Washington seeks strong finish for Georgia Tech
Greetings-
Hope you all have had a restful holiday and aren’t suffering too much Georgia Tech football withdrawal. I’ve arrived in El Paso and am proud to report I’ve done my share to infuse the local economy with out-of-town cash with to my purchase of an Oral-B toothbrush at Target last night.
Players and coaches also arrived yesterday, presumably with their dental hygiene instruments.
I don’t have a ton today, but I did speak with quarterback Tevin Washington and quarterbacks and B-backs coach Brian Bohannon for a story I plan to write for Wednesday’s paper. I think the most intriguing thing that I learned was that a considerable part of Washington’s passing struggles was due to a habit of looking too much at the pass rush and not enough downfield. Perhaps not surprisingly, he was at times a little impatient in the pocket.
“It’s having a feel for the pocket, being able to see downfield and feeling the pocket and knowing when to cut it loose, when to run,” Bohannon said. “You work on it in practice, but truthfully, you’ve just got to get out there and do it and get a feel for it.”
Washington recognized he has some room to grow in that department. It’s not easy, and it’s one of those things that typically worsens as pass protection breaks down. The more hits a quarterback takes in the pocket, the more antsy and concerned about self-preservation he’s likely to become.
The challenge, Washington said, is “making sure you keep your eyes downfield so you can give yourself a chance to make plays.”
Going into the Sun Bowl, Washington is 63 for 135 (46.7 percent) for 1,515 yards with 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He had an unbelievably hot start passing. He was 27 for 42 for 821 yards (64.3 percent, 19.5 yards per attempt) with eight touchdowns and one interception. The rest of the way, the numbers were 36 for 93 for 694 yards (38.7 percent, 7.5 yards per attempt) with two touchdowns and seven interceptions. He had no touchdown passes in the last seven regular-season games, although he ran for 10 in those games.
I think more goes into the numbers than Washington’s play, good and bad – the pass protection, the routes receivers ran, the catchable balls they did or didn’t catch, the score or third-down situations forcing Tech’s hand, etc. – although his focusing on the pass rush is obviously no small element.
And it’s notable that Bohannon, who is typically unsparing and honest in his evaluations of players, said that Washington has “done a tremendous job to get us to this point” and praised his leadership. It bears a reminder that the same guy who didn’t have it against Georgia is also the same guy who ran for 176 yards (a school record for a quarterback) and led the offense to 383 rushing yards against Clemson and who has helped Tech convert 54.9 percent of its third downs, the highest rate in the country.
Said Bohannon, “Sure, you can always look back and always go, ‘Well, if we’d have made this play in this game’ or ‘If he’d have made this throw in this game,’ but it’s part of the position, I think. I’m proud of what he’s done for us this year and I’m proud of where he’s at.”
Speaking with him Monday, Washington seemed very ready and eager to play; I think it’s important to him to finish well and help Tech break the bowl losing streak. He’s a highly team-oriented player with some of the best work habits on the team. To borrow a phrase Al Groh likes to use, the game means a lot to him.
“I don’t really think I had a best game,” he said. “I’ve still got a chance to go out and have my best game Saturday. I’m looking forward to trying to do that.”
Links
The El Paso Times reports on Tech’s arrival. Photo gallery from the team’s reception at the airport. Number 3 belongs in the 2012 media guide.
The El Paso Convention and Visitors Bureau expects about 5,000 out-of-town visitors for the game, the fewest total in years.
A Deseret News story about Utah’s bowl preparation routine.
Salt Lake Tribune story about Utah running back John White, who went from third-string JUCO transfer to being 103 yards shy of the school single-season rushing record. His injury status (ankle) is a little unclear.
Salt Lake Tribune feature on All-Pac 12 offensive tackle Tony Bergstrom. The NFL Draft Scout website ranks him the No. 9 offensive tackle prospect in the upcoming draft.
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576 comments Add your comment
Paul Hewitt
December 27th, 2011
6:20 pm
Miss me yet?
Dawg48
December 27th, 2011
6:20 pm
I’m going to bring it up on my lap top.
I using my I pad on here, so I will be around..
I hope I can multi task though, football game , b ball game, on talking.
WnE
December 27th, 2011
6:23 pm
re:
GTBob
December 27th, 2011
12:21 pm
Dont forget the following 2013 dream team III !!!
If UGA recruited the Green Bay Packers they still wouldn’t come close to doing anything meaningful. Amazing that UGA fans are still believing that high recruiting numbers are all that it takes to win.
_______________________
You should really stop what you’re doing GTBob, all you are doing is embarrassing GT FB.
