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DEL.ICIO.USJust give Calvin the darn ball!!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
Maybe if we all get together, aim our mouths toward Bobby Dodd Stadium and shout loud enough, those involved the most with Georgia Tech’s offense (head coach Chan Gailey, coordinator Patrick Nix and quarterback Reggie Ball) will hear us and actually do this:
Get the ball to Calvin Johnson.
You know, they should just get the ball to Calvin Johnson.
No excuses this time. Not with Gailey out of the picture as play-caller and the hopefully more imaginative Nix taking his place. Not since Ball really should know what he’s doing by now as a fourth-year starter, including his third with Johnson in the same huddle. Not when you clearly have the best wide receiver in the country who isn’t wearing an NFL uniform.
Ever since Johnson joined the Yellow Jackets after his prolific high school days in Tyrone, he has caught everything and anything within reach of his agile frame of 6 feet 5 and 235 pounds. He has turned the spectacular into the routine. So they should just get him the ball.
“Yeah, if he’s one-on-one out there, yeah, we ought to be throwing the ball to him, because that means they’re stacking against the run,” said Nix, in his fifth season as a Jackets assistant, whose response should make the Tech nation a little nervous. I mean, the Jackets “ought to be throwing the ball to him” no matter what — within reason, of course. Such always is the case when you have a great one. Terrell Owens. Randy Moss. Chad Johnson. Tech’s Johnson is destined to be their equal. You even could see as much last season, when the Jackets finished a ridiculous 103rd out of the NCAA’s 119 Division I-A teams in points scored. No way an offense should be that dreadful with a Calvin Johnson.
Mostly, no way Tech’s offense should be less than wonderful this season with an experienced offensive line, with a talented running back such as Tashard Choice and with Nix doing everything he can to get Calvin Johnson the ball.
Nix will be obsessed with getting Johnson the ball, won’t he?
Oh, well. “If they’re out there doubling him and totally trying to keep him out of the ballgame, then we’ve got other receivers and backs and a quarterback and everybody else who can make plays and get the job done,” Nix said. “Overall, we’ll use [Johnson] generally the same way [as we did in previous years]. Once again, he’s one member of an 11-member unit, so you’ve got 10 other people who have to fit in, too. He might be able to handle a little bit more, but what can those other guys handle? You have to put them in the best position, too. You’ve got to think of the whole thing, including what they might be doing defensively.”
With apologies to Nix, forget what opponents might be doing defensively. Those among Tech’s offensive brain trust should be doing everything they can to make opponents fret over what the Jackets might be doing offensively. It’s a philosophy that should begin and end with Johnson. It’s a philosophy that made Southern Cal dominate in recent years. The Trojans’ Calvin Johnson was Reggie Bush, and given the aggressive offensive approach by those on the Southern Cal coaching staff regarding Bush, they had others more worried about what the Trojans might do than the other way around.
Which brings us back to Johnson, the ultimate weapon that Tech should unleash with regularity.
“He’s a phenom, and everybody wants to put the ball in his hands,” said Ball, who rarely did last season. Well, considering everything. Courtesy of Ball’s erratic play and Gailey’s conservative play-calling, Johnson caught just six more passes and one fewer touchdown as a sophomore than he did as a freshman. Through it all, Johnson remained the humble youngster that he is, with Gailey saying, “He understands that he’s good. Who are we fooling? But at the same time, he understands that he has a responsibility to be the best that he can be, and that means continuing to work.”
No problem there for Johnson, whose work ethic always has been praised by his coaches and peers. All he needs now is for Nix to keep calling his number and to have Ball keep delivering passes somewhere within his area code. “Basically, I know when [Ball] is going to come my way, and we give each other a little look in the huddle sometime,” Johnson said. “Since we’ve played together for so long, it’s just natural for us. We’ve learned each other’s mentality so to speak. I definitely expect [our] chemistry to be even better this year.”
So get him the ball.
Permalink | Comments (23) | Post your comment | Categories: Tech / ACC, Terence Moore
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Comments
By Reggie Ball
August 25, 2006 03:20 PM | Link to this
Who’s Calvin Johnson?
By stinGTime
August 25, 2006 03:25 PM | Link to this
Ball to Johnson will be heard often. So often, might think of North Ave as “Johnson City”!
By reality check
August 25, 2006 03:37 PM | Link to this
You really need an answer why they can’t get Johnson the ball?
Okay, okay, Terence. Two words: Reggie Ball.
By Ralph
August 25, 2006 04:05 PM | Link to this
And if Tech was as one-dimensional as Mr. Moore subscribes it should be, then Mr. Moore would be clamoring to be using the other “weapons.”
I think Mr. Moore is obsessed with Tech.
