Charles Kelly focusing in on task at hand
Charles Kelly thought he was recruiting. In fact, he was interviewing for his job.
In the weeks after Paul Johnson was hired to replace Chan Gailey as coach of Georgia Tech in Dec. 2007, Gailey’s assistants stayed on to coach in the bowl game. Their futures at Tech were, at best, uncertain. In some cases, their commitment to keep recruiting reflected that.
Kelly, then Tech’s special-teams coordinator, kept up with phone calls and accompanied Johnson on home visits. After one visit, Johnson told Kelly that he wanted to be up front with him that he wasn’t necessarily going to be retained.
“And I will never forget,” Johnson said. “He told me, he said, ‘My dad taught me a long time ago, if you’re taking a man’s money, then you should work. I’m still taking their money, so I should work.’”
Kelly’s actions and response helped secure himself a spot on Johnson’s staff. Through his continued work, he has earned an opportunity to make the best of a bad situation and perhaps advance his career. For the remainder of the season, Kelly will serve as Tech’s interim defensive coordinator in the place of Al Groh, fired Monday.
“I’m going to do the job as hard as I can,” said Kelly, who grew up in Ozark, Ala., the son of a high school football coach.
Kelly, who comes across as earnest and team-oriented, assumes leadership of a listing ship. Tech has lost its past three games and given up 42, 49 and 47 points, becoming the first Tech team ever to allow 40 or more points in three consecutive games. Out of 120 FBS teams, the Yellow Jackets are ranked 89th in the country in scoring defense (30.2 points per game), 90th in total defense (431.0 yards per game) and 103rd in defensive third-down conversion percentage (47.8 percent).
His answer is to reduce the scheme, put players in position to succeed and practice with energy.
“The biggest thing we’ve tried to instill is, Hey, listen: What you do on Saturday are the habits that you develop during the week,” Kelly said.
The Jackets also figure to tweak the 3-4 scheme to a style more suited to the players’ s strengths and use more players than Groh had. Coaches also plan to run more full-speed drills to sharpen players’ tackling, a weak spot. Kelly, who has been a defensive coordinator at the FCS level at Nicholls State and Jacksonville State, will rely on the input of fellow defensive assistants Andy McCollum, Joe Speed and David Walkosky, the special-teams coordinator who is taking on the defensive line.
“He’s got us involved and we’re committed to him,” Walkosky said. “It’s really a ‘we’ thing.”
Kelly, 45, has made the work ethic he learned from his father Lavon and from Auburn coaching great Pat Dye, whom Kelly played for as a walk-on, a point of emphasis with his players.
“He made me a better player by never letting me get comfortable, always pushing me to do better,” former safety Rashaad Reid said.
Mario Butler, who played cornerback for Kelly and is on the Dallas Cowboys practice squad, said that besides insufficient effort, mental mistakes also drive Kelly up a wall.
“It wasn’t really nice, I can say that,” said Butler, asked how Kelly reacted to mental errors.
An intolerance for not executing assignments properly – and better yet, a method for avoiding them altogether – would do the Jackets well. Under Groh, players repeatedly lined up out of position and were unable to run the defense correctly. In last Saturday’s 47-31 loss to Clemson, Groh’s last, Johnson said he thought there were 47 missed assignments. Under Kelly’s direction, Tech will simplify its scheme to keep players from being slowed by having to think through their assignments.
Kelly’s players swear by him, not only for his coaching ability but for how he has developed relationships with them away from the game.
“I think he’ll do a great job,” Butler said. “I think the guys are going to respond well and play hard for him.”
Kelly will have the opportunity to win the full-time job, though, once again, there are no guarantees. And, like the last time, the only angle Kelly is playing is the one his father taught him.
“Honestly, what I’ve tried to do is focus on Georgia Tech and those players,” he said. “I think if you work and do your job, do everything you can, work as hard as you can, I can live with the results.”
(I think this should conclude Charles Kelly week.)
