Johnson hopes to make history all over again
Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson is working hard to keep his players' egos in check this year. (Johnny Crawford/jcrawford@ajc.com)
There are mixed blessings about having an unexpectedly great season. It can breed confidence or bloat the ego.
It can make a player think, “We’re better than these guys – we’ll win.”
Or it can’t make a player think, “We’re better than these guys – I’ll try hard the next play.”
Georgia Tech is at a crossroads this season. The Yellow Jackets are coming off a 9-4 first season under Paul Johnson, who accomplished that record with his atypical offense despite using somebody else’s typical players. Suddenly, they’re being projected as possible ACC champions in 2009.
Loading ...We’ve already seen what happens when a team gets drunk off success. Johnson saw it in the Chick-fil-A Bowl against LSU. Tech had a November that included wins over Florida State, Miami and Georgia. A month later, it got drilled in the Georgia Dome, 38-3.
“It was a perfect storm,” Johnson said. “We came off of 40 days of everybody telling a young team how good we were because we won the last game [at Georgia], and we were playing a very talented team that played very well the night we played them. And it was ugly.”
There is an upside to this: If at any time Johnson feels like his players are feeling a little too satisfied, he now has game footage to pair with his, “Wake-the-hell-up” speech.
“You can spend a lot of time as coaches telling them things,” he said. “But people would much rather hear how good they are than, ‘We’ve got work to do and just got our butt kicked here, here and here.’ If you win the game, they look at you like, ‘What are you talking about?’”
Johnson still didn’t sense he had everybody’s attention after the season. During workouts in the winter, he said he had to “get on our guys a little bit. I just wanted them to be sure they understood where we are. We’re starting over. Everybody is starting over, and this team hasn’t done anything or accomplished anything. A lot of our goals last year, we didn’t touch.”
That’s the biggest difference between now and the Chan Gailey era. There is a feeling that goals can be touched.
Gailey is a solid football coach. That doesn’t mean he was a great college head coach. Fans, alumni and obviously Dan Radakovich sensed a limited upside. Seven-win seasons in five out of six years will do that. So will going 0-6 against the Bulldogs.
Johnson beat Georgia in year one. The outnumbered Tech fans in Sanford Stadium went delirious. Players snapped off twigs from the famed hedges as souvenirs.
Not Johnson.
“I figured I’ll be back,” he said.
Could there have been a more perfect one-liner?
He will be. There is no reason to believe the Jackets will slide back. They have a difficult schedule – the first six conference games: Clemson, at Miami, North Carolina, at Florida State, Virginia Tech, at Virginia – but the team showed its resolve in difficult surroundings last season (the LSU game, notwithstanding). They won at Boston College, at Clemson, in Athens, home against Florida State and nearly upset Virginia Tech in Blacksburg.
The triple-option offense should be even better this season, led by running back Jonathan Dwyer. The team is young on both lines, which could hurt. But there is something to be said for being with a coaching staff for the second year.
“We laid a foundation,” Johnson said. “I would’ve liked to win more games and finished the season better. But hopefully we’ve created some excitement.”
They have. Now they need to forget about it.
If Jonathan Dwyer stays healthy, he's a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate.
JEFF SCHULTZ PREDICTS GEORGIA TECH’S SEASON: 9-3 (pre-bowl)
(Date, Opponent, Comment, Prediction)
♦ Sept. 5, Jacksonville St.: The Jackets won, 41-14, in 2008, and that was before this offense really got going. Georgia Tech 47, Jacksonville St. 10. Win
♦ Sept. 10, Clemson: It’s not Jonathan Dwyer vs. C.J. Spiller, it’s Paul Johnson vs. Dabo Swinney. Georgia Tech 33, Clemson 14. Win
♦ Sept. 17, at Miami: It’s a must-win game for Hurricanes (sandwiched between FSU and Virginia Tech). Miami 20, Georgia Tech 16. Loss.
♦ Sept. 26, North Carolina: The Tar Heels’ offense can’t score enough to keep pace with the Jackets. Georgia Tech 17, North Carolina 16. Win
♦ Oct. 3, at Mississippi State: When people discuss SEC superiority over the ACC, Miss. St. rarely comes up in the conversation. Georgia Tech 40, Mississippi State 6. Win
♦ Oct. 10, at Florida State: They’re still not Noles of old, but the defense and running game will carry FSU. Florida State 31, Georgia Tech 20. Loss.
