Tech’s D still isn’t great, but dumping Al Groh isn’t the answer
To date, Al Groh is 0-for-2 regarding the stenciled objective. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
I’d keep Al Groh. Georgia Tech’s defense hasn’t gotten great with him in charge, but it has shown incremental improvement. It’s 46th nationally in total defense, which beats the 64th of last season, when Groh had just arrived, and the 54th of 2009, when Dave Wommack was on his way out.
With seven starters scheduled to return, next season could be even better. But that’s not a given, and there’s a basic reason why: Tech’s incumbent defenders aren’t all that great. Julian Burnett is a good player. Jeremiah Attaochu is a good player. Rod Sweeting is a good player. That’s about it.
Tech’s defensive failings aren’t akin to Georgia’s under Willie Martinez. Back then, Georgia had conspicuously gifted players but yielded increasingly lousy results. I’m not sure any coordinator — John Chavis, Bud Foster, Todd Grantham, Nick Saban/Kirby Smart — could turn these Jackets into a top 10 defense. And here’s where we look harder at the stats.
Tech is 30th in pass defense but is tied for 70th against the run. The first, I submit, is more a reflection of scheme; the second is a function of getting shoved backward. Two of Tech’s four losses — against Virginia and Virginia Tech — were a product of being overwhelmed at the line of scrimmage. The loss to Miami had less to do with defensive lapses than special-teams howlers, and the loss to Georgia wasn’t a total wipeout. A good Bulldogs team managed 380 yards in 2011; in 2010, a mediocre one got 425.
The trouble with Tech isn’t that its players are out of position but that in-position players don’t do what’s required. The Jackets are 92nd in third-down defense, 79th in sacks, 99th in tackles for losses. Some of that can be traced to the coordinator, but only some. At every level of football, players have to make plays. Tech doesn’t have many playmakers.
It was different under Wommack. The Jackets had Derrick Morgan and Morgan Burnett, NFL-caliber talents, and still couldn’t stop anybody. In 2009, six opponents scored 30 or more points against a Tech team that won the ACC championship. This season only four opponents broke 30 on the Jackets, and two of those — Virginia Tech and Georgia — had a pronounced manpower advantage.
To suggest that Groh has rendered himself a Tech fixture would be overstating. He hasn’t, and that’s the reason we’re having this discussion. He signed on for two seasons, and Year 2 will end in the Sun Bowl on New Year’s Eve. The belief around Tech is that Groh will be asked to stay, and that would be the better course.
To change schemes yet again would force Tech’s defenders to embark on yet another shakedown cruise. They’re just getting used to Groh’s 3-4 after Wommack’s 4-3, and they’re better off than they were two years ago. There’s no guarantee they’ll ever be as good as they need to be, but to shuffle coordinators would all but guarantee they won’t maximize potential in 2012.
Oh, and I say again: Better recruiting would help. Two years later, there’s not another Derrick Morgan in sight.
By Mark Bradley
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300 comments Add your comment
IHATEUGA1990
December 20th, 2011
7:49 pm
@TAMPA i see your point but i cant tell ya that when you recruit these highly ranked guys it gives your fans something to look forward to and there for they will show up. But the problem is GT can not beat UGA so our fan base is destroyed and we as fans need to start rasing hell for the the AD hiring CPJ sorry if that makes some people mad but he isnt the answer neither is groh neither was gailey. O’leary was the man and they couldnt keep him.
IHATEUGA1990
December 20th, 2011
7:52 pm
TECH FAN open up your eyes! he Can BELIVE all he wants but he is not the answer! The D has sucked since he has been here no DRAMATIC CHANGES. THERE WAS A REASON UVA fired and trust me GT can find someone better. Groh would be gone if i was the AD.
RR
December 20th, 2011
8:00 pm
In the words of CPJ, “we have to score more than we give up” and that’s all that’s too it.
Hey, hey wait a minute
December 20th, 2011
8:04 pm
GT needs better players – pure and simple. I read above about GT having some players coming in – well if they are the same talent level as the ones you have then expect more poor defense.
Tech does OK when the offense is able to control the clock (keeps the D on the bench) but when the opponent shuts down the O things get real ugly real quick.
IHATEUGA1990
December 20th, 2011
8:06 pm
“WE CAN NOT JUDGE A COACH ON WINS AND LOSSES”??? HAHA your clearly another TECH grad that does not know SH** about what it takes to become and elite program in college football.
