Bradley’s Buzz: ESPN damns Georgia Tech with faint praise
When last we encountered Chris Sprow of ESPN.com — and if it seems like just yesterday, that’s because it was — he was saying nicer things about the 2009 Georgia Bulldogs than you’d expect regarding a team ESPN ranks No. 16 in the land. Well, guess who ESPN ranks No. 15?
Aw. You guessed.
The same Mr. Sprow takes on 15th-ranked Georgia Tech (link requires registration) and — wouldn’t you know it? — gushes less about the Jackets than about the Bulldogs. (Let the record reflect that ESPN’s ratings were done not by Sprow but by esteemed former colleague Mark Schlabach, who’s a Georgia grad.) And a magnifying glass isn’t required to read between Sprow’s lines: He wonders if Paul Johnson’s option-based spread is really all that.
As was the case with the Georgia preview, extensive quotation will be done. (Because ESPN’s Insiders is a pay site, and I’m Clark Howard.) So here goes:
• “What [Tech coach Paul Johnson] should do is put the ball in the hands of star tailback Jonathan Dwyer. As a sophomore, Dwyer finished 12th in the nation in rushing with 1,395 yards, but it was what he did on first down that was telling. At home, on 54 attempts, he averaged 11.1 yards per carry, moving from first down to first down.”
• “Tech’s offense — under the leadership of returning junior quarterback Josh Nesbitt — isn’t a complete one-trick pony. It can run in a lot of directions and get a lot of people involved. Consider that Dwyer’s 6.98 yards per carry was over a yard less than freshman Roddy Jones. The kid from Stone Mountain, Ga., went for 8.5 yards whenever he carried the ball.”
• “The bottom line: Tech is set up to be the best rushing team in the country.”
Loading ...• “Despite the offensive plaudits, Tech simply wasn’t dominating on the scoreboard. It outscored opponents by only 4.1 points a game (24.4 to 20.3) for the year, and on those rare occasions when the running game needed a boost from a little passing, it got ugly … Having even a hint of an aerial threat would help. Terrible passing teams that make an effort to improve usually gain a W or two.”
• “As the caretaker of the program, Johnson knows that he earned praise last year not because Tech was so good, but because so little was expected of it. That’s not the case anymore. Last year many looked at the underclassmen dotting the starting lineups and penciled in the team for 3-9.
My two cents: I could’ve sworn Tech was good in 2008 — it finished 9-4 and beat Boston College, Florida State, Miami and Georgia. And I’m inclined to think a team that won nine games in Year 1 under an exceedingly stylized coach would get better with time and a deepened knack for nuance. That’s why I think the Jackets will win the ACC. But I have, as we know, been wrong at least once in my life.
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271 comments Add your comment
WTF???
June 16th, 2009
3:49 pm
Don’t beat around the bush buddy, if you got something to say then say it….
GTech
June 16th, 2009
3:55 pm
The only coach who can overcome the dreaded Bradley curse is, you guessed it, Paul Johnson!
wes
June 16th, 2009
4:00 pm
Per the ESPN Insiders article: “What [Tech coach Paul Johnson] should do is put the ball in the hands of star tailback Jonathan Dwyer.”
That’s “Insider” information? WTF? You PAID for that?
Supersize that order, mutt
June 16th, 2009
4:01 pm
You really shouldn’t talk so badly about yourself, WTF??? LOL
Incidentally, you must have one hell of an easy job, and yet you say it’s been a long day? Hmmm
WTF???
June 16th, 2009
4:02 pm
I didn’t pay for this, and this is some quality data people…
It was on a Bradley post from the other day, some dude named Ken wrote it.
Bradley, you should seriously consider hiring this guy as an assistant.
Obviously Edward needs only to look back as far as 1991 to see how dominating Georgia has been over Tech. If you care to go back a little further, you will find Tech wins 2 games per decade, this trend will not change. You reach back 52 years to boast about a streak, then make a statement about Georgia fans living in the past that’s bright. When was the last time Tech finished in the top 10? Gone to a BCS bowl? Zero. Bobby Dodd was Techs coach when it made its last major bowl appearance, that was in 1966. The 1990 national championship was won in the Citrus Bowl. Yes Tech has tradition , similar to those of Army, Navy, Tulane,Yale, Harvard, perhaps this phrase will bring help you back into reality “in a galaxy long ago and far away”.
