Notes: Johnson calls loss ‘my fault’
1. Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson held two fingers inches apart.
“We’re about this close to being 4-0 and everybody ranting and raving,” Johnson said Monday. He then spread his arms wide. “But we’re also about this close because we haven’t done the little things to make it happen.”
Following the Yellow Jackets’ practice, Johnson shared his disappointment in his team’s performance in its 42-36 overtime loss to Miami on Saturday and accepted responsibility for the loss. Tech plays Middle Tennessee State Saturday.
“It’s like I told the team [Monday],” he said. “You get beat like that, it’s my fault. I’m ultimately responsible.”
After playing fairly well in the first three games, Johnson said he thought the defense’s giving up 609 yards to Miami was “an aberration” and called the fourth-quarter play more of a concern than any specific defensive shortcomings such as the pass rush or secondary play.
“And I’m also concerned that we didn’t score any points in the fourth quarter,” he said.
Addressing the possibility of fatigue playing a role in the team’s fourth-quarter failures in losses to Utah in the Sun Bowl and this season to Virginia Tech and Miami, Johnson brought up third downs as a contributing factor.
Saturday, Miami converted 11 of 16 third downs. In the second half, the Hurricanes were 8-for-11 overall and 6-for-7 when they needed seven yards or more. Last season, Tech was 83rd in the country in defensive third-down efficiency at 42.4 percent.
“If you can’t stop ’em on third down, your [butt] is going to be on the field for a lot longer,” he said.
As might be expected, the loss did not sit well with Johnson. After the game, he returned home and “replayed the game in my head 40 times” before falling asleep at 4:45 a.m. and getting up 30 minutes later to come to the office.
“You just want to punch somebody or go hang yourself or something,” he said.
2. Punter Sean Poole is out after suffering an injury making a tackle Saturday. Poole was in a sling with ice on his shoulder/collarbone area after the hit. He was replaced by Ryan Rodwell, a true freshman who was the first punter in Johnson’s tenure to come to Tech on scholarship . Rodwell became the third true freshman to play this season, following wide receiver Anthony Autry and defensive lineman Adam Gotsis.
Johnson said he expected cornerback Louis Young, who left the game with an upper-body injury, and guard Will Jackson, who didn’t finish the game after injuring his leg, to play Saturday. Johnson said that safety Fred Holton (foot) ran Monday and is improving, but he wasn’t sure about his availability for Saturday.
3. Wide receiver Jeremy Moore has been reinstated to the team after leaving for personal reasons last Tuesday. Johnson said Moore came to him Thursday and told him that he had made a mistake in leaving and wanted to come back. Johnson left it up to the team’s seniors, who accepted him. Moore practiced Thursday but did not dress for the game. He apologized to the team Monday.
“Young guys, they do rash things sometimes,” Johnson said.
4. Johnson said that there is not a “hard-and-fast rule” regarding the number of audibles that the quarterback can make at the line of scrimmage. Following the game Sunday, quarterback Tevin Washington said he is coached to only make one “check” at the line, which helped lead to a 4th-and-1 play in overtime resulting in no gain. Johnson accepted responsibility, saying that Washington may have misinterpreted being told to not get in “a checking contest.”
5. Defensive end Izaan Cross will wear the No. 40 jersey Saturday in honor of former linebacker and captain Julian Burnett, who suffered a career-ending neck injury in the Sun Bowl. Different seniors have worn it each game. … Tech will play its Oct. 6 game at Clemson at 3:30 p.m. The game will be televised on either ABC, ESPN or ESPN2. Tech’s home game Saturday against Middle Tennessee State will be a noon kickoff and be televised on regional sports networks, including Fox Sports South in the Atlanta market.
In case you missed it…
The meaning of Tech giving up 609 yards
After Miami loss, Tech tries to regroup
Mark Bradley: Johnson’s approach hurting Tech
Thanks for reading.
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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305 comments Add your comment
GT Fan
September 24th, 2012
10:22 pm
Saturday, Miami converted 11 of 16 third downs. In the second half, the Hurricanes were 8-for-11 overall and 6-for-7 when they needed seven yards or more.
