Notes: B-backs struggling to produce for Tech
1. Two weeks ago, Georgia Tech B-backs Zach Laskey and David Sims combined for 156 yards in the Yellow Jackets’ win over Boston College. It was a bit out of the ordinary.
Against BYU, Clemson and Middle Tennessee State, Tech’s three other most recent games, the two backs had 149 yards combined. The feature position in the Tech offense is having some problems.
“We need to get more production out of that position,” quarterbacks and B-backs coach Brian Bohannon said. Against BYU, “Nobody played particularly well at that position.”
Laskey is averaging 54.0 yards per game and Sims’ average is 31.0 yards per game with a 3.6 yards-per-carry rate. It’s a far cry from the numbers of 2010 B-back Anthony Allen, who averaged 101.2 yards per game and 5.5 yards per carry.
“If (the B-backs) can get, say, 100, 150 yards every game, that’ll open up the lanes for Orwin (Smith), Tevin (Washington) and the other guys,” Sims said.
It’s a layered problem. Laskey and Sims have dealt with injuries. The offensive line hasn’t met expectations. Against BYU and Middle Tennessee State, the entire offense didn’t play well. But the Laskey-Sims duo is about on pace to match the combined total of Sims and Preston Lyons from last season, when B-back play was below par.
Sims, who began the season recovering from surgery to repair a stress fracture in his shin, has been laboring.
“I feel like I’m starting to get back to that point where I was, say, last year,” he said.
Bohannon said in watching video from last year’s game against Maryland, Tech’s opponent this week, he was struck by the difference in the speed.
“He’s not moving like he was a year ago,” Bohannon said.
Maryland will be a rough go. The Terrapins are No. 4 in the country in rushing defense.
2. It was 14 years ago Wednesday that Dez White returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown for Tech against Maryland. It was the last such touchdown for the Jackets until Saturday, when Jamal Golden broke the streak with a 97-yard return for a touchdown. Reached Tuesday, White had no idea he had been the last to score on a kickoff until Golden.
“That’s very surprising,” White said. “That’s a long time. You’re talking about a lot of kickoff returns in 14 years.”
It was, in fact, tied for the fourth-longest drought in FBS. White said he remembered “running through a pretty big hole and cutting the ball all the way across the field and having a footrace with the kicker. I remember (offensive coordinator) Ralph Friedgen being really happy he didn’t have to call a series.”
White, living in Gwinnett County, is president and founder of the Body Firm Atlanta, which runs exercise boot camps in Gwinnett and Atlanta.
3. Coach Paul Johnson said that wide receiver Anthony Autry is out for Saturday’s game with an unspecified injury. Asked to confirm a Twitter message that Autry’s younger brother Myles sent out after the BYU game that the injury was a torn anterior cruciate ligament, Johnson replied, “You can confirm that with Anthony’s brother, I guess.”
Cornerback Louis Young and offensive tackle Will Jackson both were held out of practice with injuries. Both are uncertain for the Maryland game. Young was injured in the BYU game. His replacement would be Jamal Golden. Jackson missed the BYU game after getting injured one game prior against Boston College. He was replaced by Morgan Bailey.
4. ESPN will use its six-day option in determining the kickoff time for Tech’s Nov. 10 game at North Carolina. The network will have until noon Sunday to announce the start time and broadcast outlet. … Johnson said he had not been informed of any potential problems for Saturday’s game due to Hurricane Sandy. The Washington area didn’t take the brunt of the storm, but power was knocked out for hundreds of thousands in the area. Maryland school officials closed the university for Monday and Tuesday. … Georgia Tech is a 7.5-point favorite for Saturday’s game.
Thanks for reading. I’ll post more Wednesday. I didn’t clear time to do the post-Tuesday news conference summary. I’ll have something along those lines and hopefully one or two other things Wednesday.
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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140 comments Add your comment
Marine Jacket
October 30th, 2012
9:44 pm
Hope this week is better.
Go Jackets!!!
Ignition
October 30th, 2012
9:46 pm
This guy CPJ is so pompous and arrogant. How can you continue to be an a-hole when your team is getting Molly Whooped on it’s own field.?
pw12
October 30th, 2012
9:49 pm
time to play some new faces
pw12
October 30th, 2012
9:50 pm
thats because pauls wife runs the show at the house..so he takes it out everyone else..
Frustrated fan
October 30th, 2012
9:58 pm
Ken, how we’ll is snoddy coming along? I feel like with his speed he could be the next breakout bback. It’s be nice if he could turn into a Dwyer 2.0.
Jacket Time
October 30th, 2012
10:03 pm
Wow real classy comments there. A little worried about maryland’s D but how many pts can u put up with a fifth string qb? Any word on our qb situation ken?
bp
October 30th, 2012
10:18 pm
this offense does not work against big teams.They just overpower it. every time.
gt40pinhd
October 30th, 2012
10:19 pm
is lasky injured? i was surprised to see him in the byu game as much as he was. sims seems bigger but lasky gets more yards. always wanted a BIG back at this position. but when i read cpj’s option offense article, he doesn’t seem to think size is as important.
kingster
October 30th, 2012
10:22 pm
Thanks Ken, you’re doing a fantastic job, keep up the good work and keeping us informed.
IndianaGT
October 30th, 2012
10:26 pm
a 7.5-point favorite over a team starting its 5th string QB….not sure if serious…..
dagnabit
October 30th, 2012
10:32 pm
Pretty classy reporter.
gt40pinhd
October 30th, 2012
10:43 pm
7.5 point favorite? why? we just played the 8th defensive team and they kicked our b….
now the 4th? with or without a qb, they are real.
Jacket Detective
October 30th, 2012
10:51 pm
Anyone else notice how BYU modified their shovel pass to turn it from a 5 yard gainer into a 40 yard TD and game breaker.
And that is called what?
Being out-coached?
GTGirl
October 30th, 2012
10:52 pm
Thanks Ken for the new article. I was getting tired of reading all the ajc articles about D-Rat, I mean DRad leaving us for Clemmons College. He looks awful in orange! Wonder if he is going to change the ‘IPTAY’ fund like he did the A-T fund and tick off all the Clemmons fans too. I hope we beat them in every sport we play them in from here on out! Go Jackets!
ibidGT
October 30th, 2012
11:15 pm
Is it possible to compare how many rush attempts the B backs are having this year as opposed to previous years Ken? Since TW has been the QB he has more carries than anyone else.
