GREENSBORO, Ga. - The most hotly debated subject at the ACC preseason media kickoff has been whether first-year coach Paul Johnson's option game can work at Georgia Tech.
Opposing coaches seem concerned about the offense that helped Navy average 39.9 points per game last season. But the option has seldom been used in BCS conferences over the past 10 years to the extent that Georgia Tech will use it.
"I think Paul will drive people crazy," said Wake Forest's Jim Grobe.
"I wish he (Johnson) would have gone somewhere else," said Clemson's Tommy Bowden.
The question people have is whether Johnson will be able to recruit good enough athletes to that offense to win in the ACC and defeat rival Georgia, which owns a seven-game winning streak against Georgia Tech.
Will elite wide receivers and offensive linemen sign with Georgia Tech to play in an offense that's not used in the NFL? Johnson doesn't anticipate a problem with that.
"Navy recruits against Army just as hard as Georgia Tech recruits against Georgia," Johnson said. "So that part of it's not hugely different. The pool of recruits are different but the way you go about it is the same."
Georgia Tech defensive tackle Vance Walker, who's from Fort Mill, S.C., near Charlotte, said Johnson is more fiery during practice than former coach Chan Gailey. If a player made a mistake, Gailey would quietly correct it after practice through an assistant coach.
Johnson gets in players' faces immediately after mistakes. After lining up against Johnson's offense during spring practice, Walker predicts it will work.
"Not many people have seen the offense," Walker said. "I’ve talked to a couple players here already and they say it gives them headaches. It’s just like a machine. Once it gets going, it’s hard to stop."
Comments
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paul is intense for sure.
Mon, 09/14/2009 - 11:08 — tedsrandommusingspaul is intense for sure. not sure he will drive people crazy though. toolbars
An offense that won't thrive in the ACC
Thu, 07/24/2008 - 19:22 — I luv football (not verified)I don't think that offense will work at a Tech, because of 5 reason. Reason 1 The ACC has too much speed on defense. Although the option power game will work against teams that trade size for speed on defense but any run based option can become one-dimesional especially if not running it out of the spread. Reason 2 is that everyone praises Paul Johnson for the job he did at Navy with using it to beat Notre Dame but This is was a Notre Dame team that got housed by virtually every team on their schedule and for a large part of the season couldn't even move the ball. And their three wins came from teams that were well below 500. If the 07 season was the time that the Midshipmen could upset the The Irish in a year of extraordinary upsets then that would be the season. reason 4 any coach and offensive coordinator knows that how you completely kill the option run game is to throw the ball down field score quickly, and once your up on an option based team break their backs with defense and the run game. Basically take the run away from the team by forcing them to pass the ball. Reason three is that Johnson is going to have a hard time convincing 4 & 5 star skilled position recruits outside of the defensive side of the ball to buy into his system and come play in an obscelete offense that will not give them a chance to get to the NFL. Cause let's just be real, if programs like Miami, Ohio State, Texas, Florida, Georgia, where some of these kids go and still don't even get invited to the combine or don't even make an NFL camp, then playing in paul johnson offense will definatly not afford them the opportunity. Reason 4 is I hope they like Losing to UGA every year cause if the Dawgs can always have a legit gamer at QB then they will always have a downfield passing game that will phase out the GT offense and the Dawgs always maintain a top notch defense because of the SEC. Reason 5 the ACC is a whole lot better that when George O'Leary was roaming the side lines and GT was shooting for second fiddle to Miami. Now they have to deal with good consistant Defenses like VT,Mia, and BC, along with NC and Clemson. I think because of the quick decision to higher Paul Johnson, may have just turned GT into a dormat team in future season and eventually even get the Athletic Director fired. Just ask Nebraska's Doug Peterson and Bill Callahan.
People who spit out
Fri, 08/08/2008 - 16:35 — Todd (not verified)People who spit out "reasons" without any sense to check the facts are just plain idiotic.
1) GT has more speen than Navy, and Navy beat Notre Dame and all their 4-star recruits. Your speed theory is junk.
2) I guess you haven't watched much of Tech's practices or the offense Hawaii ran under PJ. This offense will pass for more yards and more touchdowns than it did under Chan Gailey. In fact, Navy passed for more TDs than GT did last year - LOOK IT UP.
3) I guess you haven't watched much of Tech's recruiting for 2009. GT currently has 3 4-star commits and a whole slew of 3-star ones, which is ABOVE AVERAGE from the past 5 years. GT never gets 5-star guys b/c they can't handle the academics.
Some valid points
Thu, 08/07/2008 - 16:17 — Naz (not verified)However if you are going to comment on an engineering school's team it would be a good thing to learn how to count from 1 to 5 in order.
Excited About Arrival of CPJ at Flats
Tue, 07/22/2008 - 17:52 — GPBurdell (not verified)As a GT season ticket holder here in the Triangle (and one who supported Chan Gailey), I can honestly say I have renewed enthusiasm for 2009. We may have the least returning starters in the ACC, but I can't wait for my tips down to the ATL and over to Chapel Hill on 11/4 to see the Jackets and our new option attack!
Naysayers ???
Tue, 07/22/2008 - 13:09 — FloydTurbo"Naysayers" are nothing but "board monkeys". Dingleberries living in their mammas basement and typing inanities on "fan forums" 24/7. Neither their opinions nor their lives have much value.
FTR, I think his offense
Tue, 07/22/2008 - 14:58 — Beezer (not verified)FTR, I think his offense can work. like JPD said, hes been a success everywhere.
It should be fun
Tue, 07/22/2008 - 13:06 — JPDOhioI watched Johnson's offense in person at Notre Dame last year and can attest to the fact that it is amazing to see. I have no doubt that the purists will be all over it. But Johnson has been a winner pretty much everywhere he has been and Ga Tech knew what they were getting when they hired him. So he will do his thing and I wouldn't bet the house on him failing.
u won't be able to blame
Tue, 07/22/2008 - 09:43 — Beezer (not verified)u won't be able to blame the man if he comes out of the gate "swinging" with his option first offense. afterall, thats what got him the job at Ga Tech! duh!
at this level, it will literally make him or break him, but sadly it will be a loss for the ACC if it can work ... it will be yet another claim the ACC cant play footballl from the nay sayers who will claim the option could never work in "their" conference.