LIVE: It’s desperation time for Georgia Tech (and defense)
Paul Johnson's team needs to scramble in second half of season just to become bowl eligible.
Of all the directions anybody could have expected Georgia Tech would go under coach Paul Johnson, this wasn’t one of them: He is getting involved in the defense.
Johnson fired his second defensive coordinator in 4½ seasons when he canned Al Groh after a 47-31 loss at Clemson two weeks ago. Athletic director Dan Radakovich gave Johnson a vote of confidence following the Groh firing, but Johnson obviously feels some pressure (internally and externally) to turn around the Jackets. They’ve lost three straight since a 56-20 win over Virginia (allowing 138 points in those three games) and have fallen to 1-3 in the ACC.
There is still a chance to salvage something out of this season. The remaining conference games (Boston College today, Maryland, North Carolina, Duke) certainly all are winnable, and BYU next week isn’t overpowering. Georgia is the most difficult game left on the schedule. The Jackets (2-4) have to go at least 4-2 to become bowl eligible.
The ACC title game promo really isn't applicable any more.
We know it’s a desperate time because Johnson, who promoted secondary coach Charles Kelly to interim defensive coordinator, admitted of his team’s defensive preparation this week: “I’m more involved in the planning, more involved in the practice schedules and more involved in everything. For the past two and a half years, I’ve pretty much turned everything over and let a guy do it. Charles Kelly is in charge and it will be his call, but I’m involved with the scheme of what we’re doing. I’m spending more time getting a solid defensive scheme in place that is simple where guys can play fast and they’ll know what to do. We don’t need 80 calls. We don’t need a buzz word on everything. We need guys to learn how to play and play hard.”
If simplifying things doesn’t work against Boston College, it’s hard to imagine it working against any opponent. This is not the same B.C. team that came to Atlanta in 2007 and won 24-10 (behind 435 yards passing by Matt Ryan). The Eagles are 1-5 and their only win came over an FCS team (Maine). They were blown out by Florida State 51-7 last week. They even lost to Army (which stands as Army’s only win this season).
The term “must-win” tends to get overused in sports. But this is about as close to must-win and Johnson and the Jackets can get, because if they lose to Boston College the problems are bigger than just defense.
That’s all I’ve got for now. Opening the cyber-venting lines now if you have any questions.
By Jeff Schultz
•
Last 10 tunes from the digital jukebox …
• Larry Drew is prepared to work without a parachute
• Weekend Predictions: Bulldogs, Jackets rise from the dead
• Falcons are NFL’s last unbeaten team: Here’s fate of others (with video)
• Falcons 6-0 but Turner is frustrated with running game
• Fan revolts out of control, one even wanted to fight UGA player
• Weekend Predictions: No sacrifices, but Falcons, LSU win
• Radakovich says Johnson is ‘right person for job’
• Al Groh’s problems at Georgia Tech weren’t pure ‘fantasy’
• Braves’ Frank Wren needs to fix good, but not great, team
• Chipper Jones on loss in his finale: ‘Ultimately, I’m to blame’
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225 comments Add your comment
Ol'JacketFan
October 20th, 2012
5:40 pm
I just love folks who want to crap on this offense. Y’all ain’t seen what it can do with a credible passer under center
Billyboy
October 20th, 2012
5:40 pm
The defense will be better when we play Boston College again.
GT-UT
October 20th, 2012
5:42 pm
I long for the days when we can get a punter that can kick it from the 20 down to the other 20
SilentCC
October 20th, 2012
5:42 pm
If the secondary is ALWAYS going to give 5 yards loosey-goosey coverage on every man out for a pass then I don’t see Tech winning more than 2 games — maybe. Any team who has a QB that can pass is just going to pick apart Tech’s defense.
I don’t see a bowl game this year.
OldSchoolTechFanatic
October 20th, 2012
5:43 pm
@Bill GT has done that several times this year. I know you know that. Just makes me mad when they play like that !!!
Ol'JacketFan
October 20th, 2012
5:44 pm
Oh my, dropped!!!!!!!!!! Thank you!
Bill
October 20th, 2012
5:44 pm
Look like old “D” has returned in 4th…that was TD drop!
GT-UT
October 20th, 2012
5:44 pm
The D is still pretty bad in my opinion
SilentCC
October 20th, 2012
5:45 pm
Tech’s secondary hasn’t close-defended a pass yet.
Jeff Schultz
October 20th, 2012
5:46 pm
A little shine comes of the defensive feel-good story
Bill
October 20th, 2012
5:46 pm
Here we go again..damn.
stony
October 20th, 2012
5:46 pm
Looks like one problem that has not been corrected is the 2nd half letdown after an excellent first half. Johnson needs to find a way to get his players to finish off an opponent that is on the ropes…develop a killer instinct.
SilentCC
October 20th, 2012
5:47 pm
… and there you go. No… pass…. defense.
