Notes: Johnson waiting on coordinator hire
1. Georgia Tech’s search for a defensive coordinator will proceed at coach Paul Johnson’s pace. For now, that means nothing is likely to happen before the Yellow Jackets play USC in the Sun Bowl Dec. 31.
“We’ll deal with that when the appropriate time comes,” Johnson said following the team’s Thursday practice. “I know people to talk to and there’ll be a process we go through and it’s going to be an important decision.”
Johnson said he thinks about the decision daily, “but I haven’t done anything yet.”
Interim defensive coordinator Charles Kelly has led the defense since Johnson fired Al Groh on Oct. 8 after a 2 1/2-year tenure that ended with the Jackets giving up 40-plus points in three consecutive games for the first time in school history.
With Kelly coordinating, the defense has had its moments, particularly shutting out Florida State in the second half of the ACC Championship game. But the Jackets also gave up 50 points to North Carolina in a 68-50 win.
“I think there’s been some games better than others,” Johnson said.
In making and then working with the hire, Johnson said he won’t be tied to a particular scheme and will have more involvement with the defense. Kelly will be considered, Johnson said, as will other defensive assistants.
“I want guys to be able to play fast and not get bogged down in all the minutiae, just be able to play,” he said. “I think there’s a lot of ways to do that.”
There are also a lot of ways to hire a coach and Johnson will use his. He said he laughed when he received one email asking if he had a search agency.
After the season, he said, “I’ll sit down and talk to everybody and we’ll figure it out. We’ll have one by the time spring starts, I promise.”
2. Johnson’s lone comment on wide receiver Jeff Greene parting from the team: “Guys have to do what they’ve got to do.”
Greene and Tech coaches came to a decision late last week that it was best for Greene to leave the program. The team’s leading receiver with 18 catches and 284 yards for a 15.8 yards-per-catch average, Greene is expected to transfer and continue playing.
Wide receivers coach Buzz Preston wished Greene the best, but said he wished Greene would have stayed.
“I would have loved to have the opportunity to help him get to where he wanted to go, but the decision was made, so you go with it,” Preston said.
For the Sun Bowl, Greene’s vacancy opens up an opportunity for Corey Dennis, who switched over to wide receiver from defense during the season after wide receiver Jeremy Moore’s temporary departure from the team in September.
Said Preston, “Corey’s been doing some good things in practice.”
3. The team had its fourth bowl practice Thursday after a four-day break for final exams. The Jackets will practice Friday and Saturday, then Monday through Friday of next week before breaking for the holiday.
“We were rusty and trying to get back in the flow,” Johnson said. “After you take a few days off like that, I think that’s what happens.”
Thanks for reading.
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Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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150 comments Add your comment
Supsersize that order, mutt
December 14th, 2012
4:23 pm
Now, why would that not all go through in one post? SHEESH. Anyway, I will not use the standard academics excuse that others claim we make, although it is definitely a recruiting tool which other schools use AGAINST Tech. Tech, however, as I said earlier will never be a Stanford or Purdue or Notre Dame, all of which have high academic reputations, but all of which are Universities, loaded with courses and majors designed to be appealing and easy for the majority of the athletes.
5150 UOAD
December 14th, 2012
4:24 pm
http://blogs.ajc.com/georgia-high-school-sports/2012/12/14/aaaaaa-scouting-report-lovejoys-gambling-defense-vs-norcross-explosive-playmakers/?cxntfid=blogs_georgia_high_school_sports
TECH Fans if you have the chance go to the DOME tomorrow night and cheer for CUSTIS(lovejoy) the Tech RB commit in the State Championship game. Support Future TECH players.
Supsersize that order, mutt
December 14th, 2012
4:24 pm
Now why wouldn’t all of that go in one post? SHEESH
Tech77
December 14th, 2012
4:25 pm
DC has be pegged. Quit sweating the stupid stuff. Maybe CPJ wishes to respect his exit. I think everyone will be happy.
BLACK BEE
December 14th, 2012
4:43 pm
I just dont know if I believe in CPJ anymore. He talks about CAG bogging the kids down with a complex defense and it was but can he uncot the offense to utilize the natural talents of Vad and JT or do they have to be robotic like Teven? Can he hire a REAL D-1 Staff instead of cheap “yes men” even the great Saban has a great Staff and doesn’t try to do it all! Can he upgrade recruiting? I question this, remember this is a guy who brags that he doesn’t care about the Star system, a guy who will sign 3 players each year that can play in the SEC though he sits in a State loaded with talent. A Coach who the recruiting guru’s say have a middle of the road recruiting year in a weak ACC but he wants us to feel good about it. I want to be wrong, I want to not know what I’m talking about but I’m just not feeling CPJ can HC at a Bigtime D-1 school. Or is it his EGO or stubborness? I just hope he is the fighter he appeared to be when he was hired. I do believe that GT people should put pressure on their President.
