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 Needs to decide
November 2nd, 2012
5:24 pm
GT is small ball. This desire and hunger for a consistent football team has been THE TOPIC at Tech Christmas parties for well over 40-44 years.
Sign this kid and this will result, or not make that bad throw there and this will result and this new coach will do so and so. This is Tech’s mantra ……we must have consistency. THAT CONDITION WILL never happen.
Go Dogs.
GTBob
November 2nd, 2012
5:25 pm
Be glad you don’t have to play BAMA< LSU FLA USC MISS STATE TENN or even Vandy.
We have played 3 of those teams since CPJ got here. We are 3-1 against them.
Just A Fan
November 2nd, 2012
5:28 pm
Stinger 1 you have admitted that you will live with being average. Nice approach if you can live with being a looser. You Tech fans are amazing.
Big Crimson 75
November 2nd, 2012
5:29 pm
Stinger1 — fact is, we all root for GT.
No ones happy with Johnson sinking the Program.
It’s zealots like Bob that continue masquerading in support of a failed Coach.
Most of us understand Tech deserves better.
GTBob
November 2nd, 2012
5:30 pm
Stinger 1 you have admitted that you will live with being average. Nice approach if you can live with being a looser. You Tech fans are amazing.
Ok then, what level of success should be the minimum acceptable level and why? 8 wins? 10 wins? MNC every year?
Just A Fan
November 2nd, 2012
5:30 pm
GT BOB, What is your record against the SEC team you play annually?
Just A Fan
November 2nd, 2012
5:32 pm
GT BOB Sure why not?
Just A Fan
November 2nd, 2012
5:32 pm
Enter your comments here
GTBob
November 2nd, 2012
5:32 pm
Most of us understand Tech deserves better.
Ill ask you the same question. If a coach who wins a conference championship and has the best first 4 years of any coach in GT history should be fired then what is the minimum acceptable level of success at GT?
GTBob
November 2nd, 2012
5:34 pm
GT BOB Sure why not?
Because its not reasonable and would just lead to an irrational fanbase and a culture that no coach would ever want to enter into.
Big Crimson 75
November 2nd, 2012
5:36 pm
Ill ask you the same question. If a coach who wins a conference championship and has the best first 4 years of any coach in GT history should be fired then what is the minimum acceptable level of success at GT?
—-
The last 2 years have been unacceptable, by any standard.
Just A Fan
November 2nd, 2012
5:36 pm
Hey Bob you didn’t answer my question about Tech’s annual SEC Appoint and the record over the last ten years. AS to wins and losses with the recruits you mentioned I think your record would be better. I didn’t say Johnson should be fired I was just saying you fans deserve better. I don’t have a dog in this fight.
GTBob
November 2nd, 2012
5:39 pm
The last 2 years have been unacceptable, by any standard.
Why was 8-5 unacceptable? It wasn’t great but it was an above average season for GT. This year is a train wreck so far but we will see how it ends. I really think you have no idea what it is like to be a fan of a school that isn’t a football factory and isn’t built for long term success.
GTBob
November 2nd, 2012
5:40 pm
Its terrible and we probably won’t ever beat UGA again. If anyone would come to their senses we would stop playing that game entirely. Happy now?
Just A Fan
November 2nd, 2012
5:40 pm
Hey Bob Bama, LSU, even lowly UGA starts out the season hoping The fan base demands it.. If not what are you playing for the Saturday tailgate? That is why I suggested Tech would do better in another division.
GT must go to Athens
November 2nd, 2012
5:40 pm
GT will be abused. GT it is coming. CPJ will be 1-4.
We all know CMR is lousy, right? HE OWNS GT AND CPJ, his whipping boy.
Go Dogs.
GTBob
November 2nd, 2012
5:42 pm
That is why I suggested Tech would do better in another division.
If we moved to another division we wouldn’t try any harder to be good at football and we would make less money which our other programs depend on. Therefore, it is better for GT to just remain an average D1 football team. Moving to another division wouldnt accomplish anything.
GTBob
November 2nd, 2012
5:43 pm
GT will be abused. GT it is coming. CPJ will be 1-4.
We lost to MTSU at home. Do you think GT fans really care about the UGA game this year?
GT must go to Athens- GT Bob
November 2nd, 2012
6:17 pm
No, most GT fans now are from Asia. YOU DO CARE, that was my point.
MTSU is the type of team and league that GT OUGHT to be competing in. The irrational 45 year quest for 9-2 type of GT teams most every year, is laughable.
Bobby Dodd knew by 1957 or 1958, that it would be very difficult to be a quality team year in and out ( 7-3) and his 12 year gap between the Sugar Bowl and his final hoorah Urange Bowl proves this.
Reggie's Balls
November 2nd, 2012
6:41 pm
GT Bob-
You just need to stop talking. You are embarrassing GT fans everywhere………
Yella Britches
November 2nd, 2012
6:49 pm
GT Bob- AKA CPJ’s wife
You do need to stop talking…..
Old Gold
November 2nd, 2012
6:52 pm
I 3rd that- BOB, Stay off the blog.
