UPDATED: Tech drilled by BYU, 41-17
The defense was picked apart and battered. The offense had no magic. The special teams, save one historic kickoff return, was largely a hindrance.
Saturday, Georgia Tech lost to BYU 41-17 at Bobby Dodd Stadium in a game that contained little mystery.
“We pretty much got our tails whipped,” coach Paul Johnson said. “It was disappointing. I think we got whipped in all three phases of the game.”
With a chance to even their record and build on a convincing win over Boston College a week ago, the Yellow Jackets (3-5) continued their flailing season. Tech gave up 40 or more points for the fourth time in the past five games, had a punt blocked and failed to produce an offensive touchdown for the first time since the 2008 Chick-fil-A Bowl loss to LSU. In hopes of reviving the offense, Johnson sent in backup quarterback Vad Lee late in the third quarter. To rousing cheers, he drove the Jackets for a field goal on his first drive, but produced 16 yards of offense in his final two possessions.
Just to qualify for its 16th consecutive bowl, Tech will have to win three of its final four games. The Jackets finish with Maryland, North Carolina, Duke and Georgia. For a team that lost by 24 points at home, none of those register as expected wins.
Saturday, the defining difference between BYU and Tech was their performance on third down. The Cougars picked up first downs on 9 of 16 third downs, while the Jackets struck out on 10 third-down conversion attempts.
Defensively, Tech reverted to the form that led to the firing of defensive coordinator Al Groh. After holding Boston College to a 1-of-9 effort on third downs last Saturday, the Jackets permitted quarterback Riley Nelson to extend drives left and right with completions.
Interim defensive coordinator Charles Kelly mixed up coverages and blitzes that occasionally produced results. He sent seven defenders at Nelson on a 3rd-and-8 on the game’s opening possession, but Nelson answered it with a 15-yard completion.
One of Tech’s highlights, a 22-yard interception return for a first-quarter touchdown by safety Isaiah Johnson, came on a third down in which Tech rushed three and dropped eight into coverage. But the Jackets couldn’t disrupt Nelson with any frequency and also missed a slew of tackles, a problem that plagued the defense under Groh but had abated in the Boston College game.
Tech also had trouble with BYU running back Jamaal Williams, a 17-year-old freshman who dinged the Jackets for 107 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
The BYU defense, ranked No. 8 in the country against the run, needed no help, but the Jackets abetted the Cougars with penalties, missed blocks and faulty reads on the option. Not counting a kneeldown at the end of the first half, Tech had nine possessions and couldn’t hold the ball for more than six plays on seven of them. The Jackets ran just 47 plays, a little more than half the 91 they ran against Boston College and the fewest of any game in Johnson’s tenure. BYU’s 38:59 time of possession was also an opponent high in the Johnson era.
“It’s obvious that we’ve got to do a lot better,” Lee said. “We’ve got to clean up a lot of things.”
The big plays that this offense needs to expand its margin for error never materialized. Tech had been averaging six plays per game of 20 yards or more. Saturday, the Cougars held them to one, a 22-yard run by A-back Robbie Godhigh.
“They make you earn it, and we weren’t good enough to earn it,” Johnson said. “We’d self-inflict wounds.”
Asked if this was the worst offensive game of his five-year tenure, Johnson replied, “I’m sure it is.”
Only Isaiah Johnson’s interception return and Jamal Golden’s 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown – the Jackets’ first such score since 1998 – kept Tech in the game, which was 24-14 in BYU’s favor at halftime. The game tilted in the third quarter when quarterback Tevin Washington, pressured by BYU end Ezekiel Ansah, threw an interception deep in Tech territory that was returned to the Tech 2-yard line. A one-yard touchdown run by Williams pushed BYU to a 31-14 lead with 3:43 left in the third quarter and released any remaining suspense.
The Jackets will return to work Monday, trying to find answers that have eluded them for the larger part of eight games.
“I don’t know,” said Johnson, asked to explain how his team could be playing beneath expectations. I don’t have an explanation for you.”
By Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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473 comments Add your comment
super
October 28th, 2012
1:08 am
Dawg
DORKS R US
October 28th, 2012
1:09 am
Fact.. What bowl game will u be attending this year??
FLY SWATTER
October 28th, 2012
1:09 am
YOU YELLOW FLIES WILL GET ANOTHER REAL BEAT DOWN COME NOVEMBER I ATHENS. YOU ARE A SICKENING TEAM
DORKS R US
October 28th, 2012
1:12 am
Fact.. 5000 fans booing the home team. Must be the JOKE BY COKE
DORKS R US
October 28th, 2012
1:14 am
Another drunk or senile GT fan!! You would have to be drunk or over 65 to pull for these losers
DORKS R US
October 28th, 2012
1:14 am
GO 2 BED WASPS
Todd Grantham
October 28th, 2012
1:14 am
I’m drunk. Who wants to head butt a chain saw.
GAILEY
October 28th, 2012
1:16 am
YOU WISH I WERE BACK I KNOW. YOUR HEAD COACH PAUL JOHNSON WILL GET THE AX THIS YEAR. NO KEEP,GEORGIA LOVES HIM!!! WE DAWGS OWN THIS STATE
DORKS R US
October 28th, 2012
1:16 am
Fact?? U up hot rod
DORKS R US
October 28th, 2012
1:18 am
WE OWN THIS STATE
DORKS R US
October 28th, 2012
1:19 am
AGAIN WE OWN THIS MOFO
DORKS R US
October 28th, 2012
1:20 am
Y’all some bitches
DORKS R US
October 28th, 2012
1:25 am
Sorry about my time lapse..victory head! Fact 4 real
HIVPositive
October 28th, 2012
1:26 am
Will Tech fans finally quit bragging about the 2008 win over Georgia, and realize Tech suck!
GTLi4er
October 28th, 2012
1:31 am
I want Paul Johnson fired! We only scored 17 points against BYU, and their defense is horrible this season! Who does that fall on? Paul Johnson!!!!!!!!!! FIRE HIM!!!!
Whopper Dawg
October 28th, 2012
1:39 am
Juat a moment, could someone please call BYU back on the field????
It is obvious they did not hear that Paul Johnson is a genius.
I demand a replay. When they realize what they are up against, surly we will have a different outcome.
Seriously. The guy can really coach. Maybe not D1, but somewhere.
NewCoach
October 28th, 2012
2:13 am
how much longer will the Ga Tech president keep the AD and paul johnson around?? both need to go, asap!
LouisD
October 28th, 2012
2:41 am
It’s just not smart to disrespect the opponent, especially a BYU team that lost 3 of 4 games on one bad play and 7 total points, 3 to ranked teams including Notre Dame in South Bend last week in the closing moments of the game. BYU has the 4th best defense in the country and when they execute, they can be formidable offensively. Let’s stop thinking they aren’t a good team, more snake bit at 5-4 than anything else.
On the side, my father passed away last year, but he was a Yellow Jacket through and through, a rocket scientist who founded the Delta Rocket Program and was Program Manager developing Skylab for Douglas. Dad was a huge Jacket fan till then end of his life. I am a proud BYU Cougar. I couldn’t lose today. I love Tech & BYU. Atlanta was gracious and I hope these two teams play again and again till the end of my days. God bless this great Nation, Georgia Tech and BYU.
James Jordan
October 28th, 2012
6:08 am
Paul Johnson needs to go. I’ve been a die hard Tech fan sense I was a kid, (51 now) and will grow old and die hard a Tech fan – but this is one coach that needs to find something else in life to do!
CloudmanJacket
October 28th, 2012
6:09 am
I love how CPJ says they got beat at all 3 phases of the game…Offense, defense, and special teams. His problem is he forgot the most important phase of the game…coaching. We got beat at all 4 phases of the game and coaching was the most glaring one. He NEVER admits any responsibility in preperation, his high school offense, or lack of recruiting. It is time to send CPJ packing.
