Notes: Johnson’s concerns about BYU
Notes from coach Paul Johnson’s news conference Tuesday
1. Johnson expressed concern for defending BYU quarterback Riley Nelson, noting his experience and mobility.
“He’s got a strong arm, but he’s really hurt people when they get out of their rush lanes and he pulls the thing down on boots and run. The quarterback is a good player,” he said.
More broadly, Johnson anticipates a team that will test the Yellow Jackets with its size and strength.
“They’ll pass the look test, I promise you,” he said. “When we played them every year when I was at the University of Hawai’i, you won’t play too many teams that look any better getting off the bus than BYU.”
2. Johnson liked the way the rotation with the defensive line worked, with backups Adam Gotsis, Shawn Green, Anthony Williams and Euclid Cummings getting considerable time.
“I don’t know that anybody stands out and is that much better than anybody coming in,” he said. “So everybody gets some snaps.”
3. Nothing different with the kicking situation from Monday’s notes, although punter Sean Poole will be back holding.
4. Daniel Drummond is splitting snaps with Jabari Hunt-Days at the inside linebacker position opposite Quayshawn Nealy.
5. Johnson said something needs to be done to improve the pass rush, whether it’s blitzing, running stunts with the linemen or simply the linemen winning one-on-one against offensive linemen. Johnson said that the game video shows that players are actually getting closer to the quarterback than it seems during games, but, it is “clearly an issue.”
Another solution is dropping more players into pass coverage to flood passing lanes.
“You can’t just be one-dimensional,” he said. “You have to be able to do both.”
Regarding Nelson, Johnson acknowledged that forcing a faster player like him out of the pocket isn’t necessarily the answer.
“There are certain guys that you play that you want to keep in the pocket and you’d maybe rather see them throw it than you would pull it down and run with it,” Johnson said. “He’s pretty good at both but he can kill you if you don’t contain him because he’s got good speed, he’s a good athlete and he really hurts people when he gets out of the pocket.”
6. Johnson credited the success on third down (Boston College was 1-for-9) to better run defense. Tech gave up just 32 yards on 16 attempts. It yielded third-and-long situations, which the Eagles couldn’t convert.
In those situations, “You can play at the sticks and come up and tackle them and they had to punt the ball,” he said.
(It bears mentioning that Tech was having equal trouble with third-and-long and third-and-short earlier this season.)
7. There is no specific plan to play quarterback Vad Lee as of Tuesday. Johnson said he will see how practices goes this week before deciding.
“Clearly, he’s a good athlete and capable of making big plays,” Johnson said. “He also had the ball out a couple of times, we’ve got to do better on some read parts of the thing but he’s an exciting player and he kind of gives you a boost when he gets out there. No question about it.”
8. Defensively, Johnson said that the Cougars are “big and physical up front” and capable of stopping the run without secondary support. BYU also shows a lot of different looks on third-and-long, blitzes and fire-zone blitzes. He noted end Ezekiel Anseh, calling him a probable first-round draft pick.
9. A-back Synjyn Days’ playing time was limited Saturday because “he and I weren’t on the same page,” Johnson said. Johnson didn’t provide detail but suggested it was an off-field matter. Overall, Days is practicing better and will play against BYU with a good week of practice.
10. Offensive tackle Will Jackson’s shoulder injury muddles the offensive line depth. If he can’t play, Morgan Bailey will start at right tackle and either Bryan Chamberlain or Tyler Kidney would be the first off the bench. At guard, the first sub would be either Trey Braun or Errin Joe. If he does play, Johnson said that Jackson, who didn’t practice Monday and won’t again Tuesday afternoon, would be the first to rotate in at guard and tackle.
11. Offensive tackle Ray Beno (ankle) and B-back Zach Laskey (shoulder), both of whom left the game with injuries, practiced Monday.
12. Johnson, who voiced his displeasure Saturday (for the second time this year, that I can recall) with the lack of support offered by reserve players from the sideline, offered further explanation. He called it a matter of immaturity and observed that it has increased over the years.
“You’re part of the team and you should be there cheering on your teammates and be excited to watch what’s going on and not in la-la land,” he said.
Johnson particularly directed his frustration with players “who understand they’re probably not going to play, but that still doesn’t change,” he said. “It should still be a privilege to be able to dress out and have your name on the back of your uniform and be on the sidelines at Georgia Tech. It’s not something that you should just kind of show up.”
