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
GT1990
October 5th, 2012
9:45 pm
@same old–HOW ABOUT WE ALL COME TOGETHER AND DONATE MONEY TO GO GET KEN W. HE IS A TECH GUY AND A GREAT REP. IN THE PRO’S. BTW, HE IS THE HEAD COACH OF THE CARDNIALS!
Highly Respected Southern Troll
October 5th, 2012
9:45 pm
Groh’s gone after this year barring an astonishing turnaround. Johnson likely will get one more year to produce again. Though bringing-back O’Leary and Friedgen (if it were feasible, I don’t know) would probably be better, it’s not likely to happen. Johnson’s record his first two years (’08 against UGA, ‘09 against versus VT, ACC championship, Clemson, etc.) and other factors will prevent him from getting booted at the five-year mark. Tech tolerated Gailey’s slop for six years so Johnson will probably get at least another season.
The next two months will be interesting.
Win Baby Win!
October 5th, 2012
9:51 pm
Why can’t the Georgia Tech administration get it?
Win! Win! Win!
We are tired of losing!!!!!
Do not buy any more tickets!!!!
An empty stadium will bring change!!!!!
Implement academic programs that will admit dumb jocks!!!
Like Georgia!
Then we can say…How ’bout them jackets!!!
Supersize that order, mutt
October 5th, 2012
9:52 pm
Greetings from Tiger country. Pretty dead up here tonight. Not real sure I really want to be here, but it is what it is, and win or lose I will be cheering on the Jackets tomorrow….and from the middle of the Clemson alumni section at that.
@ 1 4 GT……thanks for calling out the creep earlier. I guess he doesn’t care what Ken says; he’s gonna just keep being an ass
1 4 GT
October 5th, 2012
10:17 pm
No Problem SUPER….careful or you’ll get banned for profanity….”ssa” indeed.
Supersize that order, mutt
October 5th, 2012
10:21 pm
Where is everybody? My hosts have gone to bed, and I am sure not ready to.
BLT
October 5th, 2012
10:36 pm
Well Super, I’d say Go Jackets! Beat Clemson!
Forget the past and focus on tomorrow!
Those folks up there in Anderson, Clemson, etc. are good people and will treat you well win or lose.
Here’s to a good game!!!
Go Jackets!!!
GT1990
October 5th, 2012
10:40 pm
@SUPER–I hope those clemson fans kick your a55 this weekend! @14gt- YOUR MOM IS GARBAGE!
1 4 GT
October 5th, 2012
10:41 pm
Slim pickins tonite……………….
Supersize that order, mutt
October 5th, 2012
10:54 pm
Well, I would say it is obvious that GT1990 is nothing more than a troll, and the worst kind too. Too bad ken is not reading the blog now, or I am sure he would do exactly what he said he would do in his disclaimer at the bottom of his article
Lou Piniella's cap
October 5th, 2012
10:55 pm
@ Southern Troll
Agreed. I think Groh’s gone at season’s end if he even makes that far. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get the boot before the weekend is over if they get lit up on Saturday. Johnson may like Groh, but in the end he’ll sacrifice Groh to save his own skin for another year and Johnson’s one saving grace will be Vad Lee taking over next year. But IMO if they don’t win atleast 9 next year, he’s done.
Supersize that order, mutt
October 5th, 2012
10:57 pm
@blt…..that has been my experience up here in the past, and I am sure it will be tomorrow as well. Totally unlike the way opposing team’s fans are treated in Athens. They don’t call it the cesspool for nothing
I love Jan Kemp
October 5th, 2012
10:57 pm
I dnt know what will happen tomorrow. I’ll be hoping for the best! Good luck Supersize! Hope you have a good time and its good news for us! Go Jackets!
Supersize that order, mutt
October 5th, 2012
11:00 pm
Thanks, Jan Kemp
Supersize that order, mutt
October 5th, 2012
11:02 pm
Enter your comments here
BLT
October 5th, 2012
11:04 pm
GT1990, you must also be GT Joe! Both handles/screen names refer to people and people’s relatives as “garbage”. That’s fine, it gives the rest of the viewing public what you subconsciously think of your immediate family. I’m not trying to be mean. It’s an observation.
Oh yeah, let me beat you to the punch…I’m “garbage”. Good Luck disturbed young or old man (I really hope you are not a woman).
Supersize that order, mutt
October 5th, 2012
11:07 pm
@blt…… I think “disturbed” might be an understatement
SansWorld
October 5th, 2012
11:07 pm
“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”
Relax BS Patrol. I was talking about Julian Burnett last year. remember him… leading tackle…, Career ending injury, Certainly you agree his presence is missed this year?
The Morgan I reference in the previous sentence was Derrick Morgan, the focus of the the article. I was trying to draw a correlation between the two’s impact on the team.
