UPDATED: Tech out-slugged by Clemson, 47-31
Clemson's Andre Ellington (23) tries to get by Georgia Tech's Jeremiah Attaochu.
Updated, 10:10 p.m.
CLEMSON, S.C. – As late-afternoon shadows crept across Memorial Stadium, the Clemson faithful stood in full-throated roar. The sellout crowd sensed its team about to deliver a knockout punch to Georgia Tech.
The Yellow Jackets complied. Another fourth-quarter breakdown torched three quarters of effort and offensive play-making in a 47-31 defeat to No. 15 Clemson Saturday in Death Valley. A week after absorbing one of the worst losses in school history, Tech made good on its vow to give a better account of itself against the Tigers. It did, but up against an arsenal of offensive weapons and its own self-destructive habits, it wasn’t enough.
“Right now, we’ve got to play close to perfect,” coach Paul Johnson said. “Clearly, we’ve got to score more points.”
The Jackets fell to 2-4 overall and 1-3 in the ACC and made the bus ride home down I-85 with regrets of plays missed and chances squandered packed underneath. They also are owners of their second three-game losing streak in the past three seasons.
Twelve months after opening the season 6-0 for the first time since 1966 and rising to No. 12 in the polls, the 2012 Jackets have scuffled their way to a less glorious piece of history. Tech goes into its bye week with its worst record after six games since the 1994 team, which started the season 1-5 and later brought about the late-season dismissal of coach Bill Lewis.
“We’ll come back,” Johnson said. “They played hard for the most part, and if they’ll play hard, we’ve got to find a way to try to help them win.”
As was the case against Virginia Tech and Miami, the Jackets held a fourth-quarter lead Saturday, this time in a game that few gave them any chance to win after their 21-point home loss to Middle Tennessee State last Saturday. The Tech offense at times scalded Clemson’s poor tackling defense. Quarterback Tevin Washington operated the option effectively, freeing up A-backs Orwin Smith and Robbie Godhigh to gain 178 rushing yards on just 11 carries. He completed nine of 14 passes for 144 yards.
Said Smith, “I saw guys with more drive than previous weeks.”
Tech’s work led to kicker David Scully’s 26-yard field goal that gave the Jackets a 31-30 lead with 13:03 left in the game, the fourth time they had wrested the lead from Clemson. The Tigers responded with a 75-yard touchdown drive, one of their six scoring drives measuring 70 yards or more, completing it with a 35-yard pass to wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. A two-point conversion gave Clemson a 38-31 lead.
A team that is becoming painfully familiar with an inability to rise to the game’s biggest moments tripped again, this time literally.
Chris Milton misplayed the ensuing kickoff, fumbling the ball before recovering it and then slipping to the ground at the 2-yard line. Two plays later, Washington pitched to Smith, who was overrun by Clemson defenders and dropped for a safety for a 40-31 lead. The stadium shook in approval.
The episode recalled Smith’s own safety on a kickoff against Miami.
“You can play 10 years of football and never take a kickoff return on the 1-yard line and have a safety on a kickoff return,” Johnson said. “We’ve had both. It seems like it shouldn’t happen.”
On the series after the safety, the Tech defense, which allowed 601 yards to Clemson, gave a spark when inside linebacker Daniel Drummond intercepted a Tajh Boyd pass, returning the ball to the Jackets at the Tech 45-yard line. Down nine and needing two scores, Tech drove and then sent Scully out for a 37-yard field goal. His try was blocked, his second miss of the game.
“That was pretty much it,” Johnson said.
It brought an end to an afternoon that held the hope for a season-turning upset but was done in with a mound of errors. Tech tried for a first down on 4th-and-1 from its own 37 on its first possession of the game and was denied on a sneak by Washington.
Nose tackle Shawn Green made one of the plays of the game in the third quarter, intercepting a screen pass and returning it 17 yards to the Clemson 26, but Tech squandered the opportunity to add to its 28-27 lead. A botched snap between center Catlin Alford and Washington on 4th-and-1 from the 7 gave the ball back to the Tigers.
