A fat and sassy Georgia Tech gets handed its comeuppance
Virginia's Mike London had his men primed. His opponent was less than prime. (AP photo)
Charlottesville, Va. – Even if the polls suggested otherwise, Georgia Tech was never the nation’s 12th-best team. It was a good team with a clever scheme and a bunch of guys who’d worked hard and coalesced to make the whole greater than the talent on hand. And then, in the season’s seventh game, the workers worked less hard and got what they deserved, which was beaten by an opponent that had won one ACC game since 2009.
Surely Mike London and his Virginia staff saw what was coming to Scott Stadium: A team that could win any track meet but not many wrestling matches. The Cavaliers, who’d lost to Southern Miss and beaten Idaho by a point in overtime, treated this as their game of arrival and, when Tech got done fiddling and flailing, it was. The No. 12 team got beat and deserved to get beat.
“It’s been coming,” said Paul Johnson, Tech’s obviously irked coach. “When you play with fire long enough, you get burned.”
Tech couldn’t put North Carolina State away in Raleigh two weeks ago and had stopped scoring against Maryland last week, and those were troubling signs. But collegiate players can be tough sells: If you’re winning, what difference does it make? For Tech, the winning stopped Saturday. A pedestrian offense amassed 407 yards against a unit supposedly coordinated by Al Groh, who recruited some of these Cavs. Tech’s own sleek offense couldn’t override a 10-point halftime deficit against an opponent that didn’t score again.
“We talked about it repeatedly,” Johnson said. “[Virginia's] backs were against the wall. We were going to get everything they’ve got.”
Message unheeded. The Jackets trailed 7-0 after six minutes and 14-0 with 6:20 gone. They’d been staggered, and they never fully recovered. Whenever Virginia needed to move, it shoved the Jackets backward. The Cavs rushed for the same number of yards (272) as Tech, and they did it with power. Said Johnson, speaking of Virginia’s repeated sorties around the flanks: “We never set the edge.”
Remember when, back over the summer, we suggested Tech might not have enough prime-time players to win the ACC Coastal? Here was a tutorial in the difference between big/strong and smallish/skilled.
Said linebacker Julian Burnett: “When they run the ball right at you and you can’t stop them, it’s frustrating.”
Say what you will about Johnson, but he’s far better with a lean and hungry team than with a bunch of fat cats. Heck, his whole system is built on wrong-footing bigger guys. He said he tried to impart both a warning and a challenge — “We talked in the pregame meeting about what an opportunity we had” — but this time his urgings moved no one.
Johnson again: “Sometimes you just get blocked and can’t block the other team.”
Some try to make every Tech loss a referendum on Johnson’s spread option, but this was no such thing. It was a pounding by a desperate team that hit harder and fought longer. LSU or Alabama or Oklahoma could have laughed off an early flurry by the likes of Virginia, but Tech is not LSU or Alabama or Oklahoma. On talent, Tech is scarcely better than Virginia.
The Jackets aren’t good enough to win, at least not repeatedly, at half-capacity. They’re a good team when doing the things they do well, but if you force them into a different game they’re far less. Virginia hogged the ball — it punted only twice — and nursed its lead, and with 5:58 the Jackets completed a fizzled series by punting to the Cavs, who wouldn’t give it back.
Johnson: “That’s the way everyone is going to play us … They were able to get ahead and in the end in worked.”
Burnett: “I wasn’t surprised [that Virginia sought to be the aggressor]. We just didn’t match it.”
If we’re going to criticize anything about Johnson’s Method after such a loss, it’s more a matter of philosophy: Johnson wants to do it his way — with a roster of middling recruits who’ll fight to the finish — but we saw Saturday what can happen if the middling recruits don’t fight as hard as they might. They get exposed as … middling.
Yes, that’s a bit harsh. Playing hard and well, Tech is a tough opponent for anybody anywhere, and the Jackets will have the chance to beat some big names over the next six weeks. But a sluggish Georgia Tech is just another team, and Saturday it was a loser to a program so starved for victory that its students swarmed the field.
By Mark Bradley
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332 comments Add your comment
bryce
October 16th, 2011
8:44 am
Coach Johnson needs to have plays on clipboard in hand,he’s too obstinate to do so. He gets calling same option and forgets to send A backs down middle of field for passes when the defensive backs are closing so fast.
