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
Booze Hound
November 2nd, 2012
12:57 pm
Johnson’s been in a downward trend since clinching the ACC Coastal Division against Duke in November 2009. The turning point was that 30-24 loss to a putrid 6-5 Georgia team that had just lost to Kentucky. Counting that UGA game, Tech is 18-19 over the past thirty-seven games. That’s lousy compared to the 19-5 start Johnson initially had.
93 Dawg
November 2nd, 2012
12:58 pm
Fire Johnson? Who’s gonna pay for that? So he gets to keep his never been fired streak alive.
More good news; we’ll be hosting a Fish Fry on November 24 in Athens and you’re all invited to come. Bring the cool new uni’s with you!
www
November 2nd, 2012
1:00 pm
* sorry, i meant dwagfathful. typical dwag fan.
www
November 2nd, 2012
1:01 pm
http://anotherbeautifulday.wordpress.com/2012/01/03/go-dwags/
Tech Troll 13
November 2nd, 2012
1:02 pm
@ different year same result
I guess Spurrier is bad coach since he hasn’t recruited a decent QB since he’s been at South Carolina.
@ MC
All of Iowa’s front seven made it to the NFL. I rembember how cold it was at the game, but I also remember we had the ball with a chance to take lead late in the 4th quarter.
www
November 2nd, 2012
1:02 pm
a quote from the link above:
“poking fun at “Dwag” fans is a target-rich environment”
DawgFaithful
November 2nd, 2012
1:05 pm
Tech4life:
“It’s funny. The man you were describing sounded a lot like Mark Richt.”
C’mon really? Mark Richt has won 10+ games in 12 years. He is 2-1 in BCS games. He has played for 4 SEC titles and won 2. We will play for another one this year with an outside shot to play for the BCS title. In his career he has recruited and coached QB after QB including a hesiman winner, the former NCAA all time wins leader and a #1 overall Draft pick. Saban is the best coach in america but Richt has a higher winning percentage. Richt has the 3rd or 4th highest winning percentage in the NCAA. He is the longest tenured coach in the SEC. He continually gets top NFL caliber talent to come to GA. While we havnt won a NC, I’d say he’s been pretty successful.
Paul Johnson on the other hand has never won a bowl game and may not even play in one this year. He has 1 conference title with someone else’s players that was later stripped by the NCAA. He won a D2 NC but who outside of D2 gives a rip about that? He’s won 17 games in the last 3 years.
Based on that, If you were a talented HS football player that was used to winning, which program would you want to be a part of?
GT Fan
November 2nd, 2012
1:05 pm
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.
————————————-
But it’s just fine (and fun) that your Dawgs regularly do the same thing, JB.
UGA played 4 good teams last season, and so far have played only 2 this season. 0-4 in 2011, and 1-1 in 2012 with a minimum of 1 more L coming and, IMO, 2 Ls (BAMA & Bowl opponent).
So, JB, UGA currently is 1-5 vs. good and 17-0 vs. weak sisters & OOC teams. Fun, right?
DawgFaithful
November 2nd, 2012
1:07 pm
Hey www,
Did you read my response to Bob? How was my math wrong? 20 wins in years 1 and 2 with Gaileys players. 17 wins since with PJ’s. NO BOWL WINS!? may not qualify for a bowl this year. Yeah the program is really catching so steam. You guys are on your way.
GT Fan
November 2nd, 2012
1:09 pm
And JB, I doubt any honest/intelligent GT fans like myself actually believe GT can recruit the hords of talent that UGA can. Not even close really.
Reggie's Balls
November 2nd, 2012
1:10 pm
GT Bob-
Here is your trend. Since 2009 when CPJ beat Duke he is 18 and 19. Thats a below .500 trend for the last three years…….Again let me run down the wins:
Duke (Twice)
MTSU (Twice)
S.C. State
W. Carolina
PC
BC
Kansas
Among the loses in that time period
UGA 3 times
VA Tech 3 times
Miami 3 times
Clemson 2 times
Kansas
MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE
and finally 0 and 3 in bowl appearances
GT Bob- Are you BLIND. Keep cheering mediocrity, actually below mediocrity…..
GTBob
November 2nd, 2012
1:11 pm
It’s math. You tech guys know about math right?
Its selective math. When we went 6-7 in 2010 and went 8-5 the next year were we on a downward trend? By your logic UGA is currently on a downward trend because their last 5 years were worse then the previous 5 years.
Big Crimson 75
November 2nd, 2012
1:14 pm
GTBob
12:51pm
Why would we care about the number of NFL players CPJ is producing? Maybe I am weird but I am more concerned with how they do in college then the NFL.
——–
Bobby — their doing terrible in College.
Is Johnson capable of coaching players northward alas O’Leary?
Is he capable of taking a talented player & improving his abilities?
