Paul Johnson’s offense isn’t hurting Tech; his approach is
Paul Johnson on Saturday: Another close game, another loss. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
Because Paul Johnson’s stylized offense has become the public image of Georgia Tech football, it’s tempting to blame his creation whenever Tech loses. (Which, not incidentally, it has done seven times in its past 11 games.) But here’s where numbers rear their pesky head. The Jackets scored 36 points and gained 419 yards against Miami on Saturday. And we pin this loss on the offense?
Right about here, you’re probably expecting some Al-Groh-has-to-go screed. If so, you’ll be disappointed. Has this coordinator elevated Tech’s defense? Those 42 points and 609 yards yielded Saturday are all the answers we need, but to finger Groh and the D is to miss the bigger picture. What’s dragging Tech back to mediocrity is …
Paul Johnson.
Yes, he’s the same coach who went 20-7 his first two seasons here, beating Georgia in Year 1 and winning the ACC title (since vacated) in Year 2. That’s the trouble: He’s still the same coach, and he’s coaching the same way.
Whenever you’d see Johnson’s teams at Georgia Southern or Navy, your first thought was, “What it would look like if you ran that offense with real Division I-A talent?” For two years we saw. We saw Joshua Nesbitt and Jonathan Dwyer and Demaryius Thomas and this offense score 45 points in Athens and 49 in Tallahassee and 39 against Clemson in the ACC championship game, and we hailed Johnson for taking Chan Gailey’s players and winning bigger than Gailey ever had.
Then Gailey’s players began to leave, as college players will. From the 20-7 of those two giddy seasons, Tech has since gone 16-14 overall, 10-9 in ACC play. An even more salient stat: With Nesbitt as starting quarterback, Tech was 23-11; since Nesbitt broke his arm at Virginia Tech in November 2010, Tech is 11-10.
That sounds like an indictment of Tevin Washington, who succeeded Nesbitt. It’s really not. Washington isn’t the player Nesbitt was, but that isn’t his fault. The greater issue is that Tech football functions less as a total program and more as a front for Johnson’s stylized offense. In 2008 and 2009, that offense had so many good players it could overcome most any failing anywhere else. Without those players, the whole operation has suffered.
Oh, the offense still functions. Tech ranks 19th nationally in total yardage, 13th in scoring, third in rushing yards. But the offense couldn’t kill the clock — you’d think a running team would be able to kill the clock — with a 17-point lead against Miami, and by the final frantic minutes the Jackets’ defenders, who aren’t to be confused with Alabama on their best day, were covering nobody and missing every tackle. For the third time in five games, Tech couldn’t hold a late lead and was forced to overtime. For the third time in those three overtimes, the offense couldn’t score a touchdown.
We flash back to Nov. 7, 2009. Tech had seen Wake Forest score late to force OT. The Deacons took the ball first and kicked a field goal. Tech faced fourth-and-1 at the 3. After considerable lobbying from Nesbitt, Johnson chose to go for the first down. Nesbitt converted. He scored the winning touchdown on the next snap. He did those sort of things.
On Saturday, Johnson eschewed an overtime field goal and saw Washington stopped on fourth-and-inches. Same coach, same bold choice. Different players, different result.
Those who criticize the scheme have it backwards. If you took these same players and put them in a pro-style offense, Tech might finish next-to-last in its division. Johnson’s offense is the only thing that makes Tech worth mentioning. (Lest we forget, that offense stacked 56 points and 594 yards on Virginia only nine days ago.) But Johnson is not just some scheming offensive coordinator: He’s the head coach of a proud and distinguished program, and too often it seems the program exists only to prop up his offense.
Johnson might think recruiting rankings don’t matter — he has said as much — but we’re seeing now the limits of a team that has talent closer to Georgia Southern’s than, say, Georgia’s. So long as Johnson can outsmart somebody and his offense can run free, Tech can win. But you can’t outsmart everybody, and the better teams won’t let that offense go unchecked. So then it’s down to execution, and Tech has lost five of its past six games decided by 10 or fewer points. The exception came against Duke.
Johnson might say his team is two plays away from being 4-0 and leading its division, and he’d be correct. But plays must be made by players, and Tech doesn’t have enough of those. What it does have is a stylized offense. And that’s about all.
By Mark Bradley
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515 comments Add your comment
GT Joe
September 25th, 2012
4:44 pm
Crimson: “watch Vad get destroyed this year”? How on earth could you think he’d do worse than Tevin?
