Johnson: ‘We’ll see’ on starting QB for Maryland
Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson was non-committal whether Tevin Washington would remain as starting quarterback after Tech’s offense approached or reached new lows for ineffectiveness in a 41-17 loss to BYU on Saturday at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
Tech’s offense was limited to 157 yards and scored its only points on a drive after Washington was pulled amid a cascade of boos. The Yellow Jackets were 0-of-10 on third downs and outrushed by almost 70 yards. Washington finished 1-of-5 passing with an interception and rushed for 10 yards on five carries.
“We’ll see; we’ll look into it and see where we are at,” Johnson said of changing quarterbacks. Washington’s backup is Vad Lee, who led the Jackets to a field goal, the only points scored by the offense. Even that drive was aided by penalties against the Cougars.
The Jackets, who had averaged 37.7 points and almost 500 yards per game, could do little right. The Cougars’ defensive line dominated the Jackets’ offensive line, which played without injured tackle Will Jackson.
As a result, the Jackets were held without a rushing touchdown for the first time since losing to Miami in 2010. It was the first time since the loss to LSU in the 2008 Chick-fil-A Bowl that Tech didn’t score a touchdown on offense.
“They were filling the holes and were very aggressive,” A-back Orwin Smith said of the Cougars. “When Tevin would get the ball, they were there. When we would get to the outside, they were there.”
Johnson said the offense could never get into a rhythm in the first half. When they did, someone would miss a read or commit a penalty to stop any momentum. Because of the issues converting third downs, Tech had only nine drives and ran only 47 plays, 13 fewer than their previous low this season.
“Just self-inflicted would be the title of this game,” center Jay Finch said.
The Cougars came to town with one of the nation’s better defenses, limiting opponents to 276.9 yards and 14 points per game.
Johnson pulled Washington after his poor throw was intercepted and eventually turned into a touchdown. The score gave the Cougars a 31-14 lead with 3:43 left in the third quarter. The Yellow Jackets were 0-for-7 on third downs to that point and had less than 100 yards in offense.
As the offense’s struggles deepened, Lee said he began trying to score on every play, not every drive.
“We knew that coming in, that what they didn’t do was they didn’t give up any cheap plays,” Johnson said. “They make you earn it, and we weren’t good enough to earn it.”
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157 comments Add your comment
it is what it is
October 28th, 2012
8:55 am
missing Chan is ignorant, do you not remember how Chan was trying to become the head coach of the Steelers and Dolphins after the Gator Bowl when GT lost to W VA? He wasn’t sticking around by choice.
doiknowu
October 28th, 2012
9:05 am
Does this mean that Tech fans are no longer “giddy” about their coach? Just a couple of seasons ago Mark Bradley and GT faithful proclaimed him the greatest coach ever.
GT in SC
October 28th, 2012
9:08 am
Sad day to be a Jacket. CPJ, it is time to go.
I would rather see a new coach and suffer next year, than keep CPJ and suffer next year with the same crap excuses he gives.The kids he still has have talent, but TO needs to go away. CPJ please take a buy out and travel back north or out west.
Ted M
October 28th, 2012
9:19 am
I really like the uniforms. Its the only good about GT football right now and likely for many years to come. Paul Johnson sucks and he can not be fired for at least 3 years.
Drad has buried the GT football program. He should be fired today.
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
October 28th, 2012
9:22 am
How’s that special teams coach working out?
carolinajacket
October 28th, 2012
9:42 am
I watched the UGA/UF and Bama/MSU games and they were almost like different sport altogether. The defenses of all four teams were so aggressive and smashmouth and the hitting/tackling so vicious that it was amazing. Yet the offensive lines were also very impressive. Such a difference. It is life the difference between the Jackets’ players and these teams’ players is the same as the difference between the Jackets’ players and PC’s players. I’m afraid that we could run any offense that there is, and the results would be the same. The cupboard is truly bare.
So?
October 28th, 2012
9:44 am
I am better off than i was four years ago. Iwish i could say the same for GT.
