A sobering truth revealed: Georgia Tech just isn’t very good
Oh, no! Zach Laskey after fumbling away a punt. (AP photo)
Miami — Georgia Tech has messed up its season, and not in the way you’d think. The losses these past two weeks haven’t been examples of a gifted team losing to its inferiors; they’ve been cases of a team that, on talent, shouldn’t have been 6-0.
Yet 6-0 Tech was, ranked No. 12 the land as late as eight days ago. Now it’s 6-2 and perhaps bound for 7-5 and another holiday in Shreveport. Which is another way of saying: Water seeks its own level.
We see now that Tech isn’t very good, and the schedule, which seemed to have done it a favor, might not have been so favorable after all. Had Tech lost a couple of games early, it might have had cause to deploy Vad Lee, the freshman quarterback who might be the most talented player on this roster, as opposed to letting him sit out as a redshirt.
Who makes major changes when a team’s 6-0 and climbing in the polls? Nobody. But now, his team climbing no more, Paul Johnson was asked Saturday if there was a chance Lee would play this season. “Probably not,” Johnson said.
What happened here Saturday wasn’t a failure of effort, as had been partially the case at Virginia the week before. The inspired Cavaliers hit Tech hard at the start and held on. Miami didn’t seem long on either inspiration or execution, managing just 262 yards and two offensive touchdowns, both of those on mini-drives of 46 yards. But Tech, which gained 768 yards against Kansas in Week 3, was held to 211 in Week 8 — by a team that entered with the nation’s 81st-ranked defense.
“I think our kids played hard,” Johnson said. “It’s just frustrating we couldn’t find anything to do on offense.”
What worked earlier this season against lesser opposition — the pitchouts to the A-backs, the downfield throws off play-action — works no longer. The plays are the same; it’s the size and speed of the opponent that has changed. Where’d the wide stuff go? Said Johnson: “We can’t get to the perimeter.”
Does that mean quarterback Tevin Washington, whose efficiency has diminished in recent weeks, is making the wrong reads and keeping or handing to the B-back when he should pitch? Johnson: “He’s making the right reads. We’ve got five blocking four, and the four are winning.”
That’s not scheme. That’s talent, or the lack thereof. And it’s a huge deal. In 2008 B-back Jonathan Dwyer had nine 100-yard games; in 2009 he had seven; last season Anthony Allen, Dwyer’s successor, had six. Know how many 100-yard games David Sims, the new B-back, has had this season? None.
The much-lampooned defense hasn’t been so laughable. It yielded no second-half points last week, three this time. But a Johnson-designed team can’t win if it doesn’t score, and over the past two second halves the Jackets, in comeback mode both times, have managed one touchdown.
“We can’t overcome bad plays,” Johnson said, “because we’re not hitting big plays.”
Yet again, gaffes in the kicking game undid Tech. Freshman Zach Laskey waved teammates away from a bouncing punt, then tried to field it himself and saw Miami wind up with the ball in the end zone. And then, with a minute left before halftime and Tech having just gone 92 yards in 20 plays to halve Miami’s lead, a squib kick spawned a crushing Hurricanes touchdown. And get this: “It was supposed to be a deep kickoff,” Johnson said.
Not for the first time, we need ask: Why does a man as clever as Johnson not hire a special-teams coordinator? Instead, the kicking game is left to various Tech coaches to oversee piecemeal, and the result has been an ongoing farce. “We couldn’t overcome the special teams today,” Johnson said, “and that’s a reflection on me. Something we’re doing ain’t right.”
And now you wonder: Is there time — with a schedule that includes Clemson, Virginia Tech and Georgia — for Tech not to finish with five losses in the final six games? Is there any way to salvage a season that got so far ahead of itself?
Said Johnson, speaking of Washington: “We just have to find something he can do.”
At this late date, all the stuff Tech can’t do outnumbers the things it can. This is a team of limited means. Limited means, and not much time.
By Mark Bradley
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498 comments Add your comment
St. Simons Where Are You?
October 22nd, 2011
11:28 pm
How’s it going, buddy?
End of the disco era = last national championship
October 22nd, 2011
11:28 pm
Everyone knows the secret to being a successful AD is panties on your head while driving!
Not a doggy
October 22nd, 2011
11:29 pm
Hey four chins with your HC offense, it looks like a HC O again! You yech loser are really in bad shape. You may only win one more this year.
Sparti Won!!!!!
October 22nd, 2011
11:31 pm
The triple option is the offense of the future and the forward pass will go the way of the Doh Doh Bird.
My beautiful blond receding hairline
October 22nd, 2011
11:33 pm
I get the best recruits in the nation on a yearly basis so watch out!
Go Dawgs!
