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
Follow me on Twitter (@JeffSchultzAJC). Friend me on Facebook (Facebook.com/JeffSchultzAJC).
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
632 comments Add your comment
GTBob
November 27th, 2011
1:09 am
You got beat bad and you hate it. We’ve all been there….just own it
I don’t ever like losing, but it’s really not a big deal. Especially with the money I made betting on UGA.
GTBob
November 27th, 2011
1:13 am
You have 4 10 win seasons in 56 years. UGA has 5 in the last ten.You should be ashamed of your head coach.
You are blaming CPJ for GT’s record in the last 56 years? You are just proving my point further. GT is never going to be a school that has a lot of 10 win seasons or even 8 win seasons. Why do you think that is? If Nick Saban all of the sudden decided to coach at GT, he would struggle to win 8-10 games.
falconfiend
November 27th, 2011
1:15 am
Al groh was upset with that tech run only offense. time for a new head coach. Problems start with that bubble gum offense that the head coach runs. you will not win in the sec playing like that. CONGRATS TO THEM DAWGS. BEAT LSU.
St.Simon's Daddy
November 27th, 2011
1:18 am
Only point to prove is that you are a idiot and have no life. The AJC blogs are your life. You might as well talk to the wall because it obvious you have no social skills. My point about CPJ is that he is an opinionated idiot just like yourself. He is at home just like you mad that his team lost and has 364 more days of hearing that UGA runs this state.
GTBob
November 27th, 2011
1:20 am
He is at home just like you mad that his team lost and has 364 more days of hearing that UGA runs this state.
Honestly, I don’t think it bothers CPJ much. He will never be caught up in the rivalry as much as fans are. I’m not sure the players even care much.
GT is a 4th rate high school team
November 27th, 2011
1:24 am
That was a good SCOUT TEAM that the North Avenue High School Institute had today. LOL
GT is a 4th rate high school team
November 27th, 2011
1:28 am
Rather, that was a good Full Pad scrimmage by the Scout Team of North Avenue HS.
dawg555
November 27th, 2011
1:29 am
Wow GTBob….you are a bigger sleaze than I thought. If you are doing so well with your bets, why don’t you consider donating part of it to your university for research and continued academic excellence….your true passion. And there are many philanthropic societies that could use the funding. You could finally succeed at something!
headley lamar
November 27th, 2011
1:35 am
CPJ is now 2 – 9 all time against Va Tech UGA and the bowl game.
GT is a 4th rate high school team
November 27th, 2011
1:38 am
This is that time of the year that even SANTA wearing his RED Suit and BLACK belt says HOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOOHO and Rings that Athens Bell Clang,clang, clang. There goes those GTHS making my Holidays Jolly and Bright again and again.
GT is a 4th rate high school team
November 27th, 2011
1:41 am
Hey GTHS fans, what is your moral victory this year?? LOL
techismybee-otch
November 27th, 2011
1:46 am
triple floption
At 20-6 CPJ is a genius
to 26-13
now to 34-21
or he’s 14-15 since starting 20-6
GTBob
November 27th, 2011
1:50 am
why don’t you consider donating part of it to your university for research and continued academic excellence…
Don’t worry. I donate a pretty good amount to Ga Tech every year whether I win my bets or not. I never miss a roll call. How about you?
ARdawg
November 27th, 2011
2:02 am
The East may have been down a little bit this year but we still beeyotch slapped the ACC
Red Dog 77
November 27th, 2011
2:03 am
Tech just sucks all the way around, from the head man on down. Can’t believe that Johnson is getting as much leeway as he is. 8-4 is exactly what you should expect as long as he’s in charge.
ARdawg
November 27th, 2011
2:04 am
10 straight wins and Georgia still hasn’t beaten anybody. Have we GTBob?
lose by 14
November 27th, 2011
2:05 am
8-4 is about all that tech can expect—they can’t recruit superstar type players with this high school offense and groh can’t coach a lick. more mediocrity to continue for years.
ARdawg
November 27th, 2011
2:05 am
Actually, 8-4 is as good as it gets for North Ave
dawg555
November 27th, 2011
2:14 am
why don’t you consider donating part of it to your university for research and continued academic excellence…
Don’t worry. I donate a pretty good amount to Ga Tech every year whether I win my bets or not. I never miss a roll call. How about you?
@GTBob….oh, don’t worry about me doing my part. I actually got a Biochemistry degree from the worthless, redneck institution. I realize it’s not the almighty degree from Tech, but it has served me pretty well. And, a big plus is that we also know how to play football. Life is good….and even better after today. Enjoy eating those sour grapes.