——————————————-
There goes AG’s stellar 3rd down D again! The most disturbing part is the 6-for-7 when they needed SEVEN YARDS OR MORE!
George Stein
September 24th, 2012
10:22 pm
I’m not disputing any of those facts. I’m disputing the leap you took from that to knowing the pistol like the back of his hand.
GT Joe
September 24th, 2012
10:22 pm
George: Vad played almost exclusively out of pistol and shotgun in high school. How do you not know this? Wake up.
North Avenue Rules
September 24th, 2012
10:23 pm
George, I’d be willing to say without hesitation that Vad could run the Pistol Offense better than Tevin can run the triple option any day of the week!
DawgNole
September 24th, 2012
10:23 pm
North Avenue Rules
September 24th, 2012
9:59 pm
I think the idea is to play Tevin because he is a senior and he is a really nice kid. Then next year can be Vad’s year to spend a year learning the offense. Then the following year 2014, Vad will be well versed in this offense to do well…
____________________
You have a lot of patience.
George Stein
September 24th, 2012
10:23 pm
But it’s the third year, GT Fan! We were told THAT’S when the defense would improve.
George Stein
September 24th, 2012
10:24 pm
Do your have any facts to support that, NAR?
Stephen
September 24th, 2012
10:25 pm
Fire Paul Johnson!! 1-3 against UGA, 1-4 against VT, 1-4 against Miami, 0-4 in bowl games!! The time has come, Fire This Bum!!!
George Stein
September 24th, 2012
10:25 pm
You must’ve had a pleasant Saturday evening, DawgNole, which would make it the exact opposite or ours.
GT Joe
September 24th, 2012
10:26 pm
George: ever heard of youtube? check it out. cool videos. you might learn something about vad lee and the pistol there.
fuzzybee78
September 24th, 2012
10:26 pm
GT Joe, there are 3 phases to football and Defense and ST lost the UM game period.
I love Vad Lee and think he has the potential to be the best GT QB in 40 years base on size, speed, arm, kid moves like a CAT. I also agree CPJ is too stubborn.
I just cant figure out why this blog gives the D and ST a PASS and thinks the problem we all need to fix is scoring more than 36 points on an average at best UM team?
GT Joe
September 24th, 2012
10:27 pm
George: do you think it’s a coincidence that the first year vad lee starts playing, CPJ brings out the pistol? are you seriously that much of a dolt?
George Stein
September 24th, 2012
10:27 pm
So I your mind, lining up Ina certain formation equals knowing an entire offense from that formation. My mind is blown.
North Avenue Rules
September 24th, 2012
10:28 pm
Yes, George. Here’s a clip of Vad running the Pistol Offense in high school. By the way, Vad took his team to win the North Carolina state football championship.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Q2k95TtTdk&feature=related
George Stein
September 24th, 2012
10:28 pm
Clearly you still have no interest in a rational discussion, Joe. Talk to yourself.
GT Joe
September 24th, 2012
10:28 pm
fuzzy: once again, a 17 point lead will evaporate against most any team if you can’t get first downs for 25 minutes of the game.
jocrazy
September 24th, 2012
10:28 pm
look guys my son is at tech because he is smart i luv the dawgs and respect tech but dont want no coach saying something about hanging himself he needs help
George Stein
September 24th, 2012
10:29 pm
Oh, we’ll if he took them the state title in high school, I can certainly see how that qualifies him to run an offense in college. I have no doubt he has a complete mastery of the offense.
GT Joe
September 24th, 2012
10:30 pm
George, i bring facts. you, on the other hand, call other people’s statements “garbage”. When the statements are factual, not opinion.
Yeah, that sounds rational.
Hayseed Dixie
September 24th, 2012
10:30 pm
CPJ’s like most of us- he’s loathe to go get into a situation that’s unknown.
Tevin is a *known* entity. In dire situations most folks, including the ones who love the second-string-QB, will stick with what they know.
