Johnson faces Lee-Washington decision
More and more is becoming clear about Georgia Tech. Less and less of it offers hope.
The next (and perhaps last) attempt at salvaging the season could be the elevation of backup quarterback Vad Lee to the starting spot. Coach Paul Johnson has been insistent in his defense of Tevin Washington, saying that he isn’t the problem, but removed him from Saturday’s 41-17 loss to BYU late in the third quarter after a costly interception.
“I intended to let (Lee) play some and I kept thinking that we would try to get some rhythm or whatever, and it just became apparent that it wasn’t working the other way, so we needed to put him in and let him play,” Johnson said.
It ran against Johnson’s past philosophy regarding Lee. In other losses when Tech has been behind or caught in a shootout, Johnson has stayed with Washington, feeling that he gave the Yellow Jackets the best chance to win. He has deflected calls for Lee to play more by noting that the most popular player on the team is often the backup quarterback and that Lee hadn’t been practicing well enough to merit playing time.
However, asked about a possible change for Saturday’s game at Maryland, Johnson said “we’ll see.” Tech is now 3-5, the first time it has been under .500 after eight games since 1994, the final year of coach Bill Lewis’ failed tenure.
“I’ve just been trying to go out in practice every day, just playing my game, just staying focused on the task at hand, just staying inside my role,” Lee said. “I try to lift everyone up in practice and the game.”
Lee did seem to give the Jackets a jolt of energy Saturday, leading the Tech offense to its only score of the game, a 70-yard drive that was aided by 37 yards of BYU penalties and ended with a field goal.
Center Jay Finch said that Lee “preaches good energy.”
After the field goal, Lee led two final drives with the game out of reach. Tech went 3-and-out and then punted after gaining one first down. Saturday, Tech’s problems clearly stretched far beyond Washington.
“I’ve got to get a lot better as well,” Lee said. “Nothing’s going to be handed to me, as we already know. I’m just working and, now after that tough loss, I’ve got to work times two.”
Washington has started every game at quarterback since replacing the injured Joshua Nesbitt midway through the Virginia Tech game in Nov. 2010,, a streak of 25 games. A fifth-year senior and a team captain, he has largely played effectively this season – Tech entered the game third in the country in rushing offense and 15th in total offense – but has made errors at critical junctures of games.
Asked last week how he could improve, Johnson said that Washington “hasn’t had a ton of errors, they’ve just come at inopportune times, and we really need to cut down on that for a guy that’s played as much as he has.”
Tech’s next opponent doesn’t look particularly receptive for either quarterback or an offense that failed to make a first down on 10 third downs Saturday, the first time the Jackets went without a third-down conversion in a game since a 33-0 loss to North Carolina in 1980.
Maryland may be down to its fourth-string quarterback and lost Saturday to the same Boston College team that the Jackets trounced Oct. 20, but the Terrapins play defense as stingily as the Cougars.
Under first-year defensive coordinator Brian Stewart, Maryland is ranked No. 4 in rushing defense, No. 7 in total defense and No. 28 in scoring defense. The defense’s centerpiece is defensive end Joe Vellano, who recorded 20 tackles in Tech’s 21-16 win in 2011 and this season is averaging 1.8 tackles for loss per game, tied for ninth in the country.
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155 comments Add your comment
1 4 GT
October 28th, 2012
8:36 pm
NAME THIEF ALERT!!! There are 5 posts prior to this under my blog handle that are the PHONY NAME THIEF!!!!
vampire bill
October 28th, 2012
8:38 pm
Perfect football weekend, bugs get smashed (again) Dawgs, Falcons win. LOVE IT
Stinger 1
October 28th, 2012
8:40 pm
GT Joe: Do our taxes pay for athletic scholarships? I thought taxes pay for only academic scholarships or partial ones such as HOPE.
K
October 28th, 2012
8:41 pm
Think about this: Johnson and Chizik both earn more than Saban per game won.
