Examining Groh’s work at Tech
From Doug Roberson:
When Paul Johnson hired Al Groh after firing Dave Wommack, he was asked what he liked about his new defensive coordinator.
Johnson, fresh off winning the 2009 ACC championship with a defense that oddly gave up a lot of big plays but was effective in big situations, said that Groh, known for his 3-4 defense, would be able to fix things when they were going wrong.
Some things – tackling, fundamentals, limiting big plays — have “broken” in the past two weeks in losses to Miami and Middle Tennessee State. The defense has given up more than 1,100 yards and an average of 45.5 points. There’s not a lot of time for repairs with this week’s game at Clemson, which averages 510 yards and 40.2 points per game with a balanced offense.
Johnson didn’t try to defend his team’s play during his press conference on Tuesday, but at the same time defended Groh while holding himself and his staff accountable.
“… I don’t think the man forgot everything he knew in the last two weeks,” Johnson said. “But ultimately, we’re responsible. We’ve got to get it on the field. It doesn’t matter what you know, it’s what happens. So we’ve got to do a better job of getting it on the field.”
The reasons for the poor play are somewhat evident: poor tackling, poor fundamentals and, against Middle Tennessee, a lack of energy. Johnson said “You’ve got to do some of that stuff. Every time the ball breaks the line of scrimmage, it doesn’t have to be a touchdown.”
At his introductory press conference in 2010, Groh said hoped the players would pick up the 3-4 as fast as possible, but said it usually takes three years for the players to operate more instinctually.
Now in year three, Groh’s defense is statistically worse than Wommack’s in his final season.
This year, the defense is allowing more points (26.8) and yards per game (397) than they have since Groh was hired, while allowing slightly fewer rushing yards (155.2).
In Wommack’s last season, the Yellow Jackets gave up 24.8 points and 360.3 yards per game. Their worst two-game stretch occurred against Mississippi State and Florida State in which they gave up an average of 37.5 points and a total 1,026 yards. The Yellow Jackets won both of those games because the defense forced seven turnovers and the offense averaged 46 points and totaled more than 1,000 yards.
Groh’s defense this year isn’t making those stops. The overtime losses to Virginia Tech and Miami illustrated the critical-stop issue. In the defeat to Middle Tennessee the defense, missing two key players because of injury, came out flat and it showed in the missed tackles that allowed the Blue Raiders to total more than 500 yards.
Groh said the team has always emphasized tackling drills in practice, and focused on it even more this week ahead of the game against the Tigers, who feature numerous playmakers like Sammy Watkins and DeAndre Hopkins who need but one mistake to turn the routine into a big play.
One thing Wommack’s defense had that Groh’s does not is a consistent playmaker.
Defensive end Derrick Morgan was Wommack’s big-play man, finishing with 12.5 sacks to win the conference’s defensive player of the year award before he left to become a first-round selection in the NFL draft. No Tech player has come close to reaching that total since. Linebacker Brad Jefferson had four in 2010 and Jeremiah Attaochu six last year.
No Tech player has more than one sack this year. The team has just seven. Attaochu, the outside linebacker many expected to become a force, has been dealing with injuries this year and hasn’t been as effective, posting just one-half sack.
Johnson said it’d be great to have another Morgan, but that it’s wishful thinking to expect to have one every year. He indicated that he hopes that players, like Attaochu or Jemea Thomas, who have shown a lot of potential, will become consistent playmakers.
“It’s not like we’re null and void of players,” he said.
Without that consistent playmaker to pressure quarterbacks, Tech’s defense is giving up big plays in campaign-promise bunches. After allowing 50 in 2010 and 47 in 2011, the defense has allowed 22 this year and is on pace to give up 57 if team plays in a bowl. Wommack’s defense gave up 66 in 2009, but made stops when it needed to defeat Wake Forest and Clemson in the ACC championship game.
Defensive end Izaan Cross said if the team will focus on everyone doing his job, “the playmakers will emerge.”
But he knows they can’t play like they did the previous two games if they hope to beat the Tigers.
“We’ve got to all come together and have a conscious effort to come out with everything we can,” he said. “It’s going to be a tough game.”