PantherJacket
September 25th, 2012
4:50 pm
Great Article. CPJ should c’mon down to State…We’ll take him in a heartbeat. At least you guys have a chance to win…..
GT 4 Life
September 25th, 2012
4:52 pm
Hey guys – there’s a reason why Vad Lee is playing left gatorade guard right now on the side line. It’s because Tevin is a better player than he is right now. Don’t think for a second CPJ wouldn’t put Vad in if he was better then Tevin. For all of those folks out there asking for Vad, I say – relax. We put Vad in now, we’ll go 0-8 the rest of the way. Sure he’ll have some more experience for next year, but is the season worth throwing away?
All those calling for CPJ’s head – you guys gotta relax. We are only in the ACC Championship talks every year now because of CPJ. Prior to that, we accepted 7-6 as a good season.
Big Crimson 75
September 25th, 2012
4:54 pm
Joe — it wouldn’t be because of Vad.
Of course he’s better than Tevin, butt the other skill position players at Tech have never been weaker.
No Dwyer-esque FB to pound up the gut, no Alenn-esque whatever-letter back to take the pitches to the house & no deep threat outside.
GT Joe
September 25th, 2012
4:54 pm
GT 4 Life: Help me understand what YOU think Tevin does better than Vad.
Do you think Tevin throws better? (NO ONE DOES)
Do you think Tevin runs better or has better open field moves?
Do you think Tevin plays better under pressure? (See INT at VT, misread on 4th down vs. Miami)
How does Vad possibly do worse than Tevin THIS year? How?
GT Joe
September 25th, 2012
4:56 pm
Crimson: know why we don’t have a dwyer or allen at b-back? Because defenses load up to stop our b back. Why? because we can’t throw and our QB is a non-threat running.
It’s all related to QB ineptitude.
GT Joe
September 25th, 2012
4:58 pm
I disagree on talent level dropping. Our a-backs are as good as they have ever been. and WAY more depth. Receivers? they actually catch this year (stephen hill couldn’t catch a cold). O line is more experience than last year.
Where was the big drop off? Nesbitt to TW…
GT 4 Life
September 25th, 2012
5:02 pm
GT Joe – Fact: Tevin is the starter. That’s all the proof I need. If Vad was a better overall (decision making, reading the D etc) then why on earth wouldn’t he be in the game as a starter? He’s not being redshirted this year, so why would you keep a better player on the bench?
Big Crimson 75
September 25th, 2012
5:05 pm
Joe — I don’t know enough about previous seasons to say.
I watched a bunch of Tech games the BCS year & too much, quite frankly, this year.
Bostic looks pretty good. Orwin is ok.
Godhigh & Laskey are tackling dummies @ Bama.
I’m in complete agreement on Tevin.
He’s responsible for both losses IMO.
Ken
September 25th, 2012
5:26 pm
Anyone who thinks the overall talent level of 2009 is better than today doesn’t know a whole lot about football. In 2009, we had 5 superstars and a bunch of sludge and when one of those superstars is a hard as nails QB, then lots of deficiencies are masked. I need point to only one game, Gardner Webb.
No Nesbit. No Shaw. We won on a blocked field goal. Against GARDNER WEBB! without the quarterback, we couldn’t push around anyone.
Like most ANY football team, this offense and this program will go as the quarterback goes. Right now we have a productive, journeyman style quarterback and we are getting productive, journeyman style results. If/when one of the guys on the roster (Lee or Thomas) becomes the superstar many think they can be, this offense will hum. Until then, we will see 8-4 year after year which, to the best of my knowledge is still better than ANYTHING Gailey, O’Leary, Lewis, Ross, Curry, Rodgers or Carson could do.
Under The Bleachers
September 25th, 2012
5:30 pm
I do not care who the starters are on any team if the system in place is not adjustable in game situations and injuries to players and CPJ has made it clear that in his mind that he is not adjusting the system. To me that is a sign of stubbornness and a direct line to failure.
Under The Bleachers
September 25th, 2012
5:37 pm
With the new emphasis the NCAA has placed on academic requirements there is absolutely zero reasons why GT should not be in on 4 and 5 star players who would make a difference in any program they played in.
That leaves the system and the staff as the issue.
Tech Legacy
September 25th, 2012
5:45 pm
I agree, Mark. The players Tech had under Gailey were better. Johnson hasn’t been able to recruit to the same level. The offense is very good and doesn’t need to change. The only problem is that there are really no playmakers. And compare the defensive starters with those that Johnson had in 2008 (which was the best defense Tech has had under Johnson.) Several went to the NFL — as did several of the offensive players. How many players on this year’s roster are NFL-bound? It’s likely that very few are of that caliber.