Briefly looked into it. Allen and Dwyer as B backs both led the team in carries the years they played. Granted now we rotate the B backs a lot more the last 2 years so maybe the carries are still about the same.
GT Joe
October 30th, 2012
11:27 pm
Tech rush yards/game rankings:
2009: #2
2010: #1
2011: #2
2012: #5
Take home message: rush yards are the same, roughly. If B backs are getting less, another position is picking up the slack. Yards is yards. Who cares about production of one specific position.
Next subject.
GT Joe
October 30th, 2012
11:29 pm
I’ll say what I said last week: Maryland (BYU) is top 10 against the rush, so let’s pass. Which QB can throw?
TechBoy
October 30th, 2012
11:33 pm
That Orange Jacket is Ugly with a capital “U”. I can’t believe DRad turned down the likes of Texas A&M for Clemson. It still sells funny. Time will tell.
1 4 GT
October 30th, 2012
11:44 pm
I don’t see any comments on this yet. 2 guys playing out of the BBack slot have 149 yards total in 4 games with a combined total of 305 yards….156 against BC….149 against Clemons, MTSU & BYU. REALLY!! Really!! And it’s taken a whole year for the BBack coach to notice a drop off in the speed of one of them. What the hell has he been doing? 305 yards! 4 games! 2 RB’s! Total! Combined! That tells me the offense might be worse than the defense. SHEESH!!
1 4 GT
October 30th, 2012
11:50 pm
The stats for rushing Joe put up might be right, but with a total of 149 yards in 3 of the last 4 games, if that trend continues, and that is a big trend IMHO, GT will do good to be in the top 20 in rushing without improvement.
fuzzybee78
October 31st, 2012
12:00 am
Folks, JDwyer was 230 lbs and never got caught from behind, never, I saw them all. Never saw that with another back over there career in 50 years at Tech.
AAllen was also 230 and just a step slower then Dwyer. That’s half the reason we were ACC champs in 09, and JNeb, BB Thomas, Derrick Morgan, and Morgan Burnett were the rest.
Sims and Laskey are good but there not on the same level as the last 2 guy.
One other important point about B back production, TW is not JNes and opposing D are by design plugging the B back and forcing the QB to run because he is the lesser of the two runners plus it wears out the QB.
Thats it— 1) size/talent at B back 2) D forcing TW to run, not the B back.
gt40pinhd
October 31st, 2012
12:17 am
our running backs have speed but not elusiveness. b backs don’t have the size needed for this position.
1 4 GT
October 31st, 2012
12:22 am
You are right about that fuzzy. I thought Laskey might be the guy after his 70 yd TD catch & run. He’s fairly quick & tough, but fair isn’t good enough. Snoddy played some at BBack last Saturday. I don’t know his size, but if GT can get thru the line, he could be magic with his speed.
1 4 GT
October 31st, 2012
12:27 am
Snoddy is 5′9″ & 190#. Maybe a tad small for BBack. Time will tell. I just wanta see that speed put to good use.
gt40pinhd
October 31st, 2012
12:46 am
thought sims was 220#? good size.
Wasted opportunity?
October 31st, 2012
12:54 am
No one seems to show any great flash or burst of energy on the offense. I guess it’s good that the ball is distributed amongst many players but there is no standout player. I see no potential NFL caliber player, at least on the O side of the ball currently. Good teams need a GREAT player that can carry the team when it’s not doing well, this team doesn’t have a single individual that can do so.
Are these players just lacking any greatness or does that say something about how these players are developed?
Hill/Thomas were praised for their natural athletic ability, not so much their route running or other skills. Dwyer has only now started showing his skills on the field after being on the bench for 3 years. Yeah these guys made the NFL but it was in no part thanks to the offense run by CPJ, they all had to be developed by their current teams to show any real production.
ylojkt
October 31st, 2012
1:17 am
I don’t know what universe you’ve come from, but the NFL LOVES Tech receivers because they have learned how to block downfield AND they have great athleticism.
Ask Denver how much they love BeBe, or Detroit how they feel about Megatron.
Hill has only himself to blame for his stock not being higher, he got wide open a lot, but would get stone hands when the ball was thrown to him while at Tech, that’s not a coaching problem. The other two had the same type passes thrown to them, some good, some terrible, but they still managed to catch the ball with amazing regularity.
Wasted opportunity?
October 31st, 2012
1:28 am
Yeah since Calvin Johnson was obviously a CPJ product.
Blocking? I’ll give that to them sure.
Route running? Hill/Thomas, the ones who actually played for CPJ unlike Calvin, were noted for their poor route running.
They’re all big, tall/lengthy, and fast. They’re all athletic yes. I stated that in my original post.
As for Hill’s stock value? You realize when he declared he was projected 6-7th round. He only went up because of his speed and beastly athleticism, nothing CPJ did for him.
Jacket Time
October 31st, 2012
1:29 am
Agree ylojkt but megatron was never coached under CPJ. I hear announcers get this wrong all the time when they bring up tech receivers and CPJ.
ylojkt
October 31st, 2012
1:30 am
Also, B-back is hardly any different than tailback in the Pro-Set, both are a few yards behind the QB and running (mostly) to the inside gaps, straight ahead running. Dwyer was low on the rotation behind two featured backs who were proven pros, you don’t sit an all-star player for his third string back-up; but when Dwyer has gotten his chance, he’s carried the mail with a purpose.
Ken Sugiura
October 31st, 2012
1:34 am
Frustrated fan – I think coaches want to get Snoddy on the field, but he still needs to improve his blocking. I think that’s the big thing keeping him from getting more chances.
Jacket Time – They gave both quarterbacks time with the first and second strings. I got differing reports on if that is out of the ordinary. nothing’s determined yet.
gt40 – laskey isn’t hurt. in fact, i think the b-backs are as healthy as they’ve been. as for the point spread, it’d be hard to make it larger considering that tech’s offense put up three points at home this past week.
1 4GT – i’m confident Bohannon noticed the difference long before. he brought up the maryland game last year as an example or point of reference.
