What's baffled me about tech is that there has never been a real emphasis placed on recruiting.

Georgia has Athens, but hell, tech has fricking Atlanta! I understand not being able to recruit top-flight QB's and running backs due to the style of offense not being conducive to getting to the NFL, but why can't tech get some elite defensive talent? They've sent some defensive players to the NFL under Johnson, but they aren't getting, or even attempting to get elite talent in on the front end.

They struggled recruiting anyway, but Johnson just seems to totally snub his nose at it and think himself above it. They routinely finish outside the top 50 in recruiting. 50! Kentucky and Wazu regularly finish ahead of them. How the hell is that possible when you're a power 5 school based in ATL?

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Posted by PJinAtl

Atlanta

Member since Nov 2007

12760 posts

Posted on 2/9/18 at 12:54 pm to BranchDawg

quote:
why can't tech get some elite defensive talent? They've sent some defensive players to the NFL under Johnson, but they aren't getting, or even attempting to get elite talent in on the front end.

I wonder if the Bach of Science vs. Bach of Arts issue that was mentioned above has something to do with that? Guys have to work harder to keep their grades up in a degree program for a BS vs. a BA, and so the top level talent are more attracted to programs with BA tracks so they can focus less on the classwork.

I also wonder, does the GT alumni base hurt in recruiting? How many Tech alums stay in the area vs. going off to California or outside of the US after getting their degree? As a school with a smaller general population and turning out fewer graduates a year than a lot of the other schools within a few hours of them, does this graduate "flight" hurt in the long run?

Tech doesn't have the Bobby Lowder/Jimmy Rane/Bear Bryant Jr/drawing a blank for UGA type guy who can pump money into the program and fund the facilities that a lot of other schools are putting up. Add in that with the smaller alumni base in Atlanta, you have to appeal to the general public to be fans and put butts in the seats, but because the team has struggles, the sidewalk fans turn more to the bigger programs, so you have fewer butts in the seats and aren't as impressive to a recruit on a visit.

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Posted by WG_Dawg

Hoover

Member since Jun 2004

86553 posts

Posted on 2/10/18 at 12:44 pm to BranchDawg

quote:
but why can't tech get some elite defensive talent?

PJ's system not only severely hamstrings who they can get on offense, but IMO it extends to elite defensive talent as well. Why would a defense want to go to a school that A) the offense is super quick so you're on the field most of the game B) you go against a gimmick offense in practice every day C) you likely won't compete for much nationally? It's a perfect storm.

Tech is in the unenviable position of being in a very tough spot regarding PJ because there will undoubtedly be at least 2 years of massive rebuilding when he his gone based on his system. The next coach is going to have to essentially start from scratch, so I'm guessing the PTB at tech are just delyaing the inevitable bandaid pull-off and accepting 7-9 wins now rather than making a move and winning 3-5 games for a few years in exchange for a higher ceiling.

I (and I imagine most opponents) would be MUCH more worried about tech if they didn't have PJ. Granted his system is archaic and something you simply must devote a lot of prep for, otherwise it'll kill you, but again it's so specific that it's rarely going to draw much high level talent. When they go back to a pro-style system (or any other system) with a different coach, they will absolutely begin to see better recruiting and attract more talented guys and will eventually be a lot tougher of an out.

Those late 90s tech teams weren't title caliber by any means but they were darn good.

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