Georgia Tech looking for pass rush
The next move belongs to Al Groh.
Two Saturdays ago, the Georgia Tech defense harassed Virginia quarterbacks Michael Rocco and Phillip Sims, accumulating 16 pressures, by the Tech defensive coordinator’s count and two sacks. Saturday, Groh and his defense were plundered.
The Yellow Jackets gave up 609 yards in the 42-36 overtime loss. It was the most yards that Tech had given up since 1997 and the most that a Groh-coached team had surrendered in his nine years as Virginia’s head coach followed by two-plus seasons at Tech.
Wednesday, Groh didn’t address the game at length, saying that he was done talking about Miami. It was the first opportunity for news media to speak with Groh, as he is not made available following games and defensive coaches and players speak on Wednesdays.
“I haven’t thought about that in a few days, so I’m ready to move on,” he said.
What Groh did address was that Tech’s pass rush was negated by Miami’s protection scheme, in which the Hurricanes often used as many as seven players on passes to block for quarterback Stephen Morris.
“Unless you rush eight, they’ve got more than you’ve got,” he said. “The numbers game comes into effect that way. Usually where those seven-man protections get beat is if you have some awesome individual pass rushers who can win the one-on-ones.”
Without such pass rushers on the roster, perhaps with the exception of outside linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu, Tech can expect to see plenty more of such strategies in games to come, starting with Tech’s game Saturday against Middle Tennessee State. Future opponents may not be able to duplicate the success of the Hurricanes, who have a young but talented lineup. However, many games may not require 42 points or 609 yards of total offense, either.
“We’ve got some interesting stuff to deal with on the third-down package, and it’s shaken some guys free (in pass rush), so that causes other teams to say, ‘We’re not going to deal with this stuff,’” said Groh in explaining opponents’ opting for a “maximum protection” scheme.
Groh may have to continue to dig for more interesting stuff. Tech has six sacks in four games with a rate of one sack per 26.3 pass attempts. Even before failing to register a sack despite Miami’s 52 pass attempts, the rate was 17.7 passes per sack. Duke, which ranks third in the ACC in sacks, has managed one sack per 11 pass attempts.
Should the lack of pressure continue, Clemson wide receiver Sammy Watkins would appear to be a strong candidate to run wild through the Tech secondary Oct. 6. Attaochu, who led the team last year with six sacks, has one-half of a sack thus far. Through the first three games, Attaochu did have the most quarterback pressures of anyone on the team “by far,” Groh said.
Both Groh and coach Paul Johnson have acknowledged the obvious fact that it was a poor game all-around for the defense. The percentage of times that defensive players executed their assignment “went way down,” Groh said.
Groh was asked if, at the end of the season, the Miami game would be looked at as an outlier.
Replied Groh, “I think that, when you evaluate things on a whole body of work, I think what you might look back on at the end of the season is that Miami’s got a pretty good team.”
Time will tell to what degree Saturday’s game was an aberration or the trigger of a landslide. Could the game have merely been the confluence of a hot quarterback, poor pass rush, an injury-depleted defense and poor tackling – a forgettable game that bears no similarity to the defense that Tech ultimately becomes?
It would have to be a pretty big confluence.
In case you missed it…
Trials challenging Louis Young
Lee, Snoddy angling for playing time
Tech rebounding after Miami loss
The meaning of Tech giving up 609 yards
After Miami loss, Tech tries to regroup
Mark Bradley: Johnson’s approach hurting Tech
Thanks for reading.
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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218 comments Add your comment
FL Jacket
September 27th, 2012
12:31 am
Very funny…I always wish I could find the Carson episode where he ripped into Clinton for his 1988 convention speech.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 27th, 2012
12:31 am
Have you Googled it?
