Georgia Tech drilled, problems start with Al Groh’s defense
Common scene: UGA (Chris Conley) scoring, Tech (Rod Sweeting) watching. (Brant Sanderlin)
When a team looks flat, lost and beat up and loses 31-17 to its chief rival — and it really wasn’t even that close — generally no player or area is immune to criticism.
Physically, Georgia Tech got hammered Saturday by Georgia. There were mental lapses. Emotionally, the Jackets seemed to lack a pulse on their home field against the only opponent that usually defines their season — which probably is the greatest indictment of all, considering the 364 days of buildup on a campus where the rallying cry is, “To hell with Georgia.”
“You have to play with everything you have. We didn’t,” linebacker Steven Sylvester said.
How does that happen? Were they saving it for the Sun Bowl?
But Tech’s biggest problem Saturday against Georgia was no different than what its biggest problem has been for four years under coach Paul Johnson. Their defense stinks. They can’t stop anybody or intimidate anybody. Two many games come down to pinball games.
Bad defense got Dave Wommack fired after two seasons. Bad defense under Al Groh should leave his future uncertain at the end of a two-year contract. Groh hasn’t said definitively that he wants to come back, but the question Johnson needs to ask himself is: Do I want him back?
This is no minor issue. Johnson has won 34 games in four seasons. The Jackets’ 8-4 record this season going into their bowl finale certainly is not worse than most projected at the outset of this season, and it’s probably better. But when you have a defense that ranks 43rd in yardage, 56th in points allowed and 89th in third-down conversion, you’re not going anywhere.
Georgia is good, very good. The Dogs have better players and are as hot as any team in the country, save LSU (next week’s opponent in the SEC championship). But when the Bulldogs accumulated 254 yards on their first four possessions, this game was over. Georgia didn’t even punt until its sixth possession. By then, it was 24-10.
Johnson’s view of his defense’s inability to stop the Dogs: “It’s deflating. I think it deflates the whole team.”
The option offense isn’t built to play from behind. Neither is quarterback Tevin Washington. When the Jackets tried to open it up, Washington was intercepted twice on Tech’s first three possessions in the second half.
But remember where the problems started.
Georgia’s superiority on the field shouldn’t discount that Groh’s 3-4 defense got worse late in the season and has failed in the big picture. Tech is no better off on defense today than it was when they fired the last guy. Nationally, under Wommack the Jackets finished 28th (2008) and 54th (2009) in total defense. They were 64th in Groh’s first season and went into this week 43rd. Scoring defense in the past four seasons: 20th and 38th, respectively, under Wommack; 37th and 56th (entering the week) under Groh.
Progress?
Johnson is an offensive-oriented coach. When he goes consecutive series without a touchdown, he goes postal, but even he recognizes the importance of having some semblance of a defense, or he wouldn’t have made a change two years ago.
Groh wasn’t made available for comment Saturday. Just as well. He might need some time to figure out how to spin this one. There was an expected transition period with the switch to the 3-4 defense last year, but it’s not any better now. The Jackets still don’t have the players to play it, particularly up front.
Young teams should get better as the year goes on. But Tech has back-slid since a 31-17 upset of Clemson, with mediocre defensive performances against Virginia Tech, Duke and Georgia.
Sylvester on the difference since the Clemson game: “I think it’s just playing with emotion. If you turn on the film of the Clemson game you can see how emotional we were. I feel like we came out flat the last couple of games. We didn’t have as much energy as we should have, and our attention to detail wasn’t [good enough].”
Players should be able to get up for its rival, but that’s also on coaches for not having them prepared. Johnson and Groh share that responsibility.
But the head coach isn’t going anywhere. Groh, we’re not so sure. And when Tech fails, it’s usually not because of the offense.
