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
GT1990
October 8th, 2012
9:34 pm
Not to mention 6 of the 11 wins came against duke x2, sc state,western car,preb, and kansas.
:-) Tech Fan
October 8th, 2012
9:34 pm
The Rose Bowl stadium would not be able to hold the ego’s of John Tenuta and Paul Johnson. The would be the Buddy Ryan and Mike Ditka of college football. Tenuta would not come back because he was not considered for the job from the beginning.
Supersize that order, mutt
October 8th, 2012
9:34 pm
@ BLT…….hush. He hasn’t been on any of the blogs today. Don’t press your luck. LOL
GT1990
October 8th, 2012
9:36 pm
@SS-CPJ is respnsible for every aspect of this team! He is the one that is granted for the wins and loses. I would love to meet some of you people on here but i don’t buy tickets anymore because i hate watching his offense.
ole yeller
October 8th, 2012
9:37 pm
Any interest in Kieth Brooking returning to Tech. He would be a hell of a defensive recruiter with his background. I’ve asked this before with no comments.
BLT
October 8th, 2012
9:37 pm
I do remember Drummond waiting for the RB. Is that coaching or dumbassery?
Bobo
October 8th, 2012
9:37 pm
I thought Groh was toast at season’s end, but this was bold even for Johnson. You almost never see a coordinator get canned during the season. I think this could mark the start of a U-turn for the Jackets. I think this is also a signal that CPJ knows he needs to get on it, so I would expect a well-thought and well-timed hire for D-coordinator. We need to go back to our classic 4-3 with a dominating D-line and blitzing linebackers. With a different defense, it could be argued that we could be sitting on 6-0 right now, just like last season. Groh has been truly horrible.
Supersize that order, mutt
October 8th, 2012
9:37 pm
@ 1990…..you just lost all the respect I had been leaning towards giving you. A TRUE fan supports his team win or lose, no matter who the coach is or what kind of results he has.
JustinSyder
October 8th, 2012
9:38 pm
ole yeller: Isn’t he still playing? I love the idea BTW.
Bobo
October 8th, 2012
9:39 pm
Ole Yeller….I don’t think he would be ready for D-coordinator just yet, but they should definitely look at getting him (or Ron Rogers for that matter) as a LB coach. He would be a HUGE boost for recruiting too.
ole yeller
October 8th, 2012
9:39 pm
It’s probably his last season.
Supersize that order, mutt
October 8th, 2012
9:39 pm
@ ole yeller……regarding your thoughts about Brooking. We thought the same thing about Ted Roof, and he failed miserably, That’s not saying Brooking would also fail, but why not go after someone with a little bit more proven track record?
BV
October 8th, 2012
9:39 pm
Will somebody go get freakin’ Tenuta? Yes, there were times when the aggressive pass rush left a few gashes, but dang it was fun to watch (and we held teams to minus rushing yardage).
fuzzybee78
October 8th, 2012
9:40 pm
GT1990 Im glad you’re here and passionate about GT football, ———— even if we disagreed.
Guys lets dont eat our own!
GT1990
October 8th, 2012
9:40 pm
Lol man i can’t waste my saturday and money to drive up there and watch us lose. I just bought a new truck and house. I don’t have the extra money to just BLOW away! The only game i will not miss is the UGA game.
ole yeller
October 8th, 2012
9:41 pm
I’m talking about line backer coach and recruiting not defensive coordinator. I cannot think of anyone with more enthusiasm and pro G.T.
GT1990
October 8th, 2012
9:41 pm
@FUZZY- When did we disagree? I agreed with everything you have posted!
Supersize that order, mutt
October 8th, 2012
9:41 pm
@ BV…..SOMETIMES Tenuta’s defenses did that, but they also stunk it up a lot under him too. As I have said many times before, do you remember ALL of the games AT UVA when Tenuta was DC? We lost every one of them, and to very inferior UVA teams. And we also never beat UGA when Tenuta was DC
:-) Tech Fan
October 8th, 2012
9:43 pm
GT1990…You don’t sound like a true Tech fan. I pulled for Tech when they hired Bill Lewis and we we only won 1 game. Did I want him fired. Damn right I did but I did not want him hired in the first place because he was a coach from UGA, a short stint at East Carolina. As a Tech fan I am disappointed with the performance of this team and I think that today was a good start for at least some recovery. I never thought the AG hire was a good one when the did it. It was the cheap way out. I think CPJ hold himself responsible for anything that happens on the field. Recruiting, when you recruit a HS athelet you never know for sure what they will be at the college level. I have seen many 4 & 5 star athelets be bust in college.
GT1990
October 8th, 2012
9:43 pm
@SS- Just for fun and games. Ask another question please sir.
ole yeller
October 8th, 2012
9:44 pm
Tenuta, already quit once when Johnson was hired. It’s a moot point. Johnson would not hire him and he would not work for Johnson.
Supersize that order, mutt
October 8th, 2012
9:44 pm
@ 1990……I don’t know where you live, but I drive up from Augusta every weekend, and I too have a house with a mortgage and live on a fixed (retirement) income. So don’t pull that one on me. I, however, NEVER go to Athens, and I NEVER WILL AGAIN. I went to the Clemson game Saturday, and the fans there were as nice and friendly and gracious as could be. Contrast that to the fans at Athens who actually spit on me after a Tech win there several years ago.
fuzzybee78
October 8th, 2012
9:44 pm
We didn’t, Im with you on this, I said “even if we disagreed” I would still respect your opinion.
taylor
October 8th, 2012
9:46 pm
Anyone who thinks that the defense practices against the first string offense has obviously never played a snap of football in their life. Even at the high school level, you spend all week practicing against the scout team offense, which is running the same offense the team you are playing that week does.
