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
RAMBLE ON!!!
April 17th, 2009
11:38 am
Mark, you should really rent Office Space.
Paul Houghton, umm, where are those players that “dragged Tech up and down the field” this year?
UGAg denial gets me everytime!!!
Ted Striker
April 17th, 2009
11:46 am
Just when I thought I’d seen it all, there’s a verbal firefight over games played 60+ years ago.
Mark Bradley
April 17th, 2009
11:50 am
Not to say I’ve been missing you, Mr. Ted, but I have invoked your hallowed name twice this morning.
And you’re right about the state of newsprint and the entire industry. In December 1997 Mick Mixon asked me on-air — I was a halftime guest on the Tar Heel Radio Network — how the Internet would affect newspapers. At that moment I’d never been on the Internet. I’ve since gone there a time or two.
Ted Striker
April 17th, 2009
11:55 am
The only thing I’m in denial about in the series is Sanks’ fumble in ‘99. I’ve seen mothers fumble babies worse than that.
Mark Bradley
April 17th, 2009
11:59 am
Wildest game I’ve ever seen. Wilder even than Auburn returning three interceptions for touchdowns to beat LSU — the “Throw It Again, Curley!” game of 1994.
Ted Striker
April 17th, 2009
12:01 pm
Mark, I’m sure you gave a well-informed answer to Mixon’s question. Haha
Ted Striker
April 17th, 2009
12:09 pm
As an aside, Sanks seems to be doing very well post-UGA. Ran into him in Baton Rouge last year at the Georgia game. He was down maybe 20 lbs or so from his playing days — not as bulky but trim, in shape. If I remember correctly, and I’d had one or two beverages, he was working a white collar job in Dallas, sounded happy, liked his work. I hear people say he was a “bust” and think that’s unfair to the guy. He was solid if not spectacular for UGA and more importantly, he’s doing well post college, and AFTER his athletic career is over.
Supersize that order, mutt
April 17th, 2009
12:12 pm
Mark, I am SO GLAD that my name brings a smile to your face. I take that, my friend, as a sincere compliment. You have my permission to use that in your memoirs. LOL
Ted Striker
April 17th, 2009
12:12 pm
p.s. Which means that nobody is going to be saying “supersize that order, mutt” to J. Sanks.
Supersize that order, mutt
April 17th, 2009
12:14 pm
Hey, Ted, get me drunk, and I’ll say anything. LOL
Mark Bradley
April 17th, 2009
12:17 pm
I believe my answer to Mr. Mixon began as the old dodge: “Now there’s an interesting question … ” and devolved from there.
And Ted S. and Supersize bonding over beverages … if this actually happens, I’ll come take a picture with my AJC-issued BlackBerry Storm.
gtforever
April 17th, 2009
12:23 pm
Ramble, Those players, those offensive players that put a hurtn’ on us are on the offensive line for UGA. They will be bigger and better, and our defense had better come to play…. I would rather see a balanced football team, than expect the offense to score 45 points a game. Although we will score a lot of points next year, we shouldn’t have to count on it every game, because we will be stopped on occasion… I would hope that some of the GT fans would be more humble, UGA is going to be better than they were last year, by a long shot….. I hate eating crow,especially if they come down and return the favor at our house.
brewdawg
April 17th, 2009
12:29 pm
Not really a big fan of the whole “My team is better than yours, na-na-na-boo-boo” debate. It’s like watching a bunch of kids have a food fight. I’m a UGA fan, an am proud of my team and their history. Every time I go to Jacksonville for the Florida game, or watch the Tech game at a local bar, etc, I always wind up having a good time with opposing fans while we root on our teams. If I see they are going to be obnoxious, then I find someone else to hang out with (And that goes for fans of UGA to).There is some good-natured ribbing, sure, but that isn’t what goes on on these blogs. It’s mainly mean-spirited, disgusting, and pathetic. I can’t wait until Mark puts up a blog about anything else so that we can get back to rational and mature debate.
brewdawg
April 17th, 2009
12:31 pm
For example, I’d gladly watch the game with someone like gtforever. Good post and good luck next year.
Mark Bradley
April 17th, 2009
12:39 pm
“Rational and mature debate” — when have we ever brooked such nonsense on this site?
And if this Tech-Georgia bonding gets much deeper, I might have to sit myself down and have a good cry.
