Johnson exceeded Richt in developing a quarterback
Georgia Tech's offense is flourishing partly because of Josh Nesbitt (9), who certainly never doubted he could score on fourth down in OT against Wake Forest. (Johnny Crawford/AJC)
A year earlier and Josh Nesbitt would’ve gone somewhere else. If Paul Johnson and his run-happy, triple-option offense had landed at Georgia Tech back when Nesbitt was still considering colleges, Nesbitt almost certainly would’ve tossed his Jackets’ recruiting letters into the reject basket.
You say “option” to most high school quarterbacks and they hear “oblivion.”
“Yes,” the Tech quarterback said Monday when asked if he would’ve signed elsewhere had he been recruited by Johnson and not former coach Chan Gailey, who ran a pro style offense. “My mindset was different coming out of high school than it is now.”
When Tech and Georgia meet Saturday, it will bring into focus something even more remarkable than the staggering turns of the two programs. The Jackets’ Paul Johnson did a better job developing a quarterback this season than Georgia’s Mark Richt.
This isn’t meant to be a knock on the Bulldogs’ Joe Cox. It’s just that two years ago when the option came to Tech, it didn’t figure the Jackets would have the better player at that position. Richt has a strong track record for recruiting and developing quarterbacks (David Greene, D.J. Shockley, Matthew Stafford). He runs a traditional offense. He played the position himself and ran the once-powerful Florida State offense.
Jackets coach Paul Johnson said he knew Josh Nesbitt had the ability to run the option. (Johnny Crawford/AJC)
Johnson has a controlled passing game: It’s called a pitch.
As a high school senior, Nesbitt threw for 2,256 yards and 32 touchdowns. He neither thought of, nor embraced, the idea of being an option quarterback.
“Uncertain,” he said, when asked how he felt when Johnson was first hired as Gailey’s replacement.
But look now. He has thrown for 1,418 yards and eight touchdowns, and rushed for 847 yards and 16 scores. He has thrown only 125 passes, completing 58. But his average yards per attempt, an often telling statistic, is 11.34. (Cox’s YPA: 8.13.)
He also has thrown only four interceptions. Factor that in with his yards per attempt and his college passing efficiency rating is 156.41. Nesbitt doesn’t qualify for the national leaders because he’s averaging only 11.4 passes per game (15 is the minimum). But if he qualified, he would rank eighth in the country, just behind Notre Dame’s Jimmy Clausen (156.45).
Bottom line: Nesbitt is operating in Johnson’s offense better than Cox is in Richt’s, running the option and keeping defenses off balance with a downfield passing threat.
“Josh has improved a great deal,” Johnson said. “The biggest thing is he’s more comfortable in what we’re asking him to do. The game has slowed down for him. He doesn’t have to think about everything, he can just react.”
Johnson said he didn’t sense any reticence from Nesbitt about the offense the first time coach and quarterback met. “I think he was like everybody. He had some questions. Everybody was asking what he was going to do and not do. He kept an open mind and I guess he eventually said, ‘Hey, it’s not too bad. I can have some fun with this.’”
Nesbitt hasn’t been all run. He threw for 266 yards against Mississippi State, and for just under 200 with two touchdowns against each Duke and Vanderbilt. He said he feels “10 times more comfortable” than a year ago.
“When he came here, he just told me, ‘You can have a great year, but you’re going to take a pounding.’ I don’t mind the pounding, and I thought I could be successful. I like the offense. I like the fact that we can score at any given moment and we have so many threats.”
Johnson’s confidence in Nesbitt was illustrated a few weeks ago when he went for it on fourth-and-1 from the Wake Forest five-yard line in overtime. A chip-shot field goal would’ve tied the game. Nesbitt came to the sideline and said, “I can make it coach.” Johnson replied, “I know you can.” Two Nesbitt runs later — a first down, then a touchdown — the game was over.
Nesbitt was asked about that first meeting with Johnson. Did he ever inquire how many times he would get to pass?
“No, I never mentioned it,” he said.
He bought in early, and it shows.
