Georgia Tech stops the bleeding but assumes nothing
It was a much easier day for T.J. Barnes and the Georgia Tech defense. (Johnny Crawford/AJC)
The last time Boston College came to Atlanta in 2007, Matt Ryan threw for over 400 yards, Georgia Tech lost and dropped six of its next 10 and Chan Gailey lost his job.
Boston College’s latest season visit to Georgia Tech intersected with a firing again. It was only the defensive coordinator (Al Groh), not the head coach, who lost his job this time. Groh didn’t even make it through October. But if something had gone haywire Saturday, Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson wouldn’t have had anybody left to point a finger at. Serious questions that would’ve seemed implausible after Johnson’s first two seasons would’ve been asked.
Was his program spinning out of control?
Were players, who had followed Johnson’s lead for an ACC championship and 20 wins over 2008 and 2009, now not listening to him?
Was the talent really that bad?
The panic is on hold for now. Georgia Tech crushed Boston College 37-17. The final score would’ve tilted even 10 points more to the left if the Yellow Jackets had somebody who could kick straight. (They botched three short field goal attempts and an extra point. Johnson would gladly swap a major organ for a soccer player who can kick an oblong ball.)
Paul Johnson said he has been concerned about his team's competitiveness and focus. (Johnny Crawford/AJC)
So after three straight losses and the excommunication of Groh, the bleeding has stopped. For now.
It’s difficult to know what this game really means. Boston College is bad. Really bad. Like, Duke bad. Like, losing to Army bad. Like, after the Falcons’ win at Washington two weeks ago, Ryan walked out of his post-game news conference and said, “We lost to Army!” – that kind of bad.
The Eagles are 1-6 and their only win came over an FCS school, Maine. On the subject of firings: How does Frank Spaziani still have a job? When Tevin Washington completed a 27-yard pass on third-and-26 in the second quarter, setting up a touchdown, it’s a wonder Spaziani didn’t just walk off the field and have himself committed.
Johnson wasn’t about to make any grand proclamations Saturday. He didn’t do it a month ago when Tech whacked Virginia 56-20 before the three-game losing streak so he wasn’t going to do it now. But at the very least, we can safely conclude that Tech players haven’t quit on the season or on Johnson.
“I wasn’t concerned that things would spin out of control,” Johnson said. “My concern was that we needed to learn how to be intense and focus and how to approach things. I only know one way to go and that’s balls to the wall and to be competitive and that’s the way I want them to be. At times we are, and when we are we’re pretty good. And at times we lose focus and it’s like junior high school.”
Johnson clearly is making sure he has his players’ attention. He even took a shot at those on his team who didn’t suit up for the game: Quoting: “I’m going to take care of that. You don’t need to be on the sideline if you can’t get into the game – it’s not a party for them, either.”
The defensive game plan was simplified and the Jackets were better. No coincidence. (Johnson during the week: “We don’t need 80 calls. We don’t need a buzz word on everything.”)
Safety Isaiah Johnson said, “It hasn’t been as complicated as Al Groh’s defense.”
The defense held Boston College to a lone field goal in the first eight possessions. The offense only stopped itself (see: crooked kicking foot). It had over 400 yards in the first half and not a punt until the fourth quarter. Vad Lee, the redshirt freshman quarterback, flashed his talent with a 24-yard touchdown run (making four defenders miss) and a 45-yard touchdown pass.
Alas, there were highlights. There was a win.
“It’s nice to be back on the right side of the scoreboard again,” Johnson said.
It had been a while.
By Jeff Schultz
•
EARLIER: QUICK HITS: Tech defense better, Vad Lee impressive
EARLIER: LIVE: It’s desperation time for Georgia Tech and defense
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69 comments Add your comment
Old Gold Britches
October 21st, 2012
10:48 am
We enjoyed the win. Now BYU is going to be a hand full. Let’s get prepared. Vad did pretty good, but he fumbled and got real lucky. I agree he so far has earned more playing time. He puts some zip on his throws which is a big plus. Our pass defense is missing big time. We have a lot of work this week.
JoeFan
October 21st, 2012
2:02 pm
Way to much being made about making it to a bowl. If Tech is able to win 2 games out of the remaining 5, it can call itself fortunate. Way better and way past time to give Lee the reps and start preparing for 2013. Turn Lee loose and maybe, just maybe the remainder of 2012 will be exciting.
BuzzedforGT
October 21st, 2012
2:12 pm
Although I completely understand those of you who feel there shouldn’t be a QB controversy, it’s obvious to me that there should be. Whenever any program struggles to reach expectations, the backup QB tends to be the most popular player on the team, but those that watched yesterday’s game saw someone with an “IT’ factor, and it wasn’t Tevin Washington. And that’s the problem that I have with CPJ. His system is so percise and reliant on repetition that he will always favor the QB with more game-time experience over the kid with more talent. Sure, there were moments where Vad looked like a freshman, but that’s because he IS a freshman. Besides, Tevin had more freshman-like moments that Lee did. It was obvious to the commentators calling the game, who called several passes “ugly but effective”. In fact, the best thing they could come up with to describe TW was that he was “artistic”. That’s great for a singer-songwriter, but not for QB.