I really think Johnson and his staff (including Groh) are coaching the talent they have pretty well. But they just don’t have the talent that Clemson, Georgia, FSU, or even Virginia Tech or Miami have. And it really hurts with depth.
The solution? They have to recruit much better. (And that doesn’t mean changing to the latest uniform idea every year.) I think they’ve focused a lot more on Georgia than they should have — they’re really going to have to go national to get the talent they need.
DOC 51
September 25th, 2012
5:49 pm
CLEMSON 58 –GT 13.Unfortunately it will probably get ugly in a hurry.With no pressure at all BOYD will have a record-setting day.We sure can’t cover Hopkins and Watkins,not to mention the explosiveness of Ellington.
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September 25th, 2012
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[...] Mark Bradley: Johnson’s approach hurting Tech [...]
Ron
September 25th, 2012
6:14 pm
I think its time to move on from Paul Johnson it was nice while it lasted we need to get another coach in here the 3-4 isn’t a good fit tech doesn’t have the athletes to run that with the ACC expanding tech needs a new direction were sitting in a hot bed of recruiting its time for a change
BUZZSAW
September 25th, 2012
7:37 pm
When top recruits think of GT that wing t offense is what comes to mind. If I’m a top ranked defensive player I don’t want to play for a coach who’s offense can’t land top recruits. Fathers of top ranked players will not allow their kids to play for GT as long as they are running that highly octained version of high school football. CPJ is very inovative but it’s just not enough to get these kids to commit to GT. Jacket nation has seen enough…CPJ is done after this season.
Jp
September 25th, 2012
8:12 pm
Amen…agree 100%.
stony
September 25th, 2012
8:33 pm
Know I’m late to the party…been on the road since yesterday morning.
I’d like to weigh in by first saying that the problem at GT right now is not the players(we can win with these players). The problem isn’t PJ’s offense or Groh’s 3-4 defense. The problem isn’t that PJ is stubborn.
The problem with our football program is pure and simply the inability by PJ to recognize game conditions and make the right adjustments. He gets to narrow in his chance toplaycalling as the game progresses, and fails to adjust to the opponent’s defensive changes. He fails to adjust to tiring players, thus punting when he should have gone for the first down with 2 minutes left in the game. Miami had scored the previous 3 times they had the ball(FG, TD, TD) and we had no hope of stopping them regardless of where they took possession. The only rational option was to not let them have the ball back. With that decision made comes the next one…what and who gives us the best chance to convert? Tevin does not have the power to break tackles, so if you want your QB to get that one yard, put in the most powerful QB. If the call was to let the QB get that yard, Days should be the one carrying the ball. Days was rested, and surely could have hung on to the ball knowing the game was riding on this one play. Maybe he would have gained the yard and maybe not, but the point is that PJ never seems to consider that there are options other than the same players and the same plays.
We can win with the players we have this year, but PJ needs to improve in his recognition of ingame conditions, be it the physical, or even emotional condition of the players as the game continues, or what is working, and not working against the other teams defensive adjustments. It is his job as head coach to put the team in the best possible position to win…period.
stony
September 25th, 2012
8:36 pm
*narrow in his playcalling*
Big Jim
September 25th, 2012
8:43 pm
Said it since day 1 of this disaster (the day the Genius was hired) this offense will NEVER work in big boy football, EVER! If it did, someone not named after our Armed Forces would run it.
Up the middle 60%+ of the time??? Seriously?? Just stupid to think this makes sense.
Stack the D line with 10, give up an odd pass once a qtr (of less)…Game over!
D Coordinators dream = triple flopsion.
Fact Check
September 25th, 2012
8:55 pm
I agree with everything you said: CPJ has not recruited well, he has been stubborn and arrogant, and D1 teams have made adjustments to stop him. My only point of contention is when MB said the scheme is not to blame. The fact is that the scheme is part of the blame. Good coaches figure out ways to get the ball in their best players hands in space. Orwin Smith touched the ball 6 times on offense Saturday. Vad Lee ran one play despite the fact that he is a better runner and passer than Tevin. Good coaches adjust their systems to fit their players, but not Paul. In that way, his scheme is flawed. There is limited flexibility in the scheme. We rarely throw screens or passes to backs. Neither Tevin or Nesbitt could go through a progression on a passing play… And that is squarely a coaching issue. I like Paul personally, but he is not our guy.