By ben
August 25, 2006 05:30 PM | Link to this
Nix speaks as if we are Texas or UGA and have 5 or 6 weapons on offense that will be playing on Sunday in the future. He’s not at Auburn where if Joe Cribbs doesn’t get the ball, then Bo Jackson does. If we don’t get the ball to our All American, then we are playing against the Notre Dames with Division II talent. And though Tenuta seems to be able to make the team greater than the sum of it’s parts, no evidence of that from Gailey’s brain trust.
By gt81
August 25, 2006 05:33 PM | Link to this
All the faithful love the thought of the article. The truth is not get the ball to Calvin but how can we still not have a QB that can get the ball to anyone. The only reason everyone knows of Calvin’s ability is because he actually manages from time to time to catch a ball from Reggie. That in its self is a feat! He may be a bigger dissapointment than Bill Lewis. Get Calvin some help and reward him for coming to Tech. Get the alum some help and recruit a QB. We donate alot of money to this school. They must step up. Go Jackets! Go Calvin! and Go somewhere else Reggie!
By BF
August 25, 2006 06:43 PM | Link to this
Calvin should get the ball more and everybody knows it but one man can’t do it all. Knowing, and playing along side Johnson since High School he has shown that he is NFL material even if Reggie doesn’t throw him the ball. Calvin is a great person and even better on the field. Work ethics is what puts you at the top and Calvin knows that. GO Jackets!!!! Fight, Win, get NAKED!!!!
By stinGTime
August 25, 2006 07:44 PM | Link to this
It is one thing to whine after the season when there is a remote possibility of a change. It seems soo silly to whine just prior to the season when you whinners know for sure that nothing can/will happen. Good engineers think positive! Tech will beat ND!
By gatech87
August 25, 2006 09:27 PM | Link to this
A lukewarm article on GT football from Terrance. What an improvement over the usual outright bashing.!
Oh, BTW, AJC’s own Tony Barnhart has GT ranked #22 in the pre-season and a dark horse favorite to win the ACC and go to a BCS game.
Terrance, doesn’t that deserve some POSITIVE press? Or is all you can muster this lukewarm bile…
By Walker_Irish_Ranger
August 25, 2006 09:37 PM | Link to this
Reggie Ball has problems? At least they don’t have Joe Terisshhshhshinski. The kid urinated all over himself before he could take a snap against Florida. It’s the most pathetic demonstration of the old saying: nice guys finish last.
By Walker_Irish_Ranger
August 25, 2006 09:39 PM | Link to this
Reggie Ball has problems? At least they don’t have Joe Terisshhshhshinski. The kid urinated all over himself before he could take a snap against Florida. It’s the most pathetic demonstration of the old saying: nice guys finish last.
By ga_tech_92
August 25, 2006 09:40 PM | Link to this
Ball is going to have a great season everyone…CJ will get his catches…the O and the D are out there giving their all for us…GO JACKETS!!!!!
By Walker_Irish_Ranger
August 25, 2006 09:41 PM | Link to this
Reggie Ball has problems? At least they don’t have Joe Terisshhshhshinski. The kid urinated all over himself before he could take a snap against Florida. It’s the most pathetic demonstration of the old saying: nice guys finish last.
By NumbaOneFan
August 25, 2006 10:14 PM | Link to this
Tech has always sucked, sucks now and will always SUCK!…… I dont care who they bring in to coach…… they just cant compete on the same level as Georia. Florida, Miami Florida State and the list is endless. Their academic standards are their worst possible enemy. Regiie Ball is inconsistent and will chit his pants when (anyone remember the pass into the stands ) the game is on the line. As far at Joe T is concerned yeah the kid played scared ad it showed, but give him credit for sticking out for 4 years while Green and Shockley got all the headlines. The real issue here is not talking about what Joe T did last year, it’s about how badly Tech wll look come game time every Saturday against top teams. At Tech a successful season is 7-4 and hope for an early December Bowl in the Frozen Tundra. Lets call it what it is…. a second rate university where a lof of the chics are plump and don’t shave.
By GaFan
August 25, 2006 10:58 PM | Link to this
Thank God Reggie has one more year!!
By GreenJacket
August 25, 2006 11:02 PM | Link to this
Like him or not this will be Reggie’s last year. I would love to see him turn it around and leave Tech with on a good note. Unfortunately it will probably be Calvin’s last year before he goes on to the NFL. Tech, please don’t waste this opportunity and find away to get him the d@#! ball!!!!