TechApp fan
December 14th, 2012
5:13 pm
I agree with Mr Awsome b…you must pass in the good times to be able to pass in the bad times.
ex…fsu game ,Tech really needed to be able to pass for quick movement…but, yet another int that lead to a loss. I’ve seen that movie before. I have a bad feeling that even with a pass threat like Lee, Tech will still be an option/run mainly team…hope I just have a bad feeling.
Awesomeb
December 14th, 2012
6:00 pm
TechAppFan – I agree that CPJ will always run in games and only pass when he HAS to – which will lead to the erosion of Vad Lee’s skills and in a couple of years, CPJ will say, we don’t pass because we don’t have the personnel to pass. I’m really starting to think that the “system” is hurting the QBs ability to pass more than their lack of talent. Oddly, Nesbitt couldn’t pass a lick after 2 years in CPJ’s offense and now, neither can TW. Coincidence? I remember CPJ saying at Navy, “I don’t know why we keep trying to pass when we obviously can’t do it.” Will Vad Lee be next on that list of QBs that just happen to not be able to throw? Justin Thomas?
And one more point about the passing. I have beat this dead horse into the ground, but here goes again. Not only do we not let our QBs throw it enough to be good at it, but when we do throw it, it’s almost ALWAYS a long pass – where even against air, it’s a difficult pass to make. Those long passes are hard for anyone and they do nothing but kill the confidence of the QBs. And even our short passes are hard passes, to moving receivers. Look at most passing teams (even FSU in the ACCCG game), a lot of their passes are short passes where the RB or receiver in the slot just runs out 8 yards and stops and turns around vertical passes, not horizontal like we throw sometimes). The QB has a simple quick pass to make. These should be money ALL DAY LONG in our offense and almost any QB can make them. There’s no way LB’s and corners can be crashing the LOS and there not be an open crease about 8 yards beyond the LOS. No dang way.
TechApp fan
December 14th, 2012
6:16 pm
guess if you practice the run, you should get good at the run. If you do not practice the pass, you probably will not be good at the pass. Something like a self fullfilling thing.
I would bet that the more you practice/play the pass, the luckier you get.
re the long pass…PJ has stated more than one time that even an incomplete long pass does what he wants.
awesomeb
December 14th, 2012
7:01 pm
TA fan – This is where I totally disagree with CPJ. When we had Thomas, I would agree, because we completed a few of them. But now, you can clearly see that DCs do not alter their game plan to account for our long pass at all. They look at it as a bad investement. They figure that there is such a small chance of it being completed, they will just cover our WRs man-to-man. The odds of us completeing it are so low that they would rather risk the long play than give up the extra yardage to the run game. So, IMO, the long pass does NOTHING for our efffectiveness any more. DC’s defense to our long pass is simply our inability to complete it.
chc4
December 14th, 2012
7:32 pm
I mean really… how bad are things at GT? Starting WRs bail. And his replacement is a defensive player?
No established/legit DC will take the job so maybe PJ can take that on too.
Rick James
December 14th, 2012
8:10 pm
“We’ll deal with that when the appropriate time comes,” Johnson said following the team’s Thursday practice. “I know people to talk to and there’ll be a process we go through and it’s going to be an important decision.”
Translation- I have bigger fish to fry right now..I know what I’m doing.
GTJohn
December 14th, 2012
8:15 pm
Thanks Rick
TVFan
December 14th, 2012
8:24 pm
This waiting until the season ends stuff is troubling. I know the holidays are coming soon, but come on, at least try.
techmule
December 14th, 2012
9:36 pm
still a loser no matter the hire.CPJ has to go, he only cares about his side of the ball (O.F.) now is the time to fire him right after the bowl game.START THE NEXT SEASON OFF WITH A WHOLE NEW LOOK.
techmule
December 14th, 2012
9:37 pm
FIRE HIM
wrecked
December 14th, 2012
11:42 pm
GT/Tn, Your argument about Ross and O leary really doesn’t hold water. They both inherited teams with little talent. Pj inherited a cupboard full of players and had 1 good year 2009, This program has declined . Gailey and his staff developed players and would’ve won with the talent he recruited. PJ is in way over his head, he and this staff should be coaching in a small conference where recruiting isn’t as important. I doubt any known successful DC would want to coach with PJ . Plus if tech can’t afford to fire PJ , they certainly won’t be spending big dollars on a proven coordinator.
Notice how PJ name is never mentioned with a coaching vacancy.
Grant Crowe
December 14th, 2012
11:42 pm
I want John Tenuta back.
Supsersize that order, mutt
December 14th, 2012
11:46 pm
You want a defensive coach who gave up 62 points to Clemson ???? You’re a damn fool
GTJohn
December 15th, 2012
7:26 am
“Notice how PJ name is never mentioned with a coaching vacancy.”