FL Jacket
September 27th, 2012
12:33 am
You know…I’ve only tried YTing it
Supersize that order, mutt
September 27th, 2012
12:36 am
I am trying to find it in Google now. I found a reference to it so far, but not the actual video yet
Ice eater 1969
September 27th, 2012
12:40 am
I wonder if cag recognizes how stupid the line backers look when they are standing around with no one to cover and four line men are rushing against max protect. I wonder why the do is gassed. Also the nose tackle is in a contain technique till he reads pass. The defense needs to take risks and be the aggressor.
1 4 GT
September 27th, 2012
12:44 am
SS….I didn’t get the email with Johnny Carson….I loved staying up & laughing at that man.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 27th, 2012
12:45 am
@ 1 4 GT……I thought I sent it to you. I will now if I still have it, which I probably do
Supersize that order, mutt
September 27th, 2012
12:47 am
OK, 1 4…..I just sent it to you
1 4 GT
September 27th, 2012
12:49 am
Ice….you are so right about the defense needing to be aggressive. Go back to page 1 & read my post @ 11:49 PM.
1 4 GT
September 27th, 2012
12:50 am
SS….I just a few minutes ago sent you a reply to the Stern email you sent me.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 27th, 2012
12:51 am
@ 1 4……yeah, I got it and responded
1 4 GT
September 27th, 2012
12:55 am
SS….I will have a good laugh with my morning coffee thru your email. I bought a 4 disc Johnny Carson DVD set @ WalMart that had a bunch of good belly laughs in it. The first segment was Johnny, Ed, Dean Martin, Bob Hope & George Goble, I believe. It was hilarious. Johnny would get so amused he would totally crack up. There is also a segment with “Carnack”–the real one.
1 4 GT
September 27th, 2012
12:57 am
Well, it’s almost 1:00 AM. I’m outta here. See y’all!! GOOOOO JACKETS THWGeorgie
Supersize that order, mutt
September 27th, 2012
12:58 am
Have a good night, 1 4. I think I am outta here too
GT Fan
September 27th, 2012
2:23 am
1 4 GT … quit plagerizing my post regarding TJ & Izaan’s sack stats. Plus, I’m the guy who compared their dismal, COMBINED, 4.0 sacks to Derrick Morgan’s 19 sacks in only 3 seasons.
I’m gonna start requiring you include footnotes to indicate where you’re getting your info.
And don’t forget Derrick Morgan’s game-ending sack vs. Clemson in the ACC Champ game.
GT Fan
September 27th, 2012
2:27 am
AG’s gotta find some DLmen that, just like I’ve said here recently, can’t be blocked one-on-one (ala Derrick Morgan).
TJ Barnes is the most “invisible” 6′7″ 340lb DLman I’ve ever seen. And Izaan Cross, a 79 pt 3 Star (one more rating pt, and he’s a 4-star), has been a major bust, IMO.
gtfan1951
September 27th, 2012
5:22 am
Fire AG
IM Major
September 27th, 2012
5:54 am
Recruiting recruiting recruiting. We don’t have the players. CPJ has failed at recruiting, but not all his fault. Somehow the Alumni, the BOR, the Hill need to find a way for Tech to recruit. It is better for GT to get in State talent than UGA’s Conference opponents getting Georgia’s in State blue chippers.
Willie Coyote
September 27th, 2012
7:27 am
Rush more than 3 at a time and substitute your D-linemen in once in a while and you might just get a damn pass rush.
Willie Coyote
September 27th, 2012
7:31 am
Also, have your D-Linemen fire off the ball. I want you all to watch how our guys line up and contrast that with a real defense.
Our guys line up far off the ball; top defenses crowd the offensive line and cut down on their blocking angles.
Our guys seem to have their weight back on their heels whereas the Alabamas, UGAs, etc of the world are leaned forward and ready to attack; our guys seem to be COACHED to stand up and read then react.
