Tech

By Jimmy

March 28, 2008 5:04 PM | Link to this

Mike, I have a question about this new offense. Now I know its probably too early to answer, but what is the base GT offense??? Is it the old fashion triple option w/ three backs behind the QB(who is under center), where the QB can hand off to the FB up the middle, fake it and then run laterally along the line to see whether or not the DE is going to comit, thus making his decision for him as to whether or not he keeps it and head upfield or pitches it off to one of two tailbacks trailing??? If i’m way off base it’s my bad. I really don’t know jack about the triple option. Are the QB’s going to line up in the shotgun at all w/ the 2 RB’s on either side ala the more traditional ‘spread option?’ Like I said I know its probably too early to answer these kinds of questions, i’m just confused on what kind of offense PJ will really be running.

By Mike Knobler

March 28, 2008 5:15 PM | Link to this

Jimmy

With the caveat that I am hardly an expert after three practices, here’s my best answer to your questions:

—The quarterback is under center, not in the shotgun.

—There is a single back behind him, called the B-back or fullback, but he is not a Chan Gailey-type blocking back. He is the dive back. B-backs under Paul Johnson can get a lot of carries and a lot of yards.

—There are two A-backs, lined up just outside the tackles and a step behind them, pretty much abeam the quarterback. These guys get the option pitch to the outside. One of these guys often goes in motion just before the snap, and the motion is a loop behind the formation to the direction in which the play is going. The A-backs also can go directly downfield as receivers.

—There is no tight end.

Hope this helps.

By StingerSplash

March 28, 2008 5:16 PM | Link to this

Jimmy,

PJ’s base formation has been nothing except the spread formation. The fullback is 3 yards behind the QB. The A-backs or slotbacks are right there in the slots on either side of the QB, between the WR and the OT. The wideouts are on the line of scrimmage, giving you seven across. When running option, the slots go in motion behind the QB and FB - they can also reverse motion to keep defenders from keying on them and reading them as to which way the play is going. You’re right on the play design, but the formation is different from the old Wishbone.

By kt

March 28, 2008 5:19 PM | Link to this

It is a flexbone set with the a-backs behind the tackles. There won’t be any shotgun as PJ likes the under center route to his offense.

By Jimmy

March 28, 2008 5:45 PM | Link to this

Thanks for the info guys. So does the QB also spin pivot off left foot(if he’s a righty) and do a 360 before handing off to the B-back?? I never understood why QB’s did taht. Sorry if that sounded silly. I guess that’s more of my old preconceived wishbone sets. Actually they are not that old. Like many have mentioned before, Nebraska was very effective in running the wishbone just a decade plus ago. Also, how does the QB run play action off this? Does he just veer out after faking a handoff/pitchout? I keep thinking of Nebraska’s offense since i’ve never seen a PJ type of offense run before. Thanks again all.

By kt

March 28, 2008 6:16 PM | Link to this

http://youtube.com/watch?v=EIdZ3OUuX-k

Jimmy -this will give you some idea of some of the things PJ runs. lots of option stuff to watch.

By Embuzzcil

March 28, 2008 7:46 PM | Link to this

Nah - that is the Hambone and you cannot run the Hambone without Tracy Ham.

By Embuzzcil

March 28, 2008 7:46 PM | Link to this

Nah - that is the Hambone and you cannot run the Hambone without Tracy Ham.

By Embuzzcil

March 28, 2008 7:49 PM | Link to this

Nah- that is the Hambone and you cannot run the Hambone with out Tracy.

By surfrider

March 28, 2008 8:10 PM | Link to this

Do y’all remember Fridge lining up two wingbacks outside the tackles looking inward? Well from what I’ve seen many of these vents hit on the nail. The two old wishbone halfbacks are moved into slots between the tackle and the wr, giving this offense 6 players who can touch it on any one given play. So a 3rd string Tb under proset can play slot back (A), and 2 nd string WR can move to A (slot back). More skilled players should get more playing time. All I know is it seems everyone is learning including the fans. The one thing I do know is if say Ga. or Miami is stuffing the B-back and the A-back this coach is not going to keep running the same play. This offense should isolate players into one on one letting their athleticism take over in both running and passing. The playaction and rollout passing game should be fun to watch.