By Jeff Schultz
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632 comments Add your comment
GT Man
November 27th, 2011
1:51 pm
Sam, PJ wouldnt go after him, only if Troy or Elon offers. PJ had rather squak all week about the special teams, but dosen’t do anything about it. FSU won for 4 years with Jankowski, he booted out of endzone and hit 50 yarders. PJ had rather go for it on 4th down.
Paul Has A Small Johnson
November 27th, 2011
1:56 pm
Tech people
The ESPN announcer made a great point yesterday.
Tech’s defense has to practice against that garbage middle school option veer week after week and so when a team like UGA comes in and can throw and run the ball your defense cant react because it only sees that in some of their games
Dont blame Groh, blame that Know It All Arrogant Turkey Neck Coach you have with his no one has stopped my offense yet attitude
Bad Dawg
November 27th, 2011
2:10 pm
01HAWK
I am curious as a bulldog fan to why an Alabama fan would care anything about a UGA team that Alabama is obviously superior to in terms of coaching and recruiting football players and is primed to play in their second national championship in 3 years. UGA did not even play Alabama this year. So please feel free to explain this to me as I am puzzled.
Georgia has chance to upset LSU in SEC championship | Jeff Schultz
November 27th, 2011
2:18 pm
[...] is loaded with receivers: Orson Charles, Malcolm Mitchell, Tavarres King , et. al. (Just when Georgia Tech figured it had everybody covered Saturday, a freshman, Chris Conley, popped open in the end zone. Chris Conley? He’s UGA’s sixth-leading [...]
jay
November 27th, 2011
2:24 pm
I thought the tv announcers made a good point. How does Groh prepare his defense week in and
week out when he has to practice against the triple option offense every week?
wrecked
November 27th, 2011
2:26 pm
Unless Tech can continue to load up its schedule with teams like Mtenn, kansas, western carolina, maryland, duke . Those are the teams pj can beat , Clemson will wind up the year with 5 losses. Pj dragging this program to depths deeper than The Bill Lewis years.
Cobb Dawg
November 27th, 2011
2:33 pm
5150 UOAD, do you have any idea what kind of clown you are? Yep, we’re playing in the Dome again, and happy to be there. The only view that you gnats get of the Dome is from the outside. It’s a pretty nice place. We’d send you photos of the inside but it would only make you more envious than you already are. Why are you still running your mouth, World of Warcraft player broken?
75tranzam
November 27th, 2011
3:02 pm
Your defense sucks because it sees a gimmick offense every practice that doesn’t prepare it for a pro-style offense.
You don’t have the athletes to run a 3-4 defense.
Buck
November 27th, 2011
3:11 pm
UGA should start playing Georgia Southern at the end of the year, they are the state’s true #2 program. Once the Big East takes Georgia Southern Division I-A, Georgia Tech football is toast. Why would any kid in Georgia go to Georgia Tech when they can go to Georgia Southern and go to a school that actually has girls and college majors where you don’t have to be a nerd to stay in.
Buck
November 27th, 2011
3:14 pm
Georgia Tech is a dump, it’s They have no good looking girls. And their ciriculum is for nerds, geeks, and weirdos.
Buck
November 27th, 2011
3:18 pm
The triple option wins if you have a defense and true athletes. Georgia Tech cannot recruit true athletes with their nerd ciriculum. All they can recruit is soft players. You can’t be a nerd and a athlete. You have to be a man to play triple option football. Al Groh has to go. The GT defense has played soft for years now.
Mad Dog One
November 27th, 2011
3:30 pm
Didn’t I tell you to BE AFRAID BE VERY AFRAID THE DAWGA WERE COMMING. Good luck in you bowl game. Some GT fans have class some are techmites same as UGA, but I hope we don’t try to live through other teams. You lost to a better team. As always GO DOGS & GATA
TriviaDawg
November 27th, 2011
4:05 pm
@Dawg’88: Tech is WAY down on my personal list the list of football teams in this state. Lest we forget about Kennesaw State…Shorter University…and after about 2013 Berry College (Go Vikes!)… Hell, let’s go ahead and add Gainesville HS, Buford HS, Calhoun HS, and a dozen other respectable teams!!!!!
