Johnson responds to critics
Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson made for pretty entertaining radio Wednesday night on his weekly show on 790 the Zone. Johnson took calls from listeners who challenged him on all matters regarding the team and its disappointing 3-5 record. Johnson even proactively addressed issues that have been raised by fans and media about the team before they were brought up, namely quarterback Tevin Washington.
I’m not sure how these read, but I wouldn’t call his tone defensive. Even-keeled and firm, certainly. Perhaps defiant. You can listen here through the Tech iTunes page.
On the season:
“We’ve lost two games in overtime. It isn’t making excuses, it’s just facts. We’ve lost two games in overtime. We lost the one at Clemson after being ahead in the fourth quarter. Is Sammy Watkins a really good player? Yes. Is DeAndre Hopkins at Clemson a really good player? Yes, but all in all we played with them to toe to toe until we fumbled the snap on 4th and 1 from the 7-yard line. If we don’t fumble the snap, maybe we go up two scores in the fourth quarter and it’s different. It wasn’t like when we lined up, we couldn’t line up and they were knocking us off the ball.”
On the BYU loss:
“We were horrid on third down in that game but if you go back and look for the rest of the year, we were probably tops in the league or second in the league. Last year, we were second in the country. We’ve been pretty good on third down.”
On recruiting:
“If we want to be honest, recruiting’s about the same as it has been. We can rewrite history, but the facts are the facts. I think we have some good players. We’ve got to be better. If we don’t play better, your point will be proven. If we do, mine will be proven that we’ve got some pretty good players.”
On recruiting and talent level:
“We’re trying to compete in the conference that we’re in, and if you look at it, we’ve played five times, we’ve been ahead five (times in the fourth quarter). If the talent level is that bad, then we must be doing a hell of a job coaching to stay in there and I don’t think that’s the case. So I think that the talent level is not as bad as you think. We’ve got to finish the games. Now, close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. I got you – we need to win the games. I just don’t see the gloom and doom that everybody wants to buy into.”
On the team’s intensity:
“I think intensity has not been a strong suit of this team, I would agree. That’s something that we’ve got to find and I’ve got to do a better job of as a coach.”
On his record and quarterback Tevin Washington:
“There’s an overall body of work. When the time comes, if it’s not good enough, do what you’ve got to do but you don’t have to re-set your standards and you shouldn’t be judged on every series or every play or every game. And the quarterback shouldn’t be judged on every play, of every series, of every game.
He has an overall body of work. He can do what he can do. He can’t control punts getting blocked, he can’t control whatever, and the only thing I can tell you is the kid is busting his tail doing everything he can do for Georgia Tech. And I promise you, I go to practice every day, and if I thought the other guy would help us win, he would be playing.
And I’m not ready to throw away the season – and I’m not saying if we put the other guy in, we’ll throw away the season – he may very well play this week. But it’s not going to be because somebody tells me to do it. It’s going to be because I think he gives our football team the best chance. Because my job is to try to give us the best chance to win the game. I see those guys every day we practice. I know there’s a lot of people out there that can do my job better than I can. I gotcha. I understand that. But pardon me if I’m not going to listen to everybody who tells me who I should be playing, what I should be doing.
I’ve managed to survive for 34 years doing what I’m doing without getting fired and we’ve won a lot of games. If I’m going to go down, I’m going to go down doing what I do and knowing what I know. So that’s it in a nutshell.”
On play-calling:
“You try to call the plays that people can run. You can have 100 plays and if you can’t run ’em, it doesn’t do any good to call ’em. I don’t mean this in a bad way or whatever, but it’s not like PlayStation, where you just pick a play. You have guys out there who can do certain things. And if guys struggle pulling, you don’t run the pulling plays. If guys aren’t as good at throwing one way, you try to throw the other way. That’s all the things that you know from being with those guys every day in practice and going into the game plan.”
“People say, ‘Well, when Vad goes in the game, you call a different game.’ Well, I try to do what Vad (Lee) can do better as opposed to forcing something else. Now there’s a point that it doesn’t matter just what Vad can do, you have to do whatever everybody playing with Vad can do. That’s part of coaching. We’ve got a lot of plays and people have probably made it – and I’m probably my own worst enemy by saying, ‘Hey, we run five or six plays and we do variations.’ – it’s a little more complicated than that. But we try to run the plays that give us the best chance to win the game.”
In case you missed it…
Washington, Lee keep relationship smooth
Tech scrambling to prepare for Maryland QB
On Tech ending its kick-return drought
Johnson says it’s not time to panic
Heisman biography offers revealing history
Notes: B-backs struggling to produce
Notes: Johnson mum on starting quarterback
Thanks for reading.