Good defenses also may blitz on other downs besides 3rd and long.
ramblingbuzz
September 27th, 2012
7:38 am
Look, I am not a football coach, and I am probably missing something here. But I never saw more than a 5 man pass rush from GT in the UM game. So if CAG is only blitzing one man, how does he expect to ever get to the QB? And if he observed this during the game and didn’t adjust, it’s his fault. Plus the d backs looked to be continuously out of position on most plays. Now, some may say we don’t have the O linemen or LBs to generate a pass rush, but after 3 years years of this, it looks more like Groh’s scheme to me. And Duke is 3rd in the leagues in sacks? Are you telling me Duke is recruiting better D players than Tech? Maybe we should just hire Duke’s defensive coordinator.
Wal-Mart Retards
September 27th, 2012
7:39 am
Poor MTSU – they are going to get creamed on Saturday.
yellow britches
September 27th, 2012
7:48 am
This is Al Groh’s last season at Tech. Paul Johnson may hang on another year because Tech people are patient and long suffering and many have given up. Anytime you start hearing complaints about the tough academics as an excuse for a programs failure you know the end is nigh.
Animal Control
September 27th, 2012
7:54 am
Why is it that Groh still acts surprised about what Miami’s offense did against his defense? Isnt that what watching the game videos will prepare you for? I dont even want to try and think about why we lost to a team of thugs whos coach was previously the defensive coordinator under AG at Virginia…might make me mad…
Wal-Mart Retards
September 27th, 2012
7:55 am
…and, in other news, the sky is falling.
Hold On!!!
September 27th, 2012
8:02 am
Yalls offense can be successful with 2* and 3* players bc its about executing. Will yall be a top 10 team every year, no, but yall can be a 15-25 team. Yalls D CAN NOT be successful with 2* and 3* players. Defense needs to be loaded with talent to be good and yall dont have it. Yes, yall have a few good players, but as a whole not so much. If CPJ does not start recruiting better on the defensive side of the ball, yall will have a lot more loses like the Miami one.
Jacket Detective
September 27th, 2012
8:10 am
Neither CPJ nor CAG recognize what their fans can do.
Our stadium is small but we’re a pretty rabid and loud group at times.
Last year before the half of the Uga game, they attempted a FG.
I and the rest of the Tech fans yelled.
Their kicker had been in a year long slump.
He missed.
But CPJ called a timeout to ice a guy the fans had already iced.
Before the half.
Most coaches wait until the end of the game.
CPJ wound up fixing Uga’s kicker’s confidence problem.
He made the 2nd attempt.
I didn’t yell.
Why bother when our coach knows it all?
Playing Miami, CAG needed to blitz early and often.
Instead somehow Bobby Dodd stadium became the Canes’ QB home away from home.
Our crowd quietly by a failure to bring enough players on blitzes.
Don’t let the opponent’s QB get comfortable.
Heck the Grits Blitz had few if any Pro Bowlers.
They got it done by blitzing everyone including the waterboy if necessary.
They got pro QBs to choke and do the wrong thing through intimadation.
Neither coach knows how to use our crowd.
Delbert D.
September 27th, 2012
8:17 am
The knowledge of defenses among posters here is at the sandlot level. Derrick Morgan, Daryl Richard, Michael Johnson, et al played in a 4-3. The DL responsibilities in a 3-4 are really different from a 4-3. You want to fault the pass rush, fault the OLB and occasional blitzing CBs and safeties.
Beat UGA
September 27th, 2012
8:24 am
I have faith in Coach Groh and the defense, they will stop opponents on 3rd down, pressure the quarterback, and stuff the run!
Jacket Detective
September 27th, 2012
8:29 am
I never liked the Groh hire because I do not like coaches ripping off colleges, holding them to contracts they tear up when someone offers more money.
The current set up is nuts.
Groh went to Virginia.
Why not just settle with them for one mil?
How much money do these hasbeens need after being paid millions to start with?
You don’t like Hewitt?
He has a better argument than Groh for getting the money.
Heck he is about the only hot coach to stay with us when he could have gotten more elsewhere.
Why do we like Ross so much?
He used us and did not have to win a tough BCS bowl game to get the NC.