IHATEUGA1990
December 20th, 2011
8:10 pm
EXACTLY THESE COACHES CANT RECRUIT ! IF I WAS THE AD THAT WOULD BE A HUGE FACTOR IN HIRING A COACH OF FIRING A COACH. GT IS LOCATED IN ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO GET HIGH CALIBER PLAYERS AND EVERY YEAR THEY MISS OUT ON 95% OF THE KIDS IN THIS STATE. BAMA UF CLEMSON TENN AUBURN SO.CAR FSU ALL THESE SCHOOLS LAND ATLEAST 3 OR MORE KIDS FROM THIS STATE. TECH NEVER HAS A SHOT AT THEM AND I WANT TO KNOW WHY TECH CANT LAND ATLEAST 1 KID THAT WAS GOING TO GO TO EACH ONE OF THESE SCHOOLS. NO REASON WHY GT IS NOT IN THE TOP 25 YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT!!!!!!!
1 4 GT
December 20th, 2011
8:35 pm
IHATEUGA1990—-1st Why are you shouting? 2nd I don’t for a minute believe you are a GT fan, supporter much less a graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology. You’re probably the newest one of headless’ multiple personalities. Just shut up & go away.
gt4ever
December 20th, 2011
9:09 pm
14 GT,
It’s hard to argue with any of his points….
gt4ever
December 20th, 2011
9:10 pm
I don’t like the screaming either,, I am really a very sensitive person.. You don’t have to scream to get your point across….
gt4ever
December 20th, 2011
9:12 pm
If CPJ would only hire Ralph friedgen…. Change our offense that would relate to 90 percent of these blue chip high school players we would have a much better chance…..
IHATEUGA1990
December 20th, 2011
9:15 pm
Sorry 14 GT i get carried away sometimes. I am a die hard GT fan. I have been one since the age of 8 when i went to my first GT game. Want to know who the QB was and the guy leading the way of the HELM?? oh wait you might know. Lil Joe and O’leary ring a bell. I have 100 more reason to raise hell but i think i got some of the major issues out there. I get so ill when i see atleast 25 kids from this state go to all the schools but GT.
IHATEUGA1990
December 20th, 2011
9:17 pm
@gt4ever i agree hire the big guy and let him run the option a few times a game but open it up some. I have seen high school teams throw the ball 25 times better than GT. This has been going on for 4 years now. There is a big problem with that. Im sorry but IF CPJ LOSSES TO UTAH HE NEEDS TO GO.
gt4ever
December 20th, 2011
9:18 pm
Your right 1990, as much as I hate to agree…. It would seem that we have given up hope that we can’t compete in football… It’s kinda sad really, we had Bobby Ross who I really respect, then after George and Ralph left we have gone down hill…
gt4ever
December 20th, 2011
9:20 pm
yeah, but the head coach, sorry to say has got too much ego to throw his system away… Ralph would be perfect. Al groh will be fine, if we have the recruiting in place to help….
IHATEUGA1990
December 20th, 2011
9:25 pm
Im sorry i was not a fan of CPJ when they hired him and never will be. I am 21 and i played football and i can tell you that most kids that pretty much know they want to play on sundays(offense) will never pick GT becasue nobody in the league run his stuff.His formations and plays do work but they dont work and it going to be really hard for GT to beat UGA and if YOU CANT BEAT UGA FOR RECRUITS.
IHATEUGA1990
December 20th, 2011
9:27 pm
He fired wommack after 2 years because the D didnt improve so why would he keep Groh after 2 years?? it doesnt make sense if he does keep him. I can tell you this if we lose the bowl game I am DONE with GT football until they fire these guys. It would be different if CPJ was bringing in top 25 classes every year and we could actually throw the ball AND BEAT UGA but as of right now its not happening and i dont see this program on the rise.
gt4ever
December 20th, 2011
9:33 pm
Hey, I hear ya…. My family is all GT grads, I had a father that played under Dodd… I am GT through and through. It pains me every year to see this kind of play.. My father is turning over in his grave because of the state of GT football.. I will never not support them, but I will not sit back and drink some of the juice that some of our so called fans are drinking….
1 4 GT
December 20th, 2011
9:38 pm
I find IHATEUGA1990’s rants reminiscent of our good “friend”, WnE. I think most of us can agree he is a mutt troll. I just pass right over his rants now. I get annoyed at “fans” who spout so much negativity.
