Random Wednesdays Make Us Wonder: What Happened To The Blog?
by Winfield Featherston on Jun 15, 2011 9:00 AM EDT
in Georgia Tech Football
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PrintGreat question. As life continues onward different things take priority and it's difficult trying to find a topic of conversation.Trying to identify news worthy pieces rather than just a rambling commentary of snark-filled humor is also more difficult. Did this site get "newsy" for a while? Maybe. I mean, there's always going to be recaps and numbers and bits that look like the AP wrote up a quick piece but I think this blog needs more anger, more tirade, more "the world is falling down!!!!" Well maybe.The offseason sucks because there's little to do for sports and lots to do with what? life?
I think the 2011 football season can be labeled as Paul Johnson's "establishment year" because he finally has his players in the roles that are needed to win football games. We should throw out the past three seasons, yes even the Orange Bowl appearance, ACC Championship and the win against Georgia. How did we win? Little bit of luck and a good ball bouncing our way, but we also won with Gailey's players, the old regime. The vailla-gime.
This year we'll see HIS quarterback, HIS A-back, HIS B-back. We'll see individuals that are built for the system of Paul Johnson and Georgia Tech football.
Who's excited for football? I sure as hell am, this rambling makes me continue the countdown (79 days) until we kick off against Western Carolina and all is right in the world.
Turning the page to a new era and turning the corner at the same time. GEORGIA TECH FOOTBALL.
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CPJ@GT - Est. 2011
Regarding the establishment of Coach Paul Johnson this season as opposed to past seasons, I kind of agree. However, I wonder if our overall “gimme-all-the-wins-right-now” fanbase sees it that way and would be willing to reserve judgement until this or next season. I see so many angry comments about how CPJ can’t recruit or can’t coach a passing game and, therefore, should be gotten rid of sooner rather than later. I’m not sure where that mentality comes from other than people truly believe coaches can completely take over, clean up, and remake a program top-to-bottom in only 2 or 3 years. This is truly the year we BEGIN to see what CPJ recruits do in his offense. I say BEGIN, because we have a new-ish O-line who won’t be a real force until next year (though I pray I’m wrong). And, obviously, defense basically has its own head coach and mostly seperate coaching staff. Groh’s only in year 2.
That said, I think we’ll win games this year. The team seems to report a new attitiude and appraoch to the practices and workouts, etc. Also, as long as we minimize fumbles on offense, the improved defense can really help us win games.
We haven't got the wins now?
CPJ had more wins in the last three seasons than any of Chan Gailey’s string of three seasons (2005-2007). With another six win season, we will tie Gailey’s best three seasons.
Also, I wouldn’t trust the people where you’re reading this stuff about firing Johnson.
I'm with you!
I totally agree. CPJ is working out much better for us than did Gailey, and I’d never say differently. My point does come from some bitterness I have that our fanbase (at least as represented by comments on certain other blogs) might be a little too reactive to a losing season and going 1-9 against the Un-iversity the last decade. They want to beat ‘em every year and, to them, getting close and giving the game away two years running seems to make them MORE angry than getting laughed off the field like a few games I remember under Gailey. I digress, though. The point is, Johnson will continue to be an improvement for Tech if he can get us at the top of the Coastal Division every year. That’s our ticket to championship games, rankings, BCS bowls, etc. Beating Georgia is the thing we’d always like to have whether we suck or are undefeated, and the way I see it Johnson has made us VERY competitive in that game compared to the recent past. So I’m just saying the sky is far from falling. I actually think things oughta be looking up soon!
And don’t forget – new indoor practice facility, new TV deal soon (does that start this season or next?), and shiny new remodeled central campus. All are potential recruiting tools.
shiny new remodled central campus
my ass. I’ve been walk the most ridiculous routes possible this past year. Its as if the school of industrial engineering calculated the most inefficient routes, and the school planned the construction around those.
Paul Johnson: not giving a crap about what you have to say since 1987.
Ok, ok, I meant...
…that we WILL have a shiny new remodeled center of campus. It’ll be done by tailgating time (at least the CULC will be…the detours…well, I’m sure the IE chair is watching your life to make sure it continues to suck…but maybe for just you.) I just finished walking those detours myself this semester, but it was nothing an extra ten minutes of time and some understanding professors couldn’t fix. And when it’s done it’s gonna be cool. New CULC, redone fountain area, new landscaping, the re-opening of a more level Yellow Jacket Park, and some new granite retaining walls and a more grand-looking Skiles Walkway. Did you see it when it was a parking lot?C’mon, man…it’s gonna be an upgrade.
...What?
Gailey has at least 9 one year…
by RamblinWreck7 on Jun 17, 2011 12:47 AM EDT up reply actions
Well...
