How will Tech’s Johnson handle the post-Miami scrutiny?
Tech quarterback Josh Nesbitt gets squeezed by the guys in orange. (AP photo)
Most teams can lose and have it just be a loss. When Georgia Tech loses, it’s an indictment of Paul Johnson. This mightn’t be fair, but it’s reality: When your stock in trade is a stylized offense, any reversal is going to be personalized. And Paul Johnson, as we know, tends to take things personally.
As noted earlier, he delights in flouting conventional wisdom, especially when it comes to his offense. Well, that offense just managed 95 yards rushing against Miami — 377 fewer than it did against the same Hurricanes 10 months ago. Yes, Jonathan Dwyer got hurt early, but Tech was supposed to have increased depth in the backfield, was it not?
So now Johnson will have to hear this topic bandied about in both cyberspace and the real world: Has the rest of college football caught on to his spread option? And he’s going to say no, that the offense if run properly will always work against any opponent, but how he wearies of the whole discussion and turns testy?
The loss to Miami was far more comprehensive than the Chick-fil-A thrashing by LSU. That game could be explained away — and Johnson tried — as a failure of motivation and special teams. The offense, he would say, wasn’t at fault. Well, this time it was. The offense did nothing. The defense did less. The Jackets trailed by 14 points at the half and by 23 after three quarters, and now nobody’s really sure what to make of Tech.
“I think we’re going to be good,” Johnson said a couple of weeks ago, but the near-flop against Clemson and the total collapse against Miami have left everything open to question. And next comes North Carolina, which came closest to shutting down that offense last season, and dates with Florida State and Virginia Tech — and yes, with Georgia — still remain.
A cult of personality has arisen ’round Johnson. Tech fans love his tough talk, and they loved it even more when he beat Georgia. But now his highly regarded team has suffered a major blow, and it’s incumbent on PJ not to take the inevitable questions — from both fans and media — as signs of insubordination.
He gets paid a lot of money to coach his team. Here’s where PJ has to duck his head, ignore the chatter and keep coaching.
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354 comments Add your comment
Pi$$onaDawg
September 18th, 2009
7:59 pm
I will never say Pi$$m in a bottle of Jack Daniels. I did hear every word with BAMA in it ends with “It is OK cause she is my SISTER”.
WOW
September 18th, 2009
8:01 pm
Piss on your brain!!! You play a game on Sept. 5. Twelve days later you play Miami. The problem is english is not your first language. The phrase “played 3 games in 12 days ” is inaccurate. You can say “played 2 games in 12 days” to be accurate. Good luck piss brain!!
Habersham Dawg
September 18th, 2009
8:18 pm
Pi$$onaDawg,
Are you serious? You made this comment? “POLLACK call me if you can put the phone to your ear and bend your BROKEN neck (HAHAHHA) to respond.”
Grow up my man. You hit a new low by making fun of someone who broke their neck. I shake my head being ashamed that you populate the earth.
NerdKnocker
September 18th, 2009
8:18 pm
WOW, that was funny!! Good luck on trying to convince ole pi$$ boy though. Full of enthusiasm after a very fortunate win against UGA by a late 3 points but now full of excuses for the sorry bug team that got exposed on national TV last night. I tell ya, that was a fun game to watch. Miami abused that high school team worse than LSU did in the chicken bowl. If UGA had a DC and OC we would rock the SEC but Richt is very stubborn about staff changes which will slowly bring about his demise. I believe Fulmer understands that now. Hind sight is 20-20 though, right?
NerdKnocker
September 18th, 2009
8:22 pm
Pi$$onaDawg, WOW has put you in your place. Now what excuse do you have? Was it just too hot down in South Florida? Too few GT fans at the game? Not enough big guys on OL & DL? What????
Pi$$onaDawg
September 18th, 2009
8:23 pm
WOW let us try it again. KICK OFF to KICK OFF was less than 13 days right or wrong? I do take ESL classes though. Sept. 5 Jax State noon pm, Sept. 10 Clemson 7:45 pm, and Sept. 17 Miami 7:45 pm. How do you count? WOW you are so smart now try to show me how many 24 hour days are between the first game and the last game. PLEASE prove me wrong YOU GOD of MATH.
