Al Groh’s problems at Georgia Tech weren’t pure ‘fantasy’
Al Groh's teaching methods, schemes failed from outset. (Johnny Crawford)
Al Groh was a mistake. He was Paul Johnson’s mistake. It took about 2½ years for the Georgia Tech head coach to realize that.
Groh, who had success as a defensive coordinator in the NFL but was a disaster at Georgia Tech from the outset, was fired Monday by Johnson, who has seen the Jackets regress since Groh’s hiring in 2010.
It’s not surprising Johnson would fire an assistant. He fired Groh’s predecessor, Dave Wommack, even after winning an ACC championship in 2009. He fired a coach (Groh) whose defense had given up 42, 49 and 47 points in the last three games, collapsed late in overtime defeats to Virginia Tech and Miami and allowed 510 yards in offense to Middle Tennessee State.
The stunning part is that Johnson did this now. I had been asked several times by readers over the past two weeks whether I believed Groh would make it through the season. My answer always was yes, simply because it’s so rare for college assistants to get fired during the year. Clearly, it had become an unworkable situation.
Groh can’t complain that he wasn’t given a chance. Johnson gave him more than enough rope, even while reaffirming before the season that the defense had to get better.
Let me take you back to 2010. Georgia Tech lost 28-25 to a Kansas team that a week earlier had lost to North Dakota State 6-3.
After the game, I asked how Groh how an opponent (Kansas) that had managed only one field goal in 12 possessions against North Dakota State could score four touchdowns against Georgia Tech.
He bristled. The response: “That’s fantasy football. I just deal with what happened today. … That’s not the game coaches play. Coaches play the game that’s played today. The rest is talk radio, those guys who have all the answers.”
The problem being, it wasn’t fantasy. It was real. If it was fantasy, Groh would still have a job. But his teaching methods did not translate well to players and the change to a 3-4 defense also was questionable, given the Jackets’ difficulty in recruiting that kind of personnel (particularly a big enough and good enough defensive tackle).
Johnson is trying to save a season that has spun out of control since an impressive early season win over Virginia. I don’t know that this will do it. But removing Groh certainly removes a problem. For the increasing amount of abuse Johnson has taken lately, it’s not like the Jackets have been losing games because of his offense.
By Jeff Schultz
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208 comments Add your comment
Dooley
October 8th, 2012
4:14 pm
We should get a young up and coming defensive assistant from Alabama, LSU, or South Carolina. We need someone who can come in and make an impact on recruiting. And we all know these schools know how to play defense.
Jimbo Fisher
October 8th, 2012
4:14 pm
I think Paul Johnson is a fantastic coach, and that firing Al Groh is the worst coaching mistake he’s made in his coaching career.
techie
October 8th, 2012
4:16 pm
It all starts with Paul Johnson fish fry
www
October 8th, 2012
4:21 pm
schultz, i think you nailed the situation.
thanks for the hard work, coach groh, and good luck to you in your next endeavor.
now, on to the business at hand – who makes the most sense as the next defensive coordinator hire at tech?
potus obama & vpotus biden
October 8th, 2012
4:22 pm
it is all bush’s fault!
Tech4Life
October 8th, 2012
4:22 pm
Al Groh was only a small fraction of the problem at Georgia Tech. CPJ was not the right hire to begin with and should never have came to the flats. In todays’ society, high school kids want to get to the NFL and a high school triple option offense just doesn’t help in that aspect. That’s why the Alabamas, the Clemsons, the LSUs of the world invade our state and get great recruits and Tech is left with two star players. Chan Gailey was a garbage coach for Tech, but at least he began to bring good talent on the flats. CPJ won with them, but now his talent is showing, (or lack thereof). Wake Forest was a handful a few years ago with a similar offense, but realized that in order to recruit better players, they had to expand their offense to appeal higher rated recruits.
big daddy
October 8th, 2012
4:22 pm
Bring back Ted Roof. He was excellent defensive coach. I think all Tech fans and myself being one all thought that was going to be a very good season. However, the D has not lived up to expectations. Now if PJ will start playing VL more to give him the exposure for next year, maybe things can be pieced back together. After watching the VT game, I said Tech would be lucky to win 6 games this year, maybe 7. It looks pretty good that they won’t win 6. Right now, I am not even sure they can beat Duke
David
October 8th, 2012
4:23 pm
You can’t have a good defense without good defensive linemen. Paul Johnson can’t recruit, that is the real issue. Now Johnson buy out is so large gt can’t fire him. The next person that should be fired is the AD.
Tech Legacy
October 8th, 2012
4:23 pm
I’m surprised that this happened now, but clearly, things were falling apart. I still think the biggest issue is recruiting. Tech doesn’t have enough good players. I don’t think it’s necessarily a scheme thing. It doesn’t matter what you run if the players don’t or can’t execute better than the opposition.