GT Joe
October 28th, 2012
8:41 pm
Stinger: it is a state school…money is coming from somewhere…
GT25
October 28th, 2012
8:46 pm
I don’t boo our guys, but who am I to say that others can’t. I want Lee to start the remainder of the season just for development purposes. TW is better right now, but hopefully with experience Lee can be pretty good. Lee has a stronger arm but is not any more accurate with his throws. Maybe the boys can get a few breaks, the D will show up and tackle somebody, and we can extend the bowl streak. That really means something I think. Go JACKETS. THWG
GT Joe
October 28th, 2012
8:49 pm
Lee is not any more accurate? Lol, just look at Tevins last two passes (of his career) and every throw vad made in the game. Its painfully obvious, unless you just don’t want to see.
stanh
October 28th, 2012
8:50 pm
lets face it…As long as CPJ is here we will never be anything but a joke….he cant recruit and thats where college football games are won….what pro prospect would ever want to come to tech?…..you can say what you want to but as long as we recruit like we are doing nothing will change….and my goodness our defense is not only horrible but more like shameful….way to go CPJ good job….
George Stein
October 28th, 2012
8:54 pm
No one is saying you can’t boo; I am saying you shouldn’t boo. This should not be complicated.
GT25
October 28th, 2012
9:00 pm
I wish that Lee was more accurate. It is very clear that he is more talented, I’m just saying that his passes aren’t on the money either. Granted, he can get the ball to the receiver without one-hopping it.
GT Joe
October 28th, 2012
9:03 pm
Well George,I think you SHOULD boo, to voice displeasure. Voicing displeasure is how changes get made. what else should one do, write a letter to the school?
What a joke this debate is…I wonder if this would be A Problem at any real football school…like an sec school.
George Stein
October 28th, 2012
9:05 pm
I’m sorry, did you say something, Joe? Can’t hear you.
J'boroJacket
October 28th, 2012
9:12 pm
I saw TW make some bad plays, but I also don’t understand why we run deep patterns all the time, that require more time to develop instead of the short passes that seem to eat our lunch all the time. Some of these 3 yard passes-inside the hash marks end up going 15-20 yards on us every time. I also don’t understand that our OL that was supposed to be a strength-along with the new strength coach, gets dominated. I know our 3 DL can’t handle 5 to 6 OL as they usually are getting pushed back 3-5 yards and allow their running back to gain long runs… Don’t give the other teams receivers a free headstart off the line… bump them at the line and cause timing disruptions and also would allow our CBs and safeties to know who exactly they need to cover…. I don’t think its that darn complicated. I think our guys are capable, just need to put them in position to have a chance.
Jacket time
October 28th, 2012
9:17 pm
A classy SEC school like georgia would boo.
Anyway I think many are understating Vad’s legs. After seeing him burn 2 defenders in the BC game, I more interested in seeing what he can do on the ground.
Jacket time
October 28th, 2012
9:20 pm
Wow. I think someone is using 1 4 GT’s name.
mojacket
October 28th, 2012
9:34 pm
Sigh. The booing was bad. I think we should be more concerned about the direction of this program to be honest. I’ve not missed a game in 15 years. And yeah, I am going to complain about the recruiting. We don’t have enough. Yeah, the first 22 can keep up with most teams. The problem is that the first 22 can’t play the whole game. And to be honest, some of those in the first 22 wouldn’t see the field at other schools.
We. Need. Players.
Delbert D.
October 28th, 2012
9:35 pm
1 4, tmi man, tmi.
AtWork
October 28th, 2012
9:38 pm
@Paul
Come on man. If someone would ever boo at a little league game they should be ashamed of themselves. The boo’s were just as much directed at the coaching staff as it was the execution of the plays. What should we do when we have terrible plays happen like those of this past saturday?
Clyde
October 28th, 2012
9:42 pm
Well, we can’t do anything about it but I was sitting in the stands wondering why we were running it up the middle over and over again. Was BYU’s defense just that good? Seems like they were, we can just pull up the stats and see that CPJ’s game plan was terrible. Maybe he needs to break and finally get a clipboard so he can check off the plays that don’t work because he seems to be forgetting.