You joke that uga fans think that high Recruiting Ranking are all it takes to win, we are something like 17 of 20 in LOSS column vs. muttville (15 and 40 since the late 50s) so the RECRUITING RANKINGS obviously mean SOMETHING; unless of course CMR is the smartest HC in the history of mankind and CPJ is the dumbest HC in the history of mankind.
If recruiting rankings mean NOTHING like many GT fans suggest, then GT should be around 35% to 45% vs. muttville over the last 20 or so years.
But we ARE NOT, and in situations like that, you learn to shut your pie-hole until your team plays better!
Dawg48
December 27th, 2011
6:24 pm
They said Texas may extend Mack Browns contract for 5 years, his current contract goes threw 2016 now..
What?
December 27th, 2011
6:26 pm
I checked out the UGA blog and only saw a few post from tech trolls. True Dawg is probably a high schooler on Christmas break. He really should be studying grammar and spelling not trolling on a tech blog but whatever floats his dad’s boat. Maybe he got a lump of coal for Christmas.
Dawg48
December 27th, 2011
6:30 pm
5150
Great a go daddy commercial!
Now that’s better than Roseanne!
What?
December 27th, 2011
6:32 pm
@WnE, why don’t you go start your own school. You could name the mascot “The Fighting Fragrances”. Please stop posing as a Tech fan and using numerous handles to support your rants. Your website is a disgrace and should be sued for libel. “Stanley”.
Jackets90
December 27th, 2011
6:34 pm
I saw pictures from todays practice and i notice GT was practicing out of the shotgun. Anyone else notice this?
Jackets90
December 27th, 2011
6:36 pm
@WNE thank you for having facts to show these dumbass tech fans what GT is not doing!
5150 UOAD
December 27th, 2011
6:39 pm
48 I wish Danica Patrick would drive me at 200+ mph for 3 hours. LOL
Dawg48
December 27th, 2011
6:39 pm
Great throw and catch!
5150 UOAD
December 27th, 2011
6:40 pm
90 no I didn’t. Did we have 2 backs close to Washington?
Dawg48
December 27th, 2011
6:41 pm
I went to the Atlanta race this year….
It was crazy how busy her trailer was selling merchandise.
5150 UOAD
December 27th, 2011
6:41 pm
90 don’t back WnE.
Dawg48
December 27th, 2011
6:42 pm
That was no Tebow jump pass.
5150 UOAD
December 27th, 2011
6:42 pm
Danica is freaking HOT.
Have you ever seen her Maxium Photo shoot?
5150 UOAD
December 27th, 2011
6:43 pm
That should have been a TD
Dawg48
December 27th, 2011
6:43 pm
5150
No I haven’t
Jackets90
December 27th, 2011
6:44 pm
Runing a pistol with a back next to days. Im sorry but WNE is jsut pointing out some facts.He is a GT fan but he doesnt like CPJ and neither do i. CPJ has alot of work to do before i can say that i like him sorry if that affends anyone.
Dawg48
December 27th, 2011
6:44 pm
Go for it!
5150 UOAD
December 27th, 2011
6:46 pm
90 you really need to work on the spelling. You look like a UGa RB taking an English 101 exam.
5150 UOAD
December 27th, 2011
6:49 pm
WnE is a Tech fan like John Wayne Gacy was a fun clown for kids parties.
FIRE GROH
December 27th, 2011
6:50 pm
Im going to resign after the bowl game!
5150 UOAD
December 27th, 2011
6:52 pm
48 here is the link to DANICA in Maxium.
http://www.google.com/search?q=danica+patrick+in+maxim+magazine&hl=en&rlz=1C1CHFX_enUS448US448&prmd=imvnso&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=mFn6TpLPG4iJtwfHm5zQBg&ved=0CDoQsAQ&biw=1366&bih=667
What?
December 27th, 2011
6:53 pm
Over done fragrances “affend” me!
5150 UOAD
December 27th, 2011
6:54 pm
My fav.
Shelby Cobra SC
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=danica+patrick+in+maxim+magazine&hl=en&sa=X&rlz=1C1CHFX_enUS448US448&biw=1366&bih=667&tbm=isch&prmd=imvnso&tbnid=awvB83ANzKMXVM:&imgrefurl=http://www.autoinfection.com/larysa-poznyak/&docid=v1b7O8ajKoSpSM&imgurl=http://www.autoinfection.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/danica-patrick-1.jpg&w=500&h=670&ei=9ln6TrCfBNDMtgeohbHQBg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=736&vpy=265&dur=12381&hovh=260&hovw=194&tx=118&ty=130&sig=102314615073596656726&page=6&tbnh=129&tbnw=96&start=129&ndsp=27&ved=1t:429,r:22,s:129
5150 UOAD
December 27th, 2011
6:56 pm
OUCH that QB hit hurt
5150 UOAD
December 27th, 2011
6:58 pm
Nice Stop PURDUE
True Dawg Fan
December 27th, 2011
7:00 pm
Pe Nis Breath? I brushed my teaths.
