Ken Suguria Article: Johnson offers praise, updates at media days

[Techster]

I think most understood the "passing more" and the new stuff to be expansion not replacement.

I don't think anyone thought CPJ was making a wholesale change to "his" offense. I think telling recruits and players he wanted to expand the offense (which was quoted quite often in the press) and install new formations (which we saw) probably didn't send the message Vad (and possibly other recruits) of "we're going to focus on the what we do best"...which is "his" offense.

 

[Northeast Stinger]

If that's the case, what does it say about CPJ and JT that Vad was still the starter all season?

CPJ also said about Vad at the conference: "Vad's a good kid. I wish him well. He didn't feel like he fit what we did. He's probably right."

Not sure CPJ is helping himself when he says that because CPJ is the one that recruited Vad, and the one that kept saying he would tailor the offense to the talent. If Vad didn't fit the system, then why even recruit him in the first place? Vad didn't make any secrets about changing the perception of our offense and wanting to expand on "the triple option offense". CPJ knew what he was getting in Vad.

I think CPJ tries not to throw players under the bus. As for what he was getting in Vad, I thought Vad was going to be the right fit also. CPJ has been looking for a quarterback who could do what he did at Hawaii, an option quarterback who can win the game with passing when that is all the defense is giving. Who knew Vad did not like to run? High school did not offer that clue but maybe I wasn't looking hard enough.

 

[Northeast Stinger]

It says that CPJ was willing to alter his offense to maximize his players abilities. Even though a lot of people like to say he's stubborn. Vad did fit the system from an athletic standpoint. He could run and throw. What Vad didn't have was the mental fortitude and toughness to run the TO. It wasn't always like that. I don't know if he took a bad hit or what but at some point in the season last year he became soft. CPJ then began giving JT more opportunities but he got hurt in the Miami game on a hit that would have injured 99% of the QB's in college football.
I get trying to make it a CPJ problem because that seems like the fashionable thing to do right now. But this had everything to do with Vad Lee deciding he was going to be soft and it really came to an ultimate point of softness in the bowl game.

Some point to a hit Vad took in the UNC game by a defensive lineman. Even an assistant coach with UNC commented on how Vad was not the same after that play. Tech's season seemed to start going down after that even as defenses continued their policy of defending the dive and pitch and making the quarterback have to make the play.

 

[GT Man]

I think under JT or TB, plays should develop much faster. I think our O-line gets unfair amounts of blame for our lack of success last year. The style of play at the line seems more geared towards taking down the defenders temporarily, rather than sustained blocking. There's a time window for our backfield to make something happen and it quickly closes.

 

[Yoda]

It did look like our QB had weights tied to his feet. I like how JT looks more decisive like the Navy and PJ's older GSU QB's have been in years past. I just hope the Abacks can keep up with him for the pitch.

 

[Longestday]

Vad had a long stride and looked deceptively slow, but was really decently fast. The plays did tend to string out to the side lines. Perhaps it was a longer mesh and slower start from mesh that was the issue?

Our team works together. Both the QB and OL had uphill battles last year. Injuries, playing hurt, and playing out of practiced position all had an effect. Getting to the middle LB was very difficult in 2013.

JT seems to pull and be 3 feet down the line in a blink of the eye. This seems to cause more of a "fake" on the BB give.

 

[dressedcheeseside]

It did look like our QB had weights tied to his feet. I like how JT looks more decisive like the Navy and PJ's older GSU QB's have been in years past. I just hope the Abacks can keep up with him for the pitch.

He needs to stop looping on his options runs, but yeah.

