Mississippi State Sports Blog

I was contacted by Scott Carson over at Georgia Tech Sports blog with a few questions about our program, and I sent him a few about theirs. Here are his answers:

1. Mississippi State fans probably haven’t paid much attention to Georgia Tech. How is the team doing with the triple option that Paul Johnson brought with him from Navy? Are the players adapting well?

I think the best characterization is to say we are “ahead of schedule” in terms of learning the offense and defense. Paul Johnson has basically put in his entire offensive playbook and now it comes down to repetition. Since nobody knows where the ball is going until after it is snapped (including the offense), the reads have to become automatic. This is a function of practice, practice, practice. Paul Johnson’s offense gets better and better with repitition, even more than most typical offenses.

First thing to remember is that Paul Johnson’s spread system isn’t just learning to run the option. It involves radically different blocking techniques and schemes. For example, cut blocking (legal) is the order of the day. Our O-Lineman drive forward and fire off the ball on every single play, including pass plays. This goes for every offensive player though, including wide receivers. If you don’t block, you don’t play, and the game film always tells the story. They are judged on how many defenders are cut to the ground each game. In addition, we typically leave up to 3 guys completely unblocked on a given play. The attack goes for numbers first, angles second and match-ups third.

The defensive scheme is also brand new. We went from a Jon Tenuta blitzing attack on 85% of our plays to a more traditional, but multi-dimensional defense that throws a variety of stunts, fronts and blitzes at you. Our defensive lineman now have more freedom to “make plays” instead of setup plays for the Linebackers. Many national prognosticators / “experts” have said that Georgia Tech might have the best D-Line in the country, certainly top 10. What this typically means is that we’ll drop back more guys into coverage with the expectation that we can still rush 4 and get good pressure on the QB.

Probably the most important aspect of adapting to Paul Johnson’s plan is mental toughness, which we were lacking. He has instilled a “punch you in the mouth” attitude and the players have bought into it. Johnson pulls no punches. He calls it like he sees it, and the players seem to appreciate it. There’s no second guessing why you’re playing or not playing. As you probably saw, that goes for the media too, since he called the TV broadcasters from the GT/VT game “morons” for their commentary……. which was true.

We have to remember though – this team is the youngest in the ACC and one of the youngest in the country. There are 75 freshman and sophomores on the roster and we start freshman & sophomores at every single skill position. What we lack in experience we do make up somewhat in talent as the current sophomore class is one of the best classes ever signed at Georgia Tech. That class is making an impact all through the 2-deep. Still, young is young.

2. Georgia Tech has played 2 ACC teams this season – Boston College and Virginia Tech – and both were close games. Are there big plays that Georgia Tech is missing to be able to make those games solid wins rather than close calls?

There is a misconception that a team that bases their offense off the triple option isn’t a “big play” offense. The reality does not match up with that statement. In Georgia Tech’s 3 games so far, here are some stats:

3 games
20 plays over 20 yards
6 scoring drives under 2 minutes
9 scoring drives under 3 minutes
Every scoring drive this year has been less than 5:21

Having said that, we had the game-winning play wide open against Virginia Tech and the ball was overthrown by inches. We missed that one or we’d be 3-0. The reality is we have had to rely on the big play just a tad too much the past two games against two very good defenses. We got it against BC (43 yard pitch for a TD) but just missed it against VT.

Overall, Georgia Tech has faced two excellent defenses (and a DIAA team) and has been able to move the ball effectively. We lead the ACC in rushing and are 9th nationally. What is KILLING Tech, with a capital K, are turnovers. We gave up 10 points off turnovers to Virginia Tech last week. That was more than the difference in the game. In three games, we’ve managed to fumble the ball 11 times, and lose it 7 times. We also had one INT last week. Some of that is due to the high risk offense (belly handoffs, pitches, option reads) but many of the fumbles are just plain due to youth. They were just a guy not wrapping the ball tight. If we can control the ball, I fully expect Georgia Tech to win more games and get to a 12th straight bowl game. However, if our fumblitis continues, all bets are off.

As far as the ACC goes, it’s “middle strong” in my opinion. There are really no “elite” teams right now vying for national attention, like the SEC. However, the middle pack is strong. There are a bunch of teams that are legit top 15 – 30 quality teams. However, we won’t know who truly stands out until the games play out. There are only a couple of real stinkers (NCST and UVA at the moment). Even Duke has managed to look respectable so far. One thing continues to stand out in the ACC, strong defenses and weak offenses. It’s a theme and it’s been there for years. That’s why Georgia Tech fans have hope that a contrarian offense can step up and claim superiority.

