Paul Johnson will defend Tech’s offense, but not defense
Al Groh must know: Whatever he's doing, Paul Johnson is watching. (Johnny Crawford)
There are at least two things Paul Johnson has committed to memory. One is his offense. The other is his counterattack for anybody who questions his offense.
It’s like the other day, when I mentioned to Johnson that his team needed significant improvement on defense and his run-run-run-run-run-oh-look-it’s-third-down-run-run offense needed some semblance of a passing threat for Georgia Tech to move up to the next level. (I never claimed either observation was a stunning revelation). Johnson’s response was expected: both amusing and unrelenting.
“Well, the second part I’m not so sure of,” he said. “We beat Clemson last year, and they were ranked fifth, and we didn’t throw the ball. We beat Georgia in my first year throwing for 19 yards. Would it help if the other team has everybody committed to the run and we could throw it over their heads? Sure. But we’re not going to throw it 30 times a game. And we’ve won national championships [at Georgia Southern] without throwing the ball at another level [I-AA]. And didn’t Alabama win a national championship throwing for 58 yards?”
OK! Stop! I surrender!
(Not really. I’m convinced some opponents are starting to catch up with Johnson’s option offense. And while that doesn’t necessarily differentiate it from any other offense that has obvious tendencies, the Jackets would benefit with something outlandish like the threat of a completed pass to keep defenses honest. That said, I’m willing to explore our common ground for the sake of this column. …)
Johnson’s position is accurate in this sense: The biggest thing that has stopped Tech from ascending isn’t the Yellow Jackets’ lack of a passing game. It’s defense. In Johnson’s four seasons, the Jackets have finished (chronologically) 25th, 54th, 64th and 44th in total defense; and 24th, 68th, 78th and 66th in rushing defense; and 28th, 56th, 57th and 60th in scoring defense; and 57th, 82nd, 52nd and 83rd in third-down defense; and 18th, 72nd 101st and 77th in sacks; and 13th, 93rd, 108th and 94th in tackles for loss.
In the final four games of 2012, Tech allowed 37, 31, 31 and 30 points. (The only win in that span: 38-31 over Duke, which was driving until an interception with two minutes left.)
Feh.
“To have a championship-caliber team, we have to play better on defense,” Johnson said. “And we can also be better offensively, no question. … When you play a good team, you’re not going to score every time you have the ball. At times I think [people] act like we’re going to score every time. Sometimes you have to shut the other team down.”
Johnson wasn’t throwing defensive coordinator Al Groh under the bus. But, yes — he is driving the bus.
Johnson already has fired one defensive coordinator (Dave Wommack after 2009.) He never considered firing Groh after last season, saying, “I have confidence in him.”
Groh ran defenses with the New York Giants and New England Patriots. He should be good enough for the ACC Coastal, but he hasn’t made an impact yet. Blame Tech’s shortage of talent or a slow transition to the 3-4, but ultimately Groh is the one who will be judged.
Tech blew a 24-10 lead to Utah in the last seven minutes of the Sun Bowl and lost 30-27 in overtime. Johnson’s offense had four consecutive punts after a third-quarter touchdown and missed three field goals. But the loss was more about a defensive collapse.
“We gave up two fourth-down touchdowns,” Johnson said. The second: a 28-yard touchdown on fourth-and-14 to send the game into overtime.
Maybe the most implausible stat of all was that Tech’s defense allowed 16 of 24 fourth-down conversions last season, which ranked 111th nationally.
The Jackets’ should be solid in the secondary. But the key to most defenses is up front (where they’ve been thin), and in a 3-4 it’s in the middle at nose tackle (T.J. Barnes).
We’ll learn pretty quickly whether this group has improved. The opener is at Virginia Tech. Johnson said, based on practices, he believes Tech will be better, but quickly added, “I don’t know if that’s worth a flip. That’s why we play the games.”
It’s Year 3 for Groh. The games need to look better.
By Jeff Schultz
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167 comments Add your comment
flagboy?
August 28th, 2012
10:12 pm
Johnson had Groh on campus before Wommack was let go. . . say what you want, but that’s low down.
GTBob
August 28th, 2012
10:31 pm
So what exactly does your defense practice and/or scrimmage against?
Do you really not know how scout teams work in college football?