♦ Oct. 17, Virginia Tech: Bad things seem to happen to Hokies in the NFL, but they’re still No. 1 in the ACC. Virginia Tech 23, Georgia Tech 21. Loss.
♦ Oct. 24, at Virginia: Tech hasn’t won at UVA since 1990, but I like this as a bounce-back week. Georgia Tech 28, Virginia 17. Win
♦ Oct. 31, at Vanderbilt: Bobby Johnson has done a great job and Commodores gave Georgia a scare. So what. Georgia Tech 24, Vanderbilt 16. Win
♦ Nov. 7, Wake Forest: Wake has lost seven starters off defense, and offense won’t carry them. Georgia Tech 26, Wake Forest 16. Win
♦ Nov. 14, at Duke: Duke won four games and suddenly thinks its bowl material this year. Seriously, though. Georgia Tech 30, Duke 13. Win
♦ Nov. 28, Georgia: Jackets won’t break off pieces of the hedges again — only because they’re at home. Georgia Tech 31, Georgia 27. Win
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134 comments Add your comment
Joe Schmoe
August 12th, 2009
11:08 am
And let the UGA doggie trolling begin!
That being said, CPJ is a hell of a coach. Give him a group a guys, and he can coach them up to be a champion.
Volman
August 12th, 2009
11:10 am
Mr. Schultz, I do hope you know I’m giving you a hard time regarding the Pollack Twitter debacle. Calm down.
I am not calling you a UGA homer…but parading around that you Twitter/text message with him…come on now. Like I said, I’ll give it a rest when I see your Josh Nesbitt text messages and Morgan Burnett twitter updates.
Fair is fair. All things said, good blog. Hope to see you at Bobby Dodd one weekend this semester. I’ll buy you a beer.
Alex H.
August 12th, 2009
11:12 am
I say 10-2 or 11-1. Miami won’t beat us. Florida State, Virginia Tech or UGAg may.
saint simons
August 12th, 2009
11:14 am
yeah, CPJ was one hell of a coach in that chicken bowl which most of us tech fans want to pretend never happened.
theedge
August 12th, 2009
11:16 am
I think they will win one of those three losses you got there. Like UM or VT especially with the recent VT injury.
tke443
August 12th, 2009
11:18 am
do you still think that VT will beat GT now that they are without there RB? They really don’t have a proven backup so now they are really going to have to rely on the QB to get them rush yards. I don’t think they will be able to put up a lot of points now. I see it being a very close game again.
Otto
August 12th, 2009
11:20 am
Jeff, I have in the past. Mark’s current article reads:
Crow
August 12th, 2009
11:20 am
No way CPJ allows our Jackets to lose 2 in a row. IF we lose to FSWho (and I don’t think we will) then the Hokies will get roasted. They’ll have to deal with a very pissed off Hive of Yellow Jackets… bank on it.
Pole Smoker
August 12th, 2009
11:21 am
Paul Johnson took me deep last night!!
GO JACKETS!!!!
Volman
August 12th, 2009
11:27 am
Pole Smoker, you really got us.
Has homeroom started yet? You need to get back to class. Maybe you’re a “home schooler”.
unforgiven108
August 12th, 2009
11:29 am
Seriously, GT may lose 3, but they will not lose back to back games. My guess is we lose a surprise game like WF.
Geori
August 12th, 2009
11:30 am
So you think the offense will average in the mid 20’s, eh? You might be right on the wins and losses, but there’s going to be alot more scoring than expected (on both sides). No way do we average less than 20 points a game against Miami, UNC, FSU and VT.
Glenn
August 12th, 2009
11:30 am
Miami, Florida State, AND Virgina Tech all losses? Do you honestly believe Paul Johnson will go for that?
Early in the season, the Jackets will be a sandwich game for Miami, after their very tough opener and before their very difficult third game.
VA Tech will be the Jackets Homecoming Game.
You might want to seriously rethink these two games.
Assuming FSU doesn’t pull some of their typically thuggery and try to put Josh Nesbitt out (has anyone else noticed that FSU always seems to try to put the opposing team’s starting QB out of the game?), I think the FSU game will be a much better opportunity than you are giving the Jackets credit for.
With an iffy passing game facing the Seminoles due to the wide receiver issue and no depth at QB, FSU’s Offense may not be as diverse when GA Tech plays them as it might be come the end of the season. Also, losing some key Defenders, such as their DE, Brown, will mean some new guys will playing against the Jackets Spread/Triple Option for the first time. We know how that worked out for them last season.