JS1221212
November 27th, 2011
4:16 pm
Great scrimmage yesterday.. Surprising the scout team was able to put up 17, though. Good tune up for the real thing next weekend!
UGA31
November 27th, 2011
4:28 pm
Does The Flat’s refer to the GT Cheerleaders?
Tony
November 27th, 2011
4:30 pm
I have been following Tech for twenty five years. I still like them, but they have always had a problem on defense, particularly with the pass. They play a soft zone and the quarterbacks eat them up alive. The defense played with very little passion, considering who they were playing. We have to remember though, that the Dawgs are stacked with all of those 4 and 5 star recruits against Tech’s 2 and 3 star players. They’re supposed to have the better team. Oh well, maybe next year!
Academics
November 27th, 2011
4:43 pm
Tech’s stringent academic requirements prevent them from recruiting all those low intellect types on the roster at the university of football in athens—must be nice to admit anyone with a pulse who couldn’t get in using regular rules. Congrats to the ga dogs—they win at all costs!!!
45ACP
November 27th, 2011
4:46 pm
Just got in from Church, lunch and visiting friends. WOW after reviewing some of the older posts there are some bitter and angry folks on here.
techie pansy schedual
November 27th, 2011
4:46 pm
techie HAD 7 WINS AGAINST TEAM WITH A RECORD OF 22 WINS AMDS 54 DEFEATS. TALK ABOUT AN EASY SCHEDUAL AND SISSY BOY JOHNSON WANT TO DROP GEORGIA AND PICK UP TULANE AND ALSO WANTS TO MOVE TO THE BIG SKY CONFERENCE.
techie pansy schedual
November 27th, 2011
5:01 pm
TO 45ACP AND ALSO SOME DUMB AZZ LIKE ACADEMIC WHO IS DEFF, DUMB AND BLIND. ALL FOOTBALL PLAYERS TAKE HOTEL MANAGEMENT AND THE TOUGHEST COURSE THEY TAKE IS HOW TO RUN A REGISTER AND MOST OF THEM FAIL THIS.
Tony
November 27th, 2011
6:10 pm
Buck you SOB you can die and go straight to HELL. I have 1 daughter that is a gradsuate from GA Tech and 1 that will in DEC. and both can hold their own with anything that is at georiee. In fact if what I saw walking the campus Saturday is an example of what is at georgiee then they as well as many others at Tech would be beauty queens. Also one is employeed with a large corporation and the 1 that graduates in Dec has 2 offers on the table right now. I’m betting that before their careers are over they will earn much more than you can dream of. You have a good football team but don’t forget there are no PE, Education or Housing Majors at Ga Tech. What ever a Housing major is.They educate and produce successful students not students as one of your school’s president said one time,”at least they can get a job at the post office. A real goal if there ever was one.
Pierce County DAWG
November 27th, 2011
6:20 pm
GO DAWGS
Tony
November 27th, 2011
6:29 pm
ATL XMAN It has nothing to do with who is coaching any of the teams in the ACC. It is the soft commissioner the ACC has. In the South Carolina Auburn game Shaw was hit helment to helment and fumbled the ball on the goal line, In last weeks Ga Kentucky game a Ga player hit a Kentucky player head to head and in neither case was a flag dropped. This year Tech had two hard hits on receivers in different games leading with the shoulder and in one instance the head was never touched. In both cases Tech was hit with penalties. One of the penalties was called “Targeting” what ever that is. So is it any wonder ACC schools are at a disadvantage when playing conferences that take football serious. When the ACC expanded this year it added 2 basketball schools that haven’t been anything but average at best in football in years. If your looking for the problem with ACC football it’s not the talent, as the ACC puts many players in the NFL, look at the commissioner’s office. John Swafford is the worst football commissioner in the history of football.
