Johnson: Georgia Tech players were complacent in 2010
Paul Johnson's Jackets went 1-5 down the stretch, including a loss to Georgia. (Brant Sanderlin)
After 20 wins in two seasons, an ACC title and igniting a fan base that at times seemed to sit quietly at football games while waiting for basketball season to start – I know, it seems like a long time ago – Georgia Tech was cast in an unfamiliar role last season.
The Yellow Jackets were the hunted. They didn’t handle it well.
They went 6-7. They lost as many games in year three under Paul Johnson as they had in the first two (20-7). They went from ending the season in the Orange Bowl to ending it in the Independence Bowl. The cover of the Jackets’ 2010 media guide showed two hands clinched together, one wearing a jeweled conference championship ring. The caption warned, “Brace for Impact.” But what followed were 20 fumbles, the most in Division I, and an alarming lack of focus.
So much for being braced.
“I think there was a sense of complacency to a degree,” Johnson said. “Not with everybody. But when you win nine games the first year and then you win 11 games, I think some guys just think, ‘Well, this is going to happen again.’ It doesn’t work like that.”
Georgia Tech opens spring practice Monday. Complacency shouldn’t be an issue because there’s nobody riding a glorious hangover.
For some reason, the message was lost.
Failure and humiliation can be wonderful motivators. If Johnson’s players need any reminders of what happened in 2010, he can use video or his right foot, whatever works best. But apparently they’ve already gotten the message.
“Our guys aren’t dumb, they know what happened,” Johnson said. “We’re light years ahead of where we were last year at this time. We have a lot more togetherness as a group. You can see our focus, our desire. I can look out my office window [onto the practice field] and see guys working, doing things we didn’t do last year. There’s a different aura.”
Hard to imagine, but the Jackets were ranked 16th in the preseason last year. That ranking disappeared somewhere over the skies of Lawrence, Kansas.
They had built-in excuses. Demaryius Thomas, Jonathan Dwyer, Derrick Morgan and Morgan Burnett all went to the NFL. In the first half of the ninth game at Virginia Tech, quarterback Joshua Nesbitt was lost for the year with a broken arm (the Jackets were 5-3 at the time and the season hadn’t spun out of control yet).
But there were problems far beyond physical deficiencies. Some players didn’t lead. Others didn’t want to be led. It was not the mentally tough team we had seen play in the previous two seasons under Johnson. It seemed almost like the Jackets played with a sense of entitlement.
We saw it early when they lost to Kansas (which the previous week lost 6-3 to Division 1-AA North Dakota State). We saw it later, when they dropped five out of six to end the season, and committed four turnovers in the 14-7 bowl loss to Air Force.
A step back was expected. Not a step into this.
This will be a change. Johnson was the new guy in his first spring at Tech. People were excited. Then came the impressive first two seasons. One had to page back to the days of Heisman, Alexander or Dodd to find a coach who had a better start.
This is the first time his program is being asked to bounce back from misery.
“I think leaders will emerge this year,” Johnson said. “But like I said last year, you’ve got to want to be led, too. And if you’re a leader, you can’t get frustrated if you think somebody’s not going as hard as they can. You have to keep pounding. If a majority of the guys are doing the right thing, you’ll win out and others will follow.”
He’s looking forward to seeing the freshman class that redshirted last season, particularly running back Charles Perkins (”He has a chance to be a special player) and quarterback Synjyn Days (who will compete with the returning Tevin Washington). “We’ve got a lot of young guys we want to take a look at,” he said. “As a general rule, this is when you lay the foundation for the fall camp. Hopefully by the end of spring, we’ll have a pretty good idea what our two-deep is.”
More importantly, he’ll have a pretty good idea where their heads are.
By Jeff Schultz
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141 comments Add your comment
Tech Fan
March 25th, 2011
2:32 pm
This will be a anticipation filled off-season for GT. It might be interesting how things shake out, then again it may be scary.
BYRDDAWG
March 25th, 2011
2:37 pm
OK I know I’m gonna get bashed but does PJ EVER take the blame for ANYTHING that goes wrong????
Tech Fan
March 25th, 2011
2:40 pm
Why BYRDDAWG? Why?
Trip
March 25th, 2011
2:41 pm
He took the blame at the end of last season.
JLC
March 25th, 2011
2:42 pm
@ BYRDDAWG….I see your point, but I beleive because PJ has seen his system work for many years at all levels, he knows that if it’s executed well, the team will be successful. Execution was just not there last year.
Ramblin' Wreck
March 25th, 2011
2:43 pm
Byrddawg-
Ummm – he does all the time. I don’t know if this article used selected quotes or not, but go back to the end-of-season post-mortem interviews in January. He gave analysis like above – complacency, lack of chemistry, lack of player leadership. But then he flat out said: That’s my fault. I need to coach them up better. I need to figure out what to do.
There is a difference between a reason and an excuse. He gave the reasons, but did not use them as an excuse.
Tech Fan
March 25th, 2011
2:43 pm
There is no reason even to answer that…
cattledawg
March 25th, 2011
2:46 pm
How come he never mentioned how he kept putting his defense in terrible shape by going for it on 4th and 2 from his side of the field?
Brock
March 25th, 2011
2:47 pm
He stated time and time again he didn’t motivate and get the guys ready and focused to play. Instead of asking a question just to get your jollies how about researching first. You could have found the quote just about anywhere.
George Stein
March 25th, 2011
2:47 pm
Yes, he does, BYRDDAWG. I also think it’s challenging to call a guy that works 100+ hours a week complacent.
If we get anything out of the defense, we will win at least nine games. Say what you will about that high school offense, but more often than not it runs pretty well.
Tech Fan
March 25th, 2011
2:50 pm
Why are yall falling for the inbred’s comments….just talk GT football and ignore that guy
George Stein
March 25th, 2011
2:50 pm
The way our defense has performed the past two years, what difference would it make where an opponent started their drive. Might as well try to score.