1 4 GT
October 28th, 2012
9:46 pm
I made a post @ 8:36 & now this one. My only 2 for the night!! THE OTHERS ARE BY THE PHONY NAME THIEF!!!! KEN SAID HE BANNED HIM COUPLE OF DAYS AGO!! I GUESS THIS IS A DIFFERENT PHONY OR HE KNOWS HOW TO WORK BANNING OR SWITCHED TO ANOTHER COMPUTER=DIFFERENT IP ADDRESS!!
Clyde
October 28th, 2012
9:47 pm
We can tell who you are 1 4 GT, don’t worry.
admiral
October 28th, 2012
9:48 pm
I don’t understand how this is even a “decision.” Is there something left to lose if Lee starts and sucks?
George Stein
October 28th, 2012
9:48 pm
They weren’t directed at the coaches; they were directed at Tevin. They occurred after the interception and after a few incomplete passes. Then people cheered for Vad – for whom I have a lot of hope but, to date, has accomplished nothing – like he was a conquering hero.
Also, you don’t use an apostrophe to make the plural of boo, AtWork.
And, actually...
October 28th, 2012
10:02 pm
…not one cent of tax money goes to football, basketball, baseball, or any other “athletic” scholarship – that is what the Tharpe Fund and Tech Fund are for – and, HOPE money is NOT tax money…
You do to use an apostrophe, G Stein...
October 28th, 2012
10:03 pm
…when Boo got shot, Boo’s mother cried…
You do to use an apostrophe, G Stein...
October 28th, 2012
10:03 pm
…LOL , G Stein, just yanking your chain…
Old Gold
October 28th, 2012
10:05 pm
Tech will not win another game this season!
Yes, they will...
October 28th, 2012
10:10 pm
…Old Gold, but which one I cannot tell you – probably the UGA game, which will save CPJ’s job, causing us to have these same discussions next year after Vad messes up as we call for Justin to play more…
1 4 GT
October 28th, 2012
10:17 pm
Isn’t Dennis Andrews still at Tech. He may beat ‘em all out & be the starting QB next year. Who know?? Only the “shadow” knows.
no fan
October 28th, 2012
10:27 pm
superidiot disappeared after his 11-1 season prediction. hahahaha
Clyde
October 28th, 2012
10:35 pm
Whoever the QB is, I hope they know how to stand in the pocket on a passing play and let the routes develop and just throw the ball away if need be. I know the O line needs to hold their own but it seems like TW and VL are looking for running lanes way too early.
Tech93
October 28th, 2012
10:46 pm
Unfortunately, GT football will struggle for the next couple of years. No defense and no future recruits to fill the defensive voids, especially on the D-line. An offense that is hit and miss, with no passing game. You have to have a passing game to contend in D-1. Also, not going to be able to recruit top recruits into this offense. It is a shame that the program got to this point. Dan Radovich is part to blame for this.
fuzzybee78
October 28th, 2012
11:01 pm
NEVER EVER BOO A COLLEGE PLAYER!
KIDS TRY HARD AND SOMETIMES DO DUMB STUFF—
DOESNT MATTER— NEVER BOO A COLLEGE PLAYER.
PROS ARE PAID AND SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE –GROWN MEN– NOT KIDS IN COLLEGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
List Mama » Georgia Tech Football: 5 Reasons to Keep Paul Johnson – Bleacher Report
October 28th, 2012
11:01 pm
[...] and most …BYU football: After big win over Georgia Tech, Cougars have bye weekDeseret NewsJohnson faces Lee-Washington decisionAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog)Georgia Tech struggles in 41-17 loss to BYUBoston HeraldSB [...]
fuzzybee78
October 28th, 2012
11:03 pm
TW WAS BOOED AND IT WAS SHAMEFUL OF MY GT BROTHERS–
SHOW SOME CLASS!!!
BUZZ50
October 28th, 2012
11:12 pm
I will say it again Tech fans, name a top 20 team that plays the triple-option. Lets go back to the Tech traditional offense and send the option somewhere else
Ken Sugiura
October 28th, 2012
11:19 pm
Toady- thanks. taken care of, hopefully.
