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DEL.ICIO.USJohnson ignores poor marks by recruiting pundits
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Paul Johnson’s first Georgia Tech recruiting haul wasn’t highly rated, but Johnson and his staff sounded plenty happy about a 20-player class Rivals.com ranked ninth in the ACC.
“I don’t get into all these rating services, and I don’t care who else is recruiting them,” Johnson said, sounding a lot like predecessor Chan Gailey. “I want to believe what I see.
“I think we really addressed some needs from the speed standpoint and some fits for what we plan to do on offense and defense.”
One hint of Johnson’s play-calling preferences: “I’d like to be about 350 [yards] a game running and 150 throwing,” he said. “That would be ideal.”
Jewel of the class: Tech fans will want to know how to pronounce the name of Chamblee offensive lineman Omoregie Uzzi. It’s uh-MOR-gay OO-zey, the lone member of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super Southern 100 in this class.
Uzzi has quick feet for a guy with his great size (6 feet 3, 291 pounds). Thank his older brother, Osagiede, who got Omoregie in the weight room in ninth grade and started teaching him how to be a lineman.
“He’s a very dominating type of offensive lineman,” Chamblee coach Jim Showfety said. “He’s a big kid, but he also can come off the ball low and hard. I’m certain he’ll fit in perfectly with Paul Johnson’s offensive schemes.”
That’s partly because Uzzi played in an option attack in high school.
“If I play offense, I’ll be a step ahead of the other offensive linemen,” said Uzzi, who played only defense as a high school junior because of a broken wrist.
Immediate impact: With a new staff and new systems on offense and defense, it’s hard to say which returning players will line up at which positions, let alone how the newcomers will fit into Tech’s plans. But the Jackets are so low on quarterbacks, especially ones with option experience, it doesn’t take much imagination to see Tevin Washington or Jaybo Shaw playing sometime in the fall.
“They’re both tailor-made for what we do,” Johnson said.
Here’s how wide open things are: “There might be guys in the secondary that will be the best quarterback,” Johnson said.
Typically, running backs make some of the quickest transitions to college football, so speedy slot backs Embry Peeples and Marcus Wright and fullback Richard Watson could get a chance to play as freshmen.
Project: Antonio Wilson played only one year of high school football and needs to bulk up to play end at Tech.
Wait a year: Defensive line coach Giff Smith has so many returning players it might be awhile before defensive tackle T.J. Barnes makes his mark. But at 6-7, 325, Barnes will be noticed.
“I’ve recruited a lot of defensive linemen,” Smith said, “and this kid has as much potential as any I’ve ever seen.”
Quote of the day: “I think we have some pretty good athletes [returning]. We need to get a little tougher, both mentally and physically,” Johnson said.
One who got away: Defensive back Lee Butler of Anderson, S.C., disappointed Tech on signing day by choosing Duke, which told him Tech’s option offense would make it harder for him to get better in practice.
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By JS
February 6, 2008 5:06 PM | Link to this
I like what I see.
By OldSkoolJacket
February 6, 2008 5:22 PM | Link to this
I have a GREAT feeling about this kid Embry Peeples
By son_sir
February 6, 2008 5:30 PM | Link to this
Nice job of recruiting to win football games and not worrying about recruiting services and rankings. CPJ sounds to me like a man with a definite plan. To some, he will come across as a non-conformist so get used to it. He learned that trait from a guy named Erk Russell. BTW, how many stars did Erk’s runts at UGA have anyway ? Hang in there and let the man do what we hired him to do and we’ll all be in for some exciting times on The Flats. Nice job Coach Johnson, Giff Smith, and the entire staff. I like the looks of the initial phase of program building.
By Greg
February 6, 2008 5:35 PM | Link to this
LOL @ Lee Butler thinking practicing against Duke’s offense will make him better
By Wild Bill
February 6, 2008 6:31 PM | Link to this
Good dawg, Jaybo! The boy hasn’t even put on a jock strap in college yet and he has already given us Dawg fans and our romping stomping team some very nice bulletin board material. Happily, we sense another Reggie Ball in the making. I predict at least another four consecutive victories over the Techsters for the Dawgs. This motor-mouth was on his way to Middle Tennessee State so that should give you folks some indication of his “talent”. However, if he can count to four, he will be ahead of Reggie!