Occasionally better defensive play and pass-rush pressure often placed Clemson in 3rd-and-long situations. As has become rote, though, the Jackets allowed Clemson to convert 13 of 19 third downs. Tech has given up 31 of 46 third downs in the past three games.
The first-quarter fourth-down try in its own end spoke more about the state of Tech’s defense than Johnson would.
“I thought we could make it,” Johnson said.
Once again, opportunity lost.
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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361 comments Add your comment
TechApp fan
October 6th, 2012
11:20 pm
PJ already has the rep of going for it on 4 and short…from anywhere.
But his not-making-it so often now and that silly attempt to draw a flag is becoming_____________.
Several words come to mind….
Does he trust the D to hold if his sneak does not work?
Tech Forever
October 6th, 2012
11:23 pm
Unless Tech beats BC I don’t see this team winning another game.
Tech Forever
October 6th, 2012
11:25 pm
GTech Fan,
Agreed. Extremely bleak.
DRad Fan
October 6th, 2012
11:27 pm
Worst clock management/play calling I ever saw by a Div.1 team at the the end of the first half.
Silly Mutts
October 6th, 2012
11:30 pm
@14 gt…..im a gt guy but am done with pj! He is not a hc and makes way too much money! He is an arrogant jerk that nobody likes outside of the flats! He is a bufoon and an epic failure! He is laughing all the way to the bank!
Gr8 2B aFuzzyB
October 6th, 2012
11:34 pm
FSU loses to the Pack! Hahahahaha
Gr8 2B aFuzzyB
October 6th, 2012
11:36 pm
Still 16 second left. We would find a way to lose.
1 4 GT
October 6th, 2012
11:45 pm
#’s 3, 4 & 5 lost today. USCe should move to #3. WVU beat UTx….#4?….ND #5 or 6….
Gr8 2B aFuzzyB
October 6th, 2012
11:46 pm
@silly mutts. I’m with you. I would rather send johnson packing and hire a no name coach for small bucks than endure the rest of his contract.DRad is a shm#ck for giving him a long term contract after 1 win against the dwags.
1 4 GT
October 6th, 2012
11:47 pm
Fl beat LSU….#7 or better from #10
1 4 GT
October 6th, 2012
11:50 pm
CPJ stays or goes…ehhuu..just don’t renew Groan’s deal. If he stays thru the season, let him ride off into the sunset. & play Vad Lee!!!!
Gr8 2B aFuzzyB
October 6th, 2012
11:58 pm
1 4. Why would he play Vad when his starting qb leads the nation in rushing TDs???
Clyde
October 7th, 2012
12:01 am
I don’t see anything changing this year. For some reason destiny had us be GT fans, not sure what we did wrong in our lives but here we are.
1 4 GT
October 7th, 2012
12:01 am
YEAH I know….play Vad Lee!!!!
UGA = Yawn
October 7th, 2012
12:02 am
So awful is this team and coach. Not much else to say.
UGA = Yawn
October 7th, 2012
12:03 am
Clyde – i feel the same way often. you are so right.
1 4 GT
October 7th, 2012
12:09 am
Remember the 4th & 2 @ the 37 with 0-0 score. Go for it & fail. Anybody else see how PO’ed CPJ was with TW for changing up or whatever. He’s jelling & throwing hands up in exacerbation..on camera..I’m screaming don’t him play anymore then..but he puts TW back in the game next series. Look, TW is a fine young man & has tried his best, but he should be the backup, not the starter. That kind of thing has happened far too often. He can win, just not from behind or under much duress. Play Vad Lee!!!!
yellow britches
October 7th, 2012
12:10 am
CPJ: The line between self confidence and hubris is a crooked one. Alas, the demarcation is left to the fates, i.e. results. Fans, you draw the map.
