Al Groh goes, but the question about Tech’s talent remains
A sight seldom seen in recent months: Georgia Tech actually tackles somebody. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
Paul Johnson had two options: Keep losing the same game the same way or try something different. Not much of a choice if your job depends on winning, is it?
Said Johnson, speaking Monday afternoon: “We’ve been ahead in some games and we haven’t seemed to win any of them.”
Also this: “The way we’ve played is not acceptable. That’s not why I came here.”
It is, however, why Al Groh is gone. To fault the defensive coordinator for everything that has gone wrong at Georgia Tech would be a gross overstatement. (Pretty sure Groh hadn’t been tutoring the Jackets in the art of turning a kickoff into a safety.) But he was given a task to perform, and he failed. A team that’s 90th in the land in total defense, 89th in scoring defense and 103rd in third-down defense — and, as Johnson noted of the latter category, “we tried to make that a point of emphasis” — cannot be said to have given ground grudgingly.
And the really bad thing about Groh’s really bad D was it got worse as it went. Of the 181 points Tech has yielded, 80 have come in the fourth quarter and beyond. If we throw out the Presbyterian game, Tech’s opponents have scored 77 points in 75 fourth-quarter minutes (plus two overtime possessions). That’s point-a-minute stuff. That’s bad beyond belief.
“The Virginia Tech game,” said Johnson, referring to the Jackets’ first loss of this 2-4 season, “was eerily similar to the [Sun Bowl, in which Tech also lost in overtime], and the Miami game [yet another OT loss] was eerily similar to Virginia Tech … There were a lot of recurrent things.”
Firing Groh in midseason can’t do any harm and might do some good. “To me, [the decision] was inevitable,” Johnson said. “I didn’t want to give up the rest of the season.”
But — and this is a humongous “but” — Al Groh wasn’t the guy missing tackles on third down. The scariest Tech loss wasn’t any of the three in which the Jackets wasted a late lead but the Middle Tennessee game, in which Tech last led 7-0. Middle Tennessee plays in the Sun Belt, which isn’t a BCS league. Georgia Tech plays in the ACC, which is, and back in 2009 it claimed the conference title (since vacated). On manpower alone, Tech should have been able to line up in the same defense on every snap and beat the Blue Raiders. Instead it lost 49-28. Instead it saw Middle Tennessee score seven touchdowns, the first five on drives of 68 or more yards.
That suggested — heck, it did more than suggest — that Tech’s failure had less to do with Groh’s X’s and O’s than the X’s themselves. Third downs are those moments when good players make plays; Tech’s players, alas, get blocked and blow coverages and miss tackles. “I don’t think you’ve got to trick people,” Johnson said, and then, sensing where this might be heading: “I’m not sold that we don’t have great players.”
On that, he’s surely in the minority. Johnson said he plans to be more involved with the defense, and toward that end he reassigned duties among the holdover coaches. (Charles Kelly, who last coordinated a defense in 2005 at Nicholls State, will be the interim coordinator.) Johnson knows what needs to be improved — “i.e., tackling and i.e., pursuit,” he said — but being able to run fast and hit hard are functions of ability. All the scheming known to man won’t turn a barely adequate collegiate linebacker into Lawrence Taylor.
See, Al Groh once coached Lawrence Taylor. Say what you will, but Groh does know football. Even Johnson conceded the point before saying: “The communication part wasn’t transcending to the field; we were having a hard time getting lined up.”
There can be no real defense, if you will, of Groh’s Tech tenure, no real argument with Johnson’s decision to dump him now. “To do what you’re doing,” Johnson said, “you have to know what you’re doing.”
Can’t dispute that. But to do what needs to done, you have to be physically able to do it. Al Groh tried for 2 1/2 years and couldn’t make these Jackets play good defense. Still unclear is whether anyone can.
By Mark Bradley
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197 comments Add your comment
Jon
October 8th, 2012
6:45 pm
First?
Jon
October 8th, 2012
6:46 pm
CPJ demonstrated moxie to make the move mid-season, but I can’t fault the reasons. What do we have to lose? Go Jackets!
LakeDawg
October 8th, 2012
6:46 pm
“The way we’ve played is not acceptable.”
Hmmmm. I wonder who else that quote could apply to. BTW Mark, you’ve had a busy last few days haven’t you?
Billyho55
October 8th, 2012
6:52 pm
GREAT ARTICLE AS ALWAYS MR. BRADLEY! THE WRITING HAS BEEN ALL OVER GRANT FIELD FOR A LONG TIME! I’M SORRY IF THIS OFFENDS ANYONE BUT A MAN OF GROH’S AGE AND DEMEANOR CAN NOT REACH COLLEGE KIDS! PLAIN AND SIMPLE! NOW WE SEE IF PJ REALLY IS THE MAN FOR THE JOB! 2 COORDINATORS FIRED IN ONE TENURE, JUST SAYIN….
Big Crimson 75
October 8th, 2012
6:54 pm
Bradley — thanks for making sense of the situation.
Fire the DC, because he has no talent to work with!!
Johnson is now officially out of excuses — well, maybe not, he did finally join the 21st Century & hire a Special Teams Coach.
Answer This
October 8th, 2012
6:55 pm
The question now remains if CPJ will ever realize if he has to throw the ball more than 10 times in a game to win!? We all know you can coach a team in how to run the ball but can you coach a team on in the passing game? Can you coach a QB on how to read in the passing game….can you do that coach. Thats the real question….stop with that running down your throat every game and try to have some balance in your play calling!
:-) Tech Man
October 8th, 2012
6:56 pm
You may be right Mark but it is up to the coach to motavate and get the best from his players. It is my understanding that Grogh had lost the confidence of his players and his practice organization was not what it used to be. His players were not prepared.
Mike S.
October 8th, 2012
6:56 pm
Good article, Mark. Womack wasnt a whole lot better before Groh. I think the only thing you can possibly pin on Groh is the 3-4. I believe that’s what he ran. Maybe it just wasnt a good fit for the athletes he was able to recruit. Still, Womack was no better. Johnson’s offense was far more effective during Womack’s years and often had to outscore teams for wins. The recruiting has to get better for Tech to expect much better results.
Hillbilly D
October 8th, 2012
6:57 pm
When you fire a coordinator, guess who’s next?
Dawg in Sewer
October 8th, 2012
6:58 pm
WEs going to Shrevepostss whesls jacketsses satas insts lantaas Ruffss, Ruffs
chas_jacket
October 8th, 2012
6:59 pm
Sorry but our defense frequently looked lost this year. How many times did we line up with one cover guy on two receivers? That’s as basic as it gets and I saw it happen several times. I don’t care if you have Deon Sanders on your team , he can’t cover two receivers – that’s a basic coaching breakdown. That’s the kind of thing CPJ saw on the tapes and why Groh had to go sooner rather than later.
BobbyDodd21/20
October 8th, 2012
7:01 pm
If I were the other teams offense, ever since Iowa 2 yrs ago, ..and I needed 7 points, center field is always open for long strike…2 min offense, and, likewise Tech is going have to have a passing game to offset the option offense….
.
October 8th, 2012
7:02 pm
So, was “The Genius” implying that Tech players were not smart enough to learn the defense after 2+ years? We hear on these blogs all the time about how smart Tech players are compared to everyone else.
StingerSplash
October 8th, 2012
7:07 pm
So Mark, a coach who’s been in the college ranks for 30 years and has won two national championships says the talent is there. You say it isn’t.
And we’re supposed to believe whom in all this?
Mark Bradley
October 8th, 2012
7:11 pm
Kudos, Jon.
PhilSC
October 8th, 2012
7:13 pm
The state of Georgia is in bad shape! The dawgs are overhyped and the yellow jackets are rags!
Gordon
October 8th, 2012
7:13 pm
Unlike Paul Hewitt, Paul Johnson can coach. Unlike Paul Johnson, Paul Hewitt can recruit. Unfortunately, you have to do both to be successful.
I fear the handwriting is on the wall. Johnson’s offensive system does work (just look at the stats), but it doesn’t work so well that it can overcome talent that is decidedly superior. Tech will never get all of talent that UGA and others get, but it needs to get some of that talent, and that talent needs to be well coached.
Etech1
October 8th, 2012
7:13 pm
you can’t recruit 4-5 star players with a wishbone offense and mediocre coaches. They want to play big time nfl type ball and play for top coaches. Tech needs to clean house, get a real coach and stop playing this high school type ball.
USMC
October 8th, 2012
7:14 pm
CPJ did the right thing. Groh was growing fungus and needed to go. sorry.
I admire CPJ for taking it on the chin and manning up.
Tech is a decent defense away from being tops in the ACC.
Can CPJ please do the same thing in Athens to CMR… Oh wait!
Stinger 2
October 8th, 2012
7:16 pm
Billyho55: About your comment that Groh is too old to coach college kids: What is his age and what is the maximum age a college coach should be? Do you know The FAA allows pilots to fly commercial jumbo jets until age 60.
PhilSC
October 8th, 2012
7:17 pm
Forecast for next years South Carolina vs. UGA is already out. They are calling for a mostly Clowney day again…….,,
GTBob
October 8th, 2012
7:17 pm
According to rivals, CPJ has recruited 7 four star defensive players and 24 three star defensive players since 2009. That is roughly 2 four stars and 6 three stars a year. What exactly is happening to these players that makes them not be able to tackle or have any idea what to do defensively. Rod Sweeting turned down Bama and came to Tech. If he had gone to Bama, do you really think he would be having issues tackling? The talent argument does not explain why we are worse defensively then Mcneese St. There was something going horribly wrong in the Al Groh regime.
StingerSplash
October 8th, 2012
7:22 pm
Etech1,
How does Tech’s offense have any impact on how well it recruits and performs defensively? Don’t say because that’s all they see in practice because they don’t – that’s a gigantic misconception. They practice against the offense they’ll see that week.
Portmanteur
October 8th, 2012
7:24 pm
Mark, if you’re going to kick our team while it’s down, at least do it with a decent copy-editor.