Yeah so his most was 9 wins in 2006. But all other seasons were 7 win affairs. While the math might be shaky up top (not sure if it is…I don’t do math anymore) the reasoning that three seasons of CPJ has been better than any string of three seasons under Gailey seems fine by me since in that span we won the ACC, beat Georgia (and the other two Hate games came down to the final drive), beat FSU (twice), beat a top ten team (VT ’09), gone to a BCS bowl, beat Clemson twice in a season (you may never see that again), and have returned to being a team the league fears facing due to offensive complexity (a Tech tradition of sorts under Heisman with his fancy forward pass, Dodd with his Belly Series, Ross with whatever he ran – blue jerseys or something, Friedgen with his lucky turtle-shaped pass-heavy, optiony self, and now Johnson.) It has, in my opinion, been worlds apart at least in return on emotional investment as a fan. Just my 2 cents.
Thanks
That’s exactly what I was saying. Gailey won 23 games in 2005-2007 (7-5, 9-5,7-6), while Johnson won 26 in 2008-2010 (9-4, 11-3, 6-7).
Even if we only win six games this coming season, the three season span of 2009-2011 is still tied with Gailey’s best three season span.
Life has taken over my offseason
I recently had my fourth child, started a new job in a different company, and have been dealing with other family and work related issues. I’ll be completely honest, it’s been slow and difficult for me trying to come up with things to write about without regurgitating reports from the AJC and such. Plus, it’s hard to get angry over things that aren’t happening.
I tend to agree on the CPJ establishment idea. If it doesn’t happen then the type of players can be ruled out and all that leaves is quality of player and coaching. I fully believe in CPJ not simply because he’s our coach, but because his history shows that he is a successful coach and that his system works. I don’t expect seasons like last year to be the norm, but rather expect season’s like 2008 and 2009 to be the norm, hopefully the latter of the two. I have faith in CPJ because when the defense wasn’t working he demanded changes, and when those didn’t work, he went and got Groh to try something different. That to me shows that he’s not going to stick with something or someone if it isn’t working and that he is dedicated to winning.
Hopefully we see improvement on the defensive side of the ball and an improvement in the passing game. The running will always be there because that’s the focus, but if those other two areas improve then the wins will surely come.
"You could spend the next fifteen seconds of your life watching a man and a tiger scream together, or you could be an idiot."
Fact.
This is late in coming
due to my own schedule difficulties. But, you have contributed some very fine posts my friend. Hang in there and in the meantime know that whenever you can get back to this you will greatly enrich the conversation. Peace.
by Atlanta's original team on Jun 22, 2011 9:05 AM EDT up reply actions
It could be a rough start
If indeed, this is ‘true’ begining of the CPJ era, then I’m afraid it’s going to get off to a rough start.
The starting OL looks decent; the depth, not so much. I think the depth will get a lot of playing time, so success will depend greatly on how well the non-starters perform.
While Washington is the clubhouse leader to start next year, it may well be that Days starts. Washington has some significant experience thanks to the playing he had last season, but if Days starts then the QB development starts over to some extent. The fact that Days, who is two years behind Washinton, apparently has a legitimate shot at being the starter indicates to me that QB may not be a team strength at this time.
Of course, BB gets a new starter this year. Lyons has some game experience there, but Perkins has little, if any. I think whoever is the BB will get his 1,000 yards because that seems to be the nature of the position, but at the moment I don’t see that position as being a strength.
I think there is some potential at AB, but what concerns me is that the production from that position seems to be more dependent than any other position on the quality of play by the rest of the team. By that I mean, for example, I think that a BB could tolerate weaker OL play better than the AB could.
Lord only knows what to expect out of WR. Hill would be better if he’d stop doing pirouettes in the middle of his routes. Perhaps that’s a bit harsh. I just remember a game last year where he did a 360 spin and the ball sailed over his head whereas if he’d kept running straight he would have had a chance to catch the ball. The ball may have been overthrown, I don’t know, but it was a long pass and I kind of thought WR were supposed to run the ball down on long passes.
All this, and we haven’t said a word about the special teams who were definitely “special” last season. Probably better performing than they seemed, allowing a KO return for a TD and dropping a pair of kicks in the bowl game doesn’t inspire confidence. Especially when the guy dropping the kicks also plays WR. Scott Blair will be missed (don’t ding him for the uga game; it was an inopportune time but the game is more than one play near the end).
Says Winfield, “the world is falling down!!!!”, it just might be so.
by Dive Keep and Pitch on Jun 15, 2011 12:32 PM EDT reply actions
A couple notes....