Clyde
October 7th, 2012
12:17 am
Anyone on here follow the Falcons? What’s the difference between last year and this year? Same head coach, same quarterback, a lot of the same players on both sides of the ball. Does anyone else know which significant change they made after the season ended last year?
1 4 GT
October 7th, 2012
12:20 am
New OC & DC…..already making a big difference!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WnE
October 7th, 2012
12:22 am
re:
Clyde
October 7th, 2012
12:17 am
Anyone on here follow the Falcons? What’s the difference between last year and this year? Same head coach, same quarterback, a lot of the same players on both sides of the ball. Does anyone else know which significant change they made after the season ended last year?
______________
Both Coordinators were sent packing.
At the NFL level those changes are much more likely to yield positive results than on the college level.
There’s a huge gap in personnel when you’re dealing with folks aged 18-23, than in the Pros, in the NFL all those guys are really good, so scheme means a lot more.
Gr8 2B aFuzzyB
October 7th, 2012
12:23 am
I couldn’t agree more 1 4. I’m tired of calling for Vad already. Maybe with an extra week off coach might smell the coffee and give Vad his chance. If he does, I pray he gives him the entire game to show his mettle. Enough of Tevin already, much as I hate to say anything negative about him. I just feel like he has had more than a fair shake to take this team somewhere but all we’ve done is step backwards. And no it’s not all on him, not even close. Defense is nonexistent and the hc has not a clue in many many situations. But it’s possible for Vad to overcome those two HUGE handicaps. The problem with johnson though is that he’s so stubborn, the more you cry for Vad it seems the more he wants to dig his heels in…just to spite us all. As I said, often the man does not have a clue.
Clyde
October 7th, 2012
12:31 am
Well, coordinators decide which players play and for all we know there are four or five guys standing on the sideline that play defense that could be in there making a difference in the right schemes for GT.
1 4 GT
October 7th, 2012
12:33 am
I’m pretty sure CPJ is 55 years old. His stubbornness & arrogance is going to cost him at least 10 more years of 2.5 Million or more per year & a very comfortable retirement. Not to mention the blow to his ego if GT fires him in a year or 2. His next gig will NOT be at a FBS school @ a huge paycut. GT is quite likely the only place where he can run his offense in the FBS division. His choice….change or pack up & leave after 2013 unless there is a big jump in his record from here on out.
Silly Mutts
October 7th, 2012
12:35 am
Actually Johnson has a clue!!!! He doesn’t give a crap about gt!!!!! All he wants is to show that his offense works even with no talent!! He wants a shot at a school where he gets gr8 recruits without any effort and doesn’t need to even deal with the defense! He hired groh because he was cheap and had a scapegoat when he lost the games! Gt is a sucker because they want to win and would pay anything for success! When pj was at the bowl game before he took over at gt he saw that gt had talent from gaileys recruits! He knew he needed to win then b/c he new he couldn’t recruit d1
Same Old
October 7th, 2012
12:42 am
I told ya’ll!
Silly Mutts
October 7th, 2012
12:43 am
@14 gt…..I have to disagree! Pj will get another shot at an fbs program. He has proven that his offense works with no talent ie tevin Washington, nobody on the oline, no named running backs, and receivers! Sure you have hill and Anthony Allen in the NFL but they make the league min and are scrubs! If he gets a big 10 or big 12 program look out! If you are a blithering idiot you can get in the schools there!
1 4 GT
October 7th, 2012
12:44 am
Quite right Clyde….Groan will not change to a 4-3 though. Book it.
Clyde
October 7th, 2012
12:50 am
I think I will book it on to bed! Ya’ll hang in there, no game to lose next weekend.
1 4 GT
October 7th, 2012
12:53 am
Maybe so Silly Mutts, maybe so. I just don;t think so. June Jones is not having much success @ SMU yet, with his run & shoot. He passes all the time. CPJ runs all the time. Leach @ WashState is kind of a hybrid of the 2..a bit more balanced. He is the same as PJ. Not much emphasis on D. At TxTech, Leach beat ‘em all at one time or another….just no titles….gaudy scores & stats but no titles. Alumni want titles!!