This is no way is intended to say the Yellow Jackets will go undefeated, however, it is intended to point out the the three losses that Jeff has predicted are just as easily “winnable”.
Mac
August 12th, 2009
11:33 am
Reasonable picks. Having watched years of Johnson’s teams at Ga. Southern, both as an assistant and head coach, Tech opponents should expect an effective, complementary passing game this year. It’s be fun to watch.
Brad in Jasper
August 12th, 2009
11:34 am
Dawg fan here, but a big fan of CPJ as well. I won’t bring up the “gimmick offense” debate, because it isn’t a gimmick, it works. However, I do feel GT’s opponents (players, not coaches) will give it more respect and preparation this time around. Willie’s boys only have to watch film from the 3rd Quarter last year if they need to see how fast things can deteriorate against the trip. I agree with the picks except the last. I really think the Dawgs ‘D’ takes care of business this time resulting in a close win. If not, Willie may be on the midnight train out of Athens.
Otto
August 12th, 2009
11:36 am
I like your GT predictions other than UGA and Miami. Atkins and Owens will put UGA over the top with Cox being able to lead long drives. UGA’s also has a veteran OL to GT’s young DL.
Miami is young with new systems on both sides of the ball. They will not have the discipline to stop GT’s option attack.
StingerSplash
August 12th, 2009
11:37 am
Jeff,
You gonna revisit your Tech vs. Tech pick with the news Darren Evans is done for the year? Or are you going to let that one ride?
GTRuff
August 12th, 2009
11:38 am
Didn’t CJP contribute to the “Perfect Storm when rumors emerged that other teams was interested in him after the win at UGA and he had to reconstruct his contract?
Pole Smoker
August 12th, 2009
11:40 am
Paul Johnson really knows how to hit the hole! My oh my, what a great coach!
GO JACKETS!!!!
Paul H
August 12th, 2009
11:40 am
THANK YOU for acknowledging the LSU blowout at the Dome. Tech fans seem to conveniently forget about that one, even though it was the last game they played.
Dawgaholic idiot
August 12th, 2009
11:41 am
C L E M S O N !!!!!!!! Will beat ga tech
juvenal
August 12th, 2009
11:42 am
i don’t think we’ll forfeit any games-we’ll suit up 22 somehow…
Uhhh
August 12th, 2009
11:44 am
You know how I can tell these predictions are terrible? They have us averaging about a point LESS this season than we did during the last regular season. And that’s including the 7 point Gardner Webb debacle. GT will score more points against Miami than 16 – did you see that Miami game last year? We’ll also proabbly score more than 20 against FSU and 17 against UNC, although not much more. I would be shocked if we don’t put up 40 against one of Duke, UVA, Wake, Clemson, or Vandy, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Tech puts up 40 against 2-3 of those teams.
Really?
August 12th, 2009
11:44 am
I would love to take Clemson (-19) if that line was available, especially considering that this series historically is a less-than-seven-point game. I’m not sure any knowledgeable GT fan would want to give almost three touchdowns in any year for this game.
And, unless Dabo and Johnson start taking handoffs, the game WILL be Spiller v. Dwyer, and it should be a heck of a game.
Trey
August 12th, 2009
11:44 am
Jeff,
Like generals who are always fighting the last war, you seem to predict 2008 over again.
I won’t say anything about final record, but I’d bet you GT’s O averages more than the 27.8 PPG that you predict.
Mike
August 12th, 2009
11:44 am
Bradley’s ga column blog isn’t working. this happens all the time.
Go tech
August 12th, 2009
11:47 am
Schultz – very good picks, and I agree it IS a tough schedule. The only changes I would make is that since CPJ doesn’t lose two in a row, make VT a narrow win. Also, we play tough vs. UM and until they stop us, I’d mark it as a win. We may lose to MSU as a trap game, but with PJ at the helm I think he’ll keep them focused enough to pull it out. If we get through the tough Sept/Oct. stretch in decent fashion, we will come home strong.
Samm
August 12th, 2009
11:47 am
those are pretty lowscoring games for an offense that is much improved. and giving up 13 to duke? give me a break they score one touchdown at most
PMC
August 12th, 2009
11:48 am
Va Tech just lost thier starting tailback, don’t pencil that one in yet.