By quaildawg

March 28, 2008 10:41 PM | Link to this

Does this mean Flagboy will be shaving his legs with a dry razor????

By Matt Stafford

March 28, 2008 11:33 PM | Link to this

Quaildawg,

What this really means is that I will once again be spooning with my guys at Talledega.

http://deepsouthsports.blogspot.com/2007/05/talledega-days.html

By m

March 29, 2008 12:37 AM | Link to this

It is so exciting knowing that Tech NOW has a real college football coach….instead of the worst coach in the history of the NCAA, Chan Gailey. Tech football is back. Thank God and Greyhound that Gailey is FOREVER GONE. Halllleeeeedamloooyah!!

By z

March 29, 2008 1:16 AM | Link to this

m, I take it you really don’t like Chan Gailey. But regardless of him not beating UGA or getting Tech past Mediocrity, he is and always will be a great, classy guy. God bless and wish him the best.

By destin

March 29, 2008 8:38 AM | Link to this

Being out of state, I haven’t been able to get much info on the new offense. The above article mentioned Smith and Evans at A-back, but there was no mention of Jonathan Dwyer who I thought was our best RB or Roddy Jones who I thought would be his backup. How do they fit into the scheme?

By The Big Bug

March 29, 2008 10:42 AM | Link to this

m, I certainly am no Gailey fan. I thought the 51-7 debacle should have gotten him fired. But if you think he was the worst coach in the history of the NCAA, you weren’t born when Bud Carson, Bill Fulcher,Bill Curry, & Bill Lewis ran the show. It was enough to make you throw up.

By GT Rich

March 29, 2008 10:59 AM | Link to this

Here is another link that shows the base formation real well - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xguFjvQkMgs&feature=related

By Georgia Fan

March 29, 2008 11:12 AM | Link to this

All the Tech fans who constantly cry about being ignored by the AJC obviously cannot read. Knobler is doing a great job with these daily practice updates. The AJC’s coverage of Georgia’s spring practice has been simply abysmal.

Speaking of Georgia, one of the many reasons they have completely owned Tech is because they have been mentally tougher than the Jackets under Richt. Nobody freaks out and pitches a hissy fit when the ball doesn’t bounce their way like a Reggie Ball or Taylor Bennett. Nobody cries about the refs. Nobody panics. All of these things were fairly common under the Gailey regime. I’m know Tech fans have convinced themselves that Georgia has some unfair advantage because they cheat and let illiterate felons play football, but the truth is Georgia has simply out-toughed and out-hustled them in several outings during the current streak. It has nothing to do with talent and 5 star recruits. It has nothing to do with coaching, X’s and O’s, and Reggie Ball. Georgia has just wanted it more. Georgia Tech, on the otherhand, expects a bunch of breaks to go their way in order to be able to win. They don’t want to earn it.

I’m rambling. You get the point. I honestly don’t see things changing anytime soon. A losing culture is hard to shake.

By Jimmy

March 29, 2008 11:57 AM | Link to this

As am impartial observer, I have to say “Georgia Fan” you are full of crap. How can you say UGA players wanted it more? They obviously have much better talent than Tech. Hopefully PJ will bring that toughness to help bring even more intensity to the rivalry.

I find it particularly funny that you say no UGA fan cries about the refs. That is freaking hilarious. You guys not only cry about the refs, but just cry in general about the “lack of respect” you guys get. You Ugagers actually thought you belonged in the MNC game last year even though you didnt win your own division, much less conference??? High larious!

By Jimmy

March 29, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this

BTW, thanks for the info people on the new offense. It has the potential to be awesome once the players get the fundamentals down. You Tech fans are going to have to be very patient w/ PJ though. With the offensive players he’s got now w/ the system he wants to run, it might be like shoving a square peg intoa round hole, ya know? Give him a few years to recruit the kind of players he wants for this system. A win or two against UGA would help w/ the fans patience during this time, of course.

By GT

March 29, 2008 12:19 PM | Link to this

You need toughness in this offense. A lot is dependent on not going doing down early, gang blocking at the point of attack, wearing the opponent down. This is not a white shoe operation, but it will be fun to watch if you like a Dooley type football that wins. Stay close till the end, wear em down, kick the field goal, go home.