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594 comments Add your comment
Robert E. Lee
November 25th, 2009
3:45 pm
Saint Simons is sissy-ass
Pi$$onaDawg
November 25th, 2009
3:51 pm
Saturday will tell the tale
Saint Simons
November 25th, 2009
4:25 pm
WOW Coach Paul Johnson invented football !!!!!! GA Texh will never lose again ever,I’m so happy.
John
November 25th, 2009
5:24 pm
Richt developed the #1 QB for the 2009 NFL draft? What part did Richt play in developing Stafford, he had a strong arm and inaccurate when he came to Athens, he had a strong arm and inaccurate when he left Athens. The pros liked him simply because he had a strong arm, his passing numbers while at Georgia were nothing to brag on. Most players skills under Richt degrade from freshmen to their senior year.
Ed
November 25th, 2009
6:27 pm
The Orlando Sentinel exceeded the AJC in developing sportswriters.
Nesbitt has a Nicoderm CQ patch. Who knew? One day at a time my friend…
Cox vs Brady
November 25th, 2009
8:22 pm
Tom Brady 1998 Michigan
131 Effic., 15 td’s, 12 int’s, 2636 yards
Joe Cox 2009 Georgia
139 Effic, 21 td’s, 14 int’s, 2350 yards (2 games to go)
CrossfitBulldawgs
November 25th, 2009
8:32 pm
I’m a bulldawg fan until I die but I will say Coach Richt has made a habit of not preparing for the future when it comes to QB position. He relied so much on David Green and D.J. Shockley that years later we struggled. He currently did the same with Matthew Stafford. There is no rest in the SEC. Either you have talent or you don’t and let’s face it Joe Cox doens’t have the moxy for the SEC. All the blame goes back to the Head Ball Coach. Offense, Defense or Special Team isn’t playing well the fingers are being pointed at one guy. Compare Coach Richt prepping for losing Matthew Stafford to what or how Florida will look next year minus TiBow… We can play the blame game all day but in the end there was many of time between our last game last year to our first game this year to have more than just Joe Cox ready to be the man. I’m not saying Richt should be fired but at some point during this season he should have said okay now it’s time to get reps for our QB of the future instead of allowing the QB to blow the last game out of his azz.
Cox vs Marino
November 25th, 2009
8:37 pm
Dan Marino, Pittsburg, 1982
58% completion, 2432 yards, 17 td’s, 23 int’s, 67 pass rating
Joe Cox, Georgia, 2009
56% Completion, 2350 yards, 21 td’s, 14 int’s, 138 pass rating (2 more games to go)
tree
November 25th, 2009
10:27 pm
Here is my advice for Mark Richt. Stick to your guns and keep Willie, because if he fired Willie after this season, and next season we are 6 and 6, coach Richt will be fired. It’s catch-22.
Joe Cox vs Joe Montana
November 25th, 2009
11:15 pm
Joe Montana, 1978
54% completion rate, 9 int’s, 10 td’s, 2010 yards
Joe Cox, 2009
56% Completion rate, 14 Int’s, 21 td’s, 2350 yards
2010 Looking Good for Georgia
November 25th, 2009
11:35 pm
Richt has a way of following up a tough season with a big season—every single time.
2001 8 wins, 4 losses
2002 13-1 SEC Champs
2006 9 wins, 4 losses
2007 11 wins, 2 losses
2009 6-8 wins, 5-7 losses
2010? 11 win or 13 win season coming….
Dawg 1
November 26th, 2009
12:07 am
Give the kid and his coach credit. He is a fine running QB in a running system. And the kid has great courage. He took an absolute beating in last year’s game, which I still believe affected his play against another very physical team in LSU @ the Peach Bowl.
If UGA shows up and plays up to their talent, they’ll beat Tech on Saturday. If not, then Tech will win – it is that simple.
