Johnson expects O. Smith, Hill to play for Georgia Tech
Greetings-
Some notes from the Paul Johnson news conference. Nothing terribly newsy except for some injury updates. Onward.
1. Johnson doesn’t think Georgia’s playing in the SEC championship game will have any impact on the game. “I don’t think anybody’s going to be overlooking anybody in a rivalry game,” he said. “I think both sides will be ready to play.”
2. Johnson said that wide receiver Tyler Melton is “probably playing his best football the last two, three games.” Melton has seven catches in the past three games and has continued his effective downfield blocking. Johnson said he hasn’t made a point to get Melton the ball.
“It’s just kind of the nature of what happens,” he said. “But when the ball’s gone his way, he’s made a couple of nice catches and come down with it.”
3. There hasn’t been much talk amongst the team about possible bowls.
Players “know if they can keep winning, the priority will change,” he said, speaking of Tech’s appeal to bowl committees. “But we really don’t ask the players where they want to go. It just doesn’t work like that.”
4. Johnson on various injured players: Orwin Smith (”He’s good to go, I think”), Preston Lyons (”Good to go”), Stephen Hill (”I think so”).
“We’ll know more after practice today, but we’re assuming we’re going to have all those guys.”
5. Johnson on Georgia tight end Orson Charles: “We just have to watch the guy, but you can’t do anything special for him. The thing he can do is something that wide receivers can do. He can get downfield. He’s got good hands, he’s a good player, but we’ve played against other good tight ends that are good players.”
6. Johnson on what he is thankful for: “I’ve got a fairly lucrative job that helps support my family. I’m thankful for health. For the most part, our family’s healthy. I’ve got a zillion things to be thankful for on that line. … There’s 120 guys that get to do what I do. That’s not that many. There’s a lot of people that would love to have my job. I’m fortunate enough to have it.”
7. Johnson on the defense: “I don’t know that the defense is any different than the team as a whole. It’s been up and down. Certainly, we haven’t played with the kind of consistency that we’d like. I don’t know that you’re ever going to be satisfied until you’re holding people to no points or 10 points. It’s always a work in progress. I think we’ve played in spurts. We’ve done enough to win eight games. We’ll see if we win some more.”
An answer to a follow-up: “I think Coach (Al) Groh would be the first to tell you we’re not as far along as we’d like to be, but at the same time, we’ve played good enough to win eight games. It’s kind of a mixed bag.”
8. On interaction with Georgia fans: “People feel compelled to tell me they’re Georgia fans when I see them. That’s about it. It’s fairly cordial. They’ll come up (and say), ‘Hey, Coach, I’m a Georgia fan.’ O.K., that’s great. That’s usually about the extent of it.”
He went on to say that he thinks most fans on both sides are fairly cordial and not obnoxious but on both sides there’s a small minority that are.
Thanks for reading. I’ll have practice notes in the evening. And thanks for being respectful (by and large). Let’s keep it up. Again – disrespectful or obscene posts won’t be tolerated.
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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195 comments Add your comment
Sam
November 22nd, 2011
5:09 pm
Amazing video of a high school senior from Columbia TN who kicks the ball dead straight 75-80 yards in the air. He was successful on 54 of 54 attempts this season….100%. Now he needs a college team. Wants to go to Georgia Tech. High school teammate of Shaq Mason (Freshman OG at GT)
Watch for yourself…it is unreal!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_JKwgwFY3g
5150 UOAD
November 22nd, 2011
5:16 pm
sam……………………..GO AWAY or send the DVD to COACHES…………………The people on the Blogs can’t get that kid a shot at a scholarship!
Supersize that order, mutt
November 22nd, 2011
5:21 pm
Anchorage, it wasn’t the Tech defense that lost the UVA game, it was the lack of any kind of offensive spark. Overall, in both the UVA and Miami games, the defense played pretty good.