What Talent
October 8th, 2012
7:26 pm
There isn’t any talent to worry about. This is CPJ trying to save himself. Sorry CPJ, devense wins championships
Mike Lum
October 8th, 2012
7:38 pm
Passing more won’t change things, at least as long as Tevin is under center. Tech’s running game worked well against Clemson, until CPJ inexplicably changed to the shotgun, The TV announcers were baffled. Even while passing as the clock was running down, GT took too long between plays. The Clemson game would’ve been closer if Tech had a reliable kicker (again, recruiting). Unable to convert field goals, CPJ was forced to go for it on fourth down.
KBP
October 8th, 2012
7:40 pm
Billyho55. . . Spurrier is 67 and Snyder at K-State is older than Spurrier.
Concerned
October 8th, 2012
7:44 pm
The reason it is not a gigantic misconception is the players running the other team’s offense were recruited to run the triple option. Consequently, no one can throw the ball accurately, no one knows how to run routes correctly, and no one knows how to protect the passer without trying to cut block. Therefore, the defense never gets an adequate look at what other teams will do.
GTBob
October 8th, 2012
7:48 pm
The reason it is not a gigantic misconception is the players running the other team’s offense were recruited to run the triple option.
Just because they were recruited to run the option offense at some point doesn’t mean that they have no idea how any other offense works or that they only ran that type of offense in high school. You make is sound like CPJ is only recruiting from triple option factories that are oblivious to the rest of the world. He isnt. He is recruiting the same guys everyone else is recruiting.
Mulk
October 8th, 2012
7:56 pm
I love coach Johnson and I know he has to defend his recruiting/players, but Tech doesn’t have the athletes to play decent defense. They are too slow (arm tackling) too weak (cant get off blocks) and lack football IQ (3rd down conversions) I’m not trying to defend Coach Groh but Saban himself couldn’t get these players to pursue and tackle. No one is going to fix this problem this year.
Supposedly, the state of Georgia is a hotbed for talent. Surely, the 4th or 5th rated linebacker in the state is fast and strong enough to play good defense on the D1 level. UGAG can’t get all the athletes, can they? Maybe, Tech will find a young coach that can belly up to the kitchen table and reel in some of these athletes.
Paul in NH
October 8th, 2012
7:56 pm
Only surprise here is doing the firing in mid-season. However, it is never the wrong time to do the right thing. GT should go after Randy Shannon after the season.
chas_jacket
October 8th, 2012
7:58 pm
Despite what many people think of him, I believe CPJ may be to tender hearted with respect to TW. Tevin is a great kid and an extremely hard worker, but CPJ should have bit the bullet and made the switch sooner. I do think you will see Vad under center at least half the BC game – and he will air it out. I predict we average 200 YPG passing the rest of the season.
Scrod
October 8th, 2012
7:59 pm
@billyho55: A MAN OF GROH’S AGE AND DEMEANOR CAN NOT REACH COLLEGE KIDS! PLAIN AND SIMPLE!
No Groh fan here, but you do realize the three oldest HC in D1 are undefeated this year? I don’t think it was age that got Groh in trouble.
lxUn1c0
October 8th, 2012
8:05 pm
Our players aren’t really the problem. Recruiting has improved since Gailey left. We have talent. The problem was that the scheme didn’t fit the players we have. It doesn’t matter how good your scheme is our how talented your players are if you can’t find a way to fit the two together.
We know Groh’s a good coach. He just wasn’t the right coach for us.
Big Crimson 75
October 8th, 2012
8:05 pm
He is recruiting the same guys everyone else is recruiting.
—-
You’re right Bob.
Problem is their all turning him down, for better opportunities!!
Hunt-Days maybe starts on half the SEC Teams. Maybe half. Maybe.
Fact is Bob, coming from a quasi-Tech supporter, Johnson is the Head Coach.
He’s not the OC. It’s his Program. He calls the shots.
Where is the improvement?
Bobby, what you & many other Johnson zealots don’t comprehend is the criticisim of Johnson aren’t necessarily attacks on the trip-option, their attacks on the State of the Program!!
He does run Program, correct?
GTBob
October 8th, 2012
8:06 pm
Tech doesn’t have the athletes to play decent defense
Name some of the current Tech defensive players who are woefully untalented and would have no chance at playing defense at any other school. Our two biggest disappointments have been Rod Sweeting and Isaiah Johnson. Sweeting had offers from Bama, Auburn, Clemson, SC, Tenn, etc. Johnson had offers from UGA, Miami, SC, Ok St, and Stanford. How could these two guys be so coveted before leaving high school yet have no idea how to tackle or do anything else after they get to Tech?
GTBob
October 8th, 2012
8:10 pm
He does run Program, correct?
Yes, and I will be happy to send him packing if he can’t turn things around. He appears to be trying to improve the absolute worst aspect of the team and he should be applauded for that. I know its fun living at #1 all the time Crimson, but for those of us who support a program that is going to struggle a lot naturally then we have to have a little patience and let things play out. Otherwise we would be firing coaches every other year.
Concerned
October 8th, 2012
8:10 pm
To go a step farther, great talent does not want to come to a school that runs the triple option because it does not prepare them for the next level. Consequently, the caliber of the scout team is not adequate enough to challenge the defense. A defense that is not loaded with talent because the great players do not feel they will be prepared for the next level due to what they practice against.
Like I have said before, Chan Gailey will recruit very good players, underachieve, and win 7 to 9 games. Paul Johnson will not recruit very good players, overachieve, and win 7 to 9 games. If you do not believe this, just look at the number of draft choices Gailey produced as opposed to Johnson.
garcia
October 8th, 2012
8:12 pm
I am need of some education.
Week after week, I see people post that our defense has trouble playing against other teams because they rarely practice against a traditional offense.
Here is where I need some help. Didn’t Nebraska have some of the most dominant defenses in their days of glory? And, didn’t they run the option during those days of greatness?
bill
October 8th, 2012
8:13 pm
Even if you want to base your comment on the fact that Tech’s defense doesn’t practice against “normal” offenses, you can’t dispute the fact that the defense is getting worse year by year. Tackling isn’t an issue of how you line up against a type of offense in practice.
Groh called a great game vs Va Tech only to make a grave decision on the last play before the game tying FG. He blitzed and placed the safeties in position where they were way too close to the scrimmage line. All Tech needed to do was play a zone or Cover 7 when VT needed to get into FG range. The slant was there for VT and Johnson overplayed the pass that put VT in FG range. Granted kids have to tackle, but when you put kids in the wrong formation when the game is on the line….you lose.
Perhaps it’s just the talent isn’t good enough on defense. Or the OC/HC is calling poor games….we’ll see. But PJ knows his situation. He is on somewhat thin ice. If this team goes 2-4 or worse last 6, he may very well be gone. Groh should have been fired after Utah last year…..we’ll see if it’s the talent if the kids still can’t tackle the rest of the season. Personally, think it’s more of the coaching…. We’ll see.
Coach
October 8th, 2012
8:16 pm
Go after Slyvester Croom– he is a good DC that will help recruiting
lxUn1c0
October 8th, 2012
8:22 pm
Anybody who says tech’s offense isn’t good because they don’t practice against normal offenses is full of it. They prep, just like any other team, against the scout team O.
Likewise, anybody who says it’s because we can’t recruit with the triple option is delusional. Recruiting has improved since CPJ got here, and the statistics bear that out.
Anybody who says CPJ’s offense doesn’t prepare players for the NFL is living in a fantasy land. Just look at Georgia Tech’s recent draft picks and compare them to the number of players we put in the pros before he got here. If you’re talented enough and work hard enough, you can get there from any system that teaches you how to play football.
GTBob
October 8th, 2012
8:29 pm
If you do not believe this, just look at the number of draft choices Gailey produced as opposed to Johnson.
Awesome. I can pull out my usual response to the Gailey was a great recruiter and CPJ is terrible myth. Lets see (Recruiting Rankings each year):
Chan – 63, 50, 79, 62, 57, 18 — Average: 54.8
CPJ – 49, 49, 43, 41, 56, 48 — Average: 47.6
Chan had 15 four stars and 47 three star players, the rest 2 stars or lower
CPJ so far has had 12 four stars and 80 three star players, the rest 2 stars or lower
Techster
October 8th, 2012
8:35 pm
When Tech can start gaining pledges from the highly-regarded sons of former Tech players, things will turn around. For example, don’t let players like 5-star DE Carl Lawson and 4-star DE/LB Naim Mustafa slip away to teams like Auburn and the hated dwags.
lxUn1c0
October 8th, 2012
8:38 pm
Anybody who says GT’s defense doesn’t practice against “normal” offenses has no idea how football works. The D practices against the scout team O. Football players know this, so they don’t care what the first team O runs, as long as it works. And GT has been putting up plenty of points.
Anybody who says we can’t recruit now that we have the spread option ignores the fact that recruiting has improved since CPJ got here. The statistics bear that out. Stop acting like Chan Gailey’s 2007 class was normal for GT before Johnson. It wasn’t, and Gailey might never have won the ACC with them.
Anybody who says players don’t want to go to a school that doesn’t prepare them for the NFL is delusional. All players have to put in work before they can play after going pro. Almost none are ready out of college. But look at the number of players we’ve sent to the NFL under CPJ, and you’ll see what scouts know. It doesn’t matter what system you ran in college. What matters is talent and hard work.
lxUn1c0
October 8th, 2012
8:40 pm
Sorry for posting two similar comments. It looked like it didn’t go through the first time.
DawgBeater
October 8th, 2012
8:41 pm
Mark – You cannot say talent is lacking unless you ask whether we had a better defense before Johnson got here? (of course we did… Tenuta) and if we did, look at out recruiting rankings year after year for a 5 year sample for both coaches and compare them. Tenuta/Gailey had 1 decent recruiting year, and the rest are exactly what recruiting is now. Don’t tell me there is a significant talent gap. Gailey is to offense what Groh is to defense – they both lack the ability to scheme effectively and develop the players. Your argument just doesn’t make sense. A coordinator is everything. Uconn has the 6th ranked TOTAL D in the country right now. All because of superior talent? Garbage! You make so many good points but this is not one.
techster
October 8th, 2012
8:41 pm
Nothing against Groh – nice man and knew defense – but GT had to make a change. I don’t know if the talent is good enough or not. TW is not talented enough yet he continues to play but I am CPJ supporter and a season ticket holder. There were undoubtedly times this year the defense appeared confused and weren’t lined up. That is a coach’s responsibility. But regardless of it all I agree with CPJ decison to not be afraid of a change. I relly think Coach will do everything he possibly can to get this current mess straightened out and will. He has the right attitude. Don’t mean to be mean or throw stones and it’s true GT has its own issues, but Richt needs to get a bit more business-like. Am glad our coach is not standing paralyzed. Tech is a hard place to coach and you aren’t going to get great players and win without working at it. Will be interesting to watch the change. The players seem to like Groh so hope they don’t quit.