After seeing some of Tevin’s TDs on Saturday, I would find it damn hard to put in Vad at that point.
Will Vad be the future of Tech? I certainly hope so.
But I don’t begrudge the amount of snaps Tevin has received so far.
GT Joe
September 24th, 2012
10:31 pm
LOL, now George, you are just arguing to argue, after your utter lack of knowledge of Vad’s skillset was exposed for all to see.
You crack me up.
North Avenue Rules
September 24th, 2012
10:32 pm
George. Just for fun can you answer me this? How is it that there are 4 or 5 teams in the NFL starting rookies at QB? Is it possible these guys are actually better than some seasoned QB’s that have been in the NFL for years?
YES, every so often it is possible to have a kid that is so talented to warrant early play time!
Rich Yunkus
September 24th, 2012
10:33 pm
It appears to me that one is arrogant to put all the blame on himself.
My point being;
Miami played well and deserves kudos for winning the game.
Why is it that the loser always blames himself for losing?
Would it not be more profound to congradulate the winning team
for a superb effort!
fuzzybee78
September 24th, 2012
10:33 pm
GT Joe, not against a decent defense. If Vad had put up 36 points then I guess it would finally be the Defense who let us down?
GT Joe
September 24th, 2012
10:34 pm
Yes Hayseed, it’s tough because just when you think Tevin lost his job, he gets Presbyterian on the schedule. Or, he leads a late TD to tie the game, then throws a boneheaded pick in OT. Or, he scores 3 TDs, then makes a stupid audible call in OT to lose another game. And just when more people call for TW to get benched, he gets MTSU on the schedule.
George Stein
September 24th, 2012
10:34 pm
I don’t know yet, NAR. The league hasn’t had a chance to adjust yet. Cam looked all world a year ago, too, and crashed pretty hard later in the season.
George Stein
September 24th, 2012
10:36 pm
By the way, NAR, I’m not saying Vad shouldn’t play. A competent argument can be made for playing him, but saying he knows the pistol like the back of his hand (your words) isn’t one of them.
Tech Fan Since 1950
September 24th, 2012
10:36 pm
We have a good dedicated head coach at Tech. He is a bit stubborn at times, but when you are willing to admit that you are in charge and responsible, that is a good startover. We woulda, shoulda, coulda won the VT and Miami games, but we didn’t. Time to move on and get as many of the rest of them as we can. I still think 2013 is the big year for Tech, but that is no excuse for 2012.
GT Joe
September 24th, 2012
10:37 pm
Fuzzy: if vad made a stupid audible that cost us the game, it would be Vad’s fault. If vad threw a pick in OT to lose the game, it would be Vad’s fault.
Just like, if Vad missed 3 free throws at the end of the basketball game to win, and if he did that two times in 4 games, it would be Vad’s fault, regardless of whether the defense gave up 99 or 129 or 199 points.
When the game is on the line, you expect a player to make a play. Or at least not make a mistake. And Tevin did both.
Hayseed Dixie
September 24th, 2012
10:39 pm
Gee- I wonder how many teams that are having disappointing seasons have fans saying “Let’s start the second string QB!”
You guys *do* realize the *defense* lost that game, right? Everyone who isn’t a Georgia Tech fan realizes this.
10per
September 24th, 2012
10:39 pm
I saw David Sims on the field a few times, but not carrying the ball. Anybody know why that was?
We really need a B-Back that is a threat, not just a distraction. Laskey has heart, but can’t fill that role just yet.
George Stein
September 24th, 2012
10:40 pm
No, Hayseed, they don’t know that.
fuzzybee78
September 24th, 2012
10:40 pm
Whatever the problem, the backup QB is always the solution according to the fans—
Lets just outscore them, lot more fun to watch!
GT Joe
September 24th, 2012
10:41 pm
Hayseed: “defense” lost the game? last time i checked, we had a chance to win until Tevin screwed up on 4th down.