By ACC Fan
February 6, 2008 6:35 PM | Link to this
I have read the bios and some of the recruiting services take on these recruits, and I believe there are some “stars” missing on many of them. This Tech class is going to be better than some have it rated!
By Just the facts....
February 6, 2008 6:46 PM | Link to this
I guess Duke forgot to tell Lee Butler about not expecting to ever win in Durham….
By Mike
February 6, 2008 7:20 PM | Link to this
Oh, my, we have just what Wild Bill and the other leg humpers most fear, a kid who wants to beat them, and thinks he can. I think he can count to four okay. Keep running those mouths, boys. It’s a long way down.
By AJ
February 6, 2008 7:45 PM | Link to this
Mike, tell me again why UGA fans should be worried. You could not beat us with Calvin Johnson who was a legit star in college. Now I am suppose to worry because the 150th best QB in the country thinks he can beat Georgia. Haaaa! Win a game every once in while!
By Fan Belts
February 6, 2008 8:43 PM | Link to this
Gee, what else can he say to put a positive spin on a lack luster recruiting class.
By Wrecker1
February 6, 2008 8:49 PM | Link to this
I know Uzzi is getting a lot of notice and deservedly so but I saw Nick McRae of Dublin turn A.J. Harmon every which but loose in the AA play-offs this year. McRae played just about every play on both sides and he’s a player.
By DawgsRulz
February 6, 2008 9:11 PM | Link to this
Paul Johnson is a very good Coach and he is right, sometimes the guys he wants to fit his system won’t be ranked high, but they fit his system. Congrats to the kids that signed LOI’s with Tech. I hope them the best in every game but the one against UGA.
I also love the spirit the QB showed about wanting to beat UGA. I would expect no less. All I have to say is bring it on. :)
By Statesboro Blues
February 6, 2008 9:24 PM | Link to this
I followed Paul at Georgia Southern and found that slotbacks almost always had a big learning curve. As pitch men, lead blockers and receivers, they have to read the defenses almost as thoroughly as the quarterback’s themselves. B-backs (fullbacks on the depth chart) have less responsibilities before the snap, but take such punishment that even Adrian Peterson of Georgia Southern was red-shirted. Most B-Backs need time time beef up and acclimate to the rigors of the position.
PJ will be very successful if he has speed on the edges, linemen with a combination of size and speed and a defense that can move players around within the schemes. Blue chip athletes are not the order of the day, just fast, strong, durable and intelligent players capable of reading offenses and defenses and reacting QUICKLY.
By NYJACKET
February 6, 2008 9:34 PM | Link to this
Lee Butler will get a lot of practice at Duke. He will be on defense most of the game.
By NYJACKET
February 6, 2008 9:36 PM | Link to this
I like the fact that PJ got busy and starting recruiting exactly what he felt he needed. It is better to go out and get the guys you need rather than try to change guys who don’t buy in to your system.
I also like the fact that PJ is going after team oriented players who want to win.
By DawgsRulz
February 6, 2008 9:47 PM | Link to this
Paul Johnson is a very good Coach and he is right, sometimes the guys he wants to fit his system won’t be ranked high, but they fit his system. Congrats to the kids that signed LOI’s with Tech. I hope them the best in every game but the one against UGA.
I also love the spirit the QB showed about wanting to beat UGA. I would expect no less. All I have to say is bring it on. :)
By Mike
February 6, 2008 10:22 PM | Link to this
AJ, my boy. If you weren’t concerned, you wouldn’t be trying to trash our recruits on our blog. I don’t have to tell you why you’re worried, your presence here says plenty. Come on, 150th best QB. LOL. Says who? Scout? OK, we’ll see. The problem is, you silly Dawg fans (not all, certainly, but some) have not only gotten arrogant, but VERY condescending. Like I said, it’s a long fall. You have a great coach, fabulous recruiting class (as usual), and a very fine football team. Why would you need to trash our kids? Because they aspire to beat you? I’m certain it would be funny to have the kid say ” Gee, thanks for allowing me to come to Tech, I know we can’t beat UGA, but maybe we can play with others to continue 7-5”. HA! Please see DawgzRulz posts. Much classier. You don’t need to remind us that you have had the upper hand. We are well aware, and thus the thirst to beat you. We’ll see. I’m just saying that a little humility and grace will choke a little less going down, and it will happen. You’re damn right you’re worried.
