Tech notes: Jackets move forward without Groh
1. The first day that Georgia Tech’s reconfigured defensive coaching staff took the field was marked by energy and excitement, and not only by the players.
The Yellow Jackets opened their bye-week practices Tuesday with a full-pads session as the team tried to look forward one day after defensive coordinator Al Groh was fired.
“I think all those guys had a lot of energy [Tuesday],” coach Paul Johnson said of the defensive coaches.
Interim defensive coordinator Charles Kelly, moved up from his position coaching the secondary, oversaw the defense for the first time. Johnson, who had a lengthy pre-practice meeting with Kelly, spent the majority of the practice with the defense, unusual for him.
“They were flying around, having fun,” said Johnson, who himself was in a brighter mood than he has been through Tech’s three-game losing streak.
Tech mixed in scout-team work in preparation for the Boston College game Oct. 20 with fundamental work that typically gets more practice time during an open week. Johnson said that defensive players have reacted well to Groh’s dismissal.
Groh was fired after Johnson concluded that the defense, which has given up 40 points in each of the past three games for the first time in school history, was not going to improve.
“He’s a great guy,” Johnson said of Groh. “It’d be hard not to like him. But I think they’re excited about a new beginning. They’re not dumb. They know they haven’t been very successful. So it’s kind of a fresh start for them, too.”
Defensive players and coaches were not available for comment Tuesday. They will be made available following Wednesday’s practice. Quarterbacks and B-backs coach Brian Bohannon noticed the charge from the defense.
“I know when they came out for the one-minute drill, they had more spark and energy,” he said. “I mean, they got after us pretty good in the one-minute drill.”
2. Johnson offered further explanation about the changes made on the staff. Special-teams coordinator David Walkosky will continue to oversee special teams as he takes on responsibilities coaching the defensive line. Staff assistant J.R. Dorman, who has helped Walkosky with special teams, will work more with the specialists during practice while Walkosky trains the defensive line.
Johnson said that Andy McCollum, who had been coaching the line, requested to work with the linebackers. He will coach the inside linebackers while Joe Speed, who had been the inside linebackers coach, will coach the outside linebackers.
McCollum has a background coaching linebackers and Walkosky had no preference, Johnson said. He added that it might be helpful to shake up the order “to get another set of eyes to see. [McCollum] might not have the same impression of those linebackers that [Groh] did and the same with the d-line.”
3. Wide receivers coach Buzz Preston said that true freshman Anthony Autry did “alright” in his first start, last Saturday against Clemson. Autry had one catch for 53 yards.
“There’s still a lot more room for improvement, but he did pretty good,” Preston said.
Presuming he has a good week of practice, Autry will keep his spot in the starting lineup. Saturday, Tech’s wide receivers had five catches and no drops. Their blocking on the perimeter helped A-backs Orwin Smith and Robbie Godhigh gain 178 yards on just 11 carries.
“I think the guys are starting to understand that they have to work and if they’ll just keep that right attitude, frame of mind, then we’re going to make some good progress and see some good things happen for us,” Preston said.
Autry, who has received the most playing time of any true freshman, is getting used to it.
“It was (surprising) a couple weeks ago, but not anymore,” he said. “I’m just ready to get better and better every day.”
In case you missed it…
Jeff Schultz: Radakovich says Johnson is ‘right person for this job’
Audition begins for interim Charles Kelly
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249 comments Add your comment
Jacket Detective
October 10th, 2012
1:28 pm
@MaconGTFan.
Some Tevin critics are so dumb they criticize him for scoring too many TDs.
The pitch to the A-back has some risk so if u can score, do it.
The other team, from having failed to stop the A back, may concentrate on him more inside the five yardline making keeping the ball the right play.
How can anyone criticize a play that results in a TD?
GT Fan
October 10th, 2012
1:32 pm
Their blocking on the perimeter helped A-backs Orwin Smith and Robbie Godhigh gain 178 yards on just 11 carries.
———————
11 carries, by TWO guys, that resulted in 178 yds. Looks to me like GT had something Clemson couldn’t stop, but PJ only elected to use it 11 times. And on GT’s 1st scoring drive(4 plays, 83 yds) the Jackets completed 3 passes for 81 of those yards. This was GT’s 2nd drive, and TW’s 4th completion in 4 attempts.
Looks like the O could’ve been even more effective had they gone more with what was working, ABack runs, and quick passes eploiting over-agressive DBs.