Jeff Schultz
August 12th, 2009
11:49 am
Volman – I’m calm. But sometimes I have a hard time distinguishing between the amusing tweaking and the segment of the various fan bases (all of them) who really believe I’m out to get them. But we’re cool. … FYI, the Pollack thing was just a goof blog, that’s all. If Josh or Morgan want to swap Tweets, I’m there.
AlexH – I went back and forth on Miami game. I think they’ll be tougher this year.
TKE—I hear ya. I made that pick before the injury but decided to stick with it. That game goes either way but it’ll be close.
Unforgiven— I wouldn’t have picked consecutive losses but it’s the way the schedule lays out. First half if brutal, second half easier.
Mac – If Jackets can manufacture some semblance of a passing game, this offense will be pretty special.
Otto – My Tech-Uga pick is based on one thing: Georgia’s defense/Willie Martinez (or two things). I need to be convinced he can devise a plan to stop Tech, and I certainly need to see better tackling than what we witnessed in Athens last season.
StingerSplash – Letting it ride. I think the injury gives them a narrow margin for error this year but I still like Hokies in that game – barely.
teheran
August 12th, 2009
11:51 am
I’m a bigger Dogs fans but I do like Tech. If Tech can give Bay Bay the ball in the air more this year it will be hard for anybody to stop them. He just have to catch the ball more than he drop them. No one in the country can stick him.
Alan
August 12th, 2009
11:51 am
More like this–
Sept. 5, Jacksonville St Win 52-14
♦ Sept. 10, Clemson: Win 24-14
♦ Sept. 17, at Miami: Win 27-21
♦ Sept. 26, North Carolina: Win 21-10
♦ Oct. 3, at Mississippi State: Win 35-13
♦ Oct. 10, at Florida State: Loss 27-17
♦ Oct. 17, Virginia Tech: Win 28-21
♦ Oct. 24, at Virginia: Win 34-27
♦ Oct. 31, at Vanderbilt: Win 23-17
♦ Nov. 7, Wake Forest: Win 31-18
♦ Nov. 14, at Duke: 49-20
♦ Nov. 28, Georgia: OT WIN 27-21
Jeff Schultz
August 12th, 2009
11:51 am
PMC — that’s why they call it “penciling.” pencils have erasers.
PMC
August 12th, 2009
11:54 am
I think they win the conference and lose to Georgia this year…
They beat FSU as well. It’s a tough schedule they lose a tough one on the road, but I think they beat FSU and Va Tech and Win the ACC this year but lose to Georgia.
Jeff Schultz
August 12th, 2009
11:54 am
Alan — wow, one loss with that schedule? If they do that, they’re in ntl. title picture.
Matt
August 12th, 2009
11:56 am
Hey Jeff has a team other than an independent like ND ever played 3 teams from the same conference for OoC games as GT will do when they play Ga Vandy and MISS St?
Another day in paradise
August 12th, 2009
12:00 pm
If Tech doesn’t win 10 games this year, something must be wrong with the program.
Seven wins will come very easily from Jacksonville St., Miss. St, Virginia, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, Duke and Clemson which is down this year and Tech has them at home.
Two wins will come from the mix of Miami, FSU, Va. Tech and NC.
The bowl in late December will be Tech’s chance to pick up the coveted 10th win.
Given the 10 win season will be against a terribily weak schedule, you can’t fault the players for that and it does give the fans what they’re looking for, i.e. a 10 win season, another bowl appearance and a top 25 ranking. No big deal over in Athens!
PMC
August 12th, 2009
12:00 pm
honestly though 11-1 is not out of the question especially when they ramp up the passing game. You can do a ton in this offense and considering they have a Heisman canidate in the backfield and an A back that has been provided thus far everything that the CJ Spiller/James Davis combo hype was supposed to provide in 1 year of the system… Tech fans have to be happy.
The secondary is going to look fantastic with Tarrant coming back and Morgan Burnett playing centerfield. They will take a hit in the run stuffing department I think losing so much on the defensive line and it would be tough to replace all the linebacking talent they have put in the NFL over the last several years… Still things are looking up at Tech. I wonder if the Thursday night schedule will wear on them at all.
