team), more times than not, play a big factor in the outcome of games. Just off the top of my head, the Clemson, GA, and Air Force games were lost b/c of TOs! Plan and simple.
And don’t forget 2 big TOs in the NCST & Miami games:
NCST blocks punt for TD, and 7-0 lead, this was right after Nesbitt misses a WIDE OPEN O.Smith on 3rd & 9 that would’ve gained 50+ yds…… then, GT driving vs. Miami to cut Miami lead to 21-17 when O. Smith fumbles on the 3 yd line. Miami makes a 97 yd drive to take 28-10 lead.
Dawg48
April 21st, 2011
12:01 am
I thought tevin did a good job being thrown into the fire like he was. You can what if all day long but that gets you no were. I like the option and when tech went to it it was hard for every one to stop it cause teams do not see it every week but now they have film and experience to game plan it which makes it easier to defend. I’m just wondering as much as tech runs the ball why don’t they go after big named running back recruits.
djack0062
April 21st, 2011
2:17 am
Since the topic is on Nesbitt…I don’t think he would have made that much of a difference in the record. He wasn’t the same…not sure what it was (missing 2 major weapons on offense, being called Joshua…who knows). He never seemed to provide the leadereship the team needed to “will” wins. I know he is not/was a very vocal young man but I just didn’t see the same Nesbitt from the previous seasons. I’m pretty sure the players know! Now since football is a team effort..they never seemed to “jell” all season. No one stepped up and provided the leadership needed to dominate lesser teams and play sound “ball” when the opponent was “better”….lack of team accountabiltiy. Watching Tech the last few years I have noticed a lack of consistant overall team toughness. Anyway after Nesbitt, Tech only got “beat” by one team (Miami)…the other losses we were still there until the final whistle..
Stinger 2
April 21st, 2011
4:15 am
Why are so many of you hyped up about Vad Lee who has never played one down of college football. He may have been a superstar in HS but he is totally unproven as a college player. CPJ needs to come up with a miracle for the 2011 season or we will continue to be mediocre. I am not a troll. I have been a Tech fan since 1952 and always will be but I am not a fan of the CPJ option offense.
dagtbuzzman
April 21st, 2011
4:56 am
It’s hard to believe that TECH would have had a losing season with Nesbit at the helm. Odds are that no matter what, we still would have found a way to lose to GA. Our bowl game record pretty much bites big time. You can take your pick on all the question marks : QB, B-back, Defense (anywhere), O-line.
All said, that’s why they call this the ” What If Game “.
Very Easy Math
April 21st, 2011
6:32 am
GT 2011 = Zero Passing Threat
Zero Passing Threat = ACC Defensive Coordinators’ Dream
ACC Defensive Coordinators’ Dream = Stopping GT Offense
Stopping GT Offense = GT Losing Season
LAKE OCONEE JACKET
April 21st, 2011
7:47 am
We don’t need to get into the coulda, shoulda, and what ifsss….It is what it is, and at the end it was ugly losing to the Air Force….
Cold Hard Truth
April 21st, 2011
8:13 am
Face it Tech fans, you had your fun with this bs offense. Johnson has been recruiting worse and worse players. You will be lucky to win 6 this year, and after you guys get tired of CPJ nobody is going to want that job because you have the roster of a Northwest Wyoming Community College. You guys are screwed for the next few years.
JOHN
April 21st, 2011
8:18 am
The bumblebees problem was on defense and will continue to be. Just like UGA last year they had no nose tackle. They still don’t have a nose tackle and CPJ, for all his genius (don’t believe me, just ask him) has had two very bad recruiting classes. There will be no help coming in for the bumblebees with this freshman class. CPL won with a really good Gailey recruiting class, that’s all over with. It will be downhill from now on.
GDBurdell
April 21st, 2011
8:27 am
OH YES I LOVE THIS. Look tek fans rationalize as hard as you like but, PJ has this team in a worse position than last year. Last year’s record was completely mediocre and then you lost to AIR FORCE.
Less than 6 wins. LES THAN 6 WINS prob like 3 to 4, just get used to that thought. Better watch out for tumble weeds in the stands of bobby dodd too.
If you remember, Nesbitt could throw…to guys who couldn’t catch, the backup could also throw but wasn’t as good at PJ’s “system” as Nesbitt was. Nesbitt or no, the record would have been the same.
I’m enjoying the all out destruction of tek’s fb team…will PJ bolt in mid season???
