Grobe: It Starts With the Coaches
Tell me if I’m wrong, as I’m sure you will. But it seems to me that the only two criteria on which to judge a coach—any coach in any sport—are his body of work and his recent results. I got to mulling all this while driving back through Fancy Gap last night from Wake’s 52-21 beatdown by Virgina Tech. Some people seem to put far more stock in what a coach has done in his overall time at a school, and the extreme among them would happily grant a successful coach a lifetime pass. Others don’t give a flip about what happened last season, or even last week. If a coach hasn’t done it for them lately, nothing they’ve ever done counts.
So there’s a sliding scale between the two positions. I personally would like to think my gauge is somewhere in the middle, and maybe shaded a bit toward a coach’s overall performance at his school. But then I’m not a fan, and I should be more objective in these matters.
Jim Grobe has moved mountains at Wake Forest, and done things that many wondered if they would ever see in their lifetime. They certainly hadn’t seen them before, at least not since the ACC got up and running 57 years ago. The day Grobe took over as Wake’s coach, eight of the nine teams in the ACC at that time had all-time winning percentages that exceeded 50 percent. All had won more games than they had lost since taking up the sport. The ninth, Wake Forest, had a winning percentage of 39 percent. That’s more than 10 percentage points behind everyone, Duke, N.C. State, Maryland, Virginia. Some really good coaches (Cal Stoll, John Mackovic, Al Groh, Bill Dooley) took a stab at making the Deacons a consistent winner, and all failed. There’s a great case to be made that of all the teams playing in major conferences, Wake Forest had the worst 20th century of all.
In Grobe’s nine previous seasons, he won 59 games and lost 51, enjoyed five winning seasons, coached the Deacons to an ACC championship and three straight bowls and endeared himself to the fan base with his warmth and competence while doing it. Name me another conference coach other than George Welsh of Virginia who had ever turned a program’s fortunes around so dramatically.
Then came 2009, and Grobe and his staff had a bad year. He owned up to it, and I wrote about it in a blog that was posted Sept. 2. He said complacency slipped into the program, and not enough was done to shore up the cracks. The Deacons sat home during the bowl season in Riley Skinner’s senior year as quarterback. Tough year all around, especially given what the fans had come to expect.
But this season has completely baffled me. I watched the Deacons all through preseason and I thought I saw a team at least capable of competing in the conference. And I thought I saw that team against Duke. But I haven’t seen it since. What I have seen is a team that looks dazed and confused more often than not, especially on defense. When Presbyterian’s receivers were running open through the Deacons’ secondary, I suspected that might be a concern. But I also recognized it was the first game and perhaps the problems could be solved. They haven’t been, as Virginia Tech proved yesterday by scoring touchdowns on seven of eight first-half possessions, without really breaking a sweat.
“I thought at times we didn’t play very good fundamentally,’’ Grobe said. “I thought we had some poor fundamentals. But I thought there were at times when we played everything pretty good, except go get the ball. And it looked like our young guys especially two or three times—especially on deeper throws—they were in great position to make plays and just didn’t make them. It was almost like `OK, you catch the ball and I’ll tackle you.’ We’ve got to get those guys to be more aggressive going to the football.
“Now I know we’re pretty conservative in the way we coach, and we like to knock the ball down and not let it be caught. But I thought we were in position to actually go up and beat a receiver a couple of times and didn’t do it. Now that will be experience. But we’ve got quit making our guys scared to go make a play. It looked to me like we were in great position a couple of times and it looked like we were a little tentative going after the football.’’
Grobe doesn’t have a handle on this team, and he admits it. He said last week that the staff has never worked harder, and I know they’ve changed their routines and approaches to try to get through to players who continue to bust the same assignments week after week. This does not look like a Jim Grobe-coached football team, at least not the kind of Jim Grobe teams I watched for the first eight years.
The season has clearly reached the crossroads. The Deacons have two weeks to prepare for the rest the schedule, consisting of Maryland, BC, Clemson, N.C. State and Vanderbilt. There’s some winnable games left by a team capable of winning.
“We’re doing things right now, X and Os wise, that have really been good to us in the past,’’ Grobe said. “But I think what we’ve really got to do is look at ourselves. I felt like when we went out to Stanford, that was a fiasco primarily because we were playing two different types of front defensively and asking kids to think a lot. I didn’t feel like that was going to be a problem (against Virginia Tech), but obviously our kids just didn’t handle it very well.
“So our dilemma is going to be, when we go to Maryland we’ve got to keep asking ourselves `How can we make these guys better, not only fundamentally, but just mentally—knowledge-wise. And a little bit of that is a problem of still trying to find the right combination of talent, trying to get the right guys out there. We tried to do that (against Virginia Tech) and obviously didn’t play very well defensively. We’re still trying to find a mix and find some kids who will step up and play their best football. But it will be interesting to see. What I wanted to see (yesterday) when things started going south a little bit, who stepped up and kind of played like warriors. And I think we had a few of those. I think we had some guys who, when things started getting nasty, they got mean and played harder. We had some guys who maybe didn’t play as well late as early, so those are questions we have to answer.