SlimG
October 28th, 2012
11:23 pm
Only difference from 4 years ago is we have no top players.
PE Major from Western Carolina is ready to fry some fish
October 28th, 2012
11:30 pm
come on guys….just wait to Coach Fish Fry gets his players in here…..give him another 5 years…..woo hoo……how about the perfect option….dive plays to the B-Back….pitches to the A-Backs….two forward passes a game…..It’s Sting Time!!! It’s Fun on the Flats………how much are tickets going for now?
...Take The Wheel
October 28th, 2012
11:33 pm
Yeah booing your own player is an all time low! I don’t even recall us booing BYU! If you want Vad then there’s nothing wrong in applauding him, although I personally didn’t see him do anything better. TW had a bad game, but booing your own is just ridiculous. And take no credit from BYU defense they were ready for everything we tried. And using Vad Saturday ddnt make a difference.
But I agree it’s time for someone else. I don’t know that it’s Vad but someone else because TW has taken enough punishment.
...Take The Wheel
October 28th, 2012
11:43 pm
Its just tacky and uncouth to boo your own players. These are kids not paid professionals!!!
And Joe even though they cheered for Lee, it wasn’t because he was any better! He couldn’t get it in even with 3 back to back penalties!
Supersize that order, mutt
October 29th, 2012
12:28 am
@ GT Joe…..Vad DID throw one bad pass yesterday, but regardless, I am on board with you now. Vad should start the remainder of the games. He SHOULD have started the 2nd half yesterday, and I was stunned that Johnson didn’t do that. But to keep Tevin in there after that first series in the second half was absurd.
RobinVa
October 29th, 2012
12:53 am
Enough already GI. We concede that you have a right to boo. You have a right to behave in all manner of classless ways. That is your right.
lxUn1c0
October 29th, 2012
2:22 am
Buzz50 – Oregon. They don’t run it out of the flexbone, but they run it, and pretty often.
GTPhenom
October 29th, 2012
2:45 am
Been calling for Vad Lee to start since the Miami game, when we lost any hope of any significant accomplishment this season. Now we have four games left and are still considering playing a guy who isn’t even that much better than the redshirt-FRESHMAN behind him. Tevin is a senior in this offense. For a guy whose been playing QB now for what, nine straight years, why the hell can’t you throw a ball semi-sorta accurately five yards down the damn field?!? Believe me, when I saw TW coming onto the field to start the second half, hell yeah I booed. I was booing for the first time ever CPJ’s decisions. I’ve stuck by all this time, but CPJ needs to just give up on whatever misplaced loyalty he’s given to Tevin. We get further and further behind the eight ball with every snap that Tevin is taking from Vad Lee. You want a shot at a decent year next year? Make sure we have a QB again that can right the ship.
qb
October 29th, 2012
5:52 am
I thoughr both QBs are terrible. CPJ needs a fish fry.
dry dirt road
October 29th, 2012
6:52 am
With Tech as bad as they are this year, many seats will be available at games to switch to if you don’t like your ticket seats. It’s true, Tech isn’t worth watching this year if you intend to see them win. They might beat Maryland, and probably will lose to Duke, NC and Georgia. Since they lost to MT, they have very good chance of losing to Maryland. Their to offense is no match for the teams who use the shotgun, which is all of them all the way down to hs level. Tech is in line to win only 3 games this year.
Frankensting
October 29th, 2012
6:54 am
Vad is not the savior. He will be better than Washington someday. Groh is vindicated, GT problems are not the coach. GT has lots of problems with its football program. Recruiting is number one, how to fix it is complicated. Some good ideas have been published here.
Old Dog
October 29th, 2012
7:01 am
To Hell with Tek, today,tomorrow and every other day!
dry dirt road
October 29th, 2012
7:03 am
Everybody tries to comment on the qb competition, but it won’t matter if Tech continues Favoring the to instead of the shotgun. When Tech ran it to the side on Saturday, BYU tackled them for losses b/c of their pursuit. Only a sucker AD or AA at Tech would believe in the to offense and PJ’s selling it to them, then display it and it can only beat the small teams(but not McNeese).