5 reasons Georgia Tech is even worse off than you’d think
A happy Paul Johnson after the N.C. State game. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
1. Apparently B-backs aren’t interchangeable. Jonathan Dwyer rushed for 1,395 yards in both 2008 and 2009. Over the winter Paul Johnson said he’d be willing to bet his new B-back would gain 1,000 yards. Anthony Allen has rushed for 267 yards in four games, which would translate to 801 over a full regular season.
2. Apparently Bay-Bay was indispensable. Joshua Nesbitt passed for 1,701 yards last season, most of them to Demaryius Thomas. Nesbitt has thrown for 316 yards over four games, which projects to 948 over a full regular season. His completion percentage, which was 46.3 a year ago, is 32.6 now.
3. Apparently it wasn’t all about the defensive coordinator. Dave Wommack’s defense ranked 54th nationally last season, yielding an average of 360 yards per game. Al Groh’s defense ranks 71st, yielding 367 yards. In pass defense Tech was 45th last season; it’s 69th now.
4. Apparently “depth” isn’t synonymous with “talent.” Before the season, Johnson called this his deepest Tech team. After losing to N.C. State, Groh lamented that his defense had made but three significant plays in 81 snaps and that there was no “supermarket” where the Jackets could go buy better players.
5. Even with the ACC in retreat, four difficult games remain. Tech must play at Clemson, at Virginia Tech and at Georgia, and it will face Miami at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Given that the Jackets have already lost twice when favored and that their only victory of consequence came against depleted North Carolina, this team could wind up 7-5 — or worse.
Equal time (sort of): 5 reasons the Georgia Bulldogs are better than you’d think.
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356 comments Add your comment
THWGTJeff
October 1st, 2010
2:00 am
You’re no Tech fan, and you sure don’t know squat about football. Shut you pie hole until the end of the season when you can open it again to eat a bushel of CROW!
Monumental mountain of moronic ignorance. If being an idiot was a crime equal to a parking ticket, you, DA (GTJeff), would deserve felony arrest.
Animal Control
October 1st, 2010
6:27 am
SO Mark, where were you last weekend to discuss the beloved Bulldogs team progress? I noticed mums the word when they are doing horrible but when they are good, you can’t come up with enough space on the AJC to write it all down! Just a thought from one Tech fan to an obvious UGAG fan. GO Jackets!
BUZZ ME
October 1st, 2010
6:51 am
you mutts are so full of it. If the Crime dawgs hired CPJ tomorrow you would be annointing him for saint hood
Hair on Fire
October 1st, 2010
7:16 am
The magic number for the Ramblin’ Wreck is 8.
Lance
October 1st, 2010
7:41 am
The Fire CPJ will be in full force after the UGA Game. 7-5 is the best Technerds will be.
I say
October 1st, 2010
8:10 am
I agree with a lot of what you said. I disagreee on two things. First, Allen will rush for a 1000 yards. He will have a game or two in which he will make up quite a bit of yards. Lok for him to have a big day vs. Duke, UVA and/or Wake. Second, Groh IS the problem. As with Grantham at UGA, Groh has proven that the 3-4 doesn’t work well when you come into a program with a long history of running a 4-3. I agree that the Jackets are on shaky ground, but I still think they potentially pick up 8 wins. It is good to finally see Tech back to the point where an 8 win season is dissapointing.
Stinger
October 1st, 2010
8:14 am
Only thing good about this season is that the Dawgs are even worse. LMFAO
Weirdo
October 1st, 2010
8:14 am
Lance
You might want to worry about your squad even getting to a bowl game before you start worrying about others. Tech could go 7-5, but UGA will go 5-7, maybe even 4-8. You are in one of the weakest sub-conferences in football, and you probably won’t finish fourth.
Jo
October 1st, 2010
8:15 am
With better D, GT has just enough O to win. However, the GT D is worse than last year and this will be a 5-7 season.
worst paper in america
October 1st, 2010
8:16 am
Can someone give me a countdown on the top 5 reasons why the AJC doesn’t make any money anymore?