Alan
August 12th, 2009
12:02 pm
I actually like the way the schedule sets up. Clemson second game at home is a win. then we have miami for their second game. they stink at stopping the run. okla/gt last year. nothing will change. they will also be looking ahead some to vt and okla. and possibly be down to a loss to fsu. we have unc at home and an extra 3 days of rest for that game. a loss to fsu is likely but then we rebound for vt coming here. we should have beat them there last year. i actually think vt will be average and is way overrated. gt is the best team in the acc imo. that will show after week 7. the rest of the season has no big games til ga. though gt seems to always have a slip up. hopefully PJ will stop that trend.
ExecutiveStinger
August 12th, 2009
12:04 pm
I do not understand the credit being given to Miami as a legit team this year, Jeff. How in the world, after the game last season, are they going to be that much better against us this year. I see a Patrick Nix hangover on offense and their typical talented but undisciplined defense. I have us 10-2 and more likely 11-1, with the biggest hurdle at FSU. Never easy down there. Seen it in person.
And come on unforgiven, no surprises games under CPJ. Last year at UNC was sort of surprising, but not because we were good and they were bad. We just didn’t show up. But we ain’t gonna have any Chan Gailey-like surprises with this coach. I can’t expect those with a guy like CPJ.
Tech 11-1, 10-2 with a possible loss to Virginia Tech, but with Evans now lost for the season, I’m feeling 11-1. Come on, predictions are predictions!
reebok
August 12th, 2009
12:08 pm
I agree on the 10-3, but I think we beat Miami and lose to either Wake Forest (trap game, as they say) or, I hate to say it, UGA. Good column, can’t wait for the season to start…GO JACKETS!
Calvin Johnson's Gapped Teeth
August 12th, 2009
12:09 pm
UNC will win the ACC, GT will win the a free watch at the humanitarian bowl.
Saint Simons Lover
August 12th, 2009
12:10 pm
Paul Johnson will be exposed this year. Tech will be lucky to win 7 games.
Volman
August 12th, 2009
12:11 pm
Mr. Schultz, will we be seeing you at Bobby Dodd Stadium this year?
Clemson Brad
August 12th, 2009
12:13 pm
Schultz, I am surprised you have GT blowing out Clemson….this game is usually CLOSE every year…and usually ugly….you honestly believe Tech. is going to clean their clocks that bad this year?
Uhhh
August 12th, 2009
12:15 pm
“Given the 10 win season will be against a terribily weak schedule”
Are you joking? Tech’s schedule will be one of the tougher ones in the country this year. VT is a top 10 team even after losing its star RB. It is, after all, a team founded primarily on defense. Then you’ve got a handful of top 20 teams – uga and fsu. UNC will start off at 20-25 and could easily improve. You’ve also got a young and improving Miami (a team that only gave up 26 points to Florida last year – only 5 points more than the bulldogs gave up in the third quarter against Florida). Then you’ve got the likely decent top 40 schools that fill the rest of the schedule: Clemson, Virginia, Vandy, and Wake.
The only relatively easy games on the schedule are the opener, Miss. St., and a much improved Duke team. The Duke game is certainly losable.
JoeV
August 12th, 2009
12:16 pm
To add to Clemson Brad’s comments…the only blowouts in this series in the past decade have come at the hands of Clemson. This is a close game most years.
Melinda
August 12th, 2009
12:21 pm
The first half of the schedule is brutal. I think the Miami AND UNC games could go either way. Pretty much all the games in that stretch don’t look like locks to me.
I like that Shannon is making the Miami players more accountable for their behavior and I do think that kind of discipline translates to a better on-the-field product. Miami will be better this year. I think GT benefits from that in CPJ as well. Sometimes seems people focus on his offense and forget that he is a good head football coach, not just an x’s and o’s guy. He runs a good PROGRAM, not just a good offense.
P
August 12th, 2009
12:22 pm
Jeff, if they hold opponents to the points you project they can easily win them all. I think they will average 35 points a game, not the 28 you are suggesting. A 1-2 loss season is very possible if the offense works better than last year.
Cuttysark
August 12th, 2009
12:23 pm
Interesting predictions Jeff. I’m concerned with the Miami game just based on the law of averages alon to go along with all of their talent, they are probably due for a win against us, but with the brutal schedule the Canes have, we should be able to get by them and keep our streak going. Virginia Tech at home I think we win, with or without Darren Evans. The game that will decide the season comes down to Bowden in Tallahassee in October. If we lose, we will no doubt see them again in December. Any way you look at it, this is going to be a successful season once again.
Go to isportsweb.com for more Georgia Tech Football postings. Go Jackets!