The media at the ACC Kickoff took away one of Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson’s most reliable talking points when the Yellow Jackets were named the favorite to win the Coastal Division on Tuesday. Unable to point out how Tech has been consistently underrated in the annual preseason poll, Johnson adjusted.
“I hope they finally got it right for once,” Johnson said, beginning a 52-minute interview session rife with one-liners, unvarnished opinions and tidbits about his team as the preseason approaches.
Johnson, on whether undersized quarterback Justin Thomas is the ideal quarterback for his spread-option offense: "If you draw up the prototypical guy, he'd be a little bigger, as long as you're giving me what I want."
On if the ACC's success against the SEC last season, including Tech's win over Georgia, might be changing perceptions: "I think you'll have to do it over and over and over, and I'm still not sure anything will change then."
On if the Jackets' success has changed the negative buzz around the team in Atlanta: "Well, the Falcons took our place. Somebody's always getting beat up there. You've just got to not be the one."
On if the Jackets' defense, which ranked top 20 nationally in takeaways last season but also 111th in yards per play, can continue forcing turnovers: "Well, yeah, you hope. I think a lot of it's (defensive) pressure and the way you play a little bit. We were very opportunistic. Somebody jokingly said when we're on defense, somebody's getting ready to score."
On if Tech's 11-win season has changed how people see him: "I'm not going to change anybody's mind. People who think I'm a good coach think I'm a good coach. People who think I (expletive) think I (expletive)."
On readying Thomas' successor for the future: "I'm not worried about that. I'm worried about '15 right now. I'll worry about '17 or '18 later. Shoot, I may not even be coaching in '18. It might be somebody else's problem."
On playing Florida State, which is 29-1 the past two seasons: "We're not scared of Florida State. They might beat us, but we're not scared. Bring 'em on."
On the issue of satellite camps, which is permitting coaches such as Michigan's Jim Harbaugh to leave campus to hold camps at colleges and high schools around the country: "Anytime college coaches can go on a high-school campus and hold a football camp and charge kids and leave the money with the high-school coaches, that's not good. If they don't do something to stop it, you want to see the other league (the SEC) take it to another level?"
On if the team will have any budgeting education with cost-of-attendance stipends to be given to players to cover personal expenses: "Just have Yellow Jacket night at the Cheetah or something."
(Johnson went on to say Tech athletes already receive education on managing finances.)
Johnson’s relaxed manner likely was in part because of the line of questioning, which was far more favorable following Tech’s Orange Bowl championship season and the high expectations than in past trips to the ACC’s preseason media event.
Johnson also expressed confidence in the A-back and B-back positions, which are both unsettled and full of inexperienced players, while saying he had more concern about wide receiver, where veterans DeAndre Smelter and Darren Waller have to be replaced.
“We set a record in third-down efficiency on offense (last season),” Johnson said. “Sure, we stayed out of a lot of third-and-longs, (but) those guys made a lot of plays on third down, too, DeAndre and Darren. So you need somebody out there that can do that and hit some big plays and be consistent catching the ball.”
He mentioned that Thomas told him Tuesday morning at breakfast that incoming freshman wide receivers Brad Stewart and Christian Philpott had been impressive in seven-on-seven passing workouts.
He also commented on transfer cornerback Lamont Simmons, who is coming to Tech after redshirting one season at USC. Johnson said Simmons, who is from Jacksonville, Fla., and was recruited by Tech out of high school, grew homesick.
“I think anytime you can get a good player, you take him if you’ve got scholarships and you’ve got room,” Johnson said.
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