Hank
October 8th, 2012
8:45 pm
I’m more concerned about player development. I haven’t seen many of the defensive payers brought in develop into better players as they got more experience. Tenuta didn’t necessarily pull in better talent every year, but players seemed to progress better under his system.
RochesterJacket
October 8th, 2012
8:49 pm
The word is out. Kirby Smart was seen having dinner with DRad. CPJ is out after the season and Kirby is in.
collegeballfan
October 8th, 2012
8:51 pm
“The question now remains if CPJ will ever realize if he has to throw the ball more than 10 times in a game to win!?”
Not after South Carolina beat UGA with only 6 completions in 10 attempts.
lxUn1c0
October 8th, 2012
8:54 pm
Rochester Jacket, what’s to say he’s not interviewing our next DC? We might oder him a pay bump and give him more control than Saban does. It doesn’t make sense to pay CPJ $10 mullion not to coach GT football.
TDone
October 8th, 2012
8:56 pm
Mr. Bradley, what do you want to Johnson to do? Cheat? Tech can only recruit those kids it can get into the Institute. With its curriculum, it can only recuit certain athletes. I think Tech tries to recuit the best athletes it can. But at some point, it has to take players and coach them up. If you are so concerned, why don’t you go help us recuit? On second thought, no thanks.
supsalemgr
October 8th, 2012
9:00 pm
Why in the world would Kirby Smart even consider Tech? He knows GA and knows he can’t recruit there. He will hold out for a “big time” job.
1 4 GT
October 8th, 2012
9:10 pm
3 times I tried to make a post, worded differently each time. Why are the filters blocking me MB?
old time dog
October 8th, 2012
9:11 pm
Mark, your argument to be that talent is everything. Explain 35 to 7 to me on talent.
old time dog
October 8th, 2012
9:15 pm
Might just add an old football coaching phrase “He can take his and beat yours or he can take yours and beat his.” Talent is great but not everything. Again explain 35 to 7.
dagnabit
October 8th, 2012
9:21 pm
Time will tell, Mark, whether you know what you’re talking about this time.
1 4 GT
October 8th, 2012
9:23 pm
Some of y’all say a guy can’t get to the NFL thru GT & CPJ. If you can play, the NFL knows it. In the game last night, one of the teams had a player from Hofstra University. Some of you likely never even heard of Hofstra.
1 4 GT
October 8th, 2012
9:26 pm
Post with same premise as 1st 3 blocked again. Absolutely no vulgar, vile language is it. No insults to any one. No innuendos. Just blocked by your stupid filters. WHY?????
1 4 GT
October 8th, 2012
9:27 pm
Some of you claim a guy can’t get to the NFL thru GT & CPJ.
1 4 GT
October 8th, 2012
9:31 pm
A guy from Hofstra University played last night on Sunday Night Football.
1 4 GT
October 8th, 2012
9:37 pm
L a s t / n i g h t / a / g u y / f r o m / H o f s t r a / U n i v e r s i t y / p l a y e d / i n / t h e / S u n d a y / N i g h t / F o o t b a l l . I f / y o u / c a n / p l a y / t h e / N F L / k n o w s / y o u . / S o m e / o f / y o u / l i k e l y / n e v e r / e v e n / h e a r d / o f / H o f s t r a .
Hairy Dawg
October 8th, 2012
9:39 pm
The difference between a team like UGA and a team like Alabama is that the guy coaching Bama gets the most out of his ridiculous amount of talent. Richt has a ridiculous amount of talent on his team and he can never seem to get the guys to focus and do their jobs against the toughest opponents. He is terrible at it. The results prove it.
1 4 GT
October 8th, 2012
9:39 pm
What a stupid way to have work to get such an innocuous message thru your stupid filters.
walton
October 8th, 2012
9:43 pm
The problem against MTSU is that we lined up our back 7 spread out and in a shell giving up the inside run. MTSU said OK and ran the ball straight at us most of the game. We made zero adjustments. We didn’t adjust and make them throw over us which they probably couldn’t do. We do have some talent issue but if we don’t have 11-15 Defenders that can matchup with MTSU that says as much about NOT coaching them up as anything else.
lxUn1c0
October 8th, 2012
9:46 pm
Why would Kirby Smart come to GT? Stick with me here.
There’s precedent for a co-head coach at GT. When Gailey was here, Tenuta was co-head/DC. So, if we offer Kirby Smart more money, a co-head title, and the possibility of taking over if CPJ doesn’t turn things around, he may see it as a chance to improve his career. He would also have more control over the defense compared to his current situation under the infamous defensive guru that is Nick Saban. It may be a long shot, but it would be the kind of bold move that would restore the fanbase’s faith in DRad and CPJ.
As for recruiting, who says he can’t recruit in GA? We already have pipelines in the state (it’s our home state, duh), and a DC of his caliber could improve things. He would also bring new pipelines into Alabama, where there are some recruits he could steal. I don’t think recruiting is going to be the limiting factor here.
Hairy Dawg
October 8th, 2012
9:48 pm
Saban gets the most out of his ridiculous amount of talent at Bama. Richt gets an average amount out of his ridiculous amount of talent at UGA. Paul Johnson probably gets the most out of his offensive talent and scheme at Georgia Tech. He’s been getting nothing out of his defensive talent. He doesn’t even seem to care about that side of the ball as long as they’re about to outscore their opponents most of the time. That hasn’t happened this season.
Soper
October 8th, 2012
9:51 pm
If you run the triple option, your defense doesn’t face pro style offenses, or any style of offense except the triple option, so it’s almost impossible to be good defensively, which is why most iffnses in college, and all in Pro’s, are NOT the triple option.
The triple option kills the GTech defense.
Jacket1985
October 8th, 2012
9:52 pm
DRad talking to Kirby Smart has to be a hoax. There is no way Smart would ever come to an ACC school such as Tech due to recruiting difficulties. He’s on the top of everyone’s list and I see him getting a shot as a HC in the SEC soon.
Not that I wouldn’t love to have him mind you, I just don’t see him taking it seriously unless it was for a potential head coaching job.
GT Fan
October 8th, 2012
10:04 pm
SC vs UGA …. 6 pass completions for 162 yds … 27yds /
GT vs. Clem … 9 pass completions for 144 yds … 16 yds /
SC D gives up 7 pts
GT D gives up 47 pts
It’s ain’t the O, Al Groh had to go!
Kirby Smart
October 8th, 2012
10:07 pm
I’m not interested in a “coach in waiting” scenario. Thanks anyway.
taylor
October 8th, 2012
10:09 pm
Kirby isn’t coming to Tech. No one makes a lateral move like Bama DC to Tech DC. Kirby is holding out for a HC job, and he will most likely get one soon.
I wasn’t thrilled with the Groh hire. Sure he knew defense, but I’ve always been a fan of hiring the new up and comers. They’re cheaper and can freshen things up. Younger coach can probably recruit better and connect with players better.
Dacusville Bill
October 8th, 2012
10:11 pm
Pitiful Paul should have been fired along with Groh. Maybe find another Coach to oversee the transition from the ACC to the Southern Conference—Then we could play Furman, Wofford, Elon and the Citadel, and might be able to beat Elon—
Jacket 86
October 8th, 2012
10:12 pm
You’re right MB; Tech’s talent is the issue. Of course, this is the same article you’ve written a dozen times. I get the sense you’re the Al Groh of the AJC. Limited ideas and talent no matter how hard you try to repackage what you have to work with. Please, please come up with something new or do us all a favor and stop writing about the Jackets.
Mom always said...
October 8th, 2012
10:16 pm
If you don’t have something good to say, just don’t say anything.
RexDogma
October 8th, 2012
10:19 pm
Forget Paul Johnson. Somehow they need to convince Ken Whisenhut to come home!!!
Todd grantham
October 8th, 2012
10:20 pm
Mark, nobody cares about the Dahlberg reprecussions.
Buford Pusser, Sheriff
October 8th, 2012
10:31 pm
Mark…….why beat around the bush? Pick a side man. Don’t just throw things out there for us to ponder. Dig a little deeper on the talent issue and make a call on it. That’s what we want to hear more about. CPJ has always been adament that he doesn’t put much (aka, any) stock in recruiting sources and the whole 5 star rated thing. Doesn’t he claim to only worry about whether or not a specific kid can help his system? If so, it doesn’t look like it’s working. We have walk-ons getting significant playing time. How can that be???
Re: Kirby Smart………That would be a major play for DRad if it could happen and it might bring back some credibility to an AD that is floundering in my opinion. That said, why the heck would Kirby Smart come to GT??? Being the DC at Bama is better than being the head coach at GTech.
I will have to echo what RexDogmann said……..Ken Whisenhut was the obvious choice back when CPJ got the job in the first place. CPJ should have never been here. GTech should have pushed hard for Whisenhut.
GStateBen
October 8th, 2012
10:35 pm
Tech is NOT firing Johnson any time soon. His buyout is $10.2 million this off season and $7.7 million after 2013.
10per
October 8th, 2012
10:40 pm
With the hiring of Al Groh, I hoped our D would improve, and recruiting would pick up accordingly. But that is not what happened. I don’t know what the problem was, communication or complexity or something else but I saw a defensive unit lost and out of position with their hands out in a “what are we doing?” pose before most snaps this year. I kept my optimism until the 4th quarter of the MTSU game, when after standing around during a timeout half the team ran off the field when MTSU lined up on the ball. That was it. I knew then the coaches had lost the players, whatever reason that was.
