June Jones v. Paul Johnson

[1983 Cotton Bowl]

I watched a replay of the Ga. Tech/ Va. Tech game from this weekend. Nice win for the Yellow Jackets. I also attended the SMU/Navy game on Saturday. Having watched both offenses, I must say that I'm glad we are a run and shoot team v. an option team. When Paul Johnson was on the radar for us, I thought bringing back the option would be a fantastic throwback to the glory years. But watching the run and shoot is just plain fun. Even though we aren't executing it consistently yet, I see great potential for major offensive fireworks once we are. The option would be cool, but from a fan perspective I think I'm glad we're going in a different direction. I think June is the right man at the right time for SMU. Beat Houston!

[Harry0569]

Being from Atlanta, I have always casually rooted for GT. I think the personnel we currently have in place really favors running the Run n' Shoot. We'd essentially be wasting the talents of Aldrick and Emmanuel.

From GT's perspective, they are running on all cylinders, and Josh Nesbitt, their QB, cannot be stopped right now. I really could foresee GT running the table and going to the Sugar/Orange Bowl as the ACC representative in the BCS.

[StallionsModelT]

The Run and Shoot is a much easier offense to recruit here in Texas. Nearly every high school team around here runs some variation of the shotgun spread as their base offense. This makes for an easier transition to the college game. Kids want to play in systems that will put up big numbers and give them a chance to score bunches of points.

[smuuth]

I think people get carried away with the type of offense a team runs and winning football games. Both coaches are good and have a plan. No matter what offense you run, if you recruit a good staff and good players and instill discipline on and off the field then you have a chance. I think the quickest way to turn around a losing program is by a sound kicking game and solid defense and an offense with low turnovers. Look how successful Navy and Air Force have been without any highly recruited players but with guys that give it their all every play even though undersized and a step slow! That mantra beats skilled but undisciplined every time.

[Stallion]

Navy and Air Force do not recruit under NCAA recruiting limitations. They run 300 players through Football program and Prep schools. You can disagree about the quality of their players but they offer very little realistic comparison to turning around a regular NCAA team under scholarship limitations.

[RGV Pony]

Navy and Air Force do not recruit under NCAA recruiting limitations. They run 300 players through Football program and Prep schools. You can disagree about the quality of their players but they offer very little realistic comparison to turning around a regular NCAA team under scholarship limitations.

who was it that we got from a Navy prep school? Was it Fleps? Or was it Ryan Leonard? I don't remember...

anyway, while trying to find the answer, I found Ryan Leonard, starting DT at Eastern Michigan. Talk about a long journey from HS. Became a first team all american at juco after leaving here?

http://www.emueagles.com/roster.aspx?rp ... h=football

[CalallenStang]

Navy and Air Force do not recruit under NCAA recruiting limitations. They run 300 players through Football program and Prep schools. You can disagree about the quality of their players but they offer very little realistic comparison to turning around a regular NCAA team under scholarship limitations.

who was it that we got from a Navy prep school? Was it Fleps? Or was it Ryan Leonard? I don't remember...

anyway, while trying to find the answer, I found Ryan Leonard, starting DT at Eastern Michigan. Talk about a long journey from HS. Became a first team all american at juco after leaving here?

http://www.emueagles.com/roster.aspx?rp ... h=football

It was Ryan Leonard

[StingStang]

June Jones is great for SMU. SMU needs fans, excitement. Need to draw in new fans. And passing offenses are in vogue. SMU will be going places it hasn't gone in 20 years, namely bowl games. I'm excited to watch it unfold. Think SMU is right on schedule at 3-3.

But make no mistake. You'd win more football games with Paul Johnson over time. The no-nonsense approach, winning attitude, etc, have infected the Yellow Jackets team and fanbase. It sure didn't hurt to have a tank like Nesbitt on the roster to play QB. And Georgia is loaded with high schools running wishbone, single wing, flexbone, and the like. Recruiting looks great so far.