Hewitt could win one too with an opponent like the average Nebraska team Ross faced instead of UCONN.
Hewiit should have dumped us too.
He could have gotten more money.
The college he went to probably could have afforded the top assistants bloggers say we can’t.
Lots of basketball and football head coaches are figure heads, good with the alums.
Their assistants do the hard work.
Jacket Detective
September 27th, 2012
8:31 am
@Beat UGA.
You go to the games?
Jacket Detective
September 27th, 2012
8:33 am
@Delbert D.
Agreed.
Why hire someone who has a ready made excuse for a crummy defense?
Groh needs 3 years to install his syetem?
Gives CPJ time too.
Well time is up folks.
BIrmingham Jacket
September 27th, 2012
8:35 am
“Georgia Tech looking for pass rush.”
Start looking harder for better players.
Start getting it done on paper in February, and we’ll get it done on the field Sept-January.
But it won’t be with our current coaches. They’re clueless when it comes to buying the groceries.
Jacket Detective
September 27th, 2012
8:37 am
I stole the Al(zheimer) Groh slight I used yesterday.
It was first in the Tech Vent when the AJC had one.
The vent was after Russell Wilson picked us apart like Miami did: “Al(zheimer) Groh. All our problems are solved.”
Obvious sarcasm.
Jacket Detective
September 27th, 2012
8:40 am
Groh’s hiring makes firing Wommack look like a mistake.
We held Iowa to 27 with our offense not doing much in the BCS bowl.
A made late FG instead if the miss could have made the game a lot more interesting.
Took the pressure off them.
Always a Jacket
September 27th, 2012
8:40 am
5th year of CPJ era;
No QB.
No passing / pass blocking offense once the defense breaks down.
Defense still ranked in bottom half of FBS schools.
Special Teams breakdowns. Safety on Kick off. Partial credit for originality.
Recuriting rankings remain below the better ACC football schools.
I believe one All ACC preseason player.
No bowl wins.
Very poor record vs UGA, VT, Miami.
Winning record vs Clemson for now.
Jacket Detective
September 27th, 2012
8:48 am
BTW I agree with Delbert because if Barnes occupies two blockers, then he has done his job. The tackles and sacks in Groh’s 3-4 usually go to the linebackers.
Jacket Detective
September 27th, 2012
8:51 am
@Always a Jacket.
I agree with all your comments except knocking Tevin.
I’m his dad.
Kidding.
No I just defend our players.
The blame goes to the folks making the big money.
And the AD who chooses the head coaches.
UGA = Yawn
September 27th, 2012
8:58 am
I crack up at these articles. ‘Tech looking for pass rush’!? 4 games into the season!!?? How funny. They didn’t need it the first 4 games and now, all of a sudden, have decided they do? Who coaches this flippin team!!??
greta
September 27th, 2012
8:59 am
Questions for Paul Johnson-
As I pointed out three years ago, how can a team focused on a running game develop an adequate passing defense?
Do you really believe your lines, out manned in size by a large percentage, will whip the opposition for 60 minutes, or longer as, you play a good bit of overtime? What magic sauce defies the laws of physics?
If it takes over three years to learn and install the D, a player for four years will know the D for one year and leave – does this make since? We will be week on defense about 3/4 the time. Nice.
Can Al Groh relate to and communicate with the players?
Can you recruit for Div I?
Why would you abandon your own philosophy at a crucial point, and put the weakest payers on the field?
Do you need psychiatric help? – “felt like hanging myself” , “maybe it just wasn’t our day”, is this what the pep talk is like at half time? Are you clinically depressed? Over your head?
Not very Head Coach like. Not an adequate representative for Georgia Tech. Remember the Walmart remarks last year. The CEO of Walmart is a GT grad. Nice. Only to go on and loose.
How many years will the next coaching regime be delayed from starting the turnaround?
Will need four years recruit adequately large players, after pj is gone.
Time to answer some hard questions. Lets have some straight talk – remember how you like it?
