2013 could be big for Tech, which could stand a big year
One day in the Sun brought much joy to the Yellow Jackets. (AP photo)
For Georgia Tech, many things happened en route to 7-7. The Yellow Jackets barely got bowl-eligible, and then they got bowl-ineligible by losing the ACC Championship game, and then the NCAA granted a waiver that allowed Tech to be invited back to the Sun Bowl, which is where it became the only team ever to beat the preseason No. 1 after losing at home to Middle Tennessee.
When you lose seven games, you can’t say you’ve had a good season. (Unless you’re Duke, which in football nobody aspires to be.) When you win seven games after starting 2-4, neither can you say the whole thing was a total loss. The Jackets took a season going wrong and wrestled it into something that seemed better than mediocrity, even though .500 is the definition of mediocrity.
The sense now is that better days are ahead, but that sensation is largely the result of beating USC in El Paso, and bowl results aren’t always indicative of future performance. (Example: Georgia Tech lost the 2008 Chick-fil-A Bowl by 35 points and went 11-3 in 2009.) The Jackets wanted badly to beat Southern Cal, which didn’t want to play.
Yes, Tech should be better in 2013 than in 2012. It loses three starters on offense and three on defense, and the absence of quarterback Tevin Washington clears the way for Vad Lee, of whom much is expected. The guess is that interim defensive coordinator Charles Kelly passed the audition with his work against Florida State and USC, and he has to be considered an upgrade over Al Groh, for whom nothing worked.
The schedule hasn’t been finalized, but it could be adventurous. Assuming the ACC’s rotation holds in its expansion to 14 teams, the Jackets will play host to Virginia Tech, Clemson and North Carolina. There’s a chance Florida State will play here, and there’s also a chance the Jackets could visit Clemson for a second year running. There will be trips to BYU and Miami, but it’s unclear how stout the Hurricanes will be once the NCAA gets done with them. Plus the Georgia game will be in Atlanta.
If Lee is as good as advertised and the defense is indeed better, the 2013 Jackets could win nine or 10 games. But here’s the sobering part: Tech hasn’t won that many games in a year since the bulk of Chan Gailey’s leftovers departed for the NFL in January 2010. In Paul Johnson’s first two seasons here, his teams were 20-7; they’ve since gone 21-19. Since Oct. 14, 2011, the Jackets are 9-12.
Johnson takes pains to note that his teams have at least tied for the best record in the Coastal Division three times in five seasons, but the Coastal has become the lesser half of a conference that still struggles for national credibility. Yes, the Jackets wound up representing the Coastal in the ACC Championship game, but that came in a year when Virginia Tech was awful by its standards and North Carolina was on probation and Miami chose to step aside.
Credit Johnson and his Jackets for being too stubborn to collapse, but Johnson’s pride has never been in doubt, and his stylized offense remains the best thing Tech has going for it. But the Institute will in the coming weeks make a hire that could have a greater effect on the football program than Johnson’s choice for defensive coordinator.
Dan Radakovich hired Johnson, but first the athletic director had to persuade himself that a run-based approach could win big in the 21st century. Then Johnson made the AD look smart by beating Georgia in Year 1 and winning the ACC in Year 2. Now Radakovich works at Clemson, which means Johnson will soon have a new boss.
Tech’s new AD might see underwhelming attendance as evidence that pitchouts don’t move the ticketing needle. The new AD might be more swayed by recruiting rankings. (At North Carolina State, Debbie Yow cited tepid signing classes as partial cause for Tom O’Brien’s dismissal.) The new AD might ask when/if this program will again be competitive against Georgia.
The nice part about beating USC was that it stirred, pun intended, a bit of a buzz around a program that hasn’t lately raised much ruckus. But that was one game, and an odd game at that. The new AD might, as new ADs do, look hard at a body of work.
Dave Braine hired Gailey as a coach and handed him a new five-year contract in November 2005, but it took less than two years for Radakovich, who succeeded Braine, to decide Chan wasn’t his man. Yes, Johnson has been better than Gailey, but maybe by not as much as you’d think. Through five seasons, Gailey was 37-27. Through five seasons, Johnson is 41-26.
This isn’t to suggest that Johnson could or should be fired. The belief here is that he’s a good coach, but it would behoove him to have a big 2013. Athletic directors find it easier to embrace a coach who’s holding a trophy.
