Paul Johnson Q&A, Part 4
Fourth segment of interview with Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson. This portion deals largely with the quarterbacks, including the upcoming competition in spring practice.
Q: Going into spring practice, where do you have to get better?
A: We’ve got to get better at everything. It’s like when you watch the thing, we weren’t as good at running the triple (option) as we need to be by any stretch. Certainly, we need to be more efficient throwing and the same things every year. I don’t know that it’ll ever change. It’s always going to be like that.
Defensively, you (have to) get better at rushing the passer, being consistent tackling, better in special teams. There’s no any area I can say, ‘Oh, wow, we’re really good there.’ We were pretty good offensively on third downs. I think we led the country or were second (in third-down conversion rate). We probably were in the top 3 or 4 in (fewest offensive) three-and-outs. That’s always a positive. You’d like to get more three-and-outs on defense.
Q: The problems in the passing game, would you say it was a system-wide matter?
A: I don’t know if you can say it’s system-wide or not. We were pretty efficient the first four or five games.
Q: I mean, would you say it was system-wide as opposed to just one player or a position group?
A: Talent, too. I think as the competition level got better, we weren’t quite as good. We could do it against some people and other people, we struggled. Sometimes, it’s matchups and different things. You’re always looking for what will help you in that area. Can you tweak things? Can you do some things that will help you?
Q: How close is Tevin Washington to his ceiling?
A: I don’t know. I think he got a lot better. I think he’ll have to continue to get better or he’ll get passed. But he’s had a knack for doing that. I don’t think anybody thought he would be the quarterback last year and he didn’t let the guys beat him out. I’m sure in their mind, they’re coming this spring to beat him out right now. There’s probably two or three that think they can beat him out. (But) they’ve got to do it. And we’d be a better team if they do. And it’ll make him better fighting ‘em off. Competition’s a great thing.
Q: I imagine the quarterback competition is one you’re looking forward to a lot, especially given the hand you have in coaching those players.
A: I have not had the time to work with those guys like I have in the past. It’s something I miss. I’d like to get more time to do that. Brian (Bohannon) is pretty much coaching them. There’s so much going on (as head coach). You can stick your head in now and then, and during the game, I call the pays and I do that, but during the week, I don’t get to spend a lot of time with them, not like you’d like to.
Q: Do you have any plans to change that?
A: You always have the intention of it changing, but part of being the head coach is you’ve got a lot of other duties. You’re not the quarterback coach. You’ve got a lot of things that happen, a lot of things you’re dealing with. That’s why you hire a guy to do it and you’ve got to trust them to do it.
Q: I remember you telling a story about (former Georgia Southern coach) Erk Russell telling you after you’d become head coach to work with the quarterbacks, because that’s what you do best…
A: I watch practice every day and I’m around the drills and I’m always watching. If I need to go get involved, I will, but Brian’s been doing it now for four years and he knows what he’s doing. He knows what we’re trying to accomplish. You have to trust that he’s going to do a good job with them. I think he does.
Q: Where do Synjyn Days and Vad Lee have to get better?
A: Just get more consistent and be better. They’re both athletic and they bring something to the table. Synjyn’s a really strong runner, big. Needs to take better care of the ball, be consistent that way. I think for Vad, it’s just playing, learning the system. I would hope that he’s going to look a lot different this spring than you would expect a true freshman to come in in the fall.
You’ve got Dennis Andrews in here now. He’s going to be a little bit behind, then you’ve got Justin (Thomas), who’ll come in in the fall. Hopefully, this spring, we can sort out the Vad-Synjyn deal and know where that stands. And as compared to Tevin, we’ll see where they stand.
If both of ‘em beat him out, then we’ll see where you go, but you’d hope within 15 days, they’ll start to give you some idea of how that’ going to unfold.
Q: Are you hoping that after spring practice, you’ll have a good feel for who’s going to be the guy?
A: I don’t know if in 15 practices, if you’re going to know that, but certainly, you’ll be a lot closer to it than you would otherwise. What we’ve got to do is find a way in the spring to make sure that we give ‘em enough reps to get ‘em a chance to do it. Tevin’s played a lot; he might be the guy that gets less reps because he knows the system.
When we scrimmage on Saturday mornings, he may get a series or two with the [first string]. We’ll see how it goes. But you’ve got to let the other two guys play if you’re going to find out who’s going to be the better of the two.
Q: There was a school of thought that you might have been better served if Lee had gotten playing time early. I’m wondering what you thought about that.