Pi$$onaDawg
September 18th, 2009
8:29 pm
Haberpup POLLACK talks crap on the radio like he could play, but truth is when he had to play the big boys he got hurt. He is the big mouth and attitude of the Greene/Pollack UGA years and where are either of them? ON the RADIO hahahah RADIO. I broke my back and my neck thank you. I hated trying to use the toilet with the HALO on.
NerdKnocker
September 18th, 2009
8:32 pm
Who the fork cares, Pi$$?????? The schedule was signed off on and approved way, WAY before this year. What does a couple of days difference make? Is that your forkin’ excuse for getting your @$$ handed to you on national TV??? Is that all you have??? Is that it??? In other words, if GT had had the normal time to prepare for the game (based upon the total disaster that we all witnessed last night) are you actually entertaining the delusion that GT would have come out on top? What in the fork are you smoking??????
Pi$$onaDawg
September 18th, 2009
8:38 pm
NERD.Master.Bates: Please get a real watch and learn to tell time. 9/5/09 @ NOON to 9/17/09 @ 7:45. Can you show me how that equals 13 days? A day is still 24 hours is it not? Well, I know it is hard for you to count because UGA started as #1 and you can’t do the math to know what they really were.
Pi$$onaDawg
September 18th, 2009
8:40 pm
NERD what is U’r sucse for getting BAREASSED by Okie State after 3 months to get ready?
Habersham Dawg
September 18th, 2009
8:40 pm
Pi$$onaDawg,
Grow up. Are you that insecure of yourself and your football team that you have to make fun of a man who broke his neck? Class act, my friend, class act.
Mark Bradley
September 18th, 2009
8:43 pm
Let’s move on, shall we?
Pi$$onaDawg
September 18th, 2009
8:44 pm
I can’t hear YOU! I can’t hear You! 3 months and CMR is still holding J. Cox and the MAN. HAHAHAHAH. OK. Is Joe going to get better after 3 month to prepare for OSU and then a week to play THE GATORS. HAHAHAH. I will thak the over on a 75 pt. game. After Sat. when the Gators kill UT how do you think UGA is better?
Pi$$onaDawg
September 18th, 2009
8:45 pm
yes MB BYE thanks sir.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
September 18th, 2009
8:45 pm
Bradley,
You need to remove his posts. That S.O.B needs a good arse woopin
NerdKnocker
September 18th, 2009
8:53 pm
Habersham Dawg, cut the little girl some slack. She still has her panties all bunched up over the total beat-down of the North Avenue Trade School back in (2002?) when both Greene & Pollack were playing. I remember the score at 48 – 0 before UGA put in ALL of their scrubs and graciously allowed GT to score late in the game. She still has issues over that game so just keep that in mind. I think she’s on some very strong meds after seeing Miami whip the ever-loving bee $h!t out of GT. Please allow Pi$$ enough time to heal – she’s such a pansy and you’ll just make her pi$$ her little panties and then be spanked hard for doing it. Let’s just give her some time. Okay?
Jon Heisman
September 18th, 2009
8:57 pm
Stop overreacting Tech nation. Mistakes will be corrected. And don’t even bother reading dog fan posts. I just skip them. It really shows how much our win in Athens must sting that they take the time to come post in our blog! I am encouraged.
techredneck
September 18th, 2009
9:04 pm
I’m not gonna sit here and make excuses, suggest fire some coach, refs made some stupid call against us. And talk about what tech needs to do next game. Block more, pass more, some player had the flu, and on and on. WE GOT BEAT BY A BETTER TEAM. PERIOD. mAYBE WE CAN GET IT TOGETHER NEXT GAME. DAMMIT
NerdKnocker
September 18th, 2009
9:09 pm
Jon, we would normally not do this but since your rabid GT fans delight in rubbing UGA’s nose in it on OUR blogs we just thought we’d return the favor. The GT – UGA game is usually a rivalry game but this year it will be total war. After stringing 7 in a row on your pathetic school, you manage to defeat UGA by a mere 3 points and GIVE EACH TECH PLAYER A RING. It seems that the game against UGA means a whole lot more to you clowns. Seriously – a ring for beating your in-state rival? By 3 points? By assistance from the ref’s because of UGA’s end zone dance against UF? If that gives you satisfaction then I feel sorry for you – I really do. Good luck after being caned by the Canes!!! Heh heh.
