Georgia Tech’s winning shouldn’t be a surprise by now
Georgia Tech, led by Paul Johnson and Roddy Jones, is off to a 5-0 start. (Johnny Crawford/AJC)
Georgia Tech is 5-0 and ranked No. 13 in the nation. We can’t really know what that means yet, other than the obvious, as stated so eloquently by coach Paul Johnson: “We’re better than the five teams we’ve played.”
Western Carolina, Middle Tennessee State, Kansas, North Carolina, North Carolina State.
We’re not talking about the right side of the menu. None were ranked in the AP poll at the time Georgia Tech defeated them. None are ranked now. None can even cling to hope in the “others receiving votes” category.
But to focus on any of that is missing the point about what is going on at Tech. This is Johnson’s fourth season. While it’s true most of his first freshman class in 2008 were recruited by Chan Gailey, the vast majority of the players on this team were brought in by Johnson. These are his guys, brought here for his scheme, schooled in his mindset.
If you’re looking for a reason to feel good about Tech’s future, it makes as much sense — if not more — to look at this year’s team than even Johnson’s first two seasons, when the Jackets were 20-7 and won an ACC championship (later to be stripped) with Gailey’s players. The foundation, the structure, the direction — that’s all Johnson.
Johnson is not the projecting type. He’s not going to speculate how good this team is or can be, other than to say: “I told people I thought we’d be better than everybody said we would be. But I didn’t know how much better, and we still have half a year to go. Trying to pick games is like trying to pick in recruiting. Nobody knows until three or four years how good classes are. So we’ll see how we finish this out.”
Tech wasn’t supposed to be very good this year. But now we look at the schedule and conclude it should beat Maryland on Saturday and Virginia next week. That would bring the Jackets to 7-0. Then come the three games that will decide their fate in the ACC and level of bowl game: at Miami (winnable); Clemson and Virginia Tech (both difficult, but at home). Then comes Duke, then Georgia.
Regardless of how the remaining games fall, the win total should exceed what most projected.
Things like this don’t happen by luck, not in a coach’s fourth season. This isn’t a star-laden group. They’re talented, but young. There’s chemistry. They like each other. But most of all, they’re following Johnson. He has a track record at Tech now for players and recruits to see.
“Most of them know what they signed up for when they came in,” he said. “So now it’s not about trying to transition. I’m not trying to talk them into everything when everybody was telling them it won’t work. That’s the biggest thing we fight here: [Perceptions that] it won’t work, you can’t do this, you can’t go to the NFL. Like I said when I got here, once you’re here, everything will take care of itself.
“The other thing about the fourth year is, they know, this is the way it is. It’s no big deal when you have to run at 6 a.m. for not going to class. It’s no big deal when you have to practice in pads twice a week. Nothing’s a surprise.”
Johnson wasn’t in a good mood this week. He didn’t like the way the team played at North Carolina State, he’s bothered by a cold and, well, he can just be a moody guy. When the rankings came out and the Jackets jumped from 21st to 13th, he hardly blinked, and he made certain his players didn’t blink.
“They know every day from the way I coach them that they haven’t arrived,” he said. “I’m on their butt all the time.”
By Year 4, it’s not a surprise. Maybe the winning shouldn’t be, either.
By Jeff Schultz
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318 comments Add your comment
Footbalfan
October 7th, 2011
2:46 pm
NiquePhotog – every game you have matched up, the team UGA played would win. When NC played Tech, NC was 25, because they had beaten James Madison, Rutgers and Virginia. Tech was 24, because they had beaten Western Carolina, Middle Tennessee, and Kansas. Tech is 13, because they have an additional win over NC State. The next two weeks they play two powerhouses, Maryland and Virginia. Now that is something to brag about. What a joke! Most SEC teams, including UGA, would be undefeated with that schedule. None of the teams Tech has played so far could beat either Ole Miss or Miss State. Most couldn’t beat Coastal Carolina.
Footbalfan
October 7th, 2011
2:48 pm
I love lamp
GT Dad
October 7th, 2011
2:48 pm
I tend to agree with GTRay, I’ve been pleasantly surprised so far this season, but don’t really think we are the 13th best in the country right now. If/when we lose, we will drop like a lead balloon.
That’s not to say we haven’t made HUGE strides from last year (yes, I was even at the Indy Bowl!). This year our guys seem to have passion and a “fire”. But they have a long way to go. For tomorrow’s game, we need to start strong and stay strong and not lose one that we are expected to win. (Please don’t let off the gas like last week.)
