Ultimately, it seems as if 4-star quarterback/athlete will pursue the option to play quarterback for the Bees, and he's a solid fit for their system.
Welcome to Atlanta, James Graham! #FutureJackets🐝 Quarterback🐝 6-1 // 180 🐝 Fitzgerald, GA (Fitzgerald)🎥: https://t.co/O97U4NpXn8Signing Day Central ✍️: https://t.co/dkY4m77BO7 pic.twitter.com/UNqHiJGsM8— GeorgiaTech Football (@GeorgiaTechFB) December 22, 2017
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Bye, Felicia.
That's kind of a bummer, partially because he'd have also been a good fit here, but mostly because he might help make their offense be better. I certainly hope it's just the same old, same old for them, though.
I hate to see GT get a good fit for their system more than I'm upset over not getting him. Seems like a great athlete, but maybe not the biggest area of need for us. May he never know what its like to win in Lane Stadium (or against VT in general).
In that case the trend would need to change on our end.
He will throw 8-9 passes a game max IF he actually plays QB. What worries me much more, is our offense finding the ability to do anything at all against their defense. It would be nice to actually score more than 28 points on them once and reduce Buds margin for error.
I'll be more irritated if he ends up at WR in the end.
I think our offense is going to get better.
Escalators, escalators, escalators, escalators.........eels...
Bummer...but it would have been steep competition for him to play QB at VT.
(wince)
This one stings (haha but not really). They've been getting by at GT with small, athletic runners who can execute the triple option for forever. At 6'1" 185 he's their best true QB prospect since... before Nesbitt. Taller version of Reggie Ball?
We had him the boat, but can't really fault the staff - I get that he wants to play QB, and if he turns into Teddy Bridgewater then more power to him. (And if he does, he will almost certainly come back to bite us square on the ass at least twice during his career.)
I love his tape. I wish he was a Hokie. Even more, I wish he wasn't a Yellow Jacket.
I just wonder how long the GT athletic department will continue to let this option offense happen. They reached their ceiling back in 2009-2010 season in CPJ's second season. Now there is film out, and it seems that the best they can do from here on out is go 8-4. I just can't see their athletes and scheme beating out us and Miami in the same season to make it to the ACC Championship.
They have literally won an Orange Bowl more recently than us. Won 3/4 against both us and Miami I think
The Coastal was arguably the worst it has ever been in 2014 when they got to the Orange Bowl. CPJ lost all but 2 games against Beamer in 8 seasons, and that was during the decline of the program from 2012-2015. Anything they did against Miami in CPJ's first 8 seasons at Miami is basically irrelevant because Miami was mediocre from 2006 all the way up to Richt's hiring aside from 2009 and 2010 when they still weren't great. Yes, GT beat VT last season and this season. Last season was a fluke, and this season GT caught a VT team at their worst. With the recruiting classes that Miami and VT look to be pulling in under Richt and Fuente respectively, it's only a matter of time before both teams are regularly beating up on GT. I think it would be wise for GT ago let CPJ go now and start the rebuilding sooner rather than later.
While I agree with most of your post, Paul Johnson is the George Welsh of GT. He can and will get those 7-8 wins every year and to a bowl. If they were to get rid of him and his funky offense, I think GT goes back to winning once every four years or so.
The problem with getting rid of him is that the type of players that they have are not suited to run any sort of offense other than the option offense. They can't run pro-style because they're not big enough, and they can't really run the spread because they don't have a quarterback who can throw accurately. Their best hope would be to run something similar to what Rich Rodriguez did at WVU until they can overhaul their roster, but even then it's going to be tough to sell a complete rebuild of the team to recruits. The sooner they get rid of him, though, the sooner they can start that process.
Just out of pure curiosity how last year was a fluke? I watched that game start to finish and what I saw was a butt whooping on our own home field. Sure did they catch us at our worst this year, but we got completely outcoached in it. Since everyone keeps complaining about their offense and seems to think thats the problem with CPJ here are their rankings the last few years versus what Fuente has put together by S&P+.
2017: VT: 99th GT: 61th
2016: VT: 51st GT: 44th
2015: Memphis 27th GT: 56th
2014: Memp: 71st GT: 4th(!)
2013: Memphis: 107 GT: 37th
2012: Memphis: 108th GT: 16th
2011: TCU: 17th GT: 33rd
2010: TCU: 7th GT: 74th
2009: TCU 13th GT: 16th
The man consistently puts out solid, efficient offenses. Their worst offense since 2012 would be our 2nd most efficient in the same time period. What people mean when they say you can't win with it is that they hate watching it which is fine since at the end of the day this is an entertainment business. The real reason GT hasn't been a consistent top team under Paul Johnson is that their defense has been poo but nobody likes to talk about that because THE OPTION.