WTF???
June 16th, 2009
4:04 pm
Supersize – On Mondays & Tuesdays I plug data into excel workbooks.
Needless to say, I can’t look at excel all day without going crazy(er).
So I typically pull up my workbook on one screen, AJC on the other and get after it.
Data, nerds, data, nerds…
Big Bee
June 16th, 2009
4:26 pm
UGA GUYS, seems to me you are giving too much attention to stopping GT’s offense. You better pay some attention to the other teams you play or they will all whack you!!!
obvious
June 16th, 2009
4:28 pm
let me explain why the D will be better next year.. if you rated each player last year on a scale of 1-100…
our secondary would be ranked about a 50 overall… only burnett was a 90.. the other 3 guys back there were like 30’s (especially when word-daniels was out)… our three D-line men were all 90’s… well now we have 3 D-line men that are about 75’s (peters, 365lb barnes, lanier/walls/anderson) and we have three more secondary guys that are at least 60’s (tarrant, taylor, sweeting, reese)… then just give everyone an extra 5 or so for another year under their belt and you see a total score of like 80 vs. 65 last year
WTF???
June 16th, 2009
4:29 pm
Uh….. I’m not giving any attention to stopping anything but my ass from working (or surfing the net) here in about 5 minutes.
Supersize that order, mutt
June 16th, 2009
4:36 pm
WTF???, the job sounds B-O-R-I-N-G. Just think: If you had gone to Tech, maybe somebody else would be entering that data for you. Or better yet, maybe you could be designing the applications that use that data. Oh, well, c’est la vie !!
Ramblinwreck83
June 16th, 2009
4:53 pm
WTF??? Are you really being realistic abouth UGA season. You lost 90% of your offensive production and UGA’s schedule is brutal. Everyone of my UGA friends actually think that this is going to be a off season. Most think it will be 7-5 or 8-4. Not the BS you speak. I’m not sold on Cox either. He’s got no experience to speak of and i watched the Spring game on ESPN. I saw 1 good pass out of him. Every UGA fan said we would suck last year and they were wrong. I’m pretty sure the Dawgs always underachieve especially when ranked high like 1st. We may not win the ACC but we’ll be in a better position that UGA will be. Don’t be suprised if UGA gets beat down this year by alot of teams including Tech. It’s about time for them to get the tails whipped.
DAWGHATER
June 16th, 2009
8:24 pm
WTF: You said it! You nor your redneck fans have any class! THWG
Bradley attracts mutts like a fire hydrant
June 16th, 2009
8:24 pm
Dang Mark wish you didn’t bring all these mutts along with you……..
DAWGHATER
June 16th, 2009
8:26 pm
WTF: Bite me you redneck dawg sniffin trailer trash piece of chitman! UF and GT romp! 45-42 is sweet. By the way, what was the UF vs UGAly score last year? chitman, I feel like a UGA grad, as I cannot remember. Was it 49-10, or something like that? hmmm…….go ask old as munson, maybe he will remember. LMFAO! LOSERS
DAWGHATER
June 16th, 2009
8:29 pm
WTF: YOU ARE A DILUSIONAL REDNECKERSON WITH A DOUBLEWIDE TRAILER FOR A HOME.
DAWGHATER
June 16th, 2009
8:32 pm
WTF: Roddy Jones is running down the sidelines and he is going all the waaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy babyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy 45-42. You guys suck. You gave up over 400 yards rushing a blewwwwwwwwwww just like you do except you blow hard! a 16 point lead between your smelly chitty hedges in front of 90,000 rednecks. THWG. RAMBLE ON!
DAWGHATER
June 16th, 2009
8:34 pm
UF 49 UGA 10, GT 45 UGA 42! LMFAO!
DAWGHATER
June 16th, 2009
8:35 pm
UGA: I say your basketabll teams wins the national championship this year. You guys are loaded with losers! LMFAO
ShutUpMutt
June 16th, 2009
8:37 pm
Okay people. Georgia tech will NOT be worse on defense. We have excellent secondary and we’re used to losing our defensive guys to the pros. We have always been a defensively-strong team. Having a good offense is what’s new.
Omorege Uzzi and Derek Morgan will step up and lead the D-line. Just watch.