By the way, you should read Scorecasting as it has some interesting stuff about going for it on fourth down. Punting in that situation actually reduces your likelihood of winning.
Brock
March 25th, 2011
2:53 pm
I found this in about 1 minute Byrd Dawg. See how easy it is.
This from Jan 7 2011- Paul Johnson end of season Press Conf.
On chemistry and leadership:
Football is still a team. You have to have talented players. I think we had some kids who were talented. But I think you have to mesh together as a team and you have to gel. That’s why I said during the year that I was frustrated because I’m accountable for creating that and I didn’t create it for whatever reason.
cattledawg
March 25th, 2011
2:53 pm
George, I think its great to go for it on 4th down sometimes, but I know there was a whole lot of you tech guys saying the same thing last year.
Brock
March 25th, 2011
2:55 pm
Goerge- to a degree i get where you are coming from but there were a handfull of times he should have punted.
Brock
March 25th, 2011
2:56 pm
sorry- George
George Stein
March 25th, 2011
2:57 pm
Just because Tech fans say it doesn’t make them right, cattledawg. We have our share of idiots too.
Anytime you do something unconventionally you open yourself up to criticism if it doesn’t work. That doesn’t make the decision leas right though.
DawginLex
March 25th, 2011
2:59 pm
I wish we had gone for it on 4th down in our bowl game…………
BYRDDAWG
March 25th, 2011
3:01 pm
@Tech Fan. I didn’t insult you I asked a question….The only times I’ve heard him interviewed he either blamed defense or theO’s lack of execution….Try to act like an adult and not insult me!!!!
George Stein
March 25th, 2011
3:04 pm
I guess we will have to agree to disagree, Brock.
The folks who instinctively believe we should punt on 4th down are probably the same folks who think the Braves (or perhaps Reds for DawginLex) should be bunting more even though both have been proven to reduce your chance of winning usually.
jelly in my belly
March 25th, 2011
3:06 pm
option has been figured out
Steve
March 25th, 2011
3:07 pm
Tech’s record this year will be 7-5, if that, with yet another loss to UGA. Gotta love it!
George Stein
March 25th, 2011
3:08 pm
You’re right, DawginLex. The decision to go for it against Tech on the play where y’all muffed the snap wasn’t wrong because it didn’t work. But Richt should have gone for it against UCF. And it probably cost y’all the game.
George Stein
March 25th, 2011
3:10 pm
Whatever you say, jelly in my belly.
Of course, by your definition every offense that has had a bad game has been figured out.
Simb
March 25th, 2011
3:11 pm
It’s funny how similar this article is to the one written about the Dawgs…both coaches and teams are very positive about where there are right now compared to last year. Let’s see which team actually is improved.
George Stein
March 25th, 2011
3:12 pm
We still get to play the games, right Steve? If so, I think we will take our chances.
cattledawg
March 25th, 2011
3:15 pm
I will say that unless you have the 85-86 bears defense you should not go for broke on your side of the field or around midfield when its over a yard.I dont care what scorecasting says cause you can manipulate numbers many ways. How young was techs defense last year?
ted
March 25th, 2011
3:16 pm
what is CPJ’s system on “D” His defenses all sucked at GSU and NAVY also FWIW.
UGASlobberknocker
March 25th, 2011
3:19 pm
I thought to be complacent about something, you had to first have a previous base of success in that certain something. How does anyone from Tech feel complacent about their football team? because of one good yr in 2009 ? that ended with what, three consecutive losses?.
Calling Tech complacent about football is like calling the Thrashers are complacent about their Stanley Cup chances.
DawginLex
March 25th, 2011
3:19 pm
Keeping the ball by running it down the other team’s throat can cover up a lot of defensive problems since your defense is sitting on the sidelines………………
Coach Paul Johnson
March 25th, 2011
3:22 pm
Ive gained some weight lately. I’m sure its because that wife of mine keeps cooking stuff, and also my workout coach has me on a bad program and has become complacent. But one thing is for sure. NOT MY FAULT.
George Stein
March 25th, 2011
3:23 pm
Read the book and then criticize it. If you disagree with them and can defend it, fine. But dismissing sething you haven’t read because it goes against The Book (whatever that is) is foolish.
We were experiences in the secondary, although you wouldn’t know it to watch us. On the line and at the LB spots, I’d say it was a pretty good mix of young guys and expereienced guys.
GT Anchorage
March 25th, 2011
3:24 pm
DawginLex, I see where your coming from. When you have a conservative coach, you always wish that he would go for it, but when your coach goes for it the majority of the time people get up in arms when the team doesn’t make it.
You can’t have it both ways, I prefer going for it. It keeps the games excited and away from a punt fest. Those types of games are so boring. The problem with last year was that the team couldn’t execute on 4th down, or any down for that matter. The offensive line couldn’t get any push. We started to see what the team was capable of in the North Carolina game, but all that disappeared.
By the way, if Johnson made it on those 4th downs, everyone would be calling him a genius like they were in 2008 and 2009.
Amos Alonzo Stagg
March 25th, 2011
3:24 pm
Hey Coach Johnson, isn’t that offense a tad old fashioned? I could show you the more modern Wing T..might work better for you..call me
George Stein
March 25th, 2011
3:27 pm
Agreed, DawginLex. It’s why I think if we get anything out of the defense we will be pretty good every year.
The same goes for y’all. There is no reason why y’all shouldn’t be able to do what Bama does and just hammer teams at the line. Do that and y’all will be just fine.
George Stein
March 25th, 2011
3:29 pm
The offense is just fine, Amos. But thanks for your offer.
Buckhead Dawg
March 25th, 2011
3:31 pm
What a joke. Nerds are gonna get pounded again in 2011.
George Stein
March 25th, 2011
3:33 pm
Thanks for the insight, Buckhead Dawg.
DawginLex
March 25th, 2011
3:36 pm
I get eggs thrown at me from my fellow Dawg brethren because I believe CPJ at UGA=National titles. No limits on talent base because of student curriculum, entrance requirements etc.