By WFC
August 26, 2006 08:55 AM | Link to this
I’m not an offensive guru but was a decent offensive coordinator in high school. Why not use an audible option play away from CJ when the double-team is obvious? Reggie can run, Choice is a talented back and the line is experienced. The only reason I can think of is that Chan is an “NFL guy” and deathly afraid of fumbles. Nevertheless, GT must make opponents pay a steep price for double teaming CJ. Defending the option is all about numbers and maintaining defensive assignments.
By GT88
August 26, 2006 10:18 AM | Link to this
NumbaOneFan,
Tech has it’s problems. The biggest is Reggie Ball. But to say we can’t compete on a bigger level, you just never have watched college football. You are just an idiot making statements you know nothing about. Wow, we beat Auburn and Miami last year. They were ranked in the top 15. We lost to UGA after a close game. If it wasn’t for Reggie Ball, we would have won the NC State game but a interception blew that. We were winning the Virginia game, but another interception let them come back in the 4th quarter. A 10-2 record was so possible last year, and oh yeah, our strength of schedule was in the top 10, not 40-something like UGA. What, UGA has an even easier schedule this year? Wow, no wonder some are picking them to do 9-3. I guess the 3 are against teams Tech will beat. Remember Auburn? They are picked to win the SEC and compete for national title. We beat them, UGA didn’t. A lot of UGA fans often make fun of Reggie Ball like we look to him as a savior or our best hope. Quite the contrary. Who do you think has been stomping for him to be demoted? The Tech fans! I firmly believe if we would have had the type of QB talent UGA has/had, we could have compteted a lot better than UGA has. To have as much talent as UGA had the past 4 years and not be in the Nat Champ picture to well is sad. They seem like they can’t compete as well on that ‘level’ quite well either. South Carolina should have beaten you guys last year. They will this year. Mostly because you will have a sad OF line and a new QB. Their defense is not that great, but they are fast and will cause problems all day long. Heck W Kentucky might have a chance. Wake up doggies and keep watching your 1980 video tapes of you last NC. Wait, I don’t think they had recording devices in 1980. At least Tech’s last NC was in the 90’s. Have fun puppies, you will get close but it takes a great team to get at least 4 NC’s.
By Dr Stripling
August 26, 2006 11:21 AM | Link to this
Ball delivers to Johnson?
what is next?
Nutt’s Players Blows by Cocks?
By NumbaOneFan
August 26, 2006 12:01 PM | Link to this
GT 88….. Like I said, coulda shoulda woulda. Reggie Ball is a huge part of the problem. I don’t care if Georgias schedule is 40th or 400th, the real issue here is Tech not a Class A program. It will always be second tier. Nice teamns that get 6 to 8 wins consistently, ocasionally get a big time talent like Calvin. As fas as “almost” beating someone if only ” interception or fumble or bonehead play” had not occurred….. well if my momma had balls she would be a man. Like i said nice team 6 to 8 wins a season, an ocassional 9 win season and a low tier bowl invitation. It is what it is my fiend. No big time stud recruits are beating the door down to come to Tech.
By Zgoldatl
August 26, 2006 02:22 PM | Link to this
Wow, this numberonefan dude is an idiot. How can a second tier program have 4 national titles? how can a second tier programs have more ESPN Thursday night appearences than any other team in the country. I hate rednecks. Georgia has been a second tier program for most of its history. A few spurts of greatness. Only 2 national titles in over 100 years of football.With the talent the muts had these past couple of years coaching and on the field, it is pathetic they didn’t do better. Georgia got wiped all over the field by Tech, and won a close game. All I know is it starts with ND, and ends with another piece of the hedges in my hand after we beat UGA. Nothing better than ripping up thos dirty bushes. see u there homeboy
By pthom
August 26, 2006 02:54 PM | Link to this
Has everyone forgotten what happened when they tried to get the ball into Johnson’s hands to win the game against NC State last year. Didn’t he drop it into the hands of the other team ruining any chances of trying again on another down? Or what happened to Johnson against UGA last year? I don’t have the stats in front of me but I believe it was close to 3 or 4 catches for about 19 yds. So, I wouldn’t recommend Tech putting all of their faith in Johnson or they’ll end up with the same results they have the past few seasons.
By ChampsIn06
August 26, 2006 04:53 PM | Link to this
Okay, I think I have the best solution. Johnson should just transfer to Notre Dame for his senior year. This way he can be an all-american player on a team with three nationally ranked top QBs, and an offensively competent head coach who would actually know how to utilize his immense talent.
Just for the record, Reggie Ball is one sad excuse for a four-year starter, and Chan Gailey is about as aggressive as my 93 year old Grandmother on sedatives.
If you really love Calvin Johnson, do him a favor and get him the heck out of GT…”Go Irish!!!”
P.S. Once The Shark graduates, we’ll have room for another all-american wide out, so be sure to send him soon….