When everyone ran the option, and defenses schemed and practiced against regularly, it was not nearly as productive for most team as it is now. When teams started running offensive schemes that took advantage of optin defenses sets and tendencies, they revolutionized offense. Now so many defenses are recruited, schemed, and called for playing spread type teams, an option team can be more effective. However, it is harder to go undefeated as an option team because 1., it relies on pitching the ball enough to make a bad turn-over game more likely, and 2. It can be very difficult to score quickly with a less practiced passing team amd players recruited to a run first team, and 3. It is harder to develop an elete defense when you practice against scout level talent or the option exclusively. Finally, it is hard to recruit top athletes to an option team - look at the GT- UGA record if you don't think that matters.
So would you be happy if VT was an option team that could never overcome a few turnovers and is unlikely to ever win a game where the opponent has multiple weeks to game plan?
I'd be happy with any offense that consistently moved the ball and scored at an efficient clip. I don't care if we run the air raid, wing t, or flexbone.
How many games have we won we're were in the negative in turnover margin? I'd guess not that many more than GT. There is a reason turnover margin plays such a large margin in winning %. Not sure on the numbers of the multiple weeks to game plan and don't know how to look that up but I would be interested to see the actual numbers on how it affects the offensive numbers.
Are there flaws to running it? Absolutely. But there are flaws to almost every offensive system. My point was just meant to be (and I probably got away from this or didn't make it clear) was that everyone was criticizing an offense that has probably been more efficient than they have realized.
And I was probably being a bit unfair. Honestly, with Bama/Georgia horses in that offense, yikes. Problem is that it is nearly impossible to get that kind of talent to an option offense. With that said, aesthetically and from a fan perspective, I would absolutely hate to see VT running the triple option.
It was a fluke because everyone expected VT to win handily, GT had a backup quarterback in, and VT went on to beat Notre Dame in South Bend, dismantle UVA, and almost beat Clemson in the ACC Championship. GT caught VT on quite possible their worst day of the season. I think that if that game had been played 10 times, GT wins maybe once. Bud has typically done a good job defending CPJ's option attack, and Jérod Evans had an uncharacteristic bad day with turnovers. Not to mention, Der'woun Greene fumbled the opening kickoff, and Joey Slye kicked a field goal off the back of one of his blockers' heads. Special teams was uncharacteristically bad too.
In regard to the option offense, while it is unique and tough to stop when it's working (not to mention a nightmare to come back against if you're losing), you rarely see CPJ's teams able to mount a comeback in games where they fall behind early. In CPJ's first 10 seasons at GT, they have won 1 ACC Championship (in his second season before anyone really knew how to defend it) and beat an overrated (in my opinion) Mississippi State team in the Orange Bowl the year it wasn't a BCS Bowl anymore (i.e. not as exclusive).
Like I said, GT's ceiling is now 8 wins, maybe 9 if they don't pull FSU or Louisville in one of the cross-divisional games (they play Clemson every season, and they still have to beat either VT, Miami, or UGA if not 2. No matter what scheme you run, you need to be signing top 20 classes to compete for an ACC Championship with VT and Miami on the rise in the Coastal.
For the life of me, I cannot figure out why the hell GT keeps Paul Johnson. That school could be a powerhouse. It's a talent rich area. Look at UGA. They are killing it in recruiting and they haven't even won anything (yet). GT has a national title more recently than UGA does. There's no doubt in my mind the right coach (almost anyone not named Paul Johnson) could build a similar program at GT that's happening at UGA. But for whatever reason, they keep handicapping themselves with PJ and the triple option, seemingly content to win 7 to 8 games every year and contend for the ACC once every few years with a 10 win season when other teams like us, Miami, Clemson, whoever are having a down year.
UGA has so many built in advantages over GT it's not even funny. They aren't similar in the slightest. Kids grow up in Atlanta worshipping the Dawgs. No one even thinks about Tech until they're thinking of getting an engineering degree. UGA has more then double the enrollment. It's a talent rich area, so someone could build a decent team there, but it's a STEEP cliff. PJs consistency would be extremely hard to duplicate
Having the Hokies beat them for a change would go a long ways into solving that issue. GT is going to continue playing the triple option as long as they keep winning. Seeing us lay an egg against them isn't helping.
Heck, if I was GT, I'd keep Johnson and let him continue to run an offense that gives other teams fits, like us, Miami, etc. He realizes that there is rich, untapped talent out there that often goes unnoticed in the 5'11" quarterback prospects that he doesn't have to fight UGA for. Plus, I believe the academic requirements are a little higher at GT, which might play into the way teams like GT, along with the military academies, run this unique offensive scheme. Those schools rarely, if ever, get the 4-5 star athletes, so why not make the best of what you can get, and run the CPJ, triple option. Like you all are saying, he might not win the Natty with it, but he can definitely win the ACC championship with it, and be competitive year in and year out.
But, good luck to the guy. I hope he finds a way to get Paul Johnson fired.
What's irritating the most is that he's going to play QB for a triple option and not a normal school. I could totally see if any other team offered him at QB and ran a normal offense.