“But as always, we’ve got to start with the coaches, and we’ve got to look at what we’re asking our guys to do.’’
Back to the main page.
By Dan Collins on 10/17/2010 (1:19 pm)
Comments
It is pretty incredible how teams vary from year to year in terms of identity and mindset. One team simply believes it should win every time it steps on the field. This is the team that always manages to make the big play when it needs to. On the other hand, another team just doesn’t ever seem to “get it”. They are always a step shy of that big interception or catch at the crucial points in the game. Unfortunately, you can’t make those types of plays unless you have 100% belief in your abilities and you preparation.
For example, the confidence (swagger) of the 2006, 2007, and even 2008 Demon Deacons was a result of their collective belief that they (a) had the talent to win, (b) trusted one another to do their individual jobs, and (c) had put in the necessary offseason work to reach their collective potential. I don’t think either of those beliefs are held by the 2009 or 2010 Demon Deacons. And perhaps rightfully so.
And it does start with coaching, but it doesn’t end there. Coach Grobe and Coach Hood were the ones who pointed out to Alphonso Smith that he should be demanding more of himself when they demoted him to nickle-back in 2006. They were also there to help him achieve his potential. But it was up to Smith to put in the work.
At the very least, the 2010 season is showing a number of talented young players exactly how far they need to go to contend in the ACC. It will be up to the coaches to drive home the point that they are talented enough to bridge that gap. But it is up to the players to collectively make the commitment to themselves and to each other to take the next step and turn the 2011 Demon Deacons into something special. This is something that must take place well before August practice. My hope is that we will see the beginnings of that kind of commitment in Maryland in two weeks and throughout the rest of the season.
DC on 10/18/2010 (2:15 pm)
Dan,
Do you think that Billings would have a reasonable shot at becoming Defensive Coordinator? Do you feel (or Coach Grobe for that matter) that the staff needs to be seriously evaluated after the season? By “seriously evaluated” I mean given more attention than in years past. Thanks!
Nick on 10/18/2010 (1:51 pm)
What I saw Saturday was a Va Tech team that came out with a gameplan plan to beat us deep over the middle on offense—which they did early and often. Our defensive plan to contain their QB from beating us by rushing played into their hands—-he sat in the pocket forever and waited for the long crossing routes to clear. Coach Grobe is right, sometimes the defenders were right on them—but could not make the play. In the past under Coach Hood—corrections were made quickly to counteract this type of early success against our defense. However,I could not see any tactical changes during the game on Saturday. We will need to find a solultion to this problem if we are to beat most of the teams left on our schedule.
Steve H on 10/18/2010 (12:09 pm)
That column had some scary stats… Dooley didn’t do a bad job at WFU… remember the Poulan Weedeater Bowl? If Boise State can become an annual contender for the BCS then the Deacons can become national champs. We have the facilities, the money, the coach, the best campus and all the intangibles needed. What we need is a Riley Skinner on recruitment and scouting retainer telling his story to all those kids that need to be at a school like Wake Forest. What we need is someone to get inside the bigtime recruits parent’s helmets instead of the kid’s helmet. Show them that Grobe won’t exploit, hurt, abuse or allow the kid to be any less than he can be. Ask people that should know where they would send their kid or better yet with whom they would trust their kid and see if Grobe and Wake Forest aren’t the answer.
Lee Jackson on 10/18/2010 (11:47 am)
You guys are exactly right. I live in Virginia and have seen how JMU out recruits Va Tech every year. That is how they beat Va Tech. Coaching had nothing to do with it.
mike on 10/18/2010 (10:40 am)
Glad you used the word ‘emabarrassed,’ Dan. That’s exactly how everyone involved in the Wake Forest football program should feel. How much does Grobe make? Close to $3 million or something? Wow. The defense is a disgrace to the game of football, and Grobe is right, it starts with him and his staff. I don’t expect an ACC championship every year or one every 15 years for that matter. This IS Wake Forest we’re talking about. But please be competitive. That’s all Wake fans asked for after nine years with Jim Caldwell at the helm. Everyone was sick of it. Clemson 50, Wake Forest 0. Florida State 63, Wake Forest 0. Wake is re-entering all-too-familiar territory as a program, and by the posts I’ve seen around the blogosphere, it has begun to alienate its fan base. Someone who knows the game very well once told me that you rarely see a coach who has been successful somewhere for 10 years do the same in the next 10. I believe that 10-year mark is very telling. Just like Harvey Dent tells Bruce Wayne in The Dark Knight. “You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villian.” I guess for now Grobe gets a pass…but for how long? I certainly hope they can turn it around. I just don’t see it happening. And no one is mentioning the penalties Wake had in this game, which shows a lack of discipline and a lack of focus. Never thought I would see that from a Jim Grobe team.
Casey on 10/18/2010 (10:28 am)
Dan, great article. I can see the frustration is even creeping into your writings. First of all, in regard to recruits. I think Grobe is still doing a good job there. Look at Price and Harris. Also look at the recruits coming in; lots of linemen. Second, our offense has never been a big play offense. We