What’s wrong with Tech? Bay-Bay went away (boo hoo)
This Yellow Jacket pass was dropped Saturday in Pickens County, S.C. (AP photo)
I’ve actually had requests to write more about Georgia Tech. This is noteworthy because I usually only get asked to stop writing about something. But enough about me.
Georgia Tech, I’m afraid to say, is what I thought it was when last I mentioned the Jackets. It’s bad on defense and limited on offense. To say the Tech D has gotten worse under Al Groh would be statistically incorrect: The Jackets were 54th nationally among FBS teams in total defense last season; they’re 53rd now. What’s hurting Tech, believe it or not, is that Paul Johnson’s stylized offense isn’t holding up its end.
The Jackets are second in the nation in rushing offense, same as a year ago. The difference is that Tech ranks 48th nationally in total offense, down from 26th last season. What has gone wrong? There’s no Bay-Bay.
Demaryius Thomas, known as Bay-Bay, averaged 82.43 receiving yards per game last season — pretty darn good for a wideout on a team that ranked only 116th in passing yardage. With Thomas now gainfully employed in the NFL, Tech averages only 84.75 yards passing as a team.
A year ago, Bay-Bay made Joshua Nesbitt look like a competent passer: Tech actually finished 12th nationally in passing efficiency. (Didn’t know that, did you?) This year Tech ranks 106th in passing efficiency, and Nesbitt’s personal rating has dropped from 148.69 to 110.51. His completion percentage was 46.3 last season; it’s 38.2 now. His yards-per-attempt average was 1o.5 last season; it’s 6.61 now.
Put another way, whenever Nesbitt threw the ball last season there was (almost) half a chance he’d complete it for a first down. This year there’s roughly one-third of a chance the ball will be caught for substantially less yardage. Yes, that’s some difference.
Part of Nesbitt’s problem is that he’s rarely asked to make an easy throw. He can’t just dump the ball over the middle to a tight end because Tech has no tight ends on the roster. And Stephen Hill, billed as the Next Bay-Bay? He has 12 catches for 165 yards and two touchdowns in eight games. Thomas had 46 catches for 1,154 yards and eight touchdowns in 13 games last season.
This shows us, not for the first time, that Johnson’s stylized offense has its limitations: It cannot win at the highest level with a passing game this poor. And we can’t say that Tech has been set back by having to break in a new quarterback: This is Nesbitt’s third year as a starter in this system.
Bay-Bay made PJ’s offense look good because he made astonishing catches on demand. Bay-Bay was also signed by PJ’s predecessor, Chan Gailey, who ran a pro-style offense. Georgia Tech isn’t apt to sign a receiver so talented again anytime soon.
We went back and forth over the summer in trying to decide which of the four junior Jackets who left early for the pros was most indispensable, with defensive end Derrick Morgan being the early favorite. But now it’s clear: Thomas was the man Tech couldn’t lose. With him to bail out Nesbitt, the 2009 Jackets didn’t sustain their second loss until two days after Thanksgiving. With Bay-Bay as a Denver Bronco, the 2010 Jackets lost their third game eight days before Halloween.
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524 comments Add your comment
ga rules
October 26th, 2010
4:59 pm
we are way better than tech we will crush them this year 55-7
ga b dawg
October 26th, 2010
5:00 pm
we just beat 3 of the top sec foes, wow we are awesome no way we lose to g tech this year they suck
HenryCountyGT
October 26th, 2010
5:03 pm
When Stephen Hill apologized for not catching the ball, was that for past games or the rest of the season?
We need to super-glue a football stunt double to his glove. This way, fans can see a thrown ball and a ‘caught’ ball.
joey gt
October 26th, 2010
5:03 pm
no way ga beats us 55-7 i dont even think they beat us this year we win 35-28 in athens
ManUp...
October 26th, 2010
5:05 pm
ok, michael, but reading would’ve told you I’m a Tech alum trying to just put some points out there in favor of Tech’s image. Apparently the Dawgs have been fed this line from all the way back in 1917 that Tech didn’t fight the wars. We had our share of war heroes. One fair look at our archives recovers dozens of them from each war. Sports-wise, yeah, I count the football games. AND the two wins over UGA that they won’t recognize.