I should have been more clear, and then again, you should have known who the Burnett from the 2011 team was.
Take a pill.
GT Joe
October 5th, 2012
11:09 pm
Umm BLT: i called people garbage? uh no.
Unless you a referring the TW’s “garbage” resume that I keep bringing up.
Highly Respected Southern Troll
October 5th, 2012
11:21 pm
@Lou Piniella’s cap – If Johnson hasn’t beaten Georgia again by the end of next year then he needs to be gone. I don’t give a crap if he wins the ACC next year (even non-vacated) he’ll need to be fired if he loses to that bunch in Athens. I’m a Georgia Southern grad and fan but I’ve also been a Tech fan since I was a kid and ANY year that the Jackets lose to the Dawgs is tainted. Even the 2009 year looks putrid to me.
Delbert D.
October 5th, 2012
11:34 pm
Utah State runs an interesting triple option. It looks like one of the Hoover Spread sets with two halfbacks beside the QB in the shotgun. Motion-crazy stuff. They are hanging in there with BYU at 3-0.
Highly Respected Southern Troll
October 5th, 2012
11:38 pm
It’s like this – Tech goes 13-1, wins the ACC, wins the Orange Bowl, but loses to Georgia: crap year. Tech goes 8-5, loses to Virginia, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, UNC, and some team in a bowl game, but beats Georgia: good year.
Hell, O’Leary went 8-4 in 1999 after squandering a 17-0 lead at Virginia, inexplicably losing to Wake Forest, and playing flat and losing against Miami in the Gator Bowl…BUT he beat Georgia (albeit with the crazy Jasper Sanks fumble call in a poorly-officiated game). That was a better season for the Jackets then Johnson’s 2009 year.
Delbert D.
October 5th, 2012
11:41 pm
This just in from ESPN:
“Ohio State third-string quarterback Cardale Jones made his feelings about attending classes clear Friday on Twitter.
“Why should we have to go to class if we came here to play FOOTBALL, we ain’t come to play SCHOOL classes are POINTLESS,” he wrote.”
Lou Piniella's cap
October 5th, 2012
11:50 pm
@Lou Piniella’s cap – If Johnson hasn’t beaten Georgia again by the end of next year then he needs to be gone
I don’t think you or any of us will have to worry on that. He WILL be gone if he doesn’t beat them either this year or next. I remember when Johnson came in and said something to the nature of “If you want to beat UGA, I’m your man.” He beat them year 1, next year loses then says “well its abou getting to a bowl game.” Personally, I’d rather finish the year with only 1 win (that being against UGA) than go to a bowl game (and probably lose that) and not beat UGA.
Supersize that order, mutt
October 5th, 2012
11:51 pm
@ Delbert….that pretty much says it all, doesn’t it? That is what too many others probably also think. More of that entitlement mentality
Dallas Jacket
October 6th, 2012
12:22 am
Dave Wommack is now the Defensive Coordinator at Arkansas State. Statistically Arkansas St. is ranked #60 in the country in total Defense and GA Tech is ranked #69…… And I know the opponents are not the same caliber. I’m just saying that I think it is an interesting little nugget!
Dallas Jacket
October 6th, 2012
12:23 am
The NCAA Stats can be found at http://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/current/team/1042/p2
Lou Piniella's cap
October 6th, 2012
12:28 am
Actually, Wommack is now the D coordinator at Ole Miss. Was at Ark. State last year
Highly Respected Southern Troll
October 6th, 2012
12:43 am
Groh has these spurts where you think the defense is turning the bend like with Clemson and Utah (until the 4th aquarter) last year and Virginia this year. Then you get something like Miami and MTSU the past two weeks and realize it’s crap. With Wommack you could at least expect a horrible first-half and then adjustments at half-time. Wommack looked like a rube in the first-half against UGA in 2009 and I think that’s what ultimately cost him his job.
Old Dog
October 6th, 2012
6:41 am
To Hell with Tek, today,tomorrow and every other day!
dagnabit
October 6th, 2012
7:03 am
If! If! If! If wishes were horses, then beggers would ride. And defensive players would tackle. And Al Groh would be fired.
OkieDawg
October 6th, 2012
8:14 am
I was wrong in thinking Willie Martinez was the worst DC ever. I think he is at Auburn coaching DBs. So he is probably available if Tech would like an upgrade.
GT
October 6th, 2012
8:47 am
Groh is too old, he can’t inspire these players. He reminds me of Gailey, if they are’t winning it is their fault, they should be able to muster up their own emotions. Well Bud you are the one getting paid not them, and you are stealing money right now.
