Paul Johnson's kryptonite?
posted by LW, Wednesday, January 06, 2010
"When an opposing defense has a month to prepare, Paul Johnson's offense is in trouble."
When the aforementioned statement is about the only valid criticism remaining that Johnson has yet to dismantle, it's a strong indication of what he's accomplished in two years at Georgia Tech.
Disclaimer: I'm an avowed fan of PJ and his attempt to succeed with this funky offense at college football's highest level. I've thought from Day One that he'd be successful there. Like most people who are passionate about sports, I tend to like being right. I've taken some pleasure in watching him make his critics -- let alone a lot of opposing defenses -- look silly. So yeah, I'm probably a little biased when it comes to debating his viability.
All that said, I don't know how even Johnson's most passionate supporters could ignore the positively ugly developments in Johnson's two bowl trips at Georgia Tech.
His offense was awful last year against LSU in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, and it was awful in last night's loss to Iowa in the Orange Bowl.
The most telling quotes in the aftermath of last night's debacle were presented on Heather Dinich's ACC blog:
“I can’t image preparing for them in a week,” linebacker Pat Angerer said.
“Having that time was extremely big,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. “I can’t imagine preparing for them in a week.”
It's certainly not breaking news that preparation time greatly aids a defense in trying to solve the riddle that is Johnson's flexbone offense. You hear defensive coordinators talk about it all the time. And in most cases, you've seen opposing defenses benefit from extra prep time the past two years.
When you add that dynamic to the fact that Iowa's defense is physical and salty, and perhaps the best defense Georgia Tech has faced all year, you get a tough night for Georgia Tech.
I had some concerns going in based on those two factors, but I had no idea it'd be that bad.
After 30 punts in 13 games, the Yellow Jackets punted on their first six possessions. Yikes.
So does this bowl thing represent kryptonite to Johnson and his offense?
You could certainly make that case (and you can also see why PJ is strongly in favor of a playoff, BTW).
But again, Johnson is doing pretty well for himself if that's the only criticism remaining after two years.
A lot of folks thought he wouldn't crack three wins his first year. He won nine.
A lot of folks thought he'd struggle this season after defenses "got used" to his offense. He won 11 and claimed the ACC title, all the while strafing defenses that were supposed to have benefited from repeated exposure (most notably Clemson, North Carolina and Virginia Tech).
It's one thing to say Johnson might not win many bowl games at Georgia Tech. The evidence at this point supports that criticism.
But it's silly to say the last two bowls are an indictment of his entire system.
Was Nick Saban's system exposed against Utah last year in the Sugar Bowl?
Was Urban Meyer's this year in the SEC title game?
Steve Spurrier didn't lose many games at Florida, but when the Gators did lose it was often ugly. Don't recall many folks predicting his downfall after those games.
When other offenses stink it up in a game, they're called bad games.
When Paul Johnson's offense stinks it up in a game, his system is doomed.
I doubt many Georgia Tech fans are ecstatic this morning. But I'm guessing they'll gladly exchange 10 wins a year for two or three bad days of offense.
The AJC's Jeff Schultz was at the game and wonders if this is a trend or a strong hint.
He also reports on the ultimate indignity leveled by Iowa's Kirk Ferentz:
Maybe it was the moment. Maybe it was the Big Ten weather. Maybe it was just an identity crisis. (Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz inadvertently referred to Tech as “Wake Forest” in his post-game news conference.)
Tony Barnhart says it was a good year for Georgia Tech, and also suggests it's time to start giving the Big Ten some props.
Agreed on the Big Ten part. That conference has taken a beating in recent years but acquitted itself quite well during the bowl season.
A 4-1 record against the SEC, Pac-10 and ACC ain't too shabby. And the only loss in those games was Northwestern's overtime defeat to Auburn in the Outback.
According to this article, it's the Big Ten's first winning bowl record in seven years.
For the first time since 2002, the Big Ten finished bowl season with a winning record, officially eliminating the "What is Still Wrong With this Lousy Conference?" idea from the slate of story suggestions next August.
To recap, before moving on, here is the Big Ten's yearly bowl record since then:
2003: 3-5
2004: 3-3
2005: 3-4
2006: 2-5
2007: 3-5
2008: 1-6
That's a total of 15-28 in the previous six years, which is why 4-3 seems like 27-2.
But it's not just the wins but the quality of the wins that everyone is talking about.
The Big Ten beat No. 7, No. 9, No. 12 and No. 15 in the BCS standings. The Big Ten beat the ACC champ, Pac-10 champ, third-place SEC team and a Miami team viewed earlier in the season as a BCS contender.
The Big Ten lost to Auburn in overtime, Iowa State by a point and with a bunch of suspended Michigan State players to a Texas Tech team which had fired its coach. The league can live with those losses.
The four games that mattered most, the Big Ten's four best teams won.
In The State, more on DeAndre McDaniel's decision to return for his senior season.
And more in the Independent-Mail.
The Post and Courier doesn't seem convinced he's going to stick with his decision.
In the Greenville News, a closer look at Clemson's new men's soccer coach.
This guy says this Duke team has a chance to be special. Sorry, but I still have my doubts.
And a really good read on Mack Brown from one of the best college football writers out there, Pat Forde of ESPN.com.
LW
Click here for the "Eye On The Tigers" blog archive.
Link to this entry - Discuss this entry - Return to Blog Home
"When an opposing defense has a month to prepare, Paul Johnson's offense is in trouble."
