Updated: Al Groh fired at Tech
Al Groh will receive an unwanted respite from his 100-hour work weeks and his intricate game plans. After a 32-game term, the Georgia Tech defensive coordinator was relieved of his duties Monday.
In coach Paul Johnson’s analysis, Groh did not fall short in his effort or smarts.
“What’s inside his head, he’s very knowledgeable,” Johnson said. “There’s no questioning that. The problem was becoming, what’s in there, we weren’t seeing on the field.”
Groh’s tenure concluded in a blizzard of points, yards and missed tackles. In Tech’s past three games, losses to Miami, Middle Tennessee State and Clemson, the Yellow Jackets gave up an average of 46 points and 573.3 yards. Opponents converted 31 of 46 third downs into first downs. Improbably, Tech fared slightly worse when opponents faced 3rd-and-7 or longer than 3rd-and-6 or less.
Tech gave up more than 40 points in the three consecutive games, the first time that has happened in school history.
“I think it’s a call to everybody, the coaches, the players, myself, everybody, that we need to do better, that we’re not giving up on the season and the way we’ve played is not acceptable,” Johnson said.
Hired following the 2009 season as a replacement for Dave Wommack because of his ability to teach his scheme and adjust, Groh came to Tech after nine seasons as head coach at Virginia and boasting an NFL pedigree. A longtime friend and colleague of NFL coaching legends Bill Belichick and Bill Parcells, Groh brought a 3-4 scheme and a confident, professorial manner.
“We’re impatient to make it look good,” he said shortly after his hire. “How fast we can do it, we’ll have to see.”
Instead, the Jackets were bogged by problems with communication and alignment and had trouble tackling. Poor finishes also began to plague the team. After Tech’s 6-0 start last season, the Jackets were outscored 48-14 in the fourth quarter of the final seven games of the season and finished 8-5. Particularly devastating was a 30-27 overtime loss to Utah in the Sun Bowl, a game that Tech led 27-13 with less than seven minutes to go.
This season, Tech has been outscored 71-48 in the fourth quarter, its worst quarter on offense and defense and the only period (besides overtime) in which it has been outscored. In losses to Virginia Tech, Miami and Clemson, Tech has held fourth-quarter leads in each only to lose.
Wommack was fired after the defense ranked 54th in yards allowed and 56th in scoring in FBS. Under Groh, Tech finished roughly the same in his first two seasons before plunging to 90th in yards and 89th in scoring this season.
“It was inevitable, at least to me, that it wasn’t getting better,” Johnson said.
Groh will be replaced on an interim basis by secondary coach Charles Kelly, who has been on staff since 2006. Kelly has previously served as a defensive coordinator at Nicholls State and Jacksonville State, two FCS teams. Andy McCollum will move from coaching the defensive line to inside linebackers and Joe Speed will shift from inside linebackers to outside linebackers. Special-teams coordinator David Walkosky will coach the defensive line. Walkosky and McCollum also have experience as defensive coordinators. Johnson said he will provide assistance, as well.
Johnson said he wants to simplify the defense, have players spend more time with their position coaches and conduct more live-hitting drills in practice.
“To me, defense is energy and playing fast and enthusiasm and all those things,” Johnson said. “I think it’s hard to get that if you don’t go live some.”
Johnson made the decision Monday morning. He met with Groh later, and told the team at a meeting in the afternoon. In a statement, Groh said he respected the decision and thanked the defensive assistants and the team. Groh’s contract, a two-year deal with a school option for a third, called for him to make “a minimum of $344,000” this season in his option year.
“I aimed to give the best that I had every day,” he said in the statement. “It’s been an honor to be a part of the legacy of Georgia Tech. I feel positive that this is a good time in life to move on to a new situation.”
Former linebacker and team captain Steven Sylvester said Monday that he enjoyed playing for Groh, citing his knowledge base and his ability to explain difficult concepts easily. Despite the age difference, players related well with the 68-year-old Groh, often stopping in to his office to find him listening to anything from Jay-Z to Maroon 5 to Bruce Springsteen.
“He was a friend and he was a coach,” Sylvester said. “I know a lot of the guys down there are really going to miss him.”
With Tech in its bye week, the team had Monday off and will resume practicing Tuesday. The Jackets’ next game will be Oct. 20 at home against Boston College.
“I didn’t want to give up the rest of the season,” Johnson said. “I still think we can come back and have a good season. That’s why I did it now.”
