Paul Johnson believes Tech will be even better in Year 2
Remember the offense that trampled Georgia underfoot? You still haven’t seen the monster fully unleashed. So said Paul Johnson, whose first Georgia Tech team won nine games. As his second round of spring practice was drawing to its end, the coach spent a half-hour discussing the past and the future. His prognosis: “I think we’ll be a better football team than we were a year ago.”
On his option-based spread: “It’s not so much putting in the basics. It’s the little nuances, the little changeups we didn’t get to last year … We were still just scratching the surface a year ago. There were so many games where if we’d been a little more adept at running it we could have done so much better … We will be better on offense. Now I don’t know if we’ll win any more games, but I guarantee you we’re better than we were a year ago.”
On just how that will happen: “It’s not just that we’ll get faster – we’ll be able to execute at a faster pace. You can watch our tape right now, and I can put on tape of my last year at the [Naval] Academy, and even though the kids here are much faster we don’t go as fast. Now this spring, I think we’ve made strides. If you ask our defensive kids, they’ll tell you it’s night and day from last spring to this spring, just the speed of it.
Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.
On the offense at peak capacity: “When we get good at doing it, it’s like death [for the defense]. It’s not like, ‘I can take a wrong step and recover because they’re coming off slow.’ It’s like, ‘I thought he had the ball and [the real ballcarrier] is 15 yards downfield.’ ”
On continuity: “We replaced a lot of moving parts a year ago. This year we don’t have as many moving parts to replace … We’ve got 16 starters back, and there may be one or two of those guys who get beat out.”
On the importance of beating Georgia: “Because of the recent history it was a big deal to the fans. And it was an important game to our players because it was the in-state rival, and we know they’ve a good program and a good team. But I don’t think about it [every day]; we don’t talk about it here. You move on. While it’s a big game, it won’t be mentioned until we get ready to play them. It’s not like our be-all and end-all.”
On the blowout Chick-fil-A Bowl loss to LSU: “I did a poor job of bringing our guys back down. When you have a young football team and you have 42 days of everybody telling you how good you are, you start to believe it and you forget how you got there.”
On the Chick-fil-A buildup: “I’m sitting there at a bowl function, and the emcee is talking about how Georgia Tech may have the best defensive line in the country, and I can see those kids from LSU bristling. And I’m thinking, ‘Dude, you’re not doing us any favor.’ ”
Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.
On what might have prompted LSU coach Les Miles to order a fake punt with his team leading by 35 points: “I have no idea. During the week, everybody was friendly and nothing happened. I just took it as … who knows?”
On the rings Tech commissioned bearing a certain score (45-42): “We didn’t get rings for beating Georgia. Everywhere I’ve coached, there’s always been dollars for bowls. Rather than give the kids a couple of hundred bucks that they blow in one week, we’ve always gotten bowl rings … There’s a ton of teams that do it – it’s not like we’re the only ones who ever thought of it. Rather than get another set of sweats, we got a ring.”
On the reborn rivalry with Georgia: “[That one game] wasn’t as big a deal to me because maybe I hadn’t been here [for the losing]. I understand it’s a big game and an in-state rival. And I don’t want to sound cocky, but if you act like it’s a huge big deal, then it becomes huge… Hopefully we’re going to win some more.”
Tech and Georgia meet at Bobby Dodd Stadium on Nov. 28. Johnson’s team will win again.
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305 comments Add your comment
Reality Check..
April 16th, 2009
6:19 pm
With all of the redneck UGA fan comments, I thought I would hold a little English class. Please see the following definitions. And by definition 99% UGA fans are not redneck. You always got to keep teaching little brother.
1. an uneducated white farm laborer, esp. from the South.
2. a bigot or reactionary, esp. from the rural working class.
Sudheer
April 16th, 2009
6:20 pm
Anyone see Geogia’s spring game. The offense seems to be missing stafford and moreno.
Uncle Hud
April 16th, 2009
6:30 pm
Scoreboard for the 2008-2009 scholastic year. Tech wins in head-to-head competition …
Football
Men’s basketball
Women’s basketball
1 baseball rainout, 1 baseball victory
May 12 at the Ted could mean a complete Yeller Jackit sweep! WoooHooo!