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
uga-brave
November 26th, 2009
2:01 am
Enter your comments here
FugaY
November 26th, 2009
3:16 am
Why Nesbitt is an excellent QB:
1. GREAT decision maker- If you knew anything about the TO, you would know that on almost every play, Josh decides which of three backs gets the ball; hence “triple” option- these plays might look predetermined but he reads the defense as soon as he snaps the ball and first chooses whether or not to give the ball to Dwyer up the middle; if not, he runs with it and decides whether or not to pitch it or keep it himself. Little more than just handing the ball off- let’s see Cox do that….
2. Have you seen his ability to throw the ball deep??? i.e. Last week against Duke, he chucked the ball from his own 15-20 yard line and it dropped into Bebe’s hands perfectly in stride at Duke’s 20 yard line. He has made similar plays all year.
3. Touch- Not only has he shown Tebow-like short pass touch, he has the ability to consistently get drilled and still manage to execute a perfect pitch, which is not easy.
4. Difficult to tackle. If you watch this guy move around on the field, you will be stunned. While he is not as fast as other dual threat QB’s like Tyrod Taylor, he is far stronger and has great vision. He can easily lower his shoulder and drive through bigger players with pure core strength. He’s also not terribly slow.
5. Vision. While he doesn’t throw that often, he sees the field well when he does. He also exhibits his vision when he decides what to do with the ball. When he keeps it, he sees the hole and powers his way up the field. When there is nothing there, he cuts his losses and protects the ball. He has only 4 INT’s and 24 total TD’s so…
6. He’s a leader. When you can come off the field and TELL CPJ you know you can get the first down and failure to do so ruins a chance at the first ACCCG berth in 19 yrs, you must be seriously respected.
7. He’s still improving.
That’s that…. As far as this week’s game goes:
A hyped up Georgia D contains Tech maybe until the end of the 1st quarter until they get burned by surprisingly frequent passing.
A finally rested Tech D shows up- Burnett and Butler combine for an unbelievable game at the hands of Joe’s horrible decision-making
The rested but cold Tech O gets rolling by the second quarter and reverts back to what they do best, ground and pound
Georgia D loses all hope by halftime and the second half provides for great opportunity to jack up the score for the fans
Predicted Score
GT- 62
ugaY- 13
Rivalry means nothing when one team dominates in every way…..
Pit Bull (Willie BEATS Johnson)
November 26th, 2009
10:01 am
Johnson can turn a sows ear into a silk purse. But Ga has him BEAT! Willie Martineze can turn an excellent defensive backfield into the Keystone cops. Try that!
BOOGIE MAN FROM HARTWELL GA
November 26th, 2009
12:41 pm
BOOGIE MANS IN THE HOUSE
.
November 26th, 2009
12:54 pm
FugaY: your scrawny, squirmy, little pudding pop will be taking it and liking it in your Tech dorm room from your “roommates”…Your Daddy-O is calling for you in Midtown….go get ‘em sugar truck.
Send these coaches to the gallows with Jack Sparrow
November 26th, 2009
1:10 pm
Carrol 6 loss
Stoops 6-5 in 2009
Paterno 3-9, 4-7 2003-2004
Patterson 6-6. 5-6 in 2004
Who cares if they’re all in top 10 winningest % of all-time, they obviously can’t coach college football.
Send them to the gallows and off with their heads.
BOOGIES THE MAN FROM HARTWELL GA
November 26th, 2009
2:30 pm
SAT. WILL CURE A LOT OF THINGS…………….UPSET BREWING GO DAWGS
#1 GT fan
November 26th, 2009
3:09 pm
People who commented on this article: How can you compare Tebow and Nesbit?
They run to different types of offences. One is a passing one, and one is running one.
If you ask me, for the few passes he has thrown, Josh has been amazing.
Now for Coach Richit.
I personally love his chocie. Let Cox play instead of somebody better. I think its funny.
The only reasoning I can think why he did it is………..
1. he felt bad for Joe Cox because he had to live in Satffords shadow his whole college football career.
2. He wanted Georgia to get some kind of attetion fom the press. Trust me Richit knew that the dogs were gonna suck this year
3.Richit thought Cox would be better ( wrong chocie )
Johnny Test
November 26th, 2009
8:47 pm
I am a Dawg fan… Nesbitt is way better than Cox. He runs his offense almost flawlessly and he can throw the ball as well as he needs to. Cox is very one dimensional… can’t run a lick and seems to fumble or throw interceptions at the most inopportune times. Cox gets UGA beat.. see KY and Oklahoma St. games. Nesbitt wills Tech to win.
