Tech’s Morgan: “We want to win the ACC championship”
Derrick Morgan: Even if you hold him, you can't really stop him. (AJC photo by Jason Getz)
Most of the other Jackets trudged the two blocks from their practice field to the locker room, but Derrick Morgan, the splendid defensive end, rolled up in an SUV. A young woman had happened by and had offered Morgan and two Georgia Tech teammates a lift, and they weren’t inclined to say no.
“In the nick of time,” Morgan said, smiling. “That walk after practice feels long.”
What this tells us: Derrick Morgan is a pragmatist. He’s not one to traffic, so to speak, in posturing. Why walk when you can ride? Why jump up and down shouting, “Hey, look at us,” when you figure your team has the wherewithal to make people notice yet again?
Some Tech folks were disappointed the Jackets weren’t ranked higher than No. 15 in the coaches’ and Associated Press preseason poll. Morgan wasn’t among them. “I didn’t think we’d be that high,” he said. “We were embarrassed by LSU [in the Chick-fil-A Bowl]. I was expecting us to be lower.”
This isn’t to say Morgan expects Tech to underperform in Year 2 under Paul Johnson. “We want to win the ACC championship,” Morgan said, “and then we have to take it to the next level: We want to win a bowl game. We haven’t won one of those in I-don’t-know-how-long.” [Tech's last postseason victory: Dec. 21, 2004, over Syracuse in the Champs Sports Bowl.]
Morgan plays defense, but he also sees Tech’s stylized offense every day. A visitor posits the semi-popular notion that opponents will be better able to stop Johnson’s spread option in 2009 because they had a look at it in 2008. A valid point?
“Uh, no — just to be blunt,” Morgan said. “Seeing it can’t get you ready for everything. And how long are you really going to have to prepare for it? A week at the most.”
Morgan remembers the first time his defense went against the first-team offense in spring practice 2008: “We didn’t know what hit us. We knew what it looked like, but we saw its potential unleashed.”
And what’s it like to face that offense? “Not fun. You have to be really cognizant of cutback blocks and the blind side. You have to be really assignment-sound.”
As for Tech’s D: Much has been made over Morgan’s missing linemates — Michael Johnson, Vance Walker and Darryl Richard, all drafted by NFL teams — but it must be noted that the Jackets return a starter at every other defensive spot. It must also be noted that Morgan, whom Tech insiders considered the best of the linemen, believes he has improved.
“I was looking at some tape of last year,” he said, “and I think I’m a lot better now. I know there’s more attention on me, but we’ve still got a great defensive line.”
Loading ...So, if you’re planning to categorize Tech as a one-year wonder, you won’t find a willing audience wearing No. 91. “I would not agree with that,” Morgan said, smiling again. He also said this: “With the type of talent we have, we can compete with the best teams in the country. Our goal is to win every game.”
And this, remember, is a pragmatist speaking, not some dewy-eyed dreamer. But before we leave Derrick Morgan, we must present his one blue-sky dream. That long slog from the practice field? He sees a workaround.
“We need one of those things they have in airports,” he said. “A moving sidewalk.”
At last check, there are a few engineers on campus. Get moving, people!
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184 comments Add your comment
Mark Bradley
August 26th, 2009
4:28 pm
Remember how Coleman Rudolph got double- and triple-teamed as a senior, GT45? Derrick Morgan figures to see the same. So somebody’s going to have some openings.
macrotech
August 26th, 2009
4:29 pm
Champaign Dawg, ya’ll have been good the past several years…just keep it up so that the state of Georgia can be represented as the football capital of the world! Be patient, we’re getting there.
Champaign Dawg
August 26th, 2009
4:31 pm
On a different topic, I just got to wondering who should I expect to hear from regarding my publishers clearing house sweepstakes winnings now that Ed McMahon has passed away.
AlabamaRamblinwreck
August 26th, 2009
4:31 pm
Simple comparison between GT and UGA:
UGA has a football program, and oh yes, by the way, they also have some type of school located in the same general vicinity.