Steve
September 27th, 2012
8:59 am
Quote from “Supersize that order mutt” yesterday:
“@ ole yeller…..you should know by now that the mutts have selective memories and never deal with facts.”
This is after he said that Spurrier ALWAYS beats Richt/UGA. Ha ha ha. Love it. Way to go by the facts moron. Enjoy your day playing on the computer all day!
UGA = Yawn
September 27th, 2012
9:00 am
I agree that it isn’t cool to knock players. They are student athletes! The only 2 I have ever commented on are the goofball that punched the VT QB last year in Atlanta and totally turned the momentum from GT to VT (and we lost) and the one last week that took a safety in the end zone that created a 9 point swing that lost the game for us. GT students are supposed to be bright! Those 2 are not. It is no doubt, they are at GT because of something other than brains!
DOC 51
September 27th, 2012
9:01 am
Because of our defense GT has no shot at CLEMSON or UGA.Who cares about winning the other creampuff games.Phone lines in the GT ticket office will be mostly silent.52 pass attempts against UM and we can’t get close to the QB.Why are GT players and coaches wasting the practice time?S.DAYS was recruited to stand on the sideline wearing his baseball cap.
Dadgum...
September 27th, 2012
9:07 am
After the Clemson game, GT will be favored in every game except UGA. Should we be fortunate enough to beat Clemson again on the road then we should be headed to a solid bowl game. The schedule is easy right now. VT has without a doubt the toughest schedule in the division and are facing the meat of it now. Miami looks to be the Coastal winner IMO.
Delbert D.
September 27th, 2012
9:07 am
People seem to want to get rid of Groh; well, he’s going to retire soon. Who to replace him with? On the surface of it, the best candidate would be a coach who knows this defense, someone from the Parcells-Belichick-Groh 2-gap 3-4 lineage.
Cross and Barnes are gone after this season. Those 2 guys are the prototype size for the 3-4; the rest of the depth chart are smaller, especially Shawn Green at NT. Gotsis has the size for a 3-4 DE; so will Kallon next year. If you want to blow it all up and switch to the 4-3, you need DEs and DTs with agility. Guys like Dieke and Cummings would probably move inside to DT. If you don’t have a 240 to 260 lb DE with speed and agility, the pass rush problems will be the problem still. Attoachu, who is the primary pass rush guy in the existing 3-4 would be a DE in a 4-3, again the primary pass rusher.
Speculation from here on about 4-3, but Gotsis has agility, based on video from Australia that showed him doing pass-protect drills as an O-lineman. Kallon is raw, but definitely agile and big. Green is strong, and pretty agile from what I’ve see on the tube in games this season. The LBs would have to learn new responsibilities, which is the riskiest part in the first year. The secondary is less affected by the change.
Have fun figuring it out.
GT Man
September 27th, 2012
9:07 am
Groh mentions that Miami used 7 blockers, that means that 3 players still got out and caught passes against 7 defenders if 4 lineman did rush. Grohs really a ” super ” defensive coordinator. Hopefully PJ and he are both looking for jobs this winter. And if Vad isnt playing much, chances are he’ll look elsewhere to transfer.
DOC 51
September 27th, 2012
9:14 am
GT DEFENSE will not be better next year because it’s not a Priority w/ CPJ.
carolinajacket
September 27th, 2012
9:22 am
What I could not figure out was how no one covered Miami’s best receiver on that first td. I just about fell out of my chair when I saw that one.
www
September 27th, 2012
9:54 am
more BLITZES!
Jacket Detective
September 27th, 2012
10:00 am
When someone tells me to wait three years before complaining then u can bet I’m going to be a problem when year 3 of good QBs picking us apart arrives with no improvement.
BTW Jamea Thomas is damn good.
His pick in the game was a great cornerback play.
He did the same thing on his pick in last year’s Clemson game.
With the help of a pass rush, he might get two like Burnett did in the 2009 games vs UNC.
Good job dude.