Tech under Groh
A look at Georgia Tech’s averages on defense in coordinator Al Groh’s three years:
Year/Scoring/Rushing/Passing/Total/Per play
2010: 25.2/169.7/201.9/371.6/5.7
2011: 26.1/161.5/197.6/359.2/5.5
2012: 26.8/155.2/241.8/397/5.7
Last year under Wommack
2009: 24.8/151.6/208.6/360.3/6.1
Thanks for reading. A word of caution: Everyone is welcome to his/her opinion, but profane language or antagonistism towards other commenters and posting under someone else’s handle are bannable offenses, no matter whose team you support. Consider this a warning.
In case you missed it…
ACC reverts to 8-game league schedule
Michael Carvell: Tech recruits react to 2-3 start
Offensive line not meeting Johnson’s expectations
Team leaders call for accountability
Notes: Abnormal heart rate gives Jackson scare
Tech considering safety options for stadium
Johnson: ‘You want fans that care’
Fitting MTSU loss into Tech history
After debacle, Tech braces for Clemson
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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571 comments Add your comment
Bobby Dodd Jr.
October 5th, 2012
12:48 pm
Tech, is not falling apart at the seams Sammy Dawg. I know you are hoping for that, but that’s not the case. You will see.
1 4 GT
October 5th, 2012
12:50 pm
If CPJ sticks around, IMHO, he should make a strong effort at luring G Smith back to GT…..probably take Grantham $$ to get him away from Buffalo Bills.
Tech Man
October 5th, 2012
12:52 pm
Groh’s last year……….
GIVE ME A BREAK
October 5th, 2012
12:54 pm
CPJ has made some tough changes. He’ll continue to do so. Don’t think for one minute that he is enjoying this and don’t be surprised if Clemson doesn’t score on GT’s new and improved “D.”
1 4 GT
October 5th, 2012
12:54 pm
BTTF……kinda hard to see it as a “fluke” after last week’s collapse…………….
Born2Buzz
October 5th, 2012
12:55 pm
I guess Doug and Ken have the same disclaimer for every blog now.
Thanks for the effort Doug.
Seriously, can we expect this D to stop Clemson at all? Maybe CPJ tells Al to stay in Atlanta and has the D playing aggressive, blitzing like crazy. Having Attachou back will help, but there needs to be some serious changes from the last 2 weeks. My biggest gripe has been with the play of the safeties, particularly #1 Johnson. He is slow to react and misses tackles a lot. His missed tackle on the 4th down play against VT cost us that game. I would consider moving Jemea T to free safety. He has the instincts to simply make plays. But then who moves to CB? Oh boy, I hope it’s not a beat down of epic proportions tomorrow.
GIVE ME A BREAK
October 5th, 2012
12:59 pm
Don’t worry, B2B, I think Clemson should be worried.
Highly Respected Southern Troll
October 5th, 2012
1:02 pm
Wommack’s defenses were better than Groh’s for the same reason that Johnson’s offenses in 2008 & 2009 were better than they are now: they were loaded with NFL talent that Gailey had recruited. Plus, Wommack knew how to make halftime adjustments.
GT Joe
October 5th, 2012
1:21 pm
With Tevin at QB: Tech loses 52-28 and the misery continues.
With Vad at QB: Tech loses 52-31 and there will be HOPE.
NCJacket
October 5th, 2012
1:42 pm
Going to this game! See yea tomorrow! I HAVE FAITH!!!
ToeMeetsLeather
October 5th, 2012
1:52 pm
GT Joe, tomorrow will be TW’s last chance to salvage this season. Another blowout loss and I could see absolutely no benefit in running TW out there any longer. So I agree with you there. But if he plays well, we will still probably only see Vad in mop up duty for a few more games and that does not bode well for next year. Tomorrow is a big day for Tevin in my opinion. We shall see.
It sounds like Thomas is really showing out on the scout team, so it should be an interesting spring on the flats.
Allright defense, it’s time to bring your A game and see exactly where you are at in year three of the Groh era. So far the results have not been very flattering, but there is still time to make amends.
THWG
Mike S.