Reality Check..
April 16th, 2009
6:30 pm
As all tech will tell this a tech board. talk UGA over there. Nice try can’t wait to pick your team apart after their spring game Sudheer.
fortebuna
April 16th, 2009
6:31 pm
Better check you logs Reality a Lt Commander is no where near the Capt. I was the missile engineer. No I got my Master from Tech. See you don’t know every thing. But you would have saluted a Tech grad. Just rankles your soul doesn’t it? No it’s Ugay that is the little bro of Tech. Go to a foreign country and ask about Tech or UGay. You will find every one knows Tech and no one knows Ugay. Tech rules in academics and you mongrels are sucking hind tit.
Reality Check..
April 16th, 2009
6:37 pm
Oh Captain my Captain ForteButt!! UGA has a Air Force ROTC program. I truly doubt any of those men and women would on a submarine. so who is the idiot and moron now.
All hatred aside, I salute you for your service to this great country of ours.
Jack G.
April 16th, 2009
6:39 pm
Since everyone seems to be putting their sea duty on this blog, I’ll just throw mine in. 3 years of Minesweep duty YMS 394
Mark Bradley
April 16th, 2009
6:40 pm
Me, I was first mate on the SS Minnow. We used to give three-hour tours. Until one dark and stormy day …
Jack G.
April 16th, 2009
6:40 pm
OH I forgot the rate—MoMM 1/c
fortebuna
April 16th, 2009
6:42 pm
And I yours. But that still does not take away from your being a mongrel. And, I return the salute! I guess no Ugay grad ever joined the navy? I know nothing of the AF except they also serve and I would salute any of them or return the salute if appropriate. Oh yes I know nothing of Ugay except some of the lousy fans I’ve run into over the years.
fortebuna
April 16th, 2009
6:43 pm
good one Mark. We sometimes call the GW the Minnow.
Jack G.
April 16th, 2009
6:44 pm
Maek—-I thought Gilligan was the first mate on the SS Minnow.
Reality Check..
April 16th, 2009
6:47 pm
Oh captain my captain, you said that you ran the submarine. Last time I checked the Captain ran the ship not the missile engineer. So you got your Master from tech and then went into the Navy? And yes whether you want ot admit it or not UGA is the big brother. And to your comment about saluting a GT grad, I didn’t have problems with GT grads until I got out of the military. Your posts on this blog support my opinion 110%. So if you rank into a Officer from the Air Force that was a UGA grad you would have saluted him right. Remember you salute the rank not the man.
Uncle Hud
April 16th, 2009
6:49 pm
6 years US Navy: ETR2(SS), USS Tunny (SSN 682) Reactor Controls Division … before I went to Tech on the GI Bill with a wife and two kids. Now I’m a hell of an engineer. Thanks to all vets — you knew the deal might include combat when you signed up.
Oh yeah, Tuesday was a baseball BEATDOWN at 10-6, and weren’t you bulldogs overrated yet again at #1?
See ya’ll Techies Saturday at the Pi Mile run and the T-Day game.
Mark Bradley
April 16th, 2009
6:53 pm
I’ve had to fight that ridiculous Gilligan-was-first-mate rumor all my life. Gilligan was chief cook and bottle washer, but he had a great publicist.
Reality Check..
April 16th, 2009
6:53 pm
That last line was from band of brothers. When I served I respected all men in the military. They teach you that in boot camp.
BTW Mark you are very funny.
fortebuna
April 16th, 2009
6:59 pm
Better learn to read Oh, forgot you went to Ugay. I said I served on the SSBN 598. That’s all nothing about being Capt or at that time what I did aboard.
Reality Check..
April 16th, 2009
7:15 pm
You said GT grad ran the ship. You sai you were a GT grad. There for you implied that you were the captian. I never said I went to UGA. I have stated many times that I went to an Engineering School. for the record I went to SPSU. That is were I truly learn to Hate everything about GT. We took all of the same classes as you it just wasn’t GT. We believe in application while you believe in theory. So there you aren’t as smart as you think you are. You come off as some great mind when your just another guy like me. It’s a small world isn’t it.
fortebuna
April 16th, 2009
7:36 pm
go back to page one and re-read my original post. It does not imply that I was capt. It only says you would have saluted me. Now there is nothing wrong being a mate, in fact the chiefs run the navy the same way the sarg’s run the AF and the Army, but I do salute you for your service to our country.