DawgNole
October 7th, 2012
1:03 am
As a Dawgs, Noles, and Braves fan, all I can say is, “Misery Loves Company.” Just hoping the Falcons can salvage a totally miserable weekend–but sure as hell not counting on it.
Silly Mutts
October 7th, 2012
1:13 am
Gts defense definitely blows though! Worst I have ever seen! Nobody on this d should be starting for a d1 school. Sorry I still blame pj for this mess. Regardless I don’t care about what happens to pj after he is booted from gt! I just want him booted and now!
Ken Sugiura
October 7th, 2012
1:39 am
just starting to go through comments. (just got home)
i’ll refrain from speculating about potential replacements for a coach who still has his job.
1 4 GT – I just goofed. i realized it after the game. i was working on a couple different things before the game and completely forgot to do the live blog. my apologies.
DevilDogOz
October 7th, 2012
1:47 am
Thanks Ken for raising the Bill Lewis ghost from it’s grave as the Tech program appears to have officially sunk back to that level on both the recruiting and coaching…..
Drexel Gal
October 7th, 2012
1:58 am
Orwin Smith has become the opponents’ SAFETY net.
Drexel Gal
October 7th, 2012
2:02 am
If nothing else … can the Jackets PLEASE go back to the GOLD HELMETS?
islander
October 7th, 2012
2:07 am
Tech has ceased to have any relavence in the world of college football and will stay that way as long as our current coaches are around. three losses giving up over 1,700 yards is clear indication that our DC is totally inept and that as long as PJ can play with his highschool offense that he could care less about the defense We either need to clean house and hire coaches with a prooven track record at the majorcollege level or drop down to club football and just maybe we night squeek ou a win over Emory?
Silly Mutts
October 7th, 2012
2:12 am
Ken….glad there wasnt a game blog…nothing worth saying for a bunch of losers!
Jostling
October 7th, 2012
2:35 am
Just gotta hang in there and keep fightin’!
JetBuzz
October 7th, 2012
3:06 am
OK Ken, you’re such a good guy we’ll give you a (deserved) pass….but we were all looking for you around kickoff! Felt like a fish out of water with the blog down.
How about the end zone option for a safety… just worse than HS offense, unfortunately (really). That plus its setup – the kick-off return debacle (again!), the blocked FG kick, the Q1 4th down miss on our 37, and a defense that didn’t force a single punt all day (including the usual suspect pass coverage), spells implosion and defeat against D-1/D-2/you name it – much less a ranked team.
At least the Jackets had life today, although I didn’t see much sidelines spirit like CPJ called for.
For that matter I didn’t see much on-field hype and chatter either. Just another day at the office.
And our O and TW showed again that we’re a “fair weather” VFR operation, not IFR for when the going gets tough. We can’t compete in the ACC (much less tougher conferences) without the ability to comeback and overcome game adversity. No team can.
Are we still rebuilding this team, or is this it?
brent
October 7th, 2012
6:15 am
I really don’t understand why you want Vad, It’s not Washington, it’s our defensive lay out.AG thinks he’s a rocket scientist with his complicated defence, that would slow any players down, and not let them fly around, for fear of missing an assignment. Don’t blame the offence, we scored enough points against a ranked team in an impossible atmosphere. It’s the special teams and the defence.Who can win a game , that gives up 600 yds?? Don’t blame the recruits, we have some good kids. Johnson should lighten up, and let them have some fun, and ag should go to the moon
Hal
October 7th, 2012
6:39 am
To all the Dawgs who posted. At least Techs weakness is consistent, Losing games late because of lack of depth and talent. Tech has always come to play in important games. But must say last night was a treat for all Tech fans who year after year watch UGA recruit some of the best talent and then squander it. How can any Dawg fan ever get over that game. If I were a UGA commit I would take a long look in the mirror and wonder “What the hell have I done?”