St. Simon's Parental Unit
November 27th, 2011
2:55 am
Where is my boy??? Last time I saw him he was downstairs in the basement with his GT Penant wearing only his GT Underpants saying “wait until Paul Johnson gets HIS players in this system…..next year will be much different…..”
WnE
November 27th, 2011
4:54 am
Ol’ Wrecks here to call in some markers that I put out when Coach Al Groh(ss) was hired:
I told the hard-headed segment of the GT fanbase way back then that Grantham was better than CAG and that CAG was nothing as a “3-4 guru” ever since he LEFT the NY Giants and no longer had GM George Young acquiring TALENT for him, of course I was laughed at by the know-it-alls on PPutzoff. com at the time, those same CPJ-boot-licking-toadies are now in melt-down mode over on GTSportstalk. com, and now I can say that I knew it all along.
I told you so you smug, d-bags, enjoy your mediocrity from your crappy HC/OC/DC
I also told the same crowd when CPJ was first hired that he would have trouble winning vs. tough competition since he organized his staff such that Brian Bohannon was in charge of QBs AND B-Backs, I told those d-bags way back then that it would hurt the QB position because Bohannon would not be able to teach proper throwing MECHANICS/QB Techiniques that would allow GT to play well vs. tough competition.
Four years into Coach Kung Fu Panda’s tenure a lot of WRECKSNEFFECT’s “I-told you-so” predictions are coming to fruition, i wonder where all my detractors are now?
WnE
November 27th, 2011
4:56 am
To the “20-wins-in-2-years” crowd:
With his own players Coach Fish Fry is 14-11 in his last 2 yrs. with a crappy Bowl Game left to play.
WnE
November 27th, 2011
5:05 am
For those that think that 8-4 is a good season:
It is is NOT, especially when you start out 6-0 and the cumulative Record of the Eight teams Georgia Tech Beat This Season is 34-61:
Western Carolina 1-10
Middle Tennessee 3-9
Kansas 2-10
Maryland 2-10
Duke 3-9
North Carolina 7-5
NC State 7-5
Clemson 9-3
Last yr. Coach kung Fu Panda was 6-7 vs. the 70th or so toughest schedule in the Country and now he ’s only 8-4 vs. a similar schedule this season and the teams he beat were clearly CUPCAKE-CITY.
CPJ is basically stealing from the GTAA, Drad should be FIRED for giving him a $700K raise in year-2 when we were bidding vs. NO ONE to keep his services.
GTidiot
November 27th, 2011
5:46 am
I am an idiot for having faith in CPJ. He as failed GT at recruiting. We have a bunch of light weight average athletes. Not getting the job done against any decent team. CPJ makes millions and he is sitting on his Butt not recruiting talent.
GTidiot
November 27th, 2011
5:54 am
If GT is going to play D1 ball then we need to be excellent at it like our academics. We need to play by the same rules as everyone consistently in the top twenty. Broaden our curriculum, maybe merge with Georgia State, and save our State Millions since there are two major Universities 1 mile apart. Tech’s elite need to realize the the engineering college does not rule anymore and broadening our curriculum will not hurt your f-ing degree. GT is a University not and Institute.
mowreck
November 27th, 2011
5:58 am
I know its gonna be a rough weekend when GT loses and Schultz beats me on his “beat Schultz” football picks.
mgdawg
November 27th, 2011
6:34 am
The problem ultimately boils down to Johnson. The high school offense he runs will catch some teams off guard, but primarily against good teams it doesn’t work, there is a reason no one runs it anymore. Johnson also recruits the offense, from what I’ve been told the defense just gets the leftovers. Also, most of the teams GT plays run a totally different offense then them, with some resemblance of a passing game. When the offensive players that are being recruited are recruited for an option offense, they can’t give a good scout team look to the defense. Not to mention offensively big recruits don’t want to go to GT because it will hurt their chances in the draft. Paul Johnson’s teams have never been good at defense, that was one thing everyone was told when he came, I find it hard to believe that the blame rests on all the DC instead of the head coach.
lose by 14
November 27th, 2011
7:10 am
tech’s starting Qb–his recruiting choices were tech, troy and ark state—’nuff said. He’s terrible.
McBishop
November 27th, 2011
7:29 am
I can already hear the Tech faithful questioning the Paul Johnson High School offense. As he has said, Georgia isn’t the most important team on their schedule. All of us retards know better.
McBishop
November 27th, 2011
7:34 am
Did you see the stands yesterday? There was more red than gold. It looks like all the Tech fans sold their tickets to the UGA fans.
I think this program is headed for rough times……
Clueless
November 27th, 2011
8:00 am
I don’t care if we have not beat a ranked team ALL year, I still think the DAWGS are National Champions!
AtlantaWolf
November 27th, 2011
8:08 am
Hasn’t Al Groh pretty much disappointed the fan base in every college situation he has been in? What am I missing?