3. Who are the key players on on the Georgia Tech team that State needs to worry about the most (offense and defense)?

On offense, it all starts with the QB – Josh Nesbitt. He’s a true sophomore and a true threat. If this offense is to work, it’s mostly because Josh “gets it”. So far, he’s ahead of the curve. He has to make all the right reads at the line and during the play. What’s nice for us is that he is a physical, strong and fast runner. He set a Georgia Tech QB rushing record for a single game last week with 151 yards on 28 carries. Tech fans hope to see more of the offense spread to other guys, but Virginia Tech was determined to clog the middle and take away the dive while also manning the corners and taking away the pitch. That left the QB to do most of the dirty work, and he did. Don’t underestimate Nesbitt’s arm either. He’s got a good one, and this spread option offense results in wide receivers in single coverage all day long. We may not throw much, but when we do, it usually downfield and for lots of yards. See if there’s not a play or two where you find yourself yelling at the TV – “WHY IS THAT GUY SO WIDE OPEN?”. It’s the nature of this offense, although that doesn’t mean we’ll convert.

The second guy to look for is Jonathan Dwyer at “B-Back”, which is the running back position lined up behind the QB. He is fast. He is big. He is talented. It is not a stretch that he will be in the Heisman race before he leaves Georgia Tech, barring injury. He can bust people up the middle, or he can bust it to the outside and run past them. However, he did sustain a back bruise against VaTech, and at this point, we really don’t know how he’s feeling.

On defense, the entire line is stout and boast 3 seniors. Michael Johnson is projected by some to be the #1 pick in the next NFL draft, although his play through 3 games has not been up to par. He’s a 6’7″, 260lb freak of nature. There’s no other way to describe him (see photo). The two defensive tackles, Vance Walker and Darryl Richard, are outstanding. Walker is a pre-season SI All-American and All-ACC. Darryl Richard doesn’t have a sack yet, but is 3rd in the ACC in tackles-for-loss, which is tough out of the DT position. At the other DE is Derrick Morgan, a true sophomore, who happens to lead the ACC in sacks at the moment with 3. The D-Line is the heart-and-soul of this team, and they’ll hopefully keep us in most games, while the offense figures out how to hold the ball tighter.

The other standout defensive guy worth mentioning is Morgan Burnett, a sophomore safety, who is outstanding. He’ll be around the ball all day making tackles and possibly interceptions (he has 2 so far).

4. Are Georgia Tech fans excited about Paul Johnson as the new HC? Will he be able to recruit the players needed to push Georgia Tech to the top of the ACC?

I would have to say the overwhelming majority of fans are very excited to have Paul Johnson as our coach. He brings a vastly different level of intensity, discipline and mental toughness to Georgia Tech than we’ve had in the past. Chan Gailey was a great person and a good football coach, but his conservative, laid back, play “not to lose” style started to divide the fanbase. There’s not a more intense game-day competitor than Paul Johnson and he plays to win. At Navy he punted less than almost any other coach in the country. The fans have gotten behind him and like what they see so far. To have so much youth and inexperience, implementing brand new systems on offense and defense, with brand new coaching staffs, with players recruited to a different system, and to be one fumble away from being 3-0 – we’re not complaining much.

Recruiting remains a question. So far he has proven he can get highly recruited guys (4-star QB’s, big D-Lineman, fast, strong O-Lineman, etc). Our recruiting has not dropped off, but Johnson and staff find themselves fighting off bad press, lies and misconceptions spread by opposing recruiting coordinators. The beauty of Johnson’s offensive system is that he’s actually looking for slightly different type guys than a “pro-style” offense. He wants O-Lineman that are more fast than big. He wants running QB’s to stay at QB while other schools recruit them as WR’s and DB’s. He wants the fast, shifty RB’s that happen to be “too short” for the power game. Those guys run all day long at the A-Back position (slotbacks who run and catch in the triple option). Defense is defense, and he’s been getting highly touted guys so far. We’ll probably never see another “Calvin Johnson” come through GT again (but then who will), but he’ll be able to get plenty of guys for his system.

Also, don’t forget – Paul Johnson coached Georgia Southern to 2 National Championships and was their offensive coordinator for some others. He has developed long-lasting relationships with high school coaches in the state of Georgia, and most of those schools run versions of his offense. A lot of those coaches played for Coach Johnson. Talent in the state of Georgia is rich, and he’ll do fine over time.

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