He’s lost complete control of his locker-room!!
DawgFaithful
November 2nd, 2012
1:16 pm
Bob,
Bottom line is you’re winning less games now than when he started. He’s never won a bowl game and might not play in one this year. You’ve got 3 win. It’s the worst Tech team I’ve seen as far vback as I can remeber. He’s been there 5 years. These should be the best years of his tenure.
How could UGA be on a downward trend? We won 10 games last year. And this year we’ll win 11-12. We’re going to play for the conference champioship this year and with a win in that game and a lot of help we could play for the whole enchilada. Not sure how you think those 2 scenarios are similar.
GTBob
November 2nd, 2012
1:17 pm
GT Bob- Are you BLIND. Keep cheering mediocrity, actually below mediocrity…..
Ok, then. What is the solution? Fire Johnson. Hire a mediocre coach because we don’t have the money to get anyone better. Watch as Zach Laskey lines up at tailback behind an offensive line that has been diving at peoples knees for the last 4 years. Watch Vad try to throw to 2-3 star receivers who currently have no idea how to run routes in a regular offense. Watch our team go 4-8 the first couple of years until things get straightened out. Is that the pie in the sky scenario you are praying for? Personally id rather give CPJ a chance to turn things around.
Reggie's Balls
November 2nd, 2012
1:19 pm
GT Bob- Fans like you almost make me embarrassed to be a GT fan. IT’s OK to criticize your program when they are putting out garbage!!!!!!!!!!! It’s called SPORTS, its about winning and losing and we are all about losing in the major sports right now and I am fed up with it.
I don’t expect GT to compete for National Championships every year, its not that kind of school but we can be respectable and challenge UGA every once in a while and not get the $hi+ kicked out of by MTSU…..
Reggie's Balls
November 2nd, 2012
1:20 pm
GT Bob- Fans like you almost make me embarrassed to be a GT fan. IT’s OK to criticize your program when they are putting out garbage!!!!!!!!!!! It’s called SPORTS, its about winning and losing and we are all about losing in the major sports right now and I am fed up with it….
I don’t expect GT to compete for National Championships every year, its not that kind of school but we can be respectable and challenge UGA every once in a while and not get the $hi+ kicked out of by MTSU…..
GTBob
November 2nd, 2012
1:20 pm
Not sure how you think those 2 scenarios are similar.
UGA won more games, and SEC championships in Richt’s first 5 years then they have in the past 5 years. That is a downward trend, right? That is the same logic you applied to CPJ. Obviously it isn’t true, but with your pointless selective math it is a fact.
GTBob
November 2nd, 2012
1:22 pm
GT Bob- Fans like you almost make me embarrassed to be a GT fan. IT’s OK to criticize your program when they are putting out garbage!!
You aren’t criticizing. You are crying like a child and demanding everyone be fired because we have hit a rough time. CPJ is not getting fired, nor should he be. If that kills you inside then root for another team. There will come a time when a real decision needs to be made on CPJ’s future. Now is not that time.
...Take The Wheel
November 2nd, 2012
1:23 pm
@5150 – Thanks for sharing Orwins FB post. This just goes to show that the team gets the negativity coming from “so called” fans and its does affect them NEGATIVELY. So if you really are a GT fan you should probably either find something constructive to say and do with yourselves or shut the heck up! Not only are you hurting the current team, but also any chances we MAY HAVE with prospective recruits.
TechApp fan
November 2nd, 2012
1:24 pm
I remember the georgie game in Atl when Johnson/Tech got the ball back in the 4th qtr and Johnson
called three long passes and then a short one…all incomplete. Funny, I was disappointed he called those three long passes but since have been disappointed he now does not seemingly throw enough passes…guess that game still sticks with him and he considers it a lesson learned. On average it probably works out…too many added to not enough=average.
Like the scoring…been averaging 37 but add to that nothing…Tech still averaging enough (to some LOL)
Reggie's Balls
November 2nd, 2012
1:25 pm
GT Bob-
Your comment above is the whole problem with GT fans. Lets just sit tight and hope that the guy that is driving our program in to the ground can turn it around…… Wooooo!!!! here’s hoping. Let’s give CPJ a few more years and then it will be 10 years before someone can turn the program around. Your logic makes no sense…… We got blown out by MTSU (Are you serious)….
DawgFaithful
November 2nd, 2012
1:29 pm
“UGA won more games, and SEC championships in Richt’s first 5 years then they have in the past 5 years. That is a downward trend, right? That is the same logic you applied to CPJ. Obviously it isn’t true, but with your pointless selective math it is a fact.”
No Bob,
Again, we’re trending up. We were trending down yes I agree. Now it’s an upward trend. Tech has won 17 games in 3 years. 20 in the first 2. How do you define that? If it’s not a downward trend then what is it? It’s certainly not on the way up. Is it staying the same then? I’m confused.
