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
Bobo
October 28th, 2012
9:31 am
If we can’t be happy, why should UGA be happy? Someone needs to publish Mark Richt’s, Aaron Murray’s, and Todd Gurley’s phone numbers the night before the game and hundreds of people need to call them and keep them up all night.
Mr BUG
October 28th, 2012
9:31 am
Maybe we can learn something from all this – you can still be a very good team even without Top 20 recruiting classes. BYU, Boise State, Stanford, ect. all recruit to about GT’s level in terms of final rankings. Yet those teams seem to play fundamentally great football. They commit few penalties, they play very physically, they tackle and block well, and the players are accountable for their assignments. Overall they are very disciplined. Sure they may not compete for national championships, but at least they are competitive. Our football team should strive to be like that. But it all comes down to coaching and instilling this type of expectations into the players.
BORAT YAGADOV
October 28th, 2012
9:32 am
Memo To GT Athletic Director:
Please give Paul Johnson a contract extension!
Bobo
October 28th, 2012
9:33 am
Dan Da Man…..we suck out loud this year, but we can still be consoled by the fact that UGA threw their season away in Columbia and has NO CHANCE to play in the national title. You guys will look like we have all year long against Bama.
Tech Alum
October 28th, 2012
9:34 am
Even when Tech wins, the game is not much fun to watch. I want to see a traditional offense.
BORAT YAGADOV
October 28th, 2012
9:34 am
2012:
UGA 7-1
GT 3-5
Doh!!!
Bobo
October 28th, 2012
9:37 am
Mr Bug, I hate to bust your bubble, but Stanford and Boise State recruit WAY better talent than what we’ve been getting. Look at Stanford’s NFL draft last year…..four 1st rounders and every one of those guys was a 5 star talent. Those teams may start 3 star guys at several positions, but they have tons more 4 and 5 star guys than we do. We don’t have ANY player resembling an Andrew Luck, Coby Fleener, or David Castro.
BORAT YAGADOV
October 28th, 2012
9:38 am
Memo to Tech fans:
Give UGA fans a call when you learn how to play big boy football. We should take you off of our schedule you suck so bad.
steel eye
October 28th, 2012
9:42 am
I’ve been a Tech fan for over fifty years. I’ve seen some great teams and I’ve seen some p…poor teams. This one may be the worst.
Chuck T
October 28th, 2012
9:43 am
Georgia Tech needs a new head coach more han a hog needs slop !!
steaming pile
October 28th, 2012
9:49 am
wow, them mormans can kick some tech butt–soft, soft soft–4th and dumb reggie needs to coach
Bobo
October 28th, 2012
9:51 am
BYU has an easier time recruiting than we do, because every good recruit probably has about 20 brothers too from his mom and her sister wives. Maybe next time we need to tell BYU that there are golden tablets hidden somewhere in the stadium to distract them.
Hedgewhacker
October 28th, 2012
9:58 am
Note to all you Georgie fans sober enough to read this comment this morning: You didn’t beat the #2 team in the Country yesterday. You beat a vastly overrated team in year two of its rebuilding program with an ex-Georgie coach in over his head. Save your hootin’, braggin’ and stupid comments until you beat a Top-25 team or some worthy adversary. And, no, Ole Miss, Southern, and Tech won’t count. Now go back to your dump blogs and let the State’s most historic and revered college football program analyze its loss to BYU intelligently without spooping so low as to respond to the waste you’re putting on here. Many thanks.
steaming pile
October 28th, 2012
10:03 am
spooping? florida would kill tech and you know it–by the way happy halloween
Lastdraw
October 28th, 2012
10:14 am
I’m appalled the CPJ when asked about the game and the loss hevjust didn’t say, “we were terribly out-coached” ! It just kills me that he accepts no responsibility publicly. Tech athletics, for the most part, are a train wreck. We know where systemic issues like this point…… It is time for the institution’s leader step up and be a leader. It should not be embarrassing to be a Tech fan and alum. But it is!! Time for a change
Clyde
October 28th, 2012
10:51 am
Having been born in Georgia, I think it’s a shame to see people on here that are Georgia fans run their mouths about other fans from Georgia. Do you have no respect for fellow Georgians? I look at people with Bulldog attire and tags/stickers on their cars, think about stuff that I read on here and it makes me feel sorry for them, pathetic and embarrassing.
Blue Flame
October 28th, 2012
10:53 am
One more vote for “Johnson must go”.
Might as well let him finish out this season, it’s already over. Plus it would be too big of a change this late in the season for the young players on the team. Just tough it out the rest of the season, end this failed experiment, and start over next year.