And Al Groh needs to have 4 down lineman to stop the run-his 3-4 is too easy to block. The rest of our opponents are going to run all over the field.
7 and 5—Tech way over rated.
dt4c
October 16th, 2011
8:44 am
I hope Fish Fry and his philosophy stay at GT for a LOOOOOONG time. They will never be taken seriously as long as he is there. The reason he gets middling athletes is because great athletes KNOW that they will never be taken seriously while running a high school offense. PJ should do tek a favor and go back to a lower division and stay away from big boy football. But I hope he doesn’t listen!
Jim 70
October 16th, 2011
8:45 am
Not saying to put vad lee in, but what about day. Tevin should not be carrying the ball 25-35 times per game. He is missing reads and his passing is looking worse than nesbitt’s.
Besides that, when has anyone seen a team with worse kickoff return stats. Lastly, the NFL is doing no contact practice, it seems we are copying that policy in our games. Wrap somebody up!
The DAWG
October 16th, 2011
8:45 am
Vandy would score 60 against your pitiful little jackets
Ed Pilcher
October 16th, 2011
8:47 am
@ Buford T. Pusser……
Sheriff Pusser’s middle name was actually Hayes. So that would be Buford H. Pusser.
Terry
October 16th, 2011
8:48 am
THANKS FOR TAKING AL GROH AS YOUR D COORDINATOR. I HOPE HE STAYS WITH YOU FOR A VERY LONG LONG TIME! HA! HA!
Technically Correct
October 16th, 2011
8:48 am
Not “fat and sassy,” Mr. Bradley. Try slim and over-matched. For some reason, Tech cannot recruit enough impact players (size, speed and skill) to be successful. Perhaps the “impact Player” needed most is a recruiter who can recruit. Tech’’s late season collapses usually start in February – with National Signing Day. With inferior players overall and with a quarterback who cannot pass and receivers who cannot catch (unless wide open sometimes), Tech is stuck with an unusual rushing offense that must catch stronger, faster, more talented defensive units unprepared to be successful. Every week, Tech must put up huge numbers to offset its weak rushing defense, which cannot stop even poor rushing teams. That, as we have seen, is a recipe for disaster. Things will not change until we do whatever is necessary to (1) recruit better talent overall (2) establish a credible passing attack, (3) return to a traditional defensive scheme to try to counter the opposing teams’ superior line push, and (4) get a kicking game (since our best hope of stopping other teams’ rushing attack is field position and our best hope of scoring on a short field is the field goal). In other words, begin to act and look more like the quality opposition we play. Or, we could just drop down to the FCS, where we might be competitive and play for the National Championship with some regularity.
Defense
October 16th, 2011
8:48 am
Wake up and smell the coffee Johnson, add a different dimension to run, hand to h-back or pitch to tailback for teams that have two weeks to prepare for you. That’s why you’re winless in bowls. And ever hear of defense? Clemson and Virginia Tech are gonna make you look bad.
Clempson tied of Alabama
October 16th, 2011
8:50 am
Bradley, you summed it up perfectly, although I don’t know that Tech was sassy. It’s hard to be sassy when you get punched in the mouth again and again and you don’t hit back.
The asswhipping by Va. reminds me of what our young prop said about his opposite number during a rugby match in Wales,
“He’s doing anything he wants with me but I don’t think he’s trying to hurt me.”
Look at the remaining schedule lads, these Miami, Clempson and Georgia guys will be trying to hurt you.
Road Scholar
October 16th, 2011
9:14 am
Where were the Tech defenders that “flew” to the ball andf hit like they meant it? Enough of the arm tackles. Burdett was the only one to put a lick on UVA.
Where was the passing game…again? Many times they had a guy open down the middle since their safeties were supporting the run and “cheating ” on the wides on the sideline. Tevin, when will you throw a good ball…not one short , the next long etc.You HAVE to throw to get the DB’s to back off- they were packing 8-9 in the box…duh!
Not to say anything about the motion penalties and the two block in the back penalties, one removing a TD from the scoreboard and the other set up a sure score…oh the penalties! Lineman…how about you look at the ball and SEE WHEN IT IS HIKED!!!!
And Please Please Please find us a kicker and a punter! Please!
