After UGA disaster, Tech tries to rebound vs. FSU
Georgia Tech's defenses hopes to see fewer touchdown celebrations in Charlotte than it did in Athens. BRANT SANDERLIN/AJC
Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson proved prophetic a week ago when he said that if his team didn’t play well against Georgia, it would get embarrassed.
The Yellow Jackets would like to avoid making Johnson 2-for-2. Sunday, a day after the Bulldogs laid waste to Tech by a 42-10 count, Johnson offered a similar prediction for the Jackets’ ACC Championship game against Florida State Saturday in Charlotte.
“We’ve got to see if we can’t play better than we did Saturday, or we’ll get the same result,” Johnson said.
Oddsmakers agree with Johnson. They set the Seminoles as a 13.5-point favorite over Tech, a nearly identical line to the one given Tech-Georgia. A high priority for both Johnson and FSU coach Jimbo Fisher will be to rally their teams from dispiriting losses to in-state rivals. Florida knocked out the Seminoles 37-26 Saturday in Tallahassee, Fla.
What is tougher to recover from – losing at home with the nation’s top-ranked defense giving up 24 fourth-quarter points or a start-to-finish poleaxing – is debatable. Regardless, whichever can do it more quickly will have an advantage.
“You never know,” said Johnson, asked about his team’s ability to rebound. “You hope we’ll bounce back. I’m sure Florida State’s fighting a little bit of the same thing (Sunday) after their game with Florida.”
Given the state of the ACC compared to its SEC neighbors, it doesn’t come as a surprise that this isn’t new territory. Since the conference went to a two-division format in 2005, five teams have played for the ACC title a week after losing their 12th game of the season to their in-state SEC rivals.
Three of them won, including Tech in 2009 against Clemson. Of the two losers, one was the 2009 Clemson team and the other, Tech fans may remember, was the 2006 Jackets team that dropped the last three games of its season.
“It’s unfortunate it happened like that, but you’ve got to put it behind you and move on,” Johnson said.
Tech coaches can cast a vision to players this week that, despite the loss and the tumultuous season, the Jackets still can be playing in a BCS bowl game in a little over a month with an upset of the Seminoles. It would be Tech’s second appearance in one of the traditional four major bowl games (Cotton, Orange, Rose, Sugar) since 1967.
At 7-6 (with a win over FSU) and No. 63 in the Sagarin ratings, they would be the most ungainly team to ever grace a BCS bowl. Four teams have made BCS bowls with four losses, including the Seminoles twice. The Orange Bowl has never taken a team with more than four defeats.
To even dream about defeating the Seminoles, though, will require a considerable upgrade in play from Tech’s showing in Athens, particularly on the defensive side. Johnson said the defense’s play “was probably as bad as we’ve played all year,” though he allowed Georgia had something to do with it. Tech allowed six touchdowns on the Bulldogs’ first seven possessions of the game. To that point, Georgia was averaging 9.8 yards per play, a rate the Bulldogs could conceivably have maintained had coach Mark Richt not begun to pull starters from the game.
The Tech defense won’t get any break against FSU. The Seminoles are ranked No. 19 in the country in total offense (477.4 yards per game) and No. 8 in scoring offense (41.5 points per game). FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said Sunday that quarterback EJ Manuel, who briefly left Saturday’s game with a shot to the head, will be ready to play. FSU will be without defensive end Cornellius “Tank” Carradine, a potential first-round draft pick who leads the Seminoles with 80 tackles and has 11 sacks. Carradine tore his anterior cruciate ligament against the Gators.
Johnson said that guard Omoregie Uzzi, who did not finish the game, is fine. He said he would know more Monday about A-back Orwin Smith, who missed the game with an ankle injury.
“He didn’t play Saturday, so I wouldn’t have any reason to think there’s any change,” he said.
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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245 comments Add your comment
GT TN
November 26th, 2012
10:28 am
@ GT Joe..Petrino would be good but the money guys would never hire him and since you dont give money to the program you cant say anything about the school not wanting to pay him..Dooley and chizik ..it is also official that you know nothing about football..hire 2 coaches that lost more than the coach you have..wow please explain how that is a good hire
"Embarassing", It says.