Reality Boy
October 1st, 2010
8:29 am
But Paul Johnson gets fiery at press conferences!! He’s a “straight shooter!” That means he’s an awesome coach!! right?
brokeback jacket
October 1st, 2010
8:38 am
Maybe tech’s “stadium” could host a circus. That would mean some respectable ticket sales (for once), and they already have a campus full of clowns, freaks, and bearded ladies. Just make sure it doesn’t conflict with library hours or the anime broadcast schedule, and the nerds will surely attend.
jfreak13713
October 1st, 2010
8:45 am
Huge Tech fan but I must say that Johnson offense has always scared me and now that fear seems even more realized. I know it worked at Navy playing others teams that were much slower and it even worked here unless the team has more than one week to game plan, but it just seems to me that this style of play will win some games and even help create good seasons here and there but it will NEVER put Tech on the National map because it won’t beat faster SEC teams “LSU”. Hope I’m wrong because I like Johnson and I actually love to watch this style of football! Just don’t know if it will win??
Little Bee
October 1st, 2010
8:45 am
UGA fans on a GT blog again. Wow! I didn’t think UGA mattered to you. I personally think UGA needs to change their offense. The SEC has figured it out.
Little Bee
October 1st, 2010
8:46 am
OOPS..GT mattered to you. Then again, I am beginning to think UGA doesn’t matter to you either. Folks are falling off that band wagon left and right.
Dawg Run
October 1st, 2010
8:47 am
paul johnson can’t win with his own recruits at this level. He needs to go back to navy or ga southern.
dawgmatic
October 1st, 2010
8:50 am
I doubt even Paul “Tiny” Johnson wants to go back to a stinkhole like Statesboring. At least tech plays SOME decent teams, instead of bragging about “almost beating” Navy. Sad.
Corny Hull
October 1st, 2010
8:53 am
I like the idea of trying Washington at QB ( not whole game, as a change-up) and Nesbitt used as running back or receiver. As a receiver he is definitely strong enough to manhandle the ball away from defensive backs. I realize no offense works w/o good blocking. That being said, maybe CPJ will pull some surprise like this later this year. Sure can’t hurt.
Tech75
October 1st, 2010
8:53 am
I think the jury is still out, and will be for the next 2 years until the roster is fully stocked with CPJ recruits. Remember, the players he initially recruited in Year 1 AG (After Gailey) are now yet only redshirt sophomores. I’m reserving judgment until those redshirts are 5th-year players.
YLOJKT
October 1st, 2010
9:53 am
For everyone calling for Allen to be a pitch back or get some throws, please watch the games when he does, he has hands of stone and this is why PJ doesn’t use him in that role. We have others who could come in and perform that task better, Bostic looks great and I think we’ll see more of him running the middle screen to back the linebackers up and keep them honest. It is obvious we need to use the short passing threat on the corners and in the middle of the field to keep them from running 9 in the box every play, but don’t think PJ doesn’t know this as well.
I’m not certain too many of you have watched the games when I read some of these comments, especially you who are declaring the scheme dead after watching a darn good NC State team play against our 3rd string center last week. That alone killed our offensive choices and meant we had to run a few pitchouts to Allen, which he of course dropped and turned over. Hard to win when your offense can’t drive the field, sound familiar UGA fans?
Having watched this team for 2 years of PJ’s reign, the only thing we don’t want to do is change our scheme too much – LSU was a perfect example, we came out trying to fool them with the pass instead of the run and we were behind because of it the entire game. We need to run, run, run, and then run some more – with about 10 – 15 passes thrown in a game. And Hill has obviously just not gotten it yet, his route running is non-existent and has cost Nesbitt quite a few long plays and at least 2 TD’s that I have seen. Hopefully he will improve, but if not, we need to throw to others who understand how to run their route.
One thing I have seen, PJ is the best in the country at changing up his plays and making adjustments during the game, something UGA wishes their coach could do, and he will lead us to a good season this year. We may or may not make the championship game again, but we will have eight wins and one of those will be in Athens. Enjoy eating crow all winter for another season, puppy fans.