Kingcane
September 18th, 2009
9:21 pm
C-A-N-E-S
StormBrewin'
September 18th, 2009
9:34 pm
CANES…………..yeah. Uh Huh. The Canes can deal with a trick offense. Paul Johnson is a non-factor now that we have the players to stop that high school junk. Out coached you GT, huh? Did I call the score correctly? I believe I did – 33 to 17 Miami. Yep – there you have it. Don’t come back down here looking for a win because you’ll just wind up leaving in tears with your heads hung down. Ha ha ha ha ha ha haaaaaaa!!!!!!! GO CANES!!!!!!!!
Johnny Test
September 18th, 2009
10:26 pm
PI$$on a dog, it is a good thing teck is in the ACC and they don’t have to play LSU and Florida and Arkansas and Tennessee. It would be uglier than it’s already going to be… TECK will lose to North Carolina, FSU, Virginia Tech, Vanderbilt and UGA. That’ll be 6 and 6 and yopu’ll be beggin for Chan. You need a life cause you are a real goober.
Johnny Test
September 18th, 2009
10:28 pm
JON H. We’re only hear cause azzwipe tech fans live on UGA blogs. When they go away we go away. We don’t fret about teck cause you are our bitch.
Starring Jack Webb as the terse Sergeant Joe Friday
September 18th, 2009
11:52 pm
Dream eliminated by Shock from WNBA Playoffs.
Forget about college football.
This is terrible news.
Footballnut29
September 19th, 2009
12:47 am
Boy Houston is a good team. You puppies will have to wait when we wipe the field with you.
macrotech
September 19th, 2009
1:01 am
Johnny Test, don’t mind that you’re here, but you lose any right to say that Tech (the correct spelling) is irrelevant….WHY else would you be on a blog about them? Feel free to stick around and make brilliant statements like, “We’re only hear (it’s here)….”. Your ‘bitch’ has twice the national championship trophies your pups have. Keep filling up those seats….ALL the more to witness 10+ win seasons with no NC trophies to show for it.
honest_abe
September 19th, 2009
3:09 am
at least tech and uga fans can agree on one thing… pi$$onadawg is a douche. in fact he gets the award for most annoying blogger of the year.
saint simons
September 19th, 2009
5:45 am
I love Paul’s Johnson
GWB
September 19th, 2009
6:25 am
Johnson will react like the jackazz he is. This team is already quitting on him. By season’s end they will have totally left the building. This is the most out of shape football team that I have ever seen as well and it is way too late to do anything about that isn’t it. That is solely the fault of the “great” Paul Johnson.
LandShark
September 19th, 2009
6:29 am
33 -17 hahahahahahahaha
Zzzzzzzzzzzz
September 19th, 2009
6:50 am
CPJ has asked that all his doubters form a line on North Avenue and Techwood. He said each of you will be given an opportunity to press your lips against each cheek of his buttocks.
St. Simons, where are you???
September 19th, 2009
9:16 am
“St. Simons”…do you ever hang out here on your own team’s blog…or do you just show up to annoy Dawg fans on the UGA blog? Do you recall these numbers? (((31-17))), (((15-12))), (((14-7))), (((19-13))), (((34-17))), (((51-7))), (((31-17)))…Are you still laughing??? (Tech fans, if you don’t understand this message, please read any of the postings by your fellow GT fan, “St. Simons”, which show up regularly on most of the UGA blogs.)
Dawghater
September 19th, 2009
10:20 am
It’s clear by reading the majority of posts not too many understand football! If you watched and studied the game you would notice a large number of mis assignment. The spread or triple option (pick a name) is dependent on everyone making their blocks and making their reads. This is not happening. You can pick your reason. It’s either bad execution or the athletes asked to execute can’t? I read a bunch of BS about this offense is “figured out” the offense is “no longer a secret” etc, etc, etc,! Execute the offense the way it’s suppose to be done and it works. Don’t and you get what happened Thursday night. The loss of Jaybo Shaw has contributed more to the early season offensive woes than expected. Josh Nesbitt is not improved over last season. Not having Shaw to bring in when the offense is not clicking is hurting.
And for the puppy dawg fans! Boost and take all the shots you want! And your so vocal about UGA barely beating S. Carolina and their massive offense? Neither UGA or GT is showing they deserve to be ranked at this point! Talk trash all you want but a real football fan sees their team for what they are!
techster
September 19th, 2009
11:06 am
Well we know there is one DC who has yet to figure out this “high school” offense. Who is that? Willie M. over at UGA. Seriously, in our last 4 games against UGA, LSU, Clemson, and Miami, do not count J. St. in only 1 of those games has our offense played great.