You know how you always hear about defenses preparing for our offense? They usually run it without a ball so they can better match the speed that we run it. Do you people honestly believe we are the only team in the country not practicing for opposing offenses?
GT1990
October 8th, 2012
9:47 pm
@TECHFAN- Sorry if my way of being a “true” fan is different than yours! Sorry that im young and just started a life for myself and that i don’t have the extra 125 dollars to throw away . I could buy tickets if i wanted to but i don’t support CPJ. You can not be mad at a TECH fan for not supporting someone that is employed by GT. Yes i am a die hard fan but not a CPJ fan.
Supersize that order, mutt
October 8th, 2012
9:47 pm
@ 1990…..I can’t just pull questions out of a bag, and besides, I am getting ready to log out and go watch “Revolution” on the tube
Supersize that order, mutt
October 8th, 2012
9:48 pm
@ 1990…..I was not a Curry fan or a Lewis fan, but I STILL bought tickets and supported my team.
GT1990
October 8th, 2012
9:49 pm
@FUZZY-10 4. Yea same here man. Some people on here hate me for post but oh well. I only speak the truth.
ole yeller
October 8th, 2012
9:49 pm
Hey 1990 here’s a question for you. Who did Billy Lothridge replace because of an injury and never relinquished his starting role until he went on the the pro’s? Two minutes to answer, otherwise you looked it up on your computer. Here’s a clue he played for Dodd.
Delbert D.
October 8th, 2012
9:50 pm
I think GT1990 needs another team to follow while Johnson is here. I recommend Auburn.
Delbert D.
October 8th, 2012
9:50 pm
SG
Supersize that order, mutt
October 8th, 2012
9:51 pm
@ ole yeller……1990 is only 22. When he asked for questions earlier, he specified only questions about Tech since 1999.
Delbert D.
October 8th, 2012
9:52 pm
I should have kept that secret.
GT1990
October 8th, 2012
9:52 pm
@SS- I guess your right i could buy tickets and go but im not
This will be the first year i have missed a home game since i was 7(1997). Im sick of CPJ ways! By the way my uncle played at GT(1989-1991). Im not going to through his name out there because of something negstive post i write but i have a few ties into GT.
ole yeller
October 8th, 2012
9:53 pm
Right Delbert
Supersize that order, mutt
October 8th, 2012
9:54 pm
@ 1990…..One more thing before I go. I don’t understand how you cannot like Johnson’s offense, regardless of whether you like him. When it is clicking, which it does most of the time, I think it’s the most exciting offense to watch in all of college football. And, contrary to what the detractors claim, it is a VERY COMPLEX offense which require near perfect timing and precision that most other offensive schemes don’t require at all. And with that, I am outta here.
fuzzybee78
October 8th, 2012
9:54 pm
CPJ will probably survive this year baring collapse. A better DC will be hired for ‘13 but I wouldnt expect a big change, look at Venables at Clemson this year.
We will have VL or JT at QB for 3 more seasons. I believe we would win more games and recruit better athletes running a spread option over the next 3 years than running the TO under PJ. I will be there either way!
ole yeller
October 8th, 2012
9:54 pm
Hell, super I know history back to the beginning of time. Not an excuse.
GT1990
October 8th, 2012
9:54 pm
*Negative
BLT
October 8th, 2012
9:54 pm
Even though Tech lost they were in it until the safety. Here’s hoping that the defense will stand tall the rest of the way. I’m sure the players will miss ol’ Groh but the stats speak for themselves. We need a guy that can recruit and motivate. Adversity is also opportunity guys! Get it done!
Go Jackets!
taylor
October 8th, 2012
9:55 pm
Also I’m tired of people talking about the what a great class we had with Dwyer, Nesbitt, Thomas, etc and then use that to say that Chan was some master recruiter. It was one friggin class!!! Chan struck gold with that class, it wasn’t the norm for him.
GT1990
October 8th, 2012
9:56 pm
@yeller-Think of a question dating back to 1999 !Since you wanted to a smarta55 know it all.
GT1990
October 8th, 2012
9:57 pm
@Taylor- People only argue that because you CAN recruit at GT regardless of the academics! Did chan recruit a top 25 class every year? NO, but he did land a good class.
:-) Tech Fan
October 8th, 2012
9:58 pm
GT1990…you just stated why the stands are not filled each weekend. I can understand the cost aspect but not the “not being a fan of the Coach so I want attend.” I have problems with the program but I do not think it is spiraling down into complete failure. You have your reasons and your are young. You do not know of the real bad times Tech has seen, nor do you know anything about the highs. All I can says is: ” I’m a wrambling wreck from Gerogia Tech and a helluva engineer.” and “TO HELL WITH GEORGIA.” Good Night
:-) Tech Fan
October 8th, 2012
9:59 pm
sorry that should be “won’t”
fuzzybee78
October 8th, 2012
10:01 pm
Taylor, Giff Smith landed that class for Gailey, read Chuck Olivers column for details. Several good articles.
M. Richt
October 8th, 2012
10:01 pm
Darn, Tech Coach has got a pair. I wish I did~!
GT1990
October 8th, 2012
10:02 pm
@FUZZY- Vad should take over ther QB duties. He needs as many reps for next year. TW is done. Playing him the rest of the season does GT no good.
GT1990
October 8th, 2012
10:04 pm
@TECH- I remember some pretty good HIGHS GT has had! Remember LITTLE JOE? Don’t sit here and post DUMB remarks like that! Do i know everything about GT football? No but i know enough dating back to 1999 to stand toe to toe with anyone on this blog.
killerj
October 8th, 2012
10:06 pm
3rd in the nation and you call it a high school offense? what a dumb stupid idiot,find another sport bone head, “Roll Wreck!”