13. The players of the game for the Boston College win were A-back B.J. Bostic, safety Isaiah Johnson and long snapper Tyler Morgan. Bostic had five carries for 28 yards and two catches for 66 yards. Both receptions were enormous. The first was a phenomenal 39-yard catch on a 3rd-and-8 on the opening drive that prevented Tech from having to punt from its own 8-yard line. The second was a 27-yarder in the second quarter that converted a 3rd-and-26 and kept alive a possession that ended in a touchdown for a 14-0 lead.
Johnson made four solo tackles, tied for most total tackles on the team and had a forced fumble on the first play of the second half that the Jackets converted into a field goal. Morgan had a mistake-free afternoon on 11 snaps.
In case you missed it…
Notes: Field-goal unit needing repair
Tech vs. highly ranked run defenses
With BYU next, no-huddle issues loom for Tech
Thanks for reading.
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
More notes this evening, 9:30-ish. Thanks for reading.
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189 comments Add your comment
5150 UOAD
October 24th, 2012
12:06 pm
Just called 790 and told then to read this blog. they keep saying they think GT fans are not going to ATHENS because we can’t win. That maybe true on some points but i told them it is not fun to go to Athens. i wouldn’t go even if i KNEW we would win and i could bring home a piece of the Hedges and pay to have a picture of me Urinating on RUSS now Uga IX. I have been to Auburn when they were top 10 and we were not supposed to have a shot. Same for VT and FSU but I ENJOYED the games and SPENDING my money and time at those games. That doesn’t happens in Athens.
MariettaMike
October 24th, 2012
12:57 pm
Somebody tell me why is GT favored in this game? BYU is bigger and faster. GT’s defensive is really, really bad. Does Vegas know something that I don’t?
That Guy
October 24th, 2012
12:59 pm
I think this is over stating the obvious. Coach Johnson is concerned about every opponents offense running against his wet paper bag defense. The GT offense is not the problem.
1 4 GT
October 24th, 2012
12:59 pm
5150….what was their response?? Since you started the phone calls, 680theFan needs calling too….Buck & Kincaid & Chuck & Chernoff both,,,,,especially buck…………………….
1 4 GT
October 24th, 2012
1:01 pm
Obviously so MariettaMike, obviously so!
Tech Troll 13
October 24th, 2012
1:14 pm
GT Joe must have been a heckuva youth coach, since he knows so much more then CPJ. Tell us more about your youth coach experience Joe, I’m sure we will be impressed with your resume.
Bottom line is you EARN your playing time on Rose Bowl field before you get on Grant Field.
GT Joe
October 24th, 2012
1:23 pm
Something tells me that “earning playing time on the practice field” isn’t enough for CPJ. He looks for full submission.
Wow, the blind faith you folks have in CPJ’s decision making is mind boggling. I mean, this is the guy who kep Al Groh for 3+ years?!?!
Just the fact that Tevin started AT ALL this season makes me think CPJ is wrong for the job. Don’t get me wrong, I love his offense, but his personnel decisions are questionable at best.
How on earth Snoddy, Days and Lee aren’t playing is beyond me. Snoddy has 9 carries on the season, and DNP in 5 games. WTF.
1 4 GT
October 24th, 2012
1:23 pm
Amen TT 13, Amen!!!!
Tech Troll 13
October 24th, 2012
1:36 pm
In addition to his youth coach experience, Joe is also a mind reader and he knows what goes on in closed practices.
No blind faith on my part, but I do give CPJ the benefit of the doubt. He’s the coach and at every practice. I trust his opinion more than yours.
GT Joe
October 24th, 2012
1:52 pm
Sheep Troll 13: I might not be a mind reader, but I’m also not a sheep.
My motto is “trust but verify”.
I wonder if you trusted Bill Lewis’ decisions because he knew better what was going on in “closed practices”. LOL.
GT Joe
October 24th, 2012
1:58 pm
Sheep Troll:
Did you trust Al Groh on all his decisions since he knew better what was going on in “closed practices”? OR were you a mind reader?
Tech Troll 13
October 24th, 2012
2:16 pm
GT Joe
When it became evident that CAG wasn’t going to get the job done, CPJ acted and fired him. Since you’re Captain Hindsight, I guess you knew it was the wrong hire.
I’ve been a season ticket holder for 30 years, so I was there when Bill Lewis was hired and fired, and only an idiot would compare CPJ with Bill Lewis.
BTW how may years have you had season tickets?
GT Joe
October 24th, 2012
2:36 pm
Let’s see, you had season tix for 30 years, and I’M the idiot? LOL.