Road Scholar
October 28th, 2012
9:48 am
I’ve been a season ticket holder for about 30 years, and after yesterday’s game, and this season is the first time I am considering not renewing my season tickets. All the comments about the team above are true.( I dropped my BBall season tickets 2 years ago when NO CHANGE was to be found in Hewitt and his results- Ground hog days!) In addition:
1. At a home game, have you ever tried to get an important score on either the main scoreboard or those on the west stands? North Texas State against Abilene? WHO CARES! Only once did I see a score on the Ga Fla game! Other ACC scores…nilch. Nationally ranked teams…do they exist?
2. When the scores , the ones that do not matter, are posted, they are posted one at a time for what seems eternity. This is GT. We learned to read many years ago. Roll the scores up there and repeat them over time. DUH!
3. The constant commercials…loud commercials during every time out ? I know you need to raise revenue but, if I want to see commercials, I can stay at home and watch the games on TV!!!! Oh and that Chevron commercial is really sad! Winning the hungriest fan contest…and you get a small pizza and a $20 gift card for “cardboard”. Get real!
4. Concession prices.Concession selection Enough said. Let people bring food to the game.
5. Bathrooms? Have not been remodeled for at least 30 years. So attractive. I mean they don’t have to be designer, but they are an embarrassment.
6. The loudness of the PA system. Are we trying to let North Georgia hear the game on the PA system?
Some will say my comments are off base and that the peripherals do not matter. But are we going to improve the game day experience? Including the team and coaching???
Road Scholar
October 28th, 2012
9:52 am
Oh, Ted M, the uniforms this year SUCK!
Finally, did you see the empty seats at Homecoming? The other games? The past two weeks even the student crowd was down…way down. What does that say when you lose the students?
steel eye
October 28th, 2012
9:54 am
As “Todd” said, Paul Johnson has lost this team. Not only that but he has lost the fan base as well. It’s just a matter of time before he’s gone. What then??
GT
October 28th, 2012
9:57 am
This was the first game this year we were beat like Egyptian slaves. It was like playing Alabama only these guys aren’t Alabama. They outsmarted and out executed us, with average athletes. 21, Williams, was only 17 years old, what happens when he becomes a man? We ran the wrong plays, couldn’t get plays into the huddle quick enough very confused. Our special teams are as bad as they were last year if not worse. We left point on the field.
uafuneman
October 28th, 2012
10:08 am
Glad to see that special teams coach paying off. For every good play they make 10 bad plays.
Ken Sugiura
October 28th, 2012
10:08 am
the players that speak at the post-game press conference are requested through the media relations.
5150 UOAD
October 28th, 2012
10:11 am
I have not called for Tevin to be pulled yet. He has done well enough all season to keep his job UNTIL yesterday. I have to say it has to be VAD’s team now.
uafuneman
October 28th, 2012
10:11 am
Ok, everyone listen. Everyone look. Mark my word, as bad as this is right now, wait till February when these recruits jump ship. Tech will be forced to run out at the last minute and beg 7-8 kids to come play at Tech so they can get their 13-15 allotment filled.
Hedgewhacker
October 28th, 2012
10:15 am
Besides learning to tackle low and hard, the punting coach might want to consider moving the punter at least 12-15 yards off the line of scrimmage in punting situations – those additional 2-3 yards make such a difference in the ball being punted rather than blocked. The Jackets ought to try that sometime.
5150 UOAD
October 28th, 2012
10:18 am
There is TALENT at TECH. When the New Class signs I have NO FEAR we will be BETTER.
I will not throw the players under the bus.
Have they played their best? Maybe but I doubt it.
Is it coaching?
Some YES and much NO. The LACK of tackling/wrapping up has hurt us on many plays.
At time the coaching didn’t have us in place to make a play but other time we were in position to make a play but filed to TACKLE and that is on the players.
This SEASON could be just what the players need. They are having to fight through PAIN and come together and fin a NEW LEVEL of dedication .
I do think it is VAD TIME.
5150 UOAD
October 28th, 2012
10:20 am
The PUNTING FORMATION SUCKS.
They blocked 1 punt and a shot at blocking 2 more.
5150 UOAD
October 28th, 2012
10:20 am
Tech will have a GREAT KICKER next year.
GT Pa
October 28th, 2012
10:22 am
The BYU game will save a lot of time reviewing tapes. Very little to learn from so many mistakes after eight games.
Special teams play has all but dried up since the ST coach moved over to help with defense. Put him back. Hard to believe there isn’t one kid in the intramural league who can’t be recruited to consistently kick a 25 yard field goal.