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
October 21st, 2012
2:33 pm
What VAD doesn’t do well is the TO down the line to shortside of the field then make the pitch.
Vad doesn’t arc well to keep a good space to the A-back to make a pitch and allow the A-back to make a cut up field. Vad runs it so flat to the line he often runs too far forcing the A-back to catch the pitch on a bad angle sending him out of bounds. The A-back is left little space to make a move and stay inbounds to head up field.
That is what I’ve seen.
BuzzedforGT
October 21st, 2012
2:49 pm
All things mentioned above can be corrected or refined with actual playing time. That will not happen if he sits on the sideline. Meanwhile, Washington will continue to throw “ugly” passes that will not be effective against defense of a higher caliber than BC, which includes every team on the remaining schedule.
David S.
October 21st, 2012
3:43 pm
PJ blows…………. please fire the jerk………… the season ended after the Miami game……… his recruiting is pathetic………… only time he won and made some noise with his team and not his mouth was when he had Chain’s players…………… FIRE the HIGHSCHOOL Coach!!!!!!!!!!!!n Please!!!!!!!!!
fayncdawg
October 21st, 2012
3:46 pm
Jeff
Kind of a cheapie at Duke wasn’t it? I mean they are bowl eligible even as we speak (and were even as you were writing this article). Not a Duke fan, but congratulation to them! Hope maybe they win one or two more games this season!
fayncdawg
October 21st, 2012
3:52 pm
Alright Jeff maybe not as you were writing this article (the game was at 7:00: you wrote this blog at 8:32; I’m sure the Duke UNC game wasn’t over at 8:32). But still Jeff, cheapshot!
Rich
October 21st, 2012
4:17 pm
#1 rated kicker in the nation is coming to Tech next year – not a moment too soon.
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
October 21st, 2012
5:03 pm
Love a Great Kicker coming in but it says a lot about the Government school educational system in Georgia that he comes from WESTMINSTER.
Brock
October 21st, 2012
5:23 pm
2 things bothered me about TW yesterday.
1- He seemed a little immature when asked about the 2 QB platoon. What was it? Something about losing his rhythm? He needs all the help he can get so STFU and enjoy your last year.
2- on David Sims TD it looked like Tevin didn’t want to give up the ball but DS just took it. As soon as Sims hit the hole as quick as he did I wasn’t even sure he had the ball. On replay you could tell TW was trying to pull it and run it in. Just came off as selfish. I think he knows he could lose the starting job before the season ends. Saw it in his expressions when he was on the sideline as Vad was throwing a spiral to Autry.
Archibald Leach
October 21st, 2012
6:07 pm
Why is everyone talking about the offense? The problem with GT this year has been the defense. Hardly any pressure on QB. And GT has been terrible on 3rd down defense. The offense is fine
Nativebird
October 21st, 2012
6:08 pm
Good to see the powerhouse that CPJ has built in Atlanta…..we CRuSHED BC…wish we could beat the great teams…like Middle Tennessee State though.
Yellajacket
October 21st, 2012
6:58 pm
I hate Mormons
Wal-Mart Retards
October 21st, 2012
8:36 pm
@ 1 4 – good to see you have your priorities straight!
Supersize that order, mutt
October 21st, 2012
10:07 pm
Knowing 1 4 GT as a friend, which I do, I feel pretty sure that the post attributed to him at 7:51PM was NOT made by him. The name thief strikes again, and yet the AJC STILL REFUSES to address the problem. IT HAS GOT TO STOP !!!
JTown
October 22nd, 2012
12:26 am
Ga tech may win 6 games and end up in some minor bowl, somewhere cold
YELLOW BRITCHES
October 23rd, 2012
10:21 am
Chan was asked to relocate because 7 and 5 was his ceiling. D-Rad gave him cover by saying this was realistic and about all Techsters could expect. I like Paul Johnston. I have no problem with the offense but truth be told, we are “back to the future”. Look at the win/loss ratio for the past three years. This year ended with Miami. We know that.
old dog
October 23rd, 2012
1:00 pm
Hey, at least ya’ll addressed a problem…..your offense probably made mistakes because they were so suprised at the D…….we won’t address our issue at all (o-line.) CPJ may make it at Tech, he may not. But the man addressed a terrible issue to try and right the ship. That is more than we have done……our record is only good against the patsies. Laugh if you want, put pile up your D on that third-grade o-line we have, and (although I would not want it to happen) you just may be suprised. Everybody else (that is-the good teams) has figured that out. And the ones that did just that whipped us. (See Boise State, LSU, Michigan State, South Carolina.) Sad when you gotta jump to the Tech blog to get attention for out most blatant weakness. But hey, if that is what it takes…..