Paul in NH
August 28th, 2012
10:33 pm
dawgfan
August 28th, 2012
6:07 pm
I’m sure we found someone better than a 5′ 10′, 170 lb. true freshmen if I had to guess.
———-
I think the translation of this post is “I don’t know – I am just making *@#! up”.
One thing you can ALWAYS rely on about UGA homers is how thehy make stuff up – including making stuff up about UGA.
BobbyDodd21/20
August 28th, 2012
11:12 pm
Thank God football is back, …stop VT quarterback and win, otherwise…lose…Go Jackets
Not Disappointed!
August 28th, 2012
11:19 pm
Play the games and we will see!
Not Disappointed!
August 28th, 2012
11:19 pm
Go Jackets!!
5150 UOAD
August 28th, 2012
11:24 pm
I guess the NEW AJC isn’t going to have new login policies.
Well there goes the hope to stop the name stealing.
macrotech
August 29th, 2012
12:05 am
Well, I see the typical malcontent, dawgfan is making it up as he goes…..such an odd bark comin’ from that pup! Walk in your shoes?! Not much for stilettos…we’ll leave those up to you! If you’re referring to playing in the sec….been there done that….got the trophies to prove it! Thank YOU for playing!
The Truth
August 29th, 2012
12:46 am
This may surprise the dwag fans that post on these threads, but we really don’t care what you think.
Tech’s defense will never be able to stop anyone until Al Groh and the insane 3-4 is sent packing. GT doesn’t have the weak academic standards of uga and Alabama and cannot sign the dumb as rocks, 400 pound guys, that the 3-4 needs in the middle.
yeller bug
August 29th, 2012
12:55 am
@The Truth: Well we’re expanding our recruiting to the far East. We got an NT from Australia and we all know Asians are smart so we hope to start bringing in Sumo wrestlers with 4 years eligibility in the 2014 class for nose tackle.
Paddy
August 29th, 2012
2:35 am
dawgfan…….you sort of embarrassed yourself on this topic. Come back strong tomorrow!
Go Dawgs.
Gt fan
August 29th, 2012
2:56 am
George Stein … nice comment (2nd overall comment on this blog).
———————————
Maybe the most implausible stat of all was that Tech’s defense allowed 16 of 24 fourth-down conversions last season, which ranked 111th nationally…… Jeff Shultz, 8/28/2012
———————————–
Stein, again, nice question to JS about what evidence he has to why O’s have “caught-up” to GT’s O!
He then responds to you saying “common opponents” last season and lists MARYLAND! Last season was THE FIRST TIME GT HAS PLAYED MARYLAND UNDER PJ!
Shultz, read your article again! 16 out of 24 on 4th downs is what GT’s D gave up last season (111th ranking). That’s definitely NOT the opponent’s D “catching-up” to GT’s O!
Wow, 16 out of 24, and GT still won 8 games.
Ben
August 29th, 2012
6:59 am
I never got the Groh hire. Looking back at his record at UVA and in the NFL, I just don’t see his supposed defensive prowess in the stats. Average defenses most of the time, yet he’s got this rep somehow.
sharecropper
August 29th, 2012
8:16 am
Please tell us how you conclude that Johnson’s option offense is being solved by opponents? The fact is that an option offense, any option, wishbone or spread, is not “solved”. Properly executed, it will always, without fail, outnumber the defenders on the run side. Nothing they can do will “solve” that, so let’s not be silly. Pass more? Probably, yes. But “solved”? Get real and learn something about the offense you’re writing about.
How long does it take?
August 29th, 2012
8:19 am
I never got the Groh hire either, he has an awful record against Virginia Tech.
Under Dave Wommack, the Jackets were 9-4 and 11-3, with Al Groh 6-7 and 8-5.
Wommack is now the DC at Ole Miss.
GT fan for life
August 29th, 2012
8:23 am
hiring this arrogant mountain man with his high school option junk was a huge mistake,now when they wise up and fire him we will be set back for years because of recruits that were brought in for this junk
GT fan for life
August 29th, 2012
8:23 am
hiring this arrogant mountain man with his high school option junk was a huge mistake,now when they wise up and fire him we will be set back for years because of recruits that were brought in for this junk
option this
August 29th, 2012
8:31 am
Georgia Tech’s offense averaged 34.3 points and 458.8 yards per game,
“more” than any other ACC team last season.
