Georgia Tech doesn’t look ACC ready, starting with defense
Coach Paul Johnson's offense, led by Joshua Nesbitt, managed just one touchdown in the last nine possessions, but the Jackets struggled big-time on defense. (AP photo)
LAWRENCE, Kan. – In the final game before opening the defense of its ACC championship, Georgia Tech missed tackles, missed assignments, dropped passes, roughed the kicker, roughed the quarterback, certainly roughed its own fan base, shanked a punt 13 yards, seem to float in and out of consciousness against a team that a week ago was dropped by North Dakota State and looked so bad on defense that one was tempted to ask, “So, anybody have Dave Wommack’s phone number?”
Forget the question of whether the Yellow Jackets are ready for next Saturday’s ACC opener against North Carolina. They’re not. The only question is: How deep is the hole?
“There’s nothing magic I can say, like, ‘Abracadabra, kazaam,’ and it’s going to be fixed,” coach Paul Johnson said. “You just have to get better.”
The Jackets just suffered the worst loss of the Johnson era. Projected to win by two touchdowns, they lost 28-25 on Saturday to a Kansas team that a week before was dropped by North Dakota State 6-3.
Fortunately, North Dakota State isn’t also on Tech’s schedule.
Kansas receiver Daymond Patterson spins away from Tech's Kyle Jackson. He finished with seven catches, including a touchdown.
Humiliation was well represented on both sides of the ball. Even Johnson’s vaunted offense struggled. The Jackets scored one touchdown in their last nine possessions.
But the problems really start with the one area on Tech’s team that figured to improve this season, and the one area that absolutely had to: defense.
When Johnson fired Wommack and hired Al Groh, he had no illusions that Tech suddenly would morph into Alabama. He just figured the Jackets would be better than Alabama-Birmingham. Hasn’t happened.
Tech continues to miss tackles and blow assignments. The middle of the defense looks soft against the run, even going back to last week’s game against South Carolina State (178 yards rushing) . When Kansas went to a no-huddle early in the game, watching Tech’s players was like looking at a kicked fire ant hill.
The Jayhawks scored touchdowns on two of their first three possessions. They converted four of their first five third-down situations. It would have been five out of six, if not for a dropped pass. They had a freshman running back, James Sims, rush for 101 yards. They had a receiver, Daymond Patterson, with seven catches for 85 yards and a touchdown.
So much for the Groh effect.
To what extent this can be attributed to a slow transition to Groh’s 3-4 and how much of it is simply bad play can’t be certain.
“You’ve got to get off blocks,” Johnson said. “Sooner or later, it can’t all be the scheme.”
True enough. But who takes the fall for players coming out flat (linebacker Kyle Jackson: “We didn’t look like we were ready to play. We came out kind of dull.”)? Or failing in basics like making a tackle?
“I’m in charge of it,” Groh said. “If there’s any finger to be pointed, it’s at me.”
Groh said the Jackets have practiced enough against the no-huddle, so “to say that was the issue would be a cop-out.”
He said of the 3-4 scheme: “It is what it is. We’ve made the transition. We’re playing the defense. We just have to play it well enough. You’re not going to be competitively tough if you just start making excuses.”
When asked if Kansas — who managed only a field goal in 12 possessions against North Dakota State — is a team that should score four touchdowns against the Jackets, Groh got a little testy.
“That’s fantasy football. I just deal with what happened today,” he said.
But it’s not fantasy — Kansas really did score only three points.
Groh: “That was then. This is now. That’s not the game coaches play. Coaches play the game that’s played today. The rest is talk radio, those guys who have all the answers.”
If Groh has the answers, it doesn’t show. The Jackets go to Chapel Hill next week to start things for real, and as Jackson said when asked if he felt like the team was ready: “You know — I feel like we’ve got a lot of work to do.”
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248 comments Add your comment
MC
September 12th, 2010
10:48 am
Johnson will adjust, GT? LMAO!!! The guy knows 5 plays. There’s nothing to adjust. 5 plays and no talent combined with non-existent recruiting is a lethal combination. I’ve taken my last drink of that CPJ kool aid. What a horrible hire.
Brock
September 12th, 2010
10:49 am
GT Jeff- tell me I didn’t just see a post from you on a ga blog bad mouthing tech. You are pathetic. Please leave the fan base now loser.
Brock
September 12th, 2010
10:52 am
GTJeff
September 12th, 2010
8:37 am
At least UGA lost to a good team. Not bottom feeder Kansas. Georgia’s D looked much improved over last year. Can we trade the old man for Grantham?
Traitor!
MC
September 12th, 2010
10:52 am
GT Man, what is it you don’t get about no talent. The cupboard is bare pardner. Recruiting sucks. Every team we play is going to bully our D line. And sorry, but when his 5 plays don’t work Paul Johnson becomes without a doubt the dumbest azz coach in all of college football. He’s a clueless one trick pony. LSU, UGA, Iowa….and now…KANSAS! Don’t you get it?