GT has an elite technical school, and by the way, they also field a competitive football team.
Go Jackets!!!
Sting 'em Buzz
August 26th, 2009
4:33 pm
Hey Dogtards,
Unfortunately, St. Simons is not the only one.
Therein lies
August 26th, 2009
4:33 pm
I see Champaign Dawg’s issues now.
Timbo C.
August 26th, 2009
4:34 pm
macrotech – look, UGA has five or six rivals that hate our guts (tech chief among them). Tech has one. For Christ sakes, you guys have a little drum ritual ceremony BEFORE EVERY GAME where you chant “pi$$ on a dawg.” I could maybe see that being okay on georgia gameday….but before you play Jax State. The visceral and constant (and childish) hatred has towards georgia is not returned in full. Believe me. YOu guys stand alone as being unhealthily obsessive.
macrotech
August 26th, 2009
4:34 pm
Champaign Dawg, THAT’S easy…… REGIS!!!
Mark Bradley
August 26th, 2009
4:35 pm
Were I Tech fan, I’d take the Georgia barbs as a compliment. Georgia fans tend to get interested in the Jackets only when they perceive a threat.
Tech fans, as we know, are interested in Georgia every day of every year.
Dawg Foot
August 26th, 2009
4:35 pm
NERDS – stick to building computers and robots. You never be in the league of UGA.
Pi$$onaDawg
August 26th, 2009
4:36 pm
Champ Dawg I was saying be safe on the Holiday weekend. That will be next weekend and with all the FOOTBALL and Drinking it could get ugly. I bet the Free clinics around many colleges will have visits for the next 2 weeks. A SHOT can’t cure everything.
True dat
August 26th, 2009
4:39 pm
It is true many GT graduates are bosses, presidents, CEO’s etc…. Also many of them leave the state and country to lead in their respective fields. Couple that with the fact that UG’s student body is 3 times as large and any person in the state who has a pickup truck is a UG fan. That is why UG fans outnumber GT fans so much. Not to mention that when you speak of not selling out the games, GT has to compete with many other activities in Atlanta whereas UG is the only game in town.
Pi$$onaDawg
August 26th, 2009
4:39 pm
Dawg Foot TECH was in you league but we learned how to read and write so we moves to the ACC.
John
August 26th, 2009
4:39 pm
Very true Mark.
JR
August 26th, 2009
4:40 pm
As good as Paul Johnson’s offense has been in recent memory, it is also worth noting that Johnson doesn’t have a splendid record in his career. As coach at Navy, he was 45-29. That’s nothing stellar. Sure, he’s got better players now at Tech, but he’s playing against equally better players as well. His first year at Tech was representative of what he’s done his entire career – confuse a lot of defenses, win a lot games, but rarely put up anything better than a 4-loss season.
Question
August 26th, 2009
4:41 pm
Mark – where did you go to school?
Pi$$onaDawg
August 26th, 2009
4:41 pm
your . So, moved Damn Jackie D is kicking my typing butt. I should add some more ice to Jackie’s pool.
Champaign Dawg
August 26th, 2009
4:42 pm
Pi$$er, I just got back from 2 weeks vacation and knew that labor day was coming up. Saw your post and thought I was off a whole weekend. Glad to know I wasn’t.
Yep – gonna be a rowdy weekend 10 days from now. I’ll be tailgating with the Fighting Illini and its a dim reflection of the Athens experience. But its still college football.
macrotech
August 26th, 2009
4:42 pm
Timbo C., are you suggesting that uga is the ONLY school that has multiple rivalries?! PLEASE, tell me that you’re not one of those fans that thinks that the world revolves around athens. I assure you that Clemson, Fla. State, NCST, etc. assume great venom for Tech on the weeks that we play. All you have to do throughout the rest of the year is look at ANY blog regarding Tech or uga and you’ll find an annually focused ‘hatred’ between these two institutions. We ALL have multiple rivals….uga is our biggest.