Bradley's Buzz: ESPN damns Georgia Tech with faint praise | Mark … | Georgia Today
June 16th, 2009
10:47 pm
[...] See the original post here: Bradley's Buzz: ESPN damns Georgia Tech with faint praise | Mark … [...]
George P. Burdell
June 16th, 2009
11:08 pm
The really funny part is the Dawg fan thinking Tech didn’t change anything in the second half last year. Go on thinking that and if you ever dare to watch the game again, and know anything about football, you’ll see that Tech made plenty of adjustments. If you think CPJ is going to go out and brag about them, tip his hand, and provide game film to illustrate, then I hope Richt has you on his short list to replace Martinez. Fact of the matter is I’ve always thought Richt has made good in-game adjustments, and I know Johnson does. Should be a lot of fun to watch those two battle in the future.
#1 Tech Fan in the world!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 17th, 2009
12:36 am
Georgia Tech will win the ACC this year with it’s perfect option. Looked what happened last year everybody predicted Tech to go 3-9 with Paul Johnson’s first year at Georgia Tech. So what’s gone to happen this year. Georgia Tech has some good Safty’s with Morgan Burnett which was tied for first in intercuption’s with 6, Also Derrick Morgan our DE Iis on the ACC All-American Team. Remember the Johnson’s option.
CJG
June 17th, 2009
3:30 am
“If Tech beats Georgia 53-18, Georgia will move up to 10th and Tech will drop to 17th.”
If UGA manages to limit GT to only 53 points, I would call that a great moral victory for the Dawgs and would support a slight rise in the rankings for them. Not all the way into the top 25 mind you, but at least throw some votes their way.
Cindy
June 17th, 2009
7:43 am
#1 Tech Fan in the world!!!!!!!!!!!! you need some basic spelling and English grammar courses. Your spelling and sentence structure is horrible. Hopefully you are not a Tech grad.
Sam
June 17th, 2009
7:52 am
George P. Burdell, CPJ has no control over that game film. If opponents don’t get it from him they get it from another coach. Anyway the game film you need to worry about is the one from the Chick-fil-A Bowl. That was the sorriest performance any team has ever displayed in a semi major bowl. Typical Tech though. It must be a Tech tradition to get the head all overly inflated, believe they are some powerhouse team and then go out and get literally beat down by a 5 loss team or some no name team on a blue rug. I can’t wait for the whining, excuse making, and outright nastiness from you nerds when Tech gets beaten by VT, Wake, FSU, UNC, and UGA this year. It’s always only a matter of time until tech goes back to being what they really are. Second tier, second rate, red headed step children in the state of Georgia. Wait until Chan’s players are gone and CPJ has to take on the big boys with his #49 recruiting classes. It’s going to be funny as hell.
Hal
June 17th, 2009
8:06 am
If we stay healthy especially on the O line many good things will happen. That will be the key.
SameOsameO
June 17th, 2009
8:20 am
Prediction: CPJ will leave Tech right about the time Chan’s recruits are gone. Some poor soul will have to come in and try to win with the scrum that CPJ recruited and Tech will fall further to the depths of the ACC cellar. CPJ will thump his chest, toot his own horn, and proclaim his greatness and that of his offense at the top of his lungs without ever having had to prove it with his own players at Tech. It’s all about Paul. I’ll further predict that all you CPJ lovers at that time will be damning him to hell for leaving Tech with players that will never be able to compete in another coaches system. As sure as the sun rises in the east this is going to happen at Tech. CPJ is using Tech just like every other good coach that came here after Dodd. The good ones use Tech and leave. The bad ones get fired. How many coaches has it been since Dodd. 15….20.
snapshot
June 17th, 2009
8:22 am
I think the Jackets could win the ACC but I also know that this is only the second season under Paul Johnson. The program is still work in progress. We were only projected to win 4 or 5 games last year. Coach Johnson will continue to install his system and I am just going to sit back and have fun watching our football team. This is going to be a very good football program. We will just have to wait and see what his high school offense can do.
