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Home > Terence Moore > Archives > 2008 > September > 20
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Paul Johnson seeks Tech perfection
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
By the end of Sunday night, Georgia Tech will be in somebody’s Top 25. Well, the Yellow Jackets should be. And just think about this: They haven’t been so honored in more than a year.
Now think about this: They have a new coach, a new quarterback, a new offensive system and a new defensive system. Even so, they have a splendid grasp of all of those new things. They also have a 3-1 record that was a few gaffes at Virginia Tech from evolving into 4-0. Not only that, they have a chance for an even loftier national ranking with Duke and Gardner-Webb up next before a trip to Death Valley to face a Clemson team that was underwhelming against the only real team (Alabama) it has faced this season.
Now think about this: After the Jackets’ shockingly easy dismantling of Mississippi State on Saturday at Bobby Dodd Stadium, they are hinting of reliving the consistent days of George O’Leary and Bobby Dodd sooner rather than later under Paul Johnson.
Then again, maybe it’s best for the Tech Nation to take just one moment at a time, because that’s the way the Jackets’ first-year head coach wants it.
Tech offensive tackle Andrew Gardner nodded after the Jackets’ 38-7 victory over Mississippi State, before recalling the sour mood of his coach during parts of the afternoon. “I don’t think he would be fully satisfied until we were undefeated and blew everybody out,” Gardner said. “And even then, there probably would be some problems he would discover.”
This isn’t to say Johnson’s obsession with perfection isn’t warranted. Consider, for instance, that the Jackets’ defense relinquished 407 yards to a historically weak Mississippi State offense that managed just 116 yards the previous week against Auburn. So Johnson heated the walls of Tech’s locker room at intermission despite the 21-0 score. He knew the bottom line worked this time for his defense, but what about when the Jackets are playing an offense with a clue?
“[Johnson] pointed out that they didn’t punt at all in the first half, and that was a big light bulb that went off in our heads when he said that,” said Tech cornerback Jahi Word-Daniels, whose interception was one of the four turnovers forced by Tech’s defense to counter the Bulldogs’ huge yardage total. “Basically, it was like, if we’re going to be a successful defense and let people know that we don’t back down from anybody and show that we are physical and well-polished, we better come out the second half and show it.”
They showed it by keeping Mississippi State out of the end zone until midway through the fourth quarter. In contrast, Johnson’s triple-option displayed its worth early and often along the way to a ridiculous 500 yards (438 on the ground) against one of the nation’s best defenses.
Jonathan Dwyer rushing for 141 yards was nice. So was freshman quarterback Jaybo Shaw replacing an injured Josh Nesbitt early in the first quarter and making a seamless transition. It’s just that Johnson has Tech rolling faster and farther than expected because of big and little stuff.
For instance: Tech threw only nine times during the game. That means the Jackets wide receivers did what?
“They really blocked their tails off,” Johnson said. “We weren’t throwing the ball much, because of the way they were playing [on defense], and rather than hang their heads and sulk, they tried to get after people blocking, which is what you would hope.”
They had no choice, because Johnson expects nothing less.
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