Re-evaluating second half of Tech’s season
Until Saturday, Georgia Tech could take inspiration from the faint hope of an ACC title. Following the Yellow Jackets’ 47-31 loss to Clemson, they’re still not mathematically eliminated, but it might be wise to start looking for other sources of motivation.
“You’d rather be winning going into a bye, but clearly, the first half of the season’s not what we hoped for, not what we wanted,” coach Paul Johnson said. “So we’ve got to try to atone for that, reset some goals, reset some things and see if we can’t come back and do a little better.”
If the Jackets are looking for suggestions for objectives, they could pursue the following, some more measurable, some less so.
Improve pass defense. Weak pass rush, soft coverage, poor pursuit angles and broken tackles have tacked on dozens of yards to Tech’s total defense, which now stands 90th out of 120 BCS teams at 431.0 yards per game. The Jackets’ pass rush was more forceful Saturday, but Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd was still able to escape pressure or scramble downfield for drive-extending runs, not to mention throw for a career-high 397 yards.
One metric that needs improving is third-down conversion percentage, an area Johnson wanted results from before the season started. Opponents are extending drives on 47.8 percent of third downs, 103rd in the country. Even becoming average – Rutgers is 60th at 37.7 percent – would be a giant improvement. Tech’s rate the past three games has been 67.4 percent.
Restore confidence. Given Tech’s repeated failures with its third-down defense and its misfires at crucial times on offense and on special teams, something is amiss.
“We’ve just got to find a way to get the guys to believe in themselves and keep going hard,” A-back Orwin Smith said. “It’s not over.”
While hardly a given at this point, beating Boston College on Oct. 20 would end Tech’s three-game losing streak and return some confidence. For that game, Tech will be at home, with two weeks’ rest against a team that could well be 1-5.
The Jackets might do well to remember that they’re still doing some things well. Tech is averaging 331.0 rushing yards, which is third in the country and above the school-record average.
Win in the fourth quarter. Last season, Tech was outscored 117-73 in the fourth quarter, including 48-14 in the final six games. This season, the Jackets have been outscored 71-48 in the fourth, including 17-3 Saturday. Of Tech’s 48, 28 were scored against Presbyterian and Virginia, when the Jackets had already secured victories. In both seasons, it’s the only quarter Tech has been outscored.
The Jackets have played well enough to hold fourth-quarter leads against Virginia Tech, Miami and Clemson, but somehow constrained enough on both sides to have not protected them.
“I consider it bad luck when you’re doing the right things,” Smith said of breaks going against Tech. “But we’re still making mistakes. It’s self-inflicted, the reason we’re losing.”
Get Vad Lee more playing time. Johnson has planned to play the backup quarterback more, plans that have gotten scuttled the past two games when Johnson has found it necessary to keep Tevin Washington in the game to have a chance to win.
Tech may not play as hot an offense for the rest of the season, which should give the Jackets’ offense more breathing room to accommodate snaps for Lee.
Qualify for a bowl game, win bowl game. One of the most concrete ways that this season can still be re-claimed would be to end the seven-game bowl losing streak. At this point, it most likely won’t be a dream ending for the 2012 season, but a win is a win.
Beat Georgia. The ultimate season-saver.
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134 comments Add your comment
Jacket Detective
October 8th, 2012
9:00 am
@juvenal.
Our collapses are team wide efforts.
Tevin played better than I thought he could in Utah, VT and Miami games.
Groh’s lack of blitzes lets the other team’s QB get real comfortable whereby he can pick us apart.
Or if it is the players, then who recruits them?
Tevin does not get the help Nesbit got.
As I have pointed out, we lose to Wake and are not in the 2009 ACCCG without a game-saving sack from Derrick Morgan.
Prior to that, Nesbit was sacked on 4th down by Wake.
Was anyone open on that play?
Well by all means let’s go look at the film and bash Nesbit for not spotting the open man.
But if u have some play-makers on D, u win and the QB doesn’t get trashed for the loss.
New Idea
October 8th, 2012
9:01 am
Some of you fellow GT fans are starting to understand. Since the NFL became big in the 60’s GT has been, with a few exceptions, pathetic at Athletics. Basically We offer Engineering and Management degrees. Everyone does not want to be an Engineer, in fact most do not. We make everyone take math and calculus. We only have a little over 50% Georgia students. A State school not even educating mostly Georgians. UGA is 88% Georgians. This impacts the fan base. If GT and the GT Nation of fans/graduates does not fight for a change then you have pathetic athletics from now on. Just realistic.
Jacket Detective
October 8th, 2012
9:11 am
The 1980 Falcons playoff loss to Dallas whereby the Falcons blew a 17 point secind half lead happened beause the coaches went conservative on both sides of the ball.
