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
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
498 comments Add your comment
Triple Lindy
October 23rd, 2011
5:13 pm
Ahh, the genius of CPJ and his one-page playbook. The triple option is not a style of offense; it’s a play.
GTBob
October 23rd, 2011
5:14 pm
tech’s done for the year–they will probably quit on the rest of the season
Sadly, this will probably happen. Its hard for a young team to bounce back after playing so bad. Oh well, we will see how next season goes.
old gold and white in my veins
October 23rd, 2011
5:17 pm
Win, lose or draw, it’s always damn good to be a Jacket. Heads up guys, better days are coming.
GT
October 23rd, 2011
5:27 pm
Miami got back a lot of players that had not played at the beginning of the year. This was a pretty good team. If we had not played so bad against Va. I wouldn’t be worried, but even now we have not been blown out of a game yet. May happen next week but we are playing at home. Washington needs to find himself. That short armed pass along with special teams was the difference in a pretty close game.
JB
October 23rd, 2011
5:58 pm
Realizing you guys at Tech don’t put too much into Rivals recruiting rankings( only due to where you are ranked year after year and we would need to see how you would react to a top 10 class, as seeing no one on the Flats got excited about being 6-0, LOL)… But finishing in the mid 40’s the last two years, it is very obvious, other that a gem or two, the talent is sinking at Tech. Not a slam, just a fact, and it’s starting to show on the field. I think Johnson is better than average as a coach, But Tech just not have the athletes or depth on Defense to stop most average ACC teams. The early success was with Chan’s studs……. and denying it would lead me believe you got in Tech.
Russell Pass
October 23rd, 2011
6:03 pm
Tech had easy schedule early in the year but now we see Tech is not that good. CPJ won in the past with Gailey’s recruits now . he has his own recruits so time will tell about his triple-option offense. Personally, I don’t believe you can win consistently with triple option offense. The only teams that run it are Army, Navy, and Air Force. The triple-option offense is outdated. Oklahoma quit running the triple option a long time ago. If the triple option is so great, why don’t more teams use it?
GIVE ME A BREAK
October 23rd, 2011
6:20 pm
GT’s defense played another good game. I hope they can keep it up until the offense can wake up. Clemson has a weak defense, so we’ll see how that game works out. Still looking forward to playing UGA, hope they can win a few more. ” GO JACKETS “
Fan of the Game
October 23rd, 2011
6:20 pm
Why is everyone so quite about the LSU program? If that was UGA the AJC would have about 4 or 5 articles on the discipline problems that LSU is having. Last year we had the Oregon and Auburn programs play for the NC and now I believe LSU will play in the Bowl Corruption Series Championship. Good to see the interview with the Michigan State QB, class act.
eloop
October 23rd, 2011
6:22 pm
Mr. Obvious writes a “newpaper” column. 7-5 if they’re lucky – 6-6 is more realistic
Wakka Flocka Shame
October 23rd, 2011
6:33 pm
If you were to look at Tech’s roster this year, anyone could have told you from the start that the possibility of being ranked was highly unlikely since most of the team is fairly young. I just love it when Mark Bradley has to point out the obvious when anyone who does their homework and pays attention to the detail (like a good sports reporter) usually does. Keep up the mediocre work, Bradley.
Your FaceBook Friend
October 23rd, 2011
6:35 pm
LOL. I like the title. Anyway, everyone knows that offense does not work at this level. Too much speed in the elite programs make PJ look foolish.
Big L
October 23rd, 2011
6:37 pm
Hey Bob. It ain’t possible to be a Dawg fan and have one iota of love for the nerds. If Tech managed to lose all twelve games, I would hope the NCAA would make a bowl for them and another 0-12 team. Just so the Tech-tards could lose one more game.
Stinger2
October 23rd, 2011
6:37 pm
The only way to avoid a losing season is to not get a bowl game.
Your FaceBook Friend
October 23rd, 2011
6:46 pm
PJ could make it easier on himself if he wasn’t such an arrogant prick.
JB
October 23rd, 2011
6:47 pm
What’s the BCS gonna do with a 12-0 Clemson?
James
October 23rd, 2011
6:59 pm
Finally out of the top 25..Where they never belonged.
Buzz 2011
October 23rd, 2011
7:01 pm
Amazing Badley! Your next column will call the Bulldogs good!!
GT will pound the leghumpers after we beat Clemson………..
Buzz 2011
October 23rd, 2011
7:03 pm
Where is the mighty Dawgs ranked? They have never been ranked and lost to every good team thay have played.