B. Dodd
October 7th, 2012
7:16 am
To CPJ: to paraphrase James Carville’s famous line: “it’s the defense, stupid”. The offense is scoring enough points to win games but the defense can’t keep Tech in the game. Obviouslly.
gtbme
October 7th, 2012
7:28 am
Ken, I was reading another article analyzing the game and this particular writer was praising Orwin Smith’s performance and his ability to get quick yards in open space. He predicted Smith to emulate Darren Sproles in the NFL in the years to come. What are your thoughts?
tired from all the frustrations of being a yellow jacket
October 7th, 2012
7:33 am
I did see more fire today-but too many missed tackles and Tech was always a half step late or slow in making a stop for loss behind the line. Quit belly aching about the offense. No team in the country wants to play Tech. But the D must make some stopas on 3rd and long. But that is not just true for this year. it has been like that for years. How many times have we endured seeing the other team make it on 3rd and long?
Bobo
October 7th, 2012
7:45 am
At this point, maybe having an awful year and missing a bowl is the wake up call we need. I’m not ready to fire CPJ, but he does need the threat hanging over his head to force him to get rid of Groh and work 5X harder at recruiting.
Jfreak13713
October 7th, 2012
7:45 am
Life long tech fan but I must admit this thing is no longer working. It doesn’t matter why just like it doesn’t matter why the President of the U.S. can’t fix the economy. It just matters that neither are working very well and both have had PLENTY of time to produce results. Time to FIRE BOTH and give the next guy a chance to fix what is wrong.
bob
October 7th, 2012
7:49 am
Two games in a row where Johnson goes for it on 4th and short in the first offensive set in the first quarter and misses it giving the other team great field position instead of punting and backing them up.
Enough is enough!!!!
Jimnalph
October 7th, 2012
8:00 am
Those horrible honeycomb helmets, and jerseys, must be to blame.
WnE
October 7th, 2012
8:08 am
re:
Bobo
October 7th, 2012
7:45 am
At this point, maybe having an awful year and missing a bowl is the wake up call we need. I’m not ready to fire CPJ, but he does need the threat hanging over his head to force him to get rid of Groh and work 5X harder at recruiting.
_______________
Any threat to CPJ would be an empty threat.
The GTAA cannot afford to pay Hewitt and CPJ to NOT work at GT, CPJ will be owed about $2.6MM for the next 4 years after this season.
Not only can we not fire him after this year, but we probably cannot fire him after next yr. either.
We’ll be lucky to have the money to fire him when he has 2- years remaining, about $5.2MM left for GT to buyout (Chan’s buyout was only $4.0MM total for 4 yrs left).
This means that CPJ will likely sign at LEAST 2 more Recruiting classes and still be the HC when the initial contacts are made for a 3rd additional Recruiting class.
In summary, it will get much worse before it gets better.
Negative Recruiting has hurt GT more than most schools, but now that everyone knows CPJ is basically a lame-duck HC that the school cannot afford to fire, look for upcoming Recruiting classes to get worse even by CPJ-standards.
Next yr. we’ll have a new QB, no Orwin, on Uzzi, 1 new CB, 2 new DLs.
Before you welcome the new Starters, remember that the guys behind the ones leaving, that you might want to criticize on their way out are BETTER than their back-ups now and there is no guarantee that back-ups moving into starting roles next yr. will make them better players.
All this is a result of DRad bringing in a triple-SLOPtion HC with NO BCS recruiting experience and then, upping his contract from $1.6MM to $2.3MM-$2.6MM after just one yr. when no other schools were bidding against GT.
GT was so desperate to beat UGA DRad overreacted to us beating one of the more flawed UGA teams in a long time.
And now we are going to pay for it by suffering for 7-10 seasons AFTER CPJ is finally let go.