Dallas had not been able to stop the Falcons until we went to a predictable run then throw on third down offense.
That lose set the Falcons back for years.
The players looked like they had choked when it was the coaching staff that had.
Our losses to Utah, VT and especially Miami remind me of that game.
Tenuta blitzed too much while Groh does too little.
I’d prefer very much prefer Tenuta to Groh though a few teams like Boston College when they had Ryan could figure out how to beat the blitz.
We should not on principle hire someone who is being paid millions by his last school. (Groh)
I do not have a lot of respect for any of the college coaches who tear up contracts when they want leave but insist on every last dime when fired.
Jacket Detective
October 8th, 2012
9:18 am
Lots of Tech fans hate that we still owe Hewitt 1.7 million per year for 5 years.
So why did we hire someone like that hated at his own alma matre like Groh is at Virginia?
Groh also came with a ready made excuse for 2 years of crummy defense while our players learned the new system and we recruited players to fit it.
DOC 51
October 8th, 2012
9:20 am
There is no sense of urgency w/CPJ.Most million dollar coaches could fix major defensive problems,but not him.He thinks the only way to win is outscore every opponent by one point.
Jacket Detective
October 8th, 2012
9:24 am
@New Idea.
Maybe u r right but how did Ross win the NC in 1990?
Also after we hired Freigen as O coordinator, our offense never looked so good.
Even Larry Munson remarked during our three game win streak vs the Dawgs, “Tech coming down the field like we are Wake Forest”.
Tech can win with great coaching: Head coaches Heisman and Dodd or a great O coordinator like Freigen.
CPJ’s biggest failure has been his D coordinators. (or the lack of recruiting good defensive players)
At least Wommack’s D could rise to the occasion and make game-saving stops.
We haven’t had any game-saving stops lately.
Frankly
October 8th, 2012
9:27 am
Your last point “Qualify for a bowl game, win a bowl game.” will be a tall order. I don’t think the first part of the equation will be met, much less the second.
Aways a Jacket
October 8th, 2012
9:29 am
Firing a coordinator mid-season would be dumbest thing PJ could do. All those complaining about the bad defense would be on PJ for firing Al because changing DC mid-season does not help the chances of a win. Unless you want to publicly humiliate/punish Al for the terrible defense.
The team played much better at Clemson than MTSU game. There is strong chance we win the remaining home games. Then, after the season, there needs to be an evaluation of the program, starting at the AD level. Given fact that we are paying off Hewitt, and DRad signed contract extension for PJ at salary too high, Most likely outcome is new DC next year.
We need new AD.
New Idea
October 8th, 2012
9:30 am
Jacket detective,
In the early 90’s our coaches were fighting the Hill for exceptions and they got them. Then when we got Gailey, all those exceptions were academically ineligible but somehow played anyway and we were hit by NCAA. I really do not believe Gt wants to go that route again.
Jacket Detective
October 8th, 2012
9:31 am
Win 6 games and u can get in some low tier bowl our fans could care less about.
Jacket Detective
October 8th, 2012
9:33 am
Ross didn’t play anyone academically ineligible.
Who was responsible for that problem which was ten years later?
NOVAJacket
October 8th, 2012
9:34 am
Groh coaches like he has still has LT and company playing for him when he needs to adapt to the talent level he has and mix up the play calling. The no huddle schemes also mess with his ability to shuttle in and out role players.
With respect to Richt, he does understand that he keeps his job by beating Tech regardless of how often his team fails to show up for other games like this weekend….
Jacket Detective
October 8th, 2012
9:37 am
I looked up an old SI article on Whack Hyder titled “Father Knows Best”.
Turns out Dave Denton, the team’s best rebounder would be illegible from time to time.
And I remember time and again, players in football and basketball missing time due to academic problems.
How did it come about that a school that prides itself on playing by the rules screwed up so badly?
I would really be interested in some investigative journalism that tells the full story.
Jacket Detective
October 8th, 2012
9:39 am
Agreed NOVA Jacket.
If Tech beats Uga in 2009, Richt is probably fired.
MC
October 8th, 2012
9:41 am
There isn’t one sure victory left on the schedule. This team is really really bad.
New Idea
October 8th, 2012
9:49 am
We won in the 90’s with a lot of exceptions. Those have been reduced greatly because of the NCAA trouble with us playing academically ineligible athletes during Gailey. It is funny to me that we played all those exceptions then and no Engineers complained their degree was hurt but if you suggest a new major like Education and Sports Management, respected professions, they scream their heads off that their Degree will be degraded.
Technically Correct
October 8th, 2012
9:53 am
Look for the return of the “Boo Birds,” if Johnson doesn’t avert this train wreck quickly!