You might not get a Matt Stafford but you might get a Jamelle Holloway or a Tommie Frazier.
gdawginkalamazoo
March 25th, 2011
3:38 pm
George Stein, the great football oracle Steve, aka Stephen, aka Beelzebub has given Tech a 7-5 record for 2011, you shall accept that and find something else to do this fall.
ManUp...
March 25th, 2011
3:39 pm
This is going to be such an interesting year. Big home schedule with all the named rivals in our own stadium..plus Maryland and Kansas. Then add in all the questions and a “hungry” team with equally “hungry” fans and The Dodd should be rockin at the first game and plenty of others. Personally, I’m gonna need to see this “new attitude” in person. T-DAY is April 23rd and I cannot wait. I’d better see energy and big hits. We need to absolutely cremate our opponents at home this season to get the respect back. Pretty much the entire conference is on our revenge list after last season.
Go Jackets!
George Stein
March 25th, 2011
3:41 pm
I’m not sure whether I agree or disagree, DawginLex.
I would say that Richt has picked two bad years (2003, 2007) to have great years. The thing Johnson would bring to UGA that Richt doesn’t would be a “don’t eff with us” attitude.
ManUp...
March 25th, 2011
3:42 pm
* by the way, before I get the angry blarguments I said the stadium should be “rockin”…not “full”
gdawginkalamazoo
March 25th, 2011
3:43 pm
If we ran Tech’s offense I would prefer to go for it on 4th down. The defense will be p o’d that they have to face another down against the triple option, plus it is very hard to defend. Even harder when you are p o’d and thought you were done already.
George Stein
March 25th, 2011
3:43 pm
That made me chuckle, Kalamazoo. Hope you’re coming out of the freeze up there.
DIT
March 25th, 2011
3:44 pm
@Dawgin Lex – I just have to disagree with you on that one. Even being a Dawg I actually like CPJ. He has done good things for tech. However, and it’s just my opinion, everytime his offense goes up against a strong SEC or any strong defense they get shut down.(Not including my Dawgs on that comment)
I think both UGA and techs defenses will be better. We can talk Offense all day, but defenses with Championships. Both have a ways to go and many holes to fill. Good luck to tech this coming year!
DawginLex
March 25th, 2011
3:45 pm
All it would take is one year of success and elite running backs would be lining up to come to UGA and get 1,000 yards plus.
QB’s would be the hardest sell in recruiting but I believe he would tweak his offense to incorporate more of a passing game and less of a beating for the QB
I just want us to run the ball first in 2011 and not become all pass happy with no physical toughness.
Tech is still lacking in the D-line to compete with the tougher teams.
I still see 8-4 or maybe 9-3 for both schools
DawginLex
March 25th, 2011
3:46 pm
DIT, they don’t have the athletes at Tech on the lines of scrimmage to compete against LSU etc. We do. His offense would work at UGA with a little tweaking.
ManUp...
March 25th, 2011
3:46 pm
That is one of the great effects of the CPJ 4th down mind game. See, but when your A-backs take that and fumble it in the red zone when they’re well over the first down marker but have just gotten greedy the effects magically wear off. Then you miss an extra point and have to allow a touchdown to…ah nevermind…where’s my whiskey flask when I need it….?
gdawginkalamazoo
March 25th, 2011
3:48 pm
George, its going to be 20 here tonight. Probably snow next week.
George Stein
March 25th, 2011
3:48 pm
The problem with UGA is that Richt & Bobo are impatient running the ball and they won’t settle on a feature back. If they did, UGA would be even more difficult to beat because they’d hog the ball and reduce the other team’s margin of error on offense.
DawginLex
March 25th, 2011
3:49 pm
Funny thing is if Erk had taken the UGA job in 1989, johnson would have been his OC and would have become head coach after Erk retired.
DIT
March 25th, 2011
3:50 pm
I guess I’m more of an “open it up” kind of offense. CPJ does have the grit though. I agree with your comment about 8-4 or 9-3 for both school. Each have weaker schedules this year to make it happen. Again, it will be up to both defenses to get it to 9 or 10 wins! Should be fun
GTBob
March 25th, 2011
3:50 pm
How come he never mentioned how he kept putting his defense in terrible shape by going for it on 4th and 2 from his side of the field?
Tech was 109th in the nation in punting average and 98th in punt return defense. I think that played into a lot of the 4th down decisions. Why not go for it on 4th an 2 instead of getting a 25 yd field position gain on average?
ManUp...
March 25th, 2011
3:55 pm
The idea of Coach Johnson ever going to Georgie seriously Erks me…
Too much? Ok I’m leaving anyway…time for the last weekend of Spring Break to officially kick off!
Go Jackets!
Worm
March 25th, 2011
3:57 pm
Sorry, but does Paul EVER take the blame for anything..His act is getting old.
Stinger2
March 25th, 2011
3:59 pm
I am a GT fan since 1952 and always will be regardless of their record and who the coach is. That said, I cannot get too optimistic about 2011. I had rather wait until after each game to formulate my expectations for a final season record. There are too many question marks: will the defense actually be improved, will there be a quarterback who can throw to receivers who can catch the ball or more importantly will the coaching staff be willing to incorporate a reasonable amount of passing in the offensive scheme? These are all unknowns at this time.
I hope all of you who are saying it will be a better season are right. Go Jackets.
JasonGT
March 25th, 2011
4:06 pm
UGASlobbercocker… how do we lose 3 consecutive games to end a season when we won the ACC championship to get to the Orange Bowl??? BTW congrats on being the last SEC champion to not win a National Title, you must be proud
BYRDDAWG
March 25th, 2011
4:12 pm
George , my Dawgs O line isn’t physical enough for us to run it alot! The last time we were able to hammer it away was against you guys 2 yrs ago & by all accounts your D wasn’t that stout! PJ has done what Gailey couldn’t & that was to beat us…..He gives you a fighting chance to win every game if the O is clicking & that’s all you can ask for!
