Paul Johnson, fount of hope?
A few quick notes from the Paul Johnson news conference before going out to talk to players and coaches post-practice:
1. Johnson commented on Middle Tennessee State that the Blue Raiders have won two in a row (Florida Atlantic and Memphis) and have scored a lot of points. They play out of a spread on offense and have a returning starter at quarterback (Logan Kilgore). Defensively, MTSU has a new coordinator (Tyrone Nix).
“Our goal is to come back and try to have a great week of practice and come back and play well on Saturday,” he said.
2. On the secondary: “I think that before Saturday, they played fairly well. Saturday was not a great day for anybody. It’s like anything else. When you’re playing coverage back there and you’re matched up and there’s not a lot of pressure, there’s going to be some exposure. I think you have to give the other team some credit. They have pretty good receivers and their quarterback was hot and they made some plays.”
3. Jamal Golden will see more time at punt return after a strong game there against Miami.
4. No lineup changes due to performance from last week. There may be a couple injury-related changes. It’s conceivable cornerback Louis Young may not play. Johnson said that he’ll take the redshirt off of cornerback D.J. White as “we’ve got some injuries and we need him back in the secondary.”
Johnson said that wide receiver Anthony Autry will play more. The other true freshmen besides White, Autry, Adam Gotsis and Ryan Rodwell will likely be redshirted.
Johnson: “We’re trying to do our best to redshirt most of hat class and not waste a year for them to be mop-up guys.”
5. He’s not quite ready to concede anything.
“I don’t think anybody knows about (the possibility of achieving or not achieving) any goals four games into the season. We’ve got teams in our league that haven’t played a conference game. (Yet) we’re already anointing conference champions. You have to play it and see what happens.”
“We’ve still got a ton to play for. We’ve played one-third of our season. Last year was a great example. We got off to a great start and didn’t finish well. This year, we get off to a mediocre start. Maybe we have a great finish.”
“Call me an optimist. I don’t think anybody’s ever considered me a real optimist about things, but I guess I see it a little differently.”
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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239 comments Add your comment
MC
September 26th, 2012
6:41 am
Please guys. Get of the Vad Lee savior stuff. If the kid was ready he’d be playing. I keep hearing that he isn’t the brightest bulb in the pack when it comes to what PJ’s offense requires him to do.
gtfan1951
September 26th, 2012
7:20 am
TO: CPJ you win with Defense, DEFENSE,DEFENSE,DEFENSE MAYBE YOU SHOULD WRITE ON THE BLACKBOARD 1,000,000,000 TIMES UNTIL YOU GET IT. BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT GETTING IT DONE NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GTBob
September 26th, 2012
7:42 am
I keep hearing that he isn’t the brightest bulb in the pack when it comes to what PJ’s offense requires him to do.
So we have no one that can play QB next year? That isn’t a very promising thought.
Jmonty
September 26th, 2012
7:44 am
Really??? We lose against VT (who lost to lowly Pitt) and lost to Miami (who got blew out by K-State). And because they were OT, it makes it ok? Where do some of you dunder-heads come from? Thing is, neither one of those games should had went to OT in the first place. Now, some of you are rearing your heads up to talk smack about UGA?? Who, by the way, is BETTER than the first 2 forementioned teams. I may be a tech fan, but I am far from stupid. I mean really… Until CPJ mans up and fires “no show” the “D” will continue to be a joke. How many more games should “no show” lose and then blame it on the players??? I guess, his great play calling and defensive schemes are just too complexed for everyone (in his eyes)… Plain truth?? He doesn’t know anything about defense… Just becuase he can play Madden, doesn’t mean he’s a good coach.
reebok
September 26th, 2012
8:11 am
I am sticking with my pre-season prediction of 7-5, with BAD beatings from UGA & Clemson. Also, as soon as we lose one more game (which will be next week, against the Tigers), we should go ahead and turn the offense over to Vad…he’s the QB of the future, might as well help him start getting ready for the next 2-3 seasons when it will be his team.
Dave from GT
September 26th, 2012
8:28 am
The only way to salvage the season is to win out. The only way to win out is to fix the defense. The only way to fix the defense is to……. uh…….is….?????????? Uh oh.
ramblingbuzz
September 26th, 2012
8:38 am
The good: VT is always tough at home and we took them to OT. Admittedly we blew the last minute of regulation and the OT period but at least we hung with them in the 1st game of the year.