They should have lost to Vandy and their coaches are roaches and thugs..
The Ole Ball Coach
October 23rd, 2011
7:04 pm
Pitiful performance by the Jackets…… I do not think they are tough
at all. Johnson needs to be replaced he has lost control of this team.
The Ole Ball Coach
October 23rd, 2011
7:08 pm
GT needs to forfeit the remainder of the season, pitiful just pitiful
team and THE Coaching IS WORSE.
Buzz 2011
October 23rd, 2011
7:09 pm
Why would any good player go to UGA? Their conderence is weak and the real teams are in the west sector. Why don;t they play Arkansa, Alabama, or LSU… The Dawgs will be buried by the Gators and all the Gators need to do is show up in Blue & Orange…
Merry O'Marr
October 23rd, 2011
7:10 pm
Just a reminder that we’ll be having our regular tribute and moment of silence on Saturday for Saint Jan Kemp, the courageous martyr who exposed UGA and Vince Dooley’s “remedial studies” fraud.
Please approach this special moment with reverence as we honor her sacred name.
Baby Ruth
October 23rd, 2011
7:13 pm
Absolutely no talent on this team!!! CPJ can’t recruit and it shows!
Buzz 2011
October 23rd, 2011
7:13 pm
Looks like the Dawgs are a little envious that they were never ranked this year.. Guess what, you are no good and will not be ranked for the next seven years, Get a coach and get a clue leghumpers. Where is the discipline?? Where are the conference championships? Bring in Ray Goff………..
Merry D. O'Marr
October 23rd, 2011
7:14 pm
Just a reminder that we’ll be having our regular tribute and moment of silence on Saturday for Saint Jan Kemp, the courageous martyr who exposed UGA and Vince Dooley’s “remedial studies” fraud.
Please approach this special moment with reverence as we honor her sacred name.
OhBoy
October 23rd, 2011
7:16 pm
Buzz,
UGA only plays certain Western Conference SEC on a rotating schedule. They just happened to get Miss. State and Ole Miss this year. Just the way that Tech isn’t playing Florida State and Wake Forest this year. Oh and just a BTW, UGA did play the #5 team in the nation in Boise State, not Middle Tenn. etc…In a WEAK ACC, (while the SEC adds Texas A & M and their top 10 ranking, the ACC adds the powerhouse Syracuse and Pitt.) I bet by the time that Tech and UGA play in the finale of the regular season, Tech will be 7-4 and UGA will be 9-2. After the Tech/UGA game? UGA 10-2, Tech 7-6.
Lane
October 23rd, 2011
7:18 pm
The best words I can find to describe the Athens leghumpers are “roaches” and “rats.”
But that’s what you would expect to find in a cesspool.
OhBoy
October 23rd, 2011
7:19 pm
Buzz,
Sorry Tech is OUT of the Top 25. Oh and BTW, UGA is IN.
20 USC 6-1 340 NR
21 Penn State 7-1 312 NR
22 Georgia 5-2 290 24
23 Arizona State 5-2 239 24
24 Cincinnati 6-1 71 NR
25 West Virginia 5-2 64 11
superDawg
October 23rd, 2011
7:19 pm
buzz UGA is ranked higher than your sorry teakm.
OhBoy
October 23rd, 2011
7:21 pm
The previous was the AP Poll, now for the coaches poll. OOPS, No Tech. Yes there is UGA
20 Arizona State 5-2 253 25
21 Georgia 5-2 208 NR
22 Texas Tech 5-2 180 NR
23 Cincinnati 6-1 159 NR
24 West Virginia 5-2 155 14
25 Southern Miss 6-1 128 NR
OhBoy
October 23rd, 2011
7:26 pm
The arogance of CPJ at the beginning of the game thinking his offense is so good to go for it from his 37 on a 4th and 3 just shows how CPJ is out to prove this offense will work. Well, this isn’t Kansas any more!
Technically Correct
October 23rd, 2011
7:27 pm
I am so tired of the “We’re just not executing” excuse. Guys, if you know what you’re doing wrong, then do it right! That is, of course, if you are capable of executing it right against real competition…
R
October 23rd, 2011
7:27 pm
Weak,Weak,Weak effort by GT—Don’t know if it is lack of effort,lack of talent or lack of coaching. I suspect some of all of the above. I think we should be happy to finish 7 and 5—because I’m not so sure we will be able to beat Duke. By the Duke game the effort given might not be the best.
For sure something has got to change-because this is not working.
It Will NOT Work! EVER!