 

[alaguy]

Anyway you cut it,PJ has not had a QB that could both option,run and throw at a high level.I luv Nesbitt but once the horses left(er, BayBay),he was ragged (see Kansas loss).TW was competent in running mainly.Vad could not option.So whose fault is it after 6 seasons ,he hasn't had the QB we envisioned when he came here?
I believe that the QB is too hard to find.-lots don't want to come here. OR--If he can run and pass,in high school VERY few of our recruits run a true TO.They go from the shotgun.BIG BIG difference . That why a transfer from MidTnSt/non-scholly is running 2nd unit and threatening more-he ran the close-snap option Offense in hi school.
So If you have a "limited" QB then you better have a BUNCH of horses around him-one top WR,a bull Bback,decent abacks and a strong OL.

 

[AE 87]

Anyway you cut it,PJ has not had a QB that could both option,run and throw at a high level.I luv Nesbitt but once the horses left(er, BayBay),he was ragged (see Kansas loss).TW was competent in running mainly.Vad could not option.So whose fault is it after 6 seasons ,he hasn't had the QB we envisioned when he came here?
I believe that the QB is too hard to find.-lots don't want to come here. OR--If he can run and pass,in high school VERY few of our recruits run a true TO.They go from the shotgun.BIG BIG difference . That why a transfer from MidTnSt/non-scholly is running 2nd unit and threatening more-he ran the close-snap option Offense in hi school.
So If you have a "limited" QB then you better have a BUNCH of horses around him-one top WR,a bull Bback,decent abacks and a strong OL.

While it's true that we haven't had all ACC QBs, our offense has still been very good 4 of 6 years and not bad last year.

 

[Techster]

While it's true that we haven't had all ACC QBs, our offense has still been very good 4 of 6 years and not bad last year.

Well, Josh was first team All ACC in 2009.

 

[SidewalkJacket]

QB recruiting has taken a huge step forward the past couple of years IMO. Even though VL didn't work out, he was a much more talented recruit than what we had been getting before. Then JT, MJ, and now JR. I can remember a few kids we took at QB before that. It has improved.

 

[Supersizethatorder-mutt]

It says that CPJ was willing to alter his offense to maximize his players abilities. Even though a lot of people like to say he's stubborn. Vad did fit the system from an athletic standpoint. He could run and throw. What Vad didn't have was the mental fortitude and toughness to run the TO. It wasn't always like that. I don't know if he took a bad hit or what but at some point in the season last year he became soft. CPJ then began giving JT more opportunities but he got hurt in the Miami game on a hit that would have injured 99% of the QB's in college football.
I get trying to make it a CPJ problem because that seems like the fashionable thing to do right now. But this had everything to do with Vad Lee deciding he was going to be soft and it really came to an ultimate point of softness in the bowl game.

He took a monster hit in the UNC game, and he was never the same afterwards

 

[dressedcheeseside]

QB recruiting has taken a huge step forward the past couple of years IMO. Even though VL didn't work out, he was a much more talented recruit than what we had been getting before. Then JT, MJ, and now JR. I can remember a few kids we took at QB before that. It has improved.

I agree. Weren't we odd man out with the kid at Auburn, too?

 

[thwgjacket]

I agree that something changed. But I don't think it's all on CPJ or all on Vad as some posters want to make it out to be. You can't tell a kid that you're going to do XYZ to the offense, make a big deal about it (installing the pistol...studying the Redskins....etc), then at the same time say "Well, he doesn't fit what we do and we're going to go back to what we do best".

At the same time, Vad had 20+ years of CPJ coaching history to look at before he signed. He should have known going in that CPJ was only going to do so much.

At the end of the day, people are right, it was the best thing for both parties that Vad left. CPJ wasn't getting the play he needed from his QB, and Vad wasn't in a system that fit what he wanted to do. I certainly think Vad gave GT his all and doesn't deserve the pot shots he's getting now that he's gone.

My only problem with this post is that CPJ did try and change the offense. We ran the pistol and did some Redskins stuff while Vad was here. When Vad left CPJ said we are going to do what we are good at and go back to running more. JT seems to be fine with this and has "bought" in. It really doesn't effect the other guys we have recruited. The WR's will still get deep routes thrown to them and the BB and AB positions will touch the ball plenty. I think the question is, would we rather run the new stuff and not be as good or run what we know and be more effective?

