Give Tech 66 points and 768 yards. Give Tech’s coach 5 stars
This is how it began. There'd be much more. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
The first three touchdown drives required a total of 10 plays, which by Georgia Tech standards was positively ponderous. To score its next three touchdowns, the Jackets needed only six plays, and right about then you could hear the Jackets’ demanding coach grunting to himself: “That’s more like it.”
Six touchdowns. Sixteen plays, total. Think about that.
Think about the high-school offense that will never work in big-time college football — except when it stacks 66 points and 768 yards on a team from another BCS league, a team that not incidentally beat Tech a year ago. Think about what Paul Johnson has done with no Joshua Nesbitt, no Jonathan Dwyer, no Demaryius Thomas, no Anthony Allen. In three games, here’s what his spread option has wrought:
An average of 59.3 points and 675.3 yards. Think about that.
No, Tech hasn’t played the world’s most arduous schedule, but still … those numbers against air would be impressive. These have been compiled against opponents who come equipped with scholarship players and scouting reports, and it hasn’t mattered. When Tech takes the ball, it scores. Sometimes it scores so fast you’d swear you were watching a highlight tape and not a real game in real time.
Said Tevin Washington, the quarterback: “Sometimes we amaze ourselves.”
We’ve all seen Johnson and his offense at work. Even so, these three games have been astonishing. Three weeks running Tech has arrayed itself for the first snap, and three weeks running the first snap has yielded a touchdown: A 5-yard toss sweep against Western Carolina, a 59-yard pass against Middle Tennessee and now a 95-yard counter against Kansas. (Johnson: “We knew from last year that [the Jayhawks] would cheat to the motion.”)
In three games, Tech has scored 10 touchdowns on plays from beyond midfield. This is not the triple option as Darrell Royal and Barry Switzer knew the triple option. This is the triple option as reconstructed by a shrewd man who has taken a scheme and dragged it into the 21st century.
You can say what you will about Johnson, and much of it would be correct: He’s cocky, and he doesn’t care much about conventional wisdom or recruiting rankings, and he hasn’t yet won a bowl game at Tech, but … give the man his due. He’s a great play-designer, a great play-caller, a great play-tweaker. One PJ wrinkle, and somebody’s running for miles.
What transpired Saturday wasn’t quite perfection, but it was close. Tech had the ball 12 times. It allowed the clock to expire at game’s end. Of the 11 times it tried to score, it succeeded all but once. Of those 11 drives, the shortest netted 43 yards — and that was the one that ended with a punt.
Two backs broke 100 yards rushing. (Orwin Smith, who’d gone for 95 on the game’s first play, did it on his second carry, which represents the minimum number of attempts for breaking 100.) Two more went for 70-plus yards. Yet another had 68. Washington threw only seven passes, but averaged 41 yards per pass completion.
These were crazy numbers, and in the third quarter the whole thing got certifiably insane. Tech scored on its first snap of the second half, Embry Peeples swooping 63 yards. The Jackets needed four plays to go 74 yards the next time, Smith catching a play-action pass from Washington. Next possession: One play, one pass, one Roddy Jones touchdown. Up 24-17 at the half, Tech led 45-17 with barely half the quarter gone.
“As for us being a high-school offense … we just put up 700 yards,” Washington said. “If it works on this level, it works on any level.”
The 768 total yards? A school record. The 604 yards rushing? Ditto. But the goofiest number was this: Tech had the ball for 27 minutes and 37 seconds. It lost, if that’s the proper word, the time of possession and outgained its opponent by 406 yards.
Said Johnson, coming as close to gushing as he ever has or will: “We played fairly well the whole game on offense.”
Fairly well. Apt description.
I don’t know how good this Tech team is, and you don’t, either. (We’ll learn more when North Carolina arrives next weekend.) I don’t know if Johnson will win another ACC championship, and you don’t, either. But I do know this: The guy in charge can run an offense like nobody I’ve ever seen, and there’s not a five-star recruit in this mix. Just a five-star football coach.
By Mark Bradley
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381 comments Add your comment
THE BIG R
September 17th, 2011
6:39 pm
SPEAKING OF MEDIOCRE PLAY CALLING ON OFFENSE AND DEFENSE, HOW’S IT GOING IN ATHENS? YA”LL SHOULD KNOW ABOUT LOSING TO FLORIDA EVERY YEAR. YOU DID BEAT THEM WHEN DOOLEY COACHED THEM, DIDNT YOU. OH YEAH, THAT’S BACK IN THE “GOOD OLD DAYS TWENTY OR THIRTY YEARS AGO. LIKE SPURRIER SAIS, ALL THAT TALENT IN THE STATE AND CAN’T HARDLY WIN A DIVISION LET ALONE A SEC CHAMPIONSHIP. ,
GT Fan...
September 17th, 2011
6:39 pm
Gorilla Biscuit
September 16th, 2011
3:51 pm
UPSET!!!