Arno
September 12th, 2010
10:55 am
Expected the new defense would take some time. Most disappointed with passing game. It had to improve this year for Tech to compete.
PJClue
September 12th, 2010
10:56 am
I believe when one of the television announcers said toward the end of the game yesterday that this offense is not a “come from behind” offense, where the quarterback must drop back in the pocket and throw the ball when time is running out. No truer statement that I have heard. Nesbitt cannot pass and he proved once again yesterday that unless PJ can have a secondary passing attack, this team will always go down, even to Kansas who lost last week to a 1AA school in N. Dakota State. They depend solely upon the run, and when it’s not there or they need to come from behind, game over.
TechBuzz
September 12th, 2010
10:59 am
The way the total ACC looks in playing big games, (Tech, Miami, FSU) and even little ones (Va Tech losing to JAMES MADISON) doesn’t speak well of the conference. I only hope that Paul Johnson understands (FINALLY) he needs a passing game. Without it, Tech will continue to beat the Duke’s, Wake Forest, and ACC types but will NEVER compete outside the conference.
SC Cock's Fan
September 12th, 2010
10:59 am
I dont want to see any UGA fool saying anything about anyteams football team after we manhandled you guys. Who is your daddy?
Response to TechBuzz
September 12th, 2010
11:01 am
The Virginia Tech loss only makes Boise State’s win and against a strong opponent bode poor for them. Since Boise State doesn’t play anyone else the rest of the year, forget the talk of them going to the NC.
SC GameCock's Fan
September 12th, 2010
11:01 am
I dont want to hear from any DAWG fans today after the mand handling we put on you yesterday. Definetly not ready for the SEC spot light. Who is your daddy?
ernisTbass
September 12th, 2010
11:02 am
ACC = All Cup Cakes and shouldn’t even be tied automatically to the BCS, they aren’t even dominant in Basketball any more
db
September 12th, 2010
11:06 am
UGa, GT, GSu = 0-3.
Thank God for Alabama!
db
September 12th, 2010
11:07 am
to ernisTbass – Love the name. Let me guess. I JUST WANT TO SAY MY SENTENCE!
TechBuzz
September 12th, 2010
11:08 am
All I can say is that I am appreciative of Paul Johnson and his ability to bring Tech back out of despair, but I believe his ego is getting the best of him. He is going to run the same plays, same offense no matter what. Outside of the ACC, (and I love the wins against Vandy and Miss, State) but they are the bottom dwellers of the SEC, he has not won not ONE big out of conference game and it’s because Tech has NO passing attack. Look back, big losses to LSU, UGA, Iowa and now Kansas of all teams. When will he let his ego slide and start passing. I don’t understand it, unless Nesbitt just can’t pass? Johnson will win, yes, in the ACC but before long frustration will set in. Just look in Athens. Richt has 2 SEC championships, 3 BCS bowl games, 8 Top 20 rankings and a 91-27 record and his job is on the line. I hope Johnson wises up sooner than later. The ACC can’t be THIS bad out of conference.
TechBuzz
September 12th, 2010
11:10 am
ernestTbass…….You are my mother figure…lol
Always a Jacket
September 12th, 2010
11:25 am
It’s one bad game! GT is defending ACC champs! Paul Johnson brought back excitement to the program. Predicting the season after one very poor performance is crazy. I would much rather Johnson and Groh fixing the problems this week than Gailey and Tenuta. If the poor performance continues throughout the season, then we should be concerned. Until then, our football program is in good hands and on the way up.(unlike the direction of the basketball program)
Jeff… great summary. The ant analogy was perfect.
Gatorman
September 12th, 2010
11:25 am
Now why is everyone getting so worked up about PJohnson not developing a passing game. He’s not dumb, but his QB is woeful throwing, and before he let’s his team get in disarray, he will work some new tricks into the game plan. As he goes forward, I think he’ll have the future QB’s pitching more to save the QB from so many hits, which truly affects the QB’s ability to throw.
Jack G.
September 12th, 2010
11:30 am
Quit dumping on Grow Put the blame where it belongs, CPJ hired Groh so put the blame where it belongs.
My opinion on CPJ football is well documented. It is what it is.
ACC is pathetic!
September 12th, 2010
11:33 am
Doesnt look ready for ACC play? A little lossed here, GT look about as perfect as the whole ACC did yesterday… ACC is a mid level conference at best. NCAA needs to give the auto BCS birth to another conference. LOL
SC GameCak's Fan
September 12th, 2010
11:36 am
I know we dont have UGA fans talking smack on here, after we mand handled you little pups. Who is your daddy. Back to being irrelavent in the SEC for you!