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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439 comments Add your comment
GT Joe
November 1st, 2012
5:04 pm
Tech Troll: go back and look at my posts on this article and tell me where I’m being illogical.
www
November 1st, 2012
5:06 pm
lol. am i a gt athletic dept employee? nope.
but i am a fan. and alum.
i wonder how many posters here ARE fans.
old dog
November 1st, 2012
5:11 pm
GTBob,
In the ’70s, ya’ll and us were back and forth….talent looked pretty even. When CPJ got there, he had more talent than now.
@Supersize….see my post towards bottom of 2nd page.
BUZZ Fan
November 1st, 2012
5:13 pm
“BULLYING” and “ABUSING” GT student athletes is working so well!!!!
old dog
November 1st, 2012
5:14 pm
As I previously have said, I have a little heart for Tech because as a kid, even though we were Dawgs, we did go to Tech to watch a local high-school back play….Brent Cunningham. My wife’s grandad is in the Tech HOF, even though her dad played at UGA! (Can’t say too much more….might blow my cover!!) lol
Reggie's Balls
November 1st, 2012
5:17 pm
www-
Still haven’t told me why I am class-less?
GTville
November 1st, 2012
5:19 pm
Everyone talking about Saban (who is a great coach and recruiter) think about this….there is only 1 Saban. His record at Michigan State which is comparable to GT was:
1995 Michigan State 6–5–1
1996 Michigan State 6–6
1997 Michigan State 7–5
1998 Michigan State 6–6
1999 Michigan State 9–2
Looks a lot like Gailey’s GT record. Speaking of Gailey, Saban’s NFL record was 9-7 and 6-10. Gailey’s record is 10-6, 8-8, 4-12, 6-10
Take LSU and Alabama out of the picture and Saban is not much better than Gailey. If you put Johnson or Gailey at LSU or Alabama they will likely do better as well. Bigger draw for recruits, bigger pockets, bigger school, better football history….may be a little less selective on education, but that really does not matter.
GTville
November 1st, 2012
5:21 pm
My point above is there will be ups and downs, so just let the coach do what he knows best. I will be very happy with an Orange Bowl every 10 years and an ACC Championship game every 5 years and a winning record 4 of 5 years.
Coach Z
November 1st, 2012
5:22 pm
At www, I am a fan. Have been for years, but I don’t have the alure of a TECH alumni. My merit comes from South Carolina, and even I was pissed that Cremins was ,although brief, headed there. I like to think of it as two parts, my heart is with TECH, I feel the pain and the joy that comes with that. My merit is with South Carolina, I pull for them, but in no way like the alumn that I am should. Having said that, this blog is awesome for the Tech fans. In the next few games I want to watch if the O-Line engages the D-line at the point of attack. It seems to me that defenses just line up, then spread out (like shot gun pellets) when the ball is hiked to cover the option. The O-Line has no chance to engage. Any validity to my point?
Reebok
November 1st, 2012
5:23 pm
Let’s get O’Leary back. Let CPJ stay on as OC if he wants. Johnson apparently can’t recruit playmakers…once Gailey’s players were gone, Tech’s regressed steadily.
Ken Sugiura
November 1st, 2012
5:24 pm
using someone’s handle is a bannable offense.
let’s be civil. having a differing opinion from someone else is not license to call him/her an idiot (or worse).
attacking other commenters is also a bannable offense.
Coach Z
November 1st, 2012
5:25 pm
I loved O’Leary and Fridgen! We’d called that Guiness and BBQ football. Airing it out to quality recievers was a fun sight. But did we win anything?
Coach
November 1st, 2012
5:27 pm
I love him. He’s honest and knows how to coach.
As for our offense getting QB’s hurt, if you really want to experience some pain, drop back to pass and take a shot from a blitzing blind side corner. There’s a picture in an early 70’s yearbook of (SMU?) QB Chuck Hixon doubled over backwards when hit by Bubba Holt (?). I had rather be running the ball than tackled while standing in the pocket.
Go Jackets!
GTBob
November 1st, 2012
5:29 pm
GTBob,
In the ’70s, ya’ll and us were back and forth….talent looked pretty even. When CPJ got there, he had more talent than now.
We were 61-50-3 in the 1970’s. We beat UGA 3 times in 10 years. That was before my time but the talent couldn’t have been that much better. It might be a bit of a stretch to expect recruiting to be the same as 30 years ago also. College football has changed a lot since then.
GT Lover
November 1st, 2012
5:30 pm
These recruits that come out of HS these days with 2.0 averages can’t get into Tech like they can at SEC schools i.e. UGA.