GT Fan
September 16th, 2011
4:11 pm
Gorilla Biscuit,
Didn’t you predict the Jackets would loose to Western Carolina & MTSU too?
Gorilla Biscuit
September 16th, 2011
4:38 pm
GT Fan, yeah, those scrimmages against scout teams. I underestimated the first team. Now you get to play somebody who’ll at least hit you back. Fumble city.
Gorilla Biscuit … you really need to find another hobby.
GT Alum
September 17th, 2011
6:42 pm
The fact that we won handily while losing time of possession surprised me, considering over the first couple of years we heard this offense was all about possessing the ball. So much for the theory that this offense doesn’t have any big play capability.
Proud to be a Nerd
September 17th, 2011
6:42 pm
Richard Alpert,you left the fries out of my order, get back to work.
AlabamaRamblinwreck
September 17th, 2011
6:44 pm
Great article, Mark. I want to ask you your opinion on something.
Do you think if Coach Johnson had a top 30 defense, his chances of winning the national championship would be very high?
Richard Alpert
September 17th, 2011
6:44 pm
Does BIG “R” stand for Reject, Retard, or REWIND back to the 1990’s when Tech got a few W’s against the Dawgs??
I never mentioned Florida, you did. We’re not talking about Florida. Like I said, the Star Trek crew has left town so shut up and let the grown ups talk about football, nerd.
Reggie Ball for HEISMAN! Fourth down… let’s throw it away!
Somewhere over the Dwayne Bowe
September 17th, 2011
6:45 pm
Pretty sure Tech fans have idiots, too, Richard. They probably posted under multiple names.
I have to admit it was fun to watch UGA lose to Boise after hearing how they were going to hammer that WAC team for nine months.
Troll Patrol
September 17th, 2011
6:46 pm
Alpert Troll, grow up, what are you, eight years old?
GT Trumpet
September 17th, 2011
6:46 pm
Incredible game. Just awesome.
Be Patient
September 17th, 2011
6:47 pm
I’ve been watching FLA and UT. It looks like another year that the Gators will clean UGA’s clock. I love these Saturdays when Tech plays great and wins. The Jawja trolls are out in numbers today. Why wouldn’t they be bad-mouthing Tech when the Georgie boys did actually play a HS team.
GT Fan...
September 17th, 2011
6:47 pm
Mr. Dick Alpert … here’s an FYI for you, ya dumb arse ……………..
Reggie Ball has NO MORE eligibility so even if PJ wanted him to join the team he couldn’t. Man, you’re as stupid as Gorilla Biscuit (or maybe the same idiot).
Jay Porterhouse
September 17th, 2011
6:48 pm
Way to go AJC! The dawgs beat a high school team and get a big top of the page photo. Tech beats a real team and they get a tiny headline. Let the Athens papers glorify the dawgs. AJC and Tech are both in Atlanta for cryin’ out loud. Show some support for the home team.
BigTimeTechFan
September 17th, 2011
6:50 pm
Actual defense was the key.
Tech will score 45 points on most anybody if the defense shuts a team down like they did in the 3rd qtr.
Navy is running same offense against USCe, controling ball pretty good, leading 14 to 7. running it right at Clowney like I told Richt to do but he would not listen.
Richard Alpert
September 17th, 2011
6:50 pm
Troll Patrol, I am actually 7, and still know more about REAL football than your washed up @ss
GT Fan...
September 17th, 2011
6:51 pm
Richard Alpert …… you’re an idiot.
Even if PJ wanted Reggie Ball on the team he couldn’t because Reggie HAS NO MORE ELIGIBILITY left.
You’re about a dumb as Gorilla Biscuit.
Bobby Dodd beats Wally's Butts
September 17th, 2011
6:51 pm
Hey Richard “Marv” Alpert (Alpo),
Get back to the Ag section and talk about Coastal Carolina being a pretty good warmup.
GT
September 17th, 2011
6:52 pm
The Jackets will be undefeated when VT comes to town. Chalk it up!
duece coupe
September 17th, 2011
6:52 pm
GT’s ground game today:
603 rushing yards on 50 attempts (a modest 12.1 yards per carry).
Ramble On.
GT Fan...
September 17th, 2011
6:53 pm
Jay …. AJC and WSB Radio & TV employs LOTS of UGA grads! There’s your reason.
Troll Patrol
September 17th, 2011
6:53 pm
Alpert, you are a sad little creature
GT Geo
September 17th, 2011
6:54 pm
Okay, well if you are going to live in the past, with “ONE” victory? Tech not only has the record for the most points ever scored in college football game against Cumberland (btw, the Tornado of King College, Bristol TN has the second most points ever scored), but they have 4 national championships to uga’s 2. and Buzz is a lot more popular than “hairy dawg”. The point is if all you can do is live in the past, you’re going to miss the present.