November 26th, 2012
10:29 am
Wall Street Journal’s Grid of Shame:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443864204577619653485090364.html#project%3DGOS0830%26articleTabs%3Dinteractive
Technically Correct
November 26th, 2012
10:31 am
The difference between this Tech team and Tech teams in the past is ATTITUDE. Tech has played with less “talent” for decades, so that is not new. The difference is that former Tech teams would make up for being slower, smaller and weaker by being absolutelty aggressive. Remember the Black Watch defense? This is the Watch Out defense – watch out for the other team and get out of their way. Time for someone to call out the Tech defense. In the old days, no way Georgia body slams a running back without retaliation. Georgia has swagger on defense. Tech is “swag-less” on defense. Sad. CPJ doesn’t coddle players and that’s fne. Football is a man’s game, not a game for sissies. Until Tech players decide to “Open up a can of whoop-ass” instead of being like docile sheep led to slaughter, they will continue to get their head’s handed to them. Nobody in the Tech nation will complain when it is evident that the Tech players are giving it their all and want it as badly as anything they have ever wanted. Get an unsportsmalike conduct charge every now and then for crying out loud. Or, try a body slam on a running back (see Olec Ogletree for instructions!). Just play like you want to win for a change. That isn’t evident now. Maybe CPJ should do some psychological background checks before extending offers to see who will “man-up” and who will not…
GT Joe
November 26th, 2012
10:32 am
It’s official: GT TN is officially CPJ’s jock strap holder. How you defend CPJ is beyond me.
He is AT BEST an Offensive Coordinator. He is no leader. He can’t judge talent. He is stubborn. A fool and his job are soon parted.
GT Joe
November 26th, 2012
10:36 am
dooley and chizik would at least play our BEST PLAYERS. I.e., job #1 of a coach.
They’d fit the play calling around the personnel, not vice versa.
I have no idea what’s going through Vad’s head right now. Is he pissed? Does he feel like he wasted 2 seasons? Does he hate CPJ? I for one would LOVE to see Vad transfer next year and leave CPJ twisting in the wind with 169 pound Justin Thomas.
Buzzed
November 26th, 2012
10:36 am
gt joe: moron. vad lee is no savior. Totally ineffective against a good team. UGA fans DO NOT know he is a ’stud’, athlete or otherwise. FSU hopes you start him Saturday. He isn’t nearly as good as Florida’s backup QB.
BTW, the acc office should force you to wear Miami uniforms Saturday.
NASCDAWG
November 26th, 2012
10:37 am
Good luck this weekend against FSU, I wish you guys the best.
Tech 54
November 26th, 2012
10:38 am
Rooty @9:39
…”UGA will always recruite better because of the nature of the beast.”
You are correct but the reasons you cite are lame excuses. Athens is a better environment and UGA offers a quality education as well as a top notch program. That spells recruiting success. The canard you foisted about admissions has been examined and debunked. Tech has always had its share of less than stellar scholars on its teams. It is the way things work at this level. UGA has some very fine student athletes. Stop making lame excuses and support the changes that are needed.
GT TN
November 26th, 2012
10:38 am
GT Joe..I dont defend CPJ..Im not happy with the team and the teams effort..I think it is stupid to rest the whole season on 1 person like you do every day..I also need a coaches name that will improve the program than just blasting CJP..take a look at the past canidates when CPJ was hired..out of the 10 on the list..only 1 is doing any good today..so keep blasting him..it is always easy to tell people there’s a problem..alot harder to give a solution..no one still has given me a solution..
GT Joe
November 26th, 2012
10:46 am
GT TN: you don’t think one player can make a difference? I wonder if the falcons go 10-1 with Luke McCown at QB.
I like CPJ’s offense. He should be OC. A real HC would make that QB decision for him.
Can we win a big game with a game manager like Tevin? Was nesbitt a game manager? Joe Hamilton? Shawn Jones? NO. They were game winners, not game managers. They were Playmakers.
But CPJ stuck with Tevin because he executed his precious plays better. His “my way or the highway” attitude is stupid, foolish, stubborn, and (eventually) job costing.
GT TN
November 26th, 2012
10:46 am
GT Joe..how do you know CPJ isnt playing the best players..you pick 1 guy every week and say he is the best..when he struggles..its not his fault..he wasnt prepared..you are the only person that continues to say this..was it CPJ fault that Vad didnt throw it when he was suppose to and then threw it 5 yards over Bostic’s head..closer to the DB than Bostic..was it CPJ fault that Bostic got killed because Vad picked it behind him..I havent seen TW make that pitch..you talk off the top of your head with no meaning..how do you know that Vad isnt happy and knows his time is coming..dont you think if he was not happy he would have transferred after the spring game when he knew that he wasnt going to be the starter..back when he was 3rd string coming out of spring game
Rick James
November 26th, 2012
10:47 am
@NC Jacket
We need Brian Van Gorder now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Nice idea but Paul Johnson thinks that he can win with subpar talent..Brian Van Gorder wont agree.
