New offense alters recruiting philosophy at Tech

There are naysayers out there that say the triple-option offense can't win big in the Atlantic Coast Conference. It is likely that many of these same people said the spread attack wouldn't win in the SEC. The fact of the matter is scheme is important but players and putting these players in position to make plays are even more important.

Whether you are running the option or going five wide, you just can't plug in players and expect to run your play book with great success. You must recruit scheme specific prospects and insert them in your system to ultimately succeed.

Nowhere is this more true than at Georgia Tech for new Yellow Jacket Head Coach Paul Johnson. The former Georgia Southern and Navy head man has won - and won big - running his flexbone option and he brings that offense to Atlanta. Johnson and his new staff inherited some key players offensively, specifically quarterback Josh Nesbitt and running back Jonathan Dwyer.

So how will Georgia Tech fulfill its recruiting needs, and more specifically, how do you recruit for the triple option offense?

"We want athletic quarterbacks," said Giff Smith, Georgia Tech's defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator. "They will all get a chance but only the best ones will play quarterback. The others we will move to wide receiver, running back, defensive back or where ever they can help us out. Each year, we want to sign two to five quarterbacks."

As with any other offensive system, the quarterback running the triple option is the team's most vital position. In this scheme, the quarterback must properly read the defense and that read will dictate where the run is going and who is running the ball. The quarterback is under center with one back behind him and two others flanking the fullback on each side.

It looks as if a Chan Gailey recruit will be running the show. That signal caller is Nesbitt, who looks like a very good fit for this offense, although he's still learning. Nesbitt must also get used to playing under center, which he didn't do much of in high school or in his one year in Gailey's offense last season.

"Josh just needs his reps and to see all those (defensive) looks," Smith said. "We will be lucky to find a Josh Nesbitt for this offense every year."

Georgia Tech appears in good shape with running backs like Dwyer and Roddy Jones. They are young and should have a chance to put up big numbers in this system, just like Chicago Bears running back Adrian Peterson did for Johnson at Georgia Southern and New England Patriots fullback Kyle Eckel at Navy. In this offense, the go-to guy is the 'B' back. That's the position Dwyer will man and this is the position that Peterson ran wild from for the Eagles in 1-AA. Georgia Tech also wants to recruit some smaller backs that are hybrids, can run speed sweeps and be involved in the option and passing game.

The next key position to recruit for this system is the offensive line. Here, Georgia Tech will be looking for athletic and quick linemen. The big difference in recruiting offensive linemen for this system compared to the previous one under Gailey is quickness off the ball. In Johnson's triple-option scheme the Yellow Jackets will sacrifice some size and girth for speed. This is a must because they ask so much of their linemen, from pulling to putting a hat on linebackers at the second level.

"We will ask them to do so much but quickness is certainly the thing we are looking for," Smith explained. "I mean everyone wants the big, athletic and quick linemen. But for this offense, the main thing is quickness."

As things stand right now there is one position that will be tough to recruit for the Jackets and that's wide receiver. But in time that could change, according to Smith.

"I think we are struggling with receivers right now because they really don't understand this offense," he said. "Once they see what this offense can do and can do in the passing game this season and next, it will become much easier for us to go get those guys. They will be recruiting us when they see how much single coverage they will face."

The Georgia Tech offense isn't the only unit that changed, as the defense did as well. The defense should be easier to recruit for the Yellow Jackets because they won't be running the John Tenuta (former GT defensive coordinator) zone-blitz. Rather, they will run a pressure package with multiple coverages. This defense will make things easier on the defensive linemen and it will also give everyone a chance to be productive. That plays into the strength of Tech's defense this season.

"I think that's where we are the strongest, on the defensive line," Smith said. "We are young in the back seven, in the secondary and at linebacker, but these guys are talented. I really feel like we can have an outstanding defense."

So where will the Georgia Tech staff go to recruit prospects? They are in a state blessed with quality and quantity in terms of recruiting. But the University of Georgia dominates the Peach State while other teams in the SEC, ACC and from just about every conference in the country come to cherry pick the great talent in Georgia.

With Georgia Tech, academics will always play a larger role than most schools just because the standards are tougher. Therefore, the pool of athletes to recruit from will be smaller than most programs they compete against.

"Academics are not an excuse for us not succeeding in recruiting but they will certainly dictate to us in recruiting the state of Georgia," explained Smith.

But there is certainly enough talent in Georgia, as these kids can be a nice foundation for their recruiting classes. Regardless of where you are, you must recruit your backyard and state well to succeed. That will always be a part of the Paul Johnson master recruiting plan.

Something else to remember, Johnson won two national championships while the head coach at Georgia Southern. He is known and respected in that state. While at Navy he had to recruit on a national scale, so he has ties in many regions throughout the country. Both of these factors will help out the Yellow Jackets.

"Our strategy will always be to recruit the state (Georgia) first," Smith said. "We will have nine guys on the road in Georgia. This is something new because we always didn't have that here. We will go after kids nationally. We have a coach that has won a national championship and he came to Georgia Tech to win a national championship. Georgia Tech is in Atlanta and we play in the ACC. We also have a good budget. Our plan is simple, we want to recruit Georgia, then the south and build out from there."

Currently, the Jackets are sitting on five commitments, all from the state of Georgia and all on the defensive side of the ball. Defensive end Emanuel Dieke (College Park, Ga.), defensive tackles John Drew (Columbus, Ga.) and J.C. Lanier (Twin City, Ga.) and linebackers Brandon Watts (Sandersville, Ga.) and Chaun Gresham (Winder, Ga.) are all headed to Georgia Tech. Is this a sign that Georgia Tech may struggle recruiting the offensive recruit or just coincidence?

Look for Tech to sign around 22 players with this class. Some key offensive recruits they are hot and heavy after are quarterbacks Jordan Luallen (Greenwood, Ind.), Dontae Aycock (Tampa, Fla.), and Marsalis Teague (Paris, Tenn.), running back Orwin Smith (Phenix City, Ala.), tight end/offensive tackle Daniel Hood (Knoxville, Tenn.), and offensive linemen Antonio Foster (Valdosta, Ga.) and Will Jackson (Knoxville, Tenn.).

"Offensively, overall, we inherited some good working parts," Smith said. "Some of these guys fit in well and are very athletic. I think once everyone sees our offense this fall, everything will fall into place."

And why not? While at Navy, Johnson's offensive attack was more than just good. They led the NCAA in 2007 in rushing yards per game (348.8) and ranked 10th in scoring offense (39.3). On the other side of things the Navy passing attack was 119th. But their third-down conversion percentage was a hefty 51 percent, which was fourth in the NCAA. That tells you that with a limited passing attack, they were able to execute on third down and move the chains. This offense under Johnson at Navy went over the 500-yard mark 14 times. Another interesting stat from last season is that the Midshipmen only punted 24 times last year.

Over his last four seasons at Navy, Johnson played seven games against ACC competition, Duke each season, Wake Forest, Maryland, and Boston College. They beat Duke all four times and lost three close ones to the Terrapins, Deacons and Eagles. In those seven games Navy averaged 29.6 points, 327 yards per game on the ground and 427 total yards.

Sure, the numbers above are skewed a bit by the games against Duke, but the Midshipmen ran their offense very effectively against B.C., Maryland and Wake Forest.

What will Johnson do with the better athletes he can recruit and coach at Georgia Tech? It will certainly be fun to watch this team, not only this season, but in the years to come simply to see if this offense can work in the ACC. But first things first, the Yellow Jackets must go out and get more players.

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