I don’t understand how a true fan can not temper their disappointment, and yes, I have my share with the team, but they did show improvement. Even the special teams had moments of good play making. I hate sounding like I’m making excuses. But, the kids are young and will only get better. I had many moments of frustration with the play of the entire team. I know we live in a culture of “now”. But it takes more that 2 years for a coach to get enough of the type players he needs for his scheme to be effective. We have some good youngsters coming in next year. If we will just be patient, I fully expect GT to become a really good football team, and that will begin showing up next fall. I was raised in Marietta and went to many GT, Falcons, Braves and Hawks games in the past. I am going to the Sun Bowl and plan to get at least 1 GT season ticket next year. I have suffered through many losses of “my” teams, but I never lost faith in them and have never “booed” any of them, just pouted and sulked in silence for a while after the disappointments. So come on guys, give ‘em a little praise too, ok?
IHATEUGA1990
December 20th, 2011
9:40 pm
i bet he is. I BET DODD is to. I dont understand why our AD has not publicaly called out johson for the same ol dumb formations and the same ol dumb plays that he runs a game. I have a buddy that plays for but im not gunna say any names for his sake but he has told me that most of the guys on D dont understand al groh and that groh doesnt listen to them when they ask to run the 4-3 because they know we dont have the personal to run the 3-4. GREAT COACHES adjsut to the personal and clearly groh cant to do it. AND ON ANOTHER NOTE RUSSEEL SUCKS! i bet your dad and Dodd are rolling about that to. We look like a FCS school.
IHATEUGA1990
December 20th, 2011
9:41 pm
14 GT your a idiot to think i am UGA thats all im going to say your dumba**
GTpak
December 20th, 2011
9:42 pm
A good defensive line can make your pass defense look good too. That is where it starts. You get to the QB and he is worrying more about getting sacked and loses concentration on who is open. A big tough defensive line can solve a lot of issues. That seems to be one area that we do not consistently recruit well. Also big helps wear down the opposing offensive line and allows better run defense.
Come on Paul, get some big un’s that want to play, not those that are happy to sit on the bench and get a free ride.
IHATEUGA1990
December 20th, 2011
9:46 pm
14 GT that is your way of dealing with the dissapointment! Me i speak the truth and dont hold any of it back. I love GT and will never give on GEORGIA TECH but i will give on paul johnson and al groh. Just becasue i dont like them does not mean i dont like GEORGIA TECH. If you read my points you can not argue with any of them because its the truth. The only thing GT is good at right now is being predictable on offense and not being able to recruit. How can you be pleased with the passing game?? somebody needs to call Johnson out on this. TW mechanics are awful his footwork in the pocket is awful why would CPJ give this kid a scholly to play QB?? none of it makes sense to me.
IHATEUGA1990
December 20th, 2011
9:50 pm
The past 2 season GT is 14-11 which is awful. He is 1-3 vs Miami 1-3 vs UGA 1-3 vs VT oh btw these three schools recruit better than us.You have to beat these three schools to have great season and i know its hard to beat all three every year but you have to find a way to beat them or else were going to lose 4 or 5 games a year.CPJ is on the hot seat if he losses to utah.
outsider
December 20th, 2011
9:54 pm
Let’s play a what if game. Suppose that for one year the coaching staff concentrated on defense. Recruited strictly for big linemen. In this what if, they also recruited for only big and fast offensive linemen. We have enough backs on both sides of the ball. Anyone with an ounce of knowledge understands that without talent up front everyone will always be running to catch up. P.J. should be smart enough to realize that his recruiting of 175 pound quarterbacks is just not going to win the big games.
IHATEUGA1990
December 20th, 2011
10:00 pm
CPJ is to stubborn to realize this i guess. he is out to show the world that 270 pound lineman and the 170 pound running backs can win national championships hahaha yea in his dreams. I LOVE GEORGIA TECH AND GT WILL ALWAYS BE MY TEAM BUT CPJ IS NOT THE COACH IS GT WANTS TO WIN A NC AND GET GT BACK IN THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT.
Techbuzz
December 20th, 2011
10:02 pm
If we don’t dump the coach then dump the 3-4. We don’t have the size lineman to play this scheme, especially on the line. We have, probably the most UNDERSIZED D-line in college football and when you are going up against O-lineman that are out manning you by at least 30 lbs and 4″, then you will NEVER get a pass rush. I saw this time and time again all year!!!!!
