Paul Johnson Q&A (mostly A)
Following Wednesday’s morning practice, Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson spoke at longer length than the standard post-practice media session, mixing news and opinion. A recap:
1. Scout-team work for Virginia Tech could start Thursday.
2. Punter Sean Poole and kicker David Scully continue to lead at their respective positions. (I first phrased the question, “Are the punters and kickers still the same?” to which Johnson replied, “Yeah. They’re still kickers and punters.”)
3. He had no update on offensive tackle Morgan Bailey’s condition. Bailey suffered a concussion late last week. “It’s strictly medical,” Johnson said. “He’ll come back when the medical staff tells us he’s ready.”
One development from Bailey and tackle Ray Beno being out is that players like Bryan Chamberlain are receiving extra repetitions at tackle. Nick McRae, Chase Roberts and Trey Braun have also been out there, offensive line coach Mike Sewak said in a previous post.
Said Johnson of Chamberlain, “I think he’s going to be good.”
4. Johnson didn’t have a preference for freshman punter Ryan Rodwell to redshirt this season, which would create another year’s separation between he and Poole, who is a junior.
“If he’s better, he’ll punt,” he said. “If he’s not, he won’t.”
5. A question about defensive end Francis Kallon touched a favorite topic of Johnson’s – the interest of fans (and media) in how soon freshmen will play.
“He’s got a great attitude. He works hard. This is his second year of football. Everybody wants to see these guys play right away. I get a kick out of it. It’s like somebody asking me about Vad Lee. Vad Lee’s a freshman, so let’s give up on him and move onto the next guy because he isn’t playing. Does anybody remember a guy named Joe Hamilton? I do, because I came down here in ’96 (as a first-year offensive coordinator at Navy) when Joe Hamilton was a sophomore (actually, a freshman) and we beat their pants off at Navy (a 36-26 win). He threw an interception for touchdowns and he went on to become a pretty good quarterback when he was a junior and senior, didn’t he? Maybe the best one ever here?”
(Hamilton was 11-for-23 for 211 yards and threw two fourth-quarter interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown.)
6. More on Kallon:
“He’s green. He’s learning how to play the game, but he’s every bit as ahteltic as we thought. He’s big, can run but he’s also playing against bigger, stronger, faster guys than in high school, so you can’t get by on just being able to be big and run.”
7. Synjyn Days played the whole Wednesday morning practice at A-back. At this point, gaining comfort at that position is more important than getting reps at quarterback, he said, since Days already knows that position. But Days’ performance at A-back has left him encouraged.
“It’s just knowing steps and angles, and stuff like that, you only gain by playing,” Johnson said.
8. Backup nose tackle Shawn Green has “had a really good camp. I’ve been really pleased with Shawn. He’s done some good things.”
9. After another question about Days, Johnson was asked if B-back Charles Perkins, who was dropped behind Zach Laskey to No. 3 on the depth chart this week, was a consideration to move to A-back:
“We’ve talked about it at times but there again, (he’s) a sophomore and he’s hurt right now. He’s not out there. It’s like I said: When you do the depth (chart), just because you set it, doesn’t mean it’s set in stone. He may come out and have a better week than the other guy and move back in front of him. So I know everybody’s anxious to play and ready to get started and ready to get news, but every little thing’s not end-all, be-all. A lot’s going to happen between now and the time we play on Monday night.”
10. Johnson said it doesn’t matter to him if, among the receivers, the heavy majority of passes go to one player (like Stephen Hill or Demaryius Thomas) or if it’s a more even split. Story about receivers here.
“If you have a guy that’s a big-play guy, you’re going to try to get them the ball more,” he said. “It could be more (even) distribution. The A-backs could be more involved. It just depends.”
11. On nose tackle T.J. Barnes: “I think he’s done O.K. His stamina seems to be better. Again, we’ll see once we start playing. You’ve got to play yourself into shape. That’s what camp’s about. You can bust your tail in the summer, and you have to, but it’s a different kind of shape when you start playing.”
Thanks for reading.
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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382 comments Add your comment
Ol'JacketFan
August 16th, 2012
7:07 pm
I’ve said it before, give Goose 3-5 yearsat NE and I think he’s make a great replacement. The guy that I’ve heard a lot of ide chatter about is the one and only James Franklin. He’s kicking butt in recruiting but the jury is still out on game day. He’s very impressive in person and I can u nderstand why he’s closing the deal on a lot a recruits. Of course, it doesn’t hurt him that UT is down and Nashvile is Nashville. Vandy is a damn good school and has one advantage over Tech academically and that is the majors available for their student athletes. I am not claiming any mental superiority at Tech simply a much narrower focus of majors.
I am going to sit back over the next couple of years and watch this team grow. If it progresses as I think it will there will no chatter to replave CPJ any time soon.
Ignition
August 16th, 2012
7:07 pm
I want CPJ to open up the passing game and start better utilizing the weapons he has at his disposal on the perimeter.