I am surprised they let Al go at this point and I know the man knows football, but things can only get better from here on out. They were that bad.
Myanmar-Shave
October 8th, 2012
10:45 pm
Paul Johnson Was In A Tight Spot
So He Thought And He Thought And He Thought
Someone’s Got To Goh
Might As Well Be Al Groh
Then It Won’t Be My Problem Noh Moh
Myanmar-Shave
George P Burdell
October 8th, 2012
10:59 pm
I. Johnson is a total bust at safety! he is just pathetic!
Insanity Defined
October 8th, 2012
11:24 pm
Groh needed to go. Falcons have the same D players, but with a new coordinator, they look much better and are playing with a different attitude. I hope Jackets follow suit. Coaching matters.
wreckbone
October 8th, 2012
11:27 pm
I agree Chan’s recruits were not that much better. Except for the running backs and also Nesbitt to date. The difference was we had 2 guys who could get a couple tough yards. Nesbitt and Dwyer (also Allen) Tevin is solid but not as large or fast as nesbitt. NEsbitt didn’t get walked down by weak side defenders. But the QBs are waiting. We had a few RBs that were coming along. If perkins could have been an impact player we would not be having this conversation. I think the 2 QBs in waiting will be able to take us where we need to be. I agree the offense is workign excpet for larger talent defenses. And if we get some RBs that are high recruits to give it a shot, we can get back those high percentage 3rd and 4th downs Johnson used to get.
Mr. One Liner
October 8th, 2012
11:34 pm
The defense was suffering through some….Grohing pains.
Thanks everybody, make sure to tip your waiter.
lxUn1c0
October 8th, 2012
11:41 pm
Soper doesn’t understand how a football team works. He actually thinks our first-string defense practices against our own offense everyday. That’s adorable.
dc74
October 8th, 2012
11:46 pm
Paul Johnson…genius
Hayseed Dixie
October 8th, 2012
11:58 pm
@Mark Bradley
“Al Groh once coached Lawrence Taylor.”
Yeah, and George Martin once produced the Beatles. Name a record he’s done outside of that that anyone gives two squats about.
But on to your point Mark- Attachou isn’t talented. Louis Young isn’t talented. Sure. Whatever.
Have you been watching the same games I have?
Here’s a far more simple analysis: those kids are good kids that want to please their coach. Sometimes old fellas know too much for their own good, and they make things way too complicated.
You want to belabor your point, I get it. Perhaps you have more in common with Coach Groh than you realize?
1 4 GT
October 9th, 2012
12:18 am
Hayseed….RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Santa Monica Jacket
October 9th, 2012
12:19 am
Mark please act like you have been around football before… Coaching is a huge part of it. How did APP St beat Michigan?? How did Utah beat Bama in a bowl?? How did NCST beat FSU?? This list could extend on forever… If you want to point to talent… Point your finger at your beloved DAWGs…
How can so many 5-star athletes assemble at one University and win nothing???? Remember that famous Spurrier quote.. something like this- “Georgia lands some of the best recruits in the nation year after year. Makes you wonder where they go when they get there.”
1 4 GT
October 9th, 2012
12:26 am
I just hope that CPJ (most likely) puts together a list of choices for DC & doesn’t make a hasty decision. I am sure he will have $$ constraints to work with. Start at the top & see who has interest & work hard to get a great recruiter & DC that would make smart moves & be in charge of recruiting. GOOOOO JACKETS THWGeorgie
Santa Monica Jacket
October 9th, 2012
12:38 am
Found the quote….
How is it when they (Georgia) sign people they get the best players (Bulldogs had string of 3 nationally ranked recruiting classes), but when we play, we have the best players??
-Stever Spurrier
Funny how somethings never change!!! The point Mark is that UGA has all the talent you could ask for and what are they winning?? They beat an engineering school consistently that can’t recruit at the same level for very obvious reasons?? Yet your write articles pointing to CPJ’s approach as the problem. Let me remind you again of the talent at UGA… all that NFL talent. Please view the record below…
RICHT is 2-14 vs ranked teams since 2008
Richt is 0-10 vs the top 10 since 2008
I’m tired of people pointing to GaTech’s record agaisnt Miami, UGA, VaTech, and Clemson. For sure GaTech wouldn’t have that record under CPJ with UGA’s talent. Your articles are really lame.
sal G
October 9th, 2012
1:17 am
wishbone offense—attracts 1-2 star players
Black Bee
October 9th, 2012
1:31 am
CPJ has to admit it was he who proudly brags that Stars don’t mean anything. That he gets the kids who wants to be here. And the gold colored glasses crew believed that boloney. Every recruiting service had CPJ, GT recruiting no higher then 45. You can do that one year but the next year you can balance that with a top 20 recruiting or your talent level will fall off. It is no wonder see this is not Montana or Idaho or something. This Stae is full of players. Touching States like Florida, So. Carolina and Ala. also have talent. Their is a reason a lot of NFL players and Entertainers choose Atlanta to live. The women here are 20-1, you are 10 minutes away from the Falcons, Braves and Hawks. This is the new Motown and the movie scene is triving. It just takes the right person to sell that who can also Coach. The Staff needs some closer’s. Giff, Lance Thompson, Joe Hamilton and R. Shannon. GT have enough alumni to get them all. The administration has to lighten up a little, maybe get a dual degree pprogram with Morehouse and Emory to open up some mor doors. It can be done but CPJ has to be a little more open to change.
lxUn1c0
October 9th, 2012
1:35 am
Sal G – I wasn’t aware anybody ran the wishbone anymore. Maybe I’m mistaken, but I don’t think I’ve seen it in division 1 in about 15 years.
If your comment was about GT, then you should probably look at the recruiting class stats before you open your mouth and remove all doubt, if you know what I mean.
Dodd
October 9th, 2012
1:44 am
Good column, Mark. All true. Didn’t realize LakeDawg was Jacket, either.
WnE
October 9th, 2012
2:33 am
DRad & CPJ must think we’re stupid, CAG being alone at fault is the same as the US Gov. wanting us to believe that Lee Harvey Oswald was the lone gunman!
Our Safeties & DBs have been atrocious, WHY not fire Kelly instead of making him the interim DC?
How in the H3LL can CPJ “promote” Charles Kelly to interim DC when I-Johnson has been a poor tackler and has been taking the SAME BAD ANGLES for 3 years, why not fire Kelly for not teaching him better?
Is it CAG’s fault that his safeties ALWAYS take bad angles in games?
Or is it Kelly’s fault, the 2ndary Coach?
The DL has been HORRIBLE for while so why isn’t McCcollum scape-goated and fired along with CAG?
This kind of BS scape-goatery won’t work with folks like me that follow CFB & recruiting and can see through the BS!
The GT Fanbase is not very sophisticated when it comes to CFB, so CPJ & DRad think they can pull a fast-one over on the gullible GT fanbase.
I can see through it!
Trying to get this kind of BS past me is like trying to sneak daybreak past a Rooster!
I didn’t like the CPJ hire way back in Dec. 2007 and I like it even LESS now because CPJ has no honor & no integrity to scape-goat CAG.
CPJ’s behavior in this time of crisis is exactly what I would expect from a PE Major from W. Carolina!
WnE
October 9th, 2012
2:37 am
All of CPJ’s Offensive recruits are Recruited for the Triple-SLOPtion Offense, those that are not good enough to get on CPJ’s depth chart that end up on the Scout Team do NOT have the TALENT to adequately simulate the Offenses that GT faces on Game days.
In the Miami Game when GT was burned early in the game, that throw by Stephen Morris is something that our CBs NEVER see during the week when they prep for games, none of our Scout Team QBs have that kind of arm strength.
Smallish RBs, NO TEs, and weak armed run-first QBs, and under-sized OLs that aren’t good pass-blockers cannot get our defense ready for what they will see on game days.
How can our DLs practice pass rushing vs. 6-7 310+ lbs. OTs when CPJ doesn’t recruit those types of players for HIS offense?
This is why is seems that our DLs just “Stick” to the OLs when they try to pass rush, the moves that they learn & practice every day they aren’t used to doing them vs. the QUALITY of OLs that they see on Game days.
Just because CPJ puts together a Scout Team that doesn’t mean that Scout Team has the TALENT to get our guys ready for Game Days.
If our starting Defense had to practice vs. Bama’s Scout team for a month do you think they would be better prepared for what they see on Game Days?
If you agree, then that means that CPJ’s “system” does indeed have a negative impact on our Defense, and when you bring in borderline BCS-level Recruits, then that makes it even harder for them to react properly under game pressure.
WnE
October 9th, 2012
2:43 am
re:
TDone
October 8th, 2012
8:56 pm
Mr. Bradley, what do you want to Johnson to do? Cheat? Tech can only recruit those kids it can get into the Institute. With its curriculum, it can only recuit certain athletes. I think Tech tries to recuit the best athletes it can. But at some point, it has to take players and coach them up. If you are so concerned, why don’t you go help us recuit? On second thought, no thanks.
___________________
PLEASE STOP PLAYING THE “ACADEMICS CARD”!
GT has no excuses for CPJ’;s poor Recruiting!
Academics ain’t the issue.
CLOSING on Academically Qualified ELITE Recruits is the issue!
This weekend Tuitt at ND played light out, Flower from Arky that turned down GT played well vs. Aubie and had a Key sack, Flower planned on majoring in Mechanical Engr. had he chose GT ,but he wanted to play in the SEC. Chase Thomas from Stanford by way of East Cobb (not sure which HS) is playing All-America caliber FB and is likely to be a 1st or 2nd team All-America this yr, barring injury. Garrison Smith & Ray Drew up at UGA are getting PT and are doing well. James Vaughters the 3.9 student from Tucker that had GT as one of his finalists is the other Starting OLB for Stanford and their 3-4 is a lot better than GT’s.
Imagine that on one of the better 3-4s in the country (Stanford), BOTH their OLBs are from the Metro Atlanta Area and were Academic Qualifiers for GT, and yet they are playing 3,000 miles away, maybe if CPJ had closed the deal on these 2 guys and gave CAG the “groceries” he needed then maybe the “meal” would have turned out better for CAG & GT.