Joe taxpayer
September 19th, 2009
11:06 am
Enter your comments here
Brian Jones
September 19th, 2009
11:07 am
UGA people shut up until yall figure it out which slick willie wont. Second everyone he has been running this for 27 years there is no stopping it watch the video of the game on 5 different plays if the A- backs makes a block instead of falling to ground we score 5 times the blocking has been poor on edges and by oline if you put navys line in place of ours we would go 13 0 swo just settle down
Jack_in_Homestead (FL)
September 19th, 2009
11:14 am
Sandy Springs 6 Pack
September 18th, 2009
1:51 pm
Jack_in_Homo (FL):
The Poo has been a joke since Butch left (2001 was all Butch’s team). If you hadn’t noticed, UF has won 2 nc’s and will probably win a third this yr. FSU has also been pathetic this decade. If a state is to be divided up b/w rivals and 2 of 3 stink stank stunk, then 1 will be oh-so-dominate. See UF and Urban Meyer. Don’t you think the Pac-10 is pulling for UCLA to become relevant?
You are the epitome of ”Florida is America’s Colon”.
Have you applied some weather seal to your concrete block house? Do you park your John boat in front of the house or on the side?
————————————————————————————————————————————————–
Your first post made me suspicious but your second post confirmed it. You are not stupid at all. No not all all. You would need about TWENTY MORE IQ POINTS to qualify as stupid. You have to look UP at stupid.
Your childish rambling reply aptly confirms that you have’nt a clue. Let’s put it this way …if you were a light-bulb…you’d have to be changed. You know nothing of recruiting or the history of the schools in Florida.
Here’s a list of suggestions that should help you going forward :
(1) Go get that GED.
(2) Join the local library
(3) Listen to public radio…apparently all that sports-talk radio has rubbed off on your brain.
(4) Go find out why everyone is talking about Northern Wyoming.
(5) Pay attention when you get back in remedial reading.
(6)Tell your parents that you are sorry for failing them.
(7) Realize that loud and clueless is no way to go through life.
(8) Next time when you are at work ..pay attention when powdering the donuts
(9) Realize that lighting farts DOES NOT impress girls.
(10) Stay off blogs until you get that GED and actually FINISH reading a book which does not contain pictures.
macrotech
September 19th, 2009
11:27 am
NerdKnocker, face it…embrace IT! GT beating uga last year is KILLING you! You haven’t come out to blog since! I KNOW this, because everything you listed in your reasoning has been covered several times over. Let me catch you up:
1. Your fellow mutts don’t consider Tech to be a rival due to the lopsided win/loss ratio. (Of course, all the comments from pup fans would suggest otherwise.
2. Tech is irrelevant. Tough to argue with sometimes. With the exception, of course, that we have twice the number of national championships as the leg humpers and the fact that blogs about us are soaked by ‘dawg drool’.
3.Tech OWNS the longest winning streak between the two teams….if you didn’t know; it’s eight in a row. SO close!
4. The Rings? Well, those were a gift from a bowl whose invitation we’d accepted (We know the outcome of that game…your friends have been MOST faithful in reminding us…it’s ALL they’ve had all season). The seniors requested the score of the Tech/uga victory….yes, they were excited about going out with a ‘w’….but, they were also celebrating the preservation of The Streak.
5. The game means MORE to us than it does to the ball lickers from athens?! You bitches retired a jersey after you ended the streak…and you want to make a big deal about some rings?!
6. I’ve NEVER heard a group of fans complain MORE about officiating than you flea bags! Thanks for supporting this assertion…. “the refs suck”…. “too many injuries”…. blah, blah, blah
Yeah, the Canes opened up a can on us! They will prove to be a tough team to reckon with for their future opponents! Don’t you, dare, make the mistake of thinking that the hounds are at the same level of the ‘U’…not even close… not by several national championships! Catch up to us…work your way up the ladder… they’re on the rung above us.
lawbill
September 19th, 2009
11:42 am
Ha, now i know why most most UGA fans can’t get past the 3rd grade, during last years UGA-GA- TECH game how many tech grads were orbiting the earth, while the dawg fans were swilling beer?
lawbill
September 19th, 2009
11:45 am
ThT e dogs were great against Ok St wern’t they ?. fools AS USUAL
OhMyAchingLine
September 19th, 2009
12:33 pm
I don’t know how you retool an under performing offensive line. Reggie Bush would have a hard time getting 10 yards behind this O Line. I don’t know if they were tired (??), hurt, or just not good. Dwyer could get yards, if he had some room to run, but the opposing D lines look like a German pincer movement clogging everything up around the center. If Nesbit had the protection Harris had, he and Dwyer could have both been stars in this game.