Ol'JacketFan
November 22nd, 2011
5:23 pm
If Tech’s D has to be on the field for extended periods it does not bode well. The fresher the D is, the better chance they have. It boils down to Tech’s O controlling the clock and taking advantage of scoring opportunities.
GT Anchorage
November 22nd, 2011
5:26 pm
Supersize, I definitely agree with that, but UVA was able to sustain some very long drives against us by running it over and over again. Although, most of those drives were towards the end of the game, and since we couldn’t keep the ball for hardly any amount of time our defense was probably pretty tired.
buzzwax
November 22nd, 2011
5:35 pm
To those who think the passing of Larry Munson will have an effect on Saturdays game……Larry, GOD REST HIS SOUL, had a huge retirement ceremony at the 2008 game in which GT won. Most on the current roster at UGA really have no connection to the man. NOT taking anything away from Larry Munson, he is a legend and was GREAT for college football and the UGA nation. From this GT fan, my hats off to Larry Munson, he and Al Ciraldo had a good relationship. I really miss listening to college football games when very few were on TV. (Watching on TV is preferred but a part of the game is now gone due to most games being on TV).
Here’s to Larry and Al, here’s to Clean Ole Fashioned Hate!!!
buzzwax
November 22nd, 2011
5:37 pm
(I guess if TV and radio could figure out the whole time delay thing I would listen to Wes more often than some of these TV clowns…..)
THWG!!!!!!!!!!!!!
superDawg
November 22nd, 2011
5:38 pm
A BullDawg I was born a BullDawg I was bred and I will be a BullDawg until I am dead!TUCK FECH! NUFF SAID.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 22nd, 2011
5:55 pm
superDawg, you said NUFF a LONG time ago. And why do you have to resort to profanities every time you post? It just shows what a foul-mouthed nutcase you are.
GT Anchorage
November 22nd, 2011
5:57 pm
superDawg, I can tell
And, superDawg.........
November 22nd, 2011
6:16 pm
…you are not even original – those are basically the lyrics to the UNC fight song, substituting Bulldawg for Tarheel…
19
November 22nd, 2011
6:21 pm
superDawg, you could also be BullDawg in the afterlife.
SMITTYSTHEMAN
November 22nd, 2011
6:38 pm
I’m not really a fan of either Tech or UGA but the perpetual “9 out of 10″ banter just no longer holds water. Chan Gailey has been gone for almost four years. It’s now the Richt-Johnson era, which stands at 2-1. My guess is that Johnson will even things up at 2-2 after Saturday.
19
November 22nd, 2011
6:45 pm
Agreed Smitty, both teams will be amped but Tech will want it more. Go Yellow Jackets!
Really?
November 22nd, 2011
6:53 pm
CPJ has abandoned us in our hour of need. Here are some of cpj’s comments
“They’ve got a heck of a team,” Johnson said. “Won nine in a row, SEC East champs. Hopefully we can stay with them.”Johnson interrupted a question about his players not needing much motivation this week by saying they are “probably scared.” And why would that be SaidJohnson, “We haven’t beaten them in a long time.”
All those comments suggest cpj is a realist but not a very good coach. Woe unto the north avenue trade school.
1 4 GT
November 22nd, 2011
6:57 pm
T-Square. I hope you’re still here. I want to thank you for the youtube link. I enjoyed it immensely.
Really?
November 22nd, 2011
6:59 pm
why does cpj give us no chance at all to beat the pups? I thought our coach should say positive things about his own team. what can we do on north avenue now that the smartest coach in the world has abandoned us?
Chas_Jacket
November 22nd, 2011
7:05 pm
Think the “no chance of winning” was tongue in cheek – like- guess we shouldnt even play the game. Actually feel pretty good about it, UGA does not have bruising type runners that can hold onto the ball – the type we struggle against. I won’t be there but I hope every one that is gives Roddy J a long standing ovation – the man is a class act and hate to see him leave.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 22nd, 2011
7:09 pm
Really? Have you EVER heard a coach of one team not praise the other team? Dooley was a MASTER at “humbling” himself before the opposition. It’s an old tried and true practice of just about all coaches.