GT’s problem is not Academics, the problem is that GT has a HORRIBLE close rate on the Academic Qualifiers from the Metro Atlanta Area, it is something like 10%, get that number up to 40% maybe even 50% and GT will put more future NFL guys on their roster and more impact college-level guys on their team and more game changing plays will be made.
Give CAG half of those guys I listed above and GT is undefeated, and in no way is that list complete, Shadrick (?) Thornton from NC State made big play vs. FSU when NC State upset them and was Recruited by GT as an A-Back and now he’s at NC State and it is NOT taking him 3 years to learn to make plays in in GAMES that helps their teams beat Top-5 teams.
GT fans need to stop with the Academics excuses and put the blame squarely where is belongs……. on CPJ for being a terrible Recruiter.
WnE
October 9th, 2012
2:43 am
Flower should be Flowers
Mulk
October 9th, 2012
3:21 am
GTBOB,
Not into calling out players’ names but I don’t see anybody on defense that could play for UGAG, for example only, regardless what Rivals rated them or what other school was making them offers.
GTBoob
October 9th, 2012
4:44 am
@Billyho55 ever heard of Bill Snyder?
AtlNative62
October 9th, 2012
6:45 am
The kids were clearly not “getting it” and that is usually coaching related. I think it was Bobby Ross who once said something like “Tech kids are different. You can’t just tell them to run through a wall. You have to also tell them why they need to”. Clearly, Mr. Groh didn’t get them to understand the “why”.
MC
October 9th, 2012
6:45 am
Johnson’s the one that needs to do something different. Like some shotgun formation passing offense where the receivers are taught and run real multiple pass routes.
Coach
October 9th, 2012
6:59 am
I noticed CPJ did not say anything about his Offense not producing in the fourth quarter. It is still recruiting. We only have four or five players on each side that are d1.
New Idea
October 9th, 2012
7:03 am
Recruiting recruiting recruiting. CPJ is not stupid, he is not going to say “I recruited a bunch of poor players”.
tech fan
October 9th, 2012
7:07 am
Something had to change, suprised groh was fired mid season! Was going to happen anyway after the season. Lets see how the team responds on the field. If they beat uga and (if they go to/win a bowl game) the season will not be a total failure!
New Idea
October 9th, 2012
7:19 am
I agree that CPJ is a TERRIBLE recruiter. Some Recruits are going elsewhere because they find GT major choices so limited. The choice is Engineering or Management, NOT GOOD. A lot of recruits want to major in something they like, we don’t have the choices. Adding majors is key. I am talking about majors that will lead to professional jobs like education and coaching, RESPECTED PROFESSIONS.
trueblueeagle
October 9th, 2012
7:25 am
There needs to be a change at GT.
Al Groh Fired! - Page 11
October 9th, 2012
7:30 am
[...] see a whole lot of talent or spectacular play at the individual level except for maybe Jemea. Al Groh goes, but the question about Tech’s talent remains | Mark Bradley Reply With Quote + Reply to [...]
Wrecker
October 9th, 2012
7:34 am
Groh himself indicated that this was a talented team. I heard praise from him about the deptch in the defensive backfield and some praise for individual LBs and linemen. He would not be talking about the talent level positively if he wanted to keep his job. A coach on the hot seat (and CPJ told him things had to improve at the beginning of the year) would have laid off more of the blame on his players with coded language (i.e., “We have a lot to learn at LB” or “Our depth at Dline worries me”).
buzzwax
October 9th, 2012
7:41 am
GT had very good defenses when Jon Tenuta was DC despite HORRENDOUS offenses under Gailey. So, yes Mark, GT can have a decent defense. And DECENT is all GT would need to have GOOD Acc records everyyear. First half of 2008, GT’s defense was good while Josh/Dwyer/Thomas were learning the offense. Second half Gt outscored everybody while the defense went down the toilet. 2009 outscored everybody….Wommack fired. Louis Young, Jemea Thomas, Sweeting, Days, Drummond, Watts, Nealy, Attaochu are kids with IMO, good talent. I guess CPJ will get this half and next year to prove it……
ramblingbuzz
October 9th, 2012
7:46 am
I for one am not sold on the no talent excuse. If the players are not talented, how can they make stops or interception in certain situations and then look totally out of position after the next snap. For example, the defensive lineman that intercepted Boyd last Saturday. He certainly had the talent to catch the ball. No matter what is said about recruiting and talent, I believe this group of athletes can get it done with the right coach and scheme. They won’t be a USCe or Bama defense, but they won’t be 100 among FBS teams either.
Rufus
October 9th, 2012
7:56 am
Paul Johnson pays lip service to defense. It’s just something you have to do when you don’t have the football. He had to make this decision and take this action now in order to have a chance of saving his own skin when the season is over. Bobby Dodd’s…I know, he’s not around anymore….believed in strong defense which is why he put top talent on that side of the ball, and I cite when Bud Carson came to town to take the defense. Dodd gave him free reign in picking defensive players from the available talent pool with the exception of Kim King and Lenny Smith. The result in 1966 was one of the nation’s top defenses. Johnson doesn’t think that way. He’s stuck in the “the best defense is a good offense” mentality which doesn’t work at this level.
Jacket Detective
October 9th, 2012
8:02 am
Maybe the football that Groh knows is the pro game.
If you can’t pressure the QB with your regular rush, you have to blitz.
Yet Tech has seldom blitzed and bringing Attaochu to make a fourth rusher really does not qualify as a blitz as four are what the 4-3 defenses bring every down.
Instead as the 4th quarter arrived, the other team realizes Tech was not going to blitz and their QB could relax, even in BD stadium, and pick us apart.
During the 4th quarter of the Miami game, Boddy Dodd stadium became home away from home for the Miami QB.
Something is really wrong with the D coordinator’s thinking when other team’s sense Tech is going conservative and confidently move right down the field to score at will.
Our defense becomes worse because they are demoralized by their leader (D coor) getting out-coached in the 4th quarter.
I do not know about the pro game but the college game passed Groh by.
Since Virginia wound up subsizing the Groh hire, their fans have to be delighted he failed at Tech.
Myanmar-Shave
October 9th, 2012
8:13 am
The Rambling Wreck’s Out Of Gas
They Can’t Stop The Run Nor The Pass
We’ve Given Coach Johnson Five Years
And Now He’s Confirmed Our Worst Fears
He Failed In His Quest To Recruit
So He Gave His Assistant The Boot
Surely Someone Can Bring In The Players
To Silence All The Naysayers
It’s Not Like We’ll Slay The Elephant
But We’d Just Like To Be Relevant
Myanmar-Shave
The real question
October 9th, 2012
8:17 am
Who made the biggest mistake – GT for hiring Al Groh or Al Groh for accepting the offer?
Groh is / was a better defensive coach than the players CPJ gave him.
Kirby Smart to the Flats – put down that crack pipe it is making you think like a crazy person.
Birmingham Jacket
October 9th, 2012
8:20 am
1) PJ isn’t going anywhere, anytime soon. We’re not ND or Alabama. We can’t afford to pay Hewitt and Paul Johnson NOT to work at GT; much less muster the million$ it would take to lure another quality coach here.
2) If/when PJ is fired, we will have a 4-5 year transition period, back to the pro-set, that will be very painful. Bottom of conference, no bowls.
3) Bottom line. We need a good young DC that can motivate and recruit. And we need to keep CPJ.
4) His name is GIFF SMITH.
DiegoL
October 9th, 2012
8:23 am
2-3 star players — still should beat lowly middle tennessee state, who has 1-2 star players.
Brazilian tanned Guy
October 9th, 2012
8:25 am
Sure wish Richt would call Boo Boo into his office this morning. Better yet, maybe Howdy Doody would call in Richt
Groh no mo’. | Get The Picture
October 9th, 2012
8:29 am
[...] #2: Bradley’s all out on the recruiting. // Share [...]
WnE
October 9th, 2012
8:35 am
re:
Birmingham Jacket
October 9th, 2012
8:20 am
1) PJ isn’t going anywhere, anytime soon. We’re not ND or Alabama. We can’t afford to pay Hewitt and Paul Johnson NOT to work at GT; much less muster the million$ it would take to lure another quality coach here.
2) If/when PJ is fired, we will have a 4-5 year transition period, back to the pro-set, that will be very painful. Bottom of conference, no bowls.
3) Bottom line. We need a good young DC that can motivate and recruit. And we need to keep CPJ.
4) His name is GIFF SMITH.
_______________
I wish we could get Giff back to GT.
Guys like Giff Smith that go out and take lateral moves to get NFL experience on their resume are more likely to cash in at a SEC school or other school from a BCS conference that will pay much more than GT.
A new staff will be hired at Arky after this season, they have DEEPER pockets than does GT, and at Arky he can sell himself by saying that he Recruited well at GT under difficult Admission reqs. and that at a School like Arky with an extra 100 points on the SAT to work with he’ll close the gap talent -wise between them and LSU & Bama.
As soon as Giff gives that line in the interview he’s hired and paid a lot more than GT can pay, when it comes to our FB Program GT is very cheap.
The way I see it, unfortunately Giff is a pipe dream, with CPJ’s $2.6MM and low attendance hanging over the Athl. Dept. we’ll have to go discount shopping in the LOWER RANKS for a DC willing to work for such a low salary.
TechLB
October 9th, 2012
8:43 am
Mark, Spot on again Sir! Thank you for the scrutiny, if we want a consistent top 20 program – yes we can – we have to ask these questions at this stage after four years.
@ lxUn1c0, GTBob, and a few others – Thank you for some common sense, football fan comments on here!
I Gotyourcoach Ratcheere
October 9th, 2012
8:44 am
The new DC is already on staff and coaching linebackers. More and more, its Buddy McCollum.
Go Jackets
October 9th, 2012
8:50 am
Johnsons offense works between the 20’s. But asking TW to get 1 yard on 4th down is like playing Megamillions….the percentages arent good.If Fish-fry doesnt hire an RC, he will be gone after next year too.