Jacket Detective
October 10th, 2012
1:38 pm
@GT Fan.
Agreed.
No mentioned today is whether the new ST coach is earning his pay.
Why have we had kickoff returns that either were a safety or set up a safety?
My point is on both sides of the ball and STs is the coaches are the ones losing our games.
The return man who slipped had made a great tackle on a punt return earlier.
Was that his first return of a KO?
I thought the ball bounced and he should have let it go into the endzone and down it.
A safety there pretty much ended our chances.
ARM FLOATIES=TEVIN
October 10th, 2012
1:38 pm
Tevin is atrocious when the game is on the line, sometimes when it’s not. Att: UGA, we were never close last year. Tevin looked like a HS qb the entire game. Coach still would not give Days a chance till the last drive and we were moving right down field. TEVIN apologist are fine mediocre. Vad vans know the real deal when they see it. Had Vad played in every game and the entire MTSU game we would be well on our way by now. What a waste.
MaconGTFan
October 10th, 2012
1:38 pm
@Joe I’ve shut you up before and I’ll do it again. For god sake, you were dumb enough to say that NFL qb’s get benched for being sacked, which alone proves how low of a football IQ you have. And about Vad on that drive, even Riley Skinner, who was the play by play guy in that game, called him out for his misreads. And here’s how I know it wasn’t a called dive. Anytime since 08 PJ has called a dive, the QB never runs to the corner while the a-back follows. He hands off and stands there. Nesbit did it and Tevin has done it. And while you’re on the subject of us not knowing he’s ready, how do you know he is, minus some YouTube videos you obviously watch religiously. And don’t go giving us mop up duty stats either where he’s facing 2nd or 3rd string defenses.
1 4 GT
October 10th, 2012
1:42 pm
No ill will here either Tokyo. The man had a great rep. Was he really all of that though? His time as a HC says he was kinda average. He had some good players. Talent or coaching..or both? DC @ GT says fail. He had some good players here too. Bad results. 1st 3 games of this season, GT D was nationally ranked in the top 20 in 3 main categories. Since then we have fallen into the 90s. I vote with jmomty & Jacket Detective. I too am glad he is gone. Not in a hateful way, as I suspect they feel the same way I do. My sympathies lie with the D players as they have lost a coach & an adviser & more in some cases & in some cases wondering if they are responsible for his firing. Good coaching can cure this attitude & I fully expect them to come out & open up a can of “whoopazz” on BC. As the dwags say GATA GOOOO JACKETS THWGeorgie
North Ave Killer Beez
October 10th, 2012
1:42 pm
The defense has always been one of the weaknesses of GT. Nothing new, but in CPJ’s offense, a QB that could pound out a yard or 1 could win ball games. Vad can pass, Tevin can’t pass or get a yard when needed.
GT Joe
October 10th, 2012
1:43 pm
MaconGTFan: LOL. Riley Skinner? Really? Are you citing Riley Skinner? I guess Riley knows the play call from CPJ, right? Does he get the live feed from CPJ’s microphone? Please. go away.
Again, you have no idea what the play call is. For all we know, he dumbed down some play calls for Vad. “Misread”? You have no clue.
Anytime you have some FACTS, I’ll listen.
GT Fan
October 10th, 2012
1:43 pm
Who is Maryland’s DC????
The worst defense in the ACC has blossomed into one of the best, this despite a coordinator change and a defensive scheme shift. Headed into their game at Virginia (2-4, 0-2) on Saturday, the Terps (3-2, 1-0) rank No. 2 in the ACC in total defense and No. 7 in the nation. That group is a big reason why Maryland has already surpassed its win total from a year ago.
Consider these outstanding stats:
•For the first time since 1999, Maryland has held its opponent under 300 yards of total offense in four of the season’s first five games. West Virginia was the only team to go over 300 yards. But, consider Maryland held the Mountaineers to a season-low 363 total yards of offense and a season-low 31 points.
•The Terps rank seventh nationally in total defense (257.2 ypg), seventh in rushing defense (81 ypg) and 15th in passing defense (176.2 ypg). They are holding opponents to 2.3 yards a carry to rank third nationally.
•Last week, Wake Forest managed just 45 yards in the second half, including only 4 in the entire fourth quarter. Maryland has been at its best in the second half all year, giving up an average of just 121.4 yards in the second half.