As for not getting the QB recruits that we needed which some other posters have mentioned. Ratliffe will be our third 4-star QB that CPJ has recruited. He will be our second ESPN 300 player at the QB position. One didn't work out. We get to see the other one this year and hopefully Ratliffe in the future.

 

[dressedcheeseside]

My only problem with this post is that CPJ did try and change the offense. We ran the pistol and did some Redskins stuff while Vad was here. When Vad left CPJ said we are going to do what we are good at and go back to running more. JT seems to be fine with this and has "bought" in. It really doesn't effect the other guys we have recruited. The WR's will still get deep routes thrown to them and the BB and AB positions will touch the ball plenty. I think the question is, would we rather run the new stuff and not be as good or run what we know and be more effective?

As for not getting the QB recruits that we needed which some other posters have mentioned. Ratliffe will be our third 4-star QB that CPJ has recruited. He will be our second ESPN 300 player at the QB position. One didn't work out. We get to see the other one this year and hopefully Ratliffe in the future.

Vad, JT, MJ and now Ratliffe is a pretty good string of talented dual threat qb's.

 

[daBuzz]

My only problem with this post is that CPJ did try and change the offense. We ran the pistol and did some Redskins stuff while Vad was here. When Vad left CPJ said we are going to do what we are good at and go back to running more.

So we're going to quit passing those extra 2 times per game we did last year?

Historically, we have averaged 12 passes per game under CPJ. Last year, we averaged 14. Not exactly like we went all "run and shoot" on people.

I get what he means about going back to the TO but to say that we are going to "run more" frankly scares the s**t out of me from a recruiting standpoint.

 

[dressedcheeseside]

So we're going to quit passing those extra 2 times per game we did last year?

Historically, we have averaged 12 passes per game under CPJ. Last year, we averaged 14. Not exactly like we went all "run and shoot" on people.

I get what he means about going back to the TO but to say that we are going to "run more" frankly scares the s**t out of me from a recruiting standpoint.

Actually we averaged 15.6 passes per game last year.

I think what he means is we're getting back to being better at running the ball.

Btw, we only ran the ball 3 less times per game last year than the year before. (53 compared to 57) So it's not like we have to run a ton more to get back to where we were.

 

[takethepoints]

I've said this before. I think Vad would have been ok, if he had stayed. I thought last year's performance was about what you would expect from a first year starter, especially since the offensive formations became more complicated. It wasn't as if he stunk the place up. Further, while I also remember the big hit in the UNC game, I also remember Vad running Syracuse ragged, AA DT and all.

That said, I do think that both JT and Tim are better fits for the system, mainly because of two things. First, they are essentially run first QBs. Deep down, Vad wasn't. His idea of a great game - and it was pretty good - was our defeat of Puke. You could tell he couldn't get what Coach was complaining about afterwards. Second, I remember something Vad said after the UNC game his soph year. One of the reporters asked him what he had been doing on one play. Vad's reply, "I was ballin'." Our O is not, repeat in a loud voice, not a "ballin'" offense. It requires a good deal of discipline and won't work as designed without it. The two candidates this year understand that at an almost genetic level.

Still, I think he would have worked all that out with the coaches if he had stayed. Probably best that he moved on, however.

 

[GTFan62]

I say hire Joshua Nesbitt to come in as a quarterbacks coach. He ran the option so well. Last year was painful watching Vad run in circles before getting sacked.

 

[Ggee87]

I just didnt see a very decisive QB after he took that hit against UNC. Being hesitant like that stunted his progression within the offense. I dont agree that he would have got better/less timid in THIS offense. Im not bashing Vad, but he looked awful last year. The good plays were made by the players on the other end of his pitch/pass. We just didnt have a very good offense last year, minus, Godhigh/Mason/Smelter. IMO. I think well be ALOT better from top to bottom this year.