I dread the Georgia game.
Paul Hewitt now coaching football
October 28th, 2012
11:04 am
Wake up DRad and listen to your customer base. The stands are emptying and so will your GTAA dollars. Unlike UGA, Tech fans won’t continue to support a program that doesn’t want to win. It is true we aren’t football drones and see life outside of stadiums, but if you want people to open their wallets you’d best make changes and make them soon. This season is a total loss which is sad for the players. If Paul Johnson can’t explain why they lost he should be shown the door today along with his staff. The team will be no worse for it. I love Tech and try to support the teams whenever I can but even I have limits. You’re producing an inferior product and unlike UGA, Tech fans won’t blindly follow. If you think we’re kidding just watch ticket sales over the next nine months. Our coaches gave up long ago. You’re no better than PJ if you do nothing to change it. If you can’t bring yourself to do what needs to be done then you should be shown the door as well. Money talks and yours is walking out the door.
...
October 28th, 2012
11:07 am
/
doc
October 28th, 2012
11:09 am
can we get pepper back?
awful.
a team in disarray
no confidence in themselves nor their coach.
where from here?
down? not much further but only to bill lewis territory.
it will be hard to right the ship now
what ya ole cronies that led this movement, got to say now about the old administration that aimed so low, you thought, told it like it is, so never had losing years like this? kind of a little quiet now are you. dont like crow i guess.
i honestly wasnt one to embrace the hire of cpj to meet the objectives he was hired for; to beat uga and take the program to 9 win years. i did feet in the acc he could keep the bees on par with the last regime or at least hold his own, without slippage. i didnt expect this for sure. was kind of, ho hum guys, see where this gets us and be careful what you ask for.
right now, it is not about beating uga. it is about beating anyone with substance and not losing to clearly inferior teams. anyone see the score of mtsu game against msu? then check out msu against the tide? folks, we might not be a whole lot better than ga state before this is over.
sorry, no one should come on this blog and embarrass it any more saying anything derogatory about the dogs in any way. folks we got enough probs of our own to not worry about anyone else for a while, a long f*cking while.
thanks again to old grads that got the ball rolling to do it their way. cpj understands us, glad he does because few in the world can now.
will bball come back to save us or haunt us further? anyway right around the corner.
UGA keeping it classy
October 28th, 2012
11:12 am
Poor Clyde. As a life long Georgian I can’t believe you’re surprised. Not all UGA fans are classless but most of them on the Tech blogs are. I wonder if they’re still calling for Richt to be fired? They do offer some humor value though.
...
October 28th, 2012
11:12 am
…
Clyde
October 28th, 2012
11:15 am
Poor me? My life is going well bud. I woke up, not hungover because I’m not a drunk, and am feeling great! My life doesn’t revolve around football or putting other people down. Well, I try not to put other people down but some people wear their miserable lives on their sleeves and make it obvious by their actions and their words.
5150 UOAD
October 28th, 2012
11:16 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.
CPJ HAS TO GO
October 28th, 2012
11:17 am
NOTE: ACJ is now censoring this blog to stop GT Alumni saying we all should stop buying tickets and donaton untile changes are made .. keep demanding CPJ firing at every avenue you can.
5150 UOAD
October 28th, 2012
11:20 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.
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.
The PUNTING FORMATION SUCKS.
They blocked 1 punt and a shot at blocking 2 more.
Tech will have a GREAT KICKER next year.
10per
October 28th, 2012
11:23 am
I’m not on the fire CPJ train just yet.
I am on the “Can we please run more than 5 plays” train though. We are such limited options (ironic) that other teams can pretty much stop us on any given 2 out of 3 downs.
Run the dive until it stalls.
Pitch to the outside.
Throw on 3rd and long.
Defense…I have no idea what is going on. I am thinking the wheels have come off the wagon.
doc
October 28th, 2012
11:28 am
yawn, first it is a blog.
prob is that is just the arrogance that is expected of so many techies and why casual fans dont come, though i am far casual.
i wont pay for arrogance to run the program further in the hole. you can use your discretionary money anyway you want.
see you got to give folks a reason to be there, in this world.
or you can sit in empty seats with all the other ghosts of ga tech.
your approach is exactly why you have to suffer every week and pretend to see something of value.
the land of free speech and your opinion, me mine.
he that doth protests loudest? hmmm
GT1990
October 28th, 2012
11:28 am
Tech will fire CPJ at season end. Not going to say who said what and provide information to you guys. He has one more chance to beat UGA which we all know want happen. SAD times at GT right now! Who on here thinks TW should be the starter?