What was solved by the opposing defenses facing GT ?
gt4ever
August 29th, 2012
8:45 am
For all you wannabes…. Al Groh is a fantastic coach. His resume says it all… I mean, he can’t make the plays on the field, but he is the RIGHT man to try and put players in the right place to be successful. The talent level will dictate how many games we win or lose. Period.
gt4ever
August 29th, 2012
8:49 am
@option this
Everyone knows that I hate this offensive system… But hey, the offensive stats are generated by the competition we play. In my opinion our competition was less than stellar. Clemson and UGA were probably the best two teams we played last year, and both are AVERAGE at best… So enough with the average points and yards per game. It makes me so frustrated that intelligent people can’t see right through those bogus numbers…
gt4ever
August 29th, 2012
8:53 am
The bottom line is that we LOSE against good teams. Heck, we would have lost against Duke last year had it not been for a last minute interception, IN OUR END ZONE… Good Grief people. WAKEUP!
ramblingbuzz
August 29th, 2012
9:02 am
Luv the Jackets but I am not sold on CPJ’s TO offense. If he is truly the offensive genius some people say, he would find a way to adjust his offense depending on opposing defenses. I haven’t really seen him do that when the TO is not working. To expect college kids to perfectly execute each TO play is a little far fetched. Yeah I know about the superior talent on some other teams, but the best coaches find a way to equalize that talent.
As far as our defense, well the stats tell the story. And some of the defensive stats were accumulated against some pretty bad teams.
bryce
August 29th, 2012
9:11 am
The defense plays the corners to tight. It is easier to come up and make plays on the ball than watch the receiver running behind you. Tech doesn’t have the athlete’s to play in a 3-4, it is to easy to block–we need the extra down lineman to clog the middle and free up the linebackers.
VT is going to run their QB straight up the middle for 1st downs every time they have short yardage.
Rooty Tooty
August 29th, 2012
9:21 am
You nuckleheads can give your opinions as to what is what, BUT defense wins games and championships. The O can’t score everytime they get the ball. The last 2-3 years, Techs D couldn’t stop a snowball in hell. Improve the D and you WILL see those 10-3 and 11-2 seasons you are looking for.each year.
Samiche
August 29th, 2012
9:28 am
“The fact he cant get along or do interviews with the Radio Station that is the ” Home of Yellow Jacket Football ” tells you how much of an arrogant jerk the guy is.”
680 should be renamed SEC HOMER-VILLE
Mike Bell 790
August 29th, 2012
9:30 am
FIRST!!!!!
Rufus
August 29th, 2012
9:39 am
Can we clone Bobby Dodd? He at least fielded a respectable defense.
UGA = Yawn
August 29th, 2012
9:40 am
He mentions Clemson last year and UGA from a few years ago. That it? The UGA reference is so old – it doesn’t count. We lost 4 of the last 5 last year right? Talk about that coach! And yes, we need to pass and pass more. I am hoping the VT game plan IS to pass 30 times. That will be the only chance we have – the element of surprise. Their defense is too good to have all summer to prep for our run game. No chance in that game unless our game plan is totally different and a surprise.
UGA = Yawn
August 29th, 2012
9:42 am
option this – how many of the last 5 or 6 games, last year, did we win? I think that answers your question.
UGA = Yawn
August 29th, 2012
9:45 am
GSUStud – your Clemson reference doesn’t float.
UGA = Yawn
August 29th, 2012
9:45 am
GSUStud – your Clemson reference doesn’t float.
juvenal
August 29th, 2012
10:09 am
Groh has had enough time to show some improvement….special teams & turnovers can put you behind, this O will only be able to throw when it has to if they go shotgun or something else formation wise, this has been shown in several big games…
Tech Engineer
August 29th, 2012
10:18 am
If Al Groh had talent like Chan Gailey was bringing in, the defense would be awesome.
Gailey’s recruits are playing on Sunday.
WnE
August 29th, 2012
10:20 am
“Well, the second part I’m not so sure of,” he said. “We beat Clemson last year, and they were ranked fifth, and we didn’t throw the ball. We beat Georgia in my first year throwing for 19 yards. Would it help if the other team has everybody committed to the run and we could throw it over their heads? Sure. But we’re not going to throw it 30 times a game.