In case you missed it…
Notes: Tech defense receives energy fusion
Notes: Jackets move forward without Groh
Jeff Schultz: Radakovich says Johnson is ‘right person for this job’
Audition begins for interim Charles Kelly
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173 comments Add your comment
Wow, Supersize sure has...
October 13th, 2012
10:32 am
Enter your comments here
Wow, Supersize sure has...
October 13th, 2012
10:34 am
…his boxers in a bunch over a stupid handle – if he would take his own advice and ignore it things may get back to normal…
Wow, Supersize sure has...
October 13th, 2012
10:35 am
and the blog filter will take boxers but not p a n t i e s in a w a d…go figure
Jacket Detective
October 13th, 2012
11:06 am
Richt would have his boxers in a wad too if he had the stones to read any dawg blog.
He doesn’t.
He would not be so smooth in all his commercials were he to know that 75% of his fanbase (dawg fan estimate) think he is a lousy coach. (might be closer to 95%)
He wants to deliver the product on those commercials he gets paid for but doesn’t seem to mind shortchanging dawg fans year after year.
What’s his networth?
Over 20 million yet no BCS NC.
GT Fan
October 13th, 2012
11:09 am
GT Fan
October 13th, 2012
11:06 am
Supersize, quit being vague on the “something smells fishy” Fred Holton injury.
Here we are, 6 games played, now the bye week so week 7, and I think FH has already been ruled out for week 8???
We fans were led to believe he MIGHT play vs. Va Tech!? Now, 2 MONTHS later he’s still listed with an “undisclosed” injury? Is this some kind of mental (a.k.a. academic) injury?
That’s what me is startin to believe. B/c a physical injury, which many thought was going to be healed in week 1, would surely have healed by now……
Supersize that order, mutt
October 13th, 2012
11:55 am
@ GT Fan…..I know what I posted is vague and lends itself to “something smells fishy”, but I was asked by my source who knows Holton’s mom on a personal basis not to say what the problem is. I have no idea why that request was made, but I WILL honor it. I will say this much though, assuming my source is correct, Holton’s problem IS physical and not mental or academic.
1 4 GT
October 13th, 2012
12:11 pm
I sit here watching Game Day on ESPN. I see the new helmets Notre Dame is wearing & I say UGH! ND is the Gold Dome. I say enough is enough! ND needs to stick with their traditional uniforms. GT needs to stick with their traditional uniforms. Tradition is not a bad thing. Tradition says who you are. We need to let our traditional look say who we are. As does ND. Let the others switch their colors to all of these gaudy combinations. Tradition & stability is needed in the lives of young people. ND is the most storied program in the nation & GT is one of the most storied. Let Notre Dame University & Georgia Institute of Technology stand for tradition, stability & excellence in life. Selah.
1 4 GT
October 13th, 2012
12:13 pm
The programs of ND & GT have been down, but they will come back!
SS loves Obama
October 13th, 2012
12:26 pm
@ 1 4…I think N Dame is back. Hopefully next year for us!
Jacket Detective
October 13th, 2012
1:14 pm
Texas is getting embarrassed.
27-2.
1st half.
Jacket Detective
October 13th, 2012
1:18 pm
Texas D looks like us vs MTSU.
9 minutes left in 1st half against Oklahoma.
At least the competition is better but Texas fans look pretty grim at this point.
Ramblnwrek
October 13th, 2012
1:21 pm
Anyone watching the Blue Devils curb-stomping the Hokies in the first quarter?
1 4 GT
October 13th, 2012
1:24 pm
SS loves……………………..do not address yourself to me at all! I do not appreciate your silly little boy games!
1 4 GT
October 13th, 2012
1:24 pm
I’m watching Duke.
1 4 GT
October 13th, 2012
1:29 pm
Miami vs UNC @ 2:30 PM ESPNU! Interested in that 1 too. & LSU vs USCe @ 8:00 PM @ LSU! Should be a good one.
