How Johnson changed mind on 4th down
Georgia Tech’s go-ahead touchdown drive at the end of regulation nearly didn’t happen. Coach Paul Johnson sent out the punt team on 4th-and-6 from the Virginia Tech 37-yard line with a little more than three minutes to play.
“I was thinking I would pin [Virginia Tech],” Johnson said.
However, all didn’t go as Johnson wanted.
“ I yell, ‘Punt team!’’’ Johnson said. “I didn’t tell them soon enough, I guess. They didn’t get out there fast enough to suit me. They were milling around. You had half the guys over here. I just said, ‘Screw it, get off the field, we’ll go for it.’”
After the timeout, with 3:03 left, quarterback Tevin Washington scrambled away from pressure and hit A-back B.J. Bostic for a 19-yard gain and first down. Georgia Tech scored a touchdown four plays later.
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62 comments Add your comment
Wal-Mart Retards
September 5th, 2012
6:33 am
GT looked good enough to beat UGA… Even away at BFE.
Bill Lewis' Ghost
September 5th, 2012
7:40 am
The reason things don’t “work” is that you are getting out-athleted. This is what happens and why he always loses to top shelf programs. The reason the play didn’t work is “that” guy came down the line of scrimmage faster than you as a coach anticipated when you drew up the play (and ran it in practice against your defense). Play a team with an elite athlete at that position and that play doesn’t work.
Tech Guy
September 5th, 2012
9:26 am
With three minutes to go, punting would have been a big mistake. What was PJ thinking?
Tech would not have enough time to stop VT and score a touchdown. .
Tech Guy
September 5th, 2012
9:28 am
Tech’s defense looked great except for VT’s last touchdown drive.
909
September 5th, 2012
9:51 am
Funny how obvious dawg trolls prefer to overlook:
GT:
3-0 vs MissSt & Vandy (SEC teams)
2-0 vs FSU
4-1 vs Clemson (including thumping a 2011 Clemson team that obliterated VT twice last year)
3-1 vs UNC
Well, yeah, 909...
September 5th, 2012
9:55 am
…jsut like they overlook Tech being undefeated against most of the D2 schools they play, too – so, what, again, is your point?
Richard
September 5th, 2012
11:20 am
Had PJ left the punt team on the field, I’d have emailed D-Rad asking him to fire PJ the next day. There would have been no excuse for it.
By punting, you’re trying to avoid giving VT the ball at about the 35 and hoping to give it to them at the 2. In all likelihood, if the defense gets a stop, you get the ball back with 1 minute to go on your side of the field. The problem is, you’re giving up field position and 2/3 of the time remaining.
If it’s 4th and 20, I get it. 4th and 6? Child Please.
Jesse Stone
September 5th, 2012
2:52 pm
Has anyone else noticed that there are TWO wide receivers on NFL rosters that “matriculated” at UGA, but GT has 4 receivers currently on NFL rosters? In rekrootin’ season, all I hear is that a WR would be stoopid to go to GT because he could never get into the league. What gives?
MC
September 5th, 2012
3:43 pm
Santa Monica Jacket at least theirs beats yours what is it now….10 out of 11. I wouldn’t be talking talent or coaching or anything else for that matter about UGA if I were you. Smack talk is so unbecoming when you lose to them at that rate. What does the overall series stand at now too. That must be getting real ugly as well.
Jacket Time
September 5th, 2012
8:49 pm
I’m gonna have to 3rd the sick of the negativity. We looked great and played well. I still hold that depth was our only issue. The announcers kept talking about it before the game started and at the end of the game, what do you know come the last few drives. Other than that we were awesome and have a lot to be proud of.
Jacket Time
September 5th, 2012
8:51 pm
Depth on defense that is. Even without Orwin on the final gt drive in reg we still pulled off a score.
FORMATION 4 SUCCESS
September 5th, 2012
10:49 pm
VT will lose 2 times this season. Question is can we not lose again. Coastal is still wide open.