You assume a great deal and I’m not a big CPJ fan.
ODog
December 15th, 2012
7:41 am
johnson has 1 or 2 years left–no good D coordinator will take that job. tech’s D will suck again next year–book it. Ga blows them out again.
Old Dog
December 15th, 2012
8:09 am
To Hell with Tek, today,tomorrow and every other day!
Sav FAN
December 15th, 2012
9:57 am
Who are the candidates for the AD position?
GT-UT
December 15th, 2012
10:11 am
I think CPJ is the best bet for Tech. And I totally agree that the quick slant is there all day long and for the life of me, I have NO idea why we don’t pass a bit more and take advantage of that. Corners play way soft on us most of the time and safeties are focused on the backfield.
Birmingham Jacket
December 15th, 2012
10:31 am
@GT-UT
You think someone who consistently signs classes at the bottom of (the pathetic) ACC is “the best fit for Tech”?
You think someone who has never won a bowl game at GT is “the best fit for Tech”?
I’ll bet you Dan Radakovich would tell you you’re wrong. And that he made a big mistake and overestimated Paul Johnson; and that’s partly why he left!!!
Let’s be honest. We’re just biding our time to save some $$$ until we can afford to fire CPJ and hire a real Div-1 coach.
Jacket Detective
December 15th, 2012
10:41 am
I have limited dollars to spend.
(Wish Congress understood that concept).
Used to go only to football but to get a mid-season upgrade, I started spending on basketball too.
Deal I made to then desperate basketball sales rep in 2010 was I would buy season tickets to basketball for a free upgrade, trading a poor West stands view for a much better one in the upper East.
I tried to get free tickets to the early games with my ACC package purchase.
They aren’t desperate any more.
Actually that’s a very good thing.
Didn’t hurt to ask.
Jacket Detective
December 15th, 2012
12:21 pm
CPJ gets one last chance to make a good D coordinator hire.
I’m among those very disappointed with the first two.
The offense should be better in 2013 and was far from bad in 2012.
Hope the ST coach can show us more improvement as well.
HERE HE IS
December 15th, 2012
2:06 pm
this choice is easy: GIFF SMITH FOR DEF. COOR. AND RECRUITING COORDINATOR best recruiter GT had in past 10 years, former Ga Southern person too, bring him back from Buffalo Bills, no matter the price
superDawg
December 16th, 2012
5:50 am
anybody out there want this job?HELL NO!
GTpack
December 16th, 2012
7:58 am
Whomever CPJ hires, someone needs to be looking at the D linemen from Norcross and Lovejoy. Both had two good running backs and were contained except 4th qtr when Norcross turned it around.
If not there, then get out and look at some Juco players.
Come on Jackets, get some really good linemen, they will pay big dividends.
DC
December 16th, 2012
9:00 am
Super dawg I think some people need to worry more about a basketball coach than someone’s DC. Loss to Iona yep not Iowa
beezit
December 16th, 2012
10:52 am
You’re so good with numbers…all three of them…
The Good Word
December 16th, 2012
11:03 am
UGA Baskeetball = High School Team
5150 UOAD
December 16th, 2012
11:11 am
Jahi Word-Daniels
Finally an alumni! Going back and getting my degree…Way better feeling than playing in the NFL!! God is good!
UGA = Yawn
December 16th, 2012
5:48 pm
Hey (not too smart) coach – NC ST just hired a def coordinator. They weren’t waiting.
Supersize that order, mutt
December 16th, 2012
6:18 pm
What happened to Tenuta? Did NC State fire him?
Tha Juice
December 16th, 2012
11:09 pm
I think he should go with John Tetuna, for DC and and a guy who actually made GT’s defense relevent last time he was there.
ibidGT
December 16th, 2012
11:17 pm
Waiting for a DC hire.
Waiting for an AD hire.
Waiting for CPJ’s contract too run out.
Lot’s of waiting for us Tech fans.
ibidGT
December 16th, 2012
11:36 pm
Tenuta is the linebackers coach at NC ST.
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
December 17th, 2012
10:02 am
Rumor has it Charles Kelley is a name on the Bama shortlist for a DB coach due to loss of Jeremy Pruitt to FSU (Saban State).
I understand based on what most say GT has smart folks no doubt. It appears the smart folks don’t make any money otherwise Paul Johnson is history. Two more years and you will be Furman.
WnE
December 17th, 2012
10:17 am
re:
GTville
December 14th, 2012
10:35 am
Sounds like CPJ is going to give Kelly a look and is waiting for the NFL regular season to end so he can discuss with his main targets without distracting their playoff run.
______________
Guys with NFL pedigree can simply go to an SEC school or Big-12/Pac-12/B1G Integer school ans make more money at the same DC slot than they can at GT.