Also CPJ is 8-4, 9-3, 6-6, 8-4
1 down year out of 4 and that’s with a poor defense, rebuilding the team to his style, and losing a qb mid year.. The guy is a good coach
Ol'JacketFan
August 16th, 2012
7:11 pm
And as to “available”? You gotta have 2 to dance and there are such things as compensation to take into consideration. Would Coach Saban leave AL for say $12MM/year? I think he would not be available at most any price at Tech for a number of reasons. There are some hot assistants I suppose but it a whole ‘nother ballgame to go from an asst to the head guy.
GT1990
August 16th, 2012
7:18 pm
Time will tell right? I don’t understand how some of you don’t have concern of what’s going on at GT? Last year CPJ only beat one quality opponent in the past two years(clemson).
GT1990
August 16th, 2012
7:19 pm
I think is we have another down season this year, he should be on the hot seat.
GT1990
August 16th, 2012
7:19 pm
if*
Ol'JacketFan
August 16th, 2012
7:27 pm
Instant gratification has never appealed to me. I believe that good things come from building a strong foundation from the start. The seniors on this year’s team are CPJ’s first group and I feel they have aquitted themselves well, Looking at the recruiting classes in each ot the suceeding years I see each class exceeding the class before it. The 2013 class is no exception. Yes, I would love to see more 4-5 players but does anyone think that would change under another coach? It never has in my lifetime. I have never been accused of wearing yellow tinted glasses, I see what is before me and form my opinions accordingly.
PJ
August 16th, 2012
7:31 pm
paul johnson and his yellow wearing panty team is done. pj is on his way out
GT1990
August 16th, 2012
7:31 pm
@Ol
How can someone give TW a scholly?? How is this guy still the Qb? These are the little things that i have deep concerns about his coaching. Also, hiring CAG was just dumb and stupid. I said that to my grandad(who graduated from GT)when he hired. I told him that CAG was washed up and he was not a good fit for GT.
BLT
August 16th, 2012
7:42 pm
Good Ol’ Petrino, right 1990?
Get a grip. We will know how good or bad Tech is on 9/3. Then we will see how the season plays out. You may have unseated that other dude. You two have much in common and none of it is good.
Pull for your team and I’ll pull for mine.
Go Jackets!
I’d give TW a scholarship and I’m happy he has already graduated. I believe that’s the main point of going to a school. Do you remember that part?
Ol'JacketFan
August 16th, 2012
7:42 pm
Tevin Washington was 1st team all state as a HS senior. He threw for approximately 2100 yards and 18 TDS with appoximately 1100 yards rushing and 14 TDS in his Sr year. He was a 3 year starter at one of the better programs in AL. Did he develop into an all world QB? No but he’s been pretty damn serviceable in transition from Josh to Vad. Remember, CPJ had such a short recruiting window his first year.
As to CAG I think this is a very important year. The D has to take a major step forward or it may well be time to go in another direction. I’m not so much concerned with his age as maybe having lost the ability to communicate his knowledge as he would like.
BLT
August 16th, 2012
7:44 pm
*too
I was thinking about “two” peas in a pod.
BLT
August 16th, 2012
7:50 pm
got it right the first time…
Time to call it a night
Ol'JacketFan
August 16th, 2012
7:51 pm
low and slow BLT
GT1990
August 16th, 2012
8:09 pm
LOL TW is garbage!
1 4 GT
August 16th, 2012
8:11 pm
Now that this diatribe has sorta slowed down, I’ll put in my $.02 worth. I thought y’all (as grads of GT) were smarter than this. Playing with dogs will only get you a mess of fleas. Barking back & forth like 2 dogs on opposite sides of the fence. Barkin’ just to bark!! Shame on y’all. Been kinda entertaining though.
GT1990
August 16th, 2012
8:14 pm
@ 14GT
How many more loses to uga can you take before you are fed up with CPJ?
1 4 GT
August 16th, 2012
8:22 pm
LEAVE ME ALONE DWAG!!! NOT INTERESTED IN YOUR CHILDISH ARGUING AT ALL!!!!
Ol'JacketFan
August 16th, 2012
8:42 pm
No young man who earns a scholarship and completes a degree progam is “garbage” PERIOD.
BigTimeTECHFan
August 16th, 2012
8:56 pm
Coach Johnson is doing a fine job.
GT1990
August 16th, 2012
9:06 pm
His football skills are GARBAGE! If you think otherwise then visit the eye doctor for your own health.
ole yeller
August 16th, 2012
9:08 pm
GT 1990. It’s darn right shame, without feelings or class to call a student athlete “garbage”. Were you raised without any morals? If you are a fan of college football, regardless of what school you support, you don’t expose yourself as a biased fool. If your son, if you are capable of having one were called out by trash as yourself, what would think? Shame on you.
GT1990
August 16th, 2012
9:11 pm
Critics are apart of sports.How can you guys support someone who is medicore and is not the qb that GT needs?
Ol'JacketFan
August 16th, 2012
9:13 pm
But that’s not what you typed nor what you meant. Tevin’s 2011 stats 1652 yards passing with 11 tds, 987 yards rushing with 14 yds. You’re right sport, garbage football skills. I thought you might actually have something to offer but I see you’re just another hater. Oh and BTW the Ol’JacketFan’s vision is 20/20 when it come to B.S.