Buzzman
October 16th, 2011
9:21 am
Well said Mark B. You are 100% right, Tech did not deserve to be number 12. As long as PJ is coaching at Tech with his 5 scheme plays, we will never advance. This Offense is made for your Service Acadamys. Maybe the Coast Guard will form a football team and PJ can go there and take NO DEFENSE GROH with him. It was great the first year we went to the option offense. But once you play a team one time or they have a couple of weeks to prepared for it we get killed. Think about it this year, new coaches at N.C. State, N.C. and Maryland, they didn’t know how to defend the triple option. Virginia got lucky and guess right. Look what happens to us in the bowl games, teams have weeks to prepare and we get killed in the bowls. Time for PJ and Groh to move on….Also look at our first few years with PJ, most of the recruits were from Chan, that is why we won. Now, look who is recruiting……
Bob62GT
October 16th, 2011
9:22 am
Blame the coaches, NOT the players. PJ has not won a bowl game WHY? Because they all have time to prepare for his type of offense. UVA had two weeks to prepare. Result? Loss. Maybe we need a new coach
Paul in NH (formerly RDU)
October 16th, 2011
9:31 am
You could see this one coming. Poor games against NCSU and MD and, according to Johnson on Thursday, poor practice this week. TIme for GT to get back to work and ready for the U – plenty of games left.
larry
October 16th, 2011
9:35 am
Tech always find a opponent that they should have beaten and don’t. They never seem to learn from past experience that every team has a chance to beat them. With their upcoming schedule this may be a good loss. Wake up team you must play hard and smart every game.
Hank
October 16th, 2011
9:41 am
Until Johnson has a QB that can actually throw when you need to throw , not when the other team is set up for it, that offense will be stopped by teams with more physical talent. We do not have the talent to run a 3-4 defensive scheme, and the kicking game is the worst in the nation. It is time to fix these problems, 4 years is enough to learn those lessons.
Paul in NH (formerly RDU)
October 16th, 2011
9:45 am
Was this game the equivalent of Miami in 2009 when everyone said GT was exposed but went on to win the ACC or is it the equivalent of NCSU in 2010? GT didn’t beat a good team after that game.
tech hater
October 16th, 2011
9:45 am
Mark, nice gutsy column. I guess it will be back to the talk about academics!
Charlottesville
October 16th, 2011
9:54 am
3-4 defense should stay in Virginia along with Groh
Spike
October 16th, 2011
9:56 am
Richt owns Tech.
mikeb
October 16th, 2011
10:02 am
A fair assessment I believe. I hope someone will teach QB Washington how to pitch the ball. How many plays did Tech waste by his holding onto the ball and settling for a 1-2 yd gain when the pitch man had a much clearer field ahead of him. What good does the pitch offense do when the QB doesn’t pitch? Tech deserved to lose this one and the QB has been exposed as…..middling. And while they’re at it, maybe they could teach Washington to throw a spiral.
GT81
October 16th, 2011
10:04 am
Viriginia’s defenders knew what spots our offensive guys were trying to get to, and they were beating our guys to those spots.
Fat and Sassy Jacket Fan
October 16th, 2011
10:08 am
Well said!
Tripple O
October 16th, 2011
10:10 am
Paul Johnson’s all time head coaching record (since 1997): 138–53.
I think CPJ’s head coaching record says enough about his abilities for those “fans” questioning whether or not he is the right coach for Tech. The bottom line is that Tech was 6-0 going into Saturday’s game and had a chance to win even though they played uninspired ball. Be greatful-Tech is:
1. Already bowl eligible
2. A game ahead of VT in the Coastal
3. Has their destiny in their own hands.
Beat the fighting Ibis!
Boyz From N. Ave.
October 16th, 2011
10:10 am
We got one more win left….Duke. We will finsih 7-5. Clemson, Miami, VT, and the Dawgs are gonna faceroll us with this Al Groh defense we have. Explain to me why we hire a guy that has been fired from his last three jobs to coach our defense?
Burdell 90
October 16th, 2011
10:10 am
Bradley…pull your bottom lip over your head and swallow!! Bet you have been waiting on this day since MTU…you are a piece of dog meat!!!