Go Jackets!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Footbalfan
October 7th, 2011
2:50 pm
I LOVE LAMP!!!!
duroniomo
October 7th, 2011
2:50 pm
I’m a UGA fan but the fact is that Johnson has been a good coach everywhere he’s been. What’s going on at Tech is not surprise. It may be a young team without stars by who want’s to play them? His offense rises and falls on whether or not they put the ball on the ground. When the play pretty much mistake free, they can beat anyone. The beauty of the offense is that they score quickly on poor teams and with time consuming drives on good teams. For a college football offense, it has all the bases covered. Playing mistake free is the key.
dawggone
October 7th, 2011
2:51 pm
ALL these jawga uneducated idiots come on the TECH blog talking smack about our schedule when your in the so called tough conference in the universe and you get by without having to play bama, LSU,ARK, yea I’ll give you Boise but Gamecocks weren’t who we thought they were and you got Vandy, kentucky, ole miss, miss state. Don’t tell me about your freaking hard schedule cause if you ask me it’s worse than the jackets and really unfair to all the other sec teams that have to man up and play the big boys in the sec.That’s all.
gdawginkalamazoo
October 7th, 2011
2:52 pm
Tennesee, 6.3 millions residents, 3 last names.
duroniomo
October 7th, 2011
2:52 pm
I love lamp too. No know difference between possessive use of words. I sometimes get their, they’re, there mixed up also. Maybe Richt’s tutors will lend me some help?
UGA JOE
October 7th, 2011
2:53 pm
I’s likes it when the cow goes moo.
JB
October 7th, 2011
2:53 pm
Regular on here and Dawg fan. I think Tech has a good team but will still struggle against a very athletic team,,,as duh anyone one would. There is very little doubt Johnson is a good coach with a different system, but will not win a NC title with it, due to not enough athletes to shut down a great team with their defense. Imagine Tech’s D trying to stop Oklahoma. Paul will win 8-10 games a year in the ACC .If he had a D like Bama or LSU, he would be unbeatable.
Omnipotent One
October 7th, 2011
2:57 pm
GT > Boise > UNC > USCe > UGA > Miss St > NC St > Kansas > Ole Miss
NiquePhotog
October 7th, 2011
2:59 pm
Footbalfan,
First, learn to spell footbalL.
Second, why are you so ignorant? Don’t put words in my mouth. I was comparing our season schedules, not the games we’ve played so far. I admitted than we haven’t played many good teams yet, besides UNC.
Kansas has beaten McNeese St. and Northern Illinois. Ole Miss has beaten Southern Illinois and Fresno State. Same GD thing.
Miss St. has beaten Memphis and squeaked by Louisiana Tech. NC State has beaten Liberty State and South Alabama. Same GD thing.
Need I continue?
I do concede that Boise would probably beat Clemson, but it’d be a HELLUVA lot closer than the UGA Boise game.
GTFan
October 7th, 2011
3:01 pm
It’s pretty sad when UGA focuses on our season, rather then their own!!!!
GT/FL football fan
October 7th, 2011
3:02 pm
Don’t be to delusional Omnipotent one We’re good, but not better than Boise st, and we have several tough games up ahead.
GTFan
October 7th, 2011
3:04 pm
LET THE BIG DAWG EAT!
October 7th, 2011
2:20 pm
You are absolutely right! With the “HIGH SCHOOL” teams they are playing they should be winning.The ALMOST COMPETITIVE CONFERENCE is a joke!
Please, the SEC is a joke!!!!! There’s only a few schools that are good in the SEC, the rest suck!!
Mark K.
October 7th, 2011
3:08 pm
Of course it’s not a surprise. Dude’s numbers are sick!!
http://coachesbythenumbers.com/coach-profile/?coach=Paul+Johnson
Jeff Schultz
October 7th, 2011
3:10 pm
Johnny Destructo — Are you looking to get banned? Because I can make that happen. I’ll give you one more chance, just to show you I’m a nice guy.
Nativebird
October 7th, 2011
3:10 pm
My Jackets will always be good when our opponent has one week to prepare. I guess when you’re described as a word that sounds like “Rick” but starts with P, going 8 and 3 and gettng blown out every bowl season will keep your job at least for a few full recruiting classes. But eventually, any program that wants to break out of betther-than-sucking mediocrity will have to move on.
NiquePhotog
October 7th, 2011
3:11 pm
Let’s Check the sagarin ratings…
Western Carolina #198 = Coastal Carolina #146
MTSU #119 = New Mexico State #148
Kansas #71 = Ole Miss #77
NC State #72 = Miss State #54
Maryland #64 = Kentucky #91
Duke #86 = Vandy #59
UNC #26 = USC #23
Virginia #74 = Tenn #30
Miami #46 = Auburn #17
Clemson #9 = Boise #5
VT #16 = Florida #11
Pretty freaking close if you ask me. Should have switched Duke and Maryland though. Both Miami and Auburn are highly inconsistent.