MaconGTFan
October 10th, 2012
1:43 pm
@JD Agree 100%. Why complain when he scores? Do people really hate Tevin that much and if so why? Is it because of one bad play he made against VT? Hell the UM game wouldn’t have mattered in ot, we had already lost that game imo.
1 4 GT
October 10th, 2012
1:44 pm
Tevin has already graduated & is working on a Masters.
Jacket Detective
October 10th, 2012
1:47 pm
Stats don’t lie.
Our no blitz D of Al Groh has cost us many games.
He is hated by many at his alma mater Virginia.
One told me he destroyed their recruiting efforts at areas they used to own.
What we saw against Miami, we had seen before 2 years earlier against Russell Wilson in 2010.
Wilson is good but he will be all world if u don’t pressure him.
With Al, we are the only team that is so stumped by two wideouts, one behind the other.
Tarrant made a great pick 6 to get us back in the game vs NC State.
The crowd got loud but Wilson just calmly threw out to his WR, the other WR blocked and five to ten yards guaranteed the whole day.
They went to that play in the crisis because we failed to stop it.
MTSU reveald Groh still had no answer 2 years later.
GT Joe
October 10th, 2012
1:48 pm
Thanks 1 4. As soon as Tevin gets that Masters degree, Vad will magically “be ready”.
It’s funny how it works out that way.
MaconGTFan
October 10th, 2012
1:49 pm
Aight Joe, give me some of your facts then. And by the way, I think I’ll listen to Skinner over some idiot who’s only “facts” are a YouTube video. Kinda funny how you claim Vad is ready, then contradict yourself by saying PJ “dumbed down the offense” so that he’d play more. So which is it Joe? Either he’s ready or not. Hell just by you saying the o is dumbed down means bed not, but you’re obviously to dumb to realize that.
Oxymoron - Dr. Dwag
October 10th, 2012
1:50 pm
next game in sanford there will be 93,000 red shirts there. compared to, what, 15, 000 gt fans. 15000 ‘angry’ uga fans, would never drown out the other 88k real fans.
Let’s see 15,000 + 88,000 = 93,000 — nice
sTroll away now….
MaconGTFan
October 10th, 2012
1:51 pm
*He’s not bed.
North Ave Killer Beez
October 10th, 2012
1:53 pm
Tevin in not a bad QB and the Offense is not the problem. But I think many GT fans believe the offense could have been and will be much better with Vad. The only way that happens is with PT. The season has been a total waste so far.
Ken Sugiura
October 10th, 2012
1:53 pm
GT Fan – is it possible the A-back runs and the passes were effective because johnson was selective in when he called them? those plays often work because the b-back runs that make defenses have to honor the inside running game.
Juvenal – good suggestion. I don’t want to just throw out a wish list, though.
Jacket Detective
October 10th, 2012
1:54 pm
@GT Fan.
Good info.
If Paul Johnson had just hired someone like that, where would we be the last 3 years?
I’m still curious what kind of search he did after firing Wommack.
Rather than take any of the blame for the 2009 Uga loss, he tossed Wommack under the bus.
Groh should not have been allowed to attend our practices.
What kind of creep shows up so soon after a firing hoping for an opening somewhere else?
GT Joe
October 10th, 2012
1:54 pm
MaconGTFool: you are the one claiming Vad MISREAD every play. With no facts to back that up. I merely suggested that MAYBE those were the play calls. Or MAYBE CPJ simplified it for Vad. I don’t need facts to put out a theory.
You, on the other hand, need facts to back up what you state. And all you have is Riley Skinner. LOL.
Class dismissed.
Ken Sugiura
October 10th, 2012
1:57 pm
maryland’s defensive coordinator is brian stewart. interesting story in the washington post.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/maryland-vs-wake-forest-when-brian-stewart-talks-or-raps-the-terrapins-listen/2012/10/05/d198225c-0e66-11e2-bb5e-492c0d30bff6_story.html
Jacket Detective
October 10th, 2012
1:58 pm
Joe.
No first down gets u right back on the bench.
U have claimed incorrectly that Vad has succeeded every time.
He has mostly played against the 2nd and 3rd string.
If there is one thing I agree with Paul on, it is hows he has handled his QBs.
No need to rush Vad in panic because Groh’s defense can’t stop anyone.
Groh is one of the worst hires I can recall at Tech.
Heck even Hewitt got us to #2 in the nation one year.