IHATEUGA1990
December 20th, 2011
10:06 pm
Techbuzz this started last year. I dont see anything groh did in 2 years that saved his job. WHAT has he done that would raise his pay to over 300k a year? The D is still giving up close to 30 a game. BTW i have a buddy that plays for GT and he has told me that the players are confused as to why groh want change they have asked for the 4-3 but he is stubborn like johnson.GT is needs to adjust to the personal it has or change. BTW i was told that every player HATES RUSSELL and wishes GT would get them something that looks nice and professional.
outsider
December 20th, 2011
10:13 pm
Techbuzz, you are right. Don’t know if you are old enough remember back that far but Paul Bear Bryant’s teams were noted for undersized linemen with great speed. That was until they played an Nebraska team in a bowl game who featured really big linemen with equal speed. Needless to say Alabama got their butt handed to them on a platter. The point is Bryant changed and started to go after the big boys after that. That’s when he went on his longest winning record. Simply put, be willing to change or suffer the consequences.
GTAquarius
December 20th, 2011
10:28 pm
IHATEUGA 1990
I agree with you 100%; I hate to play the comparison game, but in the same amount of time that CAG has been at GT, Todd Gratham has made VAST improvements to UGA’s defense. Al Groh needs to do a better job of recruiting
RUSSELL NEEDS TO BE CASTIGATED FOR THE HIDEOUS UNIFORMS THEY CREATE.
IHATEUGA1990
December 20th, 2011
10:33 pm
im glad someone agrees with me. When i speak what i think the truth is people say i am a dog fan which is not the case at all. I LOVE GT but i dont LOVE CPJ OR CAG as our coaches. They will never win the acc or NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP and that NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP game is what im after.
@i'm flying a tech flag
December 20th, 2011
10:39 pm
If you had any knowledge about the South Carolina or LSU games in which Georgia gave up 42 points , you would know South Carolina scored 24 points off turnovers and Lsu was held to 240 yards offense , it was special team that did the dogs in not their defense. Georgia went out and RECRUITED players to fit the scheme, tech just runs the scheme.Tech is no where close to having the talent UGA has.PJ is driving the ramblin wreck straight to hell.
IHATEUGA1990
December 20th, 2011
10:49 pm
Who has CPJ beat in the last 2 years other than Clemson this year? and this roster is full of his players. Cant recruit cant win a bowl game and cant beat VT or UGA so how does he keep his job?
buzzwax
December 20th, 2011
11:16 pm
Maybe someone else helped supply some recruiting FACTS regarding GT the past few classes. (I don’t have time to read the CRAP comments in the middle.
2010 Class had NINE of the TOP 50 players in the state per the AJC’s POST SEASON top 50 list. In the list who are playing D as RS FR or So
http://blogs.ajc.com/recruiting/2010/01/08/ajc-top-50-list-reveals-best-of-best-in-georgia/
I. Johnson – SOLID player – part time starter as TFR and starter as a SO
F. Holton (hurt this year) – will be a STUD next year at safety!!
R. Ayers (transfer – bust?) – 4 stars
S. Green (RFR – rumor is he needs to go to ass kicking/lose baby fat school) – 3/4 stars
A. Williams (Should play more next year)
(Other four on offense – Perkins (TOP RB in state per this list), Bostic, M. Bailey (STUD OL) and S. Days
L. Young was in this class (4 ’stars’) – first year starter
J. Attachou (will probably play on Sundays)
Q. Nealy played a TON this year and had a UGA Offer – moved from 2nd team to starter
J. Skole went to play baseball
D. McCoy – Medical – out of football. (TONS OF OFFERS)
2011 Class
Cheeks LB – NC – Red Shirted
J. H. Days LB – AJC Top 50 – Red Shirted – STUD
T. McNair LB – NC – Red Shirted
D. Noble DB – NC – RS – STUD
Milton CB – AJC Top 50
TOO many LB’s still lacking STUD DL!!
