Paul Johnson Q&A
Opening statement:
Anytime you lose, it’s certainly disappointing. I give Georgia a lot of credit. They’ve got a good football team. They showed up and they played very well. For us, the margin of error was small and we didn’t take advantage of a couple of opportunities we had early and when we didn’t do that, we got behind and we never could claw ourselves back into the game.
It was kind of a tale of two halves. The first half, we had a hard time getting them slowed down and the third quarter, we kind of self-destructed offensively, turning the ball over. But like I said, I give them credit. They came in here and they did what they had to do. I thought their kids played hard and they won the game.
On lack of pass rush:
They did a nice job of protecting their quarterback. We didn’t get to him much. We’ll have to look at the tape. Anytime guys get that open at times, we turned a couple guys loose in coverage, especially crossers. A couple times, they just beat us. They ran a post-corner (route) and beat us down on the goal line. … The play where the tight end caught the touchdown in the back of the end zone in the third quarter, we called the play. We knew the play and they still completed it. So you’ve got to give them credit for that. The bottom line is they made plays when they had to.
On Synjyn Days‘ play:
Tevin Washington has been our quarterback all year. I’m excited about Synjyn. I think he can bring something to the game. It’s not fair to evaluate him on the two series he got to play in that game.
On reverse pass play to open the game:
It’s a play we’ve worked on all year. It’s just a reverse pass. It went about as planned except we didn’t complete it. We had some guys open, I think. It’s something (that) you’ve got to execute those things. It was one play in the game. It certainly didn’t determine the outcome of the game.
On expecting so much passing:
Not really. We game planned for whatever. I was just trying to look (at the stats). I mean, they ran the ball 28 times out of 57 plays. That’s about half the time. It got a little heavy towards the end, but they were having much more success throwing it than running it. I don’t know that was so much by design. You kind of do what you’re having success with. I’m sure if they were gashing us running the ball, they would have run the ball, although they ran it pretty good on us that last drive at the end there when they were trying to run out the clock.
On Georgia’s special teams:
They’ve got a really good kicking game with both those kickers. They just kind of rotate and they both banged it six yards deep on kickoffs. The punter hit some great punts, pinned us down. They didn’t punt the first half but in the second half he pinned us inside the 10 twice. The field-position game was not as favorable as you would have liked. We actually started the game out getting a pretty good punt and pinning them back, but they kind of flipped the field on us. Even with the interception, we ended up back on our end.
On the timeout negating the missed field goal:
It just seems like sometimes that’s the way it goes. There’s nothing you can do about it. Sometimes it goes that way. Plenty of times I’ve seen where you call timeout and the guy makes the field goal and they have to kick it again. Trust me, if I’d have known they would have a bad snap, I wouldn’t have called timeout.
On play of David Sims:
I thought David Sims played really hard. He made some really nice runs. He had a nice run on the goal line on a touchdown, he had a nice run on a screen pass. I thought David played hard.
On the start to the second half:
It wasn’t good. It’’s not exactly the way you want to start the second half. The guy got outside our contain guy. Our guy couldn’t get off that block. It was a good one. (Johnson was being sarcastic about the block.)
On defense not being able to get a stop:
It’s deflating. I think it deflates the whole team. The other thing that’s deflating is giving up the score before halftime after you score. That’s probably the third or fourth time that’s happened this year, where you grind the thing out, you make a fourth down, you go down, you score with a minute left and – boom – they come back and score. And even thought it was a field goal, it changes the momentum and changes the way things go. We tightened up in the third quarter and played better defensively, and then the offense went helter kelter there with turnovers.
On if Washington’s first interception was a broken play:
It wasn’t a broken play. I don’t know till you look at the tape. We need to hit some of those plays. When we’re really successful, we hit some of those and stay on the field and get some big plays. I think there was another time – you were talking about the reverse – the first time we ran the play action off the toss, they turned the wheel route loose and we missed that, too, down the sideline. It could have been a huge play.
When you’re playing a good team and they’re a good football team, you’ve got to hit those. When you get a chance, you’ve got to take advantage of them.