I know the saying is you don’t “rebuild” in college because you owe the seniors. But the seniors are letting the team down. Time to let the underclassmen prepare for next year.
And perhaps it is time for CPJ to build an offense around the talent he has, rather than try and make good players learn this offense. Love it at Navy and Air Force, but maybe, just maybe, their players are not only talented, but smart enough to make it work well.
Empty Seats
October 28th, 2012
10:23 am
“We’ll see.” – pj is so lost in the woods he doesn’t even know who will start.
Or he doesn’t want to tip off the opponent re: strategy. Funny.
D-rad, the head of the athletic department violated NCAA instructions to the tune of Scholarships and ACC title. No repercussions. Just arrogance. What other head of an organization can thumb his nose at regulators, damage the organization he is responsible for and keep his large salary with benefits? Enjoy Bureaucrat! On us. The Georgia taxpayer and GT alum whom you are embarrassing.
This coupled withe the fact the athletes do not relate, understand, and/or respect he coaches and Athletic Department head might be why they have quit. Doesn’t take a Psychology Degree to figure this out.
In the mean time just – wondering if pj punched someone, hung himself, or degraded a challenged person after the game? All these things motivate players and build respect, not.
These clowns do not represent Tech. Who the Hell is in charge of these pathetic bureaucrats?
Beat UGA
October 28th, 2012
10:52 am
Why are we paying this clown, imho, millions of dollars? It is more than time to give up the sport of football, reduce student fees, demolish the stadium and add another parking deck.
5150 UOAD
October 28th, 2012
10:57 am
Beat UGA…………WHAT DO YOU PAY……
5150 UOAD
October 28th, 2012
11:10 am
New BLOG RULE:
If you want to Complain and tell us how GT needs to change and you want a new coach you have to do a few things.
1.) Give you SEAT location for the Football, Baseball or Basketball games you have tickets for.
2.) Name the Coach that should replace the current coach.
3.) Give a Dollar amount you will PAY to buyout the current coach you want gone.
SEC 224 row 7 seat 3&4 DODD
Don’t want to replace JOHNSON
$0.00 right now.
strong finish
October 28th, 2012
11:18 am
Enter your comments here
Take The Wheel
October 28th, 2012
11:28 am
The problem here is not as much lack of talent as it is either physical fitness and/or mental disconnect. This is almost the same bunch that started 6-0 last season. They have enough talent to compete… at least better than they did yesterday. I dont think they are entirely healthy. I’ll just leave it at that…
The fans may have officially succeeded at breaking TW’s spirit. He may be done. I can only imagine being literally boo’d at your own homecoming game. Losing or not thats sacrilege. We’re talking about a young man who has sacrificed his body in good effort all year for the good of the team…
Be assured this mentally tanked everyone on the team maybe except Lee.
I say its time for Vad. Thats right – Im flipping positions! GT fans deserve it and its about time for Vad to be on the end of some of these losses. He may as well be introduced to life of a GT player.
1 4 GT
October 28th, 2012
11:35 am
Saw the comments about punts & punter lining up 12-15 yds back. For years now, at the college & pro level, it has been the norm (standard practice for the Athenians) for the punter to line up 15 yards from the LOS (ball). Yesterday, I guess I was watching with a more critical eye, I noticed we had 2 or 3 punts nearly blocked. Then BYU did block one & recovered the ball at our 9 yard line=TD in 1 or 2 plays. Next time we lined up for a punt, we had the ball at our 42 yard line (pretty sure about that) and I paid attention to where the punter lined up….12 yards back from the ball. What the HELL is up with that? COACHING?? Then the punt only went 28 yards! Punter was too worried about another block & rushed himself maybe? Has our new ST coach installed the change of being 3 yards closer to the guys trying to block the punt? Is this by design? The kid is a True Freshman, Ryan Rodwell….did he make a mistake & line up 12 yards back like he did in high school? IDK (I don’t know for the leg humpers). Whether by design or mistake, it’s COACHING!! And it isn’t working!!
Take The Wheel
October 28th, 2012
11:37 am
Fan reaction is definitely predictable. Fans want perfection yet continue to be the WORST FAN BASE ever. Even for a homecoming the whole campus was DEAD!! Stands had just as many BYU fans as Tech, and to top it off we boo’d our own player!