Sting 'em Buzz
August 26th, 2009
4:43 pm
Champaign Dawg, that probably wasn’t me. I’ve only been around these blogs for a month or so and try to keep it real. I am not a GT student or alum, just a fan of the team. I went to a NAIA school with a severe lack of football. My family was all UGA fans but a neighbor introduced me to Tech when I was 6 and I’ve been a Yellow Jacket in spirit ever since. 26 years.
gator
August 26th, 2009
4:45 pm
Timbo C – That’s because no on likes UG or their fans. Except UF. Go Gators.
Sting 'em Buzz
August 26th, 2009
4:47 pm
True dat,
Hey now, I’m a Tech fan and own a pickup truck.
Champaign Dawg
August 26th, 2009
4:49 pm
Pi$$er, I need some a what you’re drinking.
Sting em. Fair enough. Keep it real. Though I will say your family may have dropped the ball as far as indoctrinating you. My 6 year olds sing the fight song, recite Larry Munson quotes, know the numbers of many past UGA greats, and they know with complete confidence that…
Gators eat boogers.
Timbo C.
August 26th, 2009
4:49 pm
macrotech – if all those schools are “rivals” of tech’s than why does tech do that g@y “piss on ‘em” cheer before every single game. It’s such a queer little ritual. I mean, really? Maybe tech has other “rivals,” but you won’t find us doing anti-tech cheers on the day Georgia is playing Auburn, SC, Tennesse, Florida or Clemson. Tell me that tech isn’t obsessed with georgia. Go ahead, try to say it with a straight face.
True dat
August 26th, 2009
4:49 pm
Ok, point taken. But is it four wheel drive, jacked up with fog lights on the top?
GT45
August 26th, 2009
4:50 pm
Good memory, Mark-
Sting 'em Buzz
August 26th, 2009
4:51 pm
It is not.
Pi$$onaDawg
August 26th, 2009
4:52 pm
CHAMP Dawg I know you must have like the falls and winters at UGA better than the cold north. How many weeks do you get sweater weather to Tail Gate? We went to the Notre Dame game 2 yrs ago but it was early in the season. I think the 2nd or 3rd game. The weather was great and the FANS were so nice. They helped dad and I to get to the HOF, the Chapel, and TOUCHDOWN JESUS at the Library.
Question #2
August 26th, 2009
4:52 pm
Mark – I see you went to Kentucky, an SEC school, but that’s ok. My point I have with your last post is if UG fans didn’t jump in on your articles about Tech, each time slamming GT, then I doubt we’d pay very much interest. It is when you’re being constantly attacked it gets old. Bla Bla this and Bla Bla that. Tiresome.
Champaign Dawg
August 26th, 2009
4:52 pm
Timbo C.
To be fair, we do sing “To Hell with Georgia Tech” after every touchdown.
Sting 'em Buzz
August 26th, 2009
4:53 pm
Champaign,
My daughter boos anyone wearing a Bulldog hat or shirt. Her mother gets so embarassed. I just have to smile. That’s what she gets for buying me a UGA shirt as a prank.
Timbo C.
August 26th, 2009
4:53 pm
Champaign – eh, most dawg fans subsitute “georgia tech” with the name of the school that we’re playing that day. I guess most of us aren’t as preoccupied with tech as others.
GT Alum
August 26th, 2009
4:54 pm
JR, I am not picking on you but I need to point out you are incorrect again. “rarely put up anything better than a 4-loss season”… He only had 3 losses once at Southern in 5 years. I understand the record at Navy wasn’t amazing, but did you know that when all Div-1 coaches were polled as to the one coach they wouldn’t want to face the most popular answer was Paul Johnson?
Hello huh?
August 26th, 2009
4:55 pm
You been sick? (we don’t need to make any excuse to a dog)
Question. Most of these blogs have fairly recent information. But the civilians/pedestrians that comment are mostly amusing-seldom clever. That seems to be normal…so what is the problem?