Al Bundy
October 8th, 2012
9:54 am
I think a bowl game and beating UGA are a stretch! I think this team is about as good as it gets with this coaching staff. We aren’t recruiting the talent level necessary to compete at this level. Our guys can’t tackle, our secondary can’t cover and we can’t put pressure on the quarterback. In other words their guys are better than our guys.
MC
October 8th, 2012
9:57 am
The problem is very simple. This team is not a talented group. Talent matters. Who’s fault? CPJ’s. End of story. The apologists are starting to sound really lame.
MC
October 8th, 2012
9:59 am
The only way this team beats UGA is if UGA doesn’t show up.
Born2Buzz
October 8th, 2012
10:01 am
I don’t think Groh gets fired but seriously, what difference would it make. We’ve given up 1700 yds and 46 pts per game the last 3 games. Not making some kind of change is the definition of insanity. And how is Groh going to all of a sudden change what he’s done his whole career.
And the same thing goes for the offense. To keep running the same thing over and over, with the same QB, when we’ve seen the results for 2 years now, is also insane.
MAKE THE CHANGES NOW CPJ!!!
Does anyone think this team can go 5-1 over the last half of the season? BC and Maryland are horrible so maybe we have a chance against them but all the other games will be tough. I guess I would be happy now with finishing 7-5 and going to some mediocre bowl.
And we all had high hopes for this season.
MC
October 8th, 2012
10:02 am
DOC 51…CPJ’s problem is that it’s all about him. And in his quest to prove his brilliance, he’s only proving his stupidity.
Dit
October 8th, 2012
10:05 am
Cant expect good play with coaches that bad and uniforms that ugly. Who decides what uniforms we wear. GO BACK TO GT UNIFORMS.
Born2Buzz
October 8th, 2012
10:08 am
@Always A Jacket, the team played with more energy at Clemson, but the results on D were the same. Clemson ran 93 plays! 93?!?!? Talk about not being able to get off the field.
CPJ just better accept the fact that the Defense will continue to suck and the only way we can win is to out score the other guys. OK Coach, lets see what you got.
Technically Correct
October 8th, 2012
10:09 am
If you want to know what is wrong with our team, you need look no further than recruiting. We can’t even recruit LEGACIES, for Goodness sakes! This year alone, Carl Lawson, the 5-star defensive end son of Anthony Lawson, a former Tech football player, pledges to Auburn and Naim Mustafa, 4-star defensive end/linebacker son of Najee Mustafa, a former Tech football player, pledges to the hated Dwags. WTF is going on?
Born2Buzz
October 8th, 2012
10:10 am
Dit, the uniforms would look “cool” if the team was winning.
GTJacket
October 8th, 2012
10:11 am
Take it to the bank…maybe we win 2 of the remaining 6 games….we end the season 4 – 8. I am glad that i did not renew season tickets…don’t have to sit through the 4th quarter miseries anymore. I agree with CollegeBallFan…we are generally a .500 football team except for this year we will end at .333 or worse.
juvenal
October 8th, 2012
10:16 am
JD, lots of people play in a baseball game-one is called the winning pitcher…..Josh pulled games out, Luck & Big Ben pulled their games out, at some point you got to see some people just don’t have that mentality……for sure put someone else in 4th & short…..getting Vad ready for next year on a very short list of realistic goals….if i didn’t like the folks i sit with so much, i would get the cheapest seats i could next year…
Smyrna Gold
October 8th, 2012
10:17 am
BC and Maryland may be horrible but so are we. I can see a six game win season max. And please, no bowl game this year. We’ve had enough embarrassment already.
Wincealot
October 8th, 2012
10:18 am
Do not talk about firing coaches now. An assessment will be made at the end of the year. Just remember, when you reload coaches, it sets you back several years. CPJ is doing a fine job. Let’s get some talent in and recruit harder. The defense can not play as well until better players are in place. Many times, fans are too quick to blame coaches. Go Jackets!!
roughrider
October 8th, 2012
10:21 am
I’m wondering if the Board of Regents would hire some football consultants to come to our state and teach Tech and UGA how to play winning football.
UGA = Yawn
October 8th, 2012
10:24 am
Seriously, going for 4th down on our own 37 yd line in our 1st drive set the tone for the game. We gave them 37 yds to score their 1st TD – in essence, spotting them 7 points. then spot them more later with ANOTHER safety. I mean, you can’t be serious! Just the absolute poorest coached team in the land. And, I’ve said it for years, GT can never play 4 quarters of solid football – so, the data on our 4th quarter scoring vs opponents does not supriese me. So sad is our team and school right now. I am ready for basketball.