Ringleader
April 16th, 2009
8:13 pm
You nimwats recalling the Georgia fans storming the field at Auburn……Quite simply never did, never left the stands. That
night the nimwat Auburn officials, whomever they were turned on
the sprinkler system into and on the fans in the stands. Problem
was the first watering was onto the Auburn band. Then, and only
after being hosed, did the Georgia fans storm the field.
As for the game, the Dogs started Wayne Johnson whom had not played
all year. Seems James Jackson never made it to the stadium, as he
was at his grandmothers funeral in Camilla. The dogs ran the ball
all night long against the much higher rated Tigers, Plainsmen, War
Eagles and whatever. Was quite a game and unexpected results.
Bill
April 16th, 2009
8:30 pm
What else is PJ going to say, “that GT will be a worse team this year”? He’d never be willing to tell the truth about that. Bulldogs win—BIG!!!! Guaranteed!!
RAMBLE ON!!!
April 16th, 2009
8:56 pm
I learned real quick after enlisting…should have studied in high school.
That’s why it took almost 6 years to get out of GT.
SWEEPERS, SWEEPERS. Man your broom, the mutts have be swept in all the major sports!
I don’t see things cha, cha, changing anytime soon.
45-42!!!
GT EE Class of '93
April 16th, 2009
9:03 pm
Enjoyed the column, Mark. You never were a Gailey fan, even from the beginning were you? But you have been a fan of P.J. since the beginning. Love it! Still think Tech should have hired Chris Hatcher? Ha. ha. ha.
The Big Bug
April 16th, 2009
9:12 pm
Reality, Why would you hate GT? I always thought Southern Tech was almost a part of GT. I have known some very capable grads from there. Just curious.
GT EE Class of '93
April 16th, 2009
9:18 pm
One more question Mark: From an “educated” journalist’s perspective, what do you think the chances are Georgia Tech can retain Johnson and the bulk of our coaching staff the way Georgia has with Mark Richt? I hate UGA, and perhaps comparisons grow old, but I have to respect the way they have annually challenged and won conference championships, since he has been there.
PTC DAWG
April 16th, 2009
9:21 pm
I’ll believe GT is better when I see it.
In the mean time, best of luck to them in that venture.
USNA Ancient
April 16th, 2009
9:22 pm
Having watched and marveled at Paul Johnson as a coach, a motivator, and a person, I can attest to the facts that: Georgia Tech is damned lucky to have him, there is no better coach, especially on the sideline during a game, in football today; and the “Dawgs” should be extremely cautious of what they say.
from top dog to underdog
April 16th, 2009
9:25 pm
Last year (preseason)#1 to now underdog to Tech per Bradley….got to love those third quarters and (lack of) tackles!
Mark Bradley
April 16th, 2009
9:38 pm
GT EE: I thought Gailey was a solid coach, but there came a point in 2005 when it seemed clear he was never going to win over enough Tech fans to make it long-term. Although I still maintain that if he’d won one of two games in 2006 — the Georgia game in Athens or the ACC title game against Wake — he’d still be coaching the Jackets. And both times he had the better team.
I liked the idea of Chris Hatcher, yes. But Paul Johnson (who was, if you’ll recall, my second choice) seems to be working out, wouldn’t you say?
And I think Dan Radakovich and Wayne Hogan are doing exactly what they need to do to keep Johnson happy — pay him the big bucks and make him feel loved.
Mister T
April 16th, 2009
10:33 pm
Wow. I am impressed with Tom and Supersize. You obviously have a few years on most of us, yet you express yourselves well and often on the internet. My Dad refuses to get on his computer since he retired.
You are right by the way to put unRealistic in his place. It is getting a bit intense in here though.
And no, there were no wins vacated by Tech.