Isnt’ playing at home supposed to be an advantage?? I dont think it is for our players…
GTFan
October 28th, 2012
11:37 am
Johnson: ‘We’ll see’ on starting QB for Maryland
Are you freaking kidding me? NOBODY WANTS WASHINGTON!!!! Get it through your head. Did you not hear the cheers yesterday when Lee came in?
Empty Seats
October 28th, 2012
11:38 am
I hope a great kicker fixes things from the top. I feel sorry for the athletes and their dreams, I do not blame them.
New AD: Mark Price, John Sally, etc, someone with a vested interest in Tech an a Tech Management Degree. Out of all the athletes we have graduated for MGT school, I would be willing to bet there is a candidate with credentials and an interest in GT.
Then let them select and manage the coaches, etc. I think it would help the situation some. As if it would take much.
Who is in charge of the bureaucrats?
GT Joe
October 28th, 2012
11:39 am
Take the wheel: it takes a big woman to admit you were wrong about Tevin…but don’t blame the fans for his downfall…to me, its shocking this was the FIRST time he was booed.
Let the Age of Vad begin.
JoeFan
October 28th, 2012
11:40 am
As much as it seems a change in head coaches is warranted, don’t believe that will happen until season’s end. It will happen because DRad has no other choice but to find the money and send CPH packing otherwise he will selling tickets for 10 cents on the dollar just to get people in the seats in 2013.Tech footall is a mess and its time to start the house cleaning.
ramblingbuzz
October 28th, 2012
11:41 am
Don’t even care any more. This team is not even competetive against decent teams. Fortunately there are only 3 or 4 of those in the ACC.
North Ave Killer Beez
October 28th, 2012
11:42 am
Next season starts NOW!!! CPJ whom is obviously going to be our coach sad to say needs to swollow his pride and start studying Chip Kelly’s playbook…maybe keep running the pistol, try and see what suits Vad best. If this arrogant old fart still won’t make a change at qb and possibly his system to better suit what we do have on campus then I just don’t know what to do, maybe crawl into a dark hole until basketball season starts : (
1 4 GT
October 28th, 2012
11:42 am
Take the Wheel….fans shouldn’t boo huh??? Those of us who shell out hard earned money, attend the games, for the most part suffer (this season in particular) thru the teams ineptitude in relatively little booing, Have the $$$$ paid for right to express ourselves. That being said, I was rather taken about at the volume of the booing. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
GTFan
October 28th, 2012
11:45 am
Who wants to come to games when the same crap keeps happening? Tevin Washington got boo’d because he sucks!!!! Time and time again he shows he is worthless. Also, the playing calling was awful so boo’s were thrown there too.
Arob
October 28th, 2012
11:46 am
Uoad,
Give it a rest. Not all tech grads can have season tickets. If you live two states away and have 3 kids running in different directions, you pretty much have to catch the action on tv or the Internet!
This is an opinion blog and everybody’s entitled to theirs. And mine is that this coach has been a failure. His system will never work at this level. And he can’t recruit or utilize his best talent effectively. The sooner he is gone the better.
joe schmoe
October 28th, 2012
11:49 am
Yea, I booed… so what? Am I supposed to give a nice golf clap every time the crap doesn’t work? Some of you guys are lifeless. I spend good hard money as a booster/season ticket holder, and expect results.
GT FAN FOREVER
October 28th, 2012
11:52 am
UGA fans always want to fire their football coach after every tough loss. GT fans should be better than that. Coach Paul Johnson has been successful as GT football coach until this season. We should stand behind our coach and our football program during these tough times and give them a chance to straighten things out. Firing Al Groh was a step in the right direction. It will take some time to fix the damage he did to our program. The future is bright. Vad Lee will start every game next season, and he will be the next Josh Nesbitt with regards to running the option but with better passing ability which will be a killer combination. We have been through tough times before and GT always figures it out. Remember, Bobby Ross had some tough seasons before he won national championship.
5150 UOAD
October 28th, 2012
11:52 am
Arob…….you don’t have to go to the games.
IF you want change then PAY money for the change.
I gave a few rules for people to say why their opinion should matter.
If yo don’t go to the games
If you don’t pay money to get the coach out
If you don’t have a SOLUTION to the problem
then your crying is worthless and should fall on deaf ears.