THWGT
October 6th, 2012
9:16 am
What a bunch of sorry losers. You have a coach who wanted to “RUN” the ball and lead the Nation in that stat and has pretty much done that but can’t do anything else. The last time Moobs won big was with another coach’s players.
The Triple Option was supposed to be “IT”. Well???
Blame your defense, blame the DC, but the blame is on Johnson. Sub par players, sub par schemes, and sub par coaching.
yellow britches
October 6th, 2012
9:20 am
Delbert D and Yeller Bug. Y’all are great. Just one question: Does jumping off sides on every play (and I like the concept because it will reduce the yards per play average given up by our defense) does it shorten the game?
Empty Seats
October 6th, 2012
9:24 am
Tech is stuck with pj through 2016 due to Hewitt buy out and building projects, like the new indoor practice facility which has obviously helped the quality of the product on the field.
Should have built the team first, filled the seats and used that revenue to build facilities.
Also please read the last NCAA findings against Tech, costing Scholarships, ACC title, and respect nationwide. No players were sighted. It was the Athletic Department Administration.
One can delegate authority, not responsibility.
All the while pj has proven to be less than Head Coach material. Comments on radio and after losing games which does not represent Tech, for example.
And now this dc debacle.
Let the College of Management run the Athletic Department, with Bobby Cremins, or Mark Price, or John Sally, etc as AD. Someone with a vested interest in Tech, rather than interest in a sweet retirement plan.
The financial budget will not allow a Coaching change until 2017. It is quite ironic that just after signing a $10,000,000 contract Tech gets this low quality football team in return.
Good job D-rad! You are doing an excellent job securing your retirement. Congratulations! Are we on a secret mission to see how many coaches we can set for life regardless of quality?
Wal-Mart Retards
October 6th, 2012
9:31 am
Hey, if there were still ties in CFB, we’d only have one loss. Alas, Groh would still be looking for a job next year. Win, lose, or…well, just win or lose, the beer tastes the same and the good word is and always will be THWG!
moboman
October 6th, 2012
10:24 am
The 3-4 scheme is a failure most of the places it is implemented unless you have top flight personnel. Thats why most 3-4 coordinators get canned in my opinion. The 4-3 is fundamentally more logical, and more forgiving personnel wise. But I guess with PJs offensive stubbornness, we should be running the 3-4 to match.
UGA = Yawn
October 6th, 2012
11:01 am
Gameday predictions just in – all 3 picked Clemson. Corso said ‘Clemson’s offense versus GT’s defense’ – no chance. Our defense is so bad – everyone talks about it now. How sad. Fire everyone and start from scratch. Can’t be any worse then what this year will become.
Same Old
October 6th, 2012
11:42 am
@GT1990… we can’t afford KW. We probably can’t afford a change until 2016-17.
Too bad. Same Old, Same Old, Same Old C__P!
Why, why, why?
Can we get O’leary back?
SS loves Obama
October 6th, 2012
11:55 am
Good call Same Old
faultline
October 6th, 2012
12:13 pm
Heading to Vegas this weekend. Should be there in time to see Georgia / South Carolina. I had the remote in my hand this morning. Should I tape this Clemson game. I ‘m still tyring to find the right dose of Cymbalta after Mid Tenn. All this talk of fundamentals, concentration on assignments, getting to the ball…., makes me tired. We just don’t have the guys to make the tackles for loss or interceptions. I am packing now. I set the remote to record LSU- Florida. Hope the upcoming Duke-Tech game makes it to ESPNU.
SS loves Obama
October 6th, 2012
12:16 pm
@faultline….sounds like you need to lay off the Bloody Mary’s…lol!
Just Saying..
October 6th, 2012
12:42 pm
” 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.”
You mean, like, actual R-U-L-E-S?
Would you consider sharing this with Kyle…?
SS loves Obama
October 6th, 2012
12:57 pm
@Just Sayin….Kyle need to grow up!
Rodeo
October 6th, 2012
2:09 pm
My Predictions:
VL will not play today unless its late in the game or its a token single series.
TW will open up with a pass and then the offense will revert back to run plays. They will end up with less than 10 passes for the game unless VL plays.
Anything close to the goal TW will call his own number.
If defense does not pressure the QB then Clem will score >40 points.
SS loves Obama
October 6th, 2012
2:19 pm
@Rodeo…you make some points. I will say TW probably doesn’t have the authority to call his own plays. Is there a good bar in Augusta to watch the game??
TigerGirl
October 6th, 2012
2:44 pm
Yeah, the game is in Death Valley today, not Atlanta. God the AJC is a rag.
Rodeo
October 6th, 2012
2:56 pm
SS – I hear Augusta National has big screen TV’s!
SS loves Obama
October 6th, 2012
3:21 pm
@Rodeo..Lol! Been there a lot. Just GOING to stay home.