Can the Georgia Tech Offense (Spread Option Flexbone) Succeed In BCS Play

I was asked a very good question tonight at dinner by a dear friend:
“Tommy, as a GT fan, are you starting to question whether or not GT’s offense can work?”
Again, fair question.

Facts:
1. Against JSU GT had 497 yards of total offense
2. Against Clemson GT had 418 yards of total offense. Clemson held Boston College to 54 yards of total offense in their next game. 54 yards, not a misprint.
3. GT ran only 54 plays against Miami and had 228 yards of total offense. Miami was the 3rd team GT played in 12 days.
4. Navy, with much less talent, played the #6 team in the country down to the wire.
5. Navy beat LaTech 32-14. Auburn beat LaTech 37-14. Auburn has much more talent than Navy.
6. Navy runs an almost identical offense to GT.
7. GT led the ACC in yards per game in 2008.
8. Auburn and Oklahoma won in the late 80s with a similar offense.
9. In 1994, 1995, and 1997 Nebraska won the National Championship with a similar offense.
10. In fact more national championships have been won with this type of offense than any other. The power I might be last. Remember Florida is winning these NCs with the spread option, not the boring-I, I mean power-I. J (kidding)

Facts:
1. UGA was held to 252 yards of total offense last year when they played South Carolina. While having 2 first round picks at QB and RB.
2. UGA scored 10 points against Florida last year.
3. UGA struggled against Auburn last year, offensively.
4. UGA had 257 yards against OkSt this year.

As a UGA fan, do you question the Power I?

Florida, like GT, runs the spread option and even though UF only had 323 yards against TN this weekend I still don’t question that particular offense. But mainly I don’t question Paul Johnson one of the most winning active coaches today. He ran the offense at Hawaii leading the Rainbow Warriors to their first Western Athletic Conference title and their first bowl appearance and victory. He led GA southern 2 national championships. He led Navy to their first bowl since 1996. Coach Johnson dominated the commanders trophy at Navy going 11-1 against the other service academies with equal talent. Last year at GT Coach Johnson was awarded the CBSSports.com National Coach of the Year and ACC Coach of the Year, in a year Sports Illustrated predicted GT would win 3 games. Over Paul Johnson’s last 11 seasons as head coach he has won Coach of the Year, in the division (not conference) 5 times.

My advice?
If you are a team who’s coach had several consecutive victories over Chan Gailey, understand that Paul Johnson is a different coach and will be at GT for a long time. The days of GT losing many games in a row to any team on their schedule are over with Paul Johnson as their head coach. When O’leary beat Donnan 3 years in a row I never viewed it as GT beating UGA 3 years in a row. Coaching is so important. Don’t question a team’s offensive scheme, always question their ability to execute. Just be a good sport, show class, God’s watching and His name is all that matters. Congratulate GT on their supreme coach, just like Mark Richt has proven to be a supreme coach. In the end UGA and GT’s football traditions will burn and so will the universities. Nothing will remain except what you have done in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

My opinion
I will start questioning GT’s offense when teams like OkSt hold them to 257 yards. Just kidding. Seriously though, I believe GT had such a poor offensive showing against Miami because they have a weak defensive line. The weakness at the position allowed Miami to keep GT’s offense off the field.