William Casey
September 12th, 2010
11:37 am
One thing I disliked about coaching is the fact that “everybody’s a coach”… after the fact. Doesn’t matter if they ever played, much less coached. Just the way it is.
(1) At this level, motivation is ALL on the players as Bedford said. If you can’t motivate yourself by now, you don’t belong playing Division I football.
(2) GT did look confused at first by the Kansas up-tempo approach. Took too long to adjust. This IS on the coaches.
(3) Team play depends on muual respect and trust. This will happen with Coach Groh and the players from game-to-game. His age has nothing to do with it.
(4) Some of the play calling might be questionable but that should wait until Coach Johnson debriefs the game.
Everything else is just so much farting into the wind.
GA Team guy
September 12th, 2010
11:38 am
Lets face it, both UGA and Tech just dont look good for this year. Tech might go 8-4 while UGA might do the same or a little worse since they are in the SEC.
MC
September 12th, 2010
11:38 am
ON THE WAY UP, Always a Jacket! Puhleeze! Look how weak both our Oline and Dline are. Look at it. And Paul Johnson has HIS recruits now. So much for that. This program can’t afford another 2 or 3 years of that kind of recruiting. It’s plain as PJ’s chin. This program can’t afford this kind of talent drain and be viable in the near future. Paul Johnson’s recruiting, 5 play offense, and GT’s inability to go out and get REAL coaches is going to bite the entire program in the butt. We need a real coach with a real vision and the ability to get us there. Anyone that doesn’t see this train going in reverse just doesn’t want to.
Bulldogs or Jackets — which team worries you more? | Jeff Schultz
September 12th, 2010
11:38 am
[...] Georgia Tech just lost a non-conference game to Kansas, a seemingly punch-drunk program that was reeling from a defeat against North Dakota State, and doesn’t seem nearly ready for conference play (notwithstanding that the ACC didn’t exactly look like a super power this weekend). [...]
DRad
September 12th, 2010
11:42 am
Does anybody have Mike Leach’s phone number?
kenneth
September 12th, 2010
11:42 am
http://cjonline.com/sports/football/2010-09-11/ku_stings_yellow_jackets
MSN
September 12th, 2010
11:43 am
Is it me, or does it seem Grantham and Grohl dont know how to coach.
MC
September 12th, 2010
11:45 am
GT is in by far worse condition than UGA Jeff. Tech’s only salvation is an ACC schedule. Put UGA in the ACC and they win the damn thing. By the end of the season the gap between us and UGA will be as wide as the Pacific Ocean.
Butts Wagner
September 12th, 2010
12:21 pm
I don’t think anything is really wrong with the running game. Teams don’t respect the passing game and are just loading up the line of scrimmage to take away anything inside. Instead, GT is getting their 5 yds per running play on the outside. As we’ve been saying since sometime last year, if GT can just make 10 pass completions per game, the offense will be transformed from outsiders’ perceptions. If defenses have to honestly worry about passing plays on all downs, there will be so much more space for the running game to operate.
The story on defense is the same as last year. Not sure which is the problem that needs immediate fixing: Getting blown off the line of scrimmage or the missed tackles. I lean towards trying to get some control back at the line of scrimmage. Being able to block running lanes and getting some pressure on the quarterback is probably going to solve some of the missed tackling problems. I don’t think Groh is the problem. We had these problems before he came here.
Nate
September 12th, 2010
12:38 pm
+1 to Butts on all accounts! Anyone giving up hope on this team now isn’t a real Tech fan plain and simple. This is the same f-ing story that UGA fans said after the LSU, Miami, Iowa, and UGA losses. Teams lose games and CPJ will correct, period. This team will rebound and finish 8-4, 9-3 at best. Anyone who thinks we were better off with Gailey obviously never watched Tech play then. Even with acceptable talent the best Gailey could do was 8-4 and he would never win the ACC Championship, period. Grow a pair and support this team.
Beesnut
September 12th, 2010
12:44 pm
Ya know, I’ve stayed away from the boards for the past several years due to all of the idiots out there who don’t know a darn thing about football posting up crap. Here is the bottom line folks… not one team in the ACC outside of UNC has an OL or DL worth a crap. It showed today in every ACC game against a quality opponent. This conference is officially irrelevant.
CPJ is a good coach and knows X’s and O’s better than most in the business. However, his ego is what keeps him from joining the elite. I like Nesbitt… he’s a heck of an athlete but he is not a true dual threat QB. The Tech WR’s act like prima donna’s while the OL is undersized and couldn’t open a hole in the middle of a DL if Moses was there to help them part it. Don’t get me started on the RB’s… soft, soft, soft.