It is what it is
November 26th, 2012
10:48 am
The Choke By Coke is the red headed step child of college football.. beat often and mostly by UGA. Backing your way into a ACC Champ game because the Thug-a-Canes are trying to act like they care about discipline of a sudden is a farce. Be proud Tech. Your are about to get freight trained…again.
Al Bundy
November 26th, 2012
10:49 am
Welcome back WnE!!!
GT TN
November 26th, 2012
10:49 am
Those guys didnt have to be game managers..they all had a defense that could at least slow someone down
DIT
November 26th, 2012
10:50 am
This Dawgs will go on record here by saying tech will win this game game based on ball control. Their defense will be able to make one stop and that will be late in the 4th qtr.
Tech will their pack bags to Orange Bowl! Y’all might like this score – 45-42! Good luck Tech!
Rick James
November 26th, 2012
10:51 am
@Crazy Robert
I would like to be one of the first to congratulate the UGA football team for proving yet again that losers can win in college athletics.
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You’re congratulating the wrong team Crazy..It should be the team with 6 wins playing for the ACC tilte and could back into the Orange Bowl. Those are the losers
Al Bundy
November 26th, 2012
10:55 am
Until CPJ gets it through his thick skull and Tech gets a defense they will never go undefeated period! They will always be a team that loses 2 or more games a year. Everyone except CPJ knows defense wins championships!
Technically Correct
November 26th, 2012
11:01 am
If the Administration thinks this year’s attendance was bad, think what happens next year on the heels of a 6 – 8 season, including 4th quarter collapses and embarrassing defeats by Middle Tennessee State, UGA, FSU and (fill in the blank) bowl opponent. Is there any wonder why the Atlanta community-at-large has given up on the “body of work” being showcased on The Flats?
you can't fix stupid or bulldogs
November 26th, 2012
11:03 am
tired of all the reasons why CPJ should stay but losing to Georgie is main reason he should go…who cares about the ACC champ now! Time for a change from top to bottom of the football program.
GT Joe
November 26th, 2012
11:07 am
GT TN: those guys were playmakers. If they were only capable of being game managers, their records would be 6-6 (like this year), regardless of the defense. Tevin couldn’t put this team on his back like a real QB can.
It’s not his fault. It’s CPJ’s fault.
If CPJ focused on the one, talented, d1 QB on the roster (vad lee), as starter from spring practice, or even after the VT game, or even after the BYU game, the UGA outcome could be different. Or at least not embarrassing.
Even with the little preparation that Vad has had, he still looks better than Tevin. WAY better. How does CPJ not see this? How did the light bulb not go off during the UNC game? What game was he watching?
GT TN
November 26th, 2012
11:10 am
@ you can’t fix stupid or bulldogs..like I have been saying a ton of times..easy to say fire CPJ but who are you going to hire..everytime I say that the people who say fire him seem to go away..easy to say what problem is..takes a real person to come up with solution
Flak Jacket
November 26th, 2012
11:10 am
Future Tech AD.Hurry up.
GT TN
November 26th, 2012
11:12 am
GT Joe..what was Nesbitt problem the year he had CAG as a DC..he was 5-4 with AG was a coach..I guess he didnt make enough palys to win..so Nesbitt did struggle when he had no defense
GT TN
November 26th, 2012
11:19 am
Is that the same UNC defense that let a guy playing LB 4 weeks ago score 38 points..I think CPJ can see what Vad did against a defense in the first half at UGA..funny how Vad does well and it is all Vad but when he doesnt do well it is coaches fault..name 1 other spot ont he field that CPJ isnt playing best players since you said its not about 1 player
Tired Tech Alumni
November 26th, 2012
11:23 am
We have no chance of winning without special team and defense. Stop dreaming, fire Paul Johnson. He should just be an offensive coach, he sucks at being a head coach. He doesn’t realize he is the one responsible for all aspect of the game. Tech paying him too much for the little he does.
GT TN
November 26th, 2012
11:27 am
WILL SOMEONE PLEASE GIVE A NAME OF WHO TO HIRE IF WE FIRE CPJ………………………NO ONE WILL DO THAT
GT Joe
November 26th, 2012
11:28 am
GT TN: how long are you going to blame CAG? Are you still blaming GW Bush for the economy too? Nesbitt was 5-3 under Groh; even WITH Groh, Nesbitt carried us on his back. Did you not notice what happened to the rest of the season when Tevin took over? 1-5. But I guess that was CAG’s fault, LOL.