Jimbo Fisher
October 8th, 2012
4:23 pm
Special teams played huge too though. Our defense got 2 big turnovers, and then our offense/special teams couldn’t put up any points. A blocked field goal and falling down on your own 2yd line will never ever put a W in the win column.
Buzz Belle
October 8th, 2012
4:24 pm
Great move! The points the offense get is enough to win most games if the defense stops the other team. Simple as that. Would love to see Tenuta back but that won’t happen. It takes guts to fire a coordinator mid season, I suspect CPJ knew something had to be done or it was off with his head. Go Jackets!
Ignition
October 8th, 2012
4:24 pm
Inaccuracies Everywhere Jeff
Stanford, Notre Dame, Tenn, Alabama, UGA, and Florida run 3-4 defenses..
Two of Techs current d-lineman are 350 plus pounds …
Tech’s current D recruits fit the mode for a 3-4 ..
Tech may run the 3-4 base less than 30% of the time, they probably run a dime package more..
doc
October 8th, 2012
4:24 pm
com’on jeff! kansas? didnt he also give up about three of four to buffalo?
oops forgot that was a formerly number 5 team in the nation.
heh heh
man can you believe that pollsters could ever rank a team that high after giving away so much to tiny buffalo? those guys ought to be fired as they will have a role in the bcs “championship”.
Milo
October 8th, 2012
4:24 pm
Hey mr Dan:
Not that ur post has anything to do with this article but heres a flash for you:::::::::::::::
Georgia does get the recruits all the time and will continue to do so.
They just don’t know what to do with them.
Answer This
October 8th, 2012
4:25 pm
Did you really say save a season? This season is D-E-A-D for Tech!They are playing to go to the Tire Bowl right now! And it is not only because of that lousy defense put Paul better understand that you have and I say HAVE to throw the ball in college football to win. And 10 times a game is not enough! Come on Tech get right or get looking for another Coach!
grohgo
October 8th, 2012
4:29 pm
at the time the atl writers thought the groh hire was brilliant. Now that he turns out to be a bust, the atl writers have proclaimed it a “mistake.” they are brilliant.
RevTom
October 8th, 2012
4:30 pm
Move that had to be made – feel sorry for the guy. http://www.wedgeorgia.com
Keith
October 8th, 2012
4:30 pm
Jeff -
Don’t forget, CPJ’s unstoppable offense has planted a big GOOSE EGG on the scoreboard in the two overtimes that the team has played. So, let’s not say that they haven’t lost because of the offense!!!!!
GTBob
October 8th, 2012
4:30 pm
I applaud CPJ for having the guts to do this in the middle of the season. Groh and the 3-4 were just never a good fit at GT. It was only going to get worse. Hopefully Kelly can get something going with the defense.
Joey
October 8th, 2012
4:31 pm
Go PJ!
Good to see someone take the bull by the horns. (PJ, could you help Greg McGarity grow a pair?)
This had to be done.
Now, go get a good DC and a dynamic young recruiter, and PJ (and GT) will be fine.
Ron
October 8th, 2012
4:33 pm
http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2010/01/08/firing-assistant-after-11-3-season-says-a-lot-about-johnson/?cxntfid=blogs_jeff_schultz_blog
Capt. Call Out
October 8th, 2012
4:36 pm
Good thing you kept that quote on file after getting so butthurt at his bristling. These told-you-so columns wouldn’t be nearly as effective otherwise.
fan
October 8th, 2012
4:36 pm
Paul Johnson was Georgia Tech’s mistake.
GTBob
October 8th, 2012
4:36 pm
Don’t forget, CPJ’s unstoppable offense has planted a big GOOSE EGG on the scoreboard in the two overtimes that the team has played.
I think we are all hoping that CPJ addresses the Tevin Washington problem as well.
ignition
October 8th, 2012
4:38 pm
Chris Rumph and I’m gonna keep screaming it !!!!!
http://www.rolltide.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/rumph_chris00.html
Big Jim
October 8th, 2012
4:43 pm
Johnson was DRads much bigger Mistake! Please feel free to correct now!
3 DC’s in 4 Yrs….same bumblin red neck head coach, program in the toilet…ah yeah, great move….
No DC will be successful until the cancer is gone.
Practice against the fullback dive 854,530 times a week and you will never be successful against the “real” offenses you see on Sat. running the tight end delay, WR slant, bubble screen, post patterns,,,,or know how to pass rush.
JIMBOB
October 8th, 2012
4:46 pm
Insert your Johnson here
Doug
October 8th, 2012
4:51 pm
Some folks have mentioned bringing back John Tenuta. That’d be great but I’m not sure there’s a room big enough to hold the egos of Tenuta and Johnson.
