Stephen Hill announces his early departure from Georgia Tech to the NFL, only to hear his head coach question his judgment.
“I was surprised, but in this day and age, that’s what a lot of those guys do,” Johnson said in a recent interview. “I wouldn’t say it caught me totally off-guard. I was surprised, but nothing really surprises me anymore.”
Fast forward a few weeks. Now Hill is projected as a first day draft selection and that of course means total vindication for the theory that the triple option offense is a proven way of developing pro talent at wide receiver.
“A lot of people want to be negative and say it hurts them and they don’t get developed. But the feedback that I’ve gotten is that they [are ready for the NFL]. The offense kind of turns them into a complete player, and they can see all of that on tape.”
So Johnson doesn’t watch much tape. Tech fans can rest easy knowing that somebody among this bunch is ready to become the next first round draft pick and that high school receivers all over the country will be taking a closer look at the Jackets from now on.
Get The Picture 
not another non-sr wr even on the list,
hypothetically, couldn’t a savvy recruiter (assuming there is one at gt) argue that a spot is available for a talented wr to sign on, fill the void and make his nfl aspirations a reality?
ofcourse the one-wr-at-a-time reality (over a multiple years) is a challenge
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in addition to the significant other challenges as well
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I rarely post but read everyday…what’s up with this? 5 in one day?
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Carry-over excitement from G-Day game? Just tossin’ it out there…either way, don’t sweat it, enjoy the ride…
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Always a good sign when no returning player with a single catch last year is listed as WR.
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Although I will admitt to a bit of unease at how Johnson finds these WR’s that sign on for him and yet turn out to be combine warriors. Name the last UGA WR not named AJ Green to wow at a combine or in the NFL (Hines Ward doesn’t count; he was just a freak).
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I seem to recall Reggie Brown fitting the mold of “freakish athlete”.
Weren’t there stories about his bench press numbers being outstanding, amazing flexibility (he could do a split) and was the highest leaper?
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…..and, on a good day, Reggie could count to four.
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Maybe using the tainted term of combine warior was a mistake. I merely meant that for a program that sucks so bad, they sure land some great WR talent. Calvin Johnson, Stephen Hill, Bebe. It boggles the mind. Yes, Reggie was a freak. I concede the point. I just can’t help wondering what any of those three I mentioned prior might do with Mr Murray slinging the rock.
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Thomas was a Gailey signee.
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True, but Hill was a johnson signee. Maybe they just bave better weed than us?
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But look at all those YPC!!!
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Nearly twice as much as their opponents! Bells, whistles, outliers.
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Devil’s Advocate says: 2 former GTech WRs just had the 2 biggest games yardage-wise in NFL playoff history.
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NFL coaches do appreciate receivers who are willing to block downfield. They’re rare.
That said, that ability isn’t anywhere near the top of the checklist as scouts go looking for wideouts. I’m sure this kid will do well, but it’s hardly an indicator that Georgia Tech is the place for you if you want to go play in the league.
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Upon reflection, it seems that the bad rap of being a WR in an option-based offense isn’t the hindrance we once perceived. However, the perception is there and that is enough to dissuade someone from going to tech. I’m ok with that. I also think the system gives too much hype to rb’s. I am not convinced there is a translation from college option-based rb to successful pro rb. Even though they may have some huge rushing numbers.
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If Hill were such a great WR, shouldn’t he have caught more balls?
With BeBe, except for one fateful drop, he caught everything in his area code. Hill can not say that.
And Calvin succeeded in college with Ball throwing the ball his way, I mean hell right there states how good a WR he was.
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I seem to remember Hill was as well known for drops as catches before this last year.
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I take nothing away from Hill but he’s being drafted for what he can be taught to do moreso than what he’s already done. You can’t coach size, right?
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If I remember correctly…
PThey offered Hill well before we did and he committed to them early. We offered him near signing day and he nearly switched, but he decided that he should honor his commitment.
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I’d be willing to concede that Tech is capable of signing a good receiver while using Jowls’ scheme, but I think the problem in that area is that they will be hard pressed to sign more than one. They just don’t throw it enough to spread it around to more than one receiver, so they won’t be signing them in bunches.
As for how the triple option RBs translate to the NFL, the pros want to see a RB that can catch passes out of the backfield, not to mention pass block every now and then. Tech’s RBs just don’t get the chance to do that.
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