By BADDAWG

March 29, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this

Blah. blah, blah. Yada, yada, yada.Same old song 34th verse.New coach. New offense. Who cares. Same ole nerd nation!!!! Still a middle of the pack ACC team….half full little stadium…same lower tier bowls.Glad to see you guys excited though….means eight in a row gonna HURT that much worse!!!!!!!

By Georgia Fan

March 29, 2008 12:57 PM | Link to this

Since when does having better talent guarantee a victory? Teams beat teams with better talent all the time. Christ man we lost to Vandy and Kentucky two years ago. We had better talent than South Carolina last year too. They came in a popped us in the mouth and got the W though. Georgia Tech hasn’t done that in 8 years.

Georgia plays harder, smarter, and with more intesity than Georgia Tech when the two teams meet. You can shove your head in the sand and make excuses about a talent gap all you want but that’s the truth. You better hope PJ realizes this too or it might be another 8 years of misery for the Jackets. I’m actually giving Tech a backhanded compliment here. They have the players to beat Georgia once in a blue moon. They don’t have the attitude though. At least under Gailey they didn’t. We’ll see what PJ can do.

By gt in sc

March 29, 2008 1:14 PM | Link to this

you know, uga fans, it`s bloggers like this dip sh@# BADDAWGIE that make it difficult for us techies not to retaliate with some of our own vitrolic observations about uga. please try and educate trash like that.

By BADDAWG

March 29, 2008 1:32 PM | Link to this

Seven and counting…..I LOVE IT!!!! You know it HURTS gt in sc. I LOVE IT!!!!! GO DAWGS!!!!!!! To HE*L with the nerdies!!!!!!!!

By College Fan

March 29, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this

Hey gt in sc: which is worse, pulling for tech or living in south carolina? Face it, they both suck.

By GA Tech Insider

March 29, 2008 3:26 PM | Link to this

Why don’t you all grow up and stick to the subject at hand?

By mowreck

March 29, 2008 3:53 PM | Link to this

Big Bug, Bud Carson was one of the best defensive coaches to coach at Tech … He just needed a offensive coordinator. And, I think Bill Curry got the Alabama job because of his coaching at Tech … He was a good coach also.

By CharlieFoxtrot

March 29, 2008 4:37 PM | Link to this

Georgia Fan, I can’t speak for everyone obviously, but you are arguing the exact reason why GT needed to get rid of Gailey. He certainly had no problems getting decent enough talent to come to Tech, but his teams were constantly outmatched on the field which I think speaks directly to the head coach and how he prepares the team. The best quality of PJ is not the triple option, but that he ran a Navy team that was undermanned and undersized and had them competing at a high level week in and week out. A team takes its cues from the coaches, especially young men who are still figuring how who they are. Now maybe Gailey was somehow predisposed to recruiting kids who are worse self-motivators than average, I can’t speak to whether that’s true or not because I don’t know any college football players. So even if that is somehow true, why wouldn’t there be optimism that PJ will bring in his type of players who will be motivated by him? Anyways, my point is that it sounds like you are indicting the players for not exerting effort and at the same time claiming that Gailey was incapable of motivating them. I think most GT fans would say that it’s more of a case of the latter causing the former.

By X

March 29, 2008 6:44 PM | Link to this

By Georgia Fan

March 29, 2008 12:57 PM | Link to this

Since when does having better talent guarantee a victory? Teams beat teams with better talent all the time. Christ man we lost to Vandy and Kentucky two years <<<<< WEBMASTER, FYI some of us consider using the Lords name in vain profanity…thought I would point it out…pls remove the offending comments.

By X

March 29, 2008 6:45 PM | Link to this

By Georgia Fan

March 29, 2008 12:57 PM | Link to this

Since when does having better talent guarantee a victory? Teams beat teams with better talent all the time. Christ man we lost to Vandy and Kentucky two years <<<<< WEBMASTER, FYI some of us consider using the Lords name in vain profanity…thought I would point it out…pls remove the offending comments.