A: We were one penalty away from probably winning our division and going to the ACC championship. At what point would have put him in? The other kid (Washington) was leading the country in passing efficiency for six weeks. He was 6-0. Are you going to take him out and put a true freshman in?
You’re not going to waste a year of eligibility to put him in in the fourth quarter when you’re ahead 70-20. I mean, I’m not. It’s like, in my mind, we didn’t even get Synjyn in enough. There’s no way you’re going to get three of them enough reps.
Thanks for reading. Part 5, which I think will be the last one, will be posted Wednesday morning.
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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264 comments Add your comment
George Stein
March 6th, 2012
2:42 pm
Well, student athlete, if we look at total offense (which I freely admit isn’t the perfect metric), the following teams we played from 2010 were better in 2011:
Clemson: from 334 YPG to 440
VT: from 402 to 413
Maryland/Wake (we replaced Wake with Maryland, so this is a fair comparison): Wake 2010 302 to Maryland 2011 379
UGA: 385 to 408
NCSU had a dropoff (probably Russell Wilson related), and UVA and UNC held pretty steady.
HighTech
March 6th, 2012
2:42 pm
5150…do they need to find ELITE RECRUITS? lol.
1 4 GT
March 6th, 2012
2:48 pm
If only the ignorant—–S Hill had basically 1 year of HS football–he was a track athlete first–he caught the ball against his body–the ball has a tendency to bounce you know–he had to corral the ball against his body–he has had to learn to catch the ball with his hands–strengthening his hands in the process–developing muscle memory (golf anyone)–lack of experience and coaching at a young age along with the above factors contributed to his drops–he will grow into a very good NFL receiver IMHO
George Stein
March 6th, 2012
2:49 pm
Were FSU, Miami, or UGA (all ranked at the date of the game) in 2008 a signature win? How about #4 VT in 2009? 2010 was a lost season. Last year, I’d say drilling the #5 team in the country counted. Honestly, who really reads anything into a game that’s played 5 weeks after the last one?
Both fair points, Birmingham. Any names you’d like to float? For a defensive guy, I might like to see us grab someone who has worked with Manny Diaz somewhere or ANYONE ever affiliated with Gary Patterson (who isn’t high as a kite, of course).
1 4 GT
March 6th, 2012
3:12 pm
All of you partly cloudy guys must live sad lives. And you know who you are. I prefer a partly sunny outlook myself.
PLAYMAKER
March 6th, 2012
3:22 pm
CPJ has given up, I thought he was a FIGHTER! He is so stuck in his ways he won’t change and neither will A. Groh. The recruiting is downright awful considering you are in a recruiting hotbed state. CPJ, AG and AMc R. Coor. sit around and makes jokes. They say they only want to recruit kids who want to come to GT. But you have to go out and convince kids that GT is the place for you. It is kind of sad, CPJ could be a GREAT Coach instead of just a good Coach if he would just be a little more flexiable. But now he is just sitting there taking GT money, GT can’t fire him and he knows that nor should they. But somehjow I just wished God (the only person who can move this stubborn man) would just get to CPJ and shake him. Stop letting your view and AG view be the only view. Go ahead and be the great Coach that you are.
5150 UOAD
March 6th, 2012
3:32 pm
1 4 GT but also don’t sell me Cow Crap and call it Rose Food either.
WnE
March 6th, 2012
3:35 pm
re:
Hey WnE
The “Offense” is 1-11 vs. top-50 defenses over the last 2 seasons!
Why don’t you include all 4 years. His offense was 4-0 vs top-50 defenses in 2009. You are not the only one who can go to ncaa.org and look up stats. Just don’t tweak the stats to fit your agenda.
___________________-
The LAST 2 Year are more reflective of the types of Recruits that Coach Kung Fu Panda will bring in, that 2009 season the roster was chock full of Chan’s Recruits at most Key Offensive positions.
A person of your logic & intellect should know that w/o having me embarrass you publicly on this Blog.
WnE
March 6th, 2012
3:35 pm
re:
Hey WnE
The “Offense” is 1-11 vs. top-50 defenses over the last 2 seasons!
Why don’t you include all 4 years. His offense was 4-0 vs top-50 defenses in 2009. You are not the only one who can go to ncaa.org and look up stats. Just don’t tweak the stats to fit your agenda.
___________________-
The LAST 2 Year are more reflective of the types of Recruits that Coach Kung Fu Panda will bring in, that 2009 season the roster was chock full of Chan’s Recruits at most Key Offensive positions.
A person of your logic & intellect should know that w/o having me embarrass you publicly on this Blog.