The defense reminds me of pop warner days when the kids are young and cannot properly cover their assignments. Kind of like having a six year old at cornerback that shoots in to the backfield on every play and the opponent runs a sweep to that side scoring a long TD four or five times.
The 3-4 defense is a joke unless you have a flippin’ nose tackle to man that middle. Tech obviously doesn’t have anyone capable of filling that position so we end up with the Twinkie defense… nice and firm on the outside but soft and mushy in the middle!
On the bright side… the mutts have the same problem!
One other thing… Georgia State got whooped yesterday as well so I guess that lends itself to the lack of folks taalking about a team from the ATL they can be proud of lol.
Alabama Jack
September 12th, 2010
1:08 pm
Why did the chicken cross the road?
To kick delusional dawg ass.
BuzzBasketball
September 12th, 2010
1:14 pm
Johnson came in with lots of promise and hope, but we are no better off than we were with our previous coach. Yesterday was an embarrassment to the ACC and especially to the Jackets. We are going to have a long year if that was any indication. If we lose more than three games with the talent we have, it is time for the Navy guy to be sent back to the high seas.
BobbyDodd21/20
September 12th, 2010
1:57 pm
How bad was it?…espn3 kept the replay out of the schedule, …damn boys, tackle, catch the ball and quit reading the clips of how inferior the opposition IS….
jacket221
September 12th, 2010
2:07 pm
Guys, if you want to see what this offense is capable of doing in passing game search 2004 Georgia Southern vs. Georgia on youtbue. If Nesbitt can learn how to throw Tech should be ok. I don’t know who that qb was but he could pass and looked faster than Nesbitt. I haven’t seen Tevin throw yet. any of u think he is capable of helping our passing game?
Big Dog 98
September 12th, 2010
2:34 pm
The ACC is a joke.
The winner of the ACC Conference will not be ranked in the top 25 !
Buzzman
September 12th, 2010
2:38 pm
I said this last year at the end of the season when Tech announced that Al Groh would be the defense coach. I don’t get it, Virginia fired him because he couldn’t coach. The head coach is responsible for both Offense and Defense. He proved he couldn’t do neither. Then he comes in wanting a new scheme. Take a survey of coaches and they will all say DEFENSE Wins games. Paul Johnson needs to read the riot act to both Al Groh and Josh Nesbitt. In quoting Johnson back during the practices he said his Tech teams looks better than ever, and not concerned with Josh not being able to throw passes. Well Tech is one-dimensional, run run run, sounds like a little pig. You better wake up or you will have this first losing team under your command.
TheTaxJacket
September 12th, 2010
3:01 pm
*** Nesbitt for Heismen ***
((( 45 – 42 )))
NCDawg
September 12th, 2010
4:33 pm
The biggest problem I see is that Tech’s talent level continues to drop off… they haven’t replaced the players they’ve lost over the past two years with the same caliber of talent…the question should be: can Johnson recruit?
Russell0931
September 12th, 2010
5:14 pm
The game was played on Fox Sports so naturally it will not be available for replay on ESPN3. GO JACKETS!!!
Joe
September 12th, 2010
9:13 pm
Perhaps Al should adhere to his own “one voice” policy and let PJ do all the talking. It’s about the only way he will engrace himself with the ATL media.
Sick & Tired Of Being Sick & Tired
September 12th, 2010
11:47 pm
The Tech coaches are going to develop a backup plan when the option is not working. Nesbitt has to learn to effectively throw the ball and the WRs need to be able to catch otherwise it is going to be a very long season.
The defense is not good (at all) so the offense is going to have to score a lot of points in order to win games.
Bobby
September 13th, 2010
1:13 am
Part of the problem is GT is not playing like a team. Josh, or Joshua or whatever name he is calling himself is trying to win the Heisman and simply denies handing off the ball when he should. There were at least a couple of times GT would have had major yardage if not a TD but Nesbitt simply kept the ball to himself. He needs to learn there are more people on the team than just him.
bulldog 12
September 13th, 2010
9:41 am
So much much for Yech passing UGA by. What a joke. Cant even beat a team that didnt score against North Dakota State. LOL. And so much for The All Crappy Conference. also.
link
September 13th, 2010
11:47 pm
ok how is this supposedto mean?
droopydawg
September 14th, 2010
2:31 pm
“So much for the Groh effect”
Um, as someone who watched UVA flail around helplessly for my three years in law school up there, this IS the Groh effect. Good luck with that bumblebees.
Sports Review
September 14th, 2010
8:06 pm
[...] Georgia Tech doesn't look ACC ready, starting with defenseAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog)all 688 news articles » [...]
Yellow Panties
September 15th, 2010
10:02 am
TheTaxJacket
September 12th, 2010
3:01 pm
*** Nesbitt for Heismen *** (Never stops being funny)
((( 45 – 42 ))) (Never stops being irrelevant )