DawgNole
November 2nd, 2012
1:30 pm
TechLB
November 2nd, 2012
7:52 am
@Wreckbone – I agree with your statements my friend, however I would suggest decaf or a typing course, spell check, something man!
_______________________
All of the above–and more–might help.
Reggie's Balls
November 2nd, 2012
1:30 pm
GT Bob-
Do you read the garbage that you type???????
GT Joe
November 2nd, 2012
1:33 pm
Wow, I’m actually going to agree with a DWAG fan:
Bob, plot the wins for CPJ every year, and put in 6 for this year. Now, draw a least squares fit line to fit the data. If that line doesn’t have a negative slope, i’ll slap my momma.
Reggie's Balls
November 2nd, 2012
1:33 pm
GT Bob-
You are the same type fan that will come on here Sunday morning praising CPJ for beating Maryland….. I could coach the team and beat Maryland. Thats not what we need.
GT Joe
November 2nd, 2012
1:35 pm
The saddest part of GT football is that we actually HAVE talent. But it’s masked by a D2 QB. If Vad was playing, we’d look like we actually HAVE talent.
Tevin’s last two passes make GT look like…hate to say it…HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL.
And we can thank CPJ for putting out this product.
Reggie's Balls
November 2nd, 2012
1:36 pm
GT Joe-
I agree with Dawg fans all the time when it comes to their view of our program because most of the time they are correct………. Its getting embarrasing and most GT fans are OK with that…….
DawgFaithful
November 2nd, 2012
1:36 pm
Bob,
“Bob- Fans like you almost make me embarrassed to be a GT fan. IT’s OK to criticize your program when they are putting out garbage!!”
Even your own fans view you as a delusional clown. I personally hope Tech holds onto Paul Johnson for awhile. I’m enjoying the easy wins. Even 2 years ago when GA had its worst season in 30 years we still beat Tech. 2009 that wouldn’t have happend. The kids that played on that team are in the NFL now. The kids that are there now will be mebers of occupy Atlanta movement in the next 2 years with the rest of the brilliant Tech Grads involved in the movement. All those brains and not enough common sense to find a job.
Tech Troll 13
November 2nd, 2012
1:39 pm
@ GT Bob
I agree with you that CPJ gives us the best chance to win. To start over with a new coach means losing for several years. We know CPJ can win, so I think we should give him the cance to turn it around.
@ Reggie
I have no problem with critizing fans, but I don’t agree for firing the coach, especially one who has won, over one losing season.
Big Crimson 75
November 2nd, 2012
1:42 pm
GTBob
1:22pm
You aren’t criticizing. You are crying like a child and demanding everyone be fired because we have hit a rough time. CPJ is not getting fired, nor should he be. If that kills you inside then root for another team. There will come a time when a real decision needs to be made on CPJ’s future. Now is not that time.
—-
Bob is your quintessential GT-head.
Deep down, he hates the state of his Program.
He knows Johnson’s an ametuer.
He just won’t allow himself to admit the mistake.
That kind of attitude doesnt build character, Bobby!!
Booze Hound
November 2nd, 2012
1:43 pm
Not much you can say to Dawg fans since their team owns Tech but it is funny to witness their meltdowns over Richt, Bobo, and Grantham. I have a feeling we’ll get to see at least one more before the regular season ends.
DawgFaithful
November 2nd, 2012
1:45 pm
Booze Hound,
Who will we melt down to? We have Ole Miss, Auburn, GA Southern and Tech left. Enlighten me here.
Reggie's Balls
November 2nd, 2012
1:45 pm
Tech Troll 13-
I will re-post for you since you obviously don’t do your homework either:
Here is your trend and your “Winning coach”. Since 2009 when CPJ beat Duke he is 18 and 19. Thats a below .500 trend for the last three years…….Again let me run down some of the wins:
Duke (Twice)
MTSU (Twice)
S.C. State
W. Carolina
PC
BC
Kansas
Among the loses in that time period
UGA 3 times
VA Tech 3 times
Miami 3 times
Clemson 2 times
Kansas
MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE
and finally 0 and 3 in bowl appearances
If thats what you call a winning coach then you must work for the athletic department at GT……
TREND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DawgFaithful
November 2nd, 2012
1:48 pm
“Here is your trend and your “Winning coach”. Since 2009 when CPJ beat Duke he is 18 and 19. Thats a below .500 trend for the last three years……”
Bob? Response? Delsuion?
Reggie's Balls
November 2nd, 2012
1:49 pm
Tech Troll- 13
I forgot the win over Division 1AA Wake Forest where we barely won the game.