1 4 GT
March 6th, 2012
3:36 pm
I agree 5150. Never saw near total pessimism in your comments like some on here. You seem like most of us, mostly supportive, but wanting more.
GT Lee
March 6th, 2012
3:45 pm
Weeenie,
the only person you embarrass on these blogs is yourself….
5150 UOAD
March 6th, 2012
3:45 pm
1 4 GT like dating a chick with C Cups and wanting D cups LOL
GT Lee
March 6th, 2012
3:48 pm
do those D-cups come with hash browns???
5150 UOAD
March 6th, 2012
3:50 pm
Sorry I don’t like my D cups with hash browns but some good pudding is on the menu. LOL
GT Lee
March 6th, 2012
3:52 pm
how can you not like a side of taters with your (fur)burger?
5150 UOAD
March 6th, 2012
3:56 pm
I Like less fur and more burger I guess.
WnE
March 6th, 2012
3:56 pm
re:
roadrunner…
You’d figure CMR would stop throwing the ball to a TE that can’t even break 4.7 in the 40.
_____________________-
Pop the FILM in and you’d see that Orson Charles played much faster than 4.75 and was “always open” and was definitely a Game Changer from the time he was a True Freshman, despite Hill’s 4.36 at the combine not one GT fan can say that Hill ever played THE GAME that fast and was never dominant on the college Level.
Charles made some All-american teams at TE and was a finalist for the Mackey Award given to the Nation’s top TE, Richt did quite a bit with Charles given the way UGA spreads the ball around and also had another TE that might end up in the NFL also (Aaron White).
Charles played on teams with Massaquoi, Kris Durham, and AJ Green, when you have WRs that can catch like that plus RBs like Moreno that can catch balls out of the backfield, then piling up stats is a lot harder.
In GT’s system they favor ONE WR and they very RARELY ever throw to a B-Back, so Hill should have had more than 370 yds over the last NINE GAMES, given that he’s 6-4 215 & runs a 4.36 forty.
George Stein
March 6th, 2012
3:59 pm
I’m sorry, but I don’t recall Orson Charles ever plaing with Knowshon Moreno. Sloppy with facts again, WnE.
GT Lee
March 6th, 2012
4:00 pm
weeenie, the fries are burning and the bathrooms need cleaning….
George Stein
March 6th, 2012
4:00 pm
Actually, he didn’t play on a team with Massaquio (sp?), either.
George Stein
March 6th, 2012
4:02 pm
I gotta say, WnE, for a Georgia fan, you are unbelievably obsessed with Tech. It’s really not healthy, man.
5150 UOAD
March 6th, 2012
4:04 pm
He was there with Cox, AJ Green, King and Ealey his freshman year.
5150 UOAD
March 6th, 2012
4:06 pm
George he isn’t a UGa fan either by his posts as BuLLdawg, 13-1 and Thomas Brown.
hell hath no fury
March 6th, 2012
4:07 pm
like a weeenie scorned.
weenie get over yourself… there are other panda’s in the sea for you. it is time to move on.
George Stein
March 6th, 2012
4:10 pm
Maybe, 5150. But leave it WnE to say that Richt made Kris Durham (is he Durham’s father?) but Johnson had nothing to do with Stephen Hill.
More likely that the players are responsible for their own success.
SoCal_GT_Fan
March 6th, 2012
4:10 pm
Should be an interesting Spring practice! Can’t wait! Although people are concentrating on the QB competition, I’m more interested in the competition along the Defensive Line. I think Izaan Cross is the only guy who’s starting position is pretty firm. The other DE spot and the NT spot are up for grabs. The competition for those two spots I believe are just as critical (if not more) as the QB spot. At least in the QB spot we know the bar that is set (i.e. Tevin Washington). OK passer OK runner. Nothing fancy but nothing to be bragging about. The defensive line will determine whether we are able to hold teams from converting those 3rd and 1, 3rd and 2 situations and opening up lanes for our LBs to wreck havoc.
Another positional battle I’m interested in (its again the defensive side) is the safety position. I wonder if Fred Holton has recovered sufficiently from his injury last year (torn achilles or ACL or something if I recall) and whether he can push the starters. I recall he was one of the guys who was pushing for playing time before his injury.
GT Lee
March 6th, 2012
4:10 pm
LOL @ hell hath…..
WnE
March 6th, 2012
4:20 pm
re:
HighTech
March 6th, 2012
11:36 am
Are you sure the future is bright at Ga Text ?