By X

March 29, 2008 6:45 PM | Link to this

By Georgia Fan March 29, 2008 12:57 PM | Link to this Since when does having better talent guarantee a victory? Teams beat teams with better talent all the time. Christ man we lost to Vandy and Kentucky two years <<<<< WEBMASTER, FYI some of us consider using the Lords name in vain profanity…thought I would point it out…pls remove the offending comments.

By No post needed

March 29, 2008 6:46 PM | Link to this

By Georgia Fan March 29, 2008 12:57 PM | Link to this Since when does having better talent guarantee a victory? Teams beat teams with better talent all the time. Christ man we lost to Vandy and Kentucky two years <<<<< WEBMASTER, FYI some of us consider using the Lords name in vain profanity…thought I would point it out…pls remove the offending comments.

By Joshua Barlowe

March 30, 2008 1:50 PM | Link to this

I’m just glad Georgia fans have nothing better to do than cruise Tech blogs.

McDonald’s is hiring, I hear…

By College Football Fan

March 30, 2008 5:21 PM | Link to this

How do you spell “jerk?”

Spell it J-o-s-h-u-a-B-a-r-l-o-w-e.

By TechCrybaby

March 30, 2008 9:50 PM | Link to this

Georgia Fan, all kidding aside, I have to agree with you to a certain extent, in those parts where you say UGA has been mentally tougher, and that the Bulldogs play harder, smarter, and with more intensity than Tech when the two teams meet. Back in the old days, before a lot of these bloggers were born, my dad told this little boy that we had to pull for Tech because they were “the local team.” He told a gentleman with us at one ballgame that Tech unfortunately had to play Georgia “with one hand tied behind their back.” he was talking, of course, about Tech’s age-old football misfortune, “academics.” I believe that, and it’s as much narrowness of course choices as it is toughness of the work itself, that limits us. By the by, I’ve noticed that some UGA bloggers claim that “Tech academics” is just a mythical excuse. But they then turn around and call us “academic nerds,” and you and I know you can’t have it both ways. My old daddy also fumed that “Tech doesn’t ‘point’ for Georgia, but Georgia ‘points’ for Tech.” Well, back in those dear, dead days of Tech-Georgia parity, Tech was carrying Notre Dame on its schedule for eight years in a row. Tech was also playing some other tough inter-conference rivals. That gave the Jackets a lot to think about. Georgia used to have a struggle selling tickets, having to play a lot of night games, and played only four home games a year. But I don’t think they ever had a struggle between the administration and the athletic department. Not until 1986, anyway. Pepper complained about that kind of administrative non-support at Tech ‘way back in the 1970’s. Tech has never resolved the question whether it wants to “get with it” and make a lot of money in football, or be a highly-respected pale copy of M.I.T. It has just been a lot easier at Georgia, to become a football factory, because of knowing what you want.

By chanstinks

March 31, 2008 12:19 PM | Link to this

Chan Gailey was never a good coach nor a classy guy.

He was overpaid and should have never been the coach of Georgia Tech.

Thank God he’s gone - great hire by Rad. Coach Johnson will do more for Tech in ONE season than Chan ever did in 6 years here!

By oldgold

March 31, 2008 11:09 PM | Link to this

How similar is the P Johnson offense to the Rich Rodrigues scheme when he was at West Virginia ?

By Tokyo Jacket

April 2, 2008 4:55 AM | Link to this

To chanstinks, you’re an idiot. I agree that he didn’t motivate players very well, especially night in and night out. But, to say that Gailey is not a classy guy only proves you are not. Please don’t ever assume to speak for Tech fans. Because, as someone who bleeds gold, I have more in common with “Georgia Fan” than I do with you. That’s a shame that you represent us in this way.

Also, Gailey did a pretty good job in his first few years of dealing with a program that was really teetering on probation and dropouts/medical issues. However, his time probably came and went a couple years ago. I wish him the best of luck with KC. He is a class guy and good coach, just not a good NCAA Div-1 head coach. He does more with less than most other coaches, Xs and Os that is. His Dolphins, Cowboys and Steelr teams were not that talented, but won. His early GT teams fit into the same category.

