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
Buzz
October 8th, 2012
3:12 pm
Sorry it didn’t work out, coach. Best of luck to you.
ZAD
October 8th, 2012
3:12 pm
Great news.
But, I thought the Dawgs would fire someone first.
George Stein
October 8th, 2012
3:12 pm
I’ll raise my hand and volunteer to go through what UGA is going through, Grinch.
Paddy
October 8th, 2012
3:12 pm
GT Joe…….you are so right about now giving Vlad a chance.
InstaZen25
October 8th, 2012
3:12 pm
Groh couldn’t recruit. Johnson doesn’t seem to be doing a bang up job either. He seems to find guys that work in his system. That or he is just Mr. Genius. I agree with the avg defense comments, don’t know about perennial top 15 though. Contender for the Coastal every year, yes.
Supersize that order, mutt
October 8th, 2012
3:12 pm
@ USMC Dawg……I totally agree. And the way Carolina exposed the mutts Saturday night for the sham that they are, a win in Athens T’giving weekend is certainly not impossible……IF we play decent defense
Momma don't let your baby grow up to be dawg
October 8th, 2012
3:13 pm
Well, well, well… I don’t know if this will help or not.
Me thinks we are too far gone…
CaneFan
October 8th, 2012
3:13 pm
Mark D’Onoforio is available…..
GT Joe
October 8th, 2012
3:13 pm
Please keep Richt, please don’t hire petrino.
Sincerely,
A Tech Fan
The Grinch
October 8th, 2012
3:13 pm
USMC Dawg
October 8th, 2012
3:11 pm
Petrino? Geez, Petrino’s a scum bag. If you’d take him you may as well exhume Joe Pa and prop him up on the sidelines.
www
October 8th, 2012
3:14 pm
yep, this was never in doubt.
Groh no mo’. | Get The Picture
October 8th, 2012
3:14 pm
[...] Johnson makes a move. Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Al Groh has been relieved of his duties, effective immediately. [...]
doc
October 8th, 2012
3:14 pm
well this is cpj’s last chance. he is the next to go if things dont get better fast. i hope he has the deciency to say it is on him and go without robbing tech as hewitt did for lack of performance, contract or not. losing to kennesaw in basketball is akin to losing to mtsu in football.
i wasnt in favor of letting go of someone who year in and year out delivered to an appropriate expectation and resounded by braine only to be criticized for the truth. in an acc that has since gone down in caliber the tech program has gotten the the point it could not win the championship division maybe blue hose or no blue hose tromping. remember chan got his wins with a diminished squad. cpj has been a full strength.
i was in favor of groh and am surprised how poor the defense performed. i thought it was going to be a very good match between the two. so be it. cpj and the uppers have made their comment to what is expected, now it lies on cpj to either do it or walk.
InsectInside
October 8th, 2012
3:14 pm
Thanks Coach Groh. Sorry it didn’t work out for either of us, but appreciate your classy comments and I don’t doubt what you said a bit.
DawgNole
October 8th, 2012
3:14 pm
Tech sucketh
October 8th, 2012
3:03 pm
USMC Dawg, as far as UGA goes… Fire CMR and hire who exactly? When you figure that out… get back to us. In the mean time, I like what CMR has going in Athens minus Bobo.
_______________________
That means you like NEVER competing for a national championship. Doesn’t say much for your standards.
InstaZen25
October 8th, 2012
3:14 pm
ZAD
October 8th, 2012
3:12 pm
Great news.
But, I thought the Dawgs would fire someone first.
Who exactly???? The best HC they have ever had? Bobo for one bad offensive game this year?
GT Joe
October 8th, 2012
3:14 pm
CPJ just scapegoated the defense, which buys him another year as HC.
He might as well go whole hog and bench TW for Vad. That way, when we go 2-10, he’ll have TWO excuses.
The Grinch
October 8th, 2012
3:15 pm
George Stein
October 8th, 2012
3:12 pm
What I was alluding to was the circus UGA went through to get a D-coordinator. Spurned publicly by 3 or 4 big names before getting their man.
George Stein
October 8th, 2012
3:16 pm
Tough weekend, DawgNole. Hope you aren’t a Braves fan, too. Hope both your teams get well Saturday.
Momma don't let your baby grow up to be a dawg
October 8th, 2012
3:16 pm
Get Giff Smith.
He can recruit and he’ll be perfect to
take PJ’s place whrn they fire him next year.
5150 UOAD
October 8th, 2012
3:17 pm
I have questioned his calls but NEVER called for him to be gone. I hope we do better.
Maybe it is time to write off the season and go with Vad too.
'89 TIger
October 8th, 2012
3:17 pm
Correct that story… he gave up 601 yards to Clemson unless he got fired during the fourth quarter…
ramblingbuzz
October 8th, 2012
3:17 pm
Really didn’t think we would pull the trigger midseason. But I guess the GTAA realized they had to do something to get the fans back, for now. Good luck to Coach Groh. I know he tried, just couldnt get it done.
GT Joe
October 8th, 2012
3:17 pm
anyone know where I can hear CPJ’s news conference? online? radio? Live preferably?
Hoping to hear that Vad Lee is going to start vs. BC.
George Stein
October 8th, 2012
3:17 pm
Gotcha, Grinch. Sorry.
5150 UOAD
October 8th, 2012
3:18 pm
Maybe with TECH’s recruiting we need the 4-3. We will see.
Supersize that order, mutt
October 8th, 2012
3:18 pm
@ GT Joe…..you have made it abundantly (not to mention repetitively) clear that you don’t like Tevin, and that’s fine. I really look forward to seeing Vad take over too. But the fact remains, whether you want to admit it or not, that Tevin would NEVER have been in the position to lose the VT and Miami games IF the defense had done their job…..WHICH THEY DID NOT !!!!