The only chance the DAWGs have Saturday is too play flawlessly and for Tech to inexplicably implode with fumbles, picks and lousy special teams play. Hey… can’t blame me for dreaming can you.
GT all the way
November 26th, 2009
10:36 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8GuH9oDHrU
tech fan
November 27th, 2009
9:15 am
Josh Nesbitt = Brett Favre
-Winner
-Tought
-Big
-Strong
-Great Arm
2011—he will go in the 3 to 6 round…2014 he will start in the NFL…2034 hall of fame
Preston
November 27th, 2009
9:40 am
Yeah. He developed him into an option QB that can’t showcase an arm that will get him to the pro’s. Then he’ll be stuck trying to make it in life with a custodial engineering degree. SAD
Headlinin’: Eyes of Texas, ESPN are on awkwardly smooching Aggies | Sports News Images and Videos
November 27th, 2009
9:41 am
[...] have the guts to pick the Tigers to upset Alabama. … Just one more way that Paul Johnson has completely flipped the script in the Georgia-Georgia Tech series. … A view of C.J.’s Pub in South Bend, where Jimmy Clausen was allegedly punched in the [...]
Preston
November 27th, 2009
10:29 am
Dawg Undertaker, you are obviously a prick. Uga is not only the mascot of the University of Georgia, but the most beloved mascot in all of sports (voted by nationally). Not to mention the Seiler family pet. You are a sad, lonely person that probably spent Thanksgiving watching porn by yourself in your mom’s basement. Please do the world a favor and destroy your computer before you get so caught up your self loathing that you commit suicide. Really, you need to venture out and get a life. Loser.
Preston
November 27th, 2009
10:35 am
Everyone have a brief period of fun while it lasts. The Aaron Murray era will begin next year so the rest of you will bow, once again, to the mighty Bulldog Nation. Especially the downtown bugs. Oh, and good luck keeping Johnson. Every time a coach does well at tech…he leaves. LOL!
Headlinin’: Eyes of Texas, ESPN are on awkwardly smooching Aggies | Newstion.com
November 27th, 2009
11:18 am
[...] have the guts to pick the Tigers to upset Alabama. … Just one more way that Paul Johnson has completely flipped the script in the Georgia-Georgia Tech series. … A view of C.J.’s Pub in South Bend, where Jimmy Clausen was allegedly punched in the [...]
BE#3
November 27th, 2009
12:57 pm
Comparing apples and oranges. Nesbitt would struggle playing in a traditional style offense. He’s great at running the Tech O and that’s all that is required of him. I’d take a Greene, Shockley or Stafford over a Nesbitt anyday. And wait until you see Murray next year. See if you still think CPJ is better at developing a QB.
Counter
November 27th, 2009
5:12 pm
One might could argue….Richt over succeeded by developing Stafford into the 1st player taken in the NFL draft as a Junior. A couple of years ago, the plan was not for the #7 to be worn by a Tight End at UGA in 2009.
dawgit
November 27th, 2009
5:52 pm
Well in the short time Richt has been at UGA he developed the winningest D1 quarterback ever in Green (until McCoy just passed him). He developed a number 1 draft pick in Stafford. Also, Shockley was drafted. Paul Johnson needs to have a few more winning seasons at Tech before we start comparing him with Richt. Not enough data.
Headlinin’: Eyes of ESPN are on awkwardly smooching Aggies | Florida Sports Net
November 27th, 2009
5:54 pm
[...] have the guts to pick the Tigers to upset Alabama. … Just one more way that Paul Johnson has completely flipped the script in the Georgia-Georgia Tech series. … A view of C.J.’s Pub in South Bend, where Jimmy Clausen was allegedly punched in the [...]
Jeff is not officially brain dead.
November 27th, 2009
9:50 pm
Jeff, you have lost the last remnant of your eternally midget mind. Get help.