NoMoreRawDeal
October 8th, 2012
4:51 pm
Good for Tech, they’ve got the right idea.
Now if only UGA would get to firing Mike Bobo – and possibly CMR as well – we could get down to business.
Traveler
October 8th, 2012
4:52 pm
Al Groh is a scapegoat! No one can win with with the talent PJ is bringing in. He is the one that needs to go!
let's not forget...
October 8th, 2012
4:52 pm
a better d means our o will be on the field longer and score even more points.
let's not forget...
October 8th, 2012
4:53 pm
a better d means our o stays on the field longer and can score more points.
ignition
October 8th, 2012
4:53 pm
Chris Rumph !!!!!!!!!!!
eddy
October 8th, 2012
4:54 pm
Tech was once a big time program. Now thx to CPJ, they are viewed as a one trick pony. The 2 minute drill at the end of a game takes about 6-8 minutes to get within a field goal range..no passing expertise. I guess now CPJ will take over the defense, already does the offense, soon to take over the special teams and kickers. Only one coach required at Tech since he is so smart and gifted. Sad to see a good program mired under this goofy offense. Can the single wing be far behind!!!
Baby Dawg
October 8th, 2012
4:57 pm
Someone needs to find Chan Gailey and apologize to him. PJ’s record thru 58 games: 35-23, Chan Gailey’s record thru 58 games- 34-24. The only difference, 1 win against UGA. Guess if you win 1 of every 4 with UGA you get to keep your job. That is what it comes down to.
gt45
October 8th, 2012
4:58 pm
Johnson ain’t the problem. Tell me a program who has put up more points in the ACC than the Jackets. We’ve run in to a few teams that have stopped us, but that is football. If we had the defense we had back in the Reggie Ball days, when we couldn’t score, we would be conference champs every year. That is the plain simple facts. As for you UGA retards, you might want to look a little closer at how the 3-4 has worked out for you. Even FL Atl ran the ball down your throats. Bottom line, when you put up the points year in and year out that Tech does, you should be winning about 90% of your games, at least!
Tech Man
October 8th, 2012
4:58 pm
CPJ is exactly like Barrack Obama. “It’s not my fault and I’m always right anyway.”
Truth
October 8th, 2012
4:59 pm
We need real recruits…2 and 3 star athletes do not translate into ACC wins…..enough of the giving scholarships to kickers who can’t kick……….lets get real….time to buckle down and get back at least into the top 40 in recruiting rankings !!!!!
Tech man
October 8th, 2012
5:02 pm
Tech does’t have the talent, period. Drummond would not start for anybody. His reactions are slow. We have some good guys, but if Drummond is starting, we have problems on defense. And we have problems on defense.
Highly Respected Southern Troll
October 8th, 2012
5:06 pm
Johnson will follow Groh out-the-door if he hasn’t beaten UGA again by end of next year…possibly end of this year.
Bobby "Pig-Sooey" Patrino
October 8th, 2012
5:06 pm
Psst…Paul…
I am tan, rested and ready.
collegeballfan
October 8th, 2012
5:07 pm
“Tech was once a big time program.”
Yeah. In 1952.
Big Jim
October 8th, 2012
5:11 pm
Gt45…respect your opinion, but you are an idiot, and obviously NOT watching the GT games…or any games at all.
There are many many teams that run the 3-4 on Sat’s, and even a “couple” on Sunday. BUT there are ZERO (real teams) running the stupid slopsion on Sat…and ah yes ZERO on Sunday.
Wonder why??? Hummm…maybe cause it does NOT Fing work in big boy ball! Every 4-5 star kids wants/thinks they will play on Sunday. So we get 2’s & 3’s, an occasional 4. Fact. Why??? because they need to learn how & what to do to play on Sun. Fact
Please dont cite Calvin or D Thomas as examples that it does work, you will just look more ignorant…
Ted M
October 8th, 2012
5:12 pm
But he is a lousy recruiter. Do you mean hiring or firing?
GTBob
October 8th, 2012
5:13 pm
Tech was once a big time program.
When? It has been a long time since the 1950’s.
BBlue
October 8th, 2012
5:13 pm
My arm is killing me. Eggs and toilet paper at my age and I can’t lift my arm.
reebok
October 8th, 2012
5:16 pm
Coach Johnson had to do something, but I feel a little bad for Groh, as he had so little talent to work with.
TheBabe
October 8th, 2012
5:17 pm
Hey, GTBob, does this move save CPJ’s job? Or do you think his job is not at risk, at least through the end of this season?
Just Saying
October 8th, 2012
5:17 pm
what I do not understand is that Giff Smith came from Ga Southern too so why can’t CPJ and GT find the money to bring him back from Buffalo? Tenuta would also be a great hire
Lance
October 8th, 2012
5:18 pm
Just like Richt is Vince Dooley’s mistake.