TheRealBreakingNews
October 1st, 2010
10:07 am
To the BreakingNews Imposter:
we actually thought of naming our stadium “Loserville”, but then we realized Paul Hewitt was actually going to call the Tech basketball arena by that name, so we backed off of it. Speaking of losers, have you seen this site?: http://www.nesbitt4heisman.com
Try not to forget – our terrible team last year beat your best team in 10 years….same thing will happen this year. Oh yeah, and our crappy basketball team with a no-name coach beat your NBA lottery picks.
Stings, doesn’t it…
P.S. make your stadium bigger than the Athens rec department fields and then talk trash about Sanford
Hotel Shreveport
October 1st, 2010
10:12 am
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GO YELLOW JACKETS
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tech NERDS
October 1st, 2010
10:13 am
Who cares how big our stadium is? Size isn’t everything…right?
Brock
October 1st, 2010
10:13 am
and tech beat ga when they were preseason number one. So what’s your point except to come to a blog about tech and brag. Have you seen your season this year?
Paul Johnson's Cornhole
October 1st, 2010
10:14 am
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GO HONEY BEES
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You are all idiots
October 1st, 2010
10:14 am
Can I ask something very simple. Why are you guys bashing the offense when it is proven to work? Also what is with the “offense can’t work the second time” comment. He’s been at GT for three years. Maybe its because I ran the T.O. in High School, but this T.O. bashing is pissing me off. Hey UGA fans, that HIGH SCHOOL OFFENSE beat you guys in your own back yard a few years ago. You guys were saying the EXACT same thing about Meyer’s offense. “It won’t work in the SEC” my ass. I knew UF was back when they hired him and I knew we need someone to even the playing field. We got Saban. UGA gets raped by the option whoever it is, MSU, UF, GT, you name it. I really enjoy this whole “The state is falling out of grasps…please call their offense a high school offense even though it has been the most explosive offense in the nation the last two years” Not to mention GT’s high school offense is averaging more points a game than UGA’s Pro-style. I saw this article and was not looking forward to reading 5 reasons why the triple option sucked. MB realizes the schemes not the problem. UGA fans are trying to make lemonade out of nothing. When do we play you guys next? I’ll be sure to let Saban know you don’t want us to run High School plays because its not fair.
DEEP HOLE
October 1st, 2010
10:20 am
0-3 in the SEC is pitiful.
JimO
October 1st, 2010
10:29 am
MB – great piece
Nesbitt vs Ball:
1) Both are super competitive
2) Both have lots of heart
3) Both couldn’t pass, but Reggie was a better passer
4) Both could run, but Joshua definitely bigger/stronger
5) Reggie could scramble, not Joshua
6) Reggie had CJ through senior year, Bay-Bay left Joshua
7) GT fans love Joshua
Based on what we have seen, Chan did recruit well, but somehow did not recruit a QB, and thus couldn’t win more. Usually competitive, but not when it counted. Hopefully we are not seeing what Notre Dame has gone through – bring in a new coach and they win the first two years with existing talent then nose dive. Same at Maryland with Ralph (Ralph loves ND for hiring George as Maryland quickly gave him a large increase and longer contract).
I am praying that Paul didn’t really have an impact on his first year recruits as he was hired late, and that most of recruits are redshirting and will be productive in the future.
But maybe the forecasters were correct – fourth in the Coastal (maybe third since NC has the personnel problem which wasn’t forecasted). And maybe a year for tech fans to suck it up and wait for BBall (wild dream) and next year!
Sanford Stadium
October 1st, 2010
10:31 am
Named after Fred or Lamont?
5 Reasons UGA is even worse off than you'd think
October 1st, 2010
10:35 am
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SEC EAST STANDINGS
1. Florida ……………2-0 — 4-0
2.South Carolina ..1-1 — 3-1
3. Vanderbilt ………1-1 — 1-2
4. Kentucky ………..0-1 — 3-1
5. Tennessee……. .0-1 — 2-2
* Dawgs…………… 0-3 — 1-3 . . . (Last Place)
Sanford Stadium
October 1st, 2010
10:38 am
I prefer the “woodshed full of inbreds”
Alan
October 1st, 2010
10:41 am
Groh,McCollum are jokes.Fire all defensive staff and hire coaches who can coach and recruit especially defensive linemen[We are a joke!!!]