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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863 comments Add your comment
GTBob
October 8th, 2012
8:35 pm
However the biggest difference is that the normal offense that Tech runs in practice isn’t nearly the same speed or pace that other teams play at
That is a problem that every team faces. Scout teams for any program are never going to run at full speed when compared to the teams they mimicking but they do run the same plays and give the defense the look it should need for the game. Most of the offenses UGA plays are not pro style offenses. Does that put them at a major disadvantage?
Supersize that order, mutt
October 8th, 2012
8:35 pm
@ GT1990…..how about Anthony Allen? Johnson recruited him to Tech when he left Louisville
GT1990
October 8th, 2012
8:36 pm
@FUZZYBEE- It’s pointless to bash CPJ on here. There is a few people who will never get it. Don’t say anything back because there i no proving your point!
Supersize that order, mutt
October 8th, 2012
8:38 pm
@
Tech Fan…….you are 100% correct. IF these people on here hating on Johnson the way they have been are indeed Tech fans, then they should be embarrassed to know that they are no better at all than the UGA fans hating on Richt. It’s pathetic
:-) Tech Fan
October 8th, 2012
8:38 pm
Stephen Hill was a #1 draft choice of the New York Jets and is starting every Sunday. Thomas played 2 years in CPJ’s system and was drafted #1 to the Denver Broncos. You are clueless because you just talk to hear yourself talk and have no facts. You would not be statified if Sabe came to Tech. You would find fault with thatn.
Rock_Eagle
October 8th, 2012
8:39 pm
Agreed Tech Fan.. For the opposition, 3rd and whatever has become almost automatic against this defense. Absolutely maddening. Throw on top of that the routine poor fundamentals and there was little choice but to make the move now.
GT1990
October 8th, 2012
8:39 pm
@SS-LOL whoopy freaking dew! AA was a good ball player. Was he anything special? No! I want to see more JD at Bback. I honestly don’t have faith in CPJ recruting that type of ball player. I DO BELIEVE CPJ CAN BE ONE OF THE BETTER COACES IN THE ACC IF HE CAN GET THOSE TYPE OF PLAYRES!
GT1990
October 8th, 2012
8:41 pm
@TECHFAN- CPJ is not getting the job done! Want to argue that DUMBA55? CPJ DID NOT RECRUIT BAY BAY! WANT ME TO PROVE YOUR A DUMBA55?
:-) Tech Fan
October 8th, 2012
8:42 pm
CAG had lost this defense. Word on the flats was the players no longer respected his practice schedule and game planning. There was a lot of confusion at practice and it translated onto the field. You talk about missed tackles. Sometimes they come from being out of position and poor game planning. A good DC can instill confidence and heart into his unit. There is talent there it just has to be coached.
fuzzybee78
October 8th, 2012
8:42 pm
Guys dont get me wrong. The D is clearly the biggest problem this year and I respect CPJ for moving forward and doing what he can to fix it, THIS YEAR.
My comments are whether he and the O he runs are best for GT going forward? I dont think he will change enough to attract enough talent to compete for an ACC title. With a few exceptions, the 4 star players we have were coming to GT because of the education, no matter who was HC.
George Stein
October 8th, 2012
8:42 pm
It would help recruiting if all the people complaining actually got their backsides down to the stadium and got loud and made that place a pain in the ass to play in. I’ll provide the Maker’s if y’all do.
Supersize that order, mutt
October 8th, 2012
8:43 pm
@ GT1990…..I would take another AA any day of the week. As far as CPJ not getting better players, do you honestly think he is not trying to? Actually, the commits he has so far for this year look pretty damn good, especially considering the size limitations on the class. And although as true freshmen or redshirts, last year’s recruits haven’t had a chance to prove themselves yet, there is certainly nothing wrong with the D-players he recruited, nor with Justin Thomas, who dropped his commitment to Bama and signed with Tech. Tech will NEVER get a full class of hosses like we would all like to have, and if you look back even as far as Dodd, Tech has NEVER gotten full classes like that.