October 22nd, 2011
11:35 pm
If douchers did not come on our blogs and cause problems we would shut the fug up. Payback is a, well you know. Btw, your team looks aweful and plays in a sissy league. Deal with it!!!!!
sports
October 22nd, 2011
11:35 pm
The real tech turds have shown up.
Tevin Washington is a future first round draft pick
October 22nd, 2011
11:35 pm
Tech’s defense actually played a pretty good game today.
Wes Durham's Bottom is Bigger than TJ Barnes's Bottom
October 22nd, 2011
11:37 pm
Tech’s problem is at B-Back…..there are no big play threats and other teams are focusing on the pitch and not the dive….Tevin is also not as big a threat as Nesbitt.
Go Dawgs!
October 22nd, 2011
11:38 pm
Not only did you get beat, you got crushed!!!!!
Btw, that was the 84th best d in the league. UGA has the 8th best d. Good luck!
My beautiful blond receding hairline
October 22nd, 2011
11:39 pm
Hey “Go Dawgs!” maybe your “highly rated recruits” could be competitive in a sissy league cause they can’t in the sec! Oh yeah your spelling is “aweful”
jay
October 22nd, 2011
11:42 pm
Its hard to find kids who can or want to play in that option system.
Karma Police....arrest CPJ
October 22nd, 2011
11:45 pm
when you are an arrogant, rude jerk bad things happen.
Dave from GT
October 22nd, 2011
11:46 pm
Bradley, u r an azz……. but you are correct in the article that GT has not played well in the past 3 games. However, I think that the season can be salvaged, and definitely can win with a drubbing of the dawgs !
Andrew
October 22nd, 2011
11:46 pm
I just heard all this loud clatter outside and realized it was the Techies taking the GT tags off of their cars. Glad that is all it was.
My beautiful blond receding hairline
October 22nd, 2011
11:47 pm
“when you are an arrogant, rude jerk bad things happen.”
Wrong, Michael Jordan won 6 championships!
My beautiful blond receding hairline
October 22nd, 2011
11:49 pm
Andrew, you should be headlining at the Punchline, seriously, I am not even kidding, that is gold my man!
Karma Police....arrest CPJ
October 22nd, 2011
11:50 pm
And Jordan’s wife left him and he is a gambling addict…..
GTBob
October 22nd, 2011
11:50 pm
when you are an arrogant, rude jerk bad things happen.
Yeah, making millions to coach football. I’m sure he is hurting.
GT85EE
October 22nd, 2011
11:50 pm
Let’s face it….CPJ has some good days, but more bad days and it was fun while it lasted, but, it is time to find a head coach that can win all the time. Today I am embarrassed to tell anyone I went to Tech. Is CPJ that stupid that he does not name a special teams coach? I am over it and off the band wagon.
JTDawg
October 22nd, 2011
11:51 pm
I can’t wait until the Dawgs take the Nerds lunch money at Bobby Dodd in November.
My beautiful blond receding hairline
October 22nd, 2011
11:52 pm
And Jordan’s wife left him and he is a gambling addict…..
He’s rich and famous and his wife left him……. That must be hell!
cc
October 22nd, 2011
11:55 pm
“We just have to find something he can do.”
This is such a pathetic comment from a coach about his QB. This team is showing no hussle, no punch, no fire, no enthusiasm.
And neither is the coach. I’ve watched 3 press meetings, on Tuesdays, and this coach is NOT inspiring and rarely has anything enlightening to say. His sourpuss attitude is hard to
watch.
Something, behind the scenes, is dreadfully wrong.
OkieDawg
October 22nd, 2011
11:56 pm
WOW!! Is GT really paying CPJ millions? To run that offense? It’s not CPJ fault that he is getting so much to produce so little. That may keep me awake for the next several hours. How did CPJ pull it off? I’m now totally impresssed with CPJ. He is the man!
GTBob
October 22nd, 2011
11:57 pm
I can’t wait until the Dawgs take the Nerds lunch money at Bobby Dodd in November.
Is GT hiring UGA grads to run the concession stands now? I’m glad to see us trying to help the economy.
Bernardo Gui
October 23rd, 2011
12:00 am
CPJ took CMR’s place on the Hot Seat.
Jackets 55
October 23rd, 2011
12:04 am
Mark,
I feel CPJ is the problem. There is lack of talent, but Johnson can’t seem to get out of the way of his own egotistical, arrogant personality. When you are averaging of late, maybe 3 yards on 1st. down, you are not going to be very good. George O’Leary, his first 2 years, averaged less than 2 yards on first down. He didn’t win a lot of games the first 2 years. This team is close to quitting on Johnson, if it hasn’t already started. Same song second verse from last year, a little bit louder and a little bit worse. There is no precision, poor tackling for the most part, and the worst special teams I’ve seen in many years. I won’t be surprised if we don’t win another game. Thanks for your time.