When the aforementioned statement is about the only valid criticism remaining that Johnson has yet to dismantle, it's a strong indication of what he's accomplished in two years at Georgia Tech.
Disclaimer: I'm an avowed fan of PJ and his attempt to succeed with this funky offense at college football's highest level. I've thought from Day One that he'd be successful there. Like most people who are passionate about sports, I tend to like being right. I've taken some pleasure in watching him make his critics -- let alone a lot of opposing defenses -- look silly. So yeah, I'm probably a little biased when it comes to debating his viability.
All that said, I don't know how even Johnson's most passionate supporters could ignore the positively ugly developments in Johnson's two bowl trips at Georgia Tech.
His offense was awful last year against LSU in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, and it was awful in last night's loss to Iowa in the Orange Bowl.
The most telling quotes in the aftermath of last night's debacle were presented on Heather Dinich's ACC blog:
“I can’t image preparing for them in a week,” linebacker Pat Angerer said.
“Having that time was extremely big,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. “I can’t imagine preparing for them in a week.”
It's certainly not breaking news that preparation time greatly aids a defense in trying to solve the riddle that is Johnson's flexbone offense. You hear defensive coordinators talk about it all the time. And in most cases, you've seen opposing defenses benefit from extra prep time the past two years.
When you add that dynamic to the fact that Iowa's defense is physical and salty, and perhaps the best defense Georgia Tech has faced all year, you get a tough night for Georgia Tech.
I had some concerns going in based on those two factors, but I had no idea it'd be that bad.
After 30 punts in 13 games, the Yellow Jackets punted on their first six possessions. Yikes.
So does this bowl thing represent kryptonite to Johnson and his offense?
You could certainly make that case (and you can also see why PJ is strongly in favor of a playoff, BTW).
But again, Johnson is doing pretty well for himself if that's the only criticism remaining after two years.
A lot of folks thought he wouldn't crack three wins his first year. He won nine.
A lot of folks thought he'd struggle this season after defenses "got used" to his offense. He won 11 and claimed the ACC title, all the while strafing defenses that were supposed to have benefited from repeated exposure (most notably Clemson, North Carolina and Virginia Tech).
It's one thing to say Johnson might not win many bowl games at Georgia Tech. The evidence at this point supports that criticism.
But it's silly to say the last two bowls are an indictment of his entire system.
Was Nick Saban's system exposed against Utah last year in the Sugar Bowl?
Was Urban Meyer's this year in the SEC title game?
Steve Spurrier didn't lose many games at Florida, but when the Gators did lose it was often ugly. Don't recall many folks predicting his downfall after those games.
When other offenses stink it up in a game, they're called bad games.
When Paul Johnson's offense stinks it up in a game, his system is doomed.
I doubt many Georgia Tech fans are ecstatic this morning. But I'm guessing they'll gladly exchange 10 wins a year for two or three bad days of offense.
The AJC's Jeff Schultz was at the game and wonders if this is a trend or a strong hint.
He also reports on the ultimate indignity leveled by Iowa's Kirk Ferentz:
Maybe it was the moment. Maybe it was the Big Ten weather. Maybe it was just an identity crisis. (Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz inadvertently referred to Tech as “Wake Forest” in his post-game news conference.)
Tony Barnhart says it was a good year for Georgia Tech, and also suggests it's time to start giving the Big Ten some props.
Agreed on the Big Ten part. That conference has taken a beating in recent years but acquitted itself quite well during the bowl season.
A 4-1 record against the SEC, Pac-10 and ACC ain't too shabby. And the only loss in those games was Northwestern's overtime defeat to Auburn in the Outback.
According to this article, it's the Big Ten's first winning bowl record in seven years.
For the first time since 2002, the Big Ten finished bowl season with a winning record, officially eliminating the "What is Still Wrong With this Lousy Conference?" idea from the slate of story suggestions next August.
To recap, before moving on, here is the Big Ten's yearly bowl record since then:
2003: 3-5
2004: 3-3
2005: 3-4
2006: 2-5
2007: 3-5
2008: 1-6
That's a total of 15-28 in the previous six years, which is why 4-3 seems like 27-2.
But it's not just the wins but the quality of the wins that everyone is talking about.
The Big Ten beat No. 7, No. 9, No. 12 and No. 15 in the BCS standings. The Big Ten beat the ACC champ, Pac-10 champ, third-place SEC team and a Miami team viewed earlier in the season as a BCS contender.
The Big Ten lost to Auburn in overtime, Iowa State by a point and with a bunch of suspended Michigan State players to a Texas Tech team which had fired its coach. The league can live with those losses.
The four games that mattered most, the Big Ten's four best teams won.
In The State, more on DeAndre McDaniel's decision to return for his senior season.
And more in the Independent-Mail.
The Post and Courier doesn't seem convinced he's going to stick with his decision.
In the Greenville News, a closer look at Clemson's new men's soccer coach.
This guy says this Duke team has a chance to be special. Sorry, but I still have my doubts.
And a really good read on Mack Brown from one of the best college football writers out there, Pat Forde of ESPN.com.
LW
Click here for the "Eye On The Tigers" blog archive.
Link to this entry - Discuss this entry - Return to Blog Home
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Larry Williams. Larry has covered the daily beat at Clemson since 2004. Williams, who worked for the Charleston Post & Courier from 2004-08, joined Tigerillustrated.com in November of 2008. He may be reached by email at ldubya08(at)gmail.com. Replace (at) with @.