Shreveport Inn
October 1st, 2010
10:41 am
I have your rooms all ready for you guys this year. Last year there were some other football players here that were drinking and had girls in their rooms that we had to clean up after, but we would love to have the Jackets here! (That way there is no worry about the partying and the girls even being near the hotel!)
Phil
October 1st, 2010
10:43 am
Agree with Alan our defensive staff has to go.Our AD needs to help PJ with next defensive staff hires.It is obvious PJ does not have a clue about defense.
Phil
October 1st, 2010
10:46 am
Our defensive staff has to be fired.They are aweful.
Larry
October 1st, 2010
10:49 am
It is obvious the defensive staff has to go.It is more obvious PJ needs help hiring a good staff.We have too many good ol boy hires.
Roger
October 1st, 2010
10:50 am
Defensive staff has to be fired.Horrible coaches.
Hugh
October 1st, 2010
10:52 am
It is painful to watch the Ga Tech defense.I mean very painful.Cant believe PJ would hire such an aweful staff!Fire all defensive coaches.This is a must.
Headley Lamar
October 1st, 2010
11:03 am
When is Paul Johnson on the hot seat?
He is finding it hard to win without Gaileys talent and ive said it a million times.
Big time players are NOT going to want to go play in that system.
It does nothing to prepare him for the next level.
Chopping at the bit
October 1st, 2010
11:13 am
http://www.pricezack.wordpress.com
The Truth
October 1st, 2010
11:16 am
Headley Lamar: you’re absolutely correct. Any player that really wants to play in the NFL is not going to want to go play for an option offense – they’re going to go spread/pro-style for experience. The glorified Heisman QB at Tech will be a special teams player in the NFL, at best – he’s a great athlete, but only Michael Vick can pull off anything resembling an option in the NFL.
J-Man
October 1st, 2010
11:31 am
Well if your “5 Reasons” is like your “8 Reasons” post I guess the Jackets will do the opposite and win the National title next year
trey
October 1st, 2010
11:34 am
LMAO!!!!!
“NesbUtt for Highs Man”
You go Fuzzy girls!! LOL
Dale
October 1st, 2010
12:39 pm
Tech is painful to watch this season. You know you’re in trouble when the highlight of the season is the fact that Scott Blair can now get the ball into the opposing end zone on kickoffs. Tech now has a truly one-dimensional offense that is easily stopped since Nesbitt can’t complete enough passes to keep opposing defenses honest with his abysmal 32% completion percentage (I intentionally omitted the phrase “passing accuracy”). Groh’s defense, in a word, stinks. Groh makes me wish Tech had hired Willy Martinez (just kidding, but Al does suck).
Prediction: Tech will lose 4 more games this season and wind up 6-6.
TechRedNeck
October 1st, 2010
12:44 pm
It amazes me when some idiot DAWG fan calls Tech people nerds. Just ride around that UGA campus anytime if you wanna see NERDS. Goofy, fat, mop headed, nasty looking, slobs. I know at least 10 UGA grads that are OUT OF WORK now.I guess they majored in dump truck driving or chicken fertilzation. Or comic book technology. GO JAWJA!
Coach Sleepy
October 1st, 2010
1:21 pm
We’re not happy and we are going to work real hard. Yes, I am awake.
Coach Sleepy
October 1st, 2010
1:23 pm
The players need to play better.
calm down
October 1st, 2010
1:58 pm
There is alot of season left boys and girls. I remember everyone freaking out after the little field trip learning experience to Miami last year. The defense will never have a complete game in 2010, but the offense will find its identity this weekend and if the D can make a play here and there all year; I still see 8 wins
PartyWednesday
October 1st, 2010
2:18 pm
Yep, Calm Down, I’m with you. The O is still moving the ball. The D has to get better. This game with Wake will tell us a lot……..
Slaw Dawg
October 1st, 2010
2:18 pm
@ Jesse Stone “That patrolman with CPJ in that picture is my old high school friend Stacy Forrest. I know it has nothing to do with the article, but I had to get a shout out.”
I have been looking at the picture of them and still can’t figure out who has the biggest gut Forrest or Johnson. Was your “old friend” a lardazz back in high school too? I thought GHP officers had to stay in shape. Heaven forbid they may have to run down a suspect…..you know, like a UGA player.