George Stein
March 25th, 2011
4:19 pm
I think UGA needs a new OC, BYRDDAWG. Richt has done too much good there to warrant being fired but new blood would help. Lord knows UGA has equal players to Bama. I believe that there is a complete lack of creativity on offense to compliment a true power running game.
Rock Star from Mars
March 25th, 2011
4:23 pm
One word for Turkey Neck……DEFENSE. Stop somebody, we win probably 4 more games IMO.
George Stein
March 25th, 2011
4:25 pm
Bingo, Rock Star.
It’s Friday afternoon. Shouldn’t you be banging seven gram rocks by now?
Jeff
March 25th, 2011
4:35 pm
Even in our worse year……WE WIN!! GOOOOOO DAWGS 9-1
Mr. Dawg
March 25th, 2011
4:35 pm
The phrase “Brace for impact” generally means something is about to crash and burn. At the very least, the phrase doesn’t mean something good is about to happen.
4-3 Man
March 25th, 2011
4:36 pm
Was not impressed with the 3-4 defense and seven losses.
tyger
March 25th, 2011
4:42 pm
Falcoons Easy Button 1.0 2011
1.27 Justin Houston DE UGA
2.54 Jon Baldwin WR Pitt
3.81 Bruce Carter LB UNC
4.108 Curtis Marsh CB Utah St.
5.135 Ray Webber WR UAPB
6.162 Frank Warren RB Grambling
7.189 Rico Lockette WR FVSU
reebok
March 25th, 2011
4:48 pm
I like Coach Johnson and his system very much, but c’mon…if the team was complacent last year, whose fault was that???
DemJackets
March 25th, 2011
4:52 pm
Nice George,
BI-WINNING!!!!
Come on man
March 25th, 2011
5:15 pm
So gdawginkalamazoo , I’m assuming UGA will be 2-10 because they a re a whole lot worse off, even with the “Dream Team” lol
Gravy Train
March 25th, 2011
5:35 pm
Wow! A whole 70 comments! People really do want to see what Turkey Neck has to say. Too bad he’s not being honest, though. He got the Nerd Herd hyped with quality players he didn’t recruit. They’re gone now, and Captain Fish Fry can’t get more. FSU is waking up again. It’s over for the vaunted Triple Chin attack.
ScoutDawg
March 25th, 2011
5:37 pm
Bull Shiznit.
Come on man
March 25th, 2011
5:43 pm
Ned Herd? That’s it? Come on man. Johnson has done better recruiting than Gailey Gravy Train. Wishful thinking that we will stink. Typical UGA redneck
dawgfan
March 25th, 2011
5:52 pm
Typical Manboobs. Puts it all on his players and takes responsibility for absolutely nothing. The arrogance of this guy is unbelievable.
Speaking of arrogance, only at a joke program like Georgia Tech would players grow complacent after their first All Crap Conference title in 19 years, first major bowl apperance since 1967, and 8th loss to Georgia in 9 years. Sense of entitlement? LMAO. Unbelievabe. Entitled to what? It just goes to show how laughably low the standards of Georgia Tech football truly are.
Georgia Tech football=JOKE.
GT man
March 25th, 2011
5:53 pm
On a positive side, PJ did sign a long snapper, so I guess he plans on punting alot!!!! Hope we have someone that can catch a “fair-catch” punt!!!
gt
March 25th, 2011
6:16 pm
you just cannot convince me that Tevin Washington is the best you got. He looks like a 1-AA QB and ought to be playing for WOfford or somebody.
I mean losing all but one game with him in that position and would have lost to Duke had it not been for Mario Butler on defense. I still cannot get over TW dropping the ball on the two yard line. I am just amazed that the football program sunk that low that fast.
Yes, I pray, CPJ takes a real close look at the incoming class.
you can't fix stupid
March 25th, 2011
6:25 pm
@dawgfan:
Obsess much? It never fails that you reply to EVERY blog about GA Tech with the same idiotic rants. If Georgia Tech football is a joke, then clearly you love reading/writing/obsessing over it. The joke is you dawgfan.
superDawg
March 25th, 2011
6:31 pm
nov.26,2011.NUFF SAID nerds!
GTBob
March 25th, 2011
6:43 pm
How is it arrogance and diverting responsibility when he talks about what was wrong with the team? He isn’t saying that he isn’t to blame, in fact he has said in the past that he is to blame. In your minds is it even possible to talk about actual faults with the team without seeming like you are blaming the players?
College Football Forever
March 25th, 2011
7:10 pm
The Tech alumni will run Paul Johnson off within the next 4 years.
Just mark my words and watch and wait.
Poopdawg
March 25th, 2011
7:33 pm
Johnson isn’t going away soon. But he’s got to utilize the pass play better. His stubbornness is hurting Tech’s offense. I was a little disappointed in the 2nd team qb play but having more reps this year may help. I’m all DAWG but love to watch Tech football since Johnsons taken over. The hatred I had for Tech while in school at Uga is gone except for Uga Tech game day.
gt4ever
March 25th, 2011
9:07 pm
George Stein,
You seem to be a fairly smart guy when it comes to some of your comments…. But for the life of me, I can’t understand how you and others have decided we are OK on offense…. We were less than 50 percent in the red zone. It doesn’t matter how many yards you have between the 20’s if you can’t SCORE…… I mean really, the point is to score more points than the other team….. We couldn’t even score more points than FREAKIN Airforce…. We couldn’t beat a PITIFULL UGA team two years in a ROW….. We can’t recruit anybody worth a DAMN on offense… What part of this offense is OK????
RomeDawg
March 25th, 2011
9:58 pm
I am not sure complacency was the big problem or just lack of talent. Not trying to start a debate but 4 great players to the NFL and your stud qb going down is tough on any team. And maybe it’s not lack of talent but lack of experience. In saying that, I am still not sold on CPJ. I think with him Tech will always be good (8-5 in 2011) but never great. I think his bowl record proves, that when given time to scout it, his offense is not too difficult to stop and he has NEVER had a good defense.