TechRon
October 8th, 2012
8:44 pm
Good move. Sorry it wasn’t Paul Johnson and the whole staff. Sure, Groh was awful, but remember that Wommack did not get the job done either. Tenuta was always raved about by the TV announcers “defensive genius” but on 3rd downs Tech always gave up the first down when it really mattered. Save for Ted Roof. Tech defense has sucked ever since Oleary left. I don’t mean bad, I mean horrible. You know Tech people sometimes make fun of the UGA folks when they over estimate their team and then come crashing down to earth as they have this week. However, at least they care enough about their program to demand excellence. We do not. We put up with coaches who return terrible results and give them years to do better before we finally get rid of them. And then only when the barbarians are at the gates. Why don’t they have a real fireball in charge down there who will get things in order? I am talking about the AD and those above him. Remember our basketball program is a shambles also, and just a few years ago we made it to the championship game.
What do i think of the interim Defensive Coordinator choice? Fantastic ANYONE would have to do better than what we have seen. Anyone.
Supersize that order, mutt
October 8th, 2012
8:44 pm
@ George Stein…….AMEN, brother !!!!
GT1990
October 8th, 2012
8:45 pm
@FUZZYBEE- Academics may hurt GT but it’s not the BIG problem. Mr.O’leary was doing great and GAILEY did get top 15 class. It can be done. The problem is CPJ offense does not attract the top talent. May land some good players here and there but not year in and year out!
Big Crimson 75
October 8th, 2012
8:45 pm
Not to get technical, butt Hill was a 2nd round pick & after the Jets first game, he’s been rather bad. In fact, he was benched before last weeks game.
Bey-Bey is a player, no doubt.
Great game yesterday in a great environment.
Supersize that order, mutt
October 8th, 2012
8:45 pm
@ TechRon……Roof’s defense at Tech sucked too…..when he was DC, I mean
:-) Tech Fan
October 8th, 2012
8:46 pm
As usual GT1990…nobody said Thomas was recruited by CPJ. I said he played two season in CPJ’s system. You can always tell when someone does not have a clue. They turn on the cap lock and start name calling. I hope you did not graduate from Tech in 1990 because you are having a lot of problems reading and understanding.
GT1990
October 8th, 2012
8:47 pm
@SS- Yea i would hope CPJ is trying to land the studs BUT THE FACT IS HE ISN’T. Quit trying to convince yourself there is nothing wrong with CPJ and where GT is headed.
GT Mailslinger
October 8th, 2012
8:48 pm
Are you people kidding me!!! Al Groh is just the fall guy! CPJ wants to turn every decent athelete on the team into a A-back or a B-back! Groh has no athelete’s on the defense. And don’t get me started on CPj’S stance on recruits taking visits to other schools after they commit!
Supersize that order, mutt
October 8th, 2012
8:48 pm
@ GT1990……you CLAIMED that I trashed you, and yet every post you make is full of derogatory epithets directed at bloggers you disagree with.
T-time
October 8th, 2012
8:49 pm
@supersize. – agree to some extent but not with the Miami game. The offense was a huge part of that loss. Unable to score for 25 minutes late in the game. Not even a field goal. Then tied at end of regulation. Add no score in the first quarter to that also. The defense was spent at the end of the game. They are both at fault as either one could have won that game for us.
:-) Tech Fan
October 8th, 2012
8:49 pm
@Big Crimson 75, I think he was the 2nd of two first round picks by the Jets, but maybe not. He was early 2nd round. I am not sure that he was doing as bad as thought just that their QB is having problems. I just turned over to the Monday Night game and I think he started or came in during the first series
Supersize that order, mutt
October 8th, 2012
8:50 pm
@ T-time……obviously I do not disagree with what you said, but somebody said that Tech could not come from behind with our offense. Those 36 successive unanswered points would seem to put that argument to rest.
UGA = Yawn
October 8th, 2012
8:51 pm
I sense that DRAD does listen. He just doesn’t reply to emails. Seats were even more empty, donations would have began to dwindle, season tickets next year even lower. He is giving CPJ one last chance. So, Johnson has moved and fired Groh. DRAD told CPJ to right the ship and do it fast. DRAD, if he is going to fire CPJ, he would do it after the UGA game – whether or not we have 6 wins and are going to a bowl game.
GT1990
October 8th, 2012
8:51 pm
@SS- I hate for someone to say i DON’T know what tim talking about. Im not to sure i can’t go toe to toe with anyone on here about GT footbll. If you don’t believe just ask me a random question about GT football dating back to 1999.
T-time
October 8th, 2012
8:52 pm
No doubt super.