GT Man
November 27th, 2011
8:10 am
Tech needs to quit playing GA. , WE will never beat them again with these coaches and players. GT is always intimadated and plays their worst games against Ga. Georgia knows they are going to win everytime, because Tech is afraid of them and every qb plays their worst games. Get rid of Al Groh!!!!!!! Get someone that knows how to rush and cover the passes !!!!!
GTBob
November 27th, 2011
8:25 am
Maybe ive been a bit too harsh here, guys. I always get a little too worked up over the UGA game. the truth is that I’m not a successful GT alum, I’m a fluffer that works on gay porn sets and tries to sneak in to the Tech showers after practice each day
Harvey D. Pooka
November 27th, 2011
8:25 am
No off-season for this 2011 edition of GT football. Y’all got some work to do —– first and foremost, following up on “killer instinct”. Second, stop reading and or believing the press when receiving prais, as it tends to make one rest on their laurels instead of continuing to improve. Third, stick with fundamentals and execute accordingly (without standing around to watch how well your teammates are performing).
The Truth
November 27th, 2011
8:27 am
GA Tech Lies and Cheats and Everyone knows it. Why would any good player want to play at a school like that?
GA Tech runs a high school (gimmick) offense. Why would any good offensive player want to go to school there?
GA Tech students are raped, robbed, etc. just about every day on the Tech campus. Why would any parent allow their child to go to that school?
GA Tech fans are big time losers. Why would anyone want to be a part of that?
GTBob
November 27th, 2011
8:33 am
Anyone want to come over for a GT orgy? There will be tons of ugly, weird, awkward dudes here!
Alphare
November 27th, 2011
8:45 am
One week you talk smack, another week you’ll get smack talked.
Stay humble, my friends.
Cats hav fleas 2
November 27th, 2011
8:52 am
GTBob…you claiming you recruit “smarter athletes dedicated to academics” doesn’t make it so. That’s been dispelled by this paper. Your athletes low SAT scores ( on avg 30 points higher than UGA’s), their Mickey Mouse courses and low grad rates are fact. You act like your FB players are graduating with Engineering degrees. At UGA they call it Communications, at Tech they call it Management. Heck, you’re not even tops in the ACC. Here’s the fact…athletes don’t want to play for Techs second rate program and it’s High school coach!
georgiadawg70
November 27th, 2011
8:52 am
Until the powers that be over on North Ave. realize that the football program needs to be reenginered from the ground up. Ten years and three coaches from now we will be having the same conservations.
Kramer
November 27th, 2011
8:52 am
I disagree with you Jeff, it starts with Johnson’s offense and the fact that it can not play from behind. Every defense in the nation, except for this years LSU & Alabama’s versions, will fall behind. You have to have an offense to bring that team back and give the defense a chance to win the game. I will concede that GT has neither but, that means the head coach needs to go as well. As a UGA fan, I hope Paul is around for another 5 years at least. That secures at least 4 wins for us over that time span. Johnson is pathetic and I think the true GT fans are starting to get it. I hope not.
happy mangy mutt
November 27th, 2011
8:53 am
This rivalry should be brought to an end. As I have mentioned before, UGA is closing the season with a no win game. Not insulting Tech, they need to focus more on other things themselves. The teams are on unequal playing fields and it has nothing to do with the option or academics. Some Gator fans should be found this morning after hanging themselves last night. Just some kind of an Offense and that was a different game.
Offended Wal-Mart Manager
November 27th, 2011
8:56 am
GTBob:
“Honestly, I don’t think it bothers CPJ much. He will never be caught up in the rivalry as much as fans are. I’m not sure the players even care much.”
“I guess it’s mainly disappointment that that’s the way we leave Bobby Dodd Stadium,” said A-back Roddy Jones following his last game at his home field.
“I’m definitely going to hurt today,” linebacker Steven Sylvester said.
Said cornerback Louis Young, “Nobody’s happy.”
Sounds to me like they care big fella.
Kramer
November 27th, 2011
8:58 am
On another note, it is good to see gtbob finally checked in. Pretty unmanly how he stayed away last night but, we expect nothing less from you bob. Great to see you are successful in your life. To bad that success does not translate into football intelligence instead of being a moron. Oh I know, you don’t shop at Wal-Mart and you have a big house and income. Two words, big deal, so do most UGA grads. NEXT!
Neutral
November 27th, 2011
8:59 am
Did anyone notice the pounding the ACC elite took last night at the hands of the SEC East? Vandy, UGa and SC won by a total of almost 10 touchdowns (without their marquee players). UF lost to FSU with most of their key players injured. FSU had approximately 85 yards total offense and around 6 first downs. I guess either the ACC sucks or the SEC East is light years better than 5051, Tech Fan, and others have promoted all week.