Steve
October 28th, 2012
11:30 am
Har har har har! At least you dorks know that by not going to a bowl game you won’t lose the 7th one in a row!
5150 UOAD
October 28th, 2012
11:38 am
Steve..har har har ,,,,,,UGa might actually play a bowl game where they don’t have equal talent and get KILLED. UGa will not get to lose to a UCF or MSU this time. Will that make you feel better? See PMS MURRAY suck some more in BIG games.
GT1990
October 28th, 2012
11:44 am
@5151
As much as i hate UGA just shut your mouth bashing them. You have no room to speak!
5150 UOAD
October 28th, 2012
11:46 am
19GT09……………STFU……………I can say what I want.
USMC DAWG
October 28th, 2012
11:49 am
Tough Loss for Jacket Fans! Almost as ugly as our victory yesterday against the #2 Florida Gators.
I usually come to Coach Johnson’s defense after some of these losses, but after yesterday’s drubbing by BYU, I think some of this years problems fall squarely on Paul Johnson’s shoulders.
I think CPJ needs to “up his game” in the recruiting department during the off-season. Watching the game yesterday with my best friend (a Jacket fan), I realized that Tech is sorely lacking talent and that falls on CPJ. His offense works, but he needs the right players to run it.
(BTW: I am happy UGA won, but not proud of our players’ lack of discipline. That falls on CMR)
Go DAWGS!
Steve
October 28th, 2012
11:53 am
That all ya got 5150? Talking about a UGA bowl game from a few years ago when Tech hasn’t won a bowl game in 6-7 years? Hilarious. Love how bad Tech is.
Freddie Blassie
October 28th, 2012
11:54 am
The coach did not miss tackles and fail to perform. The players lost this game, not the coach. You bed wetters can whine all you want about CPJ but the fact is that the players are feeling sorry for themselves. Put them on the bench and put players on the field who want to perform.
USMC DAWG
October 28th, 2012
12:00 pm
I gotta give it to FREDDIE. There is no way around the fact that the PLAYERS have to execute the plays on the field. I still think CPJ is one of the best X’s & O’s pffensive minds, but if the players don’t execute the plays…. The coach can’t run the ball, make tackles, etc. So, well said Freddie!
Jacket Dad
October 28th, 2012
12:02 pm
I grow weary. Wish I could just move on with life and not care about GT football, but in my heart I’m still a fan. With every week, comes more bad news and “what ifs”. I’m a realist and really never thought we could compete with the big boys on a regular basis, but did hope and dream of a team that came to play, gelled as a team, gave it 100% for 4 quarters and left each game saying “we gave it our all”.
I don’t see or feel that. I see a team with no heart or passion. I see a coach and staff that for whatever reason do not develop their players and inspire them to come together as a team. I see a head coach so set in his ways that he is killing this team. And I see a fan base that simply can’t suffer through many more games where, even when we’re ahead, always have this sinking feeling we are going to blow it. (And watch Johnson go conservative……and play not to lose.)
Wow, that was a downer. So guess what, I’ll continue supporting my Jackets. Still have the plate on my car and flags on game days. Still wear GT shirts in public. Still extremely proud of my son who graduated with a degree from GT and is reaching great heights.
GO JACKETS!!!!
Dadgum.....
October 28th, 2012
12:04 pm
I have now watched an entire recruiting class come through GT under Johnson. Now y’all think about this. In that class name me one significant victory out of conference that Johnson has produced. Don’t say Georgia. Wrong. Those guys were credited to Gailey.
Point being, this is going the same route that Hewitt took basketball. A bad route at that. DRad has to see the ineptness and don’t for one second think it doesn’t start with the head coach. That is everything. Johnson has lost his way and the players. They don’t believe in his high school offense any longer. No defense can withstand 3 and outs constantly by the offense. Our defense is bad but it is magnified by the putrid offense.
Bottom line: Johnson has to go. He has had more than enough time. It ain’t working. He simply can’t recruit and don’t feed me that crap about curriculum etc. look at freakin Notre Dame. Doormats for most of the last 5-7 years and they hire a new coach. Boom! Probably beat USC and they will play for the National Championship.
GT has only one game where they will be favored: Duke. They won’t be bowl eligible and if Duke beats them I will send DRAD an email demanding Johnson be let go after the season. Same email I sent when Hewitt was being discussed. These are dark days at Tech for sure. Nobody can say the future with Johnson at the helm looks any better.