October 5th, 2012
2:22 pm
Both Groh and Womack have been awful and the common denominator has been Johnson as HC. There is no way you can convince me that Ga Tech will ever be able to prepare for pro-style offenses running high profile recruits, when they are practicing against a scout team of lesser recruits themselves recruited for the option. Tech doesnt have the Calvin Johnson’s and Tashard Choice’s with Dwyer and Nesbitt in waiting anymore. This defense gets into a game, and they are seeing offenses executed at a much faster, precise, and powerful pace than they will ever see in practice.
Mike S.
October 5th, 2012
2:25 pm
I think we need to just finally wise up to the fact that Paul Johnson’s offense and recruiting is a huge reason why Tech has never been able to field a worth while defense under him.
Jacket Detective
October 5th, 2012
2:26 pm
When the team loses leads in the 4th quarter they should be able to hold, they lose confidence in their coaches. The three losses – Utah, VT and Miami – demoralized the team, especially with Attaochu and Watts out for the MTSU game.
I think we’ll regroup.
We have to give up our original goals but remember there are other things to play for.
Pride in one’s efforts if nothing else.
I do not know if we can win.
But I think we’ll regain the fight we appeared not to have vs MTSU.
BS Patrol
October 5th, 2012
2:27 pm
SansWorld, you say Morgan Burnett was the leader of last year’s team.That’s fascinating since he declared for the draft in 2010.He was not that good anyway. Get your facts straight.
Jacket Detective
October 5th, 2012
2:49 pm
Burnett is the starting safety of the Packers whose GM is very good at evaluating talent. Packers moved up in the third round through trade to draft Burnett. Otherwise I agree BS Patrol. Sansworld most likely meant Julian Burnett who indeed is much missed.
It is tough on a guy to give up football due to injury.
Jacket Detective
October 5th, 2012
2:53 pm
It is a mistake to play a top team in your first game, usually to get more money.
If u lose that game and a 2nd, the goals for the year are shot and have to be reset.
We will find out tomorrow if the team discovered new goals to play for.
GTpak
October 5th, 2012
2:54 pm
Do we think that Clemson is better than MTSU? Duh…
And if MTSU beats us badly, how bad will it be with Clemson at their home, loud crowd? Unless we put men on the field instead of the girls we had last week, it will be worse. Time for the boys to man up!!
Seems to me the team has 3 choices: get beat worse this week, play it close but lose, or get out there and give it their all and win this thing!! If they get hammered this week like last week, then it is time to make some coaching changes!!! Players don’t suddenly forget how to tackle, but now that I think about it, we have not been so good at tackling last year either. Seems we hit them high, bounce off and they keep going. The best tackle last week was when the MTSU QB tripped over the foot of a lineman. Fundamentals are not being taught.
Jacket Detective
October 5th, 2012
2:57 pm
I have thought for awhile that Attaochu is our best defensive player.
Time for him to set up and show it.
GT Fan
October 5th, 2012
3:12 pm
I’m just waiting for some more of Sammy Dawg’s insightful & intelligent “TEK” talk.
The guy’s so smart he thinks Georgia TECH is spelled Georgia TEK!
Then there’s his brilliant 61-21 prediction. It was 63-21 yesterday, guess “TEK’s” D got better by 2pts. Thanks Sammy!
Jacket Detective
October 5th, 2012
3:15 pm
@GTpak.
It is possible we can bounce back from the pitiful effort vs MTSU.
I believe we will but less sure we will win since Clemson is plenty good on offense.
GT Fan
October 5th, 2012
3:17 pm
GT Joe
October 5th, 2012
1:21 pm
With Tevin at QB: Tech loses 52-28 and the misery continues.
With Vad at QB: Tech loses 52-31 and there will be HOPE.
—————————-
Joe, as much as you’ve been killing TW, and praising VL, it’s surprising to see you only value VL’s worth as 3 pts?
GT Fan
October 5th, 2012
3:23 pm
Jkt Detctv ….
IDK what to really think about 2morrow. Based on how the D has played the past 2 games, and how good/explosive we all know Clemson’s O is, it’s practically impossible not to think Clemson will put 40+ on the board. Now, can GT pull a 2009 Doak Campbell out of their collective arses?