Supersize that order, mutt
April 17th, 2009
12:42 pm
gtforever, I agree with you that our defense better be up for it next year in EVERY game. And despite all the “better than you” crap that I and nearly everybody else here posts everyday, the Tech – UGAG game will be hard-fought as they always are (with a couple of exceptions both ways). But I don’t agree with you that the dawgs will be better by a long shot than last year. Big, strong OL line, sure, but unproven QB and running back better that fat matt and no show? NO WAY. And as long as Willie is the DC, I don’t see any improvement there either. But, like I said, it still should be a great game. Just hope the good guys (Jackets) prevail.
Supersize that order, mutt
April 17th, 2009
12:43 pm
Mark, it’s obvious you are having a really tough day at work today. If I lived in Atlanta, I’d buy you a beer. LOL
Saint Simons
April 17th, 2009
12:46 pm
45-42!!!!! hahahahahahahahahahaha
Melinda
April 17th, 2009
12:54 pm
Someone explain to me how our offense is a gimmick? I’m so sick of hearing that. Why isn’t the spread called a gimmick?
The dude that said Johnson’s Navy teams didn’t beat any good teams. Other than Army and Air Force, every D-IA school has better athletes than Navy. On paper, Navy shouldn’t beat anyone other than the service academies.
Ted Striker
April 17th, 2009
12:55 pm
I’ll drink with mine friends and I’ll drink with mine ‘enemies.’ (The beer tastes the same and the rest is aesthetics — like whether the picture over the bar is a lighthouse in Cape Cod or dogs playing cards).
That said, my favorite t-shirt reads: ‘Never met a man I didn’t like’ — Will Rodgers. (The back of the shirt reads Will Rodgers never met Steve Spurrier.
Mark Bradley
April 17th, 2009
1:08 pm
On the other hand, Melinda, the Navy guys should be national champs in yachting.
gtforever
April 17th, 2009
1:19 pm
Supersize, this Joe Cox guy is the real deal! I really like him, I have seen him play, and if not for Stafford’s abilities this guy would be a star in his own right. It really hurts me to say this, but UGA is at the point where they are reloading talent wise, at running back they are very deep, and again, the OFFENSIVE line they have will be healthy, unlike last year. I could probably run behind these guys… Well maybe that’s a stretch, but I will say that our game will no longer be a push over for UGA. It will be hard fought and generally the team who doesn’t give it away should come out the winner. Coach Johnson is a GOOD coach, he can motivate and coach up to make the game competitive, but until he recruits, and make no mistake, he has to recruit and get the same blue chipper football players that UGA is getting every year, in order for us to be in the same league… Until then We will win some were not supposed to and we will lose some that we are supposed to win… Either way, I am a TRUE die hard GT FAN!
Ted Striker
April 17th, 2009
1:24 pm
As passionate as folks in the south are about college football, I’m still astounded by the crowd energy at international soccer matches.
It’s like Alabama fans on meth…wait, strike that — it’s like ALL of the Alabama fans on meth.
JB...GT Fan
April 17th, 2009
1:28 pm
Did a ugay fan really just say that they will be better for sure next year?? Preseason #1 last season to maybe preseason 16 or 17 this year at best! A qb with more splinters in his rear than minutes on the field and a running back tabbed as the starter who is coming off a serious leg injury? Good grief you guys will buy into anything!! That defense needs a whole lot of improvement to impress me, because what i saw on tv {kentucky,lsu,uf,alabama,gt} was some of the worst defense i have ever seen from ugay in recent memory. You have a one man show at reciever and he may get taken out the game and so who is the offensive threat??? That defense does not have many playmakers, so i’m not concerned about ugay at all next year.
I believe VT,NC,NC STATE, and FSU WILL ALL BE BETTER THAN UGAY, so i’m more concerned about our conference than them. If you ugay fans think you are stronger than butch davis team or beamer’s squad this season, please put down the pipe! I wish ya’ll did play in the acc, so i could come back on this blog after you guys lost at least 3 or 4 acc games, then maybe you would respect the balance of the conference!
THWG
gtforever
April 17th, 2009
1:29 pm
Alabama fans on meth! Yikes, try to picture that….. No animal would be safe….