By black bee
February 6, 2008 11:48 PM | Link to this
Keeping it real the Tech haul was good and bad. Too much stock is put on Johnson’s ability to coach kids up. Tech’s arch rival ain’t Army, Georgia is having a TOP TEN recruiting year every year. Tech better upgrade their recruiting no matter how good Johnson is or his scheme. There is not enough emphasis put on the O-line and D-Line and in a few years Tech will be in trouble. Plus, Clemson, Miami, Fla. St. and VT had GREAT recruiting years. Johnson though confident doesn’t seem to understand what he has gotten himself into. It was easy to pull for military teams during a wartime.
By TN-Jacket
February 7, 2008 1:38 AM | Link to this
Black Bee, I can promise you that next years recruiting class will be primarily focused on the trenches.
By Paddy
February 7, 2008 6:56 AM | Link to this
Let me get this straight….the leading issue of why you would choose to go to school like Duke or GT is how I would be doing at practice Monday thru Fri afternoon. College football is about Sat afternoon young man. I think coach you did the right thing and gave this scholarship to somebody that likes game uniforms not practice uniforms.
By Ryan
February 7, 2008 6:58 AM | Link to this
No, Black bee. Its not easy to recruit GOOD FOOTBALL PLAYERS during wartime. MOst good football players don’t VOLUNTEER to go to a service academy - and there is no draft.
SO your little swipe really doesn’t work.
By gmlane
February 7, 2008 7:31 AM | Link to this
AJ,
Rivals.com has Jaybo Shaw as the #10 ranked dual-threat quarterback in the nation.
Not quite at #150 like you said.
By oldgold
February 7, 2008 9:20 AM | Link to this
Others made the perfect point already about this class which is that Johnson is clearly saying “my way or the highway. Don’t waste your time trying to change me ” With a fan base like ours which is often fickle we need a strong resolve. Gailey had that as well but he would’nt believe what he could see. In other words, he didn’t look.
By BuzzFactor
February 7, 2008 9:20 AM | Link to this
Yeah, it remains to be seen if Johnson’s scheme will work at Tech like we want it to, but some basic logic says it will work quite well. Restrictions at Navy, Ga So’s 1AA, Tech’s past record with the option vs UGA and ACC. Also, we either embrace the change or sit and whine about it. And as far as the class, I’m with the others that believe this class is good for the system under the circumstances of a coaching change.
By Earl von earl
February 7, 2008 9:45 AM | Link to this
I can’t wait for Coach fill-in-the blank’s exciting post WWII ground attack behind with the ACC’s ninth ranked recruiting class. That has the DI football world all tingly with excitement. What will the Dawgs do? Win by 30 and put up number 8. Yawn.
By Not Disappointed
February 7, 2008 11:06 AM | Link to this
Jackets have a good year!
By profit
February 7, 2008 11:39 AM | Link to this
UGAY recruits and coaches are so stupid that in times of crisis, it is all they can do to keep them selves from reverting to licking their own asses, animal like. Hey stupid UGAY spy, decrypt this “FF UU”.
By NYJACKET
February 7, 2008 12:09 PM | Link to this
For all you guys critizing PJ and his recruting,I must remind you that Gailey punted the first recruiting year because his deal with Brain the brain allowed him to wait until the Dolphins finished their playoff run.
PJ left Navy day one and got to work.
Nuff said.
By Buzz
February 7, 2008 12:38 PM | Link to this
I would say that considering all the recruits that initially left, we went from 14 down to 10 or 11, PJ did a very respectable job of pulling things together and getting some potential talent with a 20 man class.