Ken Sugiura
October 8th, 2012
10:27 am
my point doesn’t have to do with saving groh embarrassment. most of the players on the defense came to tech, to some degree of another, because of the relationship they’d developed with groh, and, if the way they’ve talked about him is any barometer, i suspect they think a lot of him. that’s why i think you’d risk making a bad situation worse if he were to be fired now. as for the matter of, how could it get any worse? i’d surmise that if they had played saturday with the effort that they’d played with against mtsu, it would have been a lot worse, which, i understand, is kind of hard to fathom.
i don’t think firing him now is unreasonable. i’m just not sure it’s wise.
Rooty Tooty
October 8th, 2012
10:33 am
CPJ made a comment over the weekend, GT has to play errorless ball if they want to win. Right now, they are their own worst enemy. Take away the drops, fumbles, and just stupid mistakes and they would have been in Sat game.
Mary La Baker
October 8th, 2012
10:35 am
The Jackets have to improve more than 100% just to move to at least 8 wins. Start by changing the entire coaching staff.
Grinch
October 8th, 2012
10:40 am
Where are we going to pick up 2 more wins?????? Boston College and who??? If you think Duke is a given, think again. Our D will get torched by their passing attack. They have one of the top offenses in the ACC right now and are lighting folks up. UNC will beat us by 40 in Chapel Hill they way their hurry up spread offense is playing right now. BYU might be winnable IF we can stop the run game and play more physical. They are big and very physical on defense.
juvenal
October 8th, 2012
10:44 am
they asked voltaire once what he thought about shooting french troops that had run away-he replied it was necessary some times “pars les encourageur les autres…”
Tom
October 8th, 2012
10:45 am
Best Tech can hope for is a 6 win season. They are not going to beat UGA and I doubt they can win against UNC. They will be under dogs to BYU who by the way tackle pretty good. GT should take notes in this game. BC is their best bet for a win. Duke and Maryland will be pick ems because of our defense. Good luck getting to 6 wins.
If do right, no can defense
October 8th, 2012
10:57 am
Agree with all 6 points, Ken. This is it. It’s halftime at Tech.
Who ready to get back?
ice eater 1969
October 8th, 2012
11:01 am
Ken – you seem to be able to access informantion from the archieves – - how about posting Furman Bishers column on “amiling Wrek is Ga TEch and a helluva a shame its in.”
ice eater 1969
October 8th, 2012
11:02 am
sorry for the bad post
Bishers was Rambling Wrek is Ga Tech and a helluva a shape its in!
blazer
October 8th, 2012
11:13 am
Couldn’t even give Vad Lee some snaps the last minute like we was going to win then!!
Ken Sugiura
October 8th, 2012
11:25 am
ice eater – interesting idea. i’ll see if i can do that. any idea when he wrote it?
yeller bug
October 8th, 2012
11:26 am
I have lots of complaints to make too, but as for the argument about lack of talent I don’t buy it. Yes, we could have more, but I think we could have beaten all four teams that we have lost to. With the exception of MTSU, we were ahead in the 4th Qtr—two games we were ahead after 59 minutes. It is not like we were blown out of the stadium in the first qtr like UGA against SC. We can still go 9-4, beat UGA and win a bowl game and more than salvage the season. Do we have problems–heck ya and hopefully we’ll address those this week. It’s still just one game at a time and this is the team we have so let’s get it on and make the best of it.
1 4 GT
October 8th, 2012
11:32 am
While I agree with much that has been posted on these blogs lately, I find myself disheartened by the state of affairs surrounding the football team. All but one had such high hopes prior to the VT game. Now we are hoping for a turnabout & maybe a 6-6 year & a return to El Paso or lower bowl. Sad, sad commentary
1 4 GT
October 8th, 2012
11:35 am
But I will not be a fair weather fan. I will go to the games or sit in front of my TV and urge the Yellow Jackets to get’em. And when they mess up, I will loudly moan OH NOOOOO! But I will root for to the end. Selah.
1 4 GT
October 8th, 2012
11:37 am
for “them” to
GT Joe
October 8th, 2012
11:53 am
Well, I’ve outlined Tevin’s failures all season, starting with the pick at VT. Here we are, halfway point, and Tevin aka Reggie Ball is back at it again.
1st quarter, 4th down, TW f’s it up again on the QB draw (surprise!). Clearly CPJ showed his displeasure with TW after the play, as if it was another audible (failed again).
2 minutes later, Clemson is up 7-0. That was all i needed to see.
GT Joe
October 8th, 2012
11:58 am
The fact that Vad didn’t play, not even in garbage time, tells me that Vad is in the dog house for some reason. How TW isn’t in the dog house is beyond me.
GT Joe
October 8th, 2012
12:03 pm
TW: 8-13 at QB against BCS conference teams.