Pierce County DAWG
November 27th, 2011
6:36 pm
You techies need to grow a pair and quit posting with another names. I forgot you are ashamed of your midget football team. We could have beat you 50 to 0. Tech does not even give a good scrimmage any more. you are pathetic along with your team hawk01.
Tony
November 27th, 2011
6:37 pm
Jeff to yell To Hell with Ga in the Munson tribute or any other is not acceptable. However in 1986 Jim Luck a long time Tech coach was killed in an auto accident the night before the Tech GA game. On Munson’s Sunday call in show a Ga caller stated he was happy that coach Luck was killed and he wished that would happen to every Tech fan. Munson just giggled and said you don’t mean that. So if you are looking at great character just look at your on fan base and in that case your famed announcer.
Tony
November 27th, 2011
6:46 pm
PC Dawg what’s your point. I do post with my actual name. There was a 4:30 Tony post and may be others that is not me and I have no knowledge of him. Don’t just put something out there that doesn’t point to a particular person or point. It just seems useless. By the way if those you are pointing to don’t have any balls what does that make you unless your real name is Pierce County Dawg which is doubt.
Mex
November 27th, 2011
7:14 pm
@ Academics –
Too bad the FACTS ruin your disgusting, outright lie. Tek is dead last in the ACC in graduating both football and basketball players. They recruit nearly 90% of the same kids UGA does straight out of high school. Try again, you miserable, lying, friendless d-bag.
Mex
November 27th, 2011
7:15 pm
Tony = Typical miserable, lying, spineless, disgusting Tek fan.
31-17!!!
Choke on it!!!
Jack
November 27th, 2011
7:23 pm
I’m sure your dad has something you can chock on Mex
Tony
November 27th, 2011
7:25 pm
MEX which Tony are you talking to? Be a little more on point. Nothing I have said has been a lye. May be I need to include my whole name so you will know you you are talking too unlike you unless your name is MEX.
Jack
November 27th, 2011
7:26 pm
chock choke you get the idea. Damn Autocorrect. You get the idea though.
mreed14
November 27th, 2011
8:14 pm
Can you blame Tech’s players for not being passionate? They were playing at home but the stadium was 40% UGA fans, that made way more noise than Tech fans from start to finish…..The triple option can be affective and has in some games but once your down by 10 points or more in the 2nd half the game is over. No QB with a decent arm will ever want to run that offense so he can get laid out 10 times a game while pitching the ball. It’s a boring offense and will never encourage new fans to come to the games.
geauxtigers
November 27th, 2011
8:24 pm
Bring it ladies. I love the chest thumping when a weak SEC East team beats their “rival”. Talk about a real football team. Yall have lost to the only two “real” football teams you played this year (if you consider a team that plays on a smurf field “real”). Get ready for a lesson at the Dome and another mediocre season for the folks from Athens.
Technically Correct
November 27th, 2011
9:36 pm
Tech always has a few exceptional athletes, but not in the same numbers as many of the programs we face. Just check out the 3, 4 and 5-star commitments. Tech routinely get out-recruited by most of the ACC and all of the SEC. We always have a couple of pieces, but rarely the whole package. Good receiver? Poor QB. Good linebackers? Poor D-line. Good field goal kicker? Poor punters and kick-off personnel. Good running backs? Poor receivers. It is a numbers game and Tech cannot recruit the numbers necessary to compete at a high level. When Tech gets out-recruited by Vanderbilt, something is very wrong.
Recently, Tech engaged a firm to find out what would improve the “fan experience” and help fill the stadium. I could have saved them a LOT of money – recruit more and better athletes, which will translate into a better product on the filed. Sanford Stadium is filled with “wannabees,” many of whom probably never set foot in UGA classrooms, but who go to football games simply to be a part of a winning program. Maybe that means increasing the recruiting budget. Maybe that means teaching Coach Johnson how to appeal to 18-year old “superstars.”