GT Joe
October 10th, 2012
1:58 pm
Beez: Offense is not a problem? Let’s see:
VT Game: 0 pts in OT
Miami game: 0 pts in the last 10 minutes of the 3rd quarter, 4th quarter and OT
MTSU game: 7 pts in the 2nd half.
Clemson game: 10 pts in 2nd half, 3 pts. in the 4th quarter.
Not gonna cut it. Either blame the coach, the scheme, or the players. Which is it.
Jacket Detective
October 10th, 2012
1:59 pm
Thanks Ken.
U da man.
MaconGTFan
October 10th, 2012
1:59 pm
Aight then Joe answer me this, if he made the right call or reads, then why wasn’t he put back in until a minute left in the game? Its because he made the wrong reads and PJ knew he did. You’re just an idiot who thinks he knows everything. Again, there’s a reason Vad isn’t starting and its because he doesn’t know how to properly run the offense. And minus Nesbit, no QB is gonna get out there without knowing how to run it.
GT Joe
October 10th, 2012
2:01 pm
JD: “no first downs get you back on the bench”? Hardly. I wish it were so. Here’s Tevin in the 2nd half vs. MTSU:
1. Drive #1: failed 3rd down pass attempt by Tevin.
2. Drive #2: Fumble on 1st play.
3. Drive #3: Tevin rushes for -2 yards on 3rd and 10. Failed 4th down pass.
4. Drive #4: Tevin TD. Hallelujah.
5. Drive #5: Tevin INT on first play.
6. Drive #6: Tevin sacked for 7 yard loss on 1st down, then incomplete passes on 2nd, 3rd AND 4th down.
7. Drive #7: Vad Lee goes 61 yards in 1:17.
Jacket Detective
October 10th, 2012
2:01 pm
3 games given away by Groh’s no pressure defense.
That resulted in a demoralized team against MTSU.
Tevin did not demoralize the team.
Al Groh did.
The cancer is finally gone and now we can hope again.
Not happy about the three lost years where we seldom got a stop and even less in the 4th qt.
GT Joe
October 10th, 2012
2:05 pm
MaconFool: I never said he made the right reads. I basically said, maybe he did, maybe he didn’t. You said for certain that he MISREAD. With no facts. You might be entitled to your own computer and your own home, but you aren’t entitled to your own facts.
He doesn’t know how to properly run the offense? Says who? Riley Skinner? Can’t wait to hear this source you have. LOL.
Just because CPJ isn’t playing him, he isn’t ready? Oh, like CPJ is right all the time? Like with that Al Groh hiring?
Ignorance must be bliss.
GT Joe
October 10th, 2012
2:07 pm
Teflon Tevin demoralizes a team like no one else. Look at the team reaction after the INT at VT. Even on the sidelines, you’d think a group of players would surround him, etc., but nobody came.
MaconGTFan
October 10th, 2012
2:07 pm
Joe answer the question, if he ran it correctly then why wasn’t he put back in until a minute left to play? Go ahead and answer it. You never answered my other question about if Vad is ready, then why does PJ have to dumb the o down for him.
Jacket Detective
October 10th, 2012
2:08 pm
Joe
Against Uga, the SC QB underthrew the ball exactly like Tevin did.
Was there a pick?
No.
The WR caught the ball first.
Then he shed the defender and ran to the Uga one yard line.
Other teams have WRs who can catch the ball.
We don’t and haven;t for years with the TO.
I have defended our WRs in that they seldom get a chance.
But they seldom make plays like WRs on other teams.
Dude.
MTSU should not be able to hang with GT for a quarter even.
The MTSU loss is on the whole team.
But I defend that team because I think Groh demoralized them.
Tevin in that game was playing on a team that looked pitiful on defense against a pitiful team.
That is one game you really have to stretch things to pin on him.
Jacket Detective
October 10th, 2012
2:11 pm
The MTSU game reminded us on Bill Lewis’s last year.
The team decided to get him fired and went 1-10 intentionally.
Sure looked like something similar was going on vs MTSU.
That is why the firing was made.
Johnson figured out things could get worse with Groh.
The change had to be made.
GT Joe
October 10th, 2012
2:12 pm
MaconFan: your logic is idiotic. do you think if vad ran those plays right, he would stay in the game until he messed up? What a fool. By your logic, Tevin would have been benched after misreading the Miami defense in OT. Or after misreading the 4th down in the 1st quarter at clemson.
And i never said he dumbed it down for vad. I said MAYBE. Because i’m not arrogant like you to think i KNOW the answer. Again, you don’t have the right to your own facts.