Yellow Fuzz
November 28th, 2009
6:42 am
To borrow a phrase from former coach Pat Dye-
GEORGIA IS NOT MAN ENOUGH to beat Georgia Tech this year.
and
THE DOG NATION FANS are not man enough to sit through an entire azz whoopin.
Please use the trash receptacles that we have provided for you and support your team until the final buzzer. And STFU when walking back to your truck!
TechStud
November 28th, 2009
10:13 am
Schultz,
Exactly!!!! It’s all coaching. These kids have no free-will or abilities on their own…they are completely and solely the product of their college head coach. Any and all mistakes and accomplishments should be attributed to Richt or Johnson. Clearly college players are only vessels used to determine coaching ability…individual player talents and abilities have no bearing…it’s all coaching.
Great work, Schultz….thanks for sharing your thoughts with the pathetic masses.
DeafDawg
November 28th, 2009
10:43 am
Jeff Schultz is your classic Tech fan, who harped for years about the seven-game winning streak of 1949 – 1956.
Then, as soon as the insects went down seven years in a row, it became, “You can’t look to the past.”
Y’all (Jeff Schultz, included) need to get a life!!!
DeafDawg
November 28th, 2009
10:44 am
(This thing entered, by itself!)
My final word is this: GO DAWGS!!!
Vote against Georgia Basher Dude
November 28th, 2009
11:40 am
Gerogia Basher Dude spends all day coming up with 1 liners against Georgia.
Guys and gals, let’s all go now and vote AGAINST his anti-Georgia 1 liners, hit the button with the triangle point at the bottom:
http://projects.ajc.com/vent/sports/uga/2009/11/27/
Yellow Fuzz
November 28th, 2009
1:17 pm
georgia = Tech’s bitch for 364.75 straight days!
georgia = Tech’s bitch for 364.75 straight days!
georgia = Tech’s bitch for 364.75 straight days!
georgia = Tech’s bitch for 364.75 straight days!
georgia = Tech’s bitch for 364.75 straight days!
georgia = Tech’s bitch for 364.75 straight days!
georgia = Tech’s bitch for 364.75 straight days!
georgia = Tech’s bitch for 364.75 straight days!
georgia = Tech’s bitch for 364.75 straight days!
georgia = Tech’s bitch for 364.75 straight days!
georgia = Tech’s bitch for 364.75 straight days!
georgia = Tech’s bitch for 364.75 straight days!
ACC Sux!
November 28th, 2009
5:12 pm
Clemson blown out by an SEC team. N Carolina loses to a horrible team. FSU getting blown out by an SEC team. UGA will continue this trend in a few hours.
LAKE OCONEE DAWG
November 29th, 2009
2:22 am
THIS JUST IN===JOE COX OUTPLAYS NESBITT IN HUGE GEORGIA UPSET WIN OVER THE TECH YELLER JACKETTES…SHOWS WHAT SCHULTZ KNOWS ABOUT SOMEONE COACHING QUARTERBACKS….TIME TO ASK SOME HARD QUESTIONS, LIKE WHY DID THE STUD FULLBACK GAIN ONLY 33 YARDS AGAINST THE DOGS…MUST BE THE PLAYCALLING OR THE SCHEME, SHULTZIE…CHECK WITH PAUL ON THAT AND GET BACK TO US….
Reggie Ball
November 29th, 2009
5:15 pm
shultz do you have a clue? Just like GTU’s stinging loss you have to live with your idiotic opinions for the next year. I can’t believe I listened to you.
Frank
November 29th, 2009
8:29 pm
Pi$$onaDawg You wrote “Saturday will tell the tale” That was very prophetic.
Yellow Fuzz, I guess you are ours again, but it will probably be more like 254.75 days in this case.
LOL!!!!!!
THWGT!!!!!!!
Tim Tebow is Horrible--See Proof Below!
December 4th, 2009
11:57 pm
http://espn.go.com/college-football/statistics
go to the individula stats:
#60 passing yards
#33 td’s
#67 rushing yards
#81 scoring