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
Richt= 8-10 Wins and Mediocre Bowl
October 8th, 2012
4:32 pm
At least your program (GT) has the foresight to realize when something isn’t working today, the same thing is probably not going to work tomorrow. The move may hurt initially but better to get the ship righted sooner than later. Besides you guys have athletes, can’t imagine a new coordinator or even promoting a current assistant will yield worse than 40 pts/ game.
Meanwhile UGA fans are stuck in the insane nightmare that is mediocracy.
Definition of insantiy: doing the same things over and over, but expecting different results.
Good luck with the move – seriously, if you guys yield good results from this move, maybe, just maybe it will wake up someone over in Athens. ah-hem!! cough* cough* – are you listening Mr. McGarrity – take notes!!!
Rhettt
October 8th, 2012
4:33 pm
Groh should never been hired. His hiring only delayed hiring a decent Defensive Co-ordinator. Look at Groh’s record. Should never have been hired. If Johnson doesn’t shore up the defense, the next coach to be fired might be PJ. I imagine our Athletic Director has Johnson on a short leash.
Greg
October 8th, 2012
4:33 pm
Does it really matter? We are 2 & 4 and tied for second to the last in the ACC. It’d not like you’re going to real off six straight wins, Please!
Tech Forever
October 8th, 2012
4:34 pm
NOOOOOO!!! Glenn Spencer has been at State for 5 years now and their defense is porous to say the least. You IMMEDIATELY go hire a Saban disciple who you KNOW loves GT……Lance Thompson.
BillCurrie
October 8th, 2012
4:35 pm
This is what, PJ’s 3rd different D coordinator in his short tenure? And as for talent, did you ever think if a kid is smart enough to go to Tech, then he is probably smart enough not to go to Tech? Think about that.
IL Jacket
October 8th, 2012
4:36 pm
Thank you for your service to the Institute, Coach Groh. Best wishes on your future endeavors. For some reason the fit was not good and it was time to move on.
ramblingbuzz
October 8th, 2012
4:36 pm
To all the bloggers moaning about GT’s lack of talent on defense, surely you don’t think our players are less talented than MTSU. We are not recruting on par with Alabama, LSU, UGA, Notre Dame, FSU, Clemson.etc. But I refuse to beleive we aren’t recuiting as well as MTSU, Duke, Wake, MD, BC, NC State and the rest of the pack in the ACC.
George Stein
October 8th, 2012
4:37 pm
I kind of agree, Tech Forever.
This is Johnson’s shot to get a defense and a recruiter in one swipe, and if you work for Saban you can.
IL Jacket
October 8th, 2012
4:37 pm
I like this Lance Thompson idea, Tech Forever.
North Ave Killer Beez
October 8th, 2012
4:37 pm
Hilarious, BYU’S Defense better than UGA’S “Get for real dude” UGA played a really good team Saturday night. One that would possibly put a hundred up on GT with the defense scoring maybe half of it.
Also BYU usually has a bunch of 25-30 year old mormons with eligibility running around the field. They should be a bit stronger than most Ncaa teams fielding kids fresh out of H.S.
ramblingbuzz
October 8th, 2012
4:38 pm
Yeah I know MTSU is not an ACC school.
IL Jacket
October 8th, 2012
4:41 pm
Unfortunately, for the rest of the season things will probably be makeshift, no one we would want would leave their position in the middle of the season. Besides they would probably want to see what shakes out at the top.
Holy Guacamole
October 8th, 2012
4:41 pm
Johnson had to fire Groh to save his own job. Villagers are at the gates with pitchforks. Richt had better watch out as well.
ignition
October 8th, 2012
4:42 pm
Chris Rumph The Best Man for the Job …..
Credentials are Excellent Success at every stop Coaches on the Best Defense in CFB !!
Outstanding Recruiter !!
Coached both 3-4 and 4-3 not that it matters..
http://www.rolltide.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/rumph_chris00.html
MaconGTFan
October 8th, 2012
4:42 pm
Its about goddamn time he was let go. I said when they hired him, the 3-4 is not gonna work at Tech. They can’t recruit the big nt to make it work. Go back to the 4-3 already. Put Barnes and Green in the middle with the Aussie rotating in and out with em. We have the linebackers and the secondary, minus Isaiah Johnson, for the 3-4 to work. We just can’t get the quality nt though. Its sad when Techs best pass rusher is a outside linebacker. The d-line didn’t look that bad against Klempsum though, they actually got pressure on Boyd a few times. I just hope we go back to the 4-3 soon.
tech fan
October 8th, 2012
4:43 pm
Al Groh was in the last year of his contract anyway, Now this gives them time to choose the next Defensive coordinator, But talent is needed in any defense! Need to get good recruits!