By Mark Bradley
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274 comments Add your comment
Jacket Man
January 2nd, 2013
7:56 pm
The GA Tech SID just put out a release and here are a few highlights of interest:
One of the biggest improvements in Tech’s defense the last eight games of the season was its play in the second half, more specifically in the fourth quarter. In the first six games of the season, Tech allowed 13.3 points in the fourth quarter and in overtime, compared to just 3.9 points in the fourth quarter the final eight games of the season. The Yellow Jackets did not allow a fourth-quarter point in each of the final four games (vs. Duke, Georgia, FSU and USC). They shutout both FSU and USC in the second half of those games.
RE-VISITING THE ONE-WEEK-TO-PREPARE THOUGHT
In 2012, Georgia Tech faced four different opponents that had a bye week or more to prepare for the Yellow Jackets and Tech’s spread option offense. The Jackets went 3-1 in those games (loss to Middle Tennessee State, wins over Duke, North Carolina and USC) and averaged 39.8 points per game.
DALPZ
January 2nd, 2013
8:03 pm
If it takes a trophy for AD to embrace a head coach, then what does it take for Editor Kevin Riley to fire a jerk like you?
Jacket Man
January 2nd, 2013
8:04 pm
The improved defense went against a tougher schedule than the earlier part of the season, and this was when the Jackets started to turn their season around. This bodes very well for where this team can be next season, as Mark has so astutely pointed out.
Paul in NH
January 2nd, 2013
9:45 pm
Mike S.
January 2nd, 2013
7:04 pm
@GTBob – so who’s asking for 10 win seasons? Johnson hasn’t won 8 yet with mostly his own players. he won an ACC title with Gailey’s players
—-
Would that be the same Chan Gailey who only won more than 7 games once out of six seasons? The same Chan Gailey who had Calvin Johnson and Tashard Choice and only managed 2 FGs against Wake Forest?
B
January 2nd, 2013
9:52 pm
ACC adding Louisville sure looks good now to the naysayer mockers.
Destroying Fla.
B
January 2nd, 2013
10:01 pm
Acc soon to be 2-0 against sec powers.
Overrated conference big time
Paul in NH
January 2nd, 2013
10:11 pm
B
January 2nd, 2013
10:01 pm
Acc soon to be 2-0 against sec powers.
Overrated conference big time
——–
This is not a basketball blog. ACC finished 1-1 in the bowls against the SEC after going 0-4 on rivalry weekend (if you can call WF-Vandy a rivalry).
smitty
January 2nd, 2013
10:21 pm
Vad lee is a player….kelly looks like a capable DC and he had his defense playing aggressive and with speed…….now throw in a few four star recruits to go with all the three stars and if johnson will just tweak his offense and feature the spread or pistol mixed in with alot less or a little less option and maximize the use of vad’s speed and talents, then 10 wins is certainly possible……..go jackets…..see you next year
B
January 2nd, 2013
10:42 pm
Braindead Paul
Clemson 25 Lsu 24
Louisville 30 Fla 10
THWG4LIFE
January 2nd, 2013
11:21 pm
Amen B. Amen
Drexel Gal
January 2nd, 2013
11:48 pm
I also think the Jackets will win ten games in 2013 … in BASKETBALL.
1 4 GT
January 3rd, 2013
12:08 am
Nah, more than 10 in bball!
flagboy?
January 3rd, 2013
12:20 am
B
January 2nd, 2013
10:01 pm
Acc soon to be 2-0 against sec powers.
Overrated conference big time
_______________________________
Riiiiiiiiiiiiiight.
Buzz2011
January 3rd, 2013
12:25 am
Mark Bradley, what a joke!! He jumps on board the GT wagon after
Tech holds Florida State and USC to one touchdown in 6 quarters of
football. You are so smart Bradley. Stick with your ” big game” losers in
Athens and don’t bother to comment on GT in the future…
Buzz2011
January 3rd, 2013
12:28 am
Look at the mighty SEC bow!! Louisville routs Florida in the Sugar. Wasn’t Florida ranked in top 10 in the country? Clemson takes out LSU as well.. Guess what, Louisville on the way to the ACC..The Gators defense is even worse than Thuga’s and that is bad….
Rocky's DAD
January 3rd, 2013
12:45 am
Mark Bradley writes it well. The comments that follow are too much like CB chatter back in the 70s, so I hate to join in but here goes: As a life-long TECH fan with a son who prospers because he earned a degree from that institute, I am totally committed to Coach Paul Johnson. Now what does that mean in this day and age when coaches move around so much? It means two more years.