2009
C. Miles – Bust
L. Richardson – Bust
I. Cross – Better suited for 4-3, Decent in 3-4 but not making many plays
E. Cummings – Will Start next year opposite Cross, but a ?
J. Burnett – Pound for pound GT’s best player!! Small for 3-4 ILB
J. Thomas – Pound for pound GT’s second best player!! SOLID nickel back and PLAYMAKER
R. Sweeting – 4 star, Solid at CB
C. Crenshaw – ??
D. Drummond – Started at ILB earlier in the year, got hurt and hasn’t played much since.
B. Watts – Will he ever reach his all star potential?
E. Dieke – See Cummings, could start
2008
JC Lanier – HUGE DT – 4 star guy who was moved to OL due to lack of production at DL, Bust?
A. Wilson – Bust
M. Monroe – Bust
B. Leslie – Bust
R. Reid – Solid contributor but not a playmaker
J. Lockhart – Bust
C. Taylor – Had potential but transferred – BUST
S. Sylvester – See Reid
BJ Machen – Bust
K. Riley – Bust
When EIGHT of your TEN defensive recruits are busts in your first class, largely recruited by GIFF SMITH and GAILEY, that would be a VALID reason for CRAPPY defensive play the past two years, but it is now time for Groh and CPJ to put up or shut up, especially on D.
Will the 2012 class close with a bang or a whimper?
CPJ AND Groh have really struggled in TWO areas (THREE if you count ST) and it shows in the stats, RUN Defense and PASS Rush (third down conversions). We ‘could’ have some good ones sign this year in Kallon, Gamble and HOPEFULLY Dalvin Thomlison
ahsoisee
December 20th, 2011
11:26 pm
Those of you who keep posting that we need better players just don’t understand the situation or don’t understand the nature of football in general compared to football factories.
Georgia Tech will “never” be a football factory because we cannot get the quality of players that UGA, Texas, Florida, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, Notre Dame, etal can recruit.
Dodd could not do it, but he won consistently. Boise State and others like them win consistently and do not get the same quality of athletes that we can get at Tech from the States of Georgia, Florida and surrounding States.
Here is the real truth of the matter. Pay close attention! Tech has won national championships with less talent than the football factories, because of smart coaching. What is smart coaching? It is taking the caliber of recruits that are available to Tech and structuring the offense and defense around the talents of those players by a genius coach. There are plenty smart coaches available in college football, however, some of them are not at the football factories.
If a coach can win with only one system and cannot get the players for that system, then he is not a good football coach. We need coaches that are smart enough to mold a team with the talents available to Tech. We did it with the first three coaches at Tech, and it can be done again.
If Paul Johnson is unable to adapt to the changes in football from year to year, then we need a coach smart enough to adapt to the changes in football. Some problems I see with Johnson: his ego will not let him adapt, as he wants to prove that his continuous up-the-middle will work even though the defenses stack up to stop it. He did this consistently this year even though his best backs were the A Backs running outside.
Another of his problems is switching a quarterback and an A Back (Allen/last year) to the B Back position when they are more valuable as A Backs. Even though Sims might be a better breakaway runner, he is not a B Back and cannot get the consistent five yards on each carry up the middle; he is not big enough or strong enough; he should be an A Back. Actually, I saw Sims make some pretty good runs this year, when he did not go up the middle, but cut behind some blocks and go outside for good runs similar to the A Backs.
The B Backs should typically be big and strong backs. Even though Perkins is a tweener (6-0 219), he is comfortable with running up the middle, so he is worth trying at that position again during the Spring practice, although, he might be better as an A Back.
The first choice candidates for the B Back position should be Richard Watson (6-1 237), Daniel Drummond (6-3 248), or taking a 235-245 Line Backer that is not going to get a lot of playing time at that spot and making a B Back out of him.
Daniel Drummond appears to be the best of the lot for the B Back position at 6-3 248. He is fast enough to get to the hole and strong enough to gain at least five yards on most carries. The B Back does not have to score a TD on every carry, although Drummond, Watson, and one of the Line Backers would have enough speed to make long runs up the middle, because, once they get through the hole, it us a straight shot to the goal.
Players are being mismanaged on offense and defense. Coaches egos, trying to prove they can win with methods that are not working, is going to cost them their jobs in the long run. Tech’s caliber of defensive recruits must play an attacking type of defense with the defensive linemen, they cannot win consistently with the 3-4 defense.
Since Johnson is ultimately responsible for the defense, he will either change it or be gone in a few years.