The bad: We already have 2 conference losses.
The ugly: We gave up 600+ yards to UM and Groh is not the answer as a Def. Coord.
Agree with CPJ that strange things happen in conference play…….but GT is going have coach and play much better if there’s going to be any hope of a better than 7-5 record.
gt4ever
September 26th, 2012
8:42 am
@gtfan1951
Good post, we haven’t seen good defense in awhile… Since the Black Watch with Ted Roof…
TechApp fan
September 26th, 2012
8:46 am
I’m not quiet as vocal as Joe, but I am disappointed and confused about Lee. Is PJ really so loyal to TW that he is not considering Lee or is Lee not so good that he cannot surplant TW?
Like Bob said, if Lee is not so good, does not look like a really bright future. That would indicate a shirted freshman next year (obviously with zero experience….not good.)
But, sure would be nice for Lee to get some more meaningful game experience..next game.
gt4ever
September 26th, 2012
8:46 am
@ramblingbuzz
VT is TERRIBLE home or away… Get off this CRAP that VT was any good. We have two tough games this year. Period! Clemson and UGA… and we have already lost two games… I have no idea why it takes some of you people s long to realize that GT is a very average at best team. We have not recruited well, and our football team has trended down ever since this CLOWN was hired…
gt4ever
September 26th, 2012
8:52 am
and BYU will probably be a close game….
ramblingbuzz
September 26th, 2012
9:04 am
GT4…….Think you may be selling VT short. Let’s wait til the end of the season to declare them terrible. And obviously you ignored the rest of my post. Unless GT plays much better the rest of the way, especially on defense, they will be an average team. I am not a CPJ admirer but let’s hope he can learn from his mistakes. Because I don’t think he’s going anywhere.
DOC 51
September 26th, 2012
9:06 am
CPJ kills me about the other team having a hot QB ,and making more plays than we did.His defenders don’t have enough intensity or coaching to put the opposing QB on the ground.No QB can operate on his backside.Defense is intensity and passion and getting off blocks.We are slow and we can’t tackle.Some of our guys have been coached four yrs.and still can’t make plays.We giftwrapped wins for UTAH,VT,AND UM.I wonder what kind of meltdown CAG has planned for MTSU.He and CPJ clearly get outcoached in big games.
DOC 51
September 26th, 2012
9:13 am
The ACC is a lousy football conference w/ no great coaches in it.And yet GT still gets outcoached and outschemed.Our coaches are so overpaid for the results they produce.
Too Easy
September 26th, 2012
9:33 am
I smell dwag squeeze again. Careful where you step Tech fans.
AntoineFord
September 26th, 2012
9:46 am
CPJ was 20-7 (12-4 ACC) his first two years with Gailey’s players. Since then, he is 17-14 (10-9 ACC). It’s pretty simple — he can’t recruit.
Old Dog
September 26th, 2012
10:09 am
To Hell with Tek, today,tomorrow,and every other day!
GTfan2012
September 26th, 2012
10:26 am
AntoineFord,
You can be stuck in the “conventional wisdom” if you want. CPJ has, on average, recruited just about as well as Ross, O’Leary, and Gailey. So I’m not sure what you base your analysis of our recruiting on. If you are expecting top 20 recruiting classes at GT, then you will be sorely disappointed no matter who is coach.
Even when O’Leary was able to get more special admits in (which resulted in poor graduation rates and an end to the practice), he STILL didn’t get top 20 classes.
Worst Fans Ever
September 26th, 2012
10:33 am
The comments on this board are absolutely crazy. Y’all are 2-2 and most of you are giving up already…..
Unbelievable!
CloudmanJacket
September 26th, 2012
10:50 am
Just watched the replay of the Miami game on ESPN. It is time for CPJ to go. Just terrible against a very average Miami team. On top of that, our one ACC win was against a terrible Virginia team and our loss to VT looks even worse now that VT has shown just to be a terrible team with their humiliation against a terrible Pitt team. Our conference is just terrible right now except FSU and Clemson and we don’t have a coach who can take advantage of this.
Jacket Detective
September 26th, 2012
10:56 am
If your record is terrible against top competition, the thrill is gone.