Good luck this year Jackets, see ya at the end!
heeldawg
March 25th, 2011
10:01 pm
Tech’s team last season had a problem more fundamental than complacency. There was, quite simply, a lack of top-drawer talent. This was particularly the case after Josh Nesbitt was injured. There were no reliable receivers, the defense was undersized, and the secondary was mediocre at best. The talent level in the Flats will not change appreciably this season, and that will make a bigger difference than any vague mutterings about motivation, hunger or team chemistry. Although a lack of cohesion and focus can erode the spirit and steal wins from teams with great talent (see Georgia the last three years), all the team chemistry in the world cannot surmount an inherent dearth of talented players.
To CPJ’s credit, if I had his defense (and his offense, particularly when Nesbitt was healthy), I’d go for it on fourth down more, as well.
And if this Georgia season is another bust, I would point to CMR’s gutless call not to go for it on fourth down in the bowl game against Central Florida as the moment when the die was cast on his demise–for that moment demonstrated most clearly the lack of faith Richt had in his own team.
This will be the pivotal season for the next half decade in the Tech-Georgia rivalry. If this year’s Georgia team loses to this Tech team, that would mean that the Dawgs have against grossly underachieved against a far less talented Jackets squad–and it would probably mean the end of CMR’s career at U.Ga. On the other hand, if Georgia rights the ship and comes out of the box smoking, with wins over Boise and South Carolina (or even a win over the Gamecocks and a respectable loss to a talented Boise team), then Richt may well have exorcised the demons of the last few years–and may, by that token, seal CPJ’s fate at Tech. If the Dawgs play up to their talent level, Johnson’s Tech teams will not win against Georgia for the next four or five years, igniting another string of futility that even the most die-hard Jacket fans may not be able to tolerate.
To paraphrase the dear departed Al Ciraldo, I wish toe could meet leather right now!
wreckmaniac
March 25th, 2011
10:10 pm
Great opportunity here. No team anywhere can be any worse than this squad was last year. Every job should be up for grabs. In fact I can’t really think of anyone who should be assured of a spot after last year other than Allen . I would use any word other than “rebuilding” season which is an automatic equivalent of “we don’t plan to do well”
wreckmaniac
March 25th, 2011
10:14 pm
George Stein/BrydDawg: Do you guys normally have problems staying on the agenda ?
wreckmaniac
March 25th, 2011
10:19 pm
dawgfan: Just be pround of the fact that your team and Miss State and Ky and Vandy are the teams that make the Floridas, the Auburns, the Alabamas, the LSUs, and Tennessee the great football schools that they are. Take pride in your team’s annual achievement as providing an interesting practice game for the BCS championship game.
John
March 25th, 2011
10:23 pm
Bottom line…if you can’t stop someone, you can’t win. The defense was porous last year. A coordinator switch showed that coaching wasn’t the main issue, the players were the biggest problem. If the defense doesn’t improve, Tech will once again be just an average ACC team.
Go PJ Go!
March 25th, 2011
10:55 pm
Tell it PJ. Guys just flat out got lazy, to be honest. Nesbitt and Ant Allen can only lead so much if the rest of the team won’t follow. It’s not their fault, nor PJ’s, if the a-back fumbles the ball on what would otherwise be a 30 yard gain or even at TD. It’s not anyone’s fault that the backup QB ain’t as good as the All-ACC player who changed the record books.
2011 will be more like 2009 than 2010. There will be a winning season, a solid bowl AND a win over the PURE EVIL of Cheatersville Dixie, AKA Athens Middleschool, AKA Clarke County Remedial Institute, AKA “University” of Ugag.
Synjyn Days: ACC Freshman of the Year 2011. Go Jackets! Sting ‘Em!!!
Dogpoop
March 25th, 2011
11:04 pm
A Ugag fan making fun of………….ANY program? How can someone who’s a fan of a pseudpo-PRO program with remedial standards make fun of ANYONE? You have borderline retards “toting the rock” (as one of your ‘Tards says on 790) and a load of criminals “leading” the team.” What a joke of a “Skool.” Give the starting 22 at Ugag a 3rd grade reading test and they’d fail.
Mark Richt is a phony recruiting criminals constantly. He can’t coach out of a wet paper bag, and Van Gorder has PROVEN he sucks beyond belief when he can’t bully 19 yr olds. Retards and criminals reside at Ugag. What a joke. Give them the death penalty, Scumbag Doodley earned it in 1980. Stupid trash is as stupid trash does. TO HELL WITH UGAG!
Own the State
March 26th, 2011
12:45 am
Dawgs beat Tech again, easily—mark it down!. UGA wins 10, wins the SEC east. Tech–will be lucky to win 7==another minor bowl somewhere for the bugs.
black bee
March 26th, 2011
1:52 am
What about CPJ using the spread for a few plays? What about CPJ relaxing that CRAZY policy that if a 18 year old commits he can’t take anymore visits? What about CPJ letting his QB and WR work with a passing Coach over the summer. What about CPJ recruit in Texas, Florida and Penn. What about CPJ going to the NFL and explain how the TOS is not an NFL killer?
DawgBone
March 26th, 2011
5:15 am
Tech’s problems that were stated by CPJ were the same problems CMR dealt with at UGA in 2010. Lack of team leadership and players that refused to be led.
A coach can only lead off the field. Players have to lead on the field and both programs lacked that in 2010.
Taking into account the fumbles that both teams had and the timing of those fumbles, without those both teams probably win a couple more games and the season for both schools looks alot better.
Both teams should see alot of improvement in 2011.
As a UGA fan I for one am glad that Tech didn’t go for it more in the Tech vs UGA game in 2010. We couldn’t stop those plays on the corner and seems like each one had at least a 10 yard gain.
Both teams sucked it up in the Bowl game in 2010.
UGA fans are down on CMR for not going for it on 4th down in the bowl game but, as he told his players when they came off the field, you had 3 tries to get a couple of yards, don’t ask for another try.