U(sic)GA
October 26th, 2010
5:07 pm
again, which U(sic)GA fan has the balls to take the other side of this
+3 Florida $20,000
If you’ve got that much faith in your team this should be a no-brainer
michael
October 26th, 2010
5:07 pm
ABSOLUTELY
ManUp...
October 26th, 2010
5:10 pm
Right then, great, we’re in agreement. There’s only one thing to do at a time like this:
“What’s the Good Word?”
michael
October 26th, 2010
5:12 pm
dog fans or as you guys spell it dawg, i stick it out no matter what and i say we WILL get there. the coaching staff is too good NOT to take a kid and make him better. i did play college ball (basketball), it’s all about confidence because at this level either you got it within yourself or you don’t. if a player listens he/she will execute. so why does uga have off-campus problems so often??
A Tech Fan Forever
October 26th, 2010
5:17 pm
The first thing Paul Johnson should do is…….”Bench Stephen Hill”. He was the biggest reason Tech lost to Clemson……he’s definitely concentrating on something else other than “catching a perfectly thrown ball”.
ManUp...
October 26th, 2010
5:17 pm
*clears throat* mmmkay…the correct answer is
“To Hell With Georgia”
and since I’m alone here I’ll finish it
Q – “How ’bout them dogs?!”
A – “Piss on ‘em!”
…left me hangin.
michael
October 26th, 2010
5:20 pm
radakovich seems cool when it’s business but i’ve never met him. does anyone here today have had any contact with him? i mean, is he more about money or his he actually into our program. you know how coaches change….
karegg
October 26th, 2010
5:22 pm
Dawgfan, your like so many uga so called fans, never went to school their, never go to games, get excited when yall recruit another thug that gets arrested. same thing every year. yall really are boring. you so called effin dog breath.
ManUp...
October 26th, 2010
5:26 pm
I’ve met D-Rad. He’s very charismatic and gives off kind of a shrewd demeanor. BUT he does know how to talk to Tech folk. I think he cares greatly about the program…but how far can you really seperate the money from the success? They seem pretty symbiotic.
Tech Forever
October 26th, 2010
5:30 pm
So what you’re saying is:
1 – Tech won’t be able to recruit good recievers because of the option offense.
2 – The Paul Johnson offense is limited if it can’t throw the ball successfully because of a lack of talent..
3 – That limitation means this offense won’t win consistently at this level.
4 – So Navy was the highest level of competition Paul Johnson could reasonably expect his offense to be successful at resulting in consistent winning.
Well, if Tech has already proven it can’t win consistently running a pro-style offense and now it’s concluded Tech can’t win consistently running a “gimic” offense then I guess Tech should shut down the program or petition the 1-AA Southern Conference for membership. I can’t say I don’t disagree with you Mr. Bradley.
ManUp...
October 26th, 2010
5:37 pm
Tech Forever, what the heck are you smoking, son?
Despite this year’s reversion to “average” we are still on the rise. A good receiver will turn up and we’ll continue with 8-10 wins a year and never lacking for a chance at the Coastal title. Good years will constitute winning the ACC and beating Georgia. Bad years will be ones in which we fumble our way out of the Coastal title but still take a good shot at Georgia. Believing Tech is heading anywhere but there in the logterm is to ignore the recent history.
gt4ever
October 26th, 2010
5:43 pm
WTF,
What a bunch of HORSESH!$! I hate it when somebody pulls the academic card…. There are exceptions, but for the most part, all these players are there to play football. Period! No way they get into school without football on their resume……
Rebuilding year! The coach himself proclaimed that this was the deepest team talent wise that he has fielded. This is NOT a rebuilding year, this is more of a year that we are seeing just how good this coach recruits…… It aint looking good!