GT1990
August 16th, 2012
9:14 pm
Hats off to him for graduating. CHEERS!!!!! As far as him being a great qb at GT BOOOOOOOOOOOO. I wish he would have just left and went into the work field.
Ol'JacketFan
August 16th, 2012
9:14 pm
oh and 1990 spelling lessons might help you……………nah that’s so too much for the likes of you
GT1990
August 16th, 2012
9:16 pm
How can you support TW? It’s not rocket science to see that he is awful. He would be a very good qb in d2. He just don’t have the x-factor at the bcs level.
ole yeller
August 16th, 2012
9:18 pm
1990, you have no credibility. Name calling and hatred bias is no place for a sensible discussion. Keep in mind these are student athletes who do not get paid. I respect opinions but when it becomes a personal attack on a kid who is trying their best, I take offense to it. I don’t care what school they are enrolled with. I would never call a kid “garbage”.
GT1990
August 16th, 2012
9:19 pm
Your also the fan that sits in the stadium when UGA beats the sh** out of tech and says”Well there is always next year”. Shame on you!
GT1990
August 16th, 2012
9:21 pm
CPJ should have told him not to come back. His job is on the line if he keeps losing to VT,Miami,and UGA.
Ol'JacketFan
August 16th, 2012
9:23 pm
It’s real easy sport, he’s earned CPJ’s trust running the offense and he is the QB for the team I root for. You know, actually being a fan. IF Vad’s or Synjyn’s or Justin’s play surpasses Tevin and CPJ names another starter I will root for and support his decision but I would never have the nerve to call a D1 scholarship player’s skill GARBAGE! BTW you might also take the time to study this offense and try to grasp the reads the QB has to make in an extremly tight time window
GT1990
August 16th, 2012
9:27 pm
CPJ is a idiot for keeping him. His chance is over. Do you know the definiton to “insanity”?
ole yeller
August 16th, 2012
9:29 pm
1990, Yes I do its called GT1990.
Ol'JacketFan
August 16th, 2012
9:32 pm
I give up……..no class, no sense, no brains…………..only vitriol and hate…………..oh well no great loss to the blog……………BUT One more question sport. what makes you qualified to render an opinion on any ballplayer or coach? Please, sport, give a bit of your credentials to insult coaches and players alike!
GT1990
August 16th, 2012
9:33 pm
Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
This word describes PJ down to a T.
GT1990
August 16th, 2012
9:36 pm
I base my credentials off facts! TW HASN’T DONE ENOUGH TO BE THE STARTER AT GT! Do i wish the young man well in life? yes, but he is not the answer for the CPJ option attack.
ole yeller
August 16th, 2012
9:40 pm
Here’s a question. Were you ever a coach in any league? Did you ever play college football at any level? If not what makes you the know all of an option attack? Can you explain anything about a triple option?
Ol'JacketFan
August 16th, 2012
9:41 pm
In other words, you’re completely a B.S. artist. Takea hike troll or as we so fondly say around here………………….UOAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GT1990
August 16th, 2012
9:45 pm
14-12 is all i can about the triple option.
Supersize that order, mutt
August 16th, 2012
9:47 pm
I didn’t think it was possible for anybody on earth to be worse than WnE, but guys, I think we are seeing it in 1990, and I will no longer refer to him by the name he uses, because he is OBVIOUSLY not anybody I want representing my school, and for him to include the school name in his blog name is akin to blasphemy. He is the garbage that he thinks TW is, and not TW himself.
1990, you are a sorry excuse for a human being.
GT1990
August 16th, 2012
9:47 pm
Do you honestly feel that CPJ will win a national championship at GT?
GT1990
August 16th, 2012
9:48 pm
@super
Would you like to save this in person on sept.8?
Ol'JacketFan
August 16th, 2012
9:49 pm
@ SS so true, his very handle is an insult to the young men who won the MNC. But he has no shame or self respect as he so aptly demonstates.
Supersize that order, mutt
August 16th, 2012
9:50 pm
I’m sure that everybody in this blog would like to say that to you in person on September 8.
GT1990
August 16th, 2012
9:50 pm
say*
Ol'JacketFan
August 16th, 2012
9:51 pm
OH did I just see a threat from 1990? I’m sure Ken will love that in his blog.
GT1990
August 16th, 2012
9:51 pm
We can set this up if you want? Just have to be a good sport and not call campus police or your wife that a 22 year old kid had hurt your feelings.
Supersize that order, mutt
August 16th, 2012
9:51 pm
I’m sure that ole yeller, 5150 UOAD, GT Lee, BLT, GT1971, myself, and quite a few others would be more than happy to look you in the face and tell you that you are WORTHLESS SCUM
crackbaby
August 16th, 2012
9:52 pm
@GT1990 – Did you feel the same way about George Godsey before his Senior season?
TW is going to do great things this year – IF his O-line does its job well.
ole yeller
August 16th, 2012
9:53 pm
I’m there with you Super.