Good luck to GT in 2011 until the UGA match-up.
stan
March 26th, 2011
7:24 am
lets hope both programs be better this upcoming season. BORN AND BREED GA BOY
GT
March 26th, 2011
8:32 am
CPJ probably has never seen players that don’t care about winning until he came to Atlanta. It is about like the kudzu down here. A huge amount of the players have their own thing going, they are trying to get style points and if they win great but the main thing is to be cool. UGA is eaten up with it but they don’t have the coach to cure it we do. When CPJ talks about players he is preventing problems Georgia has by not calling out players until they wind up in jail. If a player thinks the coach is the ultimate responsible person and not himself isn’t it very easy to lay down and pass responsibility on to the next guy. You have an epidemic in Georgia, I think one of the reasons Cremins earlier basketball teams did so well is he recruited outside of the backyard. I think we are producing the most immature recruits in the country. Why should Johnson have to take the blame for that.
BYRDDAWG
March 26th, 2011
8:50 am
GT, I’ve always thought that the coach like the QB gets too much credit for the wins & loses!!!! It just seems to me( I could be wrong) that PJ wants to take credit for the success but not the failures!!!!Give me your side of that….
Phil
March 26th, 2011
9:02 am
Johnson always blames the players! Being a genius…who have to blame other people for your failures.
History
March 26th, 2011
9:16 am
Since 1967 and including the Bobby Dodd era, GT has replaced their football coach ( due to a firing or him leaving for greener pastures) every 4 years. Dodd, Fulmer, Carson, Rodgers, Ross, Lewis, Curry, OLeary and CPJ and maybe one or two more that I cannot recall ………….since Dooley ran Dodd off in 67.
CPJ is entering his 4th year and so, his comments are worthless. He too will be history, one way or other.
It Ain't Rocket Science
March 26th, 2011
9:25 am
UGA’s problems on defense were that they were trying to break in too many new schemes on defense, in a new defensive system, without the players needed to run that defense. They have some beef now and a year under the new system so they will be improved.
Offensively, they were not imaginative enough when they had the ball, and really built their offense around one player on that side of the ball. No matter how good A.J. Green was, he could not carry the whole team, especially with the rest of the offense watching him and expecting him to do it. Bobo, with his play calling greatly influeced that as well. Their offensive line was not cohesive and could not blow anybody off the line. If they had played to their potential, the running game would have been a bunch better. A vastly under used set of Tight ends also made the offense too predictable. This year will tell whether or not the coaches learned anything from last years demise. UGA has the type of schedule that should give them 10 wins if they play at the level they are capable of. Utilize the personnel they have, and be less predictable, and they will be tough to beat.
GT is actually in a rebuilding year for sure. They need to mature at QB very quickly and have to balance their attack at least a little better if they are going to succeed in their offense. They have the horses at RB to be good in the ACC. On defense, they have to be much more aggressive on the field. They let too many plays come to then, rather than coming to the play. The LB,s seemed to be constantly out of position in most of the plays and left the middle open too often. I think they have the beef on the D line to compete, but their LB,s and secondary are going to have to be more aggressive and hit with some authority. It is a given that they will get out weighed in most of their games so they need to be quicker, more aggressive and play with an attitude. They can’t wait for the offense to make it all happen, anymore than UGA,s defense can.
dawgfan
March 26th, 2011
9:50 am
Typical. Tech fans are not interested in a meaningful debate. They want to run their mouths about all of UGA’s problems (conviently ignoring that their joke program isn’t one of them) and accuse us of cheating while calling all our players hateful names like “thugs” and criminals. In a way, Paul Johnson is the perfect coach for these clowns. Tech fans want all the credit in the world for all their successes but are too big of cowards to deal with their failures like men. They put “45-42″ on rings and then turn around the next year and claim the game doesn’t mean anything when they lose.
The only thing that’s a bigger joke than Georgia Tech football is its fans.
Thanks.
tj
March 26th, 2011
10:06 am
It seems to have always been a defensive problem with Johnson at Southern, Navy and Tech. Hopefully the defense can improve.
GT Dad
March 26th, 2011
10:07 am
dawgfan, here’s my 2 cents. Since this article was about GT, I’ll start there. Last year, they were flat. I went to several games, including the Indy Bowl and they were just flat. I think blame falls on both the coach and players. I agree with some of the posts that we don’t have the caliber of players to be complacent. We have to gel as a team and overachieve to be in most games. However, we have and can.
Our defense was very weak, special teams were horrible, and our offense did not have as much power and grit as the previous two years. As far as comparing to UGA, sure, you guys should clobber us every year – more talent, more fans, more coverage, etc. However, if you are honest, the past several years have been close games. It’s not like you have blown us away in most cases. You have won most of them, but we were in them until the end in most cases. So say what you want about our being a “joke” but that “joke” played toe to toe with you and came close.
I’m proud of my Jackets and truly hope for better results this year. And yes, I do hope our fans support the team better than we normally do.
Paul N Destin
March 26th, 2011
10:34 am
Tech has to find a QB that can throw the ball just a little in order to keep teams honest in their defense. You don’t need a Joe Namath in the Bone but last years QB threw the ball end over end most of the time.
Tony
March 26th, 2011
11:06 am
byrdgawggie
You should look at your own coach before you say Coach Johnson doesn’t take blame Last year the blessed saint blamed his defensive coordinator for their lack of success. This year it was of all things the strength and conditioning coach. He is a great recruiter but can’t seem to win big with all these top ten recruiting classes. With the talent he gets he should win the SEC every year and at least played for a National Champtionship. When is he going to admit he is the problem and can’t coach.