I am so confused
October 26th, 2010
5:50 pm
Help me. I am so confused. Last year vs UGA, CPJ decided to unveil his power passing attack with Nesbitt at the helm. He passed near the goal line with seconds left only to see his fabled wide out MUFF the ball. First dwon UGA. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHA
In 2010 ……….CPJ is at it again. Why is he trying to make Tt a passing attack, when he just does not have ANY of the necessary ingredients. Why? The ACC ahs caught up to the wishbone just like we predicted and now he is desperate. He knows that he lacks talent to compete with the ACC’s “big boys” like Va Tech and Miami and FSU. GT will be 6-6 and that will get them in the Weedeater. AAAAHAHAHHAHAHA
CPJ is in his third year and every 3.5 years since 1967, GT has changed their football staff. Gulp …………….CPJ is slipping. Look at GT’s record and look at how the bloggers are after his head.
GT;s older alums are disgusted with the ACC anyway and if Gt cannot win there, they become ill. it is so funny to me to see GT thinking that they are a power. They might compete in Dunwoody’s Murphey Candler Park Pop Warner league.
RAMBLINWRECK
October 26th, 2010
5:55 pm
Dawg-gone… GT has beaten FSU 2 straight! That’s better than you have done vs florida since you wanted to make the comparison duma**! The idiot poster dawgfan was talking about GT being an automatic win and thats why i made the comparison like florida says the same thing about uga. Karma is a bitch isn’t it? Do you know how to read dude? Read what people post to each other and you might understand who i was talking to and why you idiot.
Now go back to flipping burgers and i will take a #1 with no lettuce. Keep living the american dream dawg-gone watching jerry springer re-runs and working your way up the chain at wendy’s! That’s if you even have a job and don’t live in your parents basement at the moment. You could be the douche of the year posting on a GT blog. I guess they are tired of your spew on the uga blogs huh?
gt4ever
October 26th, 2010
6:21 pm
I am so confused,
I must concur, YOU ARE CONFUSED, but hey so are most dawg fans!
STFU BRADLEY
October 26th, 2010
6:29 pm
The flaws in this article are ridiculous. You have not watched a single Tech game, and probably won’t until Georgia Tech plays at UGA. As a Tech fan and realist, I think UGA will mop us up. But Bradley, you are a damn fool. Quit your dramatic titles idiot.
TechRon
October 26th, 2010
6:29 pm
No defense at all, poor passing, abysmal receiving, bad special teams, too small on both lines, slow. What else is there? The place kicker is pretty darn good.
Coaching is poor. The big problem I have with PJ is this: You have to have a plan B in case they are ready for “what we do.” PJ just wants to go out and do “what we do” and dare the other guys to stop you, which he says will not happen if we “execute.” Well, when you get overmatched and outwitted like against Clemson and Iowa, you can’t just sit there firing the same blank filled gun. You absolutely have to have an alternative when they shut you down. PJ does not get that for some reason.
GT311
October 26th, 2010
6:45 pm
Okay I will stop bashing GT because I am a real fan of the program. Paul Johnson is the best coach in the country and calls the best plays I have ever seen!!!! I love the dive play because Nobody can stop it. I hope that he continues to call it every game all game long!!! It always works on 3 and 8 so why not call it on every down? Also, Al Groh is by far the best defensive coach in GT history!!! The defense doesn’t give up any long runs and holds EVERY opponent under 10 points!!! I think in a couple of games we should have 30 sacks on the season too. Do you think he will take a 10 year extension? Gosh, I hope so. I really want to go to the Orange Bowl or Peach again and show that GT is the powerhouse program everyone has seen and heard about. Since nobody can stop this offense, we should win those games again by 40 points!!!!! Wow, we are in the good ole’ days again.
NOBODYYOUKNOW
October 26th, 2010
7:01 pm
I hope all you folks will get off the blogs long enough to go vote next week. WE NEED A BALANCE OF POWER IN WASHINGTON. Then in another 2 years we need NEW LEADERSHIP IN WASHINGTON.
Beat Florida!