GHOST OF ERK RUSSELL
October 16th, 2011
10:12 am
AT LEAST WE DONT HAVE TO HEAR ABOUT HOW TECH IS A TOP 50 TEAM ANYMORE -SEE YOU RIGHT AFTER THANKSGIVING FOR THE ANNUAL BEATDOWN
GoTech
October 16th, 2011
10:19 am
Tech fans will attest, there’s at least one Sunday a year that feels exactly like this one. Virtually nobody was talking about a possible upset with this game, yet with the exception of 2009, UVA dominated the Jackets in Charlottesville. Regardless, if it’s not UVA, it’s some other team that GT should have beat that ends up biting them in the keyster. I kept telling everyone, this team is not as good as they’re being perceived and they were exposed Sat afternoon as the same pedestrian option team they have been in the past. The Cavaliers had one extra week to prepare and found a way to pull out a win. Imagine what REAL team will do. I like CPJ and think he’s a one of the smartest coaches in CFB, but he needs to find a way to adjust to other teams adapting to his system. It’s been proven that time cures everything against the triple option, so what’s being done to counter that>
dawg nation
October 16th, 2011
10:19 am
paul johnson is a good coach and even better person ,its just that with his type of offense its not meant ot come from behind if ga tech is down by 2 touchdowns against a physical team then their is a problem
tech fan
October 16th, 2011
10:23 am
! have four words for Mark Bradley [SUCK MY D--K FAG] SORRY GOT CARRED AWAY
Gatorman
October 16th, 2011
10:24 am
Ignoring the win by UGA and the loss by my Gators, Tech losing made it three bad games yesterday. I think PJohnson really needs to find out if his freshman phenom QB is ready to go, because Washington has lost his confidence, can find receivers and has shut down the option attack. After the first 3 games, it looked like Washington was ready to play, but the hard wins against NC and MD has taken it’s toll, with bad decision making and poor passing. If the early games proved nothing else, the option will not be consistent without the ability to throw. With Clemson, VaTech and Miami coming up, a change needs to made now or that could easily be three losses.
sorry bees
October 16th, 2011
10:25 am
not talkin’ trash, but gt wont make it by clemson or uga
Gorilla Biscuit
October 16th, 2011
10:26 am
They must have been still stressing over their calculus finals.
GoTech
October 16th, 2011
10:29 am
Totally agree dawg nation. I was at a wedding and missed the first 3 quarters, but was pleasantly surprised when I checked my phone and saw they had tied the game in the second quarter. But, they then gave up 10 unanswered points and were forced to fight from behind in the second half. Despite popular belief, Washington isn’t a good passer, but GT needs someone with the ability to air the ball out. He’s not that guy nor is Syjn Days. Vad Lee has potential from what I’ve heard.
GoTech
October 16th, 2011
10:32 am
http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/lee_vad00.html
jojatek
October 16th, 2011
10:35 am
Bottom line: We can’t stop the run with a 3-4 defense. Groh’s scheme is beyond the reach of the talent that we recruit and, apparently, the coaching that we provide on that side of the ball after they arrive on the Flats. How many years will we have to watch this defense before we make a change??!!!
jimmy
October 16th, 2011
10:36 am
2 for 8 / 24 yards. And he is a D 1 QB.
GoTech
October 16th, 2011
10:39 am
jojatek – It’s ridiculous isn’t it?! Why can’t these kids tackle? You would think that facing a run based offense every practice would prepare these guys to wrap up. Maybe that’s why GT’s offense has this feeling of entitlement, which is undeserved. They better wake up, and quick, or they’ll end the season at 7-5 and limping into a bowl game, which they will lose.
A Tech Fan Forever
October 16th, 2011
10:41 am
Bradley, they didn’t “Get Complacent”, they got their A**e* kicked, by a better prepared team.
hahahahhahaa!!!!!
October 16th, 2011
10:52 am
Typically one loss in the ACC is equal to 3 losses in the SEC on a national rankings scale, but losing to a Godawful UVA squad is like an SEC team losing 5 games!!!
LOL!! Classic Yech!!!
CharlotteDawg
October 16th, 2011
10:54 am
This paper is so biased. The headline for a Bulldawg loss would have read “Vandy Upsets UGA”. A top 15 TECH just lost to a very bad UVA team and perennial ACC doormat. Yet, inexplicably, no dramatic headline or article, very biased indeed. I still like CPJ as a coach and admire the discipline he exacts from his players. All he is missing is a decent DC. Wish my team could get some of that discipline.
michael
October 16th, 2011
10:57 am
It’s hilarious that the cheating “nation” is shocked by this massively humiliating loss.