Champaign Dawg
August 26th, 2009
4:55 pm
Hey Pi$$er,
Yeah, give me fall in Athens any day. Went to a game here last year and had to wear about 7 layers. The first 3 or 4 home games will be pretty nice though. They have one great big field beside the stadium that is basically one giant tailgate. Lots of fun.
Ain’t never been over to South Bend, but maybe one day.
Sting 'em Buzz
August 26th, 2009
4:57 pm
compare that 45-29 to before and after PJ at Navy
How many years have you watched Army and Navy compete to see who sucks less in their annual game?
Pi$$onaDawg
August 26th, 2009
4:59 pm
Had fun FANS. All the Trucks are in and I need to start Bushogging the back pasture around the pond. Now, can the UGA fans get a LAUGH and the TECH fans wonder? DAMN, a real REDNECK TECH fan that lives on a farm and owns a trucking company. hahaha I will be in the same seat I have been in for the last 12 years. Dad and I changed seats. But my ass will still be in DODD as it has been since 74.
Champaign Dawg
August 26th, 2009
4:59 pm
Timbo. Sorry to disagree, but I’ve been going to UGA games since I was 8 and can’t recall a single time where I heard somebody substitute some other school in the fight song, replacing the unofficial “Georgia Tech” lyrics. I spent 4 years sitting in the student section watching every single game and never once heard anyone say anything other than “to hell with Georgia Tech.”
Maybe things have changed in the last few years. Or maybe there’s some pocket of the stadium where folks find a way to make South Carolina fit into those 3 syllables of the song.
I’m just saying I never heard that ever.
Sting 'em Buzz
August 26th, 2009
5:01 pm
have a good one pi$$ona… I spend my Saturdays on the field in stripes tossing yellow flags so I don’t get to see as much Tech football as I would like.
Timbo C.
August 26th, 2009
5:03 pm
Champaign – class of ‘99 here and the entire time I was there the student section would sub for whoever we were planning. Maybe it was like that prior to 1999, but that was the case then as it is now. There’s even a contingent that spells out G-E-O-R-G-I-A. Point is, there’s different versions. Techies only blindly hate georgia if they’re playing Gardner-Webb. My point – it’s sad.
quaildawg
August 26th, 2009
5:04 pm
Mark,
You skimmed the surface with your questioning the loss of the three D-linemen and how that might impact this season for Tech but I think once again that there is too much focus on how Tech’s offense will fare in season two or should I say how opponents will fare against Tech’s offense having had exposure and film to study. The pointed questions should be “you lost middle of your defense to the NFL draft. It was obvious from the UGA and LSU games that your defensive backfield is a liability, save for Burnett, so please explain to me how you plan on being better?
For all the hoopla, justifiably so, about UGA’s inability to tackle in the Tech game the same could be pointed out about Tech’s inability to put pressure on Stafford and their D’backs were equally gashed by UGA’s receivers.
Funny how a once in eight tries W can help one to gloss over this fact.
quaildawg
August 26th, 2009
5:21 pm
To add to my post for verificaton:
UGA Had 22 1st Downs of which 19 were by pass.
Tech had 421 yds rushing (and as you mentioned completed 1 pass)
UGA had 407 yds Net Passing Yards(lost 12 yds on 2 sacks)
UGA Averaged 10.2 yds. per catch
Stafford had 5 Passing TD’s
UGA was 4-4 in the Red Zone.
Having lost the gut of their Defense…
Seems to me Tech better be REALLY good on offense or they are going to be a pedestrian 7-5 or 8-4 this year.
Champaign Dawg
August 26th, 2009
5:31 pm
Timbo. Class of 94 myself. Not trying to be difficult. I just think this is more nuanced than you think it is. Clearly, UGA’s got a bunch of big rivals. And I think right now, most UGA fans would say Florida is the biggest one (at least the one we’d most like to beat). But I think alot of fans (especially those older than you and me) see GT as our biggest rival. The “piss on a dawg” song is just a silly little tradition and I’ve got no problem with it. Especially given the way the rivalry has gone in recent decades. I don’t think its sad. Its just a tradition. Just like “to hell with Georgia Tech” is.
so….back to the fight song. I am not doubting your experience of hearing folks substitute whatever team we’re playing into the lyrics. I never heard it myself. But I’ll choose to trust that was your experience. (i’m still struggling with the idea of singing to hell with Middle Tennessee State” but that’s just me).