October 26th, 2010
7:28 pm
Dawgfan, I have a suggestion for you. Get off this blog and stop being a jerk. I myself am a BIG Georgia fan, but you seem to just be more of a Tech HATER. I love Georgia and most of our fans, but you are making our fans look bad. It is pathetic when a person hates their rival MORE than they like their team. Almost every article I see on UGA has Tech and Florida fans commenting on it negatively and there seem to be a lot less of our fans on Tech’s blog. Most of the comments seem to be from you, so I would recommend doing something different with your life instead.
tony
October 26th, 2010
7:32 pm
No one can be expected to seriously contend as a one dimensional team. That’s exactly what Tech has become, a one dimensional team. A decent team can shut down our offense if we cannot pass efficiently. Too many drops, it’s become a regular occurence in each game.
Mama Says
October 26th, 2010
7:36 pm
The problem with this offense is and always has been that Nesbit cannot pass. No Hill is not having a good year but with that said there are other targets, Nesbit rarely gets them a good–in stride ball, like he did on the slant to Earls in the Wake Game. They always have to contort themselves to try to catch it. Yes I have seen some well placed balls dropped but well placed is the exception not the rule.
Had Nesbit had any touch on his passes Tech would have been undefeated last year and could have played in the big game.. Tech was saved by Thomas but when Tech gets a QB who can pass as well as run the option then we will see what Tech could have been when Thomas was there and had Nesbit passing to him.
By the way Tech has very few athletes this includes Nesbit, that is why the offense is not holding up their end of the deal.
Nesbit has had his part in the option miscues as well, early pitches and poor tosses to the backs on the option have killed several drives this year—and trust me I have watched EVERY play.
Tech does have hope however this kid Sims at QB looks like a stud and he should get the spot over Washington next year.
Pat Dye
October 26th, 2010
8:42 pm
In a nutshell. Tech just ain’t man enough. They’re getting pushed all over the field like a bunch of little girls. That’s the problem.
wesleywhatwhat
October 26th, 2010
8:59 pm
anyone know how mark bradley continues to get a paycheck from the ajc when there are so many competent journalists out of work? what’s the secret?
HenryCountyGT
October 26th, 2010
9:03 pm
One other vent and then I’ll leave the kid alone. When Stephen Hill does get the ball (more likely from an end-around than a catch), he runs like he’s afraid to be hit. Somebody might want to remind him that football is a contact sport. If he thinks he’s saving himself for the NFL, he’ll never get there. Scouts will give him the “PUSS” stamp immediately.
During the Clemson beat-down, I did see him finally muscle away from a defender. At which point, the ball hit him squarely in the chest and he dropped it.
wesleywhatwhat
October 26th, 2010
9:05 pm
anyway, tech would be fine if
1) stephen hill was redshirted this year cuz he’s wasting space on the field until he learns how to GO AFTER the ball
2) orwin smith got more touches, along with roddy jones and bj bostic. embry peeples shouldn’t be getting the ball as much.
3) the defense could tackle
4) the NT wasn’t pushed off the line of scrimmage every play
5) the offensive line wasn’t manhandled on most snaps
6) CPJ called a few more short passes across the middle and more tosses to the outside
7) nesbitt was josh instead of joshua
just my two cents. cheers. looking forward to finishing strong.
ManUp...
October 26th, 2010
9:08 pm
We do need to finish strong. Here’s hoping. I’ll be at all the games!
Go Jackets!
Rockdale Brave
October 26th, 2010
9:09 pm
Enter your comments here
GT87
October 26th, 2010
10:27 pm
For all of the nay-sayers about CPJ and his offense not working. It’s only the third year! I love our offense. Stephen Hill is having a rough time this year, but he is only a sophomore. We have a very young offensive line, and I think Nesbitt is “pressing” because of the hype of the Heisman talk. Early on, he held on to the ball too much trying to make the plays himself. I can recall during the Kansas game after a failed 4th down that CPJ very explicitly told him “PITCH THE BALL!” as he was coming off the field. Since then, he has pitched the ball more… sometimes too late and sometimes behind the A-back, but we need to get the ball to the edge.