At least CPJ will stay at Tech.
We’d lose other coaches to bigger programs.
Face it, Tech is a small program!
It is what it is!
GT Lover
November 1st, 2012
5:32 pm
Sorry for the idiot comment!
These so-called Tech fans erk me!
Go jackets!
...Take The Wheel
November 1st, 2012
5:34 pm
Thats just the attitude I would expect of you Technically Correct.
...Take The Wheel
November 1st, 2012
5:39 pm
I agree with GTFan4Life
All many of you do is gripe alllllll day every day, not matter what the article is about. We get it, there is room for improvement. But its really not as bad as you make it seem, and even if it were – as a true fan our job is to encourage, support and bring as much POSITIVE energy as we can. Thats our job as fans. We want the team to do their job and we have our own job to do. Its not always easy, but it is was it is.
All the negivity and infighting is counterproductive! You’ve made your disappointment known. To continue hammering that same nail is a mute point.
I respect PJ’s stance, I agree with him 1000% on this. And I’m by no stretch a “PJ Apologist”.
JoeFan
November 1st, 2012
5:43 pm
CPJ can respond with utmost confidence since he’s got a golden parachute / contract that’s got his back.
Rick James
November 1st, 2012
5:47 pm
I’d bet six months of my income that if CPF gets another head coaching job after Tech it will be at a mid-major or below..
Coach
November 1st, 2012
5:52 pm
Old dog, you are VERY close to blowing your cover. Anyone who watched Brent Cunningham run the ball saw one of the greatest to play on Grant Field, and it sounds like you saw him a lot in HS, too. Here’s a great story from the Macon Telegraph on Cunningham:
http://www.macon.com/2012/10/29/2230819/cunningham-had-some-big-games.html
Can you imagine what he could have done in our offense with his speed and moves!
joeygt
November 1st, 2012
5:56 pm
ive been a gt fan since i was 5 and im now 28, how in the h#ll can you so called fans that when tech was winning complain now that their losing. players play and coaches coach, the coach is ultimately responsible, but i thinki vad is a great talent but everyone can see when he comes in he doesnt know the tripple option and when the tripple option is ran correctly(proper blocking, proper reads ) itis unstoppable. tw runs it better than vad,, of course vad is the better talent but you play the season to win the most games you have not to throw it away for a qb in vad that is more talented, tw paid hi dues unless vad is outplaying him tw should start, im in complete agreement with coach cpj. to many armchair coaches who dont even support the team win or lose.. that pitful… i know cpj will get it turned around
GTBob
November 1st, 2012
6:02 pm
I’d bet six months of my income that if CPF gets another head coaching job after Tech it will be at a mid-major or below..
Well, yeah. Most coaches after they get fired don’t go immediately work for major schools and im pretty sure CPJ isn’t leaving unless he is fired.
TVFan
November 1st, 2012
6:13 pm
I think there needs to be a huge evaluation of the current assistant coaches.
The offensive line is not getting the job done and has not played well since 2009. Are they being trained well? The skill level does not appear to be what it should be. Look for the two kids from Tri-Cities as true freshmen offensive linemen to beat out the current guys next year.
The defensive line is abysmal. I know there has been some movement with who now coaches that unit, but it should not have ever gotten that bad.
Linebackers: can’t break through on a blitz. Appear to be weak and fail to make a stop when we need it. Maybe this is the time to mention appalling tackling skills.
Special Teams: Wow.
I’m sure Tech has some pretty good kids playing for them, but they need to start winning some recruiting battles soon.
JB
November 1st, 2012
6:17 pm
The session ended in the parking lot with a fish fry and a baggy blue wind suit for all in attendance. A good time was had by all and then the coach had to run to meet a prospect who’s down to to Tech and Mars Hill
GTBob
November 1st, 2012
6:19 pm
I think there needs to be a huge evaluation of the current assistant coaches.
There are rumors of some pretty significant changes in the offseason.
Rick James
November 1st, 2012
6:20 pm
@GTBob
Well, yeah. Most coaches after they get fired don’t go immediately work for major schools and im pretty sure CPJ isn’t leaving unless he is fired.