GT Joe – I’d say it’s important because ideally every option is productive.
dwyer in 09: 16.8. allen in 10: 18.5 sims/lyons in 11: 14.8 (not entirely apples to apples because they both missed games. laskey/sims in 12: 16.4 (same deal)
GT Fan
October 31st, 2012
2:18 am
Bback has to be a threat to put 100+rushing vs any opponent. And that hasn’t been the case since AA left after 2010. Too many MLBs & S are making takles on the Abacks b/c there’s absolutely zero threat from the Bbacks.
ray gunkel
October 31st, 2012
5:10 am
I doubt drad turned down anybody…more likely, clemson was 1st and only offer…i understand he approached them…for whatever reason(s), looks like drad wanted out.
superDawg
October 31st, 2012
6:11 am
I’m loving it.
GT71
October 31st, 2012
7:10 am
PJ’s offense is perfect. I cannot be stopped when run perfectly. It is a thing of beauty to behold. When it runs ‘perfectly’.
But have you stopped to wonder why so few colleges run it? And no pros?
It is because it MUST run perfectly to run at all consistently. If players were robots, it would run that way, but fortunately (or not), the game is played by humans – lots of them compared to basketball or baseball. And they are not perfect by any means – especially 19-22 yr. old male humans. Have you ever seen a late-teen do ANYTHING perfectly more than once or twice? I haven’t.
And ’skill’ positions. In most offenses, the ’skill’ positions include the QB, the RBs and the WRs. All others are not called ’skilled’ positions because they aren’t – and more importantly do not have to be. They just need to be big, strong and get in someone’s way so the ’skilled’ players get a chance to show their skills. In PJ’s offenses, ALL the players must be ’skilled’ players – they must execute perfectly or the play’s a bust. Even the WRs must not only be good route-runners and great-hands ball catchers, they must ALSO be perfect blockers. Quite a bit to ask of the 19-22 set.
Turnovers (more frequent in the triple option), penalties and errors simply destroy a triple option offense’s chances of moving the chains. And that’s why it came and went as a popular offense at all levels. Too few true ’skilled’ players, to many opportunities for mistakes and mistakes canno tbe made up for by a good pass and catch by the ’skilled’ players.
PJ did very well with the Gailey recruits and players because they were, mostly, rather highly ’skilled’. He hasn’t been able to replicate that skill level.
Sorry, but we should take our chances with getting as many ’skill’ players (5-7 per team) a regular offense requires and stop hoping that perfection exists.
In a word, PJ’s offense is ‘over-engineered’ – that may sound nice at a school like Tech, but it doesn’t make for a successful football program.
matt
October 31st, 2012
7:35 am
Middle Tennessee state
matt
October 31st, 2012
7:36 am
BYU
aw
October 31st, 2012
8:00 am
One huge problem we have is no wide rec,it seems the coaches could spare a good athlete with speed, and convert him to the wr spot. If Snoddy can’t hack it at b-back, they could make a wr out of him…..do something….. it does not matter who the qb is if you don’t have any wrs to throw to. A good, not great wr would make a world of diff….We have a bb coming in travis c
treyisgeorgia
October 31st, 2012
8:00 am
3 words for you about P Johnson and that offense…. ” HIGH SCHOOL OFFENSE “
Yellow Jacket
October 31st, 2012
8:28 am
Laskey is trying to play with a seperated shoulder…I hardly consider that being healthy.
GT
October 31st, 2012
8:31 am
The pass will open up the middle for the B back. Vad Lee must have some problems picking up the offense mentally, or he would be starting. He is a pinpoint passer. With Washington, they don’t need more than a one on one defense his passes are so wobbly they take forever to get where he did or didn’t aim it. He is not big enough to run it himself with any consistence or that would compromise these defenses, you can arm tackle him unlike Nesbitt. Either get a really big quarterback that plays like a fullback or pass over these people’s head.
JoeFan
October 31st, 2012
8:34 am
Lack of B Back production is just a further indictment of Tech’s recruiting and coaching.
10per
October 31st, 2012
8:36 am
I have been ranting about the lack of production at B-back for two years now. Apparently, there is nothing that can be done about it since it only seems to be getting worse, not better. If the personnel we have at that position cannot get it done straight up the middle, how about trying running outside a bit? Getting the B-back involved more rolling out in the flats? Something, *anything* do put a wrinkle in our scheme. We are so one dimensional now it’s scary
. The whole point of the option is to make up for less talent with unpredictability…now we don’t have that we can’t convert on 3rd for a whole game.
uafuneman
October 31st, 2012
8:37 am
Maybe, just maybe the reason the B backs are not doing as well as previous B backs at Tech is because THEIR NOT AS FREAKING GOOD.Does anyone on this coaching staff really think that these guys have the talent of Dwyer and or Allen. It’s all about recruiting baby and this is what we didn’t know about CPJ when he was hired. Now we know and it’s time to go.
DOC 51
October 31st, 2012
8:41 am
S.DAYS is the worst waste of talent ever at GT.I don’t see how CPJ can look him in the face.
Coach Z
October 31st, 2012
8:43 am
After reviewing tape, I noticed over the last year or two Tech doens’ commit nearly as many “chop-block” penalties as when the TO was first implemented. That’s a sign of good coaching, so there is a good thing fellas. Look for the silver linings in this cloud of darkness that has overcome Tech. We will be good again. Weather the storm mates and let the coaches, players, fans fall where they may.
GT
October 31st, 2012
8:45 am
When Vick was at the Falcons he ran real well for a season or so then the defenses got smart took an assigned man to shadow him, Thomas Davis was the first shadow at Carolina to break the code. Once they saw this on film ever team in the NFL had Vicks number. That when Arthur took the dogs over to Vick’s house and dropped them off.
It is the same with Tech. They keep a linebacker or two in the middle expecting the run, from either the quarterback or the B back. Tech doesn’t have a tight end to distract the linebackers. These backs we have can’t run over anybody especially big linebackers like the ones BYU had and go down too easy. Washington is a basketball looking athletic not a football player, who cannot pass.
Montylick&ass
October 31st, 2012
8:46 am
Sad that we are only a TD favorite over a team with a linebacker playing QB being backed up by a tight end. We all thought CPJ’s edge and attitude was cool when we thought he could back it up, now he just comes off as an @hole.