GT Joe
November 2nd, 2012
7:06 pm
Stinger: if CPJ goes 0-4 to close the season, he’s getting fired. 3-9 doesn’t cut it. And here’s why he’ll get fired:
Every AD wants to put his mark on the sport department. Just like a new CEO, he’ll come in and make changes because he isn’t “married” to anyone in the program. He’ll have no loyalty to CPJ. And he’ll want to make the program “his”.
Again, finish 0-4, and he’s done.
jeffjacket
November 2nd, 2012
7:44 pm
gt-31
turtles-14
that is all that really matters!
DawgNole
November 2nd, 2012
7:46 pm
Reggie’s Balls
November 2nd, 2012
6:41 pm
GT Bob-
You just need to stop talking. You are embarrassing GT fans everywhere………
Yella Britches
November 2nd, 2012
6:49 pm
GT Bob- AKA CPJ’s wife
You do need to stop talking…..
Old Gold
November 2nd, 2012
6:52 pm
I 3rd that- BOB, Stay off the blog.
____________________
Nice to see that Jacket fans understand how that dork (GTBob) does nothing to boost G Tech’s image–even if it is only a blog.
OH NO
November 2nd, 2012
7:49 pm
I can’t believe the guy who referenced Tech’s Basketball team as a div. aa team. You sir are an idiot. Gregory is turning things around and is doing a great job recruiting. They have some really good young talent. So get off this blog poser.
Clyde
November 2nd, 2012
8:12 pm
Are Georgia Tech football players allowed to read these articles and the comments made on them? I’m going to say yes, they are.
DawgNole
November 2nd, 2012
9:09 pm
Josh jacks up a wild one. Teague keeping us in it–barely.
DawgNole
November 2nd, 2012
9:10 pm
Oops. Wrong blog.
GT Fan
November 2nd, 2012
9:42 pm
GT Joe
November 2nd, 2012
3:30 pm
GT Fan: Sorry, 29.7 points per game IS NOT ENOUGH. this is college, not NFL. 29.7 gets you ranked #42. Against a #76 schedule.
Even if we had a top 25 defense, our offense is not enough for us to be a top 25 TEAM.
—————————-
God Da^n, GT Joe, are you that hard-headed or that stupid!?
Just like I told you early, go pull up EVERY top 25 team and see what their W/L record would be if they avg’d 29.7pts / game.
DEFENSE, in any sport, not just CFB….if a team has one they’ll win more than they’ll lose.
Silly Mutts
November 2nd, 2012
9:55 pm
Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah……who cares anymore? Is Paul Johnson gone yet? This blog will suck until PJ is just a memory.
GT82
November 2nd, 2012
10:09 pm
Enter your comments hereFirst time response, but read the blogs every day from Texas…and have suffered through a few pitiful coaches (e.g. Lewis or Curry) and Johnson is far superior…he is right we are a few breaks our way and we would be celebrating…stop the whining and remember why you went to GT – education and the pay check you will earn not bragging rights about the football team
SlimG
November 2nd, 2012
11:01 pm
Let me translate. Please stop calling for my job or it’ll be the first firing and ill go crazy and have to change my offense which will make me obsolete . Since I no longer have Chan’s players it been a struggle no one said it would be this hard.
Give me a break, you cronies can’t be buying this line of bs
Chan obviously was a better coach, think CPJ gets an NFL job
William Casey
November 3rd, 2012
1:01 am
How many of you guys have ever coached a down of football in which the people in the stands paid to see the game? Yeah, that’s what I thought.
TECHIE
November 3rd, 2012
1:55 am
Why aren’t any of our super frosh playing. We’ve been beaten by some frosh this year.
I love Tech.
wreckmaniac
November 3rd, 2012
10:42 am
Over the past 37 games , this team is 17-20. Nuf said.
old dog
November 3rd, 2012
10:52 am
Ya’ll do not need to go to Maryland and let the 19th string QB, who is a freshman linebacker, beat ya’ll……oh wait…….thats the type QB ya’ll recruit! Come on Teckies, I know this is all in fun, but what ya’ll are doing is not working…..lets say CPJ is a decent coach (questionable.) He still could not recruit Warren Beatty to an orgy if it was 1969……..
Chuck Allison
November 3rd, 2012
4:19 pm
JOhnson should realize that we didn’t hire him to keep recruiting the way it has always been. He was hired to IMPROVE our football program. Duh!
Vad the Impaler
November 5th, 2012
10:53 am
I am convinced most of the negativity is coming from closet Dawg fans and non-alumni. What I have watched since CPJ come to BDS is a high powered offense, and terrible defenses, and really bad special teams. Which means you are going to win some and lose some. Some years up some years down. Once he finds a decent…even average Defensive coordinator he’ll be back on top. I worry about the recruits but frankly our biggest recruits have all been Defensive and frankly aren’t working out. THe kids on offense are getting the job done. So I assume most of you are not watching the games and just coming on here to blast off half assed and frankly un informed stupidity. Taking total win-lose as your only criteria is simplton foolhardiness…and must not be coming from alumni…