GT Joe
October 24th, 2012
2:49 pm
I see, sheep troll. You only trust CERTAIN coaches, because they see what goes on behind closed practices.
So apparently you didnt trust Bill Lewis? Why not? He sees more than you did. He has more experience coaching than you do.
Same goes for Al Groh. Did you not trust him because he was in the closed practices? Did you not trust his decision making on personnel decisions, substitutions?
Help me understand why you believe in CPJ more than these other coaches.
Tech Troll 13
October 24th, 2012
3:32 pm
I said only an idiot would compare CPJ to Bill Lewis. If you insist on doing that, then you must be an idiot.
You didn’t answer my question. How long have you had tickets? I’m a Tech man win or lose. My guess is you have “no skin in the game”.
Bill Lewis & CAG were fired for not performing.
CPJ has the highest winning percentage of any Tech coach in his first four years. He haw won an ACC Championship and taken us to a BCS bowl. He has a NC while at GSU and he won at Navy. What was your youth league record?
GT Joe
October 24th, 2012
3:39 pm
Here’s your answer: Never had season tickets. /Never will. I prefer watching games in the comfort of my own home. But thanks for asking (I think).
You seem like a sheep who goes just to go. Like those iphone fanatics. Apple could stuff an iphone full of dog feces and they’d still be in line to buy it.
Hate to break it to you, but those season tix don’t make you any more knowledgeable of football. Just a little lighter in the pocket. But whatever floats your boat.
GT Joe
October 24th, 2012
3:41 pm
As for your youth league comments, what on earth are you talking about?
GT Joe
October 24th, 2012
4:08 pm
UOAD: I AM voting. By witholding my money.
You and sheep boy, on the other hand, are what AD’s would call “dream fans”. Pay for tix regardless of the quality of product.
PS: your obsession with masturbating is getting creepy. This is like your 10th comment on masturbating.
THWG
October 24th, 2012
4:24 pm
PJ’s worried about BYU? When did that wakeup call arrive? Obviously he hasn’t been worried about much else for quite some time.
Tech Troll 13
October 24th, 2012
4:28 pm
GT Joe
As usual, you don’t know what you’re talking about. You know nothing about me, but yet you have formed an opinion without facts. That is the same thing you have done about players that you haven’t seen play. I do agree that my tickets do not mean I know more than you about football, but it does mean I’m invested in the program and I do more than talk.
You can’t be “witholding” because of poor performance, if your statement that you “never will have tickets” is true.
You told me a few weeks ago your only coaching experience was in youth league. Unless that’s not true.
GT Joe
October 24th, 2012
4:37 pm
Troll
As usual, you don’t know what you’re talking about. You know nothing about me, but yet you have formed an opinion without facts.
True I will never have season tix. But I do go to some games. The better the season, the more I’ll go see. This year, went to the Presby game. Can’t say I’m interested in going to any more games, unless Vad gets the start. If Vad starts, I’ll go see his games. Tevin? I already know that product. Not interested.
GT Joe
October 24th, 2012
4:42 pm
You know what I find interesting? When Vad gets to play, CPJ said there is “more energy”. I can see the crowd is definitely more energized, and the sidelines are more energized too (even visible on TV).
So the question is: Is the team sending a message that they want Vad to play over TW? Is the “la la land” comment by CPJ only when TW is in the game?
To me, it’s getting obvious. After the VT interception, a quick pan to TW on the sideline showed him ALONE. Same thing after the Miami misread on 4th down. Doesn’t seem like the team is rallying around TW.
I also find it interesting that TW sat out of practice yesterday, after those comments after the game about his “rhythm” when Vad comes in the game.
Is there trouble in paradise?
Tech Troll 13
October 24th, 2012
5:04 pm
I’m sure you could see on your TV that Vad ran zero TO plays in the first half. Our team is built around the TO. If you can’t do that, how can you be the starter?
I have no problem using VL in obvious passing situations, like the last two minutes of the half. He is a better passer than TW, even though his stats didn’t bear that out Saturday.
The rest of your comments were more “mind reading” and conjecture to support your argument. No facts to be found.
GT Joe
October 24th, 2012
5:11 pm
Troll: Here’s a fact that you have wrong; “our team is built around the TO”? No. This is a fallacy.
The TO is ONE play run out of our spread formation. In fact, CPJ has said on many occasions that the TO is run less than 20% of the time, sometimes less than 10% of the time. It all depends on how the game is going, what the defense is showing, etc.