On Roddy Jones playing his last game and setting the school record with 51 career starts:
Roddy’s just a great person besides a really good football player, and a model student-athlete. He’s got tons of character. He’s got tons of it. He’s going to be very successful at whatever he decides to do. He’s been a big part of a lot of real positives for Georgia Tech while he’s been here, both on the field and off the field. Personally, I’ll miss him a lot. He’s a great kid.
On if losing to Georgia hurts more:
It hurts every time. Anytime, if you’re a competitor and you lose, it hurts. I hurt myself, but I also hurt for those kids, because they wanted to win that game badly. They wanted to play well and win the game, and you hurt that you couldn’t help them find a way to do it.
On the problems covering crossing routes:
Usually if guys are running wide open it’s (a mistake in) coverage. I don’t know the specific one you’re talking about; they hit a couple of crossers. We’ll have to look and see. I think that and, again, with the calls I’d be just trying to guess without going back and looking at the specific defensive call and seeing what happened on the tape. But, yeah, we had trouble covering them, especially in the first half
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431 comments Add your comment
gt82grad
November 28th, 2011
2:44 am
Find another Joe Hamilton or else…
MASSDAWG
November 28th, 2011
3:35 am
i WONDER WHERE ST. SIMMONS IS? I KNOW HE IS A LOSER…. HAVE FUN IN EL PASO, TX! CHAN GAILEY DOESN’T LOOK SO BAD AFTERALL!!!
piss boy
November 28th, 2011
3:38 am
Go Dawgs’ post is class and so true. CPJ is an excellent coach and deserves the Tech fans backing -including getting their sorry asses off the couch and going to the game. Seein so much red in the stands Saturday was a disgrace and had to impact the players who have worked so hard in preparing for the game. Tech fans are sickening.!!!!
Hehehahahohoho
November 28th, 2011
4:30 am
We should change the page so people have to use Facebook id’s to leave comments. No more of this anonymous crap…
Woofy One
November 28th, 2011
6:25 am
GA Tech has been down in the series before and so have we. The best outcome is CPJ gets a defense and the game is closer. I would rather have some really competitive games with Tech.
Rufus
November 28th, 2011
7:40 am
Coach Johnson, I understand they’re looking for a coach at Ole Miss.
jdl2
November 28th, 2011
8:01 am
We lost another great coach last week, when Spec Landrum passed away. Was at Tech for 13 years, at Georgia for 5, and Athletic Director at Kennesaw State. Celebration service at Stillwell Theater on Kennesaw Campus 7 pm Wednesday the 30th.
JJC
November 28th, 2011
8:02 am
Couldn’t wait to get on here to see what all those trash talkers from last week had to say about GT’s mediocrity. Face the truth- the reason CPJ’s offensive system is so rare in modern football is that it doesn’t work well against good athletes. Good defenses shut down good option attacks. Until Teck learns to pass and open up some other threats they will continue exactly where they are now- good enough to beat the bad teams, good enough to pull a rare upset of a good team. As for the defense, I admit that I don’t watch teck play too often, but they never look too great when I do watch them. They certainly got pushed around up front on Saturday.
GTYJacket
November 28th, 2011
8:07 am
Dick LeBeau couldn’t coach a good defense with a triple option offense. The scout team is unable to give the defense a passing offense to practice against. The offense will move the ball and score a lot of points, but teams that see it every year will no how to prepare to stop it enough to win. We are looking at the glory years of our program. We can consistently win and go to bowl games every year, but to beat top 10 teams like UGA or VT it will require mistakes on their part.
31-17
November 28th, 2011
8:08 am
10 of last 11. That’s called ownership
BaldB.
November 28th, 2011
8:08 am
Yep, there is no doubt the dogs run this state. You see it everywhere you go. Sadly the dogs do not run any other state. Miles will knock the smile off of those faces. And since the dogs run this state, SUPERSIZE THAT ORDER MUTT!!
Lemus
November 28th, 2011
8:09 am
I can’t wait until Georgia St. gets their program up and running. Maybe then we will actually be challenged within our own state for once.