19
November 22nd, 2011
7:12 pm
@Really? You realize CPJ is sarcastic?
5150 UOAD
November 22nd, 2011
7:14 pm
SUPERSIZE………………you can’t be talking about POOR MOUTH Vince Dooley?
Those boys are the best we will play all year. I just don’t know how my team can match up those players So.Carolina has. George Rogers is just too much for our players to stop.
Insert Team and Player. VINCE lived on the Poor Mouth speeches.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 22nd, 2011
7:16 pm
UOAD, turn on the CPJ call-in show on 790 the zone
Supersize that order, mutt
November 22nd, 2011
7:16 pm
UOAD, he was the master of poor-mouthing his team, no matter who was the opponent
George Stein
November 22nd, 2011
7:57 pm
I LOVE PAUL JOHNSON.
Anyone just listening to the call-in show knows why.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 22nd, 2011
7:59 pm
George, I heard it. Wasn’t that HILARIOUS!!! I LOVE PAUL JOHNSON too !!!!
Supersize that order, mutt
November 22nd, 2011
8:00 pm
For anybody who didn’t hear it, this is what happened: He just leveled a stupid mutt who called in and barked. His first comment after the “Hello? Hello? woof woof woof” was “Hello? Hello? I just got off from WalMart.” His second comment was, “anybody who calls in like that and barks has got to be a retard.” I LOVE PAUL JOHNSON !!!!
NiquePhotog
November 22nd, 2011
8:01 pm
Everyone be sure to check out the 2011 THWG edition of the GT Technique found here:
http://thwuga.net/
Also, if you’re going to the game….pick up a printed copy on campus and bring the center-fold ad with you into the game. You’ll know what to do
old tech grad
November 22nd, 2011
8:13 pm
Glad all the troops will be healthy. Looking forward to the game. Not confident of a win but I am sure it will be exciting. Go Tech.
Sam
November 22nd, 2011
8:21 pm
Amazing video of a high school senior from Columbia TN who kicks the ball dead straight 75-80 yards in the air. He was successful on 54 of 54 attempts this season….100%. Now he needs a college team. Wants to go to Georgia Tech!!!
Watch for yourself…it is unreal!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_JKwgwFY3g
Supersize that order, mutt
November 22nd, 2011
8:27 pm
Sam, give it a rest. You’ve been posting that link and the exact same words for a month now. Nobody on here can affect recruiting in the least. Send it to the coaches.
ToeMeetsLeather
November 22nd, 2011
8:28 pm
We need Smith and Hill on the field. Hope they are close to 100%.
Melton is THE MAN right now. He is playing great ball. He, Roddy and Peeples will be fired up for their last game on the Flats.
Special teams are my biggest concern, they were bad at the start of the season and have gotten worst. Hope this does not come down to a 35 yard field goal. Special teams need to be priority one in the spring(that and the TW/Lee battle).
HighTech
November 22nd, 2011
8:56 pm
Really? Why are you posing as a tech fan? You are as weak at recognizing sarcasm as you are at understanding satire.
HighTech
November 22nd, 2011
8:58 pm
Sam…you’re a heck of an agent. What’s your story?
BG
November 22nd, 2011
9:02 pm
GO DAWGS!!!!!
dawgfan
November 22nd, 2011
9:09 pm
I love Paul Johnson!!! He talks tough on radio shows and says all the things that my sensitive Techie ears love to hear!!! Paul Johnson is my hero!!!
Tech fan=JOKE
HighTech
November 22nd, 2011
9:12 pm
If you say so, dawgfan. I’m glad you like Paul Johnson.
dawgfan
November 22nd, 2011
9:15 pm
HighTech, what’s not to love? The guy absolutely kills it with his media tough talk. I wish our coach talked a big game in the media. That’s the mark of a truly great coach.
Tech=JOKE
ToeMeetsLeather
November 22nd, 2011
9:17 pm
Thanks for the insightful input dawgfan, I think that pretty much wraps this blogs usefullness up.