Kramer
November 27th, 2011
9:02 am
5051 has the same football smarts as gtbob. Both do not have the smarts to find their a$$ with a flashlight and a map. They are fun to read their posts. It reminds us how great it is to support UGA and not have to explain the engineering success of gt’s football program. Or lack there of.
happy mangy mutt
November 27th, 2011
9:06 am
@GTBob and other Techies
Please get over yourselves and your proud academic institution. You guys are not even tops as a state ran engineering school. You can throw in a few other state universities ahead of you. I am not try to rub salt on the wounds. Just asking for some of you guys to come to grips as to what kind of a school you really are, then realize your athletes are largely not even measuring up to that in the classroom. Both of our schools do their own thing respectively.
Say What??
November 27th, 2011
9:07 am
I’d like to welcome all of the new Tech posters to the AJC blog. As new to this blog, you might be looking for some help. The trick is to remain flexible. Don’t concern yourself with the fact that you keep changing your argument. No one will notice. Start your comments out with one argument and when that is proved wrong, quickly change your argument to hide the fact that you were wrong. To help you out, I have compiled this list of helpful hints on how to post.
1. Begin your posting career by stating that UGA will lose to whoever they are playing that week. It doesn’t matter who it is, just state that UGA will lose. After all, UGA is the absolute worst team in the world. They can’t beat anyone.
2. When Georgia wins against that team, talk about how bad that team was anyways. It’s always good to throw in a few “most delusional fan base” comments as well. The important thing here is not to worry that your argument was that UGA was going to get beat. Simply change the argument from UGA losing to the fact that they didn’t really beat anyone at all. Quoting stats of those teams win/loss record is always a plus. Make sure to point out that that team was in a lower conference and when UGA plays a team in their conference their real lack of talent will show.
3. When UGA beats a team from the SEC East, point out that the SEC East is awful! Pepper your post with comments such as “The East can’t ever beat anyone!” Don’t let the fact that the SEC East has teams like Florida and Tennessee in it and that they are normally in the Top ten. Don’t let facts cloud your mind. This year the SEC east is down. Rub that in really well…
4. When UGA beats a team from the SEC West, make sure to point out that they are awful this year as well. Do not concentrate on the fact that that team won the National Championship last year and you spent all week talking about how UGA would lose. That is beside the point! Stay flexible!
5. Now comes the time of year when you can start talking about how your team and your genius coach will run all over the Dawgs. Don’t concern yourself with the fact that you lost last year. Point to the fact that even though you did lose, your team ran for well over 500 yards. So in reality, it was a moral victory for Tech. Again, ignore the score! I know, that’s how the winner of all football games is decided. Just stick to your guns and talk about how no one can defend the triple option.
6. Once you lose to UGA for the 9th time in 10 years, it is time to get creative about posting. First, talk about how UGA is always supposed to beat Tech. Mention that Tech is not a football school. You might wonder, “Why would I be posting on a football/sports blog if Tech is not a football school?” Again, ignore that! Don’t let it cloud your mind! At this point, completely abandon football – just forget it. Now is the time to pull in the big guns! A favorite place to start is how your academic standards are so much higher than UGA’s. Comparing majors is a favorite place to go here, but be careful! Don’t spend too much time here or someone might bring up the graduation rates for your athletes. Next, talk about how many UGA fans work for Tech fans. In addition, make comments about how UGA grads only work at McDonalds or mow grass. Oh! Mention how all UGA fans are red necks and inbred. Talk about their coaches! How could I forget the coaches?!? Talk about how Todd Grantham is a fat slob who is totally classless. I know! Paul Johnson said to punch UGA fans in the face and that some UGA fans are “retarded”. Again, ignore that! Now talk about Mark Richt and his fake tan. Talk about how he is “fake” and make fun of his faith. Oh! Bring up the fact that UGA won the Fulmer cup last year. Let’s see… what else? Oh yeah! Talk about UGA’s mascots and how they keep dying. Post as the temporary mascot and poke fun at the team.
7. Now its time for your finale. Make sure that you remind the UGA fans about Jan Kemp.
New Tech posters, I hope this helps! To really see these techniques used by pros, please check out the recent posts by GT Bob and especially 5150 UOAD. These guys have perfected these posting points and raised it to an art form.
Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Happy posting!
Neutral
November 27th, 2011
9:09 am
Kramer, you are so right!!!! They are such clowns and I’m amazed how they continually make fools out of themselves…..and their beloved University.
C. Tampa Ironworse
November 27th, 2011
9:10 am
GT can’t win because our standards are way too high. Just ask Noble Prize winners, Stephan Mauberry, Dennis Scott and John Salley.