Dirty Jacket
March 26th, 2011
11:37 am
UGA had the same record as GT last year, and they rarely went for it on 4th down. So, I’ll go ahead and say that’s a moot point.
juvenal
March 26th, 2011
11:57 am
i think the coach was right every time they make it on 4th down & wrong every time they don’t……
don sasser
March 26th, 2011
12:29 pm
C’mon guys. Tech is a joke in football because their bulbous baggie adolescent coach with the
1950’s offense is more worried about somebody who committed talking to another team than he is
about winning. He guards his “recruits” like a psychotic boyfried does with his first true relationship and if they dare talk to another team, man, they are gone, gone. You’d think with the academics restrictions of Tech and the archaic offense that he would be delighted with anybody looking at his program despite the fact that they are likely to be a victim of armed robbery on their own f’ing campus that Johnson the douche would handle his recruits with a little more leniency. Until you rid youselves of the flubbery jackoff you guys ain’t going nowhere. Yeah, I’m a UGA grad and believe me when I say I’m sick of out crap too but yours is waaaay more obvious and beating you guys is a hell of a lot more enjoyable when you’re good as I’m sure it is when you guys beat us.
The Grinch
March 26th, 2011
12:42 pm
Complacent? BWAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
I thought Paul Johson was above this. Paul Johnson knew how to coach young men. You’d never see Paul Johnson lead a time with complacent players. That Paul Johnson wouldn’t recruit players who might become complacent. It was his superior coaching ability that would prevent there EVER being complacency in a Paul Johnson team. How could this possibly happen with Paul Johnson at the helm?
It Ain't Rocket Science
March 26th, 2011
1:09 pm
I can’t say why Tech,s defense isn’t as stocked as it needs to be, but I can tell you why his defense at Navy wasn’t. The Naval Academy has strict weight standards and though it has changed somewhat, they are still limited to a large extent, no pun intended. Not much call for a 360 lb. Ensign who has trouble getting out of the rack in the morning and has a size 48 waist. Try staying on a sub, underwater for any length of time if you are overweight.
I also don’t imagine that Southern is a big draw for the big time or big guys in college football. Big, good guys get big offers from big NCAA schools, because they can play big time. The beef on both sides of the line is at a premium almost any year, so the big kids, get their toys of choice.
BYRDDAWG
March 26th, 2011
1:22 pm
Tony, I’m sorry that I stepped on your toes….Here’s what i hear when they interview our two caches before halftime: CMR- WE’VE got to do a better job tackling or WE’VE got to do a better job in the red zone! CPJ- if THEY just do THEIR asignment we’ll score ! This is what I’ve heard….Do you see the difference???
juvenal
March 26th, 2011
2:17 pm
er, byrd-y’all are supposed to have better playas……..
dawgfan
March 26th, 2011
2:35 pm
My favorite Paul Johnson line is when he said some other Joe Schmoe would rush for 1000 yards after Dwyer left. The clear implication being that his offense is so wonderful that anybody can rush for 1000 yards in it. Jonathan Dwyer gave 3 solid years to Tech football and Johnson throws him under the bus in a pathetic display of self-promotion. Then the team goes 6-7 and all the guy wants to talk about his the players’ attitudes. Paul Johnson is all about Paul Johnson. He’d drop Tech like a bad habit if a better job came along, but it never will. He’s a one trick pony and couldn’t hack it in the big time.
Thanks.
BYRDDAWG
March 26th, 2011
2:47 pm
juvie, we do but your point is??? Do you think he does or doesn’t take the blame when things go wrong???
Hairy Dawg
March 26th, 2011
3:26 pm
That tub of slob Johnson don’t coaching well. He got by with talents of recruits and now he don’t get recruits or talents. That why hes goning to losing at pointy head techmite school. Wait till Dream Team NFL talents embareasses pestky bugs this year. Then win show Dawgs running ownership of state for decades with nothing but losing of pestky bug techmites.
U?
March 26th, 2011
4:25 pm
Yes, they were. The dogs will always suck, don’t you know.
U?
March 26th, 2011
4:25 pm
Especially you, stupehairydog
Tony
March 26th, 2011
5:23 pm
bd
You didn’t step on my toes. Many coaches say things as you say reight does. Key phrase is “We’ve.”
In which game did he play to be included in “we’ve.” Sounds like he is blaming the players. Again it is his lack of coaching that has produced the records the last 2 seasons and never has he taken personal blame. ga fans are over these blogs talking about how bad he is. He’s blamed the defensive coordinator, the strength coach and having to deal with paper work as reasons for the drop. He stated that now he can study the game or some statement that indicates he doesn’t know Xs and Os. As one of your most famous all americans stated, “What has he been doing the last 10 years.” But as I said look in your own back yard because you start criticising other programs.
WnE
March 26th, 2011
7:22 pm
I see that Coach Kung Fu Panda is still in DENIAL!
How can GT be complacent when they were embarrassed on Nat’l TV by Iowa in the Orange Bowl to end the previous season?
GT’s problem last season was that the team had a serious lack of TALENT on both sides of the Ball and on STs.
Coach Fish Fry has not Recruited well in his first 3.5 Recruiting Classes and now he wants to throw the players under the bus for HIS FAILURES by conjuring up crappy excuses like complacency or lack of leadership or players not wanting to be lead.
GT still has no WRs that can keep defenses honest, QBs that can throw decently, poor DLs, slow LBs that cannot cover TEs & RBs, slow DBs that are “forced” to give WRs 12-yd cushions for fear of being burned deep, punters that cannot avg. 40-yds., and FG kickers that are shaky on FGs deeper than 45-yds.
All of those issues above don’t have anything to do with complacency, those are issues with TALENT and the blame lies with the HC that Recruited those players, Coach Kung Fu Panda himself.
“Leadership” won’t make a slow LB better in coverage when he has to cover a RB or TE, that is an issue of talent, and CPJ won’t admit that his Recruiting Strategy of beating out Furman, Rice and Service Academies for talent just won’t cut it at this level, even in a crappy BCS-Conf. like the ACC.
At some point GT fans are going to have to admit that the problems with GT FB are directly related to Coach Fish Fry’s crappy Recruiting of “off the radar guys”, and then hoping for a miracle once they enroll at GT.