DOC 51
October 31st, 2012
8:56 am
CPJ never changes.He needs to show some enthusiasm for a change.Communication is obviously lacking between coaches and players.
observer
October 31st, 2012
9:00 am
GT offense is bad and over-all they are a bad team. This is due to bad coaching on part of Paul Johnson. GT players don’t give much effort against good teams..I suspect they have given up on PJ and don’t want to play for him.
Brock
October 31st, 2012
9:02 am
If tech doesn’t get pass rush, interceptions, sacks etc… this will be an embarrassing game for the ages. With a guy who hasn’t played QB in almost 2 yrs, no grasp of the offensive plays, and frankly should be totally pathetic, Tech must win this game by 3 or 4 scores. If not, the entire team and coaching staff should be dismantled.
UGA X
October 31st, 2012
9:05 am
I hope they keep CPJ for the next two decades at Tech! or better yet Hire the fired DC as the AD! LOL!
Montylick&ass
October 31st, 2012
9:09 am
If we are happy with occasionally putting a scare into (and even more rarely upsetting) a quality opponent, and equally as often laying an egg against the likes of Middle Tennessee State, winning one or two more games per year than we lose, and going to (and usually losing) a third rate bowl game, then we can stay the course with CPJ. We can just puff ourselves up with the same old tired excuse about our academic standards, and ignore the fact that the likes of Virginia, Duke, Stanford, Notre Dame, and Vandy somehow manage to do it.
Old Dog
October 31st, 2012
9:14 am
To Hell with Tek, today,tomorrow and every other day!
old dog
October 31st, 2012
9:29 am
Hey Teckies, I am the REAL old dog, and I think, quite frankly, ya’ll need to start over. It will be good for the State of Georgia for Tech to have a better football team.
FANtastic
October 31st, 2012
9:34 am
CPJ’s offense is averaging better than 30 ppg. The issue is the defense and ST, hands down.
old dog
October 31st, 2012
9:37 am
Those 30 points you are talking about came against some mighty bad defenses…….
Tech Guy
October 31st, 2012
9:38 am
Two things need to happen to achieve better B back production. The offensive line needs to block better, and the passing game needs to improve. If Tech’s passes were effective, the linebackers would have to back up.
Montylick&ass
October 31st, 2012
9:42 am
Before you start squawking about the comparison of the overall sports programs at the schools I mentioned above, from the ACC website:
Stanford #1, UVA #15, Duke #16, ND #17, Ga Tech #72.
tooltime432
October 31st, 2012
9:43 am
I really hope autry doesn’t have a torn acl. That would be more bad news
tooltime432
October 31st, 2012
9:46 am
Monty, Stanford was garbage before Luck got there. I believe they had a two win season. Let’s not fool ourselves into thinking that they are awesome every year.
GTVegas
October 31st, 2012
9:49 am
Something is definitely wrong with GT and it begins at the foundation, recruiting. The person building that foundation, CPJ, is responsible for the quality of that work as well as everything built on top of it.
Unfortunately, we must tolerate this situation for a few more years as, thanks to DRad, we cannot afford to make a change until then. DRad realized this and went in search of clearer, greener pastures, free of any mistakes of his own making, where any problems can be blamed on someone else.
I predict a long time before GT gets back to what it could be given CPJ’s era extended until 2016 and no ability to rectify Drad’s mistake. DRad took a chance bringing in CPJ and his somewhat unique offense. Now that he realizes his grand experiment is a failure, he is running for the hills; well, maybe the lake.
Montylick&ass
October 31st, 2012
9:59 am
tooltime432: That ranking is for ALL SPORTS, so it included our precious baseball team (of the annual Braves-like post-season el foldo) and all the other sports. Just saying that if Stanford can be #1 with their academics, we can’t use that as an excuse to suck. Whn my kid was graduating from a top Atlanta private school, half his class was or could have been accepted into Tech (many use Tech and UGA as “safety schools” in the application process), but only one or two could even sniff a Stanford admit. ND, UVA, Duke likewise, with no more than 4-5 kids being able to get in to those schools. The Tech admits were more along the lines of those going to Emory, and that pool is nowhere near where it was ten years ago (witness Emory having to fake the stats to stay in the college rankings). The point is, we should not have to settle for athletic mediocrity based on the academics, and using that excuse just keeps us shackled to the likes of Paul Johnson and Paul Hewitt for too long.
5150 UOAD
October 31st, 2012
10:01 am
You can’t run if there is no HOLE. The Line has not done enough blocking on the inside.
5150 UOAD
October 31st, 2012
10:06 am
Montylick&ass………………….Sorry but TECH is more along the lines of MIT and Cal Poly than Stanford and those others. MIT & TECH don’t offer the easier majors ND, Stanford, Duke and those others offer. MIT doesn’t play Football do they?
TechApp fan
October 31st, 2012
10:13 am
but if the option is “read” correctly, the QB would pull the ball back… if there was “no hole”.
unless the call was predetermined by the play caller
Bookies
October 31st, 2012
10:14 am
Please give Sims and Laskey a break. They were not even recruited as running backs.
Montylick&ass
October 31st, 2012
10:15 am
5150 UOAD: Maybe as far as the range of engineering majors Tech compares to those, but as far as overall academic rigor and quality of applicants you can’t seriously think that Tech compares to MIT and Cal Poly! If you do, then everything else you post gets tainted by the same loss of connection with the reality of this new millinium that youseem to be afflicted with. You know, people use calculators and computers now, so put down yur sliderule and quit thinking this is still1954. Oh, and while you areat it, can you look up which engineering degrees Joe Hamilton and Reuben Houston graduted with and what top-notch engineerig firms they are with now?
NYJacket
October 31st, 2012
10:15 am
It doesn’t do any good to spread the field with two wide outs and two slot receivers if the defense knows you are not going to throw the ball and if you do throw it, it has a 30% chance of being an underthrown wounded duck.
But, it sure simplifies the job of the other teams defensive co-ordinator.
GT
October 31st, 2012
10:21 am
Don’t believe it is bad coaching, don’t remember winning the ACC before with FSU and those guys in the conference, don’t remember beating Ga. One bad stretch was bound to happen just didn’t think it would be this year. Our coaching observations are reactionary not true insight; I still have faith in Johnson. Spurrier is an ass to if you look at how it effects your situation instead of the teams, honest people now days are called asses and liars are believed. Why we want these Richt type coaches is beyond me, I have enough nice people in my life, that are not trying to game me like Richt, and besides I don’t have a problem with Johnson, on that front either. He is an honest guy who really does a hell of a job, hard to find those types. He will fix what needs to be fixed.