Been There
October 9th, 2012
8:51 am
Groh played football from the past. A two gap 3-4, Groh’s style, cannot be successful given the rule changes to essentially legalize offensive holding. You cannot expect to hit/control/disengage/tackle. Further the two gap 3-4 requires larger players on the D-line (300 #) and at LB (250#) The modern no-huddle spread seen almost every game speeds the play, adds 20 plays of offense for an opponent and for long stretches limit or eliminate defensive substitution. All bad for a larger player.
tooltime234
October 9th, 2012
8:56 am
I usually don’t agree with much WnE says but it does really suck to see guys that we were close to signing tearing it up for other teams. In addition to the ones he listed I think the RB Thornton for NC State had us as a finalist too and the kid looks like hes got some skills.
Keepin' It Real
October 9th, 2012
8:57 am
In CPJ’s first year, the senior recruiting class was ranked like thirty somethin when they signed (under Gailey). At the end of their season, the experts re-evaluated based on output and they were then ranked top 10 (under CPJ). Currently, UGA supposedly has 10 of 11 starters on defense that are going to the NFL… They give up 35 points to an offense led by Conner Shaw (not Geno Smith or Taj Boyd). Really…
It is clear Tech will never get as many perceived 5-star players as do UGA. Yet, Tech has more National titles, and put queit a few of those players in the NFL. Go figure. So much for perceived talent. Come on son!
YO YO
October 9th, 2012
9:00 am
PJ is not doing anything to advance the program. Poor staff, poor recruiting, poor coaching, poor play and super hard headed Head Coach with the personality of a tapeworm.
The real answers
October 9th, 2012
9:04 am
Techies are dreaming when listing all of these wished for coaches. Face the facts
A position coaching position at most D1 schools is a better job than a coordinator position at Tek.
A coordinator position at most D1 schools is better than the H.C. position at Tek.
Tek will never win the ACC Championship – I say NEVER as in NEVER……………………..
333
October 9th, 2012
9:06 am
You techies say that UGA fans are delusional—–look at yourselves!!! Tech football has been irrelevant nationally since the days of Bobby Dodd. Let’s be realistic–does anyone anywhere place tech in the upper or even middle tier of college football–of course not.
Soper
October 9th, 2012
9:23 am
Groh was the scapegoat. But wat defensive coordinator would agree to coach in a scheme that runs a triple options? Who wants to face a scheme in practice, you rarely see in a real game?
ESPN was right.
http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/67871/paul-johnson-finds-his-scapegoat
Tokyo jacket
October 9th, 2012
9:24 am
Mark, I agree that the talent level of our defense (or team for that matter) isn’t where it should be. But, you said it yourself, we ought to be able to line up in man-2 against MTSU, even with the current level of talent, and allow no more than 14 points period.
I like Al Groh. The man knows football. The results aren’t there and this is a big business. 49% of me wishes Groh could have turned it around, but 51% of me is focussed on the point a minute defense we play in the fourth quarter. Hopefully Coach Kelly will be able to get things good enough for us to maintain our bowl streak by the end of the year.
tooltime234
October 9th, 2012
9:29 am
Agree tokyo jacket. Absolutely no reason to give up 49 points to MTSU.
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
October 9th, 2012
9:36 am
GT football is in No Man’s Land..
No money to buyout the HC
No (not much) talent
No reason to look toward the future
Tokyo jacket
October 9th, 2012
9:41 am
Mark, we’d love to hear your take on ptoential candidates. Obviously, two things would be ideal for those candidates to bring to the table: 1) teach tackling and 2) increase talent through recruiting. Can Tech shell out the type of money that Clemson is using on a coordinator? We save money on the OC, so can we make a splash w/ the DC? Here’s my list:
* Kirby Smart – Dreaming, but fun to dream about. Prob looking at $1.5M
* Randy Shannon – Maybe, would be a good character fit at GT and has good in roads to talent/speed-rich south Florida.
* John Tenuta – Not likely. How many Tech fans said “if we only had this D when we had Joe Hamilton or even Goose?” Too much bad blood and poor performance since by Tenuta.
* Kelley – maybe he makes things happen for the rest of the year? If so, I’d expect a promotion. Not sure he solves the talent problem.
* Giff Smith – maybe. Position coach in NFL to DC in college is a sight promotion. Smith was Tech’s best recruiter. Maybe he could get more Dwyers, Morgans, and Burnetts?
* Ted Roof – please no! That didn’t work too well the first time.
Assuming we don’t shell out well north of a million for Mr. Smart (though I wish we would), I think Randy Shannon or Giff Smith would be the next best choices to a) teach kids how to tackle better and get them to play with more passion and b) increase the defensive talent level to remain competitive w/ our entire schedule.
john
October 9th, 2012
9:42 am
In order for Tech to be able to compete on this level of college football, they need to be aloowed to open itself up to more majors. But as long as the political reality in this state is geared toward the cesspool to the east, that won’t happen.
juice sourcer
October 9th, 2012
9:48 am
Real simple. Johnson fired him to shift the blame off himself. Groh was the fall guy. West Virginia is giving up huge yards and points on defense…should their defensive coordinator be fired? Even Clemson with all their talent ( much better than Tech) is giving up huge yardage and points….they have a new coordinator. this year because WVU put up 70 on them in last years Orange Bowl…hows that working out….should he be fired also…typical of big college football or even business….fire someone thats not responsible to take the heat on you.
GT
October 9th, 2012
9:51 am
I look at places like TCU. Patterson comes in their and builds a defense on fumes, as has other coaches at off the path programs. Good coaching is one of the real wonders of the world. If we could figure out how one guy makes you look like a bum and the other guy can make you look like an all American you have made the discovery of a lifetime.
I was thinking the talent might be our problem until I saw the Middle Tennessee funeral. The players lay down, there was no talent issue in this game, it was a moral issue on defense with the defensive co sitting in a box above it all. We put too much weight on talent, especially in college football. Georgia has talent, but Spurrier owns Georgia, he is that better a coach. I am not sure if Richt was coaching the Falcons against Spurrier at South Carolina if Spurrier wouldn’t win.
Paul Johnson is a very good coach, who understands what he is trying to do. You don’t need a great defensive coach with his ball control, but like he says you don’t need to expect the opponent to score on every play either. We also have seemed this year the whole offensive world speed up in college football. What was good to hire three years ago is not good now. He recognizing it is a good thing, and he saying he thinks the talent is better than what is advertised is a correct assumption. Nobody can be that bad.
Freddie Blassie
October 9th, 2012
9:52 am
Jerry Glanville is tanned, rested and living in the city. I don’t think Glanville likes CPJ and it wouldn’t be long before he’d stab CPJ in the back, but it would be better than giving up 600 yards per game and losing.
Let’s see how the remaining defensive staff fares before we give up. The offense is scoring enough to win.
VaGTFan
October 9th, 2012
9:52 am
No doubt Groh had to go. Mid season was smart timing. This gives us a jump start on finding a distinguished DC by season’s end. Meanwhile, expect the same defensive results for the remainder of the year. We go 2-4 the rest of the season thus ending the year with an 4 – 8 record.
Jacket Man
October 9th, 2012
10:01 am
GA Tech’s offense has been scoring enough points to win games, but their defense is giving up too many points that allow them to do so. To the people who try to say it’s because their defenders have to practice against the Jacket offense so they can never be prepared to play against their opponents so it’s impossible for them to succeed; that’s an idiotic statement – GA Tech’s 1st and 2nd team defense practices against the scout team, which runs GA Tech’s next opponent’s offense, not the Jacket offense. In fact, the only time the Jacket 1st and 2nd team defense might even go up against their 1st and 2nd team offense would be during Spring practices, and frankly, that would be awfully rare.
So this begs the question; if the offense is scoring enough to win games and the defense is costing the team wins, and they’re practicing against scout teams running their opponents offenses, then whose to blame for the losses? I think the answer is obvious – whomever is responsible for the defense, not the offense.
I might also suggest that having a Head Coach who isn’t afraid to make tough decisions, no matter when they need to occur, is a positive thing, not a negative, and I’ll bet there’s a ton of fans at other schools who wish they had head coaches who had the guts to make changes when he thought they were needed like Paul Johnson does, even if it’s in mid-season. A coach who identifies a problem and acts decisively to correct it is a winner not a whiner; a pro-active coach not a passive one. I’ll take him any day of the week over one who just sits back and waits to see if things will ever get better on their own.
Jacket Man
October 9th, 2012
10:04 am
Paul Johnson isn’t going anywhere; don’t listen to the lying trolls.
Delbert D.
October 9th, 2012
10:05 am
It’s not the majors. It’s the Bachelor of Science requirements as opposed to the Bachelor of Arts. Maybe the psychology major is more difficult at Tech, the math requirements aside, than the psychology major at Georgia, Clemson, Auburn, et al. I don’t think that Georgia Tech will ever add majors like this one. This is the opening sentence on Georgia’s web site for employment opportunities for Housing majors:
“Career Opportunities:
Students with a housing major are prepared for employment with local, state, and federal housing agencies, helping tenants with housing use and maintenance practices.”
GT
October 9th, 2012
10:09 am
Tech has played three major opponents on its schedule and has led all three into the 4th quarter. Did you notice how Georgia beat Vanderbilt, or even how South Carolina beat Georgia. Those kinds of losses haven’t happen here because we score points.
We can’t be like Georgia, and not sure we want to be. They have talent that I am not sure they or anybody can coach. I think Spurrier is much more careful who he brings into South Carolina than Richt is at Georgia. You got 4.3 speed but an attitude, the speed is negated by the brain. Not enough is said about the character of Latimore or Shaw, but Spurrier has a way of keeping the light off his players. So does Johnson. Unlike Georgia who works the press, very little is known about what Tech has. Johnson like Spurrier takes a bath and is underestimated because of it, but that is exactly what they are trying to do.
Go For 2
October 9th, 2012
10:33 am
Mark: So by your theory that the players are key…I’d guess we’d have to say that UGA’s Defense may be the most over-rated in the country…right? I mean what causes such poor effort …not as bad as GTech’s but pretty bad this season after traditional hype from the Dawg apologists
Billyho55
October 9th, 2012
10:36 am
I GUESS NO ONE FULLY READS COMMENTS! GUYS, I SAID AGE ANNNNND “DEMEANOR!”