And there is nothing that says we have to waste our time and money on anything that leaves us in a bad mood.
Concerning recruiting, we have had one great year out of ten.
That year produced Nesbitt (undrafted), Morgan (1st round), Thomas (1st round), Burnett (3rd round) and Dwyer (5th round but should have gone higher).
When has Tech ever produced two 1st rounders?
And in spite of that and in a game that predicted future failures, we did not defeat Uga in 2009 because CPJ downplayed the game and got outcoached.
I do not like paying someone millions for mediocrity.
And I cannot fire them but I can do something else on Saturdays and will.
MC
September 26th, 2012
11:36 am
Cut PJ some slack guys. He had “bigger fish to fry”. He was busy game planning how to get the sheet kicked out of him by Iowa.
HighTech
September 26th, 2012
12:12 pm
moobsjohnson
September 26th, 2012
5:50 am
LMAO. The only thing the Jackoffs will beat is their meat. Fu*ck Tech and may they roast in the fires of hell forever!
———————————-
On Jeopardy…..
Alex Trebek – Name two things most dwags know nothing about.
Winning Contestant – What are class and decorum?
Alex Trebek – That’s correct. Self respect and personal hygiene would have also been acceptable responses.
Jmonty
September 26th, 2012
12:26 pm
CPJ should be on the hot seat… His trust in “no show” has led him to failure. If you team scores 36 points you should win. I mean you really can’t ask the offense to score on every single they have the ball. That is what I’m pretty much hearing. The offense didn’t do enough and recruiting. I can agree with recruiting to a point. The talent level definitely favors the offense. The “D” really does not have star stand out players that I can see. Even if they were “no show”’s defensive schemes would take them out of the equation. But, the failure is on the coaches. CPJ needs to man up and just fire “no show”… There are plenty of DC’s out there. Pick one that knows how to blitz or put an 8 man front up. The “D” is the weakness of the team… If I haven’t said it enough… position…position..position.. If you are not in the area you need to be on the field the 3-4 defense fails. It takes a coach to know this. Obviously CAG doesn’t. I understand missed tackles and such. But, when players are not where they need to be or the DC doesn’t dial up a blitz on an obvious passing situation.. The fault is with the coach NOT the players. It’s a shame the coaches blame the players for the loss. Maybe the should just quit coaching and become bus drivers?? They seem to be good at throwing people under one and driving it over them.
yellow britches
September 26th, 2012
12:27 pm
Who cares?
ZinoDawg
September 26th, 2012
12:34 pm
So all you guys have now is ” we’re going to beat Georgia”??? Really? Like you have so many times over the past decade?
Dawghater
September 26th, 2012
12:36 pm
What! CPJ is trying to compare the first 3 weeks of 2012 vs. 2011? Hey CPJ, here is a big difference. 3 games into 2012 your are already out of the ACC race. 3 games into 2012 your team’s performance is worse than last year. 3 games into 2012 your defense showed no improvement over 2011. If we are lucky GT will enjoy the holidays in Boise or Shreveport. Another stellar year with CPJ! You won with Gailey’s kids and can’t even recruit a good QB in 4 years!
Dave Braine
September 26th, 2012
12:37 pm
The reality is Tech will always be a 7/5, 8/4 team every year. Maybe an occasional 10 win season.
Dave Braine
September 26th, 2012
12:45 pm
Don’t worry fans, after Paul Johnson looses five years to UGA, we will hire another loser coach that will give you hope, but ultimately will loose 4 or five games including UGA and the bowl game every year. We will repeat the process every five years. Keep buying those season tickets fans! We’ll throw in some hot dogs!
D Rad
September 26th, 2012
12:47 pm
Don’t worry fans, after Paul Johnson looses five years to UGA, we will hire another loser coach that will give you hope, but ultimately will loose 4 or five games including UGA and the bowl game every year. We will repeat the process every five years. Keep buying those season tickets fans! We’ll throw in some hot dogs
New AD at Tech
September 26th, 2012
12:52 pm
2020 AD. As new athlectic director at tech, I promise to fire the coach after he looses five years to UGA, we will hire another loser coach that will give you hope, but ultimately will loose 4 or five games including UGA and the bowl game every year. We will repeat the process every five years. Keep buying those season tickets fans! We’ll throw in some hot dogs!