Regardless, whenever you hear that fight song in the off-season or just on its own, 9 times out of 10 you’re gonna hear GT in the lyrics.
I’m rambling. Time for beer.
GT GRAD
August 26th, 2009
5:32 pm
I am simply ready for some college football.
Go GT!!
truth
August 26th, 2009
5:39 pm
ACC 6-4 vs sec 2008 season
JR
August 26th, 2009
5:45 pm
GT Alum, you’re going to go back to lower sub-division Georgia Southern to defend Paul Johnson? Lots of coaches had stellar records at the lower subdivision schools (see Bobby Johnson for Vanderbilt), but that doesn’t explain away the fact that in the seven years Johnson has been at a coach at the highest level of collegiate football, he’s only once had a season where his team lost less than four games.
It should come as no surprise that coaches would not want to face Paul Johnson. He runs a bizarre offense, so it takes a lot of extra work to prepare for it. But not wanting to face him doesn’t entail coaches can’t handle it. Les Miles didn’t mind facing him last year, that’s for sure.
Instead of relying on polls to defend your coach, face the facts. I’m not saying Johnson can’t put together a complete, dominant season. I’m just saying that at the top level of college football, he hasn’t been able to do that, save one year at Navy when he went 10-2.
And to go back to your earlier point, you said Tech only lost to LSU because of special teams. The special teams’ disaster was in part attributable to Paul Johnson. He made a boneheaded call, on top of the fact that his vaunted offense couldn’t put a single touchdown in the end zone.
Champaign Dawg
August 26th, 2009
5:45 pm
Alright TRUTH, question for you.
When comparing one conference’s record against another conference, does it matter if that record includes mostly games where the better teams in one conference are playing, in general, the worst teams in the other conference?
Hey Dogtards
August 26th, 2009
5:46 pm
First off, special thanks to Champaign Dog – you clearly are the champaign of dog posters. I hope you come around more often as opposed to most of the hacks on here.
“UGA has five or six rivals that hate our guts (tech chief among them). Tech has one.”
Except for Clemson (huge rival); VT (huge rival); FSU (medium); Miami (medium); and UNC (medium).
I guess you could also include Auburn, although its a shame we don’t play them anymore.
“As good as Paul Johnson’s offense has been in recent memory, it is also worth noting that Johnson doesn’t have a splendid record in his career. As coach at Navy, he was 45-29. That’s nothing stellar.”
45-29 at Navy is a MAJOR accomplishment. Particularly that ND game. What a game!!
“Champaign – class of ‘99 here and the entire time I was there the student section would sub for whoever we were planning. Maybe it was like that prior to 1999, but that was the case then as it is now. There’s even a contingent that spells out G-E-O-R-G-I-A.”
First, Tim, you should probably learn the history of your own school a little better. G-E-O-R-G-I-A is the official song. I’ve been to athens a fair share for games other than tech, and there are still a LOT of people who say to hell with GT even when they aren’t playing GT. You don’t see that the other way around.
And Champaign – wikipedia claims that “South Carolina” is shortened to “USC” for the chant.
Champaign Dawg
August 26th, 2009
5:55 pm
Quality post – - -tard.
But you didn’t answer my question about conference records against other conferences.
What say you?
Old Dawg
August 26th, 2009
6:12 pm
Mutts-R-Stupid-especially-journalism-majors: where in the world do you get the death penalty idea? UGA hasn’t been handed a major probation in forever, and none of the recent minor infractions have included “lack of institutional control” in the NCAA’s paperwork. Comments like that are on the same level as Glenn Beck’s tirades on Fox News.