_______________
I wonder did CPJ tell Vad Lee that he wasn’t going to throw it 30 times per game BEFORE he Recruited him.
On Vad Lee’s old twitter account Lee was under the impression that CPJ was going to change the Offense FOR HIM and would throw the ball 25-30 times per game “in the future”.
Now we know why 6-4 205lb McCrary out of Cedar Grove chose Vandy over GT to play QB, now we know why 6-2 205lb Jennings out of Marietta chose L$U over GT to play QB.
If CPJ isn’t going to change his “system” at all, then he’ll NEVER RECRUIT DECENT pass-first QBs.
At the higher levels of CFB efficient QB play is one of the main factors that lead to a successful team.
Where CPJ came from (D1-AA, Service Academy), you can water down the schedule and then de-emphasize your QB and still win, at the BCS level this will not work.
CPJ is lucky GT’s plays crappy OOC schedules and plays in the crappy ACC.
CPJ de-emphasizing passing and QB play will hurt GT when we have to play big time BCS level teams.
CPJ has a small potatoes mentality and is slowly turning GT FB into a small potatoes FB program, we are now considered to be the “4th Service Academy” by some announcers that do GT games on TV, when Recruits hear that it hurts GT FB greatly.
CPJ is the reason that GT FB cannot Recruit better players.
dtanner
August 29th, 2012
10:37 am
CPJ just seems to be an arrogant obnoxious ass, very unlikable guy,and jeff agree with the person in the vent this morn. said need to remove full size pic of you ASAP,you are just to damn ugly
juvenal
August 29th, 2012
10:37 am
anybody remember chan’s graduation rate cost us schollies? the service academies are the only other D1s where the players take real math…uh-oh, now i’m being redundant, too…
Highly Respected Southern Troll
August 29th, 2012
10:42 am
As brilliant as it has looked at times during his tenure, Johnson’s offense has also cost Tech some games. Remember the Orange Bowl against Iowa? Miami, Virginia, and Georgia last year? One of the UGA fans earlier made a comment that was spot-on about the Tech offense late in games. When the Jackets need a score in the last three minutes to win or tie a game, forget it! Let’s see…Georgia in 2009 and 2010, Virginia Tech, Kansas, and Air Force in 2010. And Johnson’s play-calling is also erratic at times during tight games.
The defense is just mediocre at best. I guess you fellows realize that Groh needs to go. Bless his heart, Wommack at least knew how to make adjustments at halftime to keep the Jackets in games.
909
August 29th, 2012
10:49 am
Let me print this article and put it to more valuable use……lining the pet cage.
WnE
August 29th, 2012
10:50 am
re:
juvenal
August 29th, 2012
10:37 am
anybody remember chan’s graduation rate cost us schollies? the service academies are the only other D1s where the players take real math…uh-oh, now i’m being redundant, too…
______________
Chan was the HC when the issues took place, but the Academic Support Staff that worked in the GTAA failed to do their jobs properly.
Yet another instance where history is being re-written to make the previous guy look worse than he really was (he did deserve to get fired), in order to make CPJ seem he is better than he really is.
USMC
August 29th, 2012
11:13 am
“It’s like the other day, when I mentioned to Johnson that his team needed significant improvement on defense and his run-run-run-run-run-oh-look-it’s-third-down-run-run offense needed some semblance of a passing threat for Georgia Tech to move up to the next level.”–JEFF SCHULTZ
This is a sure sign of the times.
A “narcissistic writer”(redundant) for a newspaper is giving College Football Head Coach Paul Johnson ADVISE on what he needs to do to be successful in football.
Are you friggin kidding me? LOL
I am a UGA fan but have the utmost respect for GT(except that one day a year) & Paul Johnson as a coach, teacher, and leader.
To think that little putsy Jeff Schultz from Hollywood, CA is going to come in and TELL CPJ what he needs to do is disgusting. (you’re not the only one Jeff. your comment just flew off the page and hit me as ironic)
The arrogance is amazing!
Go Dawgs!
GTBob
August 29th, 2012
11:31 am
On Vad Lee’s old twitter account Lee was under the impression that CPJ was going to change the Offense FOR HIM and would throw the ball 25-30 times per game “in the future”.