He has two more years left on his contract, right? I would grant him another nice contract after that IF AND ONLY IF there were 10 or more wins in both of those years. Who after that? I’m always asking WHO whenever there is some little DUMP the COACH movement. Two years down the line without those 20 wins, I say JAMES Franklin (who just got a contract extension at Vandy).
Before, as some comment suggested, you can measure the program against Notre Dame and Stanford, measure against the SEC school that had been taking a backseat because of academics but no longer does.
When I said “totally committed to Paul Johnson,” it is like I was committed to Bobby Ross and, though a life-long fan, not that much to any of the TECH coaches between the two.
SEC Reporter
January 3rd, 2013
12:54 am
Please let me know when the laugh meter has broken as a result of someone (anyone) inferring that Tech has a shot at beating Georgia in football in 2013! That is like predicting Charleston Southern to beat Alabama!! Georgia returns their entire offense and won’t miss a beat with Mason at QB should Murray leave. Multiple all-star talent will step right in on defense enabling another 10+ win season. Richt recent recruiting will keep UGA in the Top 10.
1 4 GT
January 3rd, 2013
1:40 am
Enter your comments here
1 4 GT
January 3rd, 2013
1:41 am
test test
Dawg Patrol
January 3rd, 2013
4:22 am
Got to get rid of PJ before they go anywhere.
fatboyslim
January 3rd, 2013
6:29 am
@ Cos Spofford, wonder how Stanford, ND and Vandy do it? Hmmm…….Anyway, I think GT is a top ten team next year! We will win at least 10 games and may go undefeated! CPJ is smarter than any other coach. We just beat the #1 team!
Buddy Landel
January 3rd, 2013
6:30 am
Mike S.
January 2nd, 2013
3:46 pm
Also, enough about academics. If Stanford can build a program that competes for BCS ball games..if
Vandy can have a nine win season out of the SEC and build a current top 20 recruiting class
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
What was Vandy’s signature win? I know a lot of SEC fans have a soft spot for Vandy because they are they carry the academic torch for the rest of the league, while not posing much of a threat between the lines but come on. Vandy beat the bottomdwellers of the league for their 9 wins. You can’t use Vandy’s season to make a point. They could just as easily go 4-8 next year.
fatboyslim
January 3rd, 2013
6:35 am
Just look at our defense the last 2 qtrs ! Uga may not score on us in 2013. We beat USC, we can beat any team out there!
Woofy One
January 3rd, 2013
6:38 am
” And since this is the end that Georgia Tech focuses upon, then a football coach is restricted in the pool of athletes that he can consider. Given this environment, Paul Johnson is the perfect coach because his schemes leverage intelligence and focus on teamwork. Georgia Tech will never get many five star athletes if they refuse to lower academic requirements”
————————————————————————-
Horse apples. Dan Rad got the courses CPJ asked for 3 years ago. Check reality. Getting the courses is why there were 35 Dean’s list athletes.
@eidsonb
January 3rd, 2013
7:10 am
@Birdhair Florida really did well against a weaker team,,,,
Strange Murphy
January 3rd, 2013
7:14 am
In what sport are the Nats expected to win 10 games?
UGA = Yawn
January 3rd, 2013
8:24 am
Re: playing Clemson twice away (incl next year) to get them on an opposite schedule from VT and UGA. Mark, a smart person (most of us GT alums) would suggest why not play them at home in 2013 (like we are supposed to) and at HOME again in 2014! Then, by 2015, we will have them opposite VT and UGA. Why should we have to play twice at Clemson as opposed to them playing twice at GT? We already did this once with VT. We should not have to do it again.
And new GT AD – pls hire Ken Whisenhunt. Or, at least call him.
fatboyslim
January 3rd, 2013
8:25 am
Football!!! Mark Bradley said it and so did I. Write it on a rock, GT will win 10 games next year and we will end up in the top ten. We have Vad Lee and CPJ!!!
Gorilla Biscuit
January 3rd, 2013
8:44 am
“Since Oct. 14, 2011, the Jackets are 9-12.”
Losers!
David
January 3rd, 2013
8:52 am
If Miami did not give up their bowl, and UNC was not on probation, GT would not have even made the ACC title game or a bowl. GT beat a USC team that did not even try, and a freshman qb in his 2nd start. This season set the GT program back 3-5 years. PJ now will have enough clout to get another contract extension. Instead of being the hot seat next year and more then likely getting fired after the 2013 season. Miami is going to run away with the Coastal,and Clemson will win the Atlantic. GT finishes 5-7. Sorry bees’ fans.