Orwin Smith has been great when he gets the ball in space. He needs more touches. I think AA is better suited at A-back as well. He broke out against VA up the middle, but his best runs are on the edge. Also, AA is the best receiver that we have on the team this year and A-back will give him more opportunities to catch the ball. I think we should start Cox at B-back and move AA to one A-back and start Orwin Smith at the other A-back. I also want to see Bostic get more touches… at A-back or receiver. He is FAST and needs the ball.
I think our biggest problem is our toughness on defense. We aren’t getting any kind of pressure on the QB’s and our DB’s need a lesson on moving up on the running backs to make a tackle instead of sitting back and waiting, or worse BACKPEDALING, to attempt an arm tackle. I hope that the extra time we have will be used on tackling drills for the DB’s.
We “can” beat all of the teams left on our schedule, but it is going to take a better effort in all phases of the game.
Go Jackets! Forever!
Paul Has A Small Johnson
October 26th, 2010
10:34 pm
30-24
surfrider
October 26th, 2010
11:08 pm
Good Article Bradly. What Tech first needs is a possession receiver at Wr…remember Drew Hill, Jimmy Robinson, and Steve Raible under Pepper Rodgers in the 70’s. All played pros. All could block. Two were recruited for pro style type of offense and switched to the Wishbone. Tech needs on speed merchant. Then they already have two slot backs and two of the backs look sure handed last week…Allen and Smith. The Fridge used the pass to open the run and vice versa..his 99 offense ranked #1 in what points and yards. The Defense was pretty bad. Tech use to be good at Defense and had some great Linebackers. What’s really interesting is it felt like we were blown out only to loose by 14 and that’s a credit to Johnson. A few corrections and it’s another game.
Flying Tigers
October 26th, 2010
11:23 pm
dawgfan…no, you are the embarrassment here. I am not and have never been on your blog, and will not ever be on your blog. The truth hurts and at least I did graduate from a major university and no I am not a techie as you call them. You make it easy for all other fans to hate you. I just said where I graduated because pin heads like you think everyones a techie if they disagree with you and your ilk. I was also responding to you pointing out Tech to be an embarrassment. Talk about not even pot and kettle, but complete lunacy. It is apparent that you have no clue except the final score on Saturdays for UGA. I was just telling you how your “university” is viewed by alot more people around the country as the embarrassment it is right now because of the what has gone over there the past 3 years. I would not have even said anything but for you a Ga “fan” calling someones else school an embarrassment. Why don’t you take your high school or 9th grade education back to your board. And oh yes, also doesn’t it hurt to know your whole season is defined by the game with Tech and has been now for what 3 or maybe 4 years. I thought Tech was irrelevant to you people..now it defines your season. Not only is your so called “university” an embarrassment, but you really are not even very good anymore, but again congratulations on getting back to .500….my how the mighty and ignorant have fallen…to all you true UGA graduates with an ounce of class. I apologize for hacking on this “fan” of yours, but what I stated is the truth….Go Big Blue with or without Rich Rod…
FishyBusiness
October 26th, 2010
11:31 pm
It’s the uniforms !!!!!
I SUPPORT COACH JOHNSON
October 27th, 2010
12:12 am
I didn’t read this article but want to say I like CPJ and believe in the Triple Option. CPJ is the best coach GT has ever had in my lifetime. No, I do not think Bobby Ross was and if you want to know why, here is why…when Ross wanted to leave and go coach the Chargers then Ross should have said thank you and goodbye instead of blaming the fans and the basketball team. Yes, he left saying GT was a basketball school. Coward thing to do. I hope we win the rest of our games this season but if we do not, I support CPJ and his offense that he runs 100%. Forget the receivers and just put people in that position to block like Bay Bay did when they ran the ball. Bay Bay parted the Red Sea with his blocks. You know Bradley your very sneaky in that if CPJ had an undefeated or 1 loss record at this point, you would be naming schools again where he should coach at next like you did with Auburn and Notre Dame. Most of you losers on here pointing your finger about the triple option are just that losers. Your jealous and you want some nobody mediocre coach at GT coaching with the pro style offense. Well we had that and we ended up at the Ice Bowl every year. Good riddance. CPJ will figure things out and go after what he needs. I do not bother to read the inbred comments on here so do not care what you people think.