Reebok
October 31st, 2012
10:24 am
Tech is a below-average team that is in disarray and is no longer buying what CPJ is selling. We are going to have several bad seasons before Johnson gets shipped back to FBS ball and we can start rebuilding. We could really use a guy who can recruit, because as soon as Chan’s talent was gone, the Jackets fell off a cliff. It’s going to be bleak for a few seasons, folks.
Montylick&ass
October 31st, 2012
10:27 am
GT: Come on! Spurrier is a funny guy with loads of personality. Sure, he likes to get his digs in at the opposiotion (I still think “Free Shoes University” is a classic!), and he is sometimes petulant with the press, but he is actually pretty well liked in the coaching fraternity. He is arrogant, but with his resume I guess he deserves to be. What business does CPJ have being arrogant? He is just an @$$.
Birmingham Jacket
October 31st, 2012
10:37 am
What is really disturbing is how bad things are going to be when Johnson is gone— and I predict he will be after next season, under a new AD.
The next HC will not only inherit an empty cupboard with very little talent– but mediocre players who are groomed to play a highschool triple-dufus offense.
The coach could be as talented as Brian Kelly or Saban, but I predict we will have to endure 2, 3 maybe 4 years of no bowl seasons and rebuilding before it’s really back on track.
Thanks Johnson… Nice WORK!!!
5150 UOAD
October 31st, 2012
10:39 am
montylick&ass…………………….Now the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has gone ahead and quantified that by comparing average SAT scores and grade-point averagesGPAs of athletes with the rest of the college’s student body. Not surprisingly, football and men’s basketball players came out on the bottom, and some averaged hundreds of points lower on SATs than their classmates.
The Journal-Constitution studied 54 public universities, “including the members of the six major Bowl Championship Series conferences and other schools whose teams finished the 2007-08 season ranked among the football or men’s basketball top 25.”
We all suspect that big-time student athletes sometimes aren’t the best and the brightest academically.
Some highlights:
Football players average 220 points lower on the SAT than their classmates. Men’s basketball was 227 points lower.
University of Florida won the prize for biggest gap between football players and the student body, with players scoring 346 points lower than their peers.
Georgia Tech had the nation’s best average SAT score for football players, 1028 of a possible 1600, and best average high school GPA, 3.39 of a possible 4.0. But because its student body is apparently very smart, Tech’s football players still scored 315 SAT points lower than their classmates.
UCLA, which has won more NCAA championships in all sports than any other school, had the biggest gap between the average SAT scores of athletes in all sports and its overall student body, at 247 points.
Some “universal truths,” according to the Journal-Constitution:
All 53 schools for which football SAT scores were available had at least an 88-point gap between team members’ average score and the average for the student body.
Schools with the highest admissions standards, such as Georgia Tech, the University of Virginia, the University of California-Berkeley, UCLA, and the University of North Carolina, had the biggest gaps between the SAT averages for athletes and the overall student body.
Football players performed 115 points worse on the SAT than male athletes in other sports.
The differences between athletes’ and non-athletes’ SAT scores were less than half as big for women (73 points) as for men (170).
Many schools routinely used a special admissions process to admit athletes who did not meet the normal entrance requirements. More than half of scholarship athletes at the University of Georgia, the University of Wisconsin, Clemson University, UCLA, Rutgers University, Texas A&M University and Louisiana State University were special admits. . . At Georgia, for instance, 73.5 percent of athletes were special admits compared with 6.6 percent of the student body as a whole.
At a glance, here are the top 10 highest and lowest schools based on the average SAT scores of football players (out of a maximum 1600 score):
FOOTBALL SAT SCORES:
THE TOP 10
School, Average
Georgia Tech, 1028
Oregon State, 997
Michigan, 997
Virginia, 993
Purdue, 974
Indiana, 973
Hawaii, 968
California, 967
Colorado, 966
Iowa, 964
THE BOTTOM 10
School, Average
Oklahoma State, 878
Louisville, 878
Memphis, 890
Florida, 890
Texas Tech, 901
Arkansas, 910
Texas A&M, 911
Mississippi State, 911
Washington State, 916
Michigan State, 917
Tags: college athletics, SAT, colleges, sports
GT Joe
October 31st, 2012
10:51 am
Ken:
My point is, we’ve been top 5 in rush yards/game every year (including this year). Parsing down to production by a-back, b-back and QB is silliness, because the offense takes what the defense gives. CPJ is calling plays (and supposedly Tevin is making reads) based on what the defenses are showing. Defenses are determining the distribution of our rush yards, not GT.
What I’ve been saying all along is that defenses are not afraid of Tevin. So they line up to stop the b-back and make Tevin either run himself (ideal for the defense) or pitch to a-back (less ideal, but can end up in a fumble). The numbers bear this out:
Dwyer averaged 5.9/rush in 2009
Laskey is averaging 5.5/rush this year (I’d argue because the defenses are more focused on b-back nowadays)
Nesbitt averaged 3.7/rush in 2009
Tevin averages 4.1/rush this year (I’d argue because defenses are less focused on the QB nowadays due to less rushing ability).
Defenses have learned that ~4 yards from a QB is better than ~5.5 from a b-back. Not rocket science.
If we had a “scary” running QB (and/or a “scary” passing QB), b-back production would go up. In the end though, higher b-back production would mean lower a-back and QB production. It’s a silly, circular argument.
Montylick&ass
October 31st, 2012
10:51 am
UOAD: And where are MIT and Cal Poly? YOU were the one that said Tech was like them, ,so why don’t you go look up and compare the SAT and GPA for those three schools. I am sure you can cherry pick the stats you want to keep your dream world alive. I bet if you took the top 250 applicants from Tech and even UGA, you wouln’t find much difference. So don’t try to use your stats to hide what I am sure even you know is the truth. Tech ain’t no MIT these days, if it ever was, and we now suck at sports to boot.
GT TN
October 31st, 2012
10:57 am
GT Joe..you ask who is the better passer..Vad is..but he is not a good enough passer to sit back and just start passing it all over the field..look at last week stats..3 for 7 31yds..2 of his 3 series were against 2nd and 3rd stringers..once again you just start talking with no facts to backup what you are saying..