MaconGTFan
October 8th, 2012
4:43 pm
And And does anyone know what happened to Nealy in the last game? I don’t think I saw him at all in the second half, only Drummond.
Holy Guacamole
October 8th, 2012
4:44 pm
Biggest problem that Groh had was that he couldn’t recruit. As a result, he has no depth and the D gets gassed in the 4th Qtr. That ain’t gonna change until they can build some depth on the D side of the ball. What did they recruit this year? Maybe 17 or so?
Jacket Deflation Nation
October 8th, 2012
4:44 pm
We wish you well Coach Groh. But we also understand CPJ is in a situation where things must change right now. Given that Tech has a bye week, this was a better time to make the transition than normal; being that it is mid-season. Let’s move on shall we?
Let’s offer the job to GIFF SMITH.
...Take The Wheel
October 8th, 2012
4:45 pm
Really you call yourself a fan and have the nerve to get on here and call someone a “weakling”!!??
… It’s amazing how much courage people get when hiding behind a keyboard. 4 Jacks (aka GTJoe) you are the type of fan who deserves exactly what you’re getting L’s!
Ever think for a minute that CPJ is protecting Lee by not sending him out to have his head taken off!! Its obviously not the right time ! Dont you think any coach in this situation is gonna play his best option to win!! What happens if he sends your golden boy in pre-maturely and he racks up a few L’s?? You know whats gonna happen??…. People like you will have broken his spirit before he knows what hit him! And you know whats gonna happen?? You’ll be on to break down the next person!
All because he’s playing for a bunch of toxic fans!!
Scape Goat
October 8th, 2012
4:46 pm
Maybe Moobs Johnson will ask the new Defensive Coordinator before he goes on 4th down inside his own 30 yard line. Mr. Johnson should step down as well.
OldSchoolTechFanatic
October 8th, 2012
4:47 pm
@ MaconGTFan I am a pastor and I read this blog and post here. I find your last post offensive, taking the LORDS’ name in vain
Graphite
October 8th, 2012
4:47 pm
Ga. hires Al to coach the defense on the right side of the field,Grantham the left side.Neither could,or can,get the whole field covered.Flip a coin as to who gets the nose guard.
Tech Forever
October 8th, 2012
4:48 pm
i like Chris Rumph and think he’s a good choice. But Chris Rumph is headed back to T’Loosa as soon as Kirby moves on. I’m not sure Lance Thompson would EVER leave Tech. He LOVES Tech and IF Johnson leaves or is asked to and Thompson is having success he becomes the instant replacement. And the best part is he believes in the spread offense so I know he’d go hire a Leach disciple as OC. THAT is the recipe for success; Saban defensive disciple as HC with a Leach disciple as OC.
GT Joe
October 8th, 2012
4:48 pm
CPJ wasn’t going to switch to Vad because if he turns out to be a stud (which he is), fans would be saying “why was Tevin EVER starting in the first place.”
NOW, he can switch to Vad, and when Vad runs the table this year, CPJ can say it was mostly the defense that improved.
Smart move, CPJ. Now just complete the move by benching Tevin. No one will know the real deal by me and you. I promise.
ignition
October 8th, 2012
4:49 pm
I hate people keep saying a 3-4 can’t work at Tech that is Absolutely Inaccurate !!
Stanford, Notre Dame, Florida, Tenn, UGA, and Bama run em..
Half the NFL is running 3-4’s..
Its the system and the coach..
Tech just straight up lacked fundamentals whether it was tackling, execution, and/or adjustments..
Not to mention this team consistenly looks winded at the end of games..
The Defense was poor under O’Leary and under Wommack was that the 4-3 alignments fault ??
GT fan
October 8th, 2012
4:49 pm
we need to get a spread style offense to put up more points in the game
ignition
October 8th, 2012
4:50 pm
@ Rumph leaving to go back to Bama is a problem I can deal with once he fixes this defense and leads them a couple of seasons..
MaconGTFan
October 8th, 2012
4:51 pm
@OldSchoolTechFan I could care less what you find offensive. Actually I find it offensive that you get on here and call me out, because I used your nonexistent lords name in vane.
ignition
October 8th, 2012
4:51 pm
No Coordinator worth anything wants to be a coordinator forever..