Well normally I wouldn’t believe you but if there is one thing you know for certain, its whats going on on Vad Lee’s twitter account. Do you still stalk him and harass him today?
juvenal
August 29th, 2012
11:43 am
wne, all of CPJ’s recruits are making grades-because we have better tutors? now run over to Ken’s & help headley out…(standards stricter, now, too-like i said yesterday, give drad some grief, too, he’s AD)
Mike S.
August 29th, 2012
12:11 pm
Jeff, Johnson is never going to admit he needs to change his offense. Fact is, you are right. Teams have caught on to it. They aren’t necessarily keeping Tech from putting up good rushing numbers, but they are keeping them off the scoreboard. The only reason the heat isnt on Johnson is because they play in the ACC where defense isnt exactly a calling card. Johnson’s offense will put up good season numbers in any league like that. However, the offense was erratic at best against Virgina, Va Tech, Miami, and Georgia last year…arguably the most athletic and tough defenses they faced.
Johnson is also right in that the defense needs to improve, but I dont think he’s off the hook on that either. How do you prepare properly for these teams when Tech’s best offensive athletes are practicing the option? No one else runs it on their schedule. Who do these guys scrimmage against that will prepare them properly for Aaron Murray, Va Tech, or anyone else? These other teams are practicing against their first team offenses. I suppose you could argue the 3-4 isnt a good fit for Tech as well, but I think its a combination of the two.
dwagdawg
August 29th, 2012
12:11 pm
GT Lee
August 28th, 2012
10:58 am
dawgfan
August 23rd, 2012
10:22 am
“ I probably won’t even watch the Buffalo game. I’ll be on the golf course.”
___________________________________________
Hey Carl Spackler, let me help you out with that gopher problem. Make a clay bunny rabbit, put 2 or 3 sticks of dynamite in its rear-end (you should REALLY enjoy that) and drop it it down the gopher’s hole. You might be able to make it back home in time for for the second half.
Thanks
_______________________________________________________________
So you have any luck with pesky gopher yet dawgfan?
Old Dawg
August 29th, 2012
2:16 pm
Paul Johnson’s teams at Georgia Southern had success throwing the football. It’s a case (duh) of having an option QB who can actually throw the rock. Johnson hasn’t had a QB like that at Tech, and I don’t see that changing in the near future.
Tech’s talent level isn’t on par with the other teams it faces, including UGA’s, so I don’t predict it to have a lot of success this year against better teams. Size, strength and speed kills, especially in D-1.
Tech has none of the above.
todd
August 29th, 2012
2:53 pm
To George Stein: “I’d be curious as to what facts convince you that teams are catching up, Jeff.”
Tevin Washington was Techs leading rusher last year. It it looks to me like whenever Tech plays a well coached defense they tend to take away the dive and the pitch and force the QB to keep. This usually results in a 2 or 3 yard gain. I think that the offense can still work but you really need a dynamic runner at QB. Someone that can take it to the house.
todd
August 29th, 2012
2:53 pm
To George Stein: “I’d be curious as to what facts convince you that teams are catching up, Jeff.”
Tevin Washington was Techs leading rusher last year. It it looks to me like whenever Tech plays a well coached defense they tend to take away the dive and the pitch and force the QB to keep. This usually results in a 2 or 3 yard gain. I think that the offense can still work but you really need a dynamic runner at QB. Someone that can take it to the house.
WarEagle
August 29th, 2012
4:01 pm
@Destin Dawg: Cut block is a part of the triple option offense, not a chop block. Learn the difference.
Jfreak13713
August 29th, 2012
5:01 pm
V-Tech has had all summer to prepare to G-Techs offense! Not good for the yellow jackets if you look back at others teams that had multiple weeks to prepare. I like Johnson and his offense and agree that defense will be the key this year. Stop other teams and you will win most games.
Go Jackets!
Charlie Hayes
August 29th, 2012
7:15 pm
What a joke! CPJ has always been a self-centered prick! I went to Georgia Southern for two (2) years before transferring to UGA. I watched CPJ in person on the sidelines. He has a dirty mouth and respects no one. CPJ shouldnt be the head coach of any college football team. These kids need a role model, instead they get an arrogant prick that doesnt teach them anything for their future.
CPJ chose Al Groh and he should help Groh fix the GT D. Not sit back and say “its the defenses fault”…”I cannot control the defensive side of the ball”…..”The defense needs to get better”. That is crap. Grow up CPJ and take ownership for YOUR team!