Also think the importance of offensive style is a bit overblown. No matter what you run, if you execute properly and have requisite talent, you're going to win. When GT has lost....it hasn't lost to scheme. They either put the ball on the ground too many times (last year), or get out-athleted (LSU, Miami). Experience is helping the former, and hopefully when Paul gets "his guys" in on the OL, GT will negate the latter. GT is WAY ahead of schedule in year 2 of the CPJ era.

[couch 'em]

But make no mistake. You'd win more football games with Paul Johnson over time. The no-nonsense approach, winning attitude, etc, have infected the Yellow Jackets team and fanbase. It sure didn't hurt to have a tank like Nesbitt on the roster to play QB. And Georgia is loaded with high schools running wishbone, single wing, flexbone, and the like. Recruiting looks great so far.

.......You state that we'd win more games under Johnson over time, but you then list a bunch of advantages unique to GT as justification for your statement.

[StingStang]

But make no mistake. You'd win more football games with Paul Johnson over time. The no-nonsense approach, winning attitude, etc, have infected the Yellow Jackets team and fanbase. It sure didn't hurt to have a tank like Nesbitt on the roster to play QB. And Georgia is loaded with high schools running wishbone, single wing, flexbone, and the like. Recruiting looks great so far.

.......You state that we'd win more games under Johnson over time, but you then list a bunch of advantages unique to GT as justification for your statement.

Yeah I didn't support that very well. I think that PJ needs less talent to succeed than does June Jones. That's really the story. Especially at one position - QB.

I mean, how hard is it to find athletic, tough high-school quarterbacks who are short and don't have great arms? Not hard at all, but PJ can win with those guys. Those same guys usually end up playing RB or S at a big school. They just usually happen to be the best athlete at their HS, so they end up playing QB. GT will be the only school offering those guys a shot at QB, so they will get their pick. Recruit a TON of them, and whoever doesn't work out - you guessed it - moves to DB or RB. Making more from less. No "dead weight" scholarships.

June has a tougher task....he needs a great throwing, decision making QB. Not many of those, and everyone wants one. Now, everybody in the country is running a shotgun, spread offense. You have a TON of competition, just like always, to find a special QB.

[SMU 86]

GT already had a good bit of talent on the team already. Also, like previously stated Georgia high schools mostly run the wishbone, flexbone or veer type offenses. He would have had a hard time recruiting Texas.

[EastStang]

Navy does have some restrictions on the size of their linemen. They can get some waivers but a 350 lb. tackle, ain't gonna be allowed, because he can't fit through the bulkhead of a destroyer. The option is a good offense for them, because they can straight ahead block as opposed to pass block in which size and strength matter. They do have the prep school system, but I think it all evens out given size limitations and of course the fact that their players when they graduate go directly to the military and right now that means directly to war.

[rich59]

The very fact that few colleges are trying to recruit the kind of athletes that Johnson needs to run his offense is a big advantage for him. He would do well at SMU, better than JJ will do, IMO. JJ will make us better than we have been but we will never get to the level of TCU with him as head coach. The kind of offense that one runs has little to do with how well you draw. The only thing that puts fans in the seats is winning. As Ron Meyer used to say,"winning cures cancer"

[1983 Cotton Bowl]

Well. . .I'm not suggesting that one offensive scheme is better than the other. Nor am I suggesting that an offensive scheme is a substitute for proper execution. All I'm saying is that the run and shoot sure is fun to watch. I'm glad JJ is here.

[SMU 86]

The very fact that few colleges are trying to recruit the kind of athletes that Johnson needs to run his offense is a big advantage for him. He would do well at SMU, better than JJ will do, IMO. JJ will make us better than we have been but we will never get to the level of TCU with him as head coach. The kind of offense that one runs has little to do with how well you draw. The only thing that puts fans in the seats is winning. As Ron Meyer used to say,"winning cures cancer"

The fact that there are very few high schools that run that offense would make it hard to recruit, especially in Texas where the spread is mostly run. I guess he could go to Georgia and do most of his recruiting but that would not have went well with the locals. PJ is in the best place for his style of play and JJ is on the best place for his style of play.