GT Joe
October 8th, 2012
4:51 pm
Take the Wheel: protecting Vad so he doesn’t get his head taken off? LOL. You are a fool.
He’s not ready? Well when will you EVER deem him ready? When your boyfriend Tevin graduates? Just wondering, is there a timer that’s supposed to go off when Vad is ready?
Tech Man
October 8th, 2012
4:51 pm
Time to move Vad into the starting lineup. What is CPJ waiting for,, another 4th and one with Tevin getting stopped at the line of scrimmage. The season is lost so get Vad in there for the experience and next year progression. We might loose a couple more games which we will anyway with Tevin in there. Now’s the time coach.
IL Jacket
October 8th, 2012
4:51 pm
It’s too late now, but we should be looking for someone like Hugh Freeze, the head coach at Ole Miss. He has Ole Miss playing with passion, they are flying around the field and I think he is doing it with diminished talent in Oxford.
Your Big BullDawg Daddy!!!
October 8th, 2012
4:52 pm
Just please don’t fire Coach Johnson!!!! He is a great coach. I hope he stays there another 20 years!!!!
OldSchoolTechFanatic
October 8th, 2012
4:54 pm
Ok MaconGTFan. Would you please not use that word ?
DownInAlbany
October 8th, 2012
4:55 pm
USMC Dawg: IF you’d take Petrino over Richt, you are NO fan in my book! After leaving the Falcons before the season ended to the mid-life crisis. Dang, you gotta be kidding me!?!
Smilnjac
October 8th, 2012
4:55 pm
Ever notice how the back up quarterback is always the unanointed savior of a struggling football team??
GssiT
October 8th, 2012
4:55 pm
Now if the OC (CPJ) will go to the archives and view some Bobby Dodd era games on when to punt and not burn up 2 first half TO’s while trying to decide, some outcomes might be different?????? Go, Jackets!
MaconGTFan
October 8th, 2012
4:55 pm
I was originally one of the fans who were upset with Tenta leaving, but hindsight is 20/20. His defenses played great some games and played like crap the next. It was to inconsistent to me. Not to mention the countless blown coverage’s because of all the blitzes he used.
George Stein
October 8th, 2012
4:56 pm
We already have a Mike Leach offense, just the inverse.
DYNAMICBIGBOY
October 8th, 2012
4:56 pm
Can the genius fire himself next?
IL Jacket
October 8th, 2012
4:57 pm
What is the consensus, was this CPJ’s call or did he get a nudge from the guy at the top who is concerned about the finances and putting fans in the seats?
JetBuzz
October 8th, 2012
4:57 pm
CAG’s dedication and effort was unquestioned, and for that we thank him. Bottom line results – unacceptable. He would agree. Enjoy retirement coach.
Now, next problem….?
Jack Wood
October 8th, 2012
4:57 pm
We’ll give you Mark Richt for lifetime all-you-can-eat Varsity food.
DYNAMICBIGBOY
October 8th, 2012
4:57 pm
Can the GENIUS now fire himself?
Dum-Bass
October 8th, 2012
4:58 pm
At least at GT they are doing something about the situation. At UGA, the status quo is well……. the status quo! Actually heard a big UGA supporter say something yesterday I never thought I would hear. He said (thinking outloud) “wonder what Ray Goff is doing these days?”
GT Joe
October 8th, 2012
4:58 pm
Smilnjac aka TWFan aka Take the Wheel:
Brett Favre was a backup in Atlanta. Tom Brady was a backup in New England. Guess what? Backups end up being the right man for the job on MANY occasions!
Alex
October 8th, 2012
4:59 pm
Wish our coach had the brass to do the same with our OC. #LSU
IL Jacket
October 8th, 2012
4:59 pm
Yeah, MaconGTFan, Tenuta’s defenses were like riding a rolller coaster, exciting when they were working but frustrating when we were giving up wide open receptions and runs.
DawgNole
October 8th, 2012
5:00 pm
Richt= 8-10 Wins and Mediocre Bowl
October 8th, 2012
4:32 pm
Good luck with the move – seriously, if you guys yield good results from this move, maybe, just maybe it will wake up someone over in Athens. ah-hem!! cough* cough* – are you listening Mr. McGarrity – take notes!!!
____________________
McGarity doesn’t listen to crap. If he did, he wouldn’t be scheduling the OOC marshmallows that lead the Dawgs to this predicament every year when they finally have to face somebody worth a damn.