Johnson, being the disgusting and vile human being he naturally is, was leaving his starters late in games and running up the scores against far inferior competition because he knew his team still sucked but thought he could fool the voters (along with his mindless, idiotic fan base) into shamelessly voting for his thug squad high into the national rankings. Well, no more, and as they say, karma is a biooooootch!
Back to the Smurf Bowl you go just to get blasted by yet another WAC team!
GoTech
October 16th, 2011
11:11 am
michael – Cocky UGA fans amuse me. Those are curious comments coming from a fan of a team that barely beat Vandy, which is the equivalent of UVA. Your team is irrelevant, but not nearly as much as you are.
Moore St.
October 16th, 2011
11:11 am
First of many losses for the cheats. Gotta love the karma!!!
BreakingNews
October 16th, 2011
11:12 am
Wait a minute….up until yesterday, you guys had the greatest offense ever seen in college football with the greatest coaching staff ever assembled! Funny how fast you guys can turn on that…
GTville
October 16th, 2011
11:27 am
Passing game disappeared a few weeks ago and it is the key to the offence. Even if you only throw three passes, they should all be TDs or very long gains. When you fail at passing, the D doesn’t need to cover and can move up. Also, better teams are faster in the backfield and bigger up front.
I picked 8-4 as season record with losses to UVA, Miami, Clemson, and UGA. No surprised we were 6-0 because we should have been 6-0 at that point.
Tom
October 16th, 2011
11:38 am
PJ is a moron. He has no special teams coach. For the past 4 years he talks about how he will work on it and nothing improves. 3 td’s in the past 6 quarters. Does he tell the receivers to run routes besides a striaght line? They can cut across the middle, stop run again etc. We will be lucky to get 8 wins. Miami will kill them. No scores by uv in the second half and we still lost. Now that is pathetic
mrbiguns
October 16th, 2011
11:39 am
TO MARK BRADLEY, PAUL JOHNSON AND THE REST OF THE TECH NATION…THERE IS TWO THINGS WRONG WITH TECH, THAT IF FIXED, WILL MAKE THEM PRACTICALLY UNBEATABLE…
1) TECH NEEDS TO LEARN HOW TO TACKLE AND NOT BULL RIDE. THE BEST WAY TO TACKLE OR STOP ANY RUNNING BACK OF ANY SIZE IS TO WRAP UP THEIR ANKLES. ITS NOT RIDING THEIR BACK OR TRYING TO PUT YOUR FACE MASK IN THEIR CHEST. ANY PLAYER WHO HAS PLAYED THE GAME UNDER SIZED KNOWS THIS TECHNIQUE AND IT WORKS!
2) BENCH TEVIN WASHINGTON AND GET A QB WHO CAN READ A DEFENSE, THROW A DECENT PASS AND WON’T HOG THE FOOTBALL. TEVIN WASHINGTON WAS THE DIFFERENCE IN TECH WINNING OR LOSING. SURE THE DEFENSE HAD ITS SLIP UPS BUT THEY WERE OUT ON THE FIELD MOST OF THE DAY AND DIDN’T HAVE MUCH SCORING TO BACK THEM UP. BENCH TEVIN WASHINGTON AND START PREPARING FOR NEXT YEAR BECAUSE WITH TEVIN, TECH WILL BE LUCKY TO WIN 1 MORE GAME!!
BravesFan79@hotmail.com
October 16th, 2011
11:43 am
Anytime the other teams fans storm the field after a loss this is a good sign the program is in good hands! P Johnson is a good solid coach, he still has my vote.
I cant wait for GT basketball program to get back to relevance.
BravesFan79@hotmail.com
October 16th, 2011
11:45 am
I like some of the things Washington has done as QB, but im not sure hes really the perfect guy for the job. Ive heard alot of good things about a few of GT’s backup QB’s, and one of them should be given a chance.
| collegefootballnewswire.com
October 16th, 2011
11:54 am
[...] OPINION: HURT: The Battle Against Complacency TRAVIS: LSU Wins Glorified Scrimmage, Nears Title Showdown EVANS: Cowboys Almost Certain To Self-Destruct SHARP: Denard Robinson (Again) Exposed As One-Dimensional Canzano: Oregon Ducks Win & Send Important Message NIYO: MSU States Its Case, Loudly & With Force PEREZ: Not The Same Old Clemson BREWER: Washington Deserves To Be In The Top 25 HERNDON: Richardson Makes His Heisman Case BRADLEY: Georgia Tech Handed Its Comeuppance [...]