Lemus
November 28th, 2011
8:11 am
BaldB –
You are a great representative of a Tek fan. Since your OWN team cannot ever handle their OWN business, you must cowardly become fans of whomever UGA’s next opponent is. Sad, but oh so comical. We take that pathetic desperation as the biggest compliment you could ever give us. Thank you, loser
Buck
November 28th, 2011
8:11 am
UGA should replace GT with Georgia Southern for their year end rival. Georgia Southern is the true #2 program in the state and once they go 1-A with Big East they will be #1 program in state. Watch and see. Erk will have his revenge on Dooley soon.
BuzzBelle
November 28th, 2011
8:13 am
dawgforlife
November 28th, 2011
1:16 am
I’m calling you out on this one – NAME the TE who flunked UGa and finished at Tech. Name, date, year! Game on!!!
BuzzBelle
November 28th, 2011
8:14 am
And you have until noon today to do so!!!
CPJ- better than Chan
November 28th, 2011
8:25 am
ProudTechFan are you including Jokey Hamilton in the dope smoking dui group. How about Reggie Balless played 4 years without passing grades?
doodoobailey
November 28th, 2011
8:34 am
“Well this SEC dominance is pretty overblow, I mean, how do you evaluate how good a coference is?”…CPJ
I guess on the field , moobies.
doodoobailey
November 28th, 2011
8:34 am
conference….to be fair, he said it wrong too.
Jackets/Packers
November 28th, 2011
8:36 am
Paul Johnson has the opposite approach of Bear Bryant.
If he wins, It is because of him and his great TO offense.
If he losses, the other team had better players.
Bryant lost to Tech about 1980 and manned up and said he got out-coached by Bill Curry.
Will CPJ ever do that?
Doubtful.
The fans caused the missed FG by Uga before the half and are due a lot of credit for home wins against Clemson.
Just look at the Virginia and Miami games to compare.
I hate the late timeout to supposedly psyche the kicker especially in the 1st half.
Trust your fans for once dummy.
We caused that miss.
Luckily for them you were the opposing coach though and gave the dawgs a mulligan.
BobDawg
November 28th, 2011
8:38 am
KEITH, post from 11:37pm is fantasy stuff to me… Lying O’leary ain’t leaving Sunny Fla for the ATL and the Fridge ain’t leaving the Lake either… You have your destination man in CPJ and you better support him and get the defense better… Any other coach will just use you as a stepping stone job…
JoeFann
November 28th, 2011
8:39 am
Read only the first page of posts, but wanted to address the chop block. First of all, the chop block was NOT called on the block of Deangelo Tyson, the injured RDE. He was already injured, and on the replay, he was barely blocked. If anything, he injured himself firing off into the backfield. The chop block was called against Tech’s center and RG, blocking John Jenkins, the NT. And it appeared on replay to be a good call. Tech’s center fired off and engaged him high, and the RG appears to dive at his knee, though he’s mostly obscured by the C and NT and other players on the replay. As an official, when you know a team is a cut-blocking team, and has a lot of complaints of chop blocks against it, you talk about it beforehand, and watch closely for it. Obviously, the umpire had a better look than we did, even on replay, and made the call early, in order to prevent it from escalating. Give him credit for executing priority number one, which is player safety, and nipping it right off the bat. Didn’t appear to be an issue the rest of the game.
Go Dawgs!
Sugar Hill Dawg
November 28th, 2011
8:43 am
I was in Auburn for senior day (my son’s a senior in the AUMB) – couldn’t get to The Joke. From TV shots, the crowd looked to be 40/60 in favor of Tech – do I have those number close to reality? If so, shame on Tech folks for letting us get so many behinds in the seats! (Was the Clemson game the same ratio?) Go Dawgs!
Alabama Jack
November 28th, 2011
8:43 am
DAwgs won – and their fans remain obnoxious.
Kendawg
November 28th, 2011
8:49 am
I thought David Sims played a really good game for Tech. He ran hard and did not usually go down at the first hit.