Ramblinwreck1378
June 17th, 2009
9:55 am
I’m completely floored by the predictions of SameO and Sam. When Chan’s players are gone, Georgia Tech is headed straight for the cellar? This offense requires a totally different player for every position than any other traditional offense. Was Coach Johnson fortunate for inheriting some of Chan’s players, such as Dwyer, Nesbitt, and Thomas? Yes. But these players were not recruited to run the option, they were molded into option players. The option is based upon speed and quickness, not bulk and strength. That’s why the offensive lineman being recruited for Georgia Tech are ranked so low, because other traditional offenses aren’t looking for mobile, smaller offensive lineman. Georgia Tech’s going to be better when Johnson’s “lowly” recruiting class is put onto the field because they’ll fit the system, they’re perfect for it. But Georgia fans, why look so far ahead? Does it pain you to simply look at this upcoming season? If I were you, it would.
Dawgone good dawg
June 17th, 2009
9:56 am
I’m afraid to go the Tech UGA game this year because it’s inside the perimeter. I’ll be bringing my pistol.
obvious
June 17th, 2009
10:06 am
awwwe.. the wittle country boy afraid to go get an azzwhipping in the big city?
Supersize that order, mutt
June 17th, 2009
10:22 am
Ramblinwreck1378, that could not have been said any better. You are 100% correct. Granted, if CPJ were to leave, that would leave us with talent that probably wouldn’t fare too well in other schemes, but I don’t see CPJ leaving anytime soon, if ever. GO JACKETS !!!
SameOsameO
June 17th, 2009
11:23 am
Ramblinwreck1378, it’s about the talent level of Chan’s recruits as opposed to those PJ has recruited. DUUUUHHHHH!!! Do you not see the correlation there. Whether or not Chan’s guys were recruited for this system or not they are by far superior athletically than PJ’s recruits. There will be a difference when that time comes that will allow that comparison. Would any of you prefer PJ’s recruits to Chan’s and go into the 09 season with them instead?
SameOsameO
June 17th, 2009
11:26 am
Oh and btw see what happens to those undersized OLs when faced with the bigger, faster, stronger type DLs.
Excuse me. I forgot. You already have. 38-3!
Melinda
June 17th, 2009
11:27 am
RE: the LSU theory (they figured it out… etc.) How many teams will have a month to prepare for the flexbone? I think all Def. Coordinators at every level of football know how to stop our offense schematically. Executing the scheme is the problem. Players will only see this O once. They will have 4 days to prepare for it. FSU’s Andrews says that FSU didn’t play one defense in the game against Tech, not ONE, that they played against any other team all year. Knowing HOW to stop it and stopping it are two completely different things.
I admit the bowl game (a month off for a rhythm offense and a month to prepare for the opposing D) is what concerns me more than anything. Can we win in January is the question.
Ramblinwreck1378
June 17th, 2009
11:35 am
SameO. I would rather have Chan’s players this year, because they’re older, faster, and more experienced. If I were to start all of Coach Johnson’s players, I would be starting all freshman. You don’t understand the offense, which is why you’re making such off the wall comments. Our offensive linemen aren’t pass blockers, they’re run blockers, usually to the outside. They have to be able to move, pull, and block downfield. Big NFL prototype offense lineman can’t do that kind of stuff normally. And besides, Georgia Tech is never going to get the big recruits anyway. It’d be impossible. We’re competing against Georgia, Alabama, Florida, FSU, Auburn, Tennessee, etc. If we know we’re not going to get the best recruits and best talent, then why not get guys that fit into our system? But don’t worry, our offense didn’t put up enough points against Georgia, did they?
GT Rich
June 17th, 2009
11:41 am
How important are the Clemson and Miami games in weeks 2 and 3?? National tv audience, all the poll voters watching, really sets the stage for the team to impress and rise up in the ranks. What is the likelihood that they blow out both teams (both of which have new D-and O-coordinators)?
GT Rich
June 17th, 2009
11:46 am
Ramblinwreck1378,
Actually our offense didn’t put up enough points. Morgan Burnett had the pick 6. Without the D contributing points, we probably would’ve lost….
GT fan
June 17th, 2009
11:50 am
I have heard some the dumbest things ever from the UGA fans. I keep seeing these post about how the D will be worse this coming season due to the lost of 3 D-lineman to the pros. First of all it was a reason that MJ only started for 1 year overrated. And the two DTs were not great run stoppers/ occupying blockers for the LBs. This year we have two DEs that will thrive and wreak havoc and a solid rotation of DTs (Barnes, Andersen, Walls Peters, Lanier, Hill) that will occupy blockers which will lead to All-ACC perfomances by Griffin and Jefferson. You UGA fans need to worry about who is going get to the QB if yall dont find any playmakers, it is going to be a loooooooong season the mutts
SameOsameO
June 17th, 2009
11:51 am
Ramblinwreck1378 you moron! Talent. Want me to say it a little slower? At the same point in their careers who do you want? The Nesbitts, Dwyers, Jones’, and the rest of that top 10 class or would you want PJ’s less athletic #49ers. More talent vs less talent. Doesn’t take a calculator to figure that one out. Got it now?