I have often wondered when those dawg fans want to play the “cheater” card when O’Leary beat them like a dawg (pun intended), yet never want to bring up the years that led up tothe Jan Kemp case. It seems that they claim to have won a National Title while playing guys that were taking four years of special studies. I knew one of them personally. I played High School ball with him. He was actually the poster child for the whole Jan Kemp case.
I suggest that the dawgies drop the whole notion that Tech should vacate any wins for any reason based on their history of academic misgivings. I wish the AJC would republish the academic investigation article that they ran during the season last year. Very insightful.
The fact that the dawg fans come over here doesn’t bother me. I find it amusing that they are as delusional as they are.
I watched a good bit of the g-day game. Unless they have the offensive turnaround from Spring to Fall that Tech did last year, I think it is safe to say that they will not be putting 42 point up on anyone next year. At least Tech had a new system they were learning last year. uga was just awful on offense. It wasn’t that the defense was that good either.
Mister T
April 16th, 2009
10:41 pm
“With all of the redneck UGA fan comments, I thought I would hold a little English class. Please see the following definitions…You always got to keep teaching little brother.”
UnRealistic, with your command of the English language, I don’t think Tech posters need to make any further comments about the education level that can be attained at uga. Thanks for making our points for us.
Supersize that order, mutt
April 16th, 2009
11:18 pm
Thanks, Mister T. I don’t know why, but I enjoy the hell out of these blogs. Unfortunately, I waste far too much time out of my day on here, when I could and should be doing far more useful things.
Ringleader, buddy, you are wrong wrong wrong. There WERE UGAG fans on the field at Auburn after that win, and BEFORE they turned the hoses on. They were digging up pieces of the turf (and you complain about people plucking the hedges). The hoses would not have been turned on till the stadium was empty if your fans had not been on the field. It is true that some of the hoses were pointed towards the stands, an elderly couple I knew then got wet because of it. That was obviously wrong, but I guess that was their attempt to keep more fans off the field, where they had no busines being. Don’t feed me BS about nobody going on the field till after the hoses were turned on, because it IS BS.
Tokyo jacket
April 16th, 2009
11:35 pm
Reality Check, I really don’t appreciate your taking the stance of defending all things military and assuming a representative role in some backwards attempt to defend military honor by slamming Tech fans. I think that was completely inappropriate and somewhat childish. I won’t speak for others who serve, but I don’t think you have done a good job of representing any one of our armed forces today. I’m not talking about football. I’m not talking about Georgia and Georgia Tech. I’m not talking about your service affiliation.
I’m saying that when you, or anyone else on any of these anonymous blogs, brings up any branch of service and affiliates themselves with it they need to act in a manner that is commensurate with their responsibility of representing our country. If you do that, even though you’re talking about football, you demean the ideals that you serve or have served.
Paul Johnson
April 17th, 2009
1:33 am
Hey everybody i just wanted to let you know that i just got off the phone with mark richt and he said that he is afraid of my team and we give him nightmares everynite! he just wanted to offer me money not to beat his teams @$$ in november on the flats! I told him to take his money and shove it up his red and black butt!
new dog theme...since departure of staff and reno
April 17th, 2009
4:35 am
I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up!
Michael
April 17th, 2009
6:29 am
Mark Bradley said
“(Unless, that is, you know something I don’t know. In which case, please tell me.)”
Mark, did u see Office Space (the movie)? Maybe you were laid off years ago and they just forgot to tell you. You need to check with payroll. I am just playing of course. I don’t like anyone getting laid off and congratulations for starting year 26 with the AJC. That is quite a lengthy stay at one news conglomerate. My co-workers and I are always jabbing each other about fixing ‘the glitch’.
Don’t forget to get your TPS report submitted!
Michael
April 17th, 2009
6:42 am
Mark, another thing, since its obvious printed news is hurting all over the world, mostly due to internet reading versus buying a paper, is the AJC turning the titanic away from print and into the 21st century in good fashion? Is that some of the meeeting you attened, how to quickly navigate rough seas? I am in telecom industry now (Tech grad, EE ‘95) and I work on legacy wireline voice and its kind of the same for us in comparison with printed press, losing customers and revenue slowly, but continuously to wireless subscribers. Wireline still pipes nearly all of the wireless calls made, so its not going away, but straight wireline customers are turning in their cords for wireless only.