By the way, did anyone happen to see the article on collegefootballnews.com showing that Tech’s 2004 unranked class 4 years later was ranked higher than UGA’s, which happened to be pretty strong. Tech has a record of doing more with less, for example walk on PJ Daniels and 2 star recruit Phillip Wheeler. Let’s not look at this year’s class as a disappointment
By UTC fan
February 7, 2008 1:30 PM | Link to this
I have admired Coach Johnson’s work at GA Southern (where he routinely kicked my team’s tail) and at Navy. Whether Tech can beat UGA depends more on its defense than its offense (and Coach Johnson has never been known for his defenses). If Tech fields a defense that holds Georgia to about 20 points, it can win. Tech should score plenty of points (just like GA Southern and Navy did) because UGA probably won’t see another triple option team all year, and the triple option allows the less talented Tech to put its best athletes in one-on-one situations where they can make plays. But Tech is unlikely to win if it keeps giving up 30+ points.
By wild bill
February 7, 2008 1:55 PM | Link to this
If the only way the North Avenue Trade School can beat UGA is to hold the Dawgs to 20 points, then Johnson should go ahead and forfeit now. Georgia will score 20 or more in the first half, perhaps in the first quarter. Stafford, Moreno and company will light them up like a pinball machine—-especially between the hedges in front of 93,000 rabid fans. I can’t wait until November 29th to make in EIGHT straight and counting.
By StingerSplash
February 7, 2008 2:24 PM | Link to this
If the Butler kid is that dumb to realize that once August comes around you don’t practice against your own offense, then let him go to Duke. Nice job of negative recruiting there, Coach Cut. Does Butler realize how many of PJ’s DBs at GSU have been in the pros, either on Sunday or at least in training camp? Guess “practicing against that option offense” didn’t help them, did it? Have fun going 1-11, Mr. Butler.
By StingerSplash
February 7, 2008 3:55 PM | Link to this
If the Butler kid is that dumb to realize that once August comes around you don’t practice against your own offense, then let him go to Duke. Nice job of negative recruiting there, Coach Cut. Does Butler realize how many of PJ’s DBs at GSU have been in the pros, either on Sunday or at least in training camp? Guess “practicing against that option offense” didn’t help them, did it? Have fun going 1-11, Mr. Butler.
By StingerSplash
February 7, 2008 4:03 PM | Link to this
If the Butler kid is that dumb to realize that once August comes around you don’t practice against your own offense, then let him go to Duke. Nice job of negative recruiting there, Coach Cut. Does Butler realize how many of PJ’s DBs at GSU have been in the pros, either on Sunday or at least in training camp? Guess “practicing against that option offense” didn’t help them, did it? Have fun going 1-11, Mr. Butler.
By scott
February 8, 2008 2:17 AM | Link to this
lf l remember correctly Bobby Ross never had a ranked recruiting class and l think Ken Swilling was our only bluechipper and l know that with the Bobby Ross recruits we got a national championship so don’t sneer at what we got they just might surprize you
By Eagle/Jacket
February 8, 2008 9:51 AM | Link to this
Go Paul Johnson, Jeff, Giff and staff! YOu guys did a bang up job at Southern and I was proud and excited to be a part of it. Paul 3:16 says everyone takes an a$! Whoopin! Bring it on Paul. Give us another reason to cheer about the over praised and under performing papermill of the state getting their but handed to them. Good Job staying focused guys recruit for the scheme that’s what real coaches do! COACH! So any one know can you still drive through Athens with your window down and have a diploma tossed into your car? Erk was right not to take that job so his good name is only associated with the one year they had anything going for them. Go Wreck and PJ!!
By my opinion
February 8, 2008 12:17 PM | Link to this
I doesn’t matter what system you run. You have to have athletes to run it. I’m not seeing it. Get ready for a 500 season at best.
By WetHog
February 8, 2008 1:17 PM | Link to this
As a Navy fan I’ve lived threw a couple recruiting classes of Mr. Johnson and they were all like this. Thats a good thing because say what you want about Navy, but they have been competitive with every D-1A school they’ve played against since Mr. Johnson came to Annapolis. Mr. Johnson will get things sorted in his first year, expect sub-500 season, but then watchout. He will fill GT with kids he wants, regardless of Scouting rankings and GT will be good in at least 2 years. You GT fans are so lucky to have Mr. Johnson. Still bummed he left.