Jeff Schultz
October 7th, 2011
3:16 pm
DentalDawg — One more like that, you’re also out.
Burdell
October 7th, 2011
3:17 pm
Get ‘em Schultzie!!!
BobDog
October 7th, 2011
3:19 pm
I thought Paul Johnson was a good hire for Tech from the beginning. He’s turning out to be the class act I expected him to be. Tech will never consistently recruit 4 and 5 star athletes, but Johnson will have an eye for the kind of athletes he needs for his system and meld them into solid teams year in and year out. It’s worked everywhere he’s been and will keep working at Tech.
Good luck to y’all until Thanksgiving Saturday.
Unbiased Observer
October 7th, 2011
3:19 pm
@NiquePhotog
Tech Opponents Average Rank = 71
UGA Opponents Average Rank = 61
Close, but neither is impressive. You aren’t arguing over which is best, but which is worst.
Burdell
October 7th, 2011
3:19 pm
We had football Friday at work today…e’one got to wear their favorite team’s regalia.
Managers and Scientists — mostly Tech gear..a few Clemson…a few VT..
Technicians and admin assistants — UGA
GO JACKETS!!!
Unbiased Observer
October 7th, 2011
3:21 pm
Huh? Didn’t know Burger King employed Scientists.
NiquePhotog
October 7th, 2011
3:23 pm
Unbiased,
Agreed. I was just disproving the myth that just being in the SEC automatically makes a schedule harder. I guess when your team is as bad as UGA’s, you gotta jump on the SEC bandwagon to make yourself feel relevant.
bamaguy
October 7th, 2011
3:26 pm
This is all just banter and opinion for now. We will see how good GT is when they play Clemson, the team that smacked the SEC/National defending champion around. You beat Clemson, I jump on the GT bandwagon.
JM
October 7th, 2011
3:30 pm
I thought UNC was 3-0 and ranked when they played in Atlanta?
GTBob
October 7th, 2011
3:34 pm
Tech’s season will be defined in the VT and Clemson games. Until then just enjoy the ride.
OkieDawg
October 7th, 2011
3:36 pm
Tech is 5-0 and ranked #13. You would think someone would buy tickets so that pop-up add that shows up every time I go to AJC sports would go away. They are practically giving away tixs and no one wants them. Come on Techies, support your team.
UGA JOE
October 7th, 2011
3:36 pm
FARM ANIMALS SCREAM MOOOOOO.
GT Jeff
October 7th, 2011
3:38 pm
BobDog = Classy Dog!
UGAJOE = Classless Dog!
Nice article. I personally feel GT is ranked too high. The offence is potent, the defense scares me at times. CPJ has to be one of the best in the business. He does take 1-3 star players and builds them into men. I also think that his offense could win a NC. The numbers speak for themselves.
Boca Baby
October 7th, 2011
3:40 pm
1-10 Nothing more needs to be said.
PerimeterCenterJacket
October 7th, 2011
3:44 pm
Arguing about it is pointless, but the fact is in the first 2 games we said that we wouldn’t know about this team until Kansas. After Kansas we said, ok, next we have to be on par with the mid-level ACC teams. We’re seeing some early success there with UNC and NC State. We’re not out of that part yet. We have to beat Maryland, Virginia and Miami before we get through that mid-level portion of the slate. We STILL will not know anything until we play Clemson and VT. After those two games we’ll know if we can beat Georgia. Basically, going 8-0 wouldn’t mean anything more than we’ve achieved “good-by-ACC-standards” but going 9-0 would tell us we’ve achieved the status of “something special.” Only then will I expect greatness out of this Tech team.
The offense needs to get back on track, and the defense (without Drummond or Attaochu) needs to continue learning to tighten up against stiffer competition.
Omnipotent One
October 7th, 2011
3:49 pm
GT Jeff – CPJ has NEVER taken a 1-star player at GT….most of our recruits are in the 3-star to 4-star range…a few 2-stars are taken if they perform well at our camps.
Omnipotent One
October 7th, 2011
3:51 pm
Perimeter, UGA is in line with UNC and NC St and Miami….they are all mediocre mid-level teams. Our worries aren’t with UGA….they are with Clemson and Va Tech.
Evansdawg
October 7th, 2011
3:52 pm
ACC – Atlantic Conference of Cupcakes.