BLAZER
April 17th, 2009
1:30 pm
FLUKES ARE CLOSE GAMES ONLY!! WHEN THE OTHER TEAMS WIN CLOSE ONES THEN
IT COUNTS AS A FLUKE! OH I GET IT NOW. OH WAIT 49-10 WAS A FLUKE BECAUSE
IT WASN’T CLOSE- GEEZ I’M CONFUSED! SO WHICH ONE WAS A FLUKE 45-42 OR 49-10??
gtforever
April 17th, 2009
1:31 pm
and then you have JB….Jeez…..
RAMBLE ON!!!
April 17th, 2009
2:24 pm
No way will UGAg be better on Offense this year.
Please…
brewdawg
April 17th, 2009
2:24 pm
The only fluke wins are the ones where you hit a long hail mary at the end of the game. 45-42 was no fluke, 41-30 was no fluke, and 49-10 was no fluke. The games my beloved dawgs lost were simply to better teams. On the other hand, 6 out of 8 years with 10 or more wins during the CMR era is no fluke either. UGA is a top ten program. No more (right now) and no less.
Ted Striker
April 17th, 2009
2:32 pm
“I believe VT,NC,NC STATE, and FSU WILL ALL BE BETTER THAN UGA….If you UGAY fans think you are better than Butch Davis’ team or Beamer’s squad this season, please put down the pipe!” — JB
Are any of those teams on the 2009 schedule? They’re not? Nevermind, why let that stand in the way of a good argument. Which leads me to ask JB for his ‘insight’ on these other intriguing non 2009 match-ups:
- Penn State
- USC Trojans
- ‘57 Green Bay Packers
- The Dream Team (Original, not 2000)
- North Korea
- Broadway cast of ‘Cats’
- The Klingon Empire
- San Diego Chicken
- MARTA
- Tiger Woods
(I’m unclear on most of them but I’m convinced the Klingon’s have too good a defense system for UGA to overcome. But I might be willing to take the points).
brewdawg
April 17th, 2009
2:41 pm
Ted,
I believe JB’s point was that he/she believed that all of those ACC teams will be better than UGA , making them like the 6th or 7th best team in said conference. In other words, it was a conference strength point. i think.
Ted Striker
April 17th, 2009
2:57 pm
I think you’re right Brew. I was just messing with ole JB, I’m sure he’s a fine fellow.
m
April 17th, 2009
3:07 pm
Mark, if you really thought that Gailey was a “solid coach”, then you are a fool. Chan Gailey took over a program that had finished in the TOP 25 for five years in a row and was poised to make the jump to a consistent TOP 10-15 program. Instead, we get Gailey who only came to TECH to draw a big paycheck in semi-retirement. NEVER ONCE did Tech finish in the TOP 25 under Gailey. He was an unmitigated disaster; THANK GOD AND GREYHOUND that he is gone forever. It is a shame that journalists like you kissed up to him instead of telling it like it was.
Ted Striker
April 17th, 2009
4:28 pm
@ 3:07 pm. Gailey wore out his welcome at Tech but he was — and is — a solid coach. Bowl every single year at Tech, respectable conference and non-conference records there. Here’s how coaching works: you’re either solid — or you’re out of a job. (Caveat: Sometimes you’re solid but gone pretty quickly anyway).
A coach who’s an “unmitigated disaster” as you claim wouldn’t have the chance to spend parts of 3 decades coaching in the NFL. Gailey did it as a head coach and OC for 3 different teams. He may make it 4 decades. could have done much worse than Chan Gailey.
Paul Johnson
April 17th, 2009
4:58 pm
TO HELL WITH GEORGIA
Supersize that order, mutt
April 17th, 2009
5:57 pm
Ted, Tech HAD done much worse than Gailey, when we had Bill Lewis, but m is so obsessed over Gailey’s failings (and there were many), that you can’t say anything to him about it without being accused of being a Gailey supporter. I didn’t support the man, but he was nowhere near as bad as Bill Lewis.
Ted Striker
April 17th, 2009
6:46 pm
Supersize: Lewis was also the guy that came to my mind as ‘worse than terrible’ at Tech. Which surprised me. He was a pretty good def. coordinator at UGA, then national coach of the year at Eastern Carolina. (Being selected national coach of the year when you’re at EC is like riding the short bus for 11 years — then suddenly becoming valedictorian during your senior year)
I’m a UGA guy, but I always appreciate good coaching and like to see the Tech program healthy, all sports. Tech’s a school where the football coach really has to know his x’s and o’s and also be an above average administrator. With the standards, it’s incumbent to vet athletes more stringently and find guys who are willing to live the “Tech life” — the demands of which are different from other schools. Then on the field you gotta maximize the talent, probably a little better than other schools. And there’s been good success over the years. Bobby Ross was excellent, O’Leary too (ever wonder if he’s sorry he left?) & I thought Curry was good.