NCDawgFan
November 28th, 2011
8:49 am
Where is good old GTBob when you need him? After the ACC’s 1-3 weekend with three beatdowns and where their lone winner gained less than 100 yards of total offense in their victory, I assumed GTBob would have a load of excuses on why this happened. Don’t let all the Dawg fans down GTBob. It is time to come out of hiding and face the music after your relentless rampage of unfounded confidence in your team and your conference last week. Come out, come out wherever you are…
The New ACC
November 28th, 2011
8:53 am
This season GA Tech has a record much better than projected pre-season. No one should forget that.
However, if PJ doesn’t beat uga he will not be around for much longer.
Gary
November 28th, 2011
8:55 am
to “Reality” “Good game Dawgs….now try to show a little class.”
Really, the dawgs need to show some class? I was at the game. I watch your dirty players take out one of our guys with a chop block minutes into the game. Then while the band was doing a tribute to Munson your student section starts yelling to hell with Georgia as loud as they can. Very classy. You should be proud of your bugs. I remember when you only blue your little whistle when you scored. Now every first down, that is just sad. Almost as sad as your stadium. Which one of your brilliant minds designed that death trap. Stay classy tech.
BigDawg
November 28th, 2011
8:56 am
If a kid can throw the ball, why would he go to Tech? CPJ’s offense is a run-oriented offense. Would an Aaron Murry go to Tech with that offense? No. Would Orson Charles? No. Would any 4 star QB or WR go to Tech with the Triple Floption offense? No. It’s easy to say go recruit a QB or WR but don’t get your hopes up. Even RBs will have doubts. Lots of yards but it doesn’t get you playing time in the NFL.
The New ACC
November 28th, 2011
8:57 am
NCDawgFan- What is your problem????
First of all, those SEC teams were SUPPOSED to beat those ACC teams. They were ranked ahead of their ACC opponent and they were picked to beat them. Knowing that, are you shocked that they won? Are you proud that they did what they were SUPPOSED to do?
And, if a team that is ranked lower than their opponent really does lose to them, is that horrible? Sure, they want to win, but come on.
Get a grip on reality there bro.
gt4ever
November 28th, 2011
8:57 am
And from my recollection Super, Mr. Rhino never called for a fair catch…. He couldn’t take it to the house, but his numbers are as good as it gets….
The CPJ experiment should be about over….. One more bowl game loss will put it to rest…
doodoobailey
November 28th, 2011
8:58 am
You guys were real classy chanting to hell with Georgia during the Munson ceremony.
Stay Classy.
Paul in NH
November 28th, 2011
9:00 am
BuzzBelle
dawgforlife is refering to Tyrone Sorrells. He transferred to GT in the early 80’s when I was in grad school at Tech.
Harvey D. Pooka
November 28th, 2011
9:07 am
My last comment posting. (yea, I’m sure ya’ll lwill miss me about as much as Ii’ll miss you) These boards have degraded into too much negativity and in-fighting and things like the posting from “George” that have NO relationship to the story ,,,,,,,
GT knows what they need to do to have improved results, as well as the true fans and followers do. So hang in there folks and they’ll get some positive progressions in place. ***Still a Fan ! ***
Jborodawg
November 28th, 2011
9:09 am
We hold these truths to be self evident…That under coach Richt…10 out of 11, 31-17.
I have to give it to Tech fans, I’ve seen very few comments in this blog about Bulldog fans being classless. I posit that the reaction by some Tech fans to the Red Coat Band’s tribute to Munson was classless. And your own blog pretty much proves my point…
http://www.stingtalk.com/forums/showthread.php?s=42b286726f3dad1ef40394453ab96f42&t=60373
“C from Marietta…rubbing defeat in GT faces is classless…” That’s asinine. That’s what we’ve done since 1893; Clean Old-fashioned Hate. But, I guess we can all strive to rub it in with class.
Be that as it may, I thought GT’s players fought pretty hard, contrary to what some of your players said afterward. EG, “…we were flat…”; “…we didn’t get fired up…” It also looked like CPJ got away from the triple option; got away from your strength and tried to pass. That just didn’t work.
Some have suggested correctly that you have to have a BIG guy in the middle to run the 3-4 D. I didn’t understand “forcing” it on the Bulldogs D last year, without a big NT. Groh is doing the same thing.