The Grinch
October 8th, 2012
3:18 pm
5150 UOAD
October 8th, 2012
3:18 pm
That may not be a bad idea.
ignition
October 8th, 2012
3:19 pm
This guy looks like a great option as well but probably a long shot..
http://www.und.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/cooks_kerry00.html
USMC Dawg
October 8th, 2012
3:20 pm
Now the big question is WHO do you guys want as the new D coordinator???
Will CPJ stick with an assistant coach until the off season; then make a big splash?
Also, CPJ HIRED CAG, so does this say something about CPJ’s ability to identify a good DC?
Birddawg
October 8th, 2012
3:20 pm
@Tech sucketh – USMC Dawg is 100% correct – fire CMR and both those worthless coordinators. Hire who? I will tell you who Kirby Smart – he is ready to run his own show. CMR might be a great individual, but he is not a football coach that will get us a NC. Way to much talent in Athens to get beat down like we did Saturday night – I am over the not being prepared, not being tough enough, and not winning the big games. That’s all about coaching – he has had a good run, but it’s time for a change. Oh, GT – smart move to fire Groh. It should have happend after he cost you the VT game, but better late than never.
GT Joe
October 8th, 2012
3:21 pm
personally, I think an asst. coach gets the job. We are too far down the road of the 3-4 to change now.
BigGTMike
October 8th, 2012
3:21 pm
Come on…
Petrino’s next stop is somewhere out West where his rep might not have caught up with him quite as much as here in the South.
As far as Groh being gone. It had to happen. Really surprised it happened mid season. But I’m fine with that. Hopefully the kids can not feel like they caused it too much and go out there and fight.
I do find it somewhat ironic that a smaller part of why he was fired was probably his lack of ability to signal in plays and audibles quickly enough against today’s modern offenses. Meanwhile, Paul is shuttling in plays and we have next to no hurry up system. (And apparently two plays we can check to on the goal line)
carl
October 8th, 2012
3:21 pm
guess this is the only way GT get’s coverage. Nice..
ignition
October 8th, 2012
3:21 pm
Go after Chris Rumph !!!!!
Momma don't let your baby grow up to be a dawg
October 8th, 2012
3:21 pm
Giff Smith Giff Smith Giff Smith
http://dev.chuckoliver.net/2012/10/whats-next-for-georgia-tech-choose-giff-smith/
ignition
October 8th, 2012
3:22 pm
Perfect Perfect Fit Chris Rumph enough said !!!
dick whiskey
October 8th, 2012
3:22 pm
coach groh’s next job will entail uttering those timeless words “welcome to wal-mart”
tooltime432
October 8th, 2012
3:23 pm
I don’t have any stats to back this up but it feels like the majority of our defensive snaps we end up playing with 4 down anyway. I feel like I haven’t really seen us go with 3 down that much. Anybody else noticed t too or am I just crazy?
MARK TWAIN
October 8th, 2012
3:23 pm
WELL I WAS JUST COMING UP THE RIVER WHEN I GOT THE NEWS ON MY MORSE CODE MACHINE. NOW IM HEARING THAT BO JANGLES IS AVAILABLE TO COACH OVER AT CRENSHAW HIGH. THAT WOULD BE A PERFECT FIT FOR THOSE TECHEEIES ON THE FLATS. NOW QUIT WHINING AS COACH PJ ECHOES TO ALL THE PLAYERS.
carl
October 8th, 2012
3:23 pm
why would any of the top DC’s come to Tech?
teacher
October 8th, 2012
3:24 pm
Randy Shannon would be my choice. Good DC at Miami, great recruiter, and quality person. He is the linebackers coach at TCU now.
Your Next McGrumpy
October 8th, 2012
3:24 pm
If I were CPJ I would have my favorite realtor on speed dial because you and your one-trick offense is next. Thanks for nothing. You won with Chan Gailey’s players, since then you have been less than .500—do us favor and step down
Technically Correct
October 8th, 2012
3:24 pm
Groh is a classy guy and we all wish him the best. The problem, of course, is that he couldn’t construct a stout 3-4 defense with the talent that he and Coach Johnson have been able to attract.
RAMBLE ON!!!
October 8th, 2012
3:24 pm
I don’t know if this saves CPJ job at the end of the year. We may not win another game.
This won’t eliminated some of the dumbest 4 down calls I’ve seen a coach make. It happens every game now.
We call timeout when Clemson is about to punt, then Dabo gets to think about what a stupid move that was to punt and goes and makes 1st down?!?
I mean, come on, really?!?
Lattimore runs THIS STATE
October 8th, 2012
3:25 pm
The ideal choice is Gif Smith – and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if Gailey’s staff up in Buffalo doesn’t start to feel some real heat in the coming weeks.
should have kept Dave Wommack
October 8th, 2012
3:25 pm
Who’s to blame for
the two missed field goals and safety? (9 points)
Have a flamboyant retirement Al.
DawgNole
October 8th, 2012
3:25 pm
George Stein
October 8th, 2012
3:16 pm
Tough weekend, DawgNole. Hope you aren’t a Braves fan, too. Hope both your teams get well Saturday.
___________________
Thanks, George.
Yeah, I’m a Braves fan–and a Tech fan except when they play UGA or FSU–so it was a disastrous weekend for my teams. On a positive note, I’m also a longtime Falcons fan, so their win yesterday basically saved me from jumping off that ledge.
JR
October 8th, 2012
3:25 pm
Al Groh is an ASS. He always has been. I laugh everytime he gets fired.
The Grinch
October 8th, 2012
3:25 pm
BigGTMike
October 8th, 2012
3:21 pm
Actually, if Petrino’s next stop is truly out west it will probably be a cat house in Nevada.