The Ugly Truth
October 28th, 2012
12:14 pm
Truth Number 1: Tech has wins over Presbyterian and 2 ACC schools with 4 wins between them.
Truth Number 2: TW is your best QB and that is why CPJ is playing him.
Truth Number 3. It is not going to get any better for Tech – ever.
The Ugly Truth
October 28th, 2012
12:20 pm
Truth Number 4: Tech has won only 3 of its last 13 bowl games and will be better off not going to a bowl game this year.
Truth Number 5: There are 35 bowl games now with 70 teams attending and that puts Tech pretty much down at the bottom of the BCS.
Truth Number 6: A dollar spent on a Tech football ticket is a dollar wasted.
fuzzybee78
October 28th, 2012
12:23 pm
A little perspective–
After last nights ND win over OU, it appears BYU is a pretty good football team losing in SBend 17-14 last week. I know, different game etc but the body of work including a close L to a for real ND team says that BYU has grown up since earlier in the season. They would give Clemson or FSU a tough game. Interested to see how they close out the year. BYU team and fans were a class act and hats off to them!!
GT “is what it is” and that is an average at best football team. We have some great kids that are overmatched physically at times with little margin for error. We are not recruiting enough talent on either side of the ball. That will be some better next year. Not sure its enough. New DC probably is a must along with a 4-3 alignment.
I will NEVER boo a college kid and was disappointed in Tech fans for disrespecting TW yesterday. Folks he wants to win as much as any of you and is doing his best with what God gave him! His OLine didnt exactly give him all day to throw! With that said, I agree it is time for VLee to see if he can use what God gave him and make a play.
I heard ND Coach Kelly “stuck with his young QB” after some early season mistakes. I think its time for us to do the same, get Vad some playing time and salvage what we can.
Go Jackets forever!
Tech4Life
October 28th, 2012
12:24 pm
Truth Number 7: The Ugly Truth is sitting in his basement with only underwear on, trolling a Tech blog because he has no life.
classic, sissy GT men crying
October 28th, 2012
12:26 pm
UGA wins a gig game, GT fans come on their bog with vitriol about UGA.
UGA plays in a differerent league. You know, the one that Bobby Dodd ran away from.
AS for GT alumni, some have done $ well. I retired at 56,mnow 64 and I am an alumnus of UGA and worked in international business. see? The diploma or the Major matters not, IF you have the right stuff and GT football does not have it. So, see you all today at the links?? FORE !!!
UGA will put 60+ on GT.
The Sunday ACC football wrap: Week 9
October 28th, 2012
12:30 pm
[...] Georgia Tech got destroyed by BYU in a disappointing home game. [...]
benchwarmer
October 28th, 2012
12:30 pm
Can’t recruit talent. They don’t want to join a team that offers little chance of getting them to the NFL. PJ has a system and systems only last so long before the weaknesses are exposed. PJ has shown no ability to change. PJ has shown no ability to hire quality staff. PJ must go. The people or persons who hired this sytems coach need to be replaced too. Tech does not have to settle for less then their historic high standard. It is time to get people who want to and can achieve that standard.
Tech4Life
October 28th, 2012
12:30 pm
You’re 64, yet you’re behaving like you’re only 12. Well done.
Mike S.
October 28th, 2012
12:45 pm
I guess I have to ask, what exactly did people expect when Johnson took over? Did you think he just couldn’t get the players because he was at Navy? I knew this would happen one Gailey’s players got out of the system. Its getting worse by the year. Johnson flat cannot recruit the talent necessary to win like he did in 2008 and 2009. Those type of players want the next level, and Johnson’s offense has no relevance there.
I dont know how he’s ever going to prepare a defense either. Its not like he has any Taj Boyd’s or Aaron Murray’s on the team. They dont have any bruiser backs or speedy WRs. So then this D gets into the game, and everything is happening much faster and stronger and precise than they are used to.
Mike S.
October 28th, 2012
12:48 pm
I think its a stretch to say the least to pretend Vlad Lee is the answer. The backup QB is always the most popular player when a team struggles. Fact is, he’s usually a backup for a reason. Vlad doesnt have any real game experience in this offense. Remember when people were calling for Washington over Nesbitt in 2010? Putting Vlad in the game is essentially giving up on this season and getting him game experience for next year.
GT1990
October 28th, 2012
12:50 pm
No one on here should defend johnson. The guy FINALLY put lee in when the game was over! He is not making the best choices for the program. Can anyone name a good assistant coach ?? I am concerned he doesn’t have a good coaching staff.