Dawg48
December 27th, 2011
7:04 pm
Well, the B ball game is blacked out!
Dang it!
Dawg48
December 27th, 2011
7:05 pm
Nice hit
5150 UOAD
December 27th, 2011
7:07 pm
We need to leave the Blog and go watch the Atlanta hawks play basketball.
What?
December 27th, 2011
7:08 pm
Tevin will get the shot to finish this season. As a fan I hope he does well (and wins). Next year he will be challenged for the starting position. May the best player win the starting role.
As for CPJ, he will have a year or two before the grumbling really starts. Until then he is Tech’s coach. I’ll support him until I see reason not to. Gailey had more time than the likes of WnE give CPJ. CPJ actually beat UGA. Gailey never did, in fact his inauguration was a 51-7 drubbing. I see some bright spots on the horizon so we will see what happens. If things do not improve a change will be made. It won’t be because of WnE’s trash talk. WnE is a closet dog fan and he’s probably in some other closets too.
5150 UOAD
December 27th, 2011
7:09 pm
INT & then the MoFo running like A bro dat jus stole a purse from a woman at the MARTA Bus stop
Dawg48
December 27th, 2011
7:10 pm
5150
The hawks?
5150 UOAD
December 27th, 2011
7:11 pm
How the F did he cross the Plane and then recover the fumble behind him?
Dawg48
December 27th, 2011
7:12 pm
That was not a TD
FIRE GROH
December 27th, 2011
7:12 pm
What does GT football show that its on the horizon? Tech went 5-4 after beating those first three high school teams. BTW GT has lost to UGA 3 years in a row if you forgot about that? IF GT loses the bowl game and the offense does not score but one touchdown then there has to be a change made.
5150 UOAD
December 27th, 2011
7:12 pm
Yes the ATL HAWKS the greatest NBA team to ever play a pick-up hoops game.
Dawg48
December 27th, 2011
7:14 pm
I liked em when I was a youngin in the 80’s
5150 UOAD
December 27th, 2011
7:15 pm
So TRUE is now Fire Groh
What?
December 27th, 2011
7:16 pm
And yes, Gailey ran a pro style offense which is what the critics want. I seem to remember Switzer winning a MNC with a wishbone in the 80’s. And if the TO/wishbone/veer are so outdated why have so many teams incorporated elements of it into their playbooks. “Wildcat” anyone?
5150 UOAD
December 27th, 2011
7:17 pm
48 like when John Drew got lost in the elevator, didn’t make practice, and fail a drug test for Coke all in 1 week?
FIRE GROH
December 27th, 2011
7:20 pm
Name the last team to win a NC other than Nebraska that ran the option most of the time. CPJ is needs to add some shotgun and a better passing game and fire me bc my 3-4 sucks because i cant recruit the big boys to play that d-line.
5150 UOAD
December 27th, 2011
7:21 pm
Pam Oliver is the Billie Jean King of ESPN College Football broadcasting.
She could kick Mike Terico’s butt.
What?
December 27th, 2011
7:24 pm
Some of the incoming recruits are bright spots. We need bigger linemen and we are getting some. We need more. Tomlinson would be a huge pick up. I really like Kallon regardless of the critics. I seem to remember a guy from UGA named Sardis (similar story). We diffenently need to make a bigger impact in Georgia recruiting homegrown talent.
5150 UOAD
December 27th, 2011
7:27 pm
WHAT? most Tanned football players in the state of Georgia think being stupid is COOL. They would NEVER want to even try to go to TECH. The State of Georgia sucks in EDUCATION and you want to find GREAT Football Players that can actually pass real classes? HAHAHA Not going to happen. UGa morons ALL think they are the Next Great NFL whatever.
5150 UOAD
December 27th, 2011
7:35 pm
WHAT?
Did you just see the ad pn the Lil Cesar Bowl?
That is the type of Player tech needs. Not African American players that don’t believe in Academics first, but African Africans that know EDUCATION is the GOAL.
Dawg48
December 27th, 2011
7:36 pm
What’s the difference , Bama and LSU grind it out in the running game every weekend, they are the best teams in colege football this year.
If tech had a D as good as bama and LSU and ran the option offense then yes they could be a top 5 team.
Nebraska had great D when they won that title and the years of that option.
If a team keeps the ball and stops the other team then that’s a recipe for sucsess.
Dawg48
December 27th, 2011
7:41 pm
Winthrop 28 UGA 27