Mickster
October 8th, 2012
8:52 pm
Would like to see CPJ consider Giff Smith as DC. Good defensive minded coach and the best recruiting coordinator Tech has had in 30 years
Jacket Hater
October 8th, 2012
8:52 pm
Poor recruiting on defense due to having to practice against a Pop Warner offense leads to bad defense. Buddy Ryan would have punched CPJ by now for making him play with Sunbelt Conference talent. Actually I’d like to see that
Big Crimson 75
October 8th, 2012
8:52 pm
Tech fan — trust me, I’m not bashing Stephen Hill.
When Mark Sanchez is lobbing duck after duck, it’s kinds hard to look good as a WR.
Ask Santonio Holmes.
George Stein
October 8th, 2012
8:54 pm
Season tickets next year will be fine. Florida State, VT, Clemson, UGA, UNC, and I think Pitt. Pretty good slate.
GT1990
October 8th, 2012
8:54 pm
Stephen Hill was a ok player at GT. He was nothing to praise!
GT1990
October 8th, 2012
8:56 pm
@George- GT should sell out every home game no matter who their playing! Our fan base is crap right now!
George Stein
October 8th, 2012
8:56 pm
Mark Sanchez is horrible, Big Crimson. Maybe they should give McElroy a chance.
:-) Tech Fan
October 8th, 2012
8:57 pm
Glad to see you have calmed down…GT1990
fuzzybee78
October 8th, 2012
8:57 pm
@GT1990 we agree, wish it were different.
Think about this——The best teams GT has had in 20+ years were 1990 and 98-00. Common denominator , Oleary and Fridgen plus some talent to work with. My point is excellent OC and DC at the same time, not bring them back.
Delbert D.
October 8th, 2012
8:58 pm
This blog is not an actual search committee. Just wanted to clear that up.
George Stein
October 8th, 2012
8:58 pm
Agreed, GT1990. I go every week. As I said earlier, if we filled that place, recruits would want to play there. We don’t help ourselves there.
JD Ponzi
October 8th, 2012
8:58 pm
Can a person fire himself ???
:-) Tech Fan
October 8th, 2012
8:59 pm
@Jacket Hater …Well from the name I see where you stand. Really can’t take you very serious when you are making comments about the Tech program. You seem kinda biased.
Supersize that order, mutt
October 8th, 2012
8:59 pm
@ GT1990 — I will get to your random questions next, but for once, you and I finally agree on something: our fan base is crap right now, but it has been crap since about 1995
GT1990
October 8th, 2012
8:59 pm
@TECHFAN-Do you honestly think the state of the program is headed in the right direction?
Delbert D.
October 8th, 2012
9:00 pm
I’m all in for the BC game. Bought tickets for my grandson and me.
MORGANTECH
October 8th, 2012
9:00 pm
See ya A.G hope we get someone who can get some mean head hunters, like all great Ds have.
GT1990
October 8th, 2012
9:00 pm
@SS-No it hasn’t. GT wouldn’t have added the extra seats in 2002 if that was the case? O’leary had us rolling and ticket sales were up.
Big Jim
October 8th, 2012
9:01 pm
Johnson should be fired. His offense worked at Navy, but different program and personnel. He has had his time in sun and like Mr. Groh needs to hang it up. Frankly he is embarrassment. Tech will continue to lose.
YeOleStinger
October 8th, 2012
9:02 pm
The DC hire will have to be a semi-unknown or someone that might be considered washed up with a ‘name’. CPJ is on a short leash, if you were on the rise as a defense specialist you would not come to Tech at this time. You might be looking for a job in a couple of years. Not saying the new guy can’t be great just that it will not be a ‘name’ hire.
Supersize that order, mutt
October 8th, 2012
9:02 pm
@ GT1990…..random questions…..how many times has Tech beat FSU since 1999. And second, what player did George O’Leary throw under the bus in 2001, and in what game?
Messin with da Sasquatch
October 8th, 2012
9:03 pm
As I said last night, Tennuta is the guy.
A-mazed
October 8th, 2012
9:05 pm
GT1990-you might very well know facts about GT football, but it is abundantly clear you have not got the mental capacity to process those facts. CPJ apparently has many “issues” having the right staff for DC and recruiting, but the offense is perorming pretty well. Ga Tech football will always have to think outside the box to be in the upper tier and the jury is still out on CPJ. Take some of those facts you know about Tech football and explain which head coach has performed better since your recent expertise began (since 1999).