Fuzzybee78..you are reading too many of GT Joe’s post where you speak and no facts to back it up..TW is no JNes running the ball so def are plugging the b back..J Nes rushed for 2,806 for a 4.6 avg in 45 games..TW has rushed for 2,022 for a 4.2 avg in 30 games..not a huge difference in the rushing numbers..I think the ability of the b back is the reason numbers are done
DOC 51..coaches can never win..people say the UGA boy at UF shows to much enthusiasm and they complain..CPJ shows very little enthusiasm and you say communication is lacking between coaches and players…have you ever watched N Sab at Alabama or Coach Synder at KSU..they show no enthusiasm at all..I guess communication is obviously lacking between the coaches and players over at those 2 schools..enthusiasm has nothing to do with communication
Bobcat
October 31st, 2012
10:57 am
The next big news story I would like to read about is the one that includes a search for a new GT head coach.
Tech Man
October 31st, 2012
11:04 am
Tevin Washington will start again Saturday. CPJ must have a hole in his head. I guess he wants to loose. After we get behind then he will send in Vad Lee. Of course too late then. Who gives a crap about doing well in practice to determine who the starting QB is. TW can do great in practice because there’s no pressure. Vad does good in games because he’s a gamer. CPJ-wake up or are you as dumb as a lot of people think you are.
10per
October 31st, 2012
11:05 am
VaTech seems to get quality players. Do they not have similar limits as far as majors go?
GT Joe
October 31st, 2012
11:05 am
GT TN! Where have you been?! The biggest Tevin apologist on earth (well you and Take the Wheel, MaconFanGT), you guys have been MIA!
So tell me, oh wise one, who should start at QB this weekend? Tell me about how Vad isn’t ready. Tell me about how Tevin is our best QB (try not to think about his last two passes of his college career).
Surprised you had the nuts to come back on here.
GT Joe
October 31st, 2012
11:09 am
Oh yea, tell me how many years of football you played and coached at all levels…so I’ll trust you more.
Vad came in and looked GREAT. His first 4 plays were plays that Tevin simply cannot make. If you still think Tevin should start, you bumped your head.
GT Joe
October 31st, 2012
11:13 am
GT TN: what you fail to mention is that Vad’s last series was with OUR 3rd stringers.
Booze Hound
October 31st, 2012
11:18 am
Look for Paul Johnson to be fired after the Yellow Jackets lose to Maryland and its fifth-string quarterback this weekend.
old dog
October 31st, 2012
11:21 am
I hear ya’ll talking about Vad and Tevin. No offense intended, but this is what happens when you run this o…….you do not get a REAL D-1 QB. Not hatin’ on either one of them, but neither is a top-tier QB. Ya’lls talent level has gone down……….time to start over. This is kind of like arguing at who should start at point-guard for the Celtics: Danny Divito or Mickey Rooney. Time to start over….new coach, new system…..renewed pride!
GT Joe
October 31st, 2012
11:23 am
old dog, Vad is a real d-1 QB. You will see soon enough, maybe even on nov. 24th.
5150 UOAD
October 31st, 2012
11:24 am
#1 Massachusetts Institute of Technology
#2 Stanford University
#3 University of California–Berkeley
#4 Georgia Institute of Technology
#5 California Institute of Technology
#7 Carnegie Mellon University
#8 University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
#8 University of Texas–Austin
#10 Cornell University
#10 Purdue University
5150 UOAD
October 31st, 2012
11:26 am
Montylicks …………If you read the Article I didn’t pick the schools the AJC did and also it was schools that they could get the info on from the Freedom of info Act. MIT doesn’t play football so the AJC didn’t get those SAT scores.
GT TN
October 31st, 2012
11:29 am
Bobcat..you say you would love to see a story on a search for a new GT HC..you need a solution to solve your problem..who is GT going to hire..
Rick Nueheisel was the big name last time job was open..his record since 2008 was 21-29 (13-23 in conf) and he was at UCLA..CPJ is 37-24 (23-14 in conf)..glad we didn’t hire RN like everyone wanted..
Tenuta was interviewed..he still doesnt have a HC job..that must sy he isn’t HC material
Joker Phillips was interviewed..do I need to tell you how bad he has been at UK
Bowden was interviewed and 5 years later he is at Akron..no high profile job
Chris Hatcher was interviewed and fired from GA Southern the next year
Randy Esnell was interviewed..he was 74-70 at UConn and is 6-14 at Maryland in 2 years
Charlie Strong was the only person interviewed that has done anything since CPJ took over..he is having a great year this year but was 14-12 before this year as a HC
So..who are you going to hire to be the GT HC after you fire CPJ..here is a list of school that will most likely be looking for a HC
Tennessee
Auburn
CAL
Iowa
Arkansas
maybe Texas
here are 6 schools that higher profile football teams than GT..so I need a name to replace him with instead of just saying we need a new coach
fuzzybee78
October 31st, 2012
11:32 am
GT TN—
I have to agree with GT Joe about why the numbers being down at B Back. Tech gets what the D gives
and it became obvious last year that the “formula” for defending us was force TW to run or pass rather that pitch to Orwin or give to Sims. That along with the differences in talent level at B back I agree are the reasons that B back total yards are down.
With respect to Vad I think he will struggle against a pretty good Maryland D, but at this point TW is a known and Vad needs playing time if we are to have a chance against UNC and Duke much less the dawgs.
GT Joe
October 31st, 2012
11:34 am
Don’t need a new coach. just a new QB.
5150 UOAD
October 31st, 2012
11:37 am
GT TN
You forgot
Kentucky, Vandy & Duke will be looking for a coach.
I say VANDY because FRANKLIN is HOT and could be getting a new job offer and DUKE cause UT maybe calling him to come back.
If you were just talking Higher profile jobs than TECH I understand your pick of schools and not including the schools I mentioned.