Did the defense also lose the game in VT? I could argue that giving up only 20 points should be enough to win. Last time i checked, we had a chance to beat VT until… guess who…Tevin screwed up in OT.
GT Joe
September 24th, 2012
10:44 pm
George: your statement about Vad knowing the pistol being garbage, just shows your complete lack of knowledge of Vad. Apparently your attendance at all the home games doesn’t help your knowledge base.
Hayseed Dixie
September 24th, 2012
10:44 pm
Yeah, the D gave up 42 points. That’s more than 36
I was there. Our defensive backs looked more lost and confused than Tevin freaking Washington did.
fuzzybee78
September 24th, 2012
10:45 pm
Hayseed, bless you brother!
GT Joe
September 24th, 2012
10:45 pm
fuzzy: if you think TW is the solution instead of Vad, have you learned ANYTHING over TW’s last 20 starts? I mean seriously.
Really?
September 24th, 2012
10:45 pm
paul (IMA) johnson ranting about punching someone again? Maybe he has been dipping into those steroids that trade school player was strung out on when he attacked those cops in Athens. The guy has some serious issues and it’s gone far beyond his giant ego. He sounds violent and very depressed. It’s obvious that all the texties take their cue from coach fish fry. They back up their smack talk just as well as cpj.
Hayseed Dixie
September 24th, 2012
10:46 pm
GT Joe.
You already troll the UGA blogs. Now you’re trolling the Tech blog.
Maybe you’re just a troll?
GT Joe
September 24th, 2012
10:50 pm
Hayseed: lost and confused is what Tevin looked like after Miami faked him out, forced the audible, then went back to their original setup. It was like child’s play. Tevin was so lost and confused he took the snap, stepped back, and chose to run to a hole with no blocker and 2 defenders. LOL.
Try watching games on TV… much more insight (and more replays) than going to the game.
GT Joe
September 24th, 2012
10:51 pm
Yeah Hayseed. I’m a troll. Defending CPJ, defending the defense, and calling for Vad Lee.
Yeah, I went to UGA. dolt.
GIVE ME A BREAK
September 24th, 2012
10:52 pm
Tevin’s failure in OT was not letting the other players know what he was going to do. Sometimes it’s easier to get forgiveness than permission. ” GO JACKETS “
Hayseed Dixie
September 24th, 2012
10:54 pm
No, you’re resorting to ad hominem. Not unlike a woman. Or a troll.
Keep watching those games on TV.
fuzzybee78
September 24th, 2012
10:55 pm
GT Joe, TW is a game manager who is being blamed by you and others because he’s not Josh Nesbitt. I would be calling for a change also if we werent putting up points. But to excuse ignore the poor tackling and lay this all on TW is just wrong. How many points does the kid have to score before you will admit that the bigger problem is D and ST?
Alabama wins championships with game managers at QB and a Stone you Cold Defense. Principles are the same for any school.
GT Joe
September 24th, 2012
10:56 pm
No, Tevin’s failure in OT was not having the mental capacity to go back to the original play call. My guess is that he just freaked out and ran.
I also think he freaked out and threw a jump ball into the end zone in OT at VT. He very well could have thought that it was 4th down and it was their last chance to win. It just doesn’t seem plausible that he was trying to throw it out of bounds and the ball went where it did.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 24th, 2012
10:56 pm
@ GT Joe……NO, I would not blame it on Vad if he had been in at QB and had done the same thing TW did. The blame goes on the defense, not on anybody on offense…..not TW, not Vad (had he played), not any one player on the O-line. The defense sucked and gave up a 17 point lead….PERIOD
George Stein
September 24th, 2012
10:56 pm
This Seattle defense is nuts.
GT ee
September 24th, 2012
10:57 pm
Would like to see the team put up 59 or 60 in each of the next few games. That might take some of the sting out of these 2 losses, build confidence and get reestablished in the division
GT Joe
September 24th, 2012
10:59 pm
Fuzzy: I”m ignoring missed tackles? The missed tackles didn’t cost us the games, because even after the missed tackles, we had a chance to win. Until Tevin ended both games himself.