——————————————————–
Are you sure you are a GT alumnus? Do you know a troll named Really? What is a Ga Text anyway and why would an alumnus of GT ever call his school that?
_______________________
I did that in reference to Coach Kung Fu Panda having a scumbag cheater and REPEAT NCAA Violator on his “hand-picked Staff” that got caught VIOLATING NCAA Rules by sending out too many Text Messages
Hence the play on words:
Georgia TEXT.
You do know that if Coach Fish Fry ran a CLEANER PROGRAM then I wouldn’t be able to make the Georgia TEXT comment at all?
His hand-picked Asst. coach CHEATED, then lost his JOB, and said CHEATING made my comments in this reply possible.
FL Jacket
March 6th, 2012
4:21 pm
SoCal…
I think we will have Fred Holton and Jemea Thomas on the field together quite a bit because we’ll probably be in lots of nicekl coverage. Only one of them might takeover Rashaad Reid’s Safety spot…but they should all see lots of playing time.
TJ Barnes and Shawn Green at the NT spot should be an interesting competition…
George Stein
March 6th, 2012
4:24 pm
Breaking rules does not equal cheating. No alum would call us Georgia Text.
FL Jacket
March 6th, 2012
4:40 pm
George…
Are we to call uGA “Leeburn U” or “land of coaching kickbacks” or “early signee announcement U” because of their secondary violations?
FL Jacket
March 6th, 2012
4:41 pm
George…
WnE is still obviously upset because Vad Lee stayed with his Tech Commitment and if he performs to his ability…might be in the discussion for a Heisman in the next few years.
5150 UOAD
March 6th, 2012
4:42 pm
WnE/ Thomas Brown what about Richt’s Pocket Dialing recruits and the missing man formation for Crowell? That is Cheating according to you and RICHT didn’t lose his job. Why isn’t Thomas brown/WnE on the UGa blog calling RICHT a cheater and to lose his job?
HighTech
March 6th, 2012
4:44 pm
WnE….thanks for responding. But you may want to lay off the Ga Text or you will be associated with this guy….that is, unless you want to be.
—————————————
Really?
February 9th, 2012
1:29 pm
Despite all the corruption and the lieing and cheating during his brief time at ga text, texties still support cpj?!! I guess they have been in the cesspool with him so long the texties have learned to float.
George Stein
March 6th, 2012
4:45 pm
He’s also upset because Hill seems to have had a good pro day. It kind of cuts to the heart of his “NFL hates GT” idea.
WnE
March 6th, 2012
4:57 pm
re:
WnE….thanks for responding. But you may want to lay off the Ga Text or you will be associated with this guy….that is, unless you want to be.
—————————————
Really?
February 9th, 2012
1:29 pm
Despite all the corruption and the lieing and cheating during his brief time at ga text, texties still support cpj?!! I guess they have been in the cesspool with him so long the texties have learned to float.
______________
Thanks for the heads up high Tech!
You’re a good guy sometimes.
Ghost
March 6th, 2012
4:58 pm
Roadrunner, Charles has run a 4.5 forty but obviously didn’t at pro day, but Hernandez TE for NE runs a 4.64 forty and is a bit smaller than Charles . Charles will do just fine in the NFL. he was 1 st team all sec and was finalist for Mackey Award.
WnE
March 6th, 2012
5:01 pm
re:
He’s also upset because Hill seems to have had a good pro day. It kind of cuts to the heart of his “NFL hates GT” idea.
__________________
That’s not true!
I was one of the FEW GT Fans that applauded the Hill’s decision to go pro, in fact I also said that one more yr. of jump ball passes & smoke routes would do nothing for improving his draft status next yr. so he might as well “gamble” on having a strong combine.
You’re putting out intentional mis-information Stein, I would hope that you’re better than that.
5150 UOAD
March 6th, 2012
5:01 pm
BiggDawgK
March 6th, 2012
4:46 pm
Oh well no more “cut” blocks this year. That was the only way cpj could slow down a defense so ga text will be even more pathetic this year and not many people thought that was even possible.
Drew Brees will have a target on his back this year and without the katrina sympathy card to play it will get real ugly for him quickly. Wow how the heck does an organization manage to screw up being handed a free super bowl championship so quickly? All that crack and liquor in that cesspool called new whorleans takes it’s toll on everyone that wallows in the filth.
5150 UOAD
March 6th, 2012
4:56 pm
All that crack and liquor in that cesspool called new whorleans takes it’s toll on everyone that wallows in the filth.
LMFAO at that statement. It sounds just like the town Don Leebern has created in Athens.