YOU GUYS WERE STATING OBVIOUS FACTS! I KNOW ALL THOSE GUYS’ AGE AND RECORDS! YOU CAN BE THE OVERSEER OF A PROGRAM AT AN ADVANCED AGE! I JUST DON’T BELIEVE A COORDINATOR SHOULD BE OF THAT AGE AND HAVE A “DEMEANOR” OF GROH’S TO SUCCEED! READ THE ENTIRE POST BEFORE BITCHING! YOU WILL NOT ASS-SUME!
GT is at best a 65 % team
October 9th, 2012
10:37 am
GT with decent recruits can win 65-70% of their games.When GT faces athletic defensive teams that can pursue and tackle, they will generally lose.
GT should join a small ball conference and eventually will win vs. A MTSU.
GTBob
October 9th, 2012
10:37 am
Not into calling out players’ names but I don’t see anybody on defense that could play for UGAG, for example only, regardless what Rivals rated them or what other school was making them offers.
I would disagree. But then again most teams don’t have any players that could play for UGA. UGA has 4-5 star players at almost every position. If your expectation is for us to start recruiting like UGA then you are going to be pretty disappointed.
Kevin
October 9th, 2012
10:41 am
It’s not the Xs and the Os; it’s the Jimmys and the Joes.
Wes Mantooth
October 9th, 2012
10:42 am
Talent is part of it, but so is the scheme. To run the 3-4 effectively, a team needs monster def linemen that will draw double teams. It all starts there and Tech hasn’t been able to get those guys consitently. Probably won’t change given that Tech isn’t in the juco market and has hard time competing with the factory schools for the 4 star guys out of HS. The next DC should look at going back to the 4-3 or a varied scheme that mixes blitz packages, zone coverage, etc… I know PJ wants to simplify things, but a good OC will carve you up if you are predictable. Ever since Bobby Ross left, D has been a challenge.
GTBob
October 9th, 2012
10:42 am
In order for Tech to be able to compete on this level of college football, they need to be aloowed to open itself up to more majors.
Do you really want GT as an institution to start creating majors just to improve football recruiting?
robodawg
October 9th, 2012
10:46 am
4th quarter defensive lapses are usually a result of lack of depth. Tired players don’t play well.
I’m surprised the defense didn’t hold on better these last few games. The D was impressive in the Va Tech game despite the loss. At that point I really thought Groh had turned things around.
New Idea
October 9th, 2012
11:03 am
GTbob,
GT needs more majors for Georgia students. We only have 50% Georgia Students at GT and we exist for the State of Georgia. It is a waste of Taxpayer dollars to keep funding a school like GT that is educating half of its students that are not even Georgians. 20% of those are foreigners. Would more majors help football, I think yes but this is a taxpayer issue too. Gt exists for Georgia, it needs to educate Georgians. Any new majors would have to be real professional majors that would help Georgia.
mikeb
October 9th, 2012
11:06 am
About time this was done. For whatever reason, this was never a good fit and the job wasn’t getting done. (Thank you Mr. Obvious). Perhaps defense wouldn’t have to be on the field as long if offense could sustain their drives. IMHO Tevin is not a good field general. He makes terrible decisions with the ball, way too often calling his own number, wasting a play for little or no gain. His passing is atrocious (I’m being kind) and rarely a threat to opposing defenses. Now that we’ve changed defensive co-ordinators, time to change the QB as well.
GTBob
October 9th, 2012
11:12 am
GT needs more majors for Georgia students. We only have 50% Georgia Students at GT and we exist for the State of Georgia.
The number of Georgia students that attend GT is a whole other argument. If Georgia high schools were better then GT would admit more Georgia students. Its not like we can’t find anyone in Georgia who wants to go here. We aren’t going to just start admitting students who are not qualified to attend GT just because they live in Georgia. That wasn’t really my point anyways. If the faculty and administration at GT want to create a new college or set of majors that fit in well with the GT mission and are relevant in todays world then I am all for it. If they start creating majors that are intended to hide athletes then I will probably miss my first roll call in a long time.
wreckbuzz
October 9th, 2012
11:22 am
Al Groh had some success at Virginia. I think you’d be hard pressed to say Virginia was running a better class of athlete on the field than GT. I think college football offenses have left Groh’s methods behind. And I don’t think it’s the schemes or theories on defending that are out dated per se, it’s the pace that offenses operate at that has exposed Groh’s ability to adjust and communicate those schemes onto the field in time to be effective.
alex
October 9th, 2012
11:31 am
@kevin,Jimmy(?)/ Joe(?) in D1 Football……I went to the MTSU game, there is MOST definitely a lack of D1 talent, without a doubt.
Golden Tornado
October 9th, 2012
11:33 am
MR. BRADLEY, you are right!
“You can draw all the schemes you want, but great athletes – they’ll beat you every time.” (Robert Lee Dodd)
“Football is a very simple game. All you have to do is play defense, and you win.” (Lou Holtz)
“Because of its curriculum and lack of choice of majors, Tech plays Georgia with one hand tied behind its back.” (My old daddy, back in the Bill Alexander era)
My aunt is my uncle
October 9th, 2012
12:18 pm
Give it up tekies your points and arguments are all hollow. Tek belongs in a conference like the Sun Belt. They will never be an upper echelon ACC program now the the real teams in the ACC are tearing it up on the recruiting front.
Do you guys really think you can keep up with the rising teams in the ACC?
Georgia Tek offense 227 points DUKE offense 227 points.
Georgia Tek offense 227 points Clemson offense 248 points.
Georgia Tek offense 227 points FSU offense 271 points.
Georgia Tek offense 227 N.C. offense 264 points.
Dacusville Bill
October 9th, 2012
12:30 pm
Sylvester Caroon (sp) ex Miss State HC would be a great hire to peplace Groh AND Pitiful Paul–
MC
October 9th, 2012
12:51 pm
Not a bad idea Dacusville Bill. But I still say Mike Leach. Instant boost to recruiting some skill players to liven the place up until the rest of PJ’s mess can be cleaned up. But Croom as DC. You’re onto something there.
mic-man
October 9th, 2012
1:36 pm
Tech needs to hire an OC. CPJ needs to be accountable for all aspects of the game. His focus on offense hinders his ability to manage the other aspects of the game appropriately.
Mark
October 9th, 2012
1:48 pm
I disagree Mark – the talent level is not the problem, the 3-4 in college is. Not many sound defensive systems in college run a 3-4 and there is a reason – it takes a huge defensive line to do it and most colleges do not have that type player at the age of 18-22. Even UGA can’t line up day in and day out with their talent and run a 3-4 that can stop anybody. You have to get 4 down linemen and let the LBs be LBs, not pretend to be linemen standing up. Groh tried to make his system work, regardless of the players, rather than build the system around the players. Don Shula was the very best at building the system around the players and no one has come close since.
TechPat
October 9th, 2012
2:26 pm
Haha, love all the drinking of the scapegoat koolaid on here. Do you really think (midseason) a new DC will turn this talentless D from a 3-4 to a 4-3 and be instantly sucessful? Even with all AG’s faults, you should expect the D to decline more (if that’s possible). Bottom line: you do not give up the kind of yards and points we have this season with a talented D. Blame coaching all you want, but Rex Ryan couldn’t do anything with this team. You don’t see Miami firing their DC this week.
Ted M
October 9th, 2012
2:35 pm
Wow Sandusky’s statement. He really expects people to buy that load of crap.
james
October 9th, 2012
2:45 pm
This is CPJ’s last ditch attempt to save his job,we will be lucky to win another game this year.And we just don’t look lucky.
GB's Hamburgers
October 9th, 2012
2:47 pm
AL Groh got the Tech job because he is a known quantity as a football coach. He’s not chopped liver. Good coaches take what they have and make it better. What if Groh did make the talent better? What if Johnson’s ability to assess talent is so bad that he couldn’t succeed. The record shows that both offense and defense was better with Gailey’s recruits. That the Tech AD is not holding Johnson accountable doesn’t bode well for the future.
scott
October 9th, 2012
2:49 pm
how about Ted Roof??? back as defensive cord. he will at least bleed for the team and knows how to recruit in the area?
Captainlecture
October 9th, 2012
3:10 pm
It’s amazing that a writer for a major publication gets away with saying he has said the same thing for 3 years. It really goes to show that Mr. UGA just doesn’t take the same pride in hard work as CPJ.
Seriously?
October 9th, 2012
3:17 pm
@Captainlecture
What do you expect a Georgia sportswriter covering CFB to write?
It’s not as if anything ever changes in this state. Three years from now he can write the same article again and it will still be applicable — doesn’t matter if it’s written about Tech or UGA.
SuperB
October 9th, 2012
3:17 pm
The cold, hard fact is: Tech just doesn’t have the talent. That left when Chan’s boys left. Johnson ought to fire– himself!
SoCal_GT_Fan
October 9th, 2012
3:21 pm
Talentless defense. Perhaps they haven’t been coached up??? The D has double the number of 4-star players playing than the offense (based on rivals and/or scout recruiting database).
Lets see,
Offense: Will Jackson, Omorgie Uzzi, BJ Bostic (Didn’t add Vad because he doesn’t get any significant playing time)
Defense: Izaan Cross, Shawn Green, Anthony Williams, Louis Young, Rod Sweeting, and Jabari Hunt-Days.
So, the offense with three 4-star players and a bunch of 3-star athletes can be ranked in the top 25 in scoring and yards but the defense with twice the number of 4-stars and a bunch of 3-stars are trying to avoid being in the bottom 25 in defensive rankings?
The noted 4-star athletes are all guys that many of the top conference BCS schools went after. By that I don’t mean Miss States, Maryland, and what not. We are talking about Bama, UGA, Florida, Miami, FSUs of the world. Of course, they might not have been recruiting these guys as hard as Tech did but still, these 4-star athletes chose to come to Tech. Of course, we have come out on the short end of the stick on a number of high-profile recruits (i.e. Stephen Tuitt, Dalvin Tomlinson) and that might have led to this perception that we aren’t getting quality recruits. But if you look at the talent coming in under CCG versus that of CPJ, CPJ actually brings in quality classes (just compare the number of stars for recruits under each coach).