Good luck in your bowl game.
Goooo Dawgs!
PUG
November 28th, 2011
9:09 am
If your coach was in better shape maybe your players would be too! I think the FAT around his mid section caused his brain to stall!! Just get use to losing GT fans it’s your life being GEEKS!!!
Jim R
November 28th, 2011
9:12 am
ProudTechFan
Since we’re speaking of class what do you call all the booing at the game by GT fans when they were recognizing Larry Munson? Does being a hypocrite mean anything to you? How about intentionally injuring UGAs DeAngelo Tyson? Real class I guess HUH? Think before you speak or make a fool of yourself.
DawginLex
November 28th, 2011
9:15 am
Tech doesn’t need a new coach.
They need better players
Johnson needs to recruit SEC caliber D linemen and get a QB who can pass.
Maybe Vad Lee will be that guy?
Johnson threw the ball because the staple of the TO, the fullback, was totally negated by being outsized on the front.
Looks like you get to go to the Sun Bowl and play aginst a coach who is about to get fired or you may end up playing against an interim coach(ASU-Erickson big time hot seat).
Did you really expect more than 9-4 this year? The 6-0 start was all schedule.
Win a bowl game for the first time in a long time and go recruit.
My $.02
NCDawgFan
November 28th, 2011
9:23 am
The New ACC- don’t lose hope. As long as the Big East continues to exist, the ACC will never be the worst football conference in America.
ramblin
November 28th, 2011
9:31 am
let the dawgs talk, they’re thumpin their chest so hard after squeaking out a season where they avoided every tough team on their schedule, and lost the 2 they did play. They’re dreaming if they think LSU isn’t going to put em in place.
Genius Jacket
November 28th, 2011
9:37 am
Paul Johnson needs to go. Our defense is terrible!
Dwight Schrute
November 28th, 2011
9:37 am
Ramblin- We will talk, just like you losers do before this game every year since you cannot say a word afterwards. Why dont you talk about El Paso geek?
doodoobailey
November 28th, 2011
9:39 am
@ramblin..hahahahahahahah, sore loser.
roughrider
November 28th, 2011
9:41 am
Is anyone on here old enough to remember when Tech last won a bowl game?
T3
November 28th, 2011
9:41 am
Dayum.
Just Dayum.
Long Memory
November 28th, 2011
9:46 am
When CPJ won his first, and only, game ‘tween the hedges with UGA, he was asked if he would take a piece of the hedge as a trophy.
His smart Alec response was, “No, I’m sure we’ll be back here again.” Waiting………..
Big time?? Not
November 28th, 2011
9:48 am
Thought I would wait a while to say one last time this year:
Four tickets, four hot dogs, four cokes.
GTVegas
November 28th, 2011
9:52 am
First – I was truly embarrassed more by the GT student’s classless chant during the Munson tribute than I was by any of the play on the field. I even said so to the UGA fans around me during the game. One classy UGA alum then saud, hey, their kids and the UGA students would probably do the same thing. My reply, still doesn’t make it right.
I still think CPJ is a good coach, but they clearly need to recruit a defense.
UGA will always have better access to talent and should be favored on that basis in just about every game.
The interception and the kickoff return led to 14 UGA points. We did our fair share in helping UGA win this one.
Congrats to teh Dawgs. They played the better game. Good luck agianst LSU. It’s not much consolation, but a UGA win against LSU will make our loss look a little better, if that really means anything.
I look forward to seeing Vad Lee next year. I live in NC and that kid CAN pass.
GTVegas
November 28th, 2011
9:54 am
I should really read my comments before hitting submit, please excuse the errors.
Wishbone was dumped in the 197
November 28th, 2011
9:55 am
All of the BIG BOY football progrmas back in the day ran the triple option. Oklahoma, Texas, Alabama and many, many others.
They finally DUMPED IT because an athletic D team with kids that can run and lock up and tackle, stopped it. Apparently, when CPJ read up on the BONE, he did not go to the last two chapters that talked about why it was canned, eventually.