UGA = Yawn
January 3rd, 2013
8:59 am
Is that true David? We beat UNC this year so I would assume we would have gone irregardless of UNC’s situation. True though that Miami would have gone before us but all three teams were 5-3 in the conference – so it wasn’t that big of a stretch. And, at any rate, we played FSU tough and beat USC. Be positive. Negative people and comments can go on the UGA plage to blog. We Are GT!
tooltime234
January 3rd, 2013
9:01 am
While I think next year will be a prove it kind of year for PJ, I’m kind of leary of making grand predictions. The schedule looks very very tough next year.
GT
January 3rd, 2013
9:06 am
Sports writers just don’t get the ACC. Their demise has been predicted over and over as they gush over the SEC. I admit the world seems to be moving to cheap entertainment less substance, but there is a reason quality has made itself heard through the evolution of time.
The ACC itself is a graveyard for the pirate ships, Miami, FSU, Va. Tech have sail into its waters like bikers taking over a town, but time has a quality about it. You find very little subway following at places like Tech, no free drinks at the bar for strangers who jump on the wagon. Generally when you see a person dressed in yellow he has graduated from Tech, which has the second highest four year degree salaried alumni in the country. We don’t like Gailey types that come there to take advantage of this atmosphere, the AGs who think this is some kind of football retirement home. We do like the Johnsons, a real football coach, who gets a kick out of beating the hired guns of the cowboy towns. Johnson will be there a long time, he ain’t slick or looking for entitlement, he fits us real well.
UGA = Yawn
January 3rd, 2013
9:07 am
And GT fans – we all love GT. But, pls refrain from calling UGA fans on here such derogatory names. That shows no class and I wonder if you are true GT students or alums? Be polite if you want to comment on their blogs or don’t comment on them at all.
Athens PD
January 3rd, 2013
9:34 am
And you ‘might’ win the lottery, but don’t count on it.
Freddie Blassie
January 3rd, 2013
9:39 am
@GT,
Well said.
Now about that salary stuff: where do I sign? Sometimes, Freddie Blassie does not play well with others.
The team should benefit from Lee and Thomas as they learn the ropes and a defense that can line up and play hard without having to wait on the sidelines to get with it.
Esquire
January 3rd, 2013
9:43 am
Joe Flacco
January 2nd, 2013
9:59 pm
Cheer up guys, I will be posting my 5th straight year with a playoff win. I have no idea what it’s like to go 1 and done. Matty Ice can you tell me how that feels?
***************************************************
Joe, why can’t ya get to the big dance. I’d say too many interceptions and poor performance in the playoffs has a lot to do with it.
2009 you got past Miami and Tennessee then threw for a measly 141 yards and 3 interceptions giving the Steelers a trip to the Super Bowl.
Miami gave you 5 turnovers and you had a passer rating of 59.1 …..WOW!! Against Tennessee you managed to get only 9 first downs…………..Tennessee gave you the game with 3 turnovers and you were lucky to hit that winning field goal. But here’s where it gets better. In the AFC Championship Game to go to the SUPER BOWL you managed an 18.2 Passer Rating to go along with those 3 int’s, one of those a pick 6 to Troy Polamalu in the fourth quarter.
2010 Here you managed against New England a 10.0 Passer Rating, 4 of 10, for 34 yards, no touchdowns and 1 interception, the lowest rated game for a “winning” quarterback in a playoff game ever. New England gifted 4 turnovers to you along with the game.
Against the Colts you managed an incredible 48.4 Passer Rating, no touchdowns and 2 interceptions. A very comfortable 20-3 win for Indy as Baltimore committed four turnovers including your two interceptions. Good Bye Ravens in the 2010 playoffs.
2011 So the Ravens beat KC 30-7, a mediocre team at best in a mediocre division Kansas City giving up the ball 5 times.
Against Pittsburgh Jan 15th, 2011 A 61.1 Passer Rating. What happened Joe, you had a 21-7 halftime lead and let this one get away 31-24, another Steelers victory. You managed “3″ second half first downs…………..what’s up with that…….???
Last year you beat Houston and had a 97.1 Passer Rating, 14 of 27, 176 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT not too bad Joe. You had some help from some Houston turnovers (TJ Yates threw 3 interceptions) on a short field. Only scoring 3 points in the 2nd half isn’t really championship caliber football but you got the “W” in spite of it. You got sacked 5 times by holding the ball and only managed 11 first downs the entire game. I’m really impressed Joe.
Then you followed this up with a loss to New England………….whoops out of the playoffs.