Let’s see what The U does this week vs. UNC (with a supposed D that is good). The Canes backed-up the OT W over the Jackets with a heck of a performance vs. John Tenuta’s Wolfpack D, maybe the Miami L won’t look as bad as it seems right now?
Same Old
October 5th, 2012
3:28 pm
This happens every year. We always hope Tech will get better by the next game.
But they don’t. It is what it is!
I predict that Tech will lose to Clem’s Son in overtime.
Of course TW could turn it over five times and it will be a blow out.
Time for something new. Look for Johnson to stay one more year.
5-7 this year, 4-8 next year.
GT Lee
October 5th, 2012
3:31 pm
“Let’s see what The U does this week vs. UNC”
GT Fan the Canes are at Notre Dame this week…..
GTDude
October 5th, 2012
3:32 pm
Well it is obvious that mizzou belongs in the SEC
Same Old
October 5th, 2012
3:36 pm
We’ll have to wait another year to fire Paul and his Johnson.
Tech can’t pay Gailey, Johnson, and Giff Smith(next coach) at the same time.
We are still paying Gailey right?
Didn’t Braine renew his contract, then fire him?
GT Fan
October 5th, 2012
3:37 pm
GT Lee … this week too then. I had GT’s OFF week next week on my brain when I was looking at Miami’s schedule. But especially this week, being that the Irish D is 3rd in the country in pts vs @ 9.0 / game (Navy-10, Purdue-17, Mich St-3, Mich-6). If the Canes put up #s in South Bend, then they’re pretty darn good on O.
Same Old
October 5th, 2012
3:42 pm
2.6 Million a year for this?
Are you interested in buying a bridge that I own in NY?
I’ll sell it for a lot less than 2.6 Million! Duh!
Bad Dawg, Bad Dawg
October 5th, 2012
3:44 pm
Sammy Dawg since you have no other life (as most Dawg fans don’t). Who have you played? Who will get arrested in the off season? And oh, it’s been 32 years since your ONLY national champtionship. We have 4…..yes 4!!
TechALUMNUS
October 5th, 2012
3:54 pm
Has Groh done any work while at Tech??? I haven’t noticed.
Al Groh must go. We need new life and a new eye. We should hire a young DC that can recruit and bring energy that 18-22 y/o kids will feed on. The current Defense does not appear to play naturally and is often out of position, then the players miss tackles when they are in position. I understand that talent is lacking, but the product displyed the past 2.5 years is completely unacceptable.
Go back to a 4-3 one-gap scheme built around speed, pressure and disruption. This 3-4 build a wall and react crap is out of date. It works with NFL players, but not at Tech.
We have an offense that can score enough points to win, now we need a D that can hold the fort. Giving up 42 and 49 points the past 2 weeks is just flat-out not getting it done.
GO BRAVES!!!!!
old dog
October 5th, 2012
3:56 pm
Good luck teckies. Sorry ’bout all the D-problems. We all (us Dawgs included) have tried to over-analyze, and all fans likewise are arm-chair quarterbacks. However in this case, avoid the kool-aid and go straight to the facts, which are:
1. Not nearly enough talent to be top-tier.
2. A D-coach who is either out of his element, cannot coach poor talent up a little, and who apparantly has left tackling out of practices althgether.
3. A scheme that due to parts one and two combined y’all do nt have the personal to run.
4. A Defense that in front of God and everyone last week 100% quit! This is a non-debatable point. Any wa-hoo who watched the game saw that!
This is not down-grading y’all….for goodness sake we had Martinez as a D-coordinator, so we cannot talk. However, you just gotta start over friends! The true Tech supporters, like Supersize, who will support the team no matter what should be up-in-arms! This D couldn’t stop a flightless hummingbird!
jacket backer
October 5th, 2012
3:57 pm
Groh should have been fired last Saturday. This is the worst Tech defense I have seen and I’v e seen some bad ones. If Groh’s back next year I won’t be.
Go Jackets!
gt4ever
October 5th, 2012
3:59 pm
I am weary from all this… The fact is this Mike S. We can’t recruit on the offensive or defensive side of the ball… For the people who still think this offense works… I give UP. Win or lose. Go Jackets..
errrr...