Vad did as well as Tevin vs. UGA. Look at the rush stats. More pass yards. He had one bad pitch and one bad pass. Big deal.
And yes, it is about ONE player. The QB. The most important player. But since you ask: He doesn’t play Snoddy? I think a real coach finds a place for the fastest man in the state. He just now plays Days? Seriously?
Days, Snoddy and Lee shouldn’t be seen on the bench ever. But our head coach is a stubborn fool.
GT Joe
November 26th, 2012
11:29 am
GT TN: I gave you three names, but you ignore me. Chizik, Dooley, Leach, Petrino.
HAPPY NOW?! At least they will find the athletes, find a position for them, put them ON THE FIELD, and call plays for them.
NASCDAWG
November 26th, 2012
11:32 am
@ GT Joe – Do you really want Petrino to be the face of your program.
Buzzed
November 26th, 2012
11:34 am
techie: I think it’s ‘georgie’, but you’ll have to confirm with stupidsize, uoad, 1 4 gt, george stein and some of the other ladies – when they return.
GT TN
November 26th, 2012
11:36 am
No I didnt ignore you..I told you why GT wouldnt hire Petrino and why Chizik and Dooley are not good canidates..fire someone that has a better track record than the guys you are hiring..thats real smart..by the way..Leach already has a job
To put Snoddy and Days have to replace someone..who do you take off the field..who are they better than
GT Joe
November 26th, 2012
11:37 am
Yes, I like Petrino. He is a winner.
As for Chizik, the man CAN recruit. Which is what we lack.
Dooley? How crazy would that be? Vince’s son coaching Tech?
In a nutshell, pretty much any coach can look at our roster and figure out the best players at each position, then play them, and call plays that fit their strengths. CPJ can’t get past step #1.
Buzzed
November 26th, 2012
11:38 am
Dang. I swear there was a post from Techie just a few minutes ago. Must’ve gotten delayed-censored.
GT TN
November 26th, 2012
11:39 am
@ NASCDawg..he doesnt care who is the face of the program..he is so called GT fan that doesnt leave his home to go to games becuase he gets replays and better angles at home..he is a sad person
GT Joe
November 26th, 2012
11:40 am
GT TN: snoddy is more athletic than sims OR laskey. Snoddy can break one for 90 yards. Laskey? NOPE.
Godhigh, bless his heart, is a player. But days wouldn’t get body slammed by Rambo. That was as big a play as any ALL DAY. An embarrassment to Tech, and a perfect illustration that they have athletes on the field, and we don’t.
Orwin and Days at a-back. Snoddy at b-back. Lee at QB. Should have been the lineup at VT. Sadly, we’ll NEVER see it.
1 4 GT
November 26th, 2012
11:41 am
Folk can talk about Stanford, ND, Vandy, Northwestern or which ever school comes to mind & their tuff academic requirements matching up with GT or even more all they want. And those schools being able to recruit the better athletes ala the Bammers & Georgies and their ilk. They forget that those schools have the same broad based curricula that georgie & bammer have. And that GT has a very limited curricula with not even half the majors/schools of study of the other schools. Hell, the Ga BOR has even taken schools of study (School of Commerce in 1933) away from GT & put it in Athens. Tech did get the Ivan Allen Business College thru the good graces of the BOR, but there is no Urban Studies, Women’s Studies, Journalism or any of the multitude of majors that the other Universities have. Anyone that does not admit to this difference just does not want to acknowledge the difference this makes in recruiting. It is not an excuse, it is a fact. A kid can go to Tech and have a narrow selection of majors or go to a university like georgie and have over 170 choices for his undergrad major or go to Tech & have 36 choices for his undergrad major (count them for yourself as I did). I/we are not making excuses, just stating facts. If anyone wants to deny this fact, have at it. Stanford, ND, Vandy & the other high academic requirement schools have way more than 36 undergrad majors, I guarentee that. Heck, Tech only offers 113 degrees total=36 undergrad, 47 masters & 30 doctorates. Selah!
ptcdawg
November 26th, 2012
11:41 am
As a native Atlantan and long time Dawg fan, it is sad to see what GT has become. Your coach and his high school offense and his sardonic personality have thrust GT into depths of futility never seen before on the Flats. Please go get a good coach and bring back the passion for more “good old fashioned hate”. It is more fun to beat GT when they are good and think they have a chance.