Fact Check
September 25th, 2012
9:00 pm
Great point, Stony. I think he is the only coach in Div 1 that doesn’t carry a tendencies sheet. He is convinced he doesn’t need one. Maybe that is why he went for it in the 1st Qtr on 4th and 6 from our own 48. But failed to go for it on 4th and a foot to ice the game. Good coaches don’t have to think about so much because they plan around their weaknesses. CPJ doesn’t think he has any.
As in all things, the price of ego is high.
Full Metal Jacket
September 25th, 2012
9:03 pm
CPJ leaves something to be desired in the areas of PR and representing the Institute, but it is clearly the defense which needs to dramatically improve. True, the offense should be able to run out the clock and CPJ might change-up some of his play-calling (and he does usually assume blame when it’s his). But when you score so many points and the defense can not hold the other team to even one point less, you need to look at defense first. Many supporters and alumni are getting just a little uneasy about the repeated losses to UGA and in bowl games, and (as you mentioned) the current run of more losses than wins. Tech still has a lot of young players, so perhaps it will turn it around this season and come out stronger next year. If not, then it seems safe to say that CPJ’s seat may be getting just a wee bit warm.
BravesFan77
September 25th, 2012
9:05 pm
To all Georgia fans! Thanks to those who have respected the blog and offered educated insight. To heck with those that have demonstrated what is bad about UGA. Your ignorance purely demonstrates that you either did not graduate from high school or you failed out of UGA and graduated from a Community College all while riding around with a University of Georgia sticker on your rear window.
UGA will lose a game this year… maybe just one… or two. You will lose one and when you do all of you will be on Mark’s blog bashing him for insulting your fine institution and complaining about how Coach Bozo lost the game for you and how Richt has no control, etc..
Bottom line! UGA is not a top tier program. Neither is Tech (farther from it than UGA). So don’t act like you are and we won’t hate you so bad for thinking you are. Reality is a #$*#@
Seems obvious to me
September 25th, 2012
9:07 pm
Vad is a bust if he can’t beat out TW. The real shame Vad would likely be a starter (and a good one) at a school that utilized a real offense.
big gt fan
September 25th, 2012
9:29 pm
the problem is average players with below average qb put them two together you come up with 7-5 or 6-6
techengineer
September 25th, 2012
9:30 pm
While I’m obviously late to the party my two cents is it is all about T Washington. On his best day he’s average and he’s horrible at reads in the triple option.
The back up is clearly much better from what little we’ve seen of him. He clearly gets the triple option.
Now although I think CPJ wussed out on the 4th down late in the 4th I’m not ready to bail.. We need to put the freshmen in their and win out and get ready for next year.
South GA Jacket
September 25th, 2012
9:31 pm
Mark Bradley’s writing isn’t hurting the AJC, but his approach is.
“Same coach?” Ask Nesbitt how many times he lined up in the pistol.
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September 25th, 2012
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[...] Mark Bradley: Johnson’s approach hurting Tech [...]
Harry Reid
September 25th, 2012
10:57 pm
Time for the Genius to go! Tech will never get better!
Straight Jacket
September 25th, 2012
11:01 pm
It’s the same old thing with Johnson..he won’t get the great players that Gailey got and the program will never ge to the status it once held years ago!
gy6
September 25th, 2012
11:13 pm
lard ass must go.
TransparentJerk
September 26th, 2012
2:36 am
Good to see you have removed any and all pretense about your disdain for Paul Johnson. This was one game. They blew it. Totally undeserving of this obviously biased report.
dry dirt road
September 26th, 2012
7:49 am
What was salient was TW’s inability to make it into the end zone on 4th and inches, pointing to the goal line stand against VT this year by the white helmets, called a “valiant goal line stand” on tv during the game by one of the sports announcers, and reminiscent of the goal line stands of the white helmets during the ‘71-2 seasons when All-American Rock Perdoni was on the line. Tech hasn’t had goal line stands in many, many years of memory. It’s the coincidence between the Miami game and the VT game of flubbing while wearing the gold helmets as opposed to wearing the white helmets. The gold ones were to be for the BD ‘52 team reunion to identify with BD’s gold helmet teams, then against Miami a return to the white from the first two games this year, irregardless if Miami wore white helmets. When Gailey was the coach, white was worn aainst Groh’s team for a 70′S “Gailey at Florida” theme game, and Tech won. But white was only a theme, even if it was also a W. This year the team refused to wear gold only as a theme, and against Miami wanted to keep identifying with the older BD era guys, who are too old when needed as a frame of reference against Miami. I went to Tech during the white helmets Carson years, and I don’t understand why Tech has such aversion to identifying with the white Moon helmets. Stubborn Tech teams of the 21st century. They’d rather lose than wear white helmets. Well when they can finally add 1 + 1 = 2, then they will add one white helmet game plus one white helmet game this year and realize two wins is more than one win, providing logic to go for three wins by adding one more white helmet game.