October 5th, 2012
4:13 pm
I was always under the impression that the head coach was responsible for how the whole team played in the game. Now “CPJ” keeps saying “we need to do better” instead of “I need to do better”.
For that reason alone I say can his butt.
BTW- I am a fan of the option. When its working, you have to hold your breath on every play and hope the mesh or the pitch goes well and every so often you break the big one.
So, I don’t hate the option, but Johnson is responsible for Groh and everyone else. If he does not fire him now and pick up someone who can do the job, they both need to go.
errrr...
October 5th, 2012
4:14 pm
If you are a UGA fan trolling this blog, then yes, we are embarrassed, now go away.
old dog
October 5th, 2012
4:16 pm
Y’alls offense kind of works, but it won’t attract top-tier talent. It is run primarily at the service academies where it works for several reasons…..it is not seen that often so other teams are not prepared, and you can slip up on folks when you ARE a little less talented. But attracting a great QB ain’t gonna happen since his body will be ruined by the end of his career. (Like Nesbitt, he may get a shot at another position, but Nesbit was a STUD D-back in high school.) By and large the folks won’t flock there for this system. With my wife’s grandad in y’all’s HOF, I want to see you do better. The offense MAY survive if you will open it up a little. But the recruiting and D philosophy is a train-wreck, and y’all are a better school than to live with that!
GT Girl
October 5th, 2012
4:59 pm
I agree with GT Dude-Missouz fits right in with the dwags and SEC. How many of their players were arrested for smoking pot? How many games will they miss? Vandy should beat them now.
ben buuzz
October 5th, 2012
5:35 pm
forget about it
SS loves Obama
October 5th, 2012
5:38 pm
Guys it all comes down to recruiting. CAG doesn’t have the horses(size or speed) to match up with physical, downhill runners.
SS loves Obama
October 5th, 2012
5:51 pm
Braves are winning!!
OLD MAN
October 5th, 2012
6:15 pm
I can picture myself running a rally for the Tech Nation — “Al Groh has gotta go — Al Groh has gotta go — Al Groh has gotta go!” I don’t see ANY progress!
groh
SS loves Obama
October 5th, 2012
6:21 pm
@OLD MAN….again, he can’t run a 3-4 defense with the players he has. The players are asked to execute a scheme that they don’t fit. Al Groh is a good coach, but maybe his(or CPJ) stubborness to stay with the 3-4 will be there downfall. JMO.
OldSchoolTechFanatic
October 5th, 2012
6:47 pm
Al Groh’s grade = F. did you see Utah running stunts against USC last night. They lost but were getting good pressure on USC’s Quarter Back !
SS loves Obama
October 5th, 2012
6:54 pm
@OldSchool….Do you go to many home games?
Wal-Mart Retards
October 5th, 2012
7:29 pm
Clean up on aisle 4!
Fact Check
October 5th, 2012
8:01 pm
Ken failed to mention the scheme problem. MTSU out-schemed CAG when the spread us out and went 5 on 5 in the box and then handed to a running back. With his Birdseye view up in the box, CAF couldn’t notice what was happening to him. No wonder the numbers are trending in the wrong direction.
CPJ NEEDS TO GO TOO.
1 4 GT
October 5th, 2012
8:32 pm
Since Supersize is visiting friends in Spartanburg prior to going to the GT/CU game tomorrow, I’ll tell SS loves Obama….we know you are a troll. Ken posts a disclaimer at the end of each new article he posts threatening to ban people like you. I wish he would.
Delbert D.
October 5th, 2012
9:27 pm
I wonder if Taylor King secretly trolls this blog. Here is a clip from his latest on chuckoliver dot net:
“Oh, Paul Johnson will probably be around in 2013 but it is not because of change to a defensive coordinator (his third in five seasons), a new quarterback (a season or two too late) , or any other of the garbage that is sure to spew out of the mouths of Johnson supporters. “
Same Old
October 5th, 2012
9:38 pm
Paul’s Johnson has one more year.
Johnson is a loser!
We have to suffer one more year.
Just like Gailey!
Give us a TECH MAN!!!! George Godsey!!!!!!!
See: http://dev.chuckoliver.net/2012/10/the-loss-that-changed-the-georgia-tech-football-forever/