The Truth
September 26th, 2012
12:58 pm
When the Dwags lose to UT, USC and UF, the trolls will return to their blog and begin the annual “fire Richt” whines.
D Rad
September 26th, 2012
12:59 pm
Don’t worry, Paul Johnson is the perfect option!
Al Groh is the perfect D coach.
Keep buying those season tickets and bowl game tickets.
I promise we will win a bowl game within the next ten years!
If you give an extra $500, I’ll let you park within ten miles of the stadium!
We’ll throw in some hot dogs too!!!
Todd
September 26th, 2012
1:07 pm
Supersize is napping so he won’t be posting for a while. Fyi he is really cute when he is asleep.
Al Bundy
September 26th, 2012
1:15 pm
Ken,
I hope you ban \ block all future posts from moobsjohnson for life after the trash he posted. No class at all!
Al Bundy
September 26th, 2012
1:20 pm
HighTech
Your response to moobsjohnson was priceless!
Ron
September 26th, 2012
1:30 pm
Tech still has a football team??!!
Supersize that order, mutt
September 26th, 2012
1:54 pm
Todd……I told you to stay in the yard and rake up the leaves and pick up those fallen limbs and then mow the grass. It’s getting to the point I feel unsafe sleeping in my own house with you coming inside gazing longingly at me while I sleep. I’ve told you again and again I do not swing that way. Now get back outside and get to work, or there won’t be a paycheck for you tonight.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 26th, 2012
2:03 pm
Ken, Please do your best to ban the troll “Todd.” Also, we will be meeting at the BUS Saturday at 9:30 am for tailgate. Please call me at work if you can bring a dish. 706-828-7400. Thanks.
gtfan1951
September 26th, 2012
2:09 pm
moobsjihnson your mother needs to wash your mouth out soap! shame on you.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 26th, 2012
2:11 pm
@ Ken…..the post at 2:03PM was the name thief again.
slimG
September 26th, 2012
2:56 pm
Reality check: VaTech was overated, Miami is about what people expected which is mediocre. This Tech team is probably ranked about 50th in the nation. There are many problems with this program that I don’t see changing. 1. Horrible recruiting 2. Classless coach who always blames his players first 3. Lack of fan base reality 4. Excuses always fall on tough academics…………
Answer these questions please……What coach calls timeout at the end of a half in which the other team has the ball and is taking a knee? Why does it matter what the dawgs do each week? Do you here Notre Dame, Stanford, and other schools use the academics excuse? What other major college runs the option offense? What coach goes on forth down as much as we do? What current players do we have that will play on Sunday?
Until these things are addressed, we will continue our reservations for LA
Supersize that order, mutt
September 26th, 2012
3:06 pm
@ slimG……since you seem to know so much about Tech and its coaches and players, how about providing some documentation for ONE TIME when CPJ blamed a player. Can you do it? Let’s see it, bubba.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 26th, 2012
3:12 pm
@ slimG…..while you are at it, why don’t you tell us what majors Notre Dame and Stanford (both admittedly highly ranked academic colleges) offer that the majority of the football players take, and what coursed Tech offers that the majority of the football players take. I can tell you several majors both Notre Dame and Stanford offer that are nowhere to be found at Tech. THAT is why schools like Notre Dame and Stanford don’t have the academics problem that Tech has. They are both UNIVERSITIES with many majors that allow an easy way out for their athletes. Tech is NOT a UNIVERSITY and offers virtually no easy majors for the athletes or anybody else.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 26th, 2012
3:17 pm
@ slimG…..I AM WAITING !!!!!!
Supersize that order, mutt
September 26th, 2012
3:19 pm
@ slimG…..also, Stanford and Notre Dame are known for attractive coeds while at Tech we mainly have hairy Pakistani girls. What ya got now, bubba.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 26th, 2012
3:19 pm
I hate having no life : ( Hold me someone.
slimG
September 26th, 2012
3:20 pm
Supersize, why are you so emotional? I deal with facts.
slimG
September 26th, 2012
3:29 pm
Supersize, I’M WAITING…..Sounds like you are scared of facts. Typical liberal.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 26th, 2012
3:31 pm
The posts at 3:19PM were by the name thief