The Old Man
IHATEUGA1990
December 20th, 2011
11:33 pm
I LOVE THE SUPPORT GUYS! I got banned on gtsportalk.com for saying all of the things and those idiots over there thought i was a uga man. BuT im sorry if this makes alot of people mad but i would fire the entire coaching staff! sorry but those guys are not going to take GT to a national championship. THAT IS THE ULTIMATE GOAL RIGHT???
SuperB
December 20th, 2011
11:46 pm
It’s not Groh’s fault that Paul Johnson is a jackass and a lot of recruits don’t like him. (That is what the Tech insiders say.)
1 4 GT
December 20th, 2011
11:51 pm
IHATEUGA1990—-You are a Georgie MUTT troll stirring kaka in hopes of having a negative impact on GT athletics. What a moron you are. To have such delusions of grandeur and self importance borders on mental illness. You have been posting your mean spirited hatred for GT for several hours now. Using various ID’s as though you are conducting a semi intelligent conversation about football with numerous individuals of think alike “experts”. Hoping to stir enough controversy to create turmoil in recruiting and player performance and maybe even impact the coaching staff. Like I said, mental illness. You and the other ID’s you’ve been conducting this “conversation” with are no more than another iteration of headley lamar, Jason Marcus, WnE. et al. GO AWAY. You have become less than boring.
IHATEUGA1990
December 21st, 2011
6:46 am
@14 GT your the biggiest dumbass! enough said.
mike
December 21st, 2011
8:59 am
The bottom line is–they gave up, on average, 28 points per game. That doesn’t cut it. The stats about yards per game, sacks, rushing yards allowed per game, ad nauseum, are what keeps statisticians employed, but what counts is being able to give up less than you score. And Tech’s defense puts alot of pressure on their offense to do that. Of course, they can’t recruit the athletes that UGA and most other schools can. Get it down to 21-22 points per game and they’ll be ok.
old dog
December 21st, 2011
9:04 am
Hey….arguing ain’t solvin’ ya’lls problems. The best players ain’t coming to the cripple-option offense…period. Yeah, you will pull a few games out, and even beat UGA once in awhile. But you have to have defensive players, and many of them ain’t coming since they know they may not have the chance to win. Ya’ll used to kick-butt back in the day, and there was a rivalry. I know we are not (yet) in the elite of the SEC, but you will see: nothing against your coach but a high-school offense ain’t gonna bring in the recruits, etc. you gotta have to win. Also do not blame academics. Tech used to have kick-butt teams when they played big-boy football!
gtfanfrom1951
December 21st, 2011
9:10 am
Six pages of comments WOW…….CpJ ran the run-and shoot at UH…..If he did that here would that make you all happy? I think not…Coach Dodd ran the belly play…..most teams run some form of option….Coach Dooley ran the ball all the way to NC….
yellow britches
December 21st, 2011
9:14 am
You know what Mark? At least people still care about GT Football. I mean, look at the number of comments. Sure some of the posts are from dirt balls who have sand burrs between their toes, but most are from thinking fans who give a damn. I wish there were more of us. Grant Field at the end of the GT-Georgia Game looked like Sanford Stadium in terms of that God awful red. When we played Nebraska at the Citrus Bowl in ‘91 the stadium was a virtual home game for us. I know there are fans out there and we do travel when it matters–which might be the issue: It just has not mattered a whole lot in recent years. Merry Christmas to the Tech faithful! Keep the Faith.
Just one more reason why CPJ is ............
December 21st, 2011
9:54 am
The promise made by CPJ that “Al Groh with his NFL links and his great knowledge of the 3/4 and his ABILITY TO ATTRACT THE 4/5 STAR D PLAYERS is our new D coordinator here at GT and will help take us the the next level” is only one more reason for CPJ to be on the ESPN 2012 COACHING HOT SEAT.
WHERE IS THE BEEF!!! Another one of CPJ’s many failings. It is now adding up:
No ACC titles, no bowl wins, three humiliating losses IN A ROW to UGA (in their worst two year period in decades) and probation and now the drugs and crime, supensions within the team on on campus,etc is why Paul Johnson is in trouble.
CPJ IS on the HOT SEAT.
Meanwhile Mark Richt is continuing to reload with 4 and 5 star talent to make ready for another SEC East title and take down of LSU in the Dome in 2012 and 2013. UGA is in the 5th best bowl per Fox Sports News and GT is in the # 27th best of 35. Sad and it illustrates the difference in the two programs.
CPJ is in trouble and if he loses his 4th BOWL in a row, um, ah, it will not be pretty.