MaconGTFan
October 10th, 2012
2:13 pm
@JD Agree about the receivers. Tech hasn’t bad a receiver that can catch on a regular basis since Bey-Bey. Hill was an athletic freak who some of the worse butterfingers since James Johnson.
GT Joe
October 10th, 2012
2:14 pm
Wow JD. A new low for Teflon Tevin apologists. Blaming WRs for Tevin’s underthrown ducks.
Now this is getting comical.
And please stop throwing our WRs under the bus! They are just children! (sarcasm).
GT Joe
October 10th, 2012
2:15 pm
You know what JD, you are right. It is the WRs fault. The WRs should only run at 80% of full speed to account for Tevin’s weak arm. They should have learned that in fall practice.
All the WRs should be benched immediately, and let some backup O-Lineman be WR; their speed will be a great match for Tevin’s arm on those fly routes.
GT Joe
October 10th, 2012
2:16 pm
On 3rd thought, it’s not the WRs fault for being so fast, or not running at 80% of full speed. It’s the coaches fault.
Fire the WR coach ASAP.
MaconGTFan
October 10th, 2012
2:17 pm
GT Joe
October 10th, 2012
1:43 pm
MaconGTFan: LOL. Riley Skinner? Really? Are you citing Riley Skinner? I guess Riley knows the play call from CPJ, right? Does he get the live feed from CPJ’s microphone? Please. go away.
Again, you have no idea what the play call is. For all we know, he dumbed down some play calls for Vad. “Misread”? You have no clue.
Anytime you have some FACTS, I’ll listen.
Now read the second paragraph Joe. Keep living in your world where only you know the “truth.”
GT Joe
October 10th, 2012
2:17 pm
MaconFool: Tech hasn’t had a receiver that could catch since…………………
Tevin became starter.
GT Joe
October 10th, 2012
2:19 pm
MaconFool: apparently you don’t know what “for all we know” means. Ask your mommy when you run into words that stump you.
MaconGTFan
October 10th, 2012
2:21 pm
Whatever Joe, you’re the only one saying that so it goes towards you and you alone.
GT Joe
October 10th, 2012
2:22 pm
nice dodge.
MaconGTFan
October 10th, 2012
2:25 pm
How is that a dodge when you are the only one that says PJ dumbed it down. Also love how you haven’t answered my question about if Vads ready then why would PJ have to dumb it down for Vad. Nice dodge there twice.
GT Joe
October 10th, 2012
2:32 pm
MaconFool: Are you that dumb, or just playing dumb?
I never said he dumbed it down for Vad. I said “for all we know, he dumbed it down for vad”.
Translation for Honey boo boo kinfolk: “MAYBE he dumbed it down for Vad”.
Keyword: maybe.
Jacket Detective
October 10th, 2012
2:33 pm
“Then Stewart (maryland’s new d coor) told Hartsfield he is not the type to sit back, He wants to bring pressure.
Hartsfield was sold. He now leads the team in tackles.”
Stewart also, to my surprise, uses the 3-4.
But he is much, much more AGGRESSIVE with it.
Al Groh’s D is old man football.
What a menace.
MaconGTFan
October 10th, 2012
2:35 pm
Whatever Joe, if he’s ready like you claim him to, then why would PJ even possibly have to dumb it down for him?
1 4 GT
October 10th, 2012
2:36 pm
Ken, what do you think about me emailing your posted link to CPJ with wording that should not insult him or anything similar?
GT Joe
October 10th, 2012
2:43 pm
Are you asking me what CPJ’s logic would be for a HYPOTHETICAL SITUATION? LOL, I have no idea.
But I’m sure you KNOW the answer. Tell us all what Riley Skinner thinks.
MaconGTFan
October 10th, 2012
2:48 pm
Nice dodge there Joe. You’ve said plenty of times on this blog Vads ready, now when I ask you a question about if he’s ready, then why would PJ possibly dumb the o down for him. Again no real answer. And I think I’ll trust Skinners assessment over some idiot who spouts the same crap day in and day out for over a month straight now.
juvenal
October 10th, 2012
2:48 pm
Joe-may as well give it a rest-even if we just blame Tev’s perfect losing record in close 4th qtr. games on bad luck, they would just say the D stole his lucky rabbits foot……..you are getting a little obsessed there, man-even winnie doesn’t beat a point to death as much-at least we will see a different QB next year……