I for one, think the talent is there. Tenuta/Roof never had this many athletes on their defenses when they were the GT DC and I’m sure many of us can agree that those defenses were more than decent. Even IF you had the talent, the D-coordinator can still bungle it up for ya. Just ask any UGA fans about Willie Martinez.
Yo Yo
October 9th, 2012
3:29 pm
The talent level is no where near what it takes to compete on the Big Stage.
Spin it, try to sell it but it does not change the fact that TECH will not be able to be competitive under the current regime.
benb
October 9th, 2012
3:33 pm
It is hard to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear!
SoCal_GT_Fan
October 9th, 2012
3:35 pm
I personally think the talent is there. We have six former 4-star recruits on the defensive side who get significant playing time (only three of them on the offensive side). I doubt Jon Tenuta or Ted Roof got to work with that many 4-star players when they were DC at Tech. I also seriously doubt we get the “Notre Dame” treatment either where when a recruit is being actively recruited by GT, that recruit suddenly becomes a 4 or 5 star recruit. Personally, I think the opposite is true for GT but that’s just me.
Born2Buzz
October 9th, 2012
3:46 pm
Oh, let’s see what excuses we can come up with to counter the fact that Groh sucked.
We don’t have the talent, CPJ can’t recruit because of the offense he runs, the D has to practice against that stupid offense, we can’t get the talent because the Tech curriculum want allow it. What else, oh yea, no kid wants to come to a school that isn’t going to get him in the NFL.
B. S.
All just lame excuses. Coaching can make a big difference folks. Look at the Falcons. Their D was middle to bottom of the pact last year. With basically the same crew and a new D Coordinator they are #1 in turnover margin, # 11 in points allowed. Its all about the scheme and attitude.
Al Groh was horrible from Day 1 and has not gotten any better. To watch him stand out there confused while Miami ran the hurry up O, to see him continually take out guys who got stops on 1st and 2nd down, only to let the 3rd down “specialists” give up ANOTHER 3rd down conversion, to see him keep playing guys who are not as talented as others on the team because “the guy has a great motor” is embarrassing.
This team’s defense will be better immediately. And likewise, our offense will improve as well. You think the O likes to sit on the sideline for 10 minutes of play while the other team goes on an 11 play drive? No, it sucks, just like Groh, thankfully, DID.
Now let’s move on.
Born2Buzz
October 9th, 2012
3:50 pm
won’t not want and pack not pact
typing too fast for my own good.
TechPat
October 9th, 2012
3:52 pm
SoCal, maybe the talent on paper is there, but have you WATCHED the play on the field? The blown coverages, missed tackles, this does not all fall back on one person. If the team can cover, tackle, and shed blocks better the rest of the season I’ll stand corrected, but a bad gameplan or getting the plays in too slowly are not justification for letting MTSU rock us at home. They players are not very good.
Buzzy
October 9th, 2012
3:54 pm
I’ve always been suspicious of blaming too much of this on Groh, and I don’t think it’s age either. There are plenty of examples of older coaches getting the job done.
So I agree with Bradley, it’s put up or shut up time for the D. You’d think they’d be shamed enough by the scores they’ve been posting to get their concentration in order.
lxUn1c0
October 9th, 2012
4:07 pm
New Idea, you are flat out wrong about the purpose of GT. I was an out-of-state student. Georgia Tech exists to be Assn elite academic institution. It exists to keep the best students from the state in the state for college, and also to bring the best students from around the country, and the world, to Georgia. This provides an economic boon to the state, not only when those kiss are in college and spending their money, but also when they start their carers in the state.
Stop calling for a dumbing down of the curriculum. Not only will that not really help the football program, it runs counter to the goals of the institute.
lxUn1c0
October 9th, 2012
4:08 pm
*an. My phone’s autocorrect sucks.
lxUn1c0
October 9th, 2012
4:09 pm
Also, *kids.
Coach Hewitt...
October 9th, 2012
4:12 pm
Seriously?
October 9th, 2012
3:17 pm
What do you expect a Georgia sportswriter covering CFB to write?
Uh… Bradley went to Kentucky…..
The Old Coot
October 9th, 2012
4:16 pm
There is no question about Tech’s talent.
They don’t have any.
As for hiring Kirby Smart, if Tech did not hire Mac McWhorter as their head coach after what he did for them in 2000 because he was a Georgia player and alum, they sure arn’t going to offer the head coaching job to UGA player and alum Kirby Smart.
Turning to a Georgia player and alum to teach them how to win?
Think about how it would look.
Mulk
October 9th, 2012
4:44 pm
GTBob,
I think I wrote “decent” and “4th or 5th rated linebacker” as in I don’t expect Tech to recruit as well as UGAG. UGAG can’t get all the players in talent rich state so even the players they don’t want should be able to compete. Tech looks football slow, football weak and football unintelligent compared to the teams they have played. And, those teams are not world beaters.
Again, I think Coach Johnson gives Tech the best chance to win but I can observe the obvious. Not much talent on that side of the ball. Maybe, on either side of the ball. I freely admit that I am no expert but I can watch one person being faster than another, one being weaker or one consistently taking wrong angles. All of which leads to arm tackling and not getting off blocks.
techbzz
October 9th, 2012
7:48 pm
tech needs to change their scheme on D (4-3) and recruit bigger players who can tackle. their recruiting choices have been terrible—very poor talent on the field. Offense?? the wishbone gets a lot of yards but it can’t beat a physical D with speed.
Orange County Jacket
October 9th, 2012
8:42 pm
Maybe its my inability to understand the feelings behind your Article Mark.. Maybe you are a disgruntled GT fan that is bitter about the choices coach Paul Johnson has made.. Maybe you are a huge UGA fan jumping on the band wagon of every resident living in GA because you have no style or class like the bunch of morons that never went there in the first place, bitter from the fallen dreams that Mark Richt has conjured up for all these years for success(which I hope is not the case) .. What about the decision to Hire Al Groh in the first place.,? Wasnt this a proven mistake of the Athletic Director or Paul made in the beginning in 2009? Paul takes charge of his team, makes sure his players are going to class, and has recruited some hard hitting studs. In all respect you are attacking Paul Johnson for a mid season change and blaming the players who work harder than you obviously do on your Articles, even with a 2-4 record, for a Horrible Coach – Al Groh. He coached for a Horrible Jets team, a horrible Firing and 3-9 record at UVA. He has a horrible record as a coach and knew he got in over his head when he was hired at GT. The point is UGA, BAMA, UF and FSU spend almost $1 Billion dollars on Athletics half that on Academics, GT is in the $400,000 range of Athletic spending and over $1 billion in Endowments on Academics, obviously its the simple mathematic fact that we do not care how good our coaches are and care more about MGT managers like me living and working 2200 miles away from where I went to school making something of myself in a working environment because people trust me, becuase I went to GT. I think you are the Al Groh of the AJC and should quit while your ahead ;^)
are you kidding me?
October 9th, 2012
11:24 pm
some of you say…. paul johnson’s players. last time i looked cpj is not the sole recruiter on the team.
the o is scoring enough to win most games. cpj saw from the iowa debacle that we didnt have the horses up front to get the job done so what does he do? he bumps up the size of the linmen we are recruiting. it isnt going to happen over nite. dont we have a couple of book end 6-4 340 pounders plus a few others coming on board next year?
some of you act like al groh just did the scheme thing. i guarantee that he was the guy who watched film onf the d players we recruited. it was al groh who identified the players he wanted on d in the same manner that cpj id’d the players he wanted on o..
does anybody think that cpj tied al groh hands wrt the players he recruited? i dont. we have a lack of d talent. i just think that al groh had issues with his schemes and the way he managed a game.
one only look at the way boise state recruits and their results to realize that we can get it done with the players we have. we just need the right coaches in place. they sure did a pretty good number on the dawg last year with a bunch of 2 and 3 star recruits and they are doing well again this year.
in the last 3 years we have changed d coordinators…. have a new strength coach…. added a special teams coach. it is not like when chan gailey kept his worthless good ol boyz on staff. cpj is making changes. trying to find the right combination. cant fault him for that. if anybody was stubborn it was chan gailey not cpj.
as another poster also pointed out…. going by the average stars cpj has out recrutied chan gailey by about 10 spots per class and we have been getting better players of late. the only thing chan gailey had over cpj was ONE great class. other than that chan gailey was a bust.
Scott Johnson
October 10th, 2012
9:37 am
Will Al recite the “Man in the Mirror” again?
Tech notes: Jackets move forward without Groh | Georgia Tech
October 10th, 2012
9:38 am
[...] Mark Bradley: Groh goes, but question about talent remains [...]
Notes: Tech defense receives energy infusion | Georgia Tech
October 10th, 2012
9:54 pm
[...] Mark Bradley: Groh goes, but question about talent remains [...]
Charles Kelly focusing in on task at hand | Georgia Tech
October 11th, 2012
3:09 pm
[...] Mark Bradley: Groh goes, but question about talent remains [...]
Techie61
October 12th, 2012
10:59 am
Why don’t you people put your comments to where the sun don’t shine and leave CPJ alone, He’s a good coach and has the record to prove it. Don’t be so down on Tech, if you don’t like US don’t watch us. We are as Good as the best and better than the REST. THWGA
keith
October 14th, 2012
6:37 pm
When Paul Johnson came to Tech, he inherited Chan Gailey’s players,( & he had considerable success, winning the ACC & going to the Orange Bowl) some who are currently on NFL teams right now. Now with all those 4 star recruits gone, now Johnson is bringing in his players who are either 2 or 3 star recruits which will kill you in Divison 1 football. Undersized Offensive Linemen, small running backs who should are not ACC Caliber players. Paul Johnson has fired two D-Coordiantors since he ben there. The next time, its going to be Johnson & his high school offense getting the boot.
Heat Check: Falcons are unbeaten; Georgia State’s on a roll! | Mark Bradley
October 15th, 2012
12:10 pm
[...] were also off, and they furloughed defensive coordinator Al Groh for the rest of the season, which was probably best for everyone concerned. Even though Tech is 2-4, a slew of winnable games remain. It would take some doing for this team [...]