Merry Christmas !!
Really?
December 21st, 2011
10:05 am
Someone posted here that “GT use to kick butt back in the day”. Let us see.
You have to go all the way back to 1955 to find a MAJOR BOWL beyond the 1967 and 2009 Orange Bowl. LOOK IT UP !! Bobby Dodd was washed up by the mid 1950s. He did tons of Gator or Bluebonnet Bowl trips ……………..all minor bowl trips after 1955, up to 67.
GT won the 55 Sugar Bowl
GT lost the 67 Orange Bowl
GT lost the 09 Orange Bowl
THREE MAJOR BOWLS In what? 56 years? UGA in this same period has been to possibly 25+ MAJOR BOWLS. Yes, GT and UGA visited some lousy MINOR bowls too but UGA has that MAJOR BOWL TRADITION ( 2012 OUTBACK ) and GT has their minor bowl tradition ( 2011 Sun Bowl) and I do recall when Joe Pa stomped Bobby Dodd in the 65 or 66 Gator Bowl.
The Citrus bowl in 91? Oh, no …………… then, that was at best a lower, mid level bowl, having just changed the name from the old Tangerine ( in 73 UGA lost there to Miami of Ohio ) and so it was not a major bowl. By definition, overall a MAJOR BOWL is Rose, Orange, Sugar, Cotton, Outback, Capital One, now incl the Fiesta.
GT has been to three ( 3 ) in 56 years.
old dog
December 21st, 2011
10:38 am
@Really,
O.K., let me re-phrase. Tech had some respectable teams and beat UGA awhile back. (If Reggie Ball had not been at QB, ya’ll may have gotten us another time or two!) That being said, I do know that many teams (gtfan from 1951) ran the ball and won. However, most (not all) of it was good old power football…..line up in the trenches and whoop-tail! A gimmick offense will be (and has been) figured out. Ya’ll get a real QB (if he can survive the pounding) and a little passing game and you may adjust. Also, some D-help would work, too! Groh, Buddy Ryan in the day, or our own Erk Russell would not have too much success with ya’lls blatant lack of talent. Is the type game-plan ya’ll have hurting recruiting?
GT ATW
December 21st, 2011
11:20 am
Mark, great read and I couldn’t agree with you more about keeping Groh. You are on target that we desperately need to upgrade our talent and put pressure on the QB. We do have talent on the way, but perhaps not enough. Recall that Francis Kallon has tremendous potential and may help right away. Also, LB Jabari Hunt-Days is a 4 start prospect that redshirted last year and should step in and contribute with Kallon next year.
@GTATW
December 21st, 2011
11:31 am
If you’re counting on help from a freshman that has played 1 year of High school football tech defense is destined to be atrocious.
1 4 GT
December 21st, 2011
12:18 pm
IHATEUGA1990—-I call you out for the UGAG GEORGIE BUTT SNIFFING LEG HUMPING MUTT TROLL that you are and all you can come up with is “your (you’re/you are) a dumbazz”. Pathetic!!!! ROFLMFAO
Wild Bill
December 21st, 2011
2:12 pm
A friend gave me a book last week, “100 Things Yellow Jackets Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die”. This book gives excellent insight into Georgia Tech football and what we Tech fans can expect. Only when our teams execute what they have been taught to perfection and have one or two outstanding plays will we beat nationally ranked teams. Typically, the better teams that we play will have better athletes than we will have, this is the way it has always been. We have been successful in the past by having players that performed above all expectations. We have some of these type players on the team now, they will surprise everyone in some game and I hope it is in the bowl game because we really need to win this one.
As far a keeping Coach Johnson and Coach Groh I think it is too soon for such a drastic move as firing them.. As Bobby Ross said a few weeks before winning the Coach’s Poll for the 1990 National Championship, “This is a tough place to coach…All these nice things have been happening here and I haven’t been able to enjoy it one bit….This job started out being a tough job, and it hasn’t stopped.”
My biggest gripe against the UGA fans is not how they trash talk and belittle Tech’s sports teams but how their alumni dominate the state legislature and the much less than stellar education department that produces the vast majority of our state’s teachers. Unfortunately, the state’s education record speaks for itself.
THWG
GeorgiaBoner
December 22nd, 2011
5:45 pm
I’m still not sold on Grantham yet. It was an easy schedule this year with only a few quality wins: Tech and perhaps Auburn.