1 4 GT
September 17th, 2011
6:54 pm
For those of you who have not heard it yet. ESPN reports that Pitt & Syracuse have petitioned the ACC for membership. They also report that the ACC has been talking to other schools as well, but none were named. The Big East requires a 27 month notice of withdrawal and a $5,000,000.00 buyout. They also reported that the ACC now requires a $20,000,000.00 buyout. That makes it very doubtful that any schools will be leaving the ACC. ESPN did say that some Big 12 schools had been talking to the ACC. It appears that the ACC is trying to become the 1st super conference.
GIVE ME A BREAK
September 17th, 2011
6:56 pm
REW, that may not be the end of it. Two more would be a sweet 16.
Troll Patrol
September 17th, 2011
6:56 pm
14 GT, I heard a report earlier that the ACC Presidents are meeting tomorrow to vote on the applications
Bobby Dodd beats Wally's Butts
September 17th, 2011
6:56 pm
Where are you Richard, are the pizzas ready to deliver…shut up Ag boy.
Proud to be a Nerd
September 17th, 2011
6:59 pm
Alpert, my fries are overcooked. McDonalds doesn’t pay you to play on the computer.
RAMBLE ON!!!
September 17th, 2011
7:00 pm
INSANE!!!
bring on UNC!!!
Proud to be a Nerd
September 17th, 2011
7:01 pm
I am serious
GIVE ME A BREAK
September 17th, 2011
7:02 pm
Reports say UGA wants in the ACC. I say leave them where they are. They could never win in the ACC.
Proud to be a Nerd
September 17th, 2011
7:03 pm
Alpert, be happy to meet you anywhere and show you how mush of a has-been I am.
1980 was a long time ago
September 17th, 2011
7:04 pm
Tech looks great except the Defense! Uga is a joke! THWG!!!!
dick alpert
September 17th, 2011
7:04 pm
wait til you guys play a tough conference like the WAC!
Bill Clinton
September 17th, 2011
7:05 pm
Tech would be another Kentucky or Ole Miss in the SEC. Tech has beaten Georgia ONCE since I was president.
Like Richard already told you… Suck it! Monica sure did!
Richard Alpert
September 17th, 2011
7:06 pm
Proud to be a Nerd, that sound you hear is me literally shaking in my Ag boots..
Two hits: I hit you, your cape hits the ground
Chronos
September 17th, 2011
7:07 pm
Bill, I thought that all the teams in the vaunted SEC were great, so thanks for the compliment
Heavy Dawg Walkin'
September 17th, 2011
7:07 pm
NERDS!!!!!!!
Proud to be a Nerd
September 17th, 2011
7:08 pm
Just as I thought
Delbert D.
September 17th, 2011
7:08 pm
Lattimore just scored, S. Carolina – Navy 14-14
Tevins Quote
September 17th, 2011
7:10 pm
I loved this quote: “Said Washington, “As a high school offense, we just put up 700 yards.”"
hal
September 17th, 2011
7:11 pm
Just imagine what he could do with 5 start recruits If these 5 stars could see with their eyes and not listen to their peers Tech could be awesome ………..I mean more awesome
Richard Alpert
September 17th, 2011
7:12 pm
At least our games are on television on Saturdays. Not online on Thursdays. I’m sure your awesome fans just shivered when they found out that they would have to choose between the Lord of the Rings marathon or Western Carolina.
Reggie Ball still sucks and so do you.
Jay Porterhouse
September 17th, 2011
7:13 pm
GT Fan… Thanks for clearing that up for me. I forgot there’s no such thing as unbiased reporting.
Chronos
September 17th, 2011
7:13 pm
The entire Offense, not just O line, did an excellent job blocking
GT Geo
September 17th, 2011
7:13 pm
Look at it this way–the defending National Champions from the SEC just lost to an ACC team. I’m not sure the SEC is as strong as it has been in the past.
Chronos
September 17th, 2011
7:14 pm
Dumdass Alpert, the Tech game was on TV today (Fox) and uga was not.
GT Geo
September 17th, 2011
7:16 pm
@ Alpert….you keep talking about how you’re riling up all the “nerds” on a Saturday night, but might I ask, why are you online on a Saturday night? Wouldn’t that make you a “nerd” too? And I do believe Tech was shown on TV today–was uga?
Harvey D. Pooka
September 17th, 2011
7:17 pm
Still early, but obvious that the defense still has some learning to do.
Stinger2
September 17th, 2011
7:17 pm
Tevin Washington`s Quote above something like:
“Sometimes we amaze ourselves”
Hope this does not mean he and his teammates are becoming full of themselves.
I hope CPJ lets the players celebrate and enjoy the rest of the weekend. Then at practice Monday, maybe he will bring them back down by reminding them that any team in the ACC can beat tem at anytime.
Monday at practice
GSUgrad1991
September 17th, 2011
7:20 pm
You folks are giving “Alp….” way too much credit. Time to just overlook him and stop acknowledging any postings.
Richard Alpert
September 17th, 2011
7:22 pm
Chronos, It wasn’t? Plenty of places around Athens had it on. I guess you don’t count pay-per-view since they quit showing TRON Legacy. 42-34. WE RUN THIS STATE and every one of you nerds know it.