GT TN
October 31st, 2012
11:37 am
GT Joe..i have never said that Vad doesnt have more ability than TW..I have always said that Vad doesn’t give us the best option to win a whole game..he was playing the last series with our 3rd string..his 2nd series he was not and had 3 and out..if he is playing with our 3rd string and he is palying against a 3rd string..he should excel..BYU QB excelled playing against and with 3rd stringers..I played 4 years of High School football and coached 3 years of HS..was also a GA for 1 year before I took another job in sports to stay home and start a family..how many years have you been involved in football
fuzzybee78
October 31st, 2012
11:39 am
GT TN I think youre right about that list of schools. CPJ will get another year. The jury is out on recruiting enough talent to make this offense go in D1. 09 proved with talent it will GO.
Have to have a talented DC and move to the 4-3 IMO.
mark
October 31st, 2012
11:42 am
You had a B back in CP before he got hurt and you preferred to play head games and yank him for an entire game for missing a block downfield. Time to stop being petty and coach…
GT TN
October 31st, 2012
11:42 am
5150..you are correct..those will be open as well..we are having a very bad year..I don’t agree with everyone that we need to jump ship with coach and offense..if we go out next year and have a losing record..I’m all for it..I think a change now sets us back and instead helping go forward
GT TN
October 31st, 2012
11:44 am
GT Joe..I’m ok with Vad getting the start on Saturday..I just don’t think he should just be given the keys to the car..I like CPJ letting him drive the car when its good for the team
5150 UOAD
October 31st, 2012
11:49 am
With a GOOD D I have no fear that TeCH can be playing in the ACC CG almost every year with CPJ as the HC.
fuzzybee78
October 31st, 2012
11:49 am
GT TN
Would you agree we need to taylor the O a little more to the talent available? Like more shotgun/pistol and getting Snoddy and JThomas on the field even if its situational, too much speed to sit. My complaint about PJ is he insists these guys be great blockers so he has full compliment of plays to call and when the are not he plays with lesser talent on the field and still complains. He says he doesnt want to reward playing time to guys who cant block. Got to be a solution to this and get the best talent on the field AND practice blocking during the week.
Paddy
October 31st, 2012
11:49 am
10 per……Va Tech has many more majors from which to select.. The are VPI & Univ. It is the same as going to UGA or Oregon etc They are not just an Institute of Technology. If a kid wants to take HPE or social studies he can.
fuzzybee78
October 31st, 2012
11:52 am
5150 whats your take on my last post?
Paddy
October 31st, 2012
12:00 pm
The’B’ back in CPJ offense can make everyone around him a star, but he must be a star in his own right. Without that you are faced with the situation you have today at GT. Just getting by at ‘B’ back does not translate to mismatches that this offense lives by
5150 UOAD
October 31st, 2012
12:03 pm
FB78 mostly correct. I would like to see more of the Spread Option that has a more passing element, but We have not developed a QB to run more passes. i think VAD can do that. I think VAD can be like a Joe Hamilton. Vad can run the triple Option, Spread Option and Kill you with his legs on the QB keeper when the pass is not there.
GT TN
October 31st, 2012
12:13 pm
FB78..I agree with what you are saying..I do think he could open it up alittle..I would like to see us run the reverse to the WR like we have in the past..I don’t agree with putting Thomas on the field now..I wouldn’t want to lose a full year for him to play in 4 more games..I think he is going to be special as well..to get the other guys on the field you have to take someone off..the problem with not blocking is that means a DB or LB gets a free shot at pitch man or QB..to run the offense the QB has to have confidence that he or the pitch man isnt covered..the offense is shut down when they are both covered
1 4 GT
October 31st, 2012
12:15 pm
Late in the discussion I know but………………… here is a link to the ranking of the top engineering schools in the nation. grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-engineering-schools/eng-rankings
GT TN
October 31st, 2012
12:17 pm
FB78..I also thing CPJ runs what he thinks his QB’s can handle..TW can’t be in the shot gun or pistol all the time..Vad can..if he can learn to read the defense he will be used in the pistol and shot gun more
fuzzybee78
October 31st, 2012
12:17 pm
5150 I completely agree. Vad in the spread or read option like others run would be killer and solve recruiting issues as well. Not going to happen under PJ but maybe enough pistol/shotgun out of the TO can work. I think Vad is the most physically gifted QB Tech has had. He needs playmakers on the field with him.
1 4 GT
October 31st, 2012
12:17 pm
http://www.grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-engineering-schools/eng-rankings
Uh, fellas, about those statistics involving school rankings...
October 31st, 2012
12:18 pm
…we all know that statistics are for losers, so are you guys quantifying that GT is loser?
Johnson says it’s not time to panic | Georgia Tech
October 31st, 2012
12:19 pm
[...] Notes: B-backs struggling to produce [...]
GT may not be, but I am...
October 31st, 2012
12:20 pm
…”a” loser…
TechApp fan
October 31st, 2012
12:20 pm
A wind turbine converts wind energy to electrical energy…slow, low power wind usually
results in small amount of power no matter how efficient the turbine.
Could the same thinking be applied to the backs and QB?. Slow, light-weight, not-so-strong arm has a small potential whereas a stronger, faster B back or QB surely has more potential (in a season that seems to provide little possibility to meet established goals).
Since the backs cannot quickly get bigger/stronger, you would think different plays would be employed instead of keep “diving” and little passing.
1 4 GT
October 31st, 2012
12:21 pm
Here is a link to the rankings of the best engineering programs in the nation. http://www.colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/engineering
Booze Hound
October 31st, 2012
12:23 pm
Virginia Tech is a ghetto school.
1 4 GT
October 31st, 2012
12:24 pm
Here is a link to the rankings of the best engineering schools in the world. http://www.businessinsider.com/the-worlds-best-engineering-schools-2012-6?op=1
fuzzybee78
October 31st, 2012
12:25 pm
@GT TN
Im talking this year for Snoddy but next year for both. No way you burn JT redshirt. My issue with playcalling is put in a package of what the kid does well and call plays that doesnt require them to block in situations that warrant. Yea the D will catch on that thats happening but like PJ says, you still have to stop it. We have to few really talented players at skill positions to waste them especially speed guys like Snoddy and JT next year if they are not good blockers. JT cannot sit as Vad’s backup like SDays has and waste his talent. And Days needs to play A back or move to safety over the winter.