Jacket Detective
October 13th, 2012
1:29 pm
I accidently clicked on an interview with Roddy prior to the 2009 season.
In the comments, Misterwax wanted fewer turnovers and no going for it on fourth from our side of the field.
He wanted CPJ to consider field position like most good coaches do.
To no avail.
Groh was a disaster but how would the year be different if CPJ punted the time vs VT we went for it on 4th and failed early in the game?
If memory serves, we have done that in the three biggest games; VT, Miami and Clemson.
And failed on all three.
No other coach does that one time much less three.
Blaming the defense is not a good excuse because this is his longtime philosophy.
The better coaches play field position from their side of the field
It just is not the smart play.
The other side can gamble too knowing if they get a stop, they’ll have great field position.
Then against Miami when he really should go for it on 4th with 2 minutes left, he chokes and calls for the punt.
That was the better gamble.
And not from your 37 vs Clemson.
Jacket Detective
October 13th, 2012
1:32 pm
Okla 29 Texas 2. Texas punting after safety.
Texas only points came from a flubbed Okla extra point try returned for the 2 points.
This is making Uga-USC look like a nail-biter.
Step away from the railing, Texas fans.
It’s just a game.
Jacket Detective
October 13th, 2012
1:34 pm
Texs fans leaving or getting some fresh air?
Pitiful if they are leaving.
4:34 to go in the half.
Okla threatening again.
Jacket Detective
October 13th, 2012
1:35 pm
Thanks for the reminder 1 4 GT.
SS loves Obama
October 13th, 2012
1:36 pm
@ 1 4…Duke is strong. Wouldn’t be shocked if Cutcliffe was offered a big time job. On another note, I am worried that TJ doesn’t have the lateral movement to be a 2 gap player in the base 4-3. CCK may need to use somewhat of a hybrid 3-4 until the right players are in. JMO.
Jacket Detective
October 13th, 2012
1:39 pm
Ok 36 – Tex 2 (3 minutes left in half)
Okla fans: party-time.
Texas fans: want some downers? No not needed.
I don’t keep up with that league but I was expecting a better game.
1 4 GT
October 13th, 2012
1:41 pm
Still over a 1/2, but Duke looking pretty good. Our remaining 6 games are not as easy as some may think, but I am very hopeful of winning at least 5 of them. BC reportedly has a good passing game. D will have to play good. UNC not looking too bad….their number 1 RB had over 200 yards last game. BYU has a good defense. We see Duke now. UMd has a real good D. And Georgie. Who knows? GT will have to play hard & with fire & focus, but they can do it. GOOOOO JACKETS THWGeorgie
Jacket Detective
October 13th, 2012
1:41 pm
Out of respect for a fellow fan, u ought to change your name.
I have a hard time believing u r a tech fan.
Just think where your dawgs would be if they had not hired Goff, Donnan and Richt?
1 4 GT
October 13th, 2012
1:45 pm
SS lo…………what a jerk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1 4 GT
October 13th, 2012
1:48 pm
I can all but guarantee SS lov………..is NOT a Tech fan!
Jacket Detective
October 13th, 2012
1:48 pm
We should have beaten VT.
This year would have been a good year for CPJ to listen – not to me – but a Misterwax comment after May 2009 interview with Roddy.
Stop going for it from our side of the field on 4th.
Give your defense a chance for a change.
But in the 4th qt, do go for it on their side of the field. (Miami w 2 minutes to go)
Against Duke in 2010, I think we also went for it and failed.
Those 4th downs puts a lot of pressure on your QB.
Well some make excuses for CPJ because he fears his own crummy defense.
If we are going to gamble, how many times has he called for a pass?
Jacket Detective
October 13th, 2012
1:52 pm
He is finding out Supersize has some buddies who don’t like a fake supersize either.
Jacket Detective
October 13th, 2012
1:55 pm
#15 Texas.
I do believe that will be revised downward.
By a lot.