The fact that Vad ran zero TO plays tells me nothing. You ASSUME he can’t run it because CPJ didn’t call the TO play. And you know what happens when you assume.
Tech Troll 13
October 24th, 2012
5:19 pm
Enough sparing, I’m going home, but if VL could run the TO he would be starting.
A-mazed
October 24th, 2012
6:50 pm
Well, well. Gt Joe does not go to games, but “watches” them at home. He almost surely does not go to practice. So, Joe, exactly how is it you go about analyzing the relative capabilities of the players? Becaise it sure can’t be from their on field performance. Days is a fine blocker, but he is a fumble machine. Lee has obvious talent, but it is clear he has little skill making the reads in the TO. And that IS the offense we run.
I don’t know what you see on your TV, but it must look very different than what I see at the games. Or you are delusional.
dry dirt road
October 24th, 2012
7:49 pm
recalling Samoan DT for Iowa that terrorized Tech in Orange Bowl; BYU digs West Coast Samoans too
Game
October 24th, 2012
9:41 pm
The BYU guys are big but a little slower that your typical guys. Spread the field, run wide often, wear them down, keep the ball for long drives. Then their QB/offense will be on the field very little. Also their D will be tired by the 4th quarter. Keep the pedal down no matter what.
dry dirt road
October 25th, 2012
8:32 am
What is a fire-zone blitz? This is the first I’ve ever heard of it, and I’m 60.
dry dirt road
October 25th, 2012
8:34 am
Game, that’s how Tech plays anyway.
dry dirt road
October 25th, 2012
8:40 am
Maybe alot of West Coast hs players want to play at BYU because of the Mormon history of having alot of wives, which some still do, one guy up in Canada specifically who I found out about on national tv. The male gets plenty of females to cook food, wash dishes and clothes, do all the household chores. That frees him up to do the outside chores. I recall an interview on national tv with one of the wives who was asked how a wife gets to go to bed with the husband that night, and she said the wives draw straws.
BYU Fan in FL
October 25th, 2012
8:44 am
On the whole you might be right about the bigger and maybe a little slower. But there is one guy you will need to look out for and he is starting to get alot of press…..6′6 270 Ziggy Ansah DE. Dude didnt know how to put his pads on 3 years ago. Its been fun to watch him come along….started out with the BYU Track team and ran i think a sub 21 sec 200….thats pretty quick…just raw though
BYU Fan in FL
October 25th, 2012
8:49 am
And there is the Polygamy joke I told you guys was coming a couple days ago…..See I called it!!!!! (For GT FAN, UOAD, & 1 4 GT)
dry dirt road
October 25th, 2012
8:54 am
I think I see why players want to go to BYU. For one thing, it’s nice and cool to cold there in Utah. Look at how popular Boise State is now. And scenic in the snow. For another thing, the BYU players get educated and then maybe take off to Canada to out in the sticks and have their polygamous lifestyle where it might be legal. They just want a college level education to help them make it in life, maybe meet some coeds and marry all of them in Canada, take them up there as a commune at least, and instruct them to keep quiet about marriage, telling anybody who talks to them that they are only in a commune of people of the same religion.
BYU Fan in FL
October 25th, 2012
8:58 am
You got it DDR….hit the nail on the head
That is exactly why kids go to BYU. Your right about the being a nice place all jokes aside.
Gary
October 25th, 2012
10:10 am
Enter your comments here
Gary
October 25th, 2012
10:12 am
Sorry, Browser error. As a dawg fan I do like what Johnson has to say about the players. It is a priviledge to wear the uniform. Stand up and support your team, don’t sit on the bench wondering what your going to have for dinner. That is where players go to rest. If youare not playing you can stand.
1 4 GT
October 25th, 2012
12:12 pm
Y’all talking about why kids go to BYU & other schools in Utah is kinda amusing. No one has mentioned this as yet, so I will. There are reasons not to go too. Y’all remember a couple of years ago or so the round ball player at BYU that was expelled for having “relations” with his GF (a girl anyway). In the reports I saw in the news, the kids sign/take a pledge that they will abstain from having “relations” while they are attending college there. BIG disadvantage to recruiting if you ask me, Selah.
BYU Fan in FL
October 25th, 2012
12:53 pm
14 GT….that one got the most press because it was right before the NCAA tournament when Jimmer was still in school. One other one that is worse then that is BYU’s all time leading rusher going into his senior season Harvey Unga was dismissed from school for the same reason PRIOR to his senior season….never stepped foot on the field again. Its a strict code my Dad went there….hence my tie to them