JD
April 21st, 2011
8:30 am
You will always have turnovers in high numbers with this offense. You will have 600 yards of offense. You must have a defense and some form of passing attach to win unless of course you have a super offensive line and keep the ball without turnovers. I am certain Tech’s time of possession is probably number one in the country unless Navy has more time of possession.
Very Easy Math
April 21st, 2011
8:53 am
To JD.
Again,
GT 2011 = Zero Passing Threat
Zero Passing Threat = ACC Defensive Coordinators’ Dream
ACC Defensive Coordinators’ Dream = Stopping GT Offense
Stopping GT Offense = GT Losing Season
Zero Passing Game
April 21st, 2011
9:20 am
GT fan base reaction to no passing threat and yet another losing season.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ee925OTFBCA&feature=related
2 field goals and a cloud of Bobo
April 21st, 2011
9:36 am
`
UGA fan base reaction to no coaching and yet another losing season.
gt4ever
April 21st, 2011
9:43 am
It’s excuses like this that make me think about CPJ”s logic process….. First, we would have never CRUSHED UGA…. Period…. The fact that CPJ says we had 600 yards of offense is irrelevant! We lost the game because we had NO defense. We had NO defense the whole year. The defense was the bigger reason we went 6 and 7….. Our offensive system is the reason we are not going to get any better for the fuure. CPJ cannot recruit people to play for this system… There are exceptions, but overall coach has not recruited well…. For all you grape juice drinkers that continue to say that the offense is OK…. We LOST to AIRFORCE! The one time our defense does have a good day our vaunted offense lays an egg…. We are in a WORLD of trouble people….. Bill Lewis did a lot of damage to our program, but CPJ is going to put us under…. IMHO…
51WTGW50
April 21st, 2011
9:45 am
To ALL TECH FANS if you have a chance today get down to Juniors Grill. Today is the last day of operation. Juniors opened in 1948 so I know many of you have enjoyed a meal or 2 there.
BYE JUNIOR’S we loved you.
RJ
April 21st, 2011
9:51 am
Zero Passing Game. That video is hilarious.
SCJacket
April 21st, 2011
9:58 am
It is all a concern as we go foward now having lost the last of our highly respected players (Nesbitt/Allen). It is time for the next group to step up. Will they? Don’t know. Can they? Absolutely! Our defense has got to be better from this point foward for us to compete for the conference title. We can no longer afford to be bad on defense. I am still concerned about the D because we have a former B back switch to linebacker this spring and is already 1st team. That does not speak well for us.Our quarterback situation has got to be elevated. We need an outstanding talent at quarterback to come in and step up. We haven’t had that yet. Not even with Nesbitt did we have it. Tevin is slow with avg arm. He is just ok. Days and Lee are expected to be the future. Days spent the spring fumbling. Great. Lee hasnt taken a snap yet. Hmmm. Looks like an avg 2011-12 with a good home schedule to me.
Sean
April 21st, 2011
10:04 am
SCJacket:
I agree with you. Our offense would be unstoppable if we had a great QB. Nesbitt wasn’t that great and we still won the ACC in 2009. I’m convinced with Washington and Days we will struggle this year. The team has no confidence in Washington and you are right, Days cannot hold onto the ball.
It Ain't Rocket Science
April 21st, 2011
10:04 am
Enter your comments here
WnE
April 21st, 2011
10:05 am
Coach Kung Fu Panda sounds like an excuse making putz, all BCS-level Colleges experience injuries during a season, it is CPJ’s friggin’ JOB to recruit talented players so he’ll have the depth to weather such storms that arise during a CFB Season.
I am amazed at the “free pass” that the majority of the GT Fanbase gives to CPJ given that he hasn’t won a Bowl Game and is only 1-2 vs. the WORST 3-yr. stretch of ug@ FB in the last 40yrs.
Basically CPJ hasn’t done enough to merit such leeway from the GT Fanbase, 6-7 vs. the 70th toughest schedule in all of CFB in 2010 does not impress me, and he has to replace 12-13 starters from last yrs. crappy Team, with his crappy recruiting the replacements in 2011 aren’t likely to be any better so 2011 looks to be a tough yr. for GT FB.
gt4ever
April 21st, 2011
10:17 am
Sean,
Josh Nesbitt was a GREAT QB….. On average we will not recruit any better than this young man… Josh was a beast! Josh was a credit to GT….
Our offense will be unstoppable with a good QB is a LAUGH!