Joe, here is the thing. Your record is deceiving, you haven’t played very well, hence an incredibly low playoff QB passer rating and no shot at the Big Dance. You have lived on your Defense and that is the only reason why you have the playoff wins that you do. Your defense has forced 25 turnovers in 8 playoff games, Just for perspective no team since the Eagles in 1989 has forced 50 turnovers OVER A FULL SEASON. And frankly you have done little with those gifts.
In those same years the Atlanta Falcons have faced either the NFC Super Bowl representative or the eventual Super Bowl Champion……………we’ve had no chump playoff games on the schedule. If you want to compare Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco let’s see which one leads his team to a win at the Super Bowl……………..nothing else really doesn’t matter.
www
January 3rd, 2013
10:22 am
agreed.
GT
January 3rd, 2013
10:25 am
Freddie I agree
UGABoob
January 3rd, 2013
11:50 am
UGABob
January 2nd, 2013
4:06 pm
“Because Tech and its fans are comical GTBob. Why on Earth do you care so much about UGA and live your life on UGA blogs?”
Yes, the kettle is black.
College FB realist
January 3rd, 2013
12:24 pm
Dave Braine hired Gailey as a coach and handed him a new five-year contract in November 2005, but it took less than two years for Radakovich, who succeeded Braine, to decide Chan wasn’t his man.
———————
Braine committed “legal robbery” when he gave Gailey a new contract. I feel no remorse for Braine and his medical issues.
fatboyslim
January 3rd, 2013
12:26 pm
If we get Wisenhunt as AD, and keep CPJ, we’ll be unstopable. Nodody can stop the spread option, it’s different from the triple option. You can’t defend it when Vad Lee is QB! Go Tech!
Ho Hum
January 3rd, 2013
12:28 pm
Hey MB nice write up but a total waste. Tek doesn’t sell out their homes games or attend thier bowl games because nobody gives a rats butt.
Tek is going backwards in a conference that hasn’t produced much since FSU and Miami joined. Tek just dropped another notch down the ladder with Louisville coming on board.
The future for Tek is bleak at best……………………
Icepack
January 3rd, 2013
12:39 pm
I lobbied for Charlie Strong in this very site when Tech was looking for a head coach last time. I like coach Johnson, I even know where Newland NC and the Avery County Vikings are…he is a good coach. I just wanted to see Tech with a Great Coach. I’ve watched Coach Strong grow in his career and I have seen who he stood next to as their strong right arm. I don’t see a limit to his potential. I see Johnson coaching the Western Carolina Catamounts on his way back to Newland NC.
StanH
January 3rd, 2013
12:42 pm
Well seems we have alot of Tech Haters here…Ive been a Tech fan for over 50 years and I agree our football team sucks….However in saying that if we recruited thugs,academic non-qualifiers-juco players we might do better yes….But then again what are you saying to the kids who are good students and role models for other kids….hmmmm and we wonder why our country is in the shape it is in….Wake up people our priorties are screwed up
BOY THAT DAWG IS UGLY
January 3rd, 2013
12:54 pm
Dawgfan…..another could’a, would’a, should’a season for the Dawgs. When will the Dawgs step-up to be a truly elite program like LSU and Bama. Heck Gators, Auburn and Vols have won national champtionships since, well, sugar fell from the sky in 1980. Spurrier has the Gamecocks winning and and Vols will be back so UGA will be back to mid-tier in the SEC-East. For Tech, I’ll take 7-7 record with 4 national championships and 35 football players make the dean’s list at a school known for more than 12 Saturdays a year. How many arrest with the Dawgs have in the off season which will result in suspensions for the first 4 games in 2013?
headley lam
January 3rd, 2013
1:00 pm
Thus graduation rates and the success of your athletes after sports matter. And since this is the end that Georgia Tech focuses upon,
Funny. Techs graduation rates are among the worst in the country.
If that is their focus they aren’t doing a very good job.
Funny
January 3rd, 2013
1:00 pm
Defense will still sux because of no talent!
zzzzzzzzzzzz
January 3rd, 2013
1:28 pm
Yeah, I can see them winning 10 games next year…………in basketball!
Dawglasville
January 3rd, 2013
2:09 pm
StanH – I will agree that as a country our values are upside down. I do think that the word “thug” is a bit strong. If you look at the police blotter I would say that Tech has had a few incidents of true “thug-lke” behavior. That said, Tech does run a clean program, with a focus on good kids, with just a sprinkle of bad apples now and then. It is not an exact science reading a 17-18 year old.