We had a BYU fan drive from JAX to meet us at the tailgate and see BYU play.
Big Jim
October 28th, 2012
11:55 am
To all the Johnson cool aid drinkers starting day 1 of this disaster 5 yrs ago:
TOLD YOU SO!!!!!
Or
Do you get it now???
Or
This bumbling red neck will KILL our program for yrs to come!!
Or……
Please feel free to refer to ANY of my post or WnE’s over the past 5 yrs.
5150 UOAD
October 28th, 2012
11:55 am
joe schmoe….. YOU didn’t give your seat location so why do we think you are telling the truth? We don’t have to use real names so HOW do we know what you say is the honest truth?
5150 UOAD
October 28th, 2012
11:58 am
Jc Lanier
about a minute ago ·
Praying for Marcus Lattimore and his family stay strong and keep the faith
God will get you through this
Yes the TECH players are BAD people…..
joe schmoe
October 28th, 2012
12:02 pm
5150 I see you on here all the time, as I am on here all the time, but I honestly dont give a damn whether or not you think I am or am not telling the truth…. Take it face value. I was there, like all the rest of the games for the years I have been a season ticket holder. I think people booed more at Johnson’s stubbornness to leave Tevin in producing = 0 results. Even Lee, our backup got 3 on the board. Jeeze, it really isnt hard.
Big Jim
October 28th, 2012
12:03 pm
GT fan forever…..God love ya bro! But you are just plain stupid….
I was there booing too, but NOT at TW, he is a great kid. He just is not a D1 starting QB. Which makes sense, his coach is simply NOT a D1 head coach, period.
This silly offense will never work at this level. I just don’t know why people like you can’t see that.
Actually, next year (do I sound like a UGA fan)...
October 28th, 2012
12:04 pm
…is when the O line SHOULD be great – everyone comes back except Uzzi –
And, while I think that Vad should be given a chance, just as he was given a chance yesterday, during which he FAILED miserably, except when aided by 45 yards in penalties against BYU ( and he still only produced 3 points), the worst QB in Tech history is still Reggie, who sealed his fate when he failed to remember how to count to 4 while playing against Tech’s biggest rival…
See above post, Joe Schmoe...
October 28th, 2012
12:07 pm
…about Vad’s abilities and how he got those “3″ points – TW led the team to 3 points, too, only the kicker missed the FG, and TW was not aided by 45 yards in penalties…but, having said that, it really may be time for a change at QB, at least until Vad or Justin proves they cannot lead, which, evidently, is WHY they do not play more – they cannot to CPJ’s satisfaction in practice so why chance their “leadership” in games…
billyho55
October 28th, 2012
12:12 pm
tired,
I’M TIRED OF FANS LIKE YOU WHO ONLY ROOT FOR TECH IF WE ARE HAVING A GOOD YEAR! IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO CONTINUE TO SHOW UNDYING LOYALTY TO THIS TEAM AND SCHOOL THEN BY ALL MEANS , HIT THE EFFING BRICKS! I AM TIRED OF THIS BS AS WELL BUT YOU WILL NEVER READ ANY STATEMENTS FROM MYSELF THAT INCLUDE GIVING UP ON “MY TEAM!” YOU CAN VERY EASILY BE REPLACED WITH SOMEONE WHO WILL BE LOYAL AND DEDICATED TO THE CAUSE! AS I PREVIOUSLY STATED, BEAT IT PUNK, WE DON’T NEED YOU!
GT GRAD
October 28th, 2012
12:16 pm
Coach PJ and his offense are not the problem…….if I get a vote; I vote that we definitely keep Coach PJ. BYU is a VERY good team. GT is simply not playing well this season………Coach PJ will figure it out and right the ship.
QB is NOT the only glaring issue……..that said, I do think it is time to move on to Vad Lee. We need to get him more experience for next season and he probably gives us the best chance to win the remaining games this season. We also need to determine whether he is the “no-brainer” QB for next season or if we need to consider the speedy QB from Alabama (Justin Thomas I think????? his name escapes me right now).
Thanks Tevin……but it is time to move in the best interest of the GT football program.
joe schmoe
October 28th, 2012
12:17 pm
More evident of the failure of CPJ leadership abilities. His coaching is the product on the field. If the players are running around rouge, even more worrisome.