GTBob
November 2nd, 2012
1:52 pm
Your comment above is the whole problem with GT fans. Lets just sit tight and hope that the guy that is driving our program in to the ground can turn it around…… Wooooo!!!!
If we went with your mindset we would be firing coaches every 3-4 years and not even giving them a chance to get anything going. Is that what you really want? When CPJ is fired, there is almost no chance the replacement coach will have a winning team for a few years. Are you going to cry for him to be fired also? At what point are you going to give a coach a chance to build something? Especially a coach that was winning before. How can you be so sure that CPJ is a terrible coach and that now is the time to start a 3-4 year process of rebuilding?
Booze Hound
November 2nd, 2012
1:53 pm
DawgFaithful,
It wouldn’t be surprising at all for Georgia to blow it against Ole Miss, Georgia Southern, or Georgia Tech. Auburn has almost no chance against the Dawgs.
Reggie's Balls
November 2nd, 2012
1:58 pm
GT Bob-
Do you not see the record that I have posted above twice????????? Thats not telling to you??
YES… I would give him a chance if the trend was up but its NOT it’s DOWN. Again do you not see the record in the post above???????????? This season will add yet another year to the downward TREND……
Booze Hound
November 2nd, 2012
2:00 pm
GTBob,
Johnson’s been at Tech for five years and the program is regressing. He’s had time to “build something” and it’s not working. We all heard two years ago that 2010 was a rebuilding year and that 2012 would be the year to really evaluate Johnson since he would have his recruits and system installed. Well, it’s 2012 and look where Tech’s at!
DawgFaithful
November 2nd, 2012
2:04 pm
Booze Hound,
We’ve won 9 straight over ole miss. Ga Southern has never beaten us. And Tech… Well let’s not even go there. Just check the record over the last 2 decades. It’s just Not happening.
We win out no problem.
GT Fan
November 2nd, 2012
2:04 pm
GT Joe
November 2nd, 2012
10:15 am
Once and for all, GT’s offense scores 29.7 pts/game vs. FBS teams, ranked #42. Not good enough.
——————————–
Joe, now I’m telling you, once and for all, please stop with the pts scored not being enough for GT to be good. I proved to you 3-4 weeks ago that it isn’t the O. 29.7 pts is more than enough to be good, very good even.
Since you can’t seem to grasp this concept go to ESPN.com and look at the top 25 teams, and what their D’s give up. THEN look at each team and give them 29.7pts vs. their FBS opponents and see if they are 2-5 like GT is.
It’s called DEFENSE. I challenge all 124 FBS to see what their record would be if each had surrendered 40+ pts in 4 of their previous 5 games.
Once and for all, GT Joe, stop with your “pts scored” argument.
Reggie's Balls
November 2nd, 2012
2:05 pm
GT Bob-
You really think giving this guy another year will be the magic answer???? He has three wins total this year. What?? all of a sudden we are going to go 10 and 1 next season??? NO- it will be another mediocre (at best) year and one more year further away from trying something different and maybe improving this program.
GTBob
November 2nd, 2012
2:06 pm
Johnson’s been at Tech for five years and the program is regressing.
He has had two bad seasons at Tech in 5 years. His first 4 years were the best first 4 years of any coach in Tech history overall. Sorry, but im not convinced that he can’t turn things around. If he didn’t have a wacky offense we wouldn’t even be talking about this right now. I wish people would just say they are annoyed by the triple option and therefore he should be fired. It would be more honest.
Reggie's Balls
November 2nd, 2012
2:08 pm
5 years is the right amount of time to determine if a coach can get the job done and he has proven that he can’t……..
GTBob
November 2nd, 2012
2:09 pm
What?? all of a sudden we are going to go 10 and 1 next season???
Do you think if we fire him that his replacement is going to go 10-1?
GTBob
November 2nd, 2012
2:11 pm
5 years is the right amount of time to determine if a coach can get the job done and he has proven that he can’t
Once again, he had the best first 4 years of any Tech coach in history. He won a conference championship. He has beaten some top rated teams. He hasn’t been the incredible failure you are making him out to be.
Reggie's Balls
November 2nd, 2012
2:11 pm
GT Bob-
You couldn’t be more wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No intelligent GT fan thinks the offense IS THE PROBLEM. The problem is that in big boy football you have to also play defense…… Again you are just blind to his record since 2009.
DawgFaithful
November 2nd, 2012
2:12 pm
Bob,
It’s not the offense he runs. It’s because he has no talent. The funny thing is if you read his staements above, he thins he actually does. He’s stubborn. He has said that recruiting is over rated and it’s clearly not. The schools that get the best recruits have the most success period. The schools that do the most with that talent win championships. The one championship he won was with talented players that another coach recruited.
He has had 2 bad seasons and working on 3. The problem is they have come in the latter part of his tenure. Hence the downward trend theory that most people with common sense can see.