I was skeptical about Paul Johnson but I was wrong. He’s obviously onto something big & that’s good for the school, good for the state, and good for rivalries.
NatsorNerds?
April 17th, 2009
8:27 pm
With all the bragging and smack talk you would think the Geeks have actually won their conference in recent memory or even played in a BCS blow. The Chan Gailey will come in PJ soon enough. Last year was an abberation, don’t get too used to it. Dawgs pull your wings off next year and restore order…at the end of the day, you’re still ga tech and you’re still irrelevant….
PTC Jacket
April 17th, 2009
11:26 pm
NatsorNerds?:
With all of the smack talk that you’re posting on GT’s blog, you’re acting like GT lost to yall. Wait, we didn’t. What were you saying again?
Chuck Uga
April 18th, 2009
12:01 am
Mark, don’t you think it’s a little early to predict the winner of the Tech-UGA game?! Maybe because neither you nor anyone else has any clue what each team will do in 2009? No one can predict the injuries either. Or are you just assuming that UGA cannot be any good without Stafford and Moreno like the rest of the sportwriting hacks? Guess all those top recruiting classes are really just smoke and mirrors. Right. Let’s not forget Tech didn’t exactly stop the UGA offense last November. And Richard Samuel’s kickoff fumble along with the other turnover (INT thrown by Stafford) gave Tech two easy scores. Let’s put it this way. Tech won’t slow down the UGA offense which will be BETTER in 2009 (not to mention the D which will be WAY better). UGA wins the SEC East. Book it. And it’s much too early to tell who wins the Tech-UGA game, but you can be sure it will be another classic that will be decided in the 4th quarter.
Chuck Uga
April 18th, 2009
12:15 am
JB…GT Fan, you are either an IDIOT or a child. I would personally like to meet you somewhere and see who is the better man, but I don’t like hurting kids or degenerates. Do you think the UGA-UF rivalry started in 1990?! What happened before that year? Also, who has kicked whose ass in football the past 40 years in the UGA-Tech series? It’s even worse comparing the post-Dooley years for Tech. Even Ray Goff kicked your butts. And last I checked, UGA has a better bowl winning percentage than Tech, and cetainly has played in a lot more bowl games. At least the UGA grads, students and alumni give a dam enough to support the program and a 90,000+ stadium. If all the UGA grads work for Techies after college, how come Techies DON’T SUPPORT THEIR PROGRAM if they own all the companies the UGA grads work for?! Let me reiterate. You are either an IDIOT or a child. Which is it? UGA owns the series record against Florida, and will for decades to come. UGA is 2-2 against UF th past four years, and will be 3-3 over the next six. UGA leads Tech big-time in the series, and CPJ (who is a splendid coach) will be fortunate if he can win more than 40% of the matchups before he leaves for another job (which is inevitable).
JB
April 18th, 2009
1:27 am
Chuck uga, Didn’t tech spank your a** 8 straight years and has 4 national titles to your 1?? Who has the longest losing streak? Which team has the better bowl winning percentage? Which team just spanked you off the field in athens 33-12 in the second half? Your telling me that UGA HAS BETTER ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAN 4 NATINAL TITLES AND HAVE FAIRED BETTER IN THE BOWL GAMES? I posted the scores because another idiot ugay fan like yourself, said 49-10 was a fluke and bragged about beating tech 7 straight! So, look at what uf has done to you guys. IS 17 OF 20 A FLUKE? I posted it for that purpose to show how silly his comment was!