For the last two years we have witnessed the late season collapse that comes from a depleted cupboard. You can’t hide the lack of enough talent when you hit the meat of your schedule.
jdl2
November 28th, 2011
8:05 am
We lost another great coach last week, when Spec Landrum passed away. Was at Tech for 13 years, at Georgia for 5, and Athletic Director at Kennesaw State. Celebration service at Stillwell Theater on Kennesaw Campus 7 pm Wednesday the 30th.
Davis
November 28th, 2011
8:24 am
See ya AL…!
Jelly-Nizzle
November 28th, 2011
8:48 am
Two many games? Two? Wow. I thought Tech fans were also Nerds, but apparently not.
Dawgfence
November 28th, 2011
9:36 am
Geeky nerds, get out of the top 25 and stay out!!! You’re always sneeking in only to be discovered with head down in the corner trying not be noticed. Then the jig is up and you’re thrown out on your face.
wreckmaniac
November 28th, 2011
9:39 am
I hope that DRAD and PJ have been at work since 6 this morning trying to determine if they have what it takes to keep their jobs. Resignations would be appreciated.
wreckmaniac
November 28th, 2011
9:43 am
If PJ needs help in figuring out how to handle UGA, he should watch Les Miles down the street this week.
wreckmaniac
November 28th, 2011
9:50 am
What % of UGA coeds have their own teeth ?
wreckmaniac
November 28th, 2011
9:53 am
Richt knows the party’s over now. I”ll bet that smirk dosen’t show up this week. If I were PJ I would place a huge blowup of that smirk in : His own office first and then in the players locker room.
wreckmaniac
November 28th, 2011
9:54 am
DRAD and PJ : BEAT UGA OR BE GONE !!
wreckmaniac
November 28th, 2011
10:09 am
If UGA was committed to winning a national championship it would join the Big East where it may have a chance. Since Urban Meyer left FL, there is no coach in the SEC east that can beat the SEC west in a a league champ game. This proves that UGA is all about money rather than championships.
62-39-5
November 28th, 2011
10:46 am
I love watching wreckadouchiak melting down, as his dreams of beating UGA are crushed again.
ALL UGA coeds have their own teeth. How many tech males have to place ads on Craigs List to learn how to kiss?
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,377121,00.html
NEEEEEERRRRRDDDSSS
31-17 ALL YEAR LONG
62-39-5
November 28th, 2011
10:50 am
You can get a blowup of Richt’s smirk or any dog player or fan, because we’ll have it on our face until we beat you again next year.
We own you.
Good luck in Shreveport, losing yet another bowl game.
I had the Paul Johnson special at Shoney’s this morning.
All you can eat cereal, without the bowl.
I love the perfect option.
BBBWWWAAHHHAAHHHAAA
62-39-5
November 28th, 2011
10:52 am
It was Georgia Trek that left the SEC, because they couldn’t hang.
BBBWWWAAHHAAHHHA
Beating you never gets old….never.
LawDawg
November 28th, 2011
11:45 am
The coach does not particularly matter. Johnson is not able to recruit top talent.
wreckmaniac
November 28th, 2011
11:49 am
62-39-5 : I have to admit, you gave me some laughs. Are these the measurements of your girlfriend ?
Techbuzz
November 28th, 2011
1:09 pm
Jeff, I have been telling everyone that when you play a 3-4 D scheme, that you only have 3 down line man and when those line man are the most under sized line men in college football by at least 45 lbs and 4 inches, you aren’t pass rushing ANYBODY!!!!! This “defense” sucks and we don’t have the players to play it. When John Tenuta was our DC, we may have not had the best offense, but by God we were in the top 10 in defense every year he was here. Why we let him go is still a mystery to me? Find John Tenuta and sign him for 10 years!!!!!!!!!!!! I have seen him coach at a Tech spring game……HE DON’T PLAY!!!!!!!!!!!