By Tokyo Jacket

April 2, 2008 5:04 AM | Link to this

Old Gold,

They’re very different in initial setup, but have some of the same misdirection charactersistics. Fellow bloggers, correct me if I’m wrong here, but we’re basically going to run the wing, right?

It is going to look like the ACE set, but with RBs instead of TEs and they’ll be off the line of scrimmage. Sometimes, prior to the start of the play, one of them will motion into the backfield 45 degrees behind the full back. Sometimes, they’ll stay in their position until the ball is snapped.

It won’t look anything like what the WVU offense looked like at the start of the play. However, oposing defenses will never know where they’re going to get hit from. As much as I loved CJ, you knew he was the guy. CPJs offense, with major conference recruiting, is about putting 6 guys on the field who run a 4.5 40 or better and confusing the opposition. Then all of a sudden someone runs for 75 yards or there’s a wide open receiver.

Don’t just think run. Remember that Navy’s offense led the league last year in pass efficiency. That tells me that, when they did pass, there was a ton of blown coverage and smart execution. Both of those rest on the coaches’ shoulders.

By GTsince62

April 2, 2008 12:46 PM | Link to this

Georgia Fan and all you other Uga boys haven’t studied enough to know that GT has 4 NC,s in football to UGA’s 1. We also hold the record for most wins in a row at 8. Admittedly UGA has owned us for the last seven years and will be tough to beat this year but I’m one Jacket who believes that things will be on more level ground in the years to come. Paul Johnson has won on every level of college football and will continue those ways on the flats.

By dawgy

April 2, 2008 2:25 PM | Link to this

http://www.ncaa.org/champadmin/iafootballpast_champs.html

Georgia can claim 5 national championships, thank you very much. Thought you geeks could count?

By eaglewraith

April 3, 2008 7:29 AM | Link to this

If you want to know what the offense will look like, see Georgia Southern from 1997-2001. I’ve been a GSU fan for quite a few years, but only when their TO was run by Johnson did it get run perfectly. When he was Head Coach he took 1-AA by storm and made the whole division his b***.

If you want to see what a monster fullback can do in this offense, see the REAL Adrian Peterson. Ask the Georgia defense about how they got torched by a guy they said should never get a yard against them. He ended up racking up 150+.

The right players and a smart QB make this nearly an unstoppable offense. With a stingy defense, GT has the chance to be very successful at it.

By dawgy

April 3, 2008 9:22 AM | Link to this

eaglewraith - you’re inferiority complex is sad, but amusing nonetheless. I seriously doubt any dawg commented on Peterson leading up to the game. Not even on our radar. And he got his yards, but I seem to remember Georgia winning by more than 3 touchdowns. And “the real Adrian Peterson”? Are you kidding me? OU’s Peterson just won ROokie of the Year. Is GSU’s Peterson even in the league? If so, he must be on the taxi squad ‘cause I haven’t heard his name mentioned in…well, ever.

By Dawg Fud

April 3, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this

PJ is just what Tech needs. I believe he will do well at GT. Sounds like he has intense practices and anyone who has ever played an organized, competitive sport knows that you play like you practice.

See you in November. GO DAWGS!

By Gerald

April 3, 2008 11:38 AM | Link to this

dawgy:

Adrian Peterson is the 2nd string tailback for the Chicago Bears. He led the NFL last year in receiving yards by a tailback. Most observers agree that were Cedric Benson not the #3 overall draft pick, Peterson would be starting because he is a better player.

By jerk

April 3, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this

AP might be a better player than Cedric Benson, but he can’t talk or read

By coopdawg

April 3, 2008 3:08 PM | Link to this

Tech fans are touchy. One of y’all gets high and mighty about the lords name in vane. It is a blog and random people can type whatever they want. If you want a God friendly blog here ya go,

http://forums.godinc.net/,

Those hung up on academics, I remeber one of my professors telling his class that he took the “B-train” (business program) out of tech. Now Im not trying to say that tech is easy but there are ways to “slide” through. I know that some of you are not engineers.

You all might want to relax because it is gonna be tough year with your new offense. I wish yall luck and think it will be fun to watch the ole’ triple-o again, just not in Athens.