dry dirt road
September 26th, 2012
8:04 am
I forgot that Tech lost against VT, so it wasn’t a 1 to add to another 1 to equal 2. However, the VT game had the valiant goal line stand. And Tech played way better than they did last year against LT, shutting him down completely. For all intent and purposes the VT game might be considered almost a win, but the Miami game was not even close since Tech blew a huge lead. Again they needed the excellent white helmets Defense Carson’s ‘71-2 white helmets teams fielded.
dry dirt road
September 26th, 2012
8:11 am
Tech should realize one of their own assets is the color white. ND will always wear gold helmets. Why does Tech want to also? I think Tech is hearing the footsteps catch up with them when they’re running the ball now, what with the VT goal line stand, blowout by white helmeted Miami and with ND’s gold helmets joining the ACC. If Tech played ND and wore gold helmets, both teams on the field would wear gold helmets. Then why didn’t Tech wear white helmets against Miami?
Jorge O'leary
September 26th, 2012
8:31 am
I really think Johnson and his staff (including Groh) are coaching the talent they have pretty well. But they just don’t have the talent that Clemson, Georgia, FSU, or even Virginia Tech or Miami have. And it really hurts with depth.
They are losing recruits to UCF and USF and MTS, how can u expect them to win? He!!, Oleary’s team beat Georgia in a bowl game several years ago, and you poke fun of him? He!!, UCF is favored by 3 over Missouri this coming week. Do you think Tech would be favored…?
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September 26th, 2012
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OvertheOption
September 26th, 2012
12:19 pm
You can have all the scheme in the world but if you don’t have the talent, you aren’t going to win against the programs that do. The reason that 4 and 5 star athletes are rated that high isn’t just because of their size and speed. They have intelligence and awareness of what’s going on around them and can make plays out of nothing. Those players don’t want to come and play for an offense that doesn’t even come close to existing at the next level. Yes, Tech will have a great player come through every now and then and make it to the pros and do well. But Tech doesn’t need a great player every now and then. We (Tech) need them every year.
That’s just the offense. As far as the defense goes, It’s my personal opinion that college players aren’t gamesmart enough to run it effectively. That’s not a knock on the players, that’s just saying that I don’t think they have the instincts yet. There are always gaping holes everywhere for the offense to run through. Also, Tech doesn’t have nearly a good enough D-line to get any pressure on the QB just by rushing 3. Al Groh’s solution? Blitz linebacker’s every single play. Result? Wide open receivers or they are just picked up by the offensive line.
Why are we as Tech fans ok with mediocrity? Don’t we want better? Different coaches please.
"irregardless"=not a word
September 26th, 2012
12:53 pm
Gold=white
White=gold
La Baker
September 26th, 2012
1:10 pm
Bradley, you are right on the money. This system and coach has got
to go.
atlgnt
September 26th, 2012
4:08 pm
We have two 6′5 receivers. Heck we don’t even know if they can catch the ball or not. Other teams run slants/screens etc to their reveivers to have them confident and ready to catch the ball. When we need a big pass we look for the A back or a wheel route. TW can throw the short passes. Not much to lose now so I would go for it. Let Vad play some too. Let him start a game. Run a half using th pistol and a some hybrid schemes. Not many teams in the country can defend the pass. So we decide to fool teams with the option. Defense is not getting it done so let blowup the scoreboard. Regardless I will be at every game since I am a real fan. One other thing… the definition of insanity is to continue to do the same things and expect a different outcome. Go Tech!
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wreckmaniac
September 26th, 2012
11:35 pm
PJ’s problem is that after 2 and 1/2 years with Groh he thinks improvement is coming. You must make this decision in one year. What we see today is all that Groh will ever provide which makes PJ a Div 1 offensive coach only, as has been suggested by others. Bring in Mike Leach or, if you can get him, Bill Synder of Kansas State even though he’s 70.
wreckmaniac
September 26th, 2012
11:36 pm
Clemson won the ACC last year and promptly fired their defensive coach.
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Macon gt fan
September 27th, 2012
7:58 pm
You bring up some valid points. But how does Johnson recruit better athletes when his offense looks one demensional? How do you become two dimensional when you don’t have the athletes?