This will be the tactic used by every team we play now and they will continue to use this tactic, unless CPJ finds an answer, and if he can’t find an answer, he might as well put the seniors on bench and start playing freshmen and sophomores.
Unfortunately the same can be said about our D line. We have one good player, the others just don’t have the power, skills, or speed to get into the backfield and apply pressure. A one man D line just ain’t gonna cut it.
In my opinion, the Miami game was lost on both sides of the ball in the trenches, just like LSU, and almost Clemson.
GWB
September 19th, 2009
3:04 pm
What I noticed Dawghater, is that minus 2 special teams TDs against Clemson GT is 1-3 from their last 4 games and your offense has scored a total of 36 points in the 3 games against teams not named Jville St. It doesn’t take a football genius to see what that says about the “great” Paul Johnson and the effectiveness of his offense after that 5 loss SEC team beat you down and then showed everyone else how to do it. And then there’s your defense. And then there’s the total lack of fight shown by your team. Then there’s the sorry physical conditioning. Go ahead Tech fans. Keep those lips locked to the butt of a guy that only beat 4 teams with winning records in SIX years at Navy. By the end of this season you guys are going to be one pizzed off fan base. You been had. AGAIN!
GWB
September 19th, 2009
3:11 pm
Brian Jones IF a frog had wings he wouldn’t bump his azz. IF Brian Jones knew squat about football he would realize that GT couldn’t execute because the Miami D was better and more athletic. IF Brian Jones had more than a room temperature IQ he would realize that no defense is just going to stand there so GT’s substandard blockers can hit a target that’s not moving. IF Brian Jones knew sh%t about football he’d see all that.
surfrider
September 19th, 2009
4:44 pm
Offense…..Stretch the field 20 to 30 times per game with Bam-Bam and Hill getting one on one opportunities mostly deep and med. range but some short range….Run 30 to 50 times per game opening up option. Gety Dwyer a lead blocker and out on the corner more. Defense…Get a 3 and 4th LB in there. 3/4 or 4/3 with pressure rush and confusion to offense. Force turnovers. Mostly play aggressive not passive. We still had a outside chance to win against Miami after not playing well most of game at the end.
wes
September 20th, 2009
1:17 am
Our defensive line is terrible We’ve got a 5-11″ 280 lob kid in there who has t-rex arms. It’s pathetic.
Hal
September 20th, 2009
6:54 am
I think early in the season you will have teams like Clemson and Miami that devoted a lot of time over the summer preparing for Tech. As the season wears on teams will not be able to do that because they have other big games to worry about.
Jacketman
September 20th, 2009
9:03 am
Obviously Nesbitt is not an effective passer. Once CPJ gets his option quarterback in place he will be able to make the necessary adjustments to his offense. Judgement of this offense should not be made until it is in place at least three years. CPJ is still an excellent coach. We will be alright.
Les Miles
September 20th, 2009
9:45 am
And now it appears that UGA will beat the hell out of GT this year. Nesbitt can’t pass a lick and no way GT’s secondary can cover all those receivers UGA put on display last night. Cox will stand back there all night and pick GT apart. Paul Johnson should be called out on this teams conditioning as well. UGA’s defenders, especially the DBs have run miles this season and they have yet to look gassed. Something is bad wrong on the flats this year.
Nate
September 20th, 2009
5:14 pm
Tech will rebound. Let’s just look to UNC this weekend as some hope to get back on track. A win at home could get some confidence back up for the FSU and VT games ahead. Let’s go Tech. UGA fans just keep the trash coming. Can’t wait to see you in November, should be a good battle down here on the Flats.
GM
September 21st, 2009
9:22 pm
Sorry guys, our team needs a lot of work. CPJ said the offense would be better this year – not true, not even close. And the defense is awful. Make all the excuses you want, but there are serious issues. The next 4 games look really tough, yes that includes Miss St, which is prime time on their field.
Call em like I see em. We’re in trouble. 6-6 or 7-5 this year. Hope I’m wrong, but I doubt it. CPJ is starting to come across cocky and mean.