Milk Bone Underwear
November 26th, 2012
11:43 am
@Texas Dawg…Are you serious!!! Little easier to graduate from UGA taking recreation, phy. Ed, or African-Americam studies as a football player. Little tougher to graduate from GT taking the math courses that are required at Tech. I just wonder how many Dawg playas take MATH! No wonder their grad rate is higher. You might not be the brightest bulb in the socket!
GT TN
November 26th, 2012
11:48 am
And you know Snoddy is better than both of them how???have you seen him play or practice..maybe he fumbles all the time..you have no idea why he isnt playing..also Godhigh has been our most productive back the last 5 weeks and you want to take him off the field..you are really stupid..
by the way..Nesbitt was 5-4..Tech lost the VT game he started and wasnt leading when he got hurt..this is still CAG defense..he will be blamed..we cant stop anyone
Middle Tennessee State University AD
November 26th, 2012
11:52 am
OH *$%! NO. Rick Stockstill is OFF LIMITS. No way I’d let him RUIN his career by taking the (future) vacant headcoach position at Georgia Tech University. No way people.
GT TN
November 26th, 2012
11:54 am
@GT Joe..by the way Snoddy should be more athletic than a 2 guys that he is 3 inches smaller and 20 and 30 lbs lighter..
Rick James
November 26th, 2012
11:54 am
@Crazy Robert
would like to be one of the first to congratulate the UGA football team for proving yet again that losers can win in college athletics.
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Not that is funny! Tech is 6-6 and playing for a conference title.They will need a waivier from the NCAA to play in a bowl game which is absurd.The losers you should be congratualting is Tech.
UGA = Yawn
November 26th, 2012
11:57 am
We should have all known the season was over after the Un of Miami game – I was there – I did. The rest of you didn’t? What more would you have to see that this year is a total disgrace. We will sell tens or maybe hundreds of tickets to Charlotte. I would be so surprised if we sell more than 1000. Who would be stupid enough to go. We are GT – we are smart! The empty seats in the arena is what finally got Hewitt fired. We need to do the same in football. Saturday was a start. Very few GT fans in Athens – the fewest I have ever seen. Charlotte will be diserted. Next year for our home games – stay home if Johnson is still the coach. Why would you go and put yourself through this continual misery? Get wise GT!
GT TN
November 26th, 2012
12:05 pm
GT Joe..TW was 1-3 the rest of Nesbitt season and not 1-5 as you say..he lost to UGA , Miami and A.. he beat Duke..Nesbitt had a lost to a 3 win Kansas team and a Clemson team that had a losing record..TW loses were to a bad UGA team and a avg Clemson team..so Nesbitt did nothing with AG as DC
Born2Buzz
November 26th, 2012
12:07 pm
Here is my question for CPJ…would you run this same offense in the NFL? I would expect the answer to be of course not. Well, guess what, when you play against the big boys in college football, meaning UGA, FSU, Clemson, any decent bowl opponent, you are playing against defenses that are as close to NFL level as you will see in college.
Sure we can beat Duke and half of the ACC, even VT, Miami and UNC on occasion. But why not prepare for the elite teams on your schedule?
CPJ said he wants to win championships. If you want to win championships you have to coach to play at the highest level, not a middling ACC level. You have to have a great defense and adequate special teams.
I know we are stuck with CPJ for at least another year (unless something utterly horrible happens in these next 2 games), so I hope he changes his ways and makes something of this.
BreakingNews
November 26th, 2012
12:17 pm
This just in…Tech defenders are STILL trying to catch/stop Gurley & Marshall…
GTBob
November 26th, 2012
12:20 pm
Here is my question for CPJ…would you run this same offense in the NFL? I would expect the answer to be of course not.
Would Chip Kelly, Steve Spurrier, Urban Meyer, or Bo Pelini run the same offense if they were coaching in the NFL? Its a dumb question. The NFL is drastically different from college football.
www
November 26th, 2012
12:20 pm
i think CPJ will be around for a while but the new AD should hire an offensive coordinator as well as the defensive coordinator that we obviously need.
a new qb coach would be a smart hire as well.
GT TN
November 26th, 2012
12:21 pm
@Born2Buzz..how big of a GT fan are you..CPJ has a winning record against Clemson and never lost to FSU..has losing record against UGA..is his offense run in the NFL no but Oregon’s isnt as well..something wrong with the Oregon offense