With just over a week to go before Paul Johnson begins his first summer practice as Georgia Tech's coach, he was quizzed by dozens of journalists Monday at the ACC Football Kickoff.

Staff writer Matt Winkeljohn was there, and here is some of what Johnson said:

Q: Do you take issue with the game being played just down the street from Tech in the Georgia Dome between the ACC's Clemson and Alabama on the opening weekend of the season (two days after the Yellow Jackets' Aug. 28, Thursday night season opener at home against Jacksonville State)?

A: I think that's something that needs to be looked at and discussed. I found out about it when I saw it in the paper. Didn't hurt [the teams recruiting in the area].

Q: Is 'cut' the right word to use to describe the blocking scheme that your offense will use?

A: I don't think that's the right word; maybe on the backside. We're not ever cutting on the [play] side. We're looking for movement initially to knock somebody back. Now, on the backside, because of what we do, what we call 'scoop [blocking],' we'll cut on the backside, but we're also coming off the ball trying to knock guys back.

Q: Will sophomore Josh Nesbitt be the starting quarterback?

A: I think going into camp he's the guy whom everybody thinks is going to take control, but I'm not going to hand him the job. He's got to win it.

Q: What is your reaction to people who suggest that your triple-option offense will be difficult for ACC opponents to decipher initially, but less so after they've played against it?

A: When we were in the league at Georgia Southern, we won the league every year, and it didn't diminish. It's been pretty good for a lot of years. That's why I kind of scoff or kind of laugh when people say, 'We'll see if this will work.'

Q: Have all offensive players bought into the new system?

A: I think that when you start playing, it's human nature. They're going to wait and see. They're going to evaluate us when it starts. If we're not successful early on, kids aren't going to say, 'It's me; I ain't blocking nobody.'

Q: Are you in favor of having an early signing day for football, much as basketball has fall and spring signing periods.

A: I think that recruiting is getting crazy with all the publicity, and the hype and the early commitments. If an early signing period would end all this mockery when you have a guy sitting there with six hats [at a signing day news conference], hey, they get a lot of publicity out of it.