GTBob
October 23rd, 2011
12:11 am
How did CPJ pull it off?
Supposedly Auburn was offering him a lot of money to leave Tech at one point. That got him a nice fat contract extension.
Paul's Johnson
October 23rd, 2011
12:20 am
Couldn’t have said it better myself, Mark. Clemson will be a 3rd consecutive loss. I can’t wait.
Gators!!
October 23rd, 2011
12:23 am
Tech sucks, guys… if you realize this is a bad year, you’ll be a lot less upset. I mean you guys can’t even beat GEORGIA and they are the new Clemson when it comes to losing big games. Tech sucks.
Jacket Alum
October 23rd, 2011
12:26 am
Dump the Navy Blue & Urine Yellow uniforms.
Get back to the White & Gold – both in uniforms and Athletic Association philosophy.
ToccoaDawg
October 23rd, 2011
12:40 am
the more tech loses the better it is.
YellowJacket4Ever
October 23rd, 2011
12:42 am
Something just aint right, and whatever it is must be fixed. I am sorry to say that perhaps GA TECH is not very good…..and it pains me to say that. There is much more that I could say, but I’ll just leave it alone.
Bagel
October 23rd, 2011
12:44 am
Auburn losing was a lot funnier to me! Will those people who were raving about how great of a coach Chizik is and how Auburn would keep it really close today shut up now??
DAMON
October 23rd, 2011
1:02 am
Most sane comment I’ve read all night; Steve Brown @ 9:10. That’s the bees problem in a nutshell.
bugsquacher
October 23rd, 2011
1:08 am
boo-hoo
RichmondVaCane
October 23rd, 2011
1:09 am
‘Canes fan here. I see a lot of UGA fans talking smack. Give me a break. Didn’t UGA lose to UCF in a bowl game last year? Half of the ACC would throttle you. UM would beat you by 2 TD’s in your house. The SEC is Bama, LSU, throw in Ark. and a strange SC team, that’s it.
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superDawg
October 23rd, 2011
1:18 am
MB it’s not the sobering truth,It’s a fact.
How many cokes and hot dogs do I get with my season ticket package???
October 23rd, 2011
1:24 am
I actually think Tech will win two more games this season….Duke and they will upset VPI which always struggles against the TO……I think Clemson and UGA will score too many points against the defense.
reg
October 23rd, 2011
1:25 am
Team have figured out that if u get up by 2 touchdowns early and have some team speed on defense u can control them. its not an offense that can rally
back easily
GTforever
October 23rd, 2011
1:28 am
It always comes down to talent, and Coach Johnson has not recruited very well. Don’t expect miracles from Vad Lee because the O line is terrible too. We have no playmakers on Offense. It is recruiting, stupid. .
GTBob
October 23rd, 2011
1:30 am
MB it’s not the sobering truth,It’s a fact.
I’m not sure you know what a fact is.
Burgess
October 23rd, 2011
1:33 am
GTForever, Johnson hasn’t recruited well ?????? What great athlete wants to come play in that high school offense ?
Gailey could recruit such talents as Calvin Johnson…but you idiots ran him off.
I missed last week's game and today's game
October 23rd, 2011
1:36 am
What time is everyone going to be on campus for College Game Day next Saturday? This will be awesome……Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard and Lee Corso? I’ve got my flag ready….
Burgess
October 23rd, 2011
1:38 am
Don’t fret CPJ, like always when Tech loses…..it’s NOT your fault. It’s the players again.
ACC Wheel of Destiny
October 23rd, 2011
1:44 am
If Tevin Washington is the best QB on CPJ’s squad we are in big trouble…….he showed signs of developing his passing game early in the season, but it was against bad, bad teams.
IlliniDawg
October 23rd, 2011
2:10 am
Unfortunately, the Tech nerds will still flood the UGA blogs with their drivel. Perhaps even more now. Jealousy is a powerful motivator.
True Dawg
October 23rd, 2011
2:19 am
Mark, I hope you and all of the other “dawg” fans on here eat a d]ck and DIA.
Western Carolina PE Major
October 23rd, 2011
2:27 am
Is anyone ready to get back on the “Chanwagon”?????? CPJ won the ACC with Chan’s players….these guys are his and they cannot compete…..everyone thought the TO with Div.1-A (FBS) talent would be unstoppable….the problem is that CPJ cannot recruit Div. 1-A (FBS) talent…..talented players do not want to play in the TO because it does not prepare them for an NFL career….Dwyer and Thomas were not skilled because they played for CPJ…..they were skilled and highly regarded in spite of the fact they played for CPJ and his high school offense.