But playing QB at GT isn't really "playing QB". You just happen to be the guy who gets the ball first.
Enjoy throwing it around 20 times a season. Is he aware of the offense that they run???
Just doesn't make sense.
I'm pretty confident he is aware of what he is getting himself into.
Is he aware that Bud focuses on making the QB keep the ball the continue getting hit......should be a good intro to the LPD.
Considering we play GT once a year I doubt he is thinking too much about VT anymore. Plus they have beaten us two years in a row so I doubt he is shaking in his cleats.
Did they beat us or did we just beat ourselves?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMDiy8g3HDs
I'll let Russel Westbrook answer that one. NSFW
I'm kinda thinking we beat ourselves (thus allowing them to win) in the last 2 games.
Nah, they beat us. Part of losing is playing poorly. GT was better in both those games and we certainly aren't a consisten enough team for me to say it flukey.
We SHOULD'VE beaten them BOTH times. We WERE abundantly MORE than capable of defeating them BOTH times. Just because they played better, more consistently, won the games DOESN'T mean they were/are better. They just played better/less mistakes.
If it walks like a duck, looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck. Don't dress it up to be a goose. All you said is that we are capable of beating GT, but we didn't. They outplayed us, anything else is sour grapes.
FTFY
Thanks for the assist. I knew I was missing some vital information.
I don't mind being in the minority on this. Your duck is a poor comparison and and the sour grapes label is irrelevant. Being outplayed (while similar) is NOT the same thing as getting beaten or even being better than someone.
"You play to win the game!"
-Herm
I gotcha & I agree
Your thought process is interesting and confusing. I'll just leave it at that...
Wait till I get started!
So I can kind of see where he was going with the second part. Objectively, we had a better quality of season both years so we were probably the better team overall. One game doesn't necessarily change that. But saying we weren't beaten is dumb imo. 2016 we got beat like a drum and then scored a ton in garbage time to make it look closer. This year it was closer but the whole time I felt like GT outplayed and outcoached us and we needed a bunch of breaks to go our way to be even close.
I said they were a better team when they played us. Kinda hoped it would be inferred that I meant they were better that specific game, which seems to still be a point of contention somehow. Plus, it doesn't really matter who had a better season when talking about that game. Just who played better than game.
So just curious, how do you identify when a team is better versus if a team just played better? GT had three losses in the finals seconds that resulted from 'lucky' plays (GF went to GT, so I've watched at least some of every GT game this year) and they could/should be 8-3 (game against UCF was canceled). IF they were 8-3, with an head to head win over us, would you agree that they are the better team?
was just being a bit sarcastic....I don't literally think he's pondering daily how he's going to elude Bud's defense.....
Idk...work on your sarcasm or something? Although I certainly hope Bud stuffs him every down while he is at GT.
I doubt he's worried about that right now.
Obviously, however you think when a guy wants to play QB he wants throw the ball around some, so going to GT to play QB is just a bit interesting.
Unless no one was recruiting him to play QB....that might tell you of your future playing QB. Just saying.
The kid believes in himself. Can't fault him for it.
Or maybe he wants to handle the ball 40 times a game, score touchdowns, and lead a team. Playing qb in a triple option may not get you to the league, but it looks fun as hell.
You guys are right. I mean who wouldn't want to play QB for GT? Surprised QP picked us.
I hope he does awesome things for GT and makes them a contender for the ACCCG.
I worry he will be quite effective in their offense. I had the same fear when Motley was considering them.
This just opens a spot for someone else. I'm sure Fuente had a plan in place for this exact scenario.
I hate to see him go, as I think he could develop nicely in our system (as a WR). I applaud our coaches for telling him straight up he'd bot be a QB (versus saying "you get a shot" when he would get 1-2 practices and then switch).
Best of luck to him.
The best part of this is your sig.
Y'all down vote me if you want but I'm about to speak the dam truth.
There's a whole bunch of sore losers in this thread, whining about how GT should fire Paul Johnson, they'll never compete unless every team in the ACC is down, and they didn't deserve to beat us. Is GT going to win a national title under Johnson? Probably not, but it's not as if that's such a simple feat for any team. Someone mentioned UGA who is basically a SEC power, doesn't run the option, and hasn't won one recently. Eventually PJ will likely move on but yeah it will help if VT and Miami start beating them regularly.
If we can find a consistent offense I don't' think we'll have a problem. Our offense was atrocious in the game this year and we were still super close to beating them. Defense played great save 4 plays. Unfortunately those were back breakers. They only drove the field once, every thing else was us getting beat deep....which against GT is head scratching but it is what it is.
After reading the comments, I think we are all saying the same thing.
Fuck Paul Johnson.
Dax Hollifield on the LPD will negate him.
Disappointed with his decision. But I wish him the best against every team but us.
Best to him.
I look forward to my teams prospectively beating him eight times over the next four years.