Rabbit
October 27th, 2010
5:08 am
GT football program? BAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!BAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! Paul Johnson? BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!BAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! Al Groh? BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
Josh Nibbler
October 27th, 2010
5:42 am
Josh Nibbler for Heisman!! BAHAHAHA!!!! 2 yards rushing!!! BAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!! BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!! BAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!! BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
reality
October 27th, 2010
6:23 am
Once they get their butts whipped by UF, the Dog fans will crawl back into their littles holes.
Big Ten
October 27th, 2010
8:13 am
come on everyone…your all struggling to grasp it. Georgia Tech was good last year yes…they won the ACC, but the difference is how the close games finished a year ago. Clemson we won in the final minute, florida state was a late game drive, virginia tech late score and a stop, clemson the second time was a late game score and stop. Thats the difference, this team lacks a killer instinct it had last year, the feeling of “i cant be stopped” instead we settle get 3 yards when we need 6 and dont fall forward. The OL isnt pushing people back because….wait for it…THEY CUT. Do you know what a cut block is? That means we are on the ground. The linebackers arent playing terrible, we rarely get pressure and at times the DB’s look lost and by at times i mean 90%. Edwards cant be the best safety we have. Roddy, embry, orwin and where the hell is marcus wright? Allen may not have the break away speed but he was pretty fast last year on the outside right? haha and dwyer, was NOT a leader. Nesbitt is and will be until he graduates. Having been there last year and witnessed summer workouts fall practices and games with the team…The four we had dwyer, morgan, burnett and baybay…they all hurt to lose. 3 of the four started the seasons playing for their teams. And for you “gt fans” come on man…firing a coach that has beaten georgia 1/2 and won an acc title, mind you the first since 90’s get a f****** life or cheer for a different team because you are whats wrong with college fans, people that dont know anything and havent ever won and now with a little bit of success you forget that you have been to bowl games consistently and NOW you have an ACC champion team…
OH yeah and georgia…they may have an experienced line but they suck too
you want a real OL play a game in the big ten in November
Dave fromGT
October 27th, 2010
9:10 am
I scored UGA GT tix for this year’s game. Can’t wait to take a piss on something in Athens.
dawgy
October 27th, 2010
9:23 am
stay classy, Dave.
GT Fan...
October 27th, 2010
9:27 am
Execution is the key. Until GT loses the remaining 4 games, as so many GA fans now suggest, I’ll still have faith. Come to play and EXECUTE the game plan each week, and the Jackets will be fine in the final 4 games.
My, how things have changed for the fans of the boys in Athens. Just 3 weeks ago, no dog fan had GA winning any remaining games except the creampuff before GT. Now their dogs won’t lose again, and “wait til next year” chants have already started.
dawgfan
October 27th, 2010
9:32 am
Mid-season turnarounds happen, GT Fan – like in 2006 when we whipped #3 Auburn and then beat trek with a freshman qb. Remember that?
JOhn
October 27th, 2010
10:42 am
It is irrelevant, you can’t win ball games without defense and GT has the biggest bunch of whimps in football. Running around the field like a bunch of clowns. Horrible just horrible.
Bob
October 27th, 2010
11:52 am
Bradley-The problem is our recruiting.PJ and staff can not recruit especially in the trenches and it will get more obvious in the upcoming games in which we get physically mauled.PJ has to bring in a recruiting staff or he is finished.
Hugh
October 27th, 2010
11:54 am
Recruiting is our problem.We are getting destroyed up front.We are a joke! PJ is in big trouble.Teams have caught up with his offense and his staff can not recruit.PJ needs to hire a recruiting staff or go coach at Western Carolina.People it is fixing to get real ugly.You can not spin our terrible recruiting anymore.