It's not like we were losing to Fresno

Paul Johnson football in 2010:

• Georgia Tech's first losing season since 1996
  
• A 6-7 record overall, which in the ACC is essentially a 3-9 record in a real conference
• 3rd consecutive bowl loss under Johnson
  
• 3rd consecutive bowl scoring 7 or less offensive points
  
• 2nd consecutive loss to a 5+ loss UGA team
  
• 1 win against a team with a winning record(7-5 UNC with most of its playmakers suspended)
  
• Other wins over SC State, Wake Forest, Middle Tennessee, Duke, and Virginia
  
• Loss to Sagarin #105, 3-9 Kansas(pictured above)
  
• Combined conference record of ACC foes beaten, 7-25(.219)
  
• 67th in the Sagarin ratings, behind two FCS teams, and only 4 spots ahead of Georgia Southern
  
• 99th in red zone scoring percentage
  
• 119th passing offense
  
• 120th in fumbles lost
  
• 3rd to last in players on the postseason All-ACC 1st, 2nd, and 3rd teams, ahead of only Virginia and Wake. Only one of these players is returning next season.
  
• Disastrous recruiting class following an ACC championship season
  

No Comebacks For You

As previously covered, Georgia Tech under Paul Johnson seems to have serious problems in mounting late-game comebacks. Here is the updated chart following the bowl:  

Games under Paul Johnson where GT gained possession of the football inside of 5 minutes remaining while trailing by 8 points or less:

Year	Opponent	Time left	Deficit	Result	Final score
2008	Virginia Tech	4:37	3	Downs	(L) 17-20
-	-	0:25	3	End Gm	-
2008	Virginia	3:29	7	INT	(L) 17-24
2009	Georgia	3:30	6	Downs	(L) 24-30
2010	Kansas	4:22	3	Downs	(L) 25-28
2010	Wake Forest	2:21	3	TD	(W) 24-20
2010	Virginia Tech	2:23	7	INT	(L) 21-28
2010	Georgia	2:53	1	Downs	(L) 34-42
-	-	1:22	8	INT	-
2010	Air Force	1:37	7	INT	(L) 7-14

Misnomer Myth

Tech's "offensive" performance in Shreveport continued a trend of poor play in the post-season. Paul Johnson insists that this inadequacy in bowl games is a "misnomer" about his offense. You take a look at the stats and be the judge:

Season	Opponent	Off. Yards	Off. Points	Turnovers	3rd down eff.	Final score
2008	LSU	314	3	3	3-15	3-38
2009	Iowa	155	7	1	4-12	14-24
2010	Air Force	320	7	4	8-18	7-14

Top 10 Most Annoying Things About Paul Johnson

2010 edition...

10. "I think recruiting is going well."

9. Running on 1st down.

8. "We work on it every day... you might not know it to see it."

7. Running on 2nd down.

6. Incorrect use of the word "misnomer."

5. Running on 3rd down.

4. "We need to force more punts."

3. That draw-them-offsides-on-4th-down play that never works.

2. Piss-poor special teams.

1. "It is what it is."

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Honorable mention(maybe next year):

- The Dontae Aycock rule

- Berating players on national TV

- Wes Durham: "Where are the areas where you've seen this team grow a little bit?"
Paul Johnson: "Hmmm... that's a good question... um.... I don't know. "

- Fumble on the pitch

- "I really couldn't tell you why [Jerrard Tarrant is not returning kickoffs]."

- Simplifying the defense

- "Don't talk, show me."

No comebacks allowed

Joe knew comebacks

Paul Johnson won 20 games in his first two seasons at Georgia Tech. A large component of that success was his team's ability to build leads which it could protect in the final quarter of the game. This leverages the team's strength, which is running the football.

Unfortunately for Paul Johnson, there is virtue in balance, and when you play at the highest level of college football, you will often find yourself needing to make offensive plays late in a game. This proves difficult when you are pressured to score in a time-sensitive situation and all you know how to do is possess the football and run clock.

In order to accomplish a truly special season, a team must be flexible enough to adapt to any game situation, and Paul Johnson's one-trick offense will always hamstring Georgia Tech from reaching the upper crust of college football.

Oh, but 2009 was a special season you say? Sorry, but winning a sorry ACC, with a loss to UGA, and a middle-of-the-pack ranking is NOT a special season. And how was that loss to UGA achieved? By failing to score in a time-sensitive situation late in the game.

Games under Paul Johnson where GT gained possession of the football inside of 5 minutes remaining while trailing by 8 points or less: (note: Clemson in the 2009 ACC Title Game does not meet the criteria, as GT gained possession at 6:11 remaining)

Year	Opponent	Time left	Deficit	Result	Final score
2008	Virginia Tech	4:37	3	Downs	(L) 17-20
-	-	0:25	3	End Gm	-
2008	Virginia	3:29	7	INT	(L) 17-24
2009	Georgia	3:30	6	Downs	(L) 24-30
2010	Kansas	4:22	3	Downs	(L) 25-28
2010	Wake Forest	2:21	3	TD	(W) 24-20
2010	Virginia Tech	2:23	7	INT	(L) 21-28
2010	Georgia	2:53	1	Downs	(L) 34-42
-	-	1:22	8	INT	-

Conclusion: In the Paul Johnson era, Georgia Tech is 1-6 in games where it possesses the football late with the game within reach. The lone win came against a 3-9 Wake Forest with the 102nd ranked defense whose only ACC win came against Duke.