————————————————————————————————————————–
Good coaches get fired and rehired at D-1 schools quite often.Bobby Petrino will get a D-1 job,Houston Nutt got another D-1 job,Tommy Tubberville got another one and I’m sure I’m missing a few..Not only will CPJ not be able to get a D-1 head coaching job I’m betting no one would even offer him an OC job..And of course he’s not leaving unless he fired he’s stealing more money than he’s ever made or ever will make in his life.
fuzzybee78
November 1st, 2012
6:22 pm
Folks, we did get spoiled with the class of 07 brought in by Giff Smith for Gailey at #14 in the nation. That was an anomaly for Tech as most classes rank in the 50’s?? Johnson won in 09 with that class leading the way, but lets remember that’s not the norm around here. I would argue we need to pay Gif Smith whatever it takes to come back and get us even somewhere in the 20’s in terms of talent and CPJ will get the most out of it. What I dont know is that is mutually exclusive because of the TO on the offensive side of the ball and Gailey ran a pro set. When CPJ says “we have good players” he I think is comparing to the rest of the league overall, not the class of 07 as we love to remember. He will certainly get another year to see how it plays out both in recruiting and on Saturday’s. He is right about more SR leadership would help. BYU had 28 Seniors and it showed in poise and maturity.
JB
November 1st, 2012
6:24 pm
Hope Johnson is saving some of that good Tech money. He will go full circle and end up at AA college ball at 250K per, not the 2+ mil Tech is forking over
JB
November 1st, 2012
6:26 pm
Gailey not only left Tech & Johnson real talented skill players, he left him real D1 defensive players. Trending down ever since those guys left. Don’t believe me, just look at the product.
fuzzybee78
November 1st, 2012
6:34 pm
JB, you are right.
Now the question is should we expect a top 20 class every year or even two when we havent had one in I dont know how long? And can it be done with PJ at HC? Would Gif come back with PJ at HC?
5150 UOAD
November 1st, 2012
6:39 pm
Rick James………………………..Good coaches get fired and rehired at D-1 schools quite often.Bobby Petrino will get a D-1 job,Houston Nutt got another D-1 job,Tommy Tubberville got another one and I’m sure I’m missing a few..Not only will CPJ not be able to get a D-1 head coaching job I’m betting no one would even offer him an OC job..And of course he’s not leaving unless he fired he’s stealing more money than he’s ever made or ever will make in his life.
===================================
they got jobs that were worse than the job they had and the school that hired them were needing a better coach then they lost
I notice you didn’t mention all the UGA coaches that got a job after they were FIRED from UGa.
Wait because if you can’t win at UGa with the talent that just walks in the door then you suck as a coach.
Head Coaching at UGa is a CAREER KILLING JOB.
JB
November 1st, 2012
6:41 pm
Fuzzybee, I’m a Dawg, but grew in Atlanta and attended many Tech games and I’m not happy when Tech is not doing well. I watch them on TV when my Dawgs aren’t on. The talent level to ME seems really down. The ACC has some very talented teams, and whipping up on weak sisters and OOC teams is not very fun. I don’t have an answer. The recruiting has got to improve. The coaching is there. He doesn’t seem to have much to work with, but hey, Auburn is 1-7.
roughrider
November 1st, 2012
6:44 pm
I didn’t see a comment from PJ about Middle Tenn.
fuzzybee78
November 1st, 2012
6:45 pm
CPJ has never had a QB that throws well at least at Tech until Vad Lee. He says that he adjusts his play calling to the strengths of his QB and the players around him. What we dont know is how his play calling will change with a more polished Lee at the helm next fall, if JT doesnt beat him out. Could be a really different animal. Like many have said in the past, how good would lil Joe have been in the offense? Pretty good I suspect. Lee has more physical tools than Joe, is he as good a leader? on field smart? Driven to make a play? Will be fun to see next year.
Now lets see how this year plays out. PJ will make changes and it will be better next year, maybe a lot better.
hit a single
November 1st, 2012
6:45 pm
What I don’t understand from you Tech fans is that when the Jackets defeated UGA in Johnson’s first year the high school offense was fine. Now you hate it. Johnson’s only mistake was probably hiring Groh and playing a QB he was being too loyal to. He is still the right man for the job. If you don’t want him I am sure the Naval Academy will take him back and when the Navy plays Tech in the Boise St. Bowl, the Navy will win 45 to 44.
macrotech
November 1st, 2012
6:53 pm
CPJ said it like it was. No sunshine up anyone’s hind parts! I remain awed at the assumption that he’d keep the best QB on the bench when we’ve been struggling. The man IS around these guys a GREAT deal more than ANY of us…he’ll see us through this. We have NOT seen the best this man can provide and I remain optimistic about this becoming a reality. This season has been a frustrating one, but I’ll be looking for all you haters out there when things get turned around. No matter what happens, I’m a Tech fan…for better or for worse! GO TECH!!!