Hairy Dawg
March 26th, 2011
9:26 pm
The only thing stupid about football’s is you pointy head techmites and you’re dum dum coach that playing high school against SEC talents for NFL. Last year showing you what happens when NFL talents do right thing to leaving Yech early.
hot seat
March 26th, 2011
10:58 pm
one more bad year and tech fans will be ready to run their fat coach out of town. Losing to kansas, one of the worst teams in the country last year—get real. Johnson better win 8-9 games this year or he’s history.
Russ GATA
March 26th, 2011
11:54 pm
Wow two of the most charming and lovable folks in Atlanta together at last.
David
March 27th, 2011
7:59 am
UGA and GT will fire their football coaches after this year.
gt45
March 27th, 2011
9:37 am
We’ll be tabbed as the underdog again, and that always works in our favor. CPJ was obviously frustrated last year. He will staighten all that out this year.
Hairy Dawg
March 27th, 2011
11:19 am
Johnson is justs a dum tub of goo that cant recruiting nothing of SEC talent and speed for NFLs. He trying to tricky with that high schools offense and Dawgs goning make him pays for it. Dawgs recruited Dream Team to come to Athens for ladies and winning to run state. While pestky bugs losers. Dawgs been running ownership of state for years and now Dream Team make us run SEC and nationals champs. We got talent to displays dominants and beating everyones elses teams. The SEC East weak this year and that help Dawgs gain experience before beating West in ATL and then taking BCS.
Hairy Dawg
March 27th, 2011
11:29 am
And another thing I telling you is Gaytors have gone back to Zooking with Flabby boy Wise and the rest of Gaytor chumps now that Urban Oscar Meyer hot dog done nervous breaking down. But we goning get paid back by whooping Visor boy, Dooley boy, and Peturdo midnight escape artist this year to. We exposes pretenders and chumps to gives em good beating down.
Hairy Dawg
March 27th, 2011
11:34 am
We also getting the War Tigers for trying to cheap shot our QB. They pay for that this year between hedges in Gods country of Athens. Evil cheap shots cant get away without Dawgs as avenging angles when time comes to make pay for dirty playing.
CrossedEyedDawg
March 27th, 2011
12:06 pm
We mite not always see eye to eye but don’t put salt in my coffee.
macrotech
March 27th, 2011
1:13 pm
dawgfan….I believe the next guy ran for over 1000 yards. CPJ was right….again!
Hairy Dawg, your posts read like the script from Swampers….are you a Swamper?
O L E A R Y
March 27th, 2011
1:47 pm
Enter your comments here
O L E
March 27th, 2011
1:48 pm
did you read this story, O’Leary denied his players water
“Ereck Plancher may be gone but his story is still alive. Thank goodness, because we are not soon going to forget it.
Plancher died three years ago this month due to complications from sickle cell trait while involved in offseason drills at Central Florida. A former teammate says coach George O’Leary banned water and banished trainers prior to Plancher’s collapse. Based on that information, a Florida judge said the family could go ahead with a punitive damages lawsuit against the school. Florida law typically caps compensation in such wrongful death cases. This means the suit can go forward.
At stake are a lot of reputations. Certainly, the NCAA’s rep is out there again. It was only last year it began recommending that programs test for sickle cell trait. In this case, and the case of several other athletes since the beginning of this century, they were a little late. Central Florida AD Keith Tribble’s future could be impacted. Tribble’s name has come up for the Miami AD vacancy. Tribble, a former Orange Bowl executive director, has extensive ties to South Florida.
I would mention coach George O’Leary but he appears to be coated with Teflon. Not only did Plancher die but another one of his players, Brandon Davis, collapsed nine months later. I asked the coach of a Knights’ recruit if he had been told by Central Florida recruiters what happened to Davis.
Davis was “dehydrated,” the high school coach was told.
“[They] think he was at a late-night party beforehand,” the coach added.
That about sums it up, right? Kid was partying. It was his fault. That’s not enough for the Florida judicial system in the Plancher case.
Stinger2
March 27th, 2011
2:13 pm
I don`t understand how anyone could describe the 2010 GT football team as being complacent. That team was never a good one (losing to a really poor team like Kansas) even before Nesbitt got hurt. You cannot become complacent if you were never good to start with.
waterstim
March 27th, 2011
2:58 pm
Schultz,
Terry Mac, CEO of the Braves just called you, “fiction”. I could have told him that a long time ago.
paul has a small jonson
March 27th, 2011
3:45 pm
4 free cokes + 4 free hot dogs = the joke by coke. Brace for impact hahaha
Bill
March 27th, 2011
3:56 pm
Jeff..CEO McQuirk of Braves just cut you down live on Braves TV…You need to go Jap slap him!
east title
March 27th, 2011
5:27 pm
georgia wins the SEC east title in 2011 with an upset win over south carolina and a blowout over florida, that doesn’t have anything—bank it!
Phil
March 27th, 2011
6:06 pm
Always blame the players! Time for Johnson to go!
Hairy Dawg
March 27th, 2011
6:09 pm
Thats right on East Title but we win in ATL to. Gaytors got nothing and rebuilding like Zook running program. Visor Boy had his one year hit wonder. That why we win East and then unloading whoopingcan on rest of league. You can book it now.
Bobby and Pat Knight
March 27th, 2011
6:18 pm
We will take the GA Tech basketball job since no one else will.
James Franco
March 27th, 2011
6:56 pm
Congratulations, Nerds!
Dawg A
March 27th, 2011
6:58 pm
Fellow Georgia fans…. join me and get off this site! This is a Tech blog today and lets let them have their moment! We are better than these idiots and listening to their stupid statements are beneath us!!! So I am outta here techies enjoy your moment! If you are brave enough to admit you support Coach Turkeyneck you deserve your moment!! I hope you keep him……. that’s at least one win we know we will get every year! See youuuuuuu!
dawg day afternoon
March 27th, 2011
7:02 pm
tech and their 20 fans better brace their cornholes for impact, just like every other time they play the Dawgs.
GT fan - but looking at LSU
March 28th, 2011
8:22 am
Talk’s cheap -I want to see some action, Dammit !