HighTech
November 22nd, 2011
9:18 pm
dawgfan…I think Mark Richt is a good coach. You are lucky to have him for your team’s coach. If you want him to change the way he handles the media, you should go to the UGA blogs to discuss it. I don’t think Tech fans are very interested in how Mark Richt handles the media.
dawgfan
November 22nd, 2011
9:27 pm
That’s cute HighTech and sounds real nice, but it also happens to be a lie. Tech fans are very interested in everything Mark Richt does. He is the head coach of the program that owns their souls. You have “To Hell With Georgia” in your fight song. You aren’t fooling anyone.
I also think Johnson is a pretty good coach. I just think he’s a bit of a punk and not as great as he and his fans think he is. I am also nauseated by the AJC’s flat out refusal to take a meaningful and critical look at his coaching credentials. Its almost as if they are afraid of the man. He doesn’t take criticism very well so that’s probably a valid concern.
Thanks.
George Stein
November 22nd, 2011
9:35 pm
What is wrong with his credentials? He was an OC, then a head coach for about a decade. Are you suggesting he’s underqualified?
dawgfan = JOKE
HighTech
November 22nd, 2011
9:36 pm
dawgfan…it sounds to me like the Georgia Tech fight song really bothers you. I am glad you are familiar with it. However, the song is older than any of us and is not likely to change. I enjoy singing it at the games.
I think it would be nice to have your boss think you are better than you really are. Coach Johnson must be doing a great job.
If the AJC nauseated me, I would cancel my subscription.
If I was to ask Ken, for example, about Coach Johnson’s credentials, he might say something like “8-3 is not bad in a rebuilding year. Probably a good coach.”
dawgfan
November 22nd, 2011
9:40 pm
He is 0-3 in bowl games. He is currently 2-5 vs. the only good teams that you play ever year: UGA and VT. And UGA wasn’t all that great in ‘09 and ‘10 but his punk azz still lost to them. Those are not the CREDENTIALS of a great coach. All he does is beat up on ACC patsies and talk tough in the press and say things that Tech fans want to hear, like how the SEC isn’t all that and how the Georgia game isn’t that big of a deal. He’s playing you clowns like a harp and its hilarious.
Southside GT FAN
November 22nd, 2011
9:41 pm
CPJ’s coaching credentials are as follows:
Actually was a head coach before taking the job
Won National ChampionshipS before taking the job
has incredible winning percentage before taking the job
Obviously, you just hate the man and are reaching for something to hold on to, but the reality is that the program has had more success under him guiding the ship the last 4 years (last year was a let-down). But hey, since we are taking cheap shots at each other’s coaches, heres my piece:
Richt has no pulse, lookslike helen hunt’s estranged brother, has baby-teeth, keeps recruiting the same dumb thugs year in year out expecting different results. What are the results? a semi-loyal fan base calling for his head after 2 losses, now wants him to star in twister 2. GET OFF THIS BLOG, by the way the AJC writers obviously know tech history better than you do, that’s not saying much.
Thanks!
Southside GT FAN
November 22nd, 2011
9:45 pm
Dawgfan,
Listen little hater, I seem to remember UGA looking like alaskan bible college against UCF in their little bowl game last year. I really dont care how relevant that is, just thought I would rub it in. I laughed and laughed. I love it whenever pups lose.
George Stein
November 22nd, 2011
9:45 pm
That’s his performance, not his credentials. Most of his customers are fine with his performance, but thanks for your input.
dawgfan = JOKE
George Stein
November 22nd, 2011
9:46 pm
The Helen Hunt stuff always makes me laugh.
Southside GT FAN
November 22nd, 2011
9:47 pm
its funny because it looks so true
George Stein
November 22nd, 2011
9:47 pm
It totally is. And it kills me.
Southside GT FAN
November 22nd, 2011
9:47 pm
Richt=lucky to still have lake lanier house