GT can’t afford CPJ’s salary given their smallish Athletic Budget, and all their asst. coach slots are at “discount prices” in today’s CFB Marketplace.
Guys with NFL backgrounds have a lot of credibility with Recruits and can make more money at other schools.
D-Rat hung an albatross around GT’s neck in the form of CPJ’s contract and it is hurting the FB program, is CPJ were making $1.8 or $2.0MM per yr. (still much more than he’s worth), that would free up another $600K-$800K to improve the overall staff from top-to-bottom and that would elevate GT’s FB program more than hoping for some “miracle hire” to become DC at GT for a huge discount.
WnE
December 17th, 2012
10:21 am
re:
Wet Willie…keep on smiling
December 17th, 2012
10:02 am
Rumor has it Charles Kelley is a name on the Bama shortlist for a DB coach due to loss of Jeremy Pruitt to FSU (Saban State).
I understand based on what most say GT has smart folks no doubt. It appears the smart folks don’t make any money otherwise Paul Johnson is history. Two more years and you will be Furman.
_____________
When Nick Satan sees what CCK has done with I. Johnson in his 3 years of starting in the GT 2ndary, he won’t want anything to do with him.
WnE
December 17th, 2012
10:42 am
re:
Supsersize that order, mutt
December 14th, 2012
2:24 pm
I am not a big Peterson supporter, but he alone is not the problem. NO Tech president, surrounded by a group of Tech elitists, has ever done anything to broaden the curriculum at Tech. They have stifled pretty much every attempt to do anything in that direction. But, as UOAD said, even when they have made some kind of attempts to broaden it, the UGA-loaded board of regents has nixed it. I was surprised to learn a couple of weeks ago that the BOR is not quite the majority UGA grads as I thought, but even the Tech members of the BOR have taken a somewhat elitist attitude, vetoing attempts to change things at Tech. The fact remains that Tech is an INSTITUTE, not a UNIVERSITY. So we will never have the course offerings that a UNIVERSITY like Stanford has. Standford IS a highly ranked academic school, but as a university, it has it’s share of courses designed to get the jocks in and out.
______________
Lou Young says hello!
FYI, Lou Young was wait listed/REJECTED by Stanford and was snapped up and accepted by GT without hesitation.
For once and for for all, this is the WRONG YEAR TO PLAY THE ACADEMICS CARD to try and defend Pajamas’ poor performance as GT’s HC.
Notre Dame 12-0
Stanford 11-2
Northwestern 9-3
Vandy 8-4 with a winning 5-3 record inside the SEC
Kinda hard for people to take you seriously when you try to convince people that we can’t field a CFB Team with BUSINESS ADMIN MAJORS, when those schools above are having the success that they are while having the SAME or BETTER ACADEMICS than my own beloved GT.
And to top things off all those schools above have TOUGHER Strength of Schedule ratings than does GT playing in a very weak ACC.
BTW, GT’s SoS is #56, basically a very weak schedule when you consider that there are 120 D1-A Teams but only 70 or so playing in BCS conferences, basically GT has had one of the WEAKER schedules among all the teams from Major Conferences and yet we are still only 6-7 with a chance to go 6-8.
How can you NOT fire Pajamas after such a poor performance?
WnE
December 17th, 2012
10:48 am
re:
5150 UOAD
December 16th, 2012
11:11 am
Jahi Word-Daniels
Finally an alumni! Going back and getting my degree…Way better feeling than playing in the NFL!! God is good!
___________
As a GT alum, maybe Jahi should get the Athl. Depth tutors to screen his erroneous twitter messages.
Alumni is PLURAL, he should have tweeted “finally an Alumnus”, the SINGULAR form, I think you learn that sort of stuff in the 5th or 6th grade.
Maybe we as a fanbase need to stop poking fun at other schools athletes and what they do academically and face the fact that in MANY CASES( not all. but many) we recruit the same guys as everyone else does, but the really good ones don’t want to come play for GT.
ibidGT
December 17th, 2012
11:12 am
Yes, because one grammatical error makes one an idiot. They should revoke his diploma for that one mistake.
FirePJ911
December 17th, 2012
2:27 pm
No talk of a new head coach? I still say that’s in the works, directly after we lose to USC.
Iluvnutella
December 17th, 2012
3:18 pm
Program is a mess. cant keep receivers, can’t recruit good defensive players, cant win games, coach is a douche bag with the personality of a wet mop…….WTF?
Iluvnutella
December 17th, 2012
3:21 pm
@ WnE….well said sir!
MC
December 17th, 2012
4:27 pm
Paul Johnson speak for “I don’t have a clue and nobody wants the job anyway”.
MC
December 17th, 2012
4:33 pm
WnE you keep exploding the myth.
MC
December 17th, 2012
4:39 pm
Vad Lee is the next Josh Nesbitt. By the time he left GT he couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn. Vad Lee will be a thrower just like Nesbitt.