October 23rd, 2011
7:27 pm
Mark….seriously? Special Teams? That is what you hang this loss on? Really??? The “genius’s” O got 1 TD, and it is the “special teams” fault? Every team, in every game make mistakes. Every team has a 3rd & long now & again. The “genius” just has no F’ing clue what to do when that happens! Oh the fullback dive works so well!
Special teams…gimmme a F’ing break….there is a reason why only 3 other teams in D1/Pros run that crap…it does NOT WORK!!!!!
Technically Correct
October 23rd, 2011
7:29 pm
Goooooooooooooooooooooo Gators!
William Casey
October 23rd, 2011
7:30 pm
Has anyone on this blog ever coached a football team above the peewee level?
Your FaceBook Friend
October 23rd, 2011
7:38 pm
PJ going for it on 4th downs (and not making it) is absolutely hilarious. His arrogance is annoying.
OhBoy
October 23rd, 2011
7:38 pm
No, no one has coached above the Pee Wee level and we are smart enough to know this gimmick offense won’t work against good or average teams. CPJ is just to arogant to admit it.
PJ whiffs again
October 23rd, 2011
7:40 pm
Tech made a huge mistake hiring PJ , Gailey was just beginning to get the program turned around.(Remember flunkgate and probation?) Went to the Acc Championship game in 2006, followed that with a very good recruiting class in 2007. Had started putting together another good recruiting class for 2008. Pj wins ACC championship game in 2009 and follows that with a # 40something recruiting class then 6-7, now this year will most likely play out like last year 6 or 7 wins and another bowl loss and another lackluster recruiting class. Gailey gets fired and goes to NFL, PJ gets fired and starts a new carrier in the Big Sky or Southern Conference.
Tough Break For The Nerds
October 23rd, 2011
7:58 pm
Hey, virgins, sorry your team sucks.
73Grad
October 23rd, 2011
7:58 pm
Can we bring back Jaybo Shaw? He seems to know how to complete a forward pass. To the team wearing the same color jersey he is.
Big Ed
October 23rd, 2011
8:03 pm
Agree..it will not work, ever. 9 in the box, done. That offense is a D coordinators dream!
BTW dogturds, Forbes best, world wide, is out…you rank comfortably 300 spots below GT at #384, right behind Kentucky! how bout that top notch edumakation!
chili dawg
October 23rd, 2011
8:06 pm
Put those Forbes rankings on a T-shirt, right where “ACC Champions” used to be!
Big Ed
October 23rd, 2011
8:14 pm
chili dawg cook….fantastic response….put Uga has a better football team than GT on your resume and send it to me….
chili dawg
October 23rd, 2011
8:20 pm
I haven’t needed a resume in years. Having a successful, stable career does that. Thanks though, I’m sure Waffle House is a great place to work.
Oh well...
October 23rd, 2011
8:23 pm
…back to normalcy: “The No. 22 Yellow Jackets, which were off to their best start since 1966 and seemed on their way to an Oct. 29 undefeated showdown against No. 7 Clemson in Atlanta, could muster only 296 yards of offense against Virginia. Tech’s defense has to shoulder some blame as well after it couldn’t get the ball away from the Cavaliers in the final six minutes of the game. That disappointing performance earned the Yellow Jackets the not-so-coveted No. 5 spot in this week’s Bottom 10.”
Patty Melt
October 23rd, 2011
8:26 pm
Can’t we all just order some fries and get along?
Big Ed
October 23rd, 2011
8:34 pm
Yet another fantastic response…but I think you missed the point, how shocking. Uga – average school at best, but lower than Kentucky. GT top 100 program in the World.
Uga grads = Walmart Greeters or chili dawg cooks. GT grads, 6 figures within 5 yrs.
Yes your football team is marginally better sometimes….I will take the 6 figures any day. Thanks.
Guessing since you have a job, you are not a uga grad anyway.
Glad you have a job, I probably would not hire you anyway, maybe to wash my Porsche…
Patty Melt
October 23rd, 2011
8:36 pm
Big Ed,
Sounds like you need a tall glass of milk and some cookies.
Banned Poster
October 23rd, 2011
8:36 pm
I’ve been hearing about these Forbes rankings for about two weeks now so I decided to do a search on them and only found this little nugget: http://www.forbes.com/top-colleges/ It seems based on this UGA ranked 206 nationally while Tech ranks…….#397. So whatever lists you little bees have been banding about doesn’t even show up on a google search. Hey at least you were able to beat Agnes College on this list though.