SS loves Obama
October 13th, 2012
1:56 pm
@ Jacket Detective….as usual you make very valid points. However, this is my name now. Thanks, Steve Smith
1 4 GT
October 13th, 2012
1:56 pm
JD….I agree. I draw up every time he does that in our end. And I have come to hate that same ole lame attempt to get an OS penalty call. Every team is aware of it now. Why not try a pass after the 1st RB shift….catch ‘em “locked down” every now & again.
1 4 GT
October 13th, 2012
1:58 pm
JD….agreement is on 4th downs.
1 4 GT
October 13th, 2012
1:59 pm
Steve S…..if I have anything to with it, you will never be accepted here. Fade away little boy!
Jacket Detective
October 13th, 2012
2:02 pm
I’ll be back soon.
SS loves Obama
October 13th, 2012
2:03 pm
@1 4….I respect your opinion.
1 4 GT
October 13th, 2012
2:04 pm
Well VaT is coming back….just scored after INT….20-17 Duke now. Things to do….see ya JD & all but SS lov………………………
SS loves Obama
October 13th, 2012
2:09 pm
Im out too. Will be back later. Have a good one, Steve
it is coming
October 13th, 2012
2:14 pm
As lousy as UGA is, we will put up 60 on GT, even though, GT likely will control the clock on UGA’s lazy D.
Steve Spurrier
October 13th, 2012
3:26 pm
What good is that to win ten or eleven games if u still can’t beat me?
I still own u, even at South Carolina where most figured I had no chance to even compete with Uga and now 3 straight.
SS loves Obama
October 13th, 2012
6:19 pm
Auburn is in bad shape this year. Little surprised Texas lost like they did. Could have some big time coaches fired after this season.
1 4 GT
October 13th, 2012
7:46 pm
Ken put that toothless disclaimer about everyone making nice & not acting like children & enumerating bannable (his word) offenses. Too bad he doesn’t have the guts to enforce it. On second thought, maybe that’s why he quit adding it to the end of his articles. Oh well. Guess we’ll just have to endure the stupid jerks using other guys names & mocking them & belittling other legit bloggers that have been here forever.
1 4 GT, you are...
October 13th, 2012
8:17 pm
…the stupid jerk if you think that the handle SS uses is in any way the same as the handle Supersize uses – and, yes, I knpw, as do you and Supersize, that SS changed his handle to what it now is at the suggestion/threat of Ken…so just STFU about it and move on…
And, talk about traditional uniforms...
October 13th, 2012
8:20 pm
…look at the c r a p that South Carolina is wearing tonight at LSWho…
Jacket Detective
October 13th, 2012
8:51 pm
Mett as mediocre as Murray?
7-3 USC (south)
1 4 GT
October 13th, 2012
8:57 pm
What color is that supposed to be? Some iridescent grey?
Jacket Detective
October 13th, 2012
8:58 pm
LSU using quick snap to good effect.
JD , why...
October 13th, 2012
9:32 pm
…are you so focused on UGA’s QB and UGA coaches? For aguy who relly does not like the school in Athens you sure have brought them up a lot when nobody has even mentioned them…
AR is wearing......
October 13th, 2012
9:33 pm
…similar colors to USCe in their game against KY but at least AR’s are solid and not plaid…
Go Jackets
October 14th, 2012
9:51 am
I think this young man is who we should hire at Tech…..up and coming coach, not some tired re-tread…
SS loves Obama
October 14th, 2012
11:29 am
@ Go Jackets….which coach are you suggesting?
GT Fan
October 14th, 2012
1:10 pm
Supersize …
I can appreciate you honoring your source who has been informing you about Fred Holton’s injury, but it’s just odd that what most of us have been told is some kind of foot injuryj is being kept so secrect, at his mom’s request.
Just having fun with my next comment, and no disrespect to girls (or F. Holton) but …
Is Holton recovering from a sex-change opperation? B/c he physically seems to be holding up about a well as a girl would be.
Just baffled that his injury is so secretive.