...Feels like Bill Lewis
October 28th, 2012
7:18 am
Just sayin’
GTRich
October 28th, 2012
7:30 am
Tech’s or rather PJ’s triple option has no longer been a mystery so it’s time to cut our ties with this one trick pony. Tech can still recruit good receivers so get a coach who can coach the traditional game. The kids will be happy to finally modernize their game and improve their chances of getting drafted.
This has been a frustrating year. I hope we won’t get a bowl bid because we will get our butts kicked again. Rad cut lose PJ and bring O’leary back.
SOWEGA GT
October 28th, 2012
7:35 am
I agree with every negative comment posted. Let me add one: ugly uniforms that resemble a third rate high school team.
jacketman
October 28th, 2012
7:37 am
its time for cpj to go! cant blame it on the fired d coordinator now! cpj hasnt done nothing since chan gaileys recruits left….he recruits like he is still at ga southern!
gt life
October 28th, 2012
8:18 am
Vad does not suck…..he was put in a bad spot yesterday…..with a no pass offense that had to pass…..with little experience…..CPJ’s fault……I’m ready for a push for Ralph Friedgen….I have had enough of this no option offense
dale in newnan
October 28th, 2012
8:22 am
As A UGA fan I would be looking forward to this years game except we have bigger fish to fry.
TechRon
October 28th, 2012
8:23 am
It could only have been worse if Al Groh had still been around. Tech might as well clean house and start over. PJ was a foolish experiment from the start. This will be our worst year in 30 years or so. Wretched job by all involved. Grade: F.
gt life
October 28th, 2012
8:35 am
Tech Ron………30 years?….Did you forget about Bill Lewis?….not in 30 years…..worst in 20
RALPH FRIEDGEN RALPH FRIEDGEN
MrDan
October 28th, 2012
8:37 am
Tech fans. Anyone want to sell their UGA tix?
Hey SuperSize - Hey UOAD
October 28th, 2012
8:43 am
Hey anybody that has been tooting that GT horn. Where are you now that you have been exposed as a laughable football program. Prepare for a beat-down by DUKE – holy cow DUKE – yes DUKE.
Where is that talk of winning the ACC Hahahahahahahahahaha?. How is that TO offense working for you now? How is that genius coach working out? Where is that nonsensical blather about “Nobody can stop this offense”?
CPJ has built a roster that has maybe 5 players that could fill special team spots on a real football team.
Fasten your chin straps techies the ride down is going to be fast furious.
Techie
October 28th, 2012
8:43 am
CPJ outdated scheme’s won’t cut it. Get a coach who can coach the talent to win. Shouldn’t have got rid of Chan Gailey in the first place. CPJ have to gooooooo!
Get a pro level experienced pro level coach. Few good ones are available.
Go Jackets
October 28th, 2012
8:50 am
Guys/gals….we have NO players. The scheme should be sound, the defense should be okay, but Johnson cannot/will not/shall not recruit. When he is fired after next year, our cupboard will be SOOOO bare that it will be a 3 year run before we can compete again. Face it, johson will be back after this season for finanical reasons, then shown the door after next years 6-6 campaign. We CN get the athletes with the right coach. For those naysayers see notre Dame and Stanford as paradigms as to how to recruit to a REAL academic institution. We can do it. O’Leary should still be here, if only Braine wda ponied up.
TechRon
October 28th, 2012
8:53 am
one more point about PJ: When he gets fired from Tech (soon, I hope) who is going to be fool enough to hire him? Nobody. Even at the small college level they have modern offenses now. His option might work at the high school level with the right personnel, but not in college anymore. It only works against a slower, smaller opponent. That’s it, bottom line.
At least he has a whole lot of money that we paid him. If he is smart (and we all know he is a genius) he should never have to work again.
GTGRAD88
October 28th, 2012
8:59 am
This is exactly what we should expect with poor recruiting and even more pathetic coaching. DRAD, either make a change, or you will be a part of the change.
Go Jackets
October 28th, 2012
9:00 am
How does rippin Fish Fry turn into a troll blog about who makes more money….getta life guys.
Capt. Obvious
October 28th, 2012
9:17 am
Man Ken, your job is easy. All you have to do is change the name of the opposing team in your headline….