It Ain't Rocket Science
April 21st, 2011
10:18 am
John,
You don’t think that UGA has a NT this year. Bet I know about 85 players and coaches that would beg to differ with you there. We have two big old boys that no offense is going to run through. They are both athletic and strong, so you might want to reevaluate what you said. If Tech. had any one of these two, you would have a defense that is much improved that you need. UGA’s problems probably will not on defense if the safeties step up to the game. The LB’s are going to be pretty good this year for UGA, as they appear to be fast and hit with authority. With the D line and Linebackers UGA has, they are capable of making teams change their game stradegy. Now if we are talking O line, you may have a point. UGA has got to have some O linemen step up and start doing the job they should be capable of. Tech’s problems on defense are probably their size, against bigger players on the offense and also, their ability to stop the pass. I don’t think you will see Tech. put up 400 yards running on UGA’s defense this year. Having a passing option will be vital if you want to beat bigger team. Does tech. have the WR’s that can keep a defense honest or can they just continue to play tech. and win by stopping the running game and then producing the points against the defense?
Again ??
April 21st, 2011
10:32 am
Yo, WnE A-Hole
Why do you even care ??
T time
April 21st, 2011
10:39 am
w-n-e = chan gailey
gt4ever
April 21st, 2011
10:41 am
T time,
Chan Gailey….. This may be Chan’s revenge… He is probably sitting back and laughing…
Sean
April 21st, 2011
10:49 am
gt4ever:
My definition of a great QB is someone on the level of a Cam Newton. I think Josh was good, but by no means was he great. His arm was strong but throwing accuracy left a lot to be desired.
Pull My Finger
April 21st, 2011
10:49 am
Buzz, if you can’t beat ‘em, you might as well cuss them……….LOL
T time
April 21st, 2011
10:59 am
gt4ever = uga poser
overwhelming majority of tech fans despised gailey. he had a lsoign mentality.
and it wasnt chan doing the recruiting. it was giff smith.
johnson has already proven he can do way more with players than gailey ever could.
tech will surprise on the upside in 2011. at least 8 wins and a win over uga.
gt4ever
April 21st, 2011
11:06 am
Sean,
We will never be able to pay enough for a QB like Cam….
Josh came in and learned a new system. To his credit, he bought in and did an admirable job… Playing at this level, even at GT is quite an accomplishment… I will look at his stats and ask the question, is he great or not….? My answer would be that he is a GREAT QB… We did very well with Josh at the helm… We won the ACC Championship, even in a weak league is not easy to accomplish…. We still couldn’t beat UGA the last two years. We still haven’t won a bowl game….. What can I say…
gt4ever
April 21st, 2011
11:08 am
T time,
I will bet that I have eaten more times at Junior’s than many…. Enough with the uga poser crap…. I am a bigger GT fan than most, but I just wont bury my head in the sand like some of you idiots…
Donezo
April 21st, 2011
11:17 am
I would have been concerned about this year despite last’s year’s debacle. I knew it was Josh’s last year and we would have a young guy filling BIG shoes. Josh maybe wasn’t the best QB, but he was what we needed and he had the biggest heart I’ve ever seen out of an athlete. He NEVER quit, and that is what made him great! I called that pass play call from miles away and was dreading it the whole way. It didn’t make sense, but I digress. CPJ wasn’t saying that Washington wasn’t up for the task, but that he had 0 experience heading into a tough part of the year. It was unfortunate. This is a new year and last year has no bearings on it, other than we do have a QB with at least some experience. CPJ wasn’t making excuses, rather he put the 6-7 year in perspective. UGA fans make excuses year after year after year. If it’s not one thing, it’s another.
Burdell90
April 21st, 2011
11:30 am
Anyone that knows anything about football should realize one thing….
DEFENSE WINS GAMES…period. If they dont score, they dont win. 600 yards against the d bags in Athens and we dont win…sorry, it’s defense.
gt4ever
April 21st, 2011
11:38 am
Thanks Burdell90…..
Lee Reeves
April 21st, 2011
12:14 pm
Tevin Washington is a joke of a QB, there is no way that he can be our best option, IDC how muc experience he has he’s awful
BehindEnemyLines
April 21st, 2011
8:07 pm
The question is a reasonably interesting one. More optimistic? Maybe, although not by much. The reasons for concern with the program extend so far beyond QB play that I don’t think it would change my feelings significantly.
51WTGW50
April 22nd, 2011
10:46 am
Burdell
I think the FUMBLES in the RED ZONE were a HUGE factor too. UGA gave us the ball and we gave it right back. 2 Fumbles exchanged for 2 FGs(or TDs) and Tech wins. UGA would have been behind and the GREAT Murray would fold like he did all last year in the 4th qtr.