Clem13
October 20th, 2012
5:47 pm
Uh oh! So much for the new defense. Could it be another comeback?
Ol'JacketFan
October 20th, 2012
5:47 pm
Reciever crosses your face at the goal line and you just turn him loose? Come on D you know better than that!
GT-UT
October 20th, 2012
5:47 pm
I wonder who we will see in at quarterback now? The O had better put the foot back on the gas and accelerate from these people or they will catch us!!
OldSchoolTechFanatic
October 20th, 2012
5:48 pm
I hope they charged GT deffense to get in the game !!!
GTJohn
October 20th, 2012
5:49 pm
I have no problem with TW. He is a nice kid, gives 100%, but he is just not who this team needs to win. He makes a great BU QB.
GT-UT
October 20th, 2012
5:49 pm
Everybody’s going to play the old Texas Tech offense against us. We can’t stop the pass for anything and when we lineup against the pass, they will run down our throat.
OldSchoolTechFanatic
October 20th, 2012
5:50 pm
They are just standing around and watching. We need an agressive D cordinator.
GT-UT
October 20th, 2012
5:50 pm
Good one OJF!!
Chaps
October 20th, 2012
5:51 pm
A. Hard to step on the gas when you’ve phoned in the 3rd quarter.
B. Need to tell the defense the game HAS 4 quarters.
GTJohn
October 20th, 2012
5:51 pm
Enter youTW again!!! Uggggh
GTJohn
October 20th, 2012
5:53 pm
Can we get some blocking on O?
Ol'JacketFan
October 20th, 2012
5:53 pm
How do you not know what the snapcount is?
GTJohn
October 20th, 2012
5:54 pm
I would still like to see Vad in
Jeff Schultz
October 20th, 2012
5:55 pm
Roughing punter. Tech will get ball back.
Ol'JacketFan
October 20th, 2012
5:55 pm
Roughing the kicker!
GTJohn
October 20th, 2012
5:55 pm
Thank you BC
stony
October 20th, 2012
5:56 pm
I don’t sleep well. Maybe I could get a recording of Johnson’s halftime talk.
Bill
October 20th, 2012
5:56 pm
ESPN said earlier today that Johnson was on the hot seat..0ne 0f five coaches.
Clem13
October 20th, 2012
5:56 pm
This is reminding me of the Miami game.
GT-UT
October 20th, 2012
5:56 pm
Okay let’s face it, BC is beating themselves. Vad can be just as boneheaded as Tevin. I say put Vad in!!
Ol'JacketFan
October 20th, 2012
5:58 pm
Anything that comes out of the world wide garbage pit is suspect
GT-UT
October 20th, 2012
5:58 pm
I don’t care what ESPN says! I love this offense!!
Tech4Life
October 20th, 2012
5:59 pm
Vad is clearly a better passer and thrower, but I haven’t seen him make good reads.
GT-UT
October 20th, 2012
6:00 pm
One thing I really like about this offense, is its ability to go on a death march. It’s like a python that wraps around you…chokes you off until you can’t breathe anymore. And it kills you one ticket of time.
Bill
October 20th, 2012
6:01 pm
I do too GT-UT but damn the D..and the blame for that is CPJ.
Ol'JacketFan
October 20th, 2012
6:01 pm
Caught a break on the penalty but now the O is taking advantage of it.
GT-UT
October 20th, 2012
6:02 pm
One “tick” at a time. Darn iPhone
GTJohn
October 20th, 2012
6:03 pm
My question now is will CPJ adjust the O to maximize the talent next year?
Bill
October 20th, 2012
6:04 pm
Yes!
hit a single
October 20th, 2012
6:05 pm
Is BC in the ACC or the FCS? I can’t tell.
Bill
October 20th, 2012
6:05 pm
miss the x-point? whats going on?
SilentCC
October 20th, 2012
6:06 pm
Kicking is crap. See ya next year.
Jeff Schultz
October 20th, 2012
6:07 pm
Geez. Now a missed PAT. Tech now leads 37-17 but has left 10 points on field with missed kicks (three field goals, one PAT).
Ol'JacketFan
October 20th, 2012
6:07 pm
GTJohn, I don’t think there’s any doubt you’ll see more of the passing game implemented next year. CPJ has it in the offense he just hasn’t had a QB to execute it.
lxUn1c0
October 20th, 2012
6:08 pm
Our kickers are atrocious. There has to be at least one kid who can kick and wants a free GT education. I never thought I’d miss Scott Blair.
GTJohn
October 20th, 2012
6:08 pm
A win is a win I guess. Not very pretty. Don’t think Bobby Dodd would tolerate this or would he have ever gotten this from one of his teams.
BTW, Ken good book recomendation on Clint Casselberry, read most it last night.
GTJohn
October 20th, 2012
6:09 pm
You are right about the kickers.