“Tech Drilled by this week”s opponent”
yellow britches
October 28th, 2012
9:17 am
Blah, blah, blah. Are the folks who comment here jock sniffers or the sort who slow down at car wrecks hoping to see the jaws of life extricate a corpse? Pick your own analogy. I am done with comments, advice and season ticket purchases. As Furman Bisher used to say, Shelah.
Bobo
October 28th, 2012
9:23 am
It pains me to say this, because I like Paul Johnson, but the end is near. The team has clearly tuned him out and we are spinning out of control. Tevin Washington should be kicked off the team for his sideline stunts, but I’m not sure that even that would send a message to this group of quitters.
Since we aren’t going to lure the right kind of coach to this situation right now (David Shaw would be the perfect coach for Tech), we need a plan B.
I agree with whoever said Ralph Friedgen. Give the guy a 3 year contract and tell him to go for broke, with the understanding that he’s to develop the next coach-in-waiting. Friedgen is not a friendly man, with regard to mediocrity. It was HIS butt-chewings and demanding personality that transformed Joe Hamilton from what Vad Lee is now to 2nd in the Heisman. He somehow managed to average 8 wins at Maryland, which is a minor miracle. Not to mention, the chance to get even with Maryland should be something of an incentive to work cheaply.
wastedyears
October 28th, 2012
9:24 am
maybe tech should get out of contact sports altogether this …football thing…really is not working out for them anymore, or maybe go and join another conference..maybe they have a opening somewhere in flag football…im just saying…
BORAT YAGADOV
October 28th, 2012
9:24 am
2012 Headlines:
Georgia Tech’s program is sinking.
Georgia Tech sets stadium record with 12 people in the stands.
Paul Johnson is a High School football coach.
Tech sucks!
Over in Athens UGA just beat the #2 team in the country! LOL!!! We own this state!!!
Blaster
October 28th, 2012
9:24 am
I think that on November 24 the leghumpers are going to lay one on Tech that will break the all-time scoring record in the series. Anybody out there feel comfortable with Jackets and +50 ?
Bobo
October 28th, 2012
9:25 am
Another suggestion for D-Rad’s replacement……he’s right down the street and his name is Bill Curry.
wastedyears
October 28th, 2012
9:25 am
oh and i really like coach johnson he fits tech very well
DawgByte
October 28th, 2012
9:27 am
I have paid much attention to Tech, but ever time their games show up in my NCAA college football pool picks I’m always betting against the Yellow Jackets. So far this season I’m batting 1000% by picking your opponents. Thanks Tech for sucking so badly!
UGA 17
Florida 9
Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Dawgs sic’em woof, woof, woof!!!
wastedyears
October 28th, 2012
9:28 am
breaking news we have a spot in my 8 yr olds little league ….im just saying
Bobo
October 28th, 2012
9:29 am
I know it won’t happen, but here’s the ONLY way this season would be worth it….
1) Tech continues to struggle and goes into the UGA game looking pathetic.
2) Meanwhile UGA runs the table and comes in at 10-1, ranked 3rd and pushing for a national title.
3) The UGA team that played South Carolina shows up that day.
4) GT plays out of their minds and recovers 5 or 6 turnovers.
5) Tech squeaks out a 30-27 victory, dropping UGA to 10-2.
6) UGA is denied any shot at a national title, thanks to losing to a horrible Tech team.
7) UGA enters the SEC title game totally deflated and is beaten 63-7……or I can’t decide…..They somehow pull off a miracle and beat Bama, but it doesn’t matter…..they can’t get into the title game and neither can any other SEC team.
Dan Da Man
October 28th, 2012
9:29 am
As a UGA fan, I’m loving reading all the ignorant and delusional comments!
BORAT YAGADOV
October 28th, 2012
9:29 am
2012 Scoreline:
UGA 137
GT 0
wastedyears
October 28th, 2012
9:30 am
tech has the acc right where they want them
Ranger Jacket
October 28th, 2012
9:30 am
Those years of 7-5 or 8-4 sure look good now.