Coach
November 1st, 2012
6:54 pm
I love it. CPJ tells it like it is. I have not been fired and if you do– pay me. PAY ME BIG! I will get another job coaching another team. Its his team and he is going to run it his way. I like it. Straight up. He has a youg team–6 senior starters. Next year is where it all really starts for CPJ. His time to win or fail.
superDawg
November 1st, 2012
6:56 pm
I read the article and also read the word IF as if it was multiplyed 10 times.If pj was not the coach it might have been a big if outcome.
Rick James
November 1st, 2012
7:00 pm
@5150 UOAD
they got jobs that were worse than the job they had and the school that hired them were needing a better coach then they lost
I notice you didn’t mention all the UGA coaches that got a job after they were FIRED from UGa.
Wait because if you can’t win at UGa with the talent that just walks in the door then you suck as a coach.
Head Coaching at UGa is a CAREER KILLING JOB.
—————————————————————————————————————————-
I’ve only seen four head coaches at UGA in my lifetime.Dooley retired,Goff was fired and became a Zaxby’s millionare,Donnan was fired and became a swindler.If CRM and CPJ both lost their jobs CMR get a D-1 job and CPJ winds up at a mid-major or lower.In fact most Tech fans would love to have CMR they just wont admit it. So I dont know what coach you’re speaking about that had his career killed by coaching at Georgia.
fuzzybee78
November 1st, 2012
7:10 pm
JB, I appreciate your comments and I agree with you about recruiting and the talent level. But I have to remind myself that our class of 07 was very special at GT and lead to the success of 08-09. I do think PJ hurts his own cause by downplaying the star system as a whole because its clear it matters. He remembers beating teams with better talent, when he was at Navy.
We have seen what he can do with one top 20 class and a QB who could run over you but didnt throw very well in J Nesbit. We are about to see what he can do with a QB who does both run and throw well in Mr Lee. He has the potential to elevate all around him as Joe Hamilton did, but it even took Joe a couple of years to really be good.
5150 UOAD
November 1st, 2012
7:14 pm
Rick…..all the UGa coaches Never COACHED AGAIN.
Dooley was run out as the AD.
Richt will not get a HC job at a good college after UGa.
If You Can’t Win at UGa with All the Talent that falls in your Lap you are not much of a Coach.
GT Fan
November 1st, 2012
7:23 pm
@ Rick James…beotch
Rick James
November 1st, 2012
5:47 pm
I’d bet six months of my income that if CPF gets another head coaching job after Tech it will be at a mid-major or below..
—————————
Hey Superfreak,
You could’ve saved a bunch of typing if you’d just said I’ll bet $10
Superfreakyyyy
GT Fan
November 1st, 2012
7:25 pm
Kudos to PJ!
GT Fan
November 1st, 2012
7:31 pm
I’d love to see a contest in which the winner “Won a chance to Coach GT in a Game” with the following rules/prize:
YOU are the HC … i.e. you’re word is as strong as PJ’s, what you say goes.
If your coaching gets GT a win, you win a million $.
If your coaching gets GT a loss, you owe GT $2,500
I think we’d all love to see WnE’s name get picked for this contest!
Bud
November 1st, 2012
7:33 pm
Coach is right. Worst loss how about 51-7. To ga by chan. 5 loses chans teams loss 5 games every year he was our coach. What’s wrong with defending yourself. Too many of you are pros and never coached in your life get real.
GT1990
November 1st, 2012
7:50 pm
Hey coach, you will be fired after UGA proves your coaching staff including you suck!No need in reading his stupid points anymore.
GT1990
November 1st, 2012
7:51 pm
Hey bud losing 5 GAMES IN NOT OK!!!!!!!!!
Delbert D.
November 1st, 2012
8:12 pm
“If I’m going to go down, I’m going to go down doing what I do and knowing what I know.”
That’s why I want Johnson to hire an offensive coordinator, one who can bring in some other elements to the offense. Brian Bohannon has been with Johnson just about forever. I’d like to see him move on and start up the Kennesaw State program. Come on Coach, think outside that box.
Rick James
November 1st, 2012
8:12 pm
@5150 UOAD
Rick…..all the UGa coaches Never COACHED AGAIN.
Dooley was run out as the AD.
Richt will not get a HC job at a good college after UGa.
If You Can’t Win at UGa with All the Talent that falls in your Lap you are not much of a Coach
—————————————————————————————————————————-
The last time I checked CMR was in the top five in win percentages amoung active coaches..Where’s Paul Johnson again? I guess if you’re and AD and you interview CMR and CPJ for your vacant head coaching job and after comparing perfomance and abilities you hire CPJ becuase CMR never won at Georgia right? All I can say is that I hope you would save your money because you and CPJ would be fired.Maybe the school wont be in the position that Tech is in right now where they cant fire him because they cant afford the buyout.