With Washington and Days, I feel like Washington is better at the moment, but Days has a much higher ceiling (Tevin’s about hit his, I think). Washington no doubt has ice water in his veins (let’s be honest, given the circumstances he worked wonders against VPI on Thursday in Blackburg, and again against georgie….we should’ve lost by 3 TD’s and lost by an extra point), but I also feel like Days gets a bit too much credit for his spring game performance. He’s a good athlete no doubt, but I got really frustrated at how much it looked like he didn’t want to throw the ball.
Perkins (fellow Collins Hill HS alum here) redshirted last year so his only in-game experience is this year’s spring game I think (don’t think he played last year). Talked to him on the bus a week-plus ago, he said he’s still working out his blocking, is still 2nd on the depth chart, and hopes/expects to be starting come the beginning of the season. And believe me, this kid is the next Dwyer if he gets his blocking down. Very good combination of speed, strength, and agility like Allen didn’t quite have. Look for big things from him in the coming seasons.
ABs are definitely dependent on the rest of the team. I think that says that they can be one of the worst units on the field for a game, while they can also be one of the single best. Lots of athleticism here, hope Johnson can harness it.
I miss Bey-Bey. You think we could pay him to come back and play again without anyone noticing?
Things are never as bad or as good as they seem.
I think we will be OK this season.
The early season out of conference games should be wins and will give our young guys needed competition. The skill positions lack any “stars” but are solid and deep with capable players. I am not as concerned about our QB situation as before Spring practice. I don’t know why, but I just have a feeling we will be OK there. The D should be improved and CPJ says the O-line will be fine. I think we are good for 8 wins this year, but I think we may see some surprises late in the season that could bring a ninth W and 2nd place in the Coastal.
As for the slow season for news, it will pick up in a few weeks. As Winfield said, “79 days until WCU.” I actually think the lack of news in the off season is good. Remember the news at UNC last summer? The faithful at NC State are grumbling already about basketball. Then there is the Other Bulldog school that was relieved when it was discovered 58% of there incoming freshmen are in the top quarter of their HS class. So, the news could be a lot hotter here, but do we really want that?
How many of you are running the Peachtree? Have you started training yet??? My best PRR time is 40:30. There’s the challenge – beat it!
Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going?
I don't think we were far from a 9-3 regular season last year.
Call me crazy. But let’s say Nesbitt doesn’t break his arm and we keep 5-8 fumbles we lost in the red zone (hair was lost over those). That probably says we beat VPI and Miami (we were down 14-10 after halftime, and lost 2 fumbles in the redzone) and maybe even georgie. Those are just the games where Nesbitt wasn’t able to finish, there were a couple more earlier on that we would’ve done much better without those damn red zone fumbles.
/rant
Anyways, I think the defense will be incredible in comparison to the past two years. Attaochu, Burnett and Sylvester should all be solid at linebacker positions, and the Cross/Walls/Peters front 3 ain’t too shabby either. Secondary may not be spectacular (again) but hopefully Isaiah Johnson and Rod Sweeting can hold things together back there.
Offense should be interesting, lots of position battles that will be fun to watch (QB between Washington and Days….featuring Lee?, BB between Lyons, Perkins, and Drummond/Watson, WR between whoever the hell can catch the damn ball) but I think we’ll pull it together. As was said before, Johnson is a winner and, while he can be incredibly stubborn, I don’t think he’ll hesitate to fix something if it’s broke.
Here’s to counting down the days to Sept 1. GO JACKETS, THWg!
You're not crazy.
I think Nesbitt’s loss did affect the team’s play. But even with Washington, we looked ready to win in Athens. My diagnosis there? Fumblitis. Redzone fumbles especially. A-backs were just not gettin it done. 9-3 seemed quite possible. This season could get there, though.
not crazy at all
But also think how close we were to rough season in 2009. What if Josh Nesbitt does NOT rip the ball back from the FSU defender? What if Scott Blair doesn’t stop a kickoff return for a TD in Clemson? In 2009, we got breaks. In 2010, we lost breaks.
Better to have died a small boy than to drop this football - John HeismanFromTheRumbleSeat
by Winfield Featherston on Jun 16, 2011 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions
And 2009 was a better team.
But your point is well taken. This year’s team could be better than last year simply on the basis of attitude. Attitude helped a lot in 2009. If this year’s team does not have the same attitude as the 2009 team then this year will be as bad as last.
by Atlanta's original team on Jun 22, 2011 9:07 AM EDT up reply actions
Off topic- Go Kuchar
3 under on a tough US Open course is big, unfortunately it may not be enough to weather Hurricane McIlroy!
by DressHerInWhiteAndGold on Jun 18, 2011 11:50 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
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