Paddy
October 31st, 2012
12:26 pm
fuzzybee78…….getting the best talent on the field will only make you an average team. Skill & talent combined is what wins you games. Recruiting is not about talent it is about knowing what players you recruit have the ability to vastly improve their skills at their position. The great coaches have great teams because their skill sets have improved at every position. Coaching books by Paul Brown and Chuck Fairbanks considered skill more important than talent because every player they recruited had talent. The skilled won them championships. It always comes down to coaching, does it not?
1 4 GT
October 31st, 2012
12:27 pm
Here is a link ranking engineering schools worldwide by academics. http://www.shanghairanking.com/FieldENG2012.html
Technically Correct
October 31st, 2012
12:28 pm
There’s a reason that Dwyer and Allen are both playing in the NFL
1 4 GT
October 31st, 2012
12:29 pm
I would say Georgia Tech fairs very well with it’s standing within it’s niche. Both nationally and globally.
old dog
October 31st, 2012
12:35 pm
@5150,
Better hold up on the praise…..Vad may be good but Hamilton, whether you are a Teckie or a Dawg, was one of the best college QB’s in the nation when he played……
fuzzybee78
October 31st, 2012
12:41 pm
Paddy, you make a good point. One thing though – you cant coach a 10.7 hundred meter time and Snoddy and JT have them. Maybe Im wrong but I think if PJ would bend a little more to the limited talent he has, and as coaches say ” put them in a position to make a play” we would see more success. PJ seems a little stubborn in his insistence on perfect blocking from backs. He certainly put a package together for Vad out of necessity as Tevin struggled. VT beat us in part because they put in there fastest WR and beat us on a fly pattern for a TD. I bet he doesnt block worth a damm.
fuzzybee78
October 31st, 2012
12:42 pm
Technically Correct you are absolutely correct!
Coach Z
October 31st, 2012
12:56 pm
There is much talk on this blog about QB passing accuracy or which QB, TW or VL, is better at throwing the ball around. However, has anyone considered the ability of the WRs to run good route to get open? I’ll give you that TW can’t get the ball out 20 yards to a WR, nor hit an open guy running down the middle. To be fair, I wonder if our receivers know how to get open when the play is obviously a pass play. Maybe the answer to this is shorter passes. Regardless, GT is a work in progress… For my enjoyment I just relive the highs like the scott scisson kick to beat #1 Virginia. Or the great throw and catch from Godsey to Watkins to beat Clemson in Death Valley, or most recently the defeat of the dogs where Roddy Jones should all of us what this TO can do when you have determination and heart.
old dog
October 31st, 2012
1:09 pm
Coach Z,
It is a gimmick offense most teams have not played against…..and the year ya’ll won you DID have better athletes. Now, folks have figured it out and you have less talent….better go back to the board; you, sir, are off on that asssessment.
old dog
October 31st, 2012
1:14 pm
p.s. Coach Z,
No disrespect intended…….I just think you are WAY off.
Paddy
October 31st, 2012
1:46 pm
fuzzybee78……you are right, you can’t teach speed. But it is the skill combined w/ that speed that wins games. There have been fast guys that have played college football that spent all 4 years watching their teammates from the sidelines. There is a reason for that!
Coach Z
October 31st, 2012
1:47 pm
None taken old dog. I’m just a whistle in the field of coaches out here. But to me, TW drops back to pass and he looks as though he can’t find an open man, or can’t pull the trigger. The former is indeed the WRs issue.
Paddy
October 31st, 2012
1:51 pm
Coach Z…..I believe that determination and heart can get you on the team, but can it get you on the field? A team full of Rudy’s would get a coach fired!
old dog
October 31st, 2012
2:00 pm
Coach Z,
I think you may be right…..but I still do not see a good QB; the system at Tech requires a “sacrificial lamb” to a degree, and no top-tier QB will play in it. I think Tech had a little luck the first year and suprised folks with something new and different. It soon was figured out, and to boot the athletic talent became less and less. Tech has a long and proud history, and can be there again. However, I am convinced that under the current staff it just ain’t gonna happen. UGA has tough years, too. But the year ya’ll are having is the culmination of bad (sub-par) talent, bad coaching (D, for example.trying to run a 3-4 w/o nearly enough talent there) and a big loss of fan support, too. Y’all have a difficult time bringing in fans, even when things are a little better. I think you need to wipe the slate clean and start over. It would be good for Tech and good for the state of Georgia. There are some good coaches out there…..Kirby Smart or somebody….who could get you going.
BigTimeTECHFan
October 31st, 2012
2:15 pm
Perkins would be dominating, If he wasn’t hurt Tech would be undefeated
BigTimeTECHFan
October 31st, 2012
2:16 pm
Marcus Allen is awesome
On Tech ending the kickoff return drought | Georgia Tech
October 31st, 2012
3:41 pm
[...] may be interested to know, as I wrote in notes posted Tuesday night, that it was tied for the fourth-longest non-scoring kickoff-return streak in FBS. Remarkably, [...]
...Take The Wheel
October 31st, 2012
5:54 pm
So… does blogging essentially amount to B&M?? Cause all I ever hear is bricking and moaning! For every half positive post theres 10 complaints. Is that your idea of being a fan? You want the players to lift themselves up, lift you up , lift the school up and win EVERY TIME?? Why dont you all (those few who actually attend the games) start showing more unity, camaraderie and team support. Real fans are supportive ALL THE TIME not just during wins!
This infighting is toxic all around. It works against everything you say you want. Recruits see it, younger players, other teams see it and the list goes on and on…
Paddy
October 31st, 2012
6:15 pm
…..Take the Wheel…..I hear you, son!
Go Dawgs
unajacket
October 31st, 2012
9:36 pm
I really believe a huge part of our offensive problems revolve around the blocking of our oline & backs. If passing is gonna happen lets go with Lee, he has a rifle for an arm.
Johnson responds to critics | Georgia Tech
November 1st, 2012
2:27 pm
[...] Notes: B-backs struggling to produce [...]
Abuses In Marriages » Blog Archive » Washington, Lee keep relationship smooth
November 1st, 2012
3:13 pm
[...] Notes: B-backs struggling to produce [...]
Isaiah Johnson simplifying, improving | Georgia Tech
November 2nd, 2012
12:00 am
[...] Notes: B-backs struggling to produce [...]
Vett
November 2nd, 2012
8:39 am
Current GT student perspective on GT Athletics: http://www.rcsoatl.com/2012/11/hopeful-for-change-in-gt-athletics.html