Ramblinwreck1378
June 17th, 2009
11:56 am
Good call GT Rich. But no, I don’t think we’ll blow out either team. Miami is definitely going to be stronger, and Randy Shannon is a good coach. And even though they do both have new coordinators, the schemes haven’t changed drastically. I definitely think the Miami game will be tougher, but Clemson is never a cakewalk when we play. I have to say though, if we can come out of there 3-0, the season looks promising. If you really look at it, with the exception of FSU, our hardest games on the schedule are at home. I’m not saying we’re going undefeated, I’m just saying.
Supersize that order, mutt
June 17th, 2009
11:56 am
SameO, UGAG’s bigger, faster, stronger (HA) DL’s sure did the job against Tech last year, now didn’t they? 45 – 42 THWG
Dan
June 17th, 2009
11:59 am
So now Michael Johnson was overrated GT fan? Weren’t you mites gushing over him last year? Athletically the guy was a beast, but his wonderlict score at the combine showed what his real problem was. But you do have a point. And while we’re discussing this, what makes you so confident that this year’s starters will be better than the guys drafted by the NFL. What validates that perception?
Outsider
June 17th, 2009
12:08 pm
GT will be out of ACC contention before Oct 17th.
GTclassof10
June 17th, 2009
12:18 pm
There have been some points made that lead me to hedge my bets this season. My rose colored glasses are still in my pocket. Last year we damn near got beat by Gardner-Webb. FSU fumbles going in for the winning score. Stafford throws the most infamous pick6 in UGA history. We got blown away by UNC and LSU. Guys we could easily have lost 5 games. We didn’t but came damn close to being Chan redoux. If CPJ wins 9 again this year we’ll know it’s for real. If not…….
North Ave Dude
June 17th, 2009
12:41 pm
GT Rich: Excellent Point.
Here’s why I think the CU & Miami games are THE MOST important games of the year, aside from what will be great media coverage.
As games 2 & 3 of the season, CU & Miami will have had PLENTY of pre-season practice time to prepare for the GT-O. UNC in game 4 will also have had lots of pre-season prep time, just not as much as CU & Miami.
I beleive GT will roll big on both CU & Miami. If GT then blows out UNC in game 4, then, IMHO, GT will run the table, 12-0, with a BCS bid to Fiesta or Sugar. If GT crushes these 3 in September, no team on the scheudle will beat GT in 2009.
North Ave Dude
June 17th, 2009
12:44 pm
Get your SI subscriptions now sportsfans.
GT will be THE STORY of the 2009 college footbal season.
MyWhiskeyClear
June 17th, 2009
1:00 pm
NorthAve, *gasp* are you not drinking the VT koolaid? Preseason #5 ya know. I hear they’re supposed to dismantle BAMA then us, run the ACC, go hunting for a MNC, and then cure cancer…..
I jest, but the “Tech Bowl” SHOULD be a rather important game. What’s your take on their prep time and focus? I hold that if we beat them and stop UNC’s supposed “SEC-calibre” uprising. We can beat Clemson and Miami again and make it to that ACC-C game. Then it’s rematch time against FSU, and at that point we’ll either be so cocky after beating the Dawgs for a second time that we’ll have a terrible post-season, or we’ll be so motivated after losing to them that we push on pure adrenaline through to game 14. Either way, I’m starting to hate VT.
Southside Same
June 17th, 2009
1:02 pm
I agree with NAD.
CPJ & D-Rad know these 2 games (Clemson & the U), early in the college footbal season, on Thursday night, are VERY IMPORTANT.
CPJ will want to make a BIG SPLASH on national TV… for the players, for himself, for his staff, for the whole GT program.
You can bet Tech is gonna light’em up, with the Off scoring 40+ each game.
Ramblinwreck1378
June 17th, 2009
1:07 pm
I think we’re getting ahead of ourselves. We should calm down and focus on winning one game at a time. The national championship is in January for gods sake.