Do you really want to go back in the past again?? History has proven uga has won more in the series, yes. You can have it chuck…we got national titles dumba** and have won at a better clip when it comes time to go bowling! Chuck, are you on drugs or do you have to work hard at being ignorant? I would love for you to meet me and i bet your mortgage that you wouldn’t have nothing to say but something nice or pleasant! Sounds like you need a hug, if you can’t stand the heat get out of the kitchen REDNECK! Only a uga fan would come on a blog and basically make a threat to another fan on a GEORGIA TECH THREAD! Chuck, it is uga fans like yourself that are the annoyance of college football. You blame the weather,refs,injuries on your defeats and can’t take the winning with the losing! Those are common issues that ALL teams deal with, but good teams just GO OUT AND WIN! If you lose, tip your hat to the other team and take it like a man! I don’t expect someone like yourself to BE A MAN, you sound like a keyboard COWBOY to me!! Do you comprehend that bragging rights are from year to year? It has been 5 months already and it seems you are still on suicide watch my friend from the outcome. Your an idiot if you thought you were going to win every game.. So get it over man, and grow up with your pathetic banter and rhetoric about meeting up with you?? You want to hump my leg,sniff my butt,eat my crap?? Wtf….You want to meet me, bring your checkbook and i will take your money if you really think ugay is gonna beat us in atlanta this year! Newsflash, IT WILL NOT HAPPEN!!! Your the 4th toughest game on our schedule, so i will catch you when you guys come limping into atlanta with 4 or 5 losses already!
45-42{uga state runner-up}
67-62{uga state runner-up}
11-6{again beating the #1 bulldogs in athens}
I know it hurts chuck or crybaby..whatever your name is, i got my broom on standby for the sweep! Eat that crow for awhile
JB
April 18th, 2009
8:45 am
Chuck, tech has a better bowl winning percentage idiot.. do i need to copy and paste it, or you will find a way to rebuke that also and call it a fluke? We also have 4 hall of fame coaches, how many in the existence of UGAY’s history have they got? Ooops, i forgot that athens who has 3 less national titles has all the history and achievements on there side?? Run and hide from the facts all you want chuck, you don’t know sh** about college football. Yeah…sure, your gonna go 3 and 3 against florida when you have lost 17 OF THE PAST 20?? Could you be any more of a goofball?? Keep talkin chuck, your better than a ron white or comedy central ever dreamed of!! They should book you on that show, or book you on the mtv show JACKA**! You also have won twice in the last 5 years to get it correct for you! I even copy and pasted it and you still spew out lies? 2 of 5 chuck and 3 wins in the last 20! Don’t run your mouth about a lopsided series when you have one on your hands as well!
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
Thats 5 games chuck, and 2 wins. Quit distorting the truth and learn to READ!! Did you learn anything up there? You surely know how to lie your a** off on this thread moron! ENJOY YOUR 2ND PLACE FINISH IN THIS STATE UNTIL THANKSGIVING! Yeah dude, you guys are on a roll against florida let me tell you! Try not to rollover again next year when you guys play a nationally ranked team. you were 1-3 against teams that were in the final ap poll! Man, you guys are real worldbeaters
45-42 THWG
Mark Bradley
April 18th, 2009
11:21 am
It’s never too early for me to predict anything, Chuck.
In fact, I’m guessing Georgia will beat Georgia Tech 27-24 — in 2019.
Supersize that order, mutt
April 18th, 2009
12:00 pm
WOW, JB, that was AWESOME. You go, boy !!!
Mark Bradley
April 18th, 2009
12:06 pm
OK, Supersize, I’m here at T-Day, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t report that Tech fumbled on the first play of its spring game — just like last year!
Supersize that order, mutt
April 18th, 2009
1:09 pm
Mark, I hope that’s a good omen. Sorry I’m not there, but I live in Augusta and couldn’t make it It’s an hour since you last posted. What’s the latest?
brewdawg
April 18th, 2009
1:22 pm
UGA fan: My team is better than yours!
Tech fan: nu-unh!
6 year old: My dad can beat up your dad!
6 year old’s friend: nu-unh!
Tech fan: We have four national titles!
UGA fan: So?!
7 year old: I have a bigger house than yours!
7 year old’s friend: So?!
Grow up already, both sides. It’s embarrassing for everyone.
Ted Striker
April 18th, 2009
2:11 pm
Mark, Do they give you a BlackBerry to cover T-Day or is there a newspaper rule about conserving batteries on it unless it’s an important event?
(Hey, folks, I’m only kidding).
Supersize that order, mutt
April 18th, 2009
2:19 pm
Ted, I think Mark must have given up, since there was nobody on here at the time he posted. I didn’t see his post until an hour afterwards