I hope the printed press is quickly becoming the small side of the AJC and they are finding new ways to embrace the internet and all the new small gadgets all the current and next generation will have glued to their eyes and ears. I hate cell phones and people interrupting me standing and talking to them in person to answer a cell phone and talk with the person on the phone for 15 minutes. Its rude and offensive, BUT its the future, so hopefully the AJC is doing it right and getting aggressive with the young techie crowd who will be the ones spending the money soon and replacing those that never owned a computer over the next 10 or 20 years. I wish I had grown up in the early 1900s or late 1800s, more my speed, but it is what it is and I am pretty good tech-wise.
hatfieldgeoff
April 17th, 2009
8:19 am
I don’t understand why Florida didn’t fire Urban Meyer and hire Paul Johnson. He’s the best thing since sliced bread, and get this, the second season he is even better! Give it up ACC coaches the juggernaut has been unleashed and can’t be stopped. The Glorified Wishbone on the Flats can’t be stopped. Why did people stop using it 30 years ago.
Mark Bradley
April 17th, 2009
8:46 am
We did discuss the Internet in our little meeting, Michael. Thanks for asking. We said back in 2007, if I recall, that AJC.com is now our primary product.
Which doesn’t mean we’ve abandoned print. AJC 2.0 — the redesigned print edition — is due to roll out very soon, and I think you’ll be impressed.
And you know what? I’m the one person in the world who hasn’t seen “Office Space.” I’m still stuck on Ted Striker’s biographical study — “Airplane.”
JB...GT Fan
April 17th, 2009
8:54 am
dawginlex and jb, You guys disgrace the sec east almost every year, for almost the last 20 years!! Take a look at these blowouts!! Talk about the pot calling the kettle black??? You guys have no room to boast about your domination of tech and ya’ll talk about “flukes”?? I don’t think getting beat 17 of 20 times is a fluke! You guys say 38-3 and we say we got beat, plain and simple. You get beat 49-10 and call it a fluke?? Tech beats you on your own homefield and all you can think to do is say fluke, it was raining, players were hurt…..ect. I have never seen so many excuses come out of the woodwork as you guys unleash? It’s second to none with any other program! You guys are really in a class of your own. When you see these scores below, if you really think what florida has done to you on the football field is a fluke, Then you guys are the most pathetic fans in the history of sports! We lost to vt,uva, nc,lsu and i tip my hat to those teams as i did to lsu who looked terrific in the bowl game and finally lived up to their #6 preseason ranking! Like i have said before on this thread to ugay fans, when you get 4 national championships and a better bowl winning percentage than tech, come and talk sh** then!! It’s funny how GT has as many national titles as TEXAS, and where are you guys in title talk??? We had more sec titles than ugay did when we were in the same sec!! Does ugay have 4 coaches in the NCAA Hall of Fame?? See any big prestigious awards {heisman trophy} named in any affiliation with somebody that went to ugay?? You guys disgrace yourselves with goofy posts and little facts. Why should we believe you are such the superior team, when we have more of what really matters in our back pocket?? I can’t think of anything in sports more important than national titles and bowl winning percentage to be honest? Make some sense when you post, please!!!! Is this a fluke???…………This is WOODSHED!!!!
1990 Florida 38 Georgia 7 Jacksonville, Florida UGA
1991 Florida 45 Georgia 13 Jacksonville, Florida UGA
1992 Florida 26 Georgia 24 Jacksonville, Florida UGA
1993 Florida 33 Georgia 26 Jacksonville, Florida UGA
1994 Florida 52 Georgia 14 Gainesville, Florida UGA
1995 Florida 52 Georgia 17 Athens, Georgia UGA
1996 Florida 47 Georgia 7 Jacksonville, Florida UGA
1997 Florida 17 Georgia 37 Jacksonville, Florida UGA
1998 Florida 38 Georgia 7 Jacksonville, Florida UGA
1999 Florida 30 Georgia 14 Jacksonville, Florida UGA
2000 Florida 34 Georgia 23 Jacksonville, Florida UGA
2001 Florida 24 Georgia 10 Jacksonville, Florida UGA
2002 Florida 20 Georgia 13 Jacksonville, Florida UGA
2003 Florida 16 Georgia 13 Jacksonville, Florida UGA
2004 Florida 24 Georgia 31 Jacksonville, Florida UGA
2005 Florida 14 Georgia 10 Jacksonville, Florida UGA
2006 Florida 21 Georgia 14 Jacksonville, Florida UGA
2007 Florida 30 Georgia 42 Jacksonville, Florida UGA
2008 Florida 49 Georgia 10 Jacksonville, Florida UGA
You live through lsu, i guess we will live through the gators? THWG!!