George Stein
March 6th, 2012
5:03 pm
Charles is a good player, Ghost, and I’d love the Falcons to take him (although I doubt he’ll be there at #55). No one should argue that. I do think it suggests the idea of SEC Speed is probably a little overrated, though.
George Stein
March 6th, 2012
5:04 pm
I’m putting misinformation out there???? Did you want to go read your comment at 3:56 again?
WnE
March 6th, 2012
5:11 pm
re:
FL Jacket
March 6th, 2012
4:41 pm
George…
WnE is still obviously upset because Vad Lee stayed with his Tech Commitment and if he performs to his ability…might be in the discussion for a Heisman in the next few years.
_________________
You’re delusional!
There’s no way a QB in 2012 & BEYOND will contest for a Heisman attempting only 13-15 passes PER GAME.
GT doesn’t have the OLs on scholly to throw 30-40 times per game, they don’t have the WRs on scholly to throw 30-40 times per game, and they don’t have the A-Backs that are good enough pass catchers to throw 30-40 times per game.
Vad Lee made the decision to throw away his chance at winning awards on the college level and to play QB in the NFL when he signed with GT, I said my peace a long time ago, it is all on him now.
How did Nesbitt’s Heisman run go for him?
It was JOKE and as a QB under CPJ he was a laughingstock as a Heisman candidate, do you really think that Bohannon can develop a QB that can make a run at a Heisman?
Next yr. will be his 2nd yr. of Bbohannon coaching, after that his QB skillswill be ruined, look at what Tevin has done with 4-yrs. of Bohannon coaching.
Be honest, you don’t really know a lot about CFB do you?
Are you really that delusional?
5150 UOAD
March 6th, 2012
5:14 pm
WnE/ Thomas Brown so what do you say about 35:55minute MURRAY’s chances for the Heisman?
HighTech
March 6th, 2012
5:31 pm
I know his passing numbers were higher, but would RGIII have won the Heisman in CPJ’s offense? I think he would have. I feel bad for Nesbitt because he has the heart of a champion. I thought he deserved Heisman consideration, but the numbers and the season did not play out for him. In the end, I wonder how much of a distraction the Heisman campaign was? I liked the skits by the way. Stay thirsty my friends.
Ghost
March 6th, 2012
5:41 pm
5150, I don’t know about Murrays chances at a Heisman , but he was an Elite 11 and competed quite well with Matt Barkley (winning the elite 11) coming out of High school In the Georgia offense has the chance to put up some big numbers, he has some problems to resolve but he was only a sophomore playing behind a line that wasn;t as good as it should have been and without a consistent rushing attack.He has several talented WR/TE to throw to and should have a pretty good ground game which will make the play action passing game more effective.say what you will about his height, but he has a high release point,when he is on, standing straight and keeping his feet under him he is very very good.I”ll go out on a limb and say his chances are better than Vad Lees.
WnE
March 6th, 2012
5:43 pm
re:
WnE/ Thomas Brown so what do you say about 35:55minute MURRAY’s chances for the Heisman?
______________
Murray has no chance to win a Heisman or be a finalist IMO, he makes too many mistakes and bad reads for muttville.
IMO he cost them at least 2 maybe 3 games last season by himself.
USCe
Mich St.
LSU would have been a different game had Murray played better and without the TOs.
George Stein
March 6th, 2012
5:50 pm
Murray was not responsible for multiple drops against LSU or a freaking defensive tackle running untouched for 65 yards on a fake punt.
I don’t particularly like defending a UGA player, but this just proves you know nothing about CFB.
Birmingham Jacket
March 6th, 2012
6:04 pm
Murray is good, not great.
The thing that’s bothering me as a Jacket fan and alum, is Georgia’s defense. They’re beginning to mirror the LSUs and BAMAs.
They have the slack qualifying to bring in athletes that run the 3-4 and absolutely dominate offenses.
We don’t have that luxury… Which is why we should change D-Coords. You don’t run the 3-4 against UGA with a recent graduated senior (bless his heart) at NT!!!
Ghost
March 6th, 2012
6:22 pm
George, You want a coach to replace PJ, hire Briles from Baylor. Knows how to recruit, his offense would attract talent. He know how to recruit and the man is a very good coach. It would take him a recruiting class or 2 to get the talent level up to speed.
Boot Licking Toadie
March 6th, 2012
6:30 pm
Thanks for mentioning a coach to replace PJ. That’s more than WnE ever has typed on this blog. He complains all the time but never offers solutions.