AP
October 7th, 2011
3:56 pm
Johnson better not do too well or a bigger time program will begin sniffing around the flats.
GT Jeff
October 7th, 2011
3:57 pm
Omnipotent One – I agree, my point was that CPJ and take players and mold them into what he need of them. I was sad when O’leary left. I am happy that everyone thinks that the option is a high school offense. Just don’t come calling on our coach.
Evansdawg – that was a good one. do you know any original insults or can you only repeat things that you have heard? Kudos for remembering it though.
Steve
October 7th, 2011
3:57 pm
Evansdawg
Since your team plays in the SECLeast, maybe you should start arguing conference affiliation with the MAC. I don’t think the real SEC (you know, the SECWest) wants anything to do with you apart from having a punching bag in Atlanta the first weekend in December.
PerimeterCenterJacket
October 7th, 2011
3:59 pm
Omnipotent One, I wouldn’t dare speculate on a late-season out-of-conference game until we’ve beaten some quality opponents in our own conference. UNC might find the rankings again at some point, because that’s a decent football team. My goal is to see Tech do well at the end of the season, and right now I’m optimistic only with a great deal of caution. 5-0 is good. It means we have some firepower in the offense. But that’s really still all we can know for now. 13th in the country? I think that’s a whole lot of good faith put into us by the media. We can only earn it with big margins of victory over our mid-level conference opponents until we get the chance to host Clemson and VT. Style points are our friend against weak competition if respect is what we want.
BobbyDodd21/20
October 7th, 2011
4:01 pm
One thing I like is the low ball & misdirection of the backfield, tuff for linebackers & db’s to commit in a particular direction…and Simms guy, pls. no more drops…focus….we win….
AP
October 7th, 2011
4:01 pm
Also, one or two big time games a year, what the ACC provides, may not be enough to stroke the ego Johnson has and is developing due to his short term success. Sorry, but the truth is, week in and week out the ACC does not provide the intrigue the rest of the nation does. Johnson realizes this and could bolt for a school that fills its stadium for conference games every Saturday.
Dawg '88
October 7th, 2011
4:09 pm
you’re right…it should be no surprise what Yech has done with one of the weakest schedules in history. When they play someone, then lets talk. Otherwise, that terrible defense that is giving up a record amount of points demonstrates that its not a good team….its a team with a good offense.
Where’s the D?
PerimeterCenterJacket
October 7th, 2011
4:10 pm
AP, trust me, Tech fans (and the GTAA) are well aware of how disinterested Atlantans are to watch games against ACC competition not named FSU, Clemson, or VT. There’s just so little passion for the fans (and really no bragging rights to be gained if we win) in playing Wake, BC, Miami, NCSU, UVA, Maryland, etc. The fans want to see us play SEC games, but CPJ wants the schedule to be identical to this season’s. It is what it is. Tech’s only chance at drawing fans is not to rely on big rivalries (we left all of ours in the SEC) but to ourselves be an exciting team to watch (kinda like why people tune in to see Oregon.) We’re doing it so far. Early season indications are that our offense is highlight-reel fuel. The late-season slate against CU, VT, and Georgia will fill the stadium, though. Our fans do like those particular matchups.
Delbert D.
October 7th, 2011
4:15 pm
@1:29 “Until they start playing at least other BCS eligeable non-conference teams during the year”
Georgia Tech – Kansas
Georgia – ?
The Mountain West is not a BCS automatic qualifier conference.
Delbert D.
October 7th, 2011
4:19 pm
@Boca Baby – Why 10? Is that arbitrary, or is the number of seasons that Mark Richt has completed at Georgia?
GTFan
October 7th, 2011
4:19 pm
OkieDawg
October 7th, 2011
3:36 pm
Tech is 5-0 and ranked #13. You would think someone would buy tickets so that pop-up add that shows up every time I go to AJC sports would go away. They are practically giving away tixs and no one wants them. Come on Techies, support your team.
You want to talk about supporting your team? How about you use your own advice. There was plenty of empty seats when UGA was losing to Boise, and South Carolina. Heck, even the announcers were making comments on it. I am pretty sure UGA is not selling out seats, even though that’s what you wanna believe.
bamaguy
October 7th, 2011
4:20 pm
How about this. All the UGA fans are saying “we win out and we win the SEC east and play for the Championship”. Maybe the GT fans should be saying “We win out and we will play Alabama/LSU for the National Championship!”
Delbert D.
October 7th, 2011
4:22 pm
Dawg ‘88 – Georgia’s schedule is ideal for winning the SEC East. Unfortunately, it was misplayed such that South Carolina has to lose another SEC game.