gtforever
April 17th, 2009
9:01 am
The Jackets will be better if the defense comes to play! Bottom line, the schedule was soft last year, and we got some breaks. The schedule is a good bit stronger this year, which IMHO, means that we had better help the offense out with some good defensive play… I think it’s going to be hard to top nine wins, although it could happen. Time will tell…. I just can’t wait for FOOTBALL! Go Jackets and THWG!
Paul Houghton
April 17th, 2009
9:03 am
UGA dragged Tech up and down the field. Defense just didn’t make simple tackles like LSU did. It wasn’t Tech’s lame, gimmicky offense that got us. And it won’t happen again this year.
George P. Burdell
April 17th, 2009
9:16 am
Reality Check just explained so much about himself and his attitudes. You say Tech is the little brother to UGA. Well, Southern Tech is definitely the little brother to Georgia Tech. Both are fine schools but for some reason a lot of Southern Tech have a real chip on their shoulders. I bet old Reality Check is an Industrial Engineer because for whatever reason they seem to have the biggest chip on their shoulders.
Supersize that order, mutt
April 17th, 2009
9:27 am
WHO dragged WHOM up and down the field, Paul Houghton? Are you blind?
45 – 42
Bill
April 17th, 2009
10:09 am
not the 8:30 blog Bill. Thanks Mark for meeting up date.
8:30 Bill, we’ve heard that before. Talks cheap, we’ll see.
gtforever
April 17th, 2009
10:52 am
Likewise Paul, BOTH defenses SUCKED!
gtforever
April 17th, 2009
10:54 am
Paul, If it wasn’t the offense that got you, who was it? I must have missed something. I thought our gimmicky offense socred 45 points….. Hmmmmm… Guess it’s that UGA logic!
The Dude
April 17th, 2009
10:55 am
This has probably been beaten into the ground, but I’m going to post it anyway.
Until the mid 1940s, the school required students to be able to create a simple electric motor regardless of their major.[54] During the second world war, as an engineering school with strong military ties through its ROTC program, Georgia Tech was swiftly enlisted for the war effort. In early 1942 the traditional nine-month semester system was replaced by a year-round trimester year, enabling students to complete their degrees a year earlier. Under the plan, students were allowed to complete their engineering degrees while on active duty.[55] During World War II, Georgia Tech was one of only five U.S. colleges feeding the U.S. Navy’s officer program.
Sources:
^ Guertin, Karl (2004-02-13). “Tech’s moniker reveals its true history”. The Technique. http://www.nique.net/issues/2004-02-13/opinions/2. Retrieved on 2006-12-30.
^ “World War II and the Tech Connection”. Tech Topics (Georgia Tech Alumni Association). Spring 1995. http://gtalumni.org/Publications/techtopics/spr95/ww2.html. Retrieved on 2007-03-16.
Reality Check, serving is a very special thing, but it doesn’t make you special.
Mark Bradley
April 17th, 2009
11:31 am
I don’t mean to take sides here — really! I’m like Ted Striker’s Switzerland! — but every time I see, “Supersize That Order, Mutt,” I laugh.
Then again, I still find a dollop of humor in “North Avenue Trade School.” So maybe I’m easily amused.
Ted Striker
April 17th, 2009
11:35 am
Mister T: I gave my parents a computer/internet service about 8 years ago. They acted like it was kryptonite for at least 4 years. Just got them another computer last year…they’re on the net all the time now.
Mark: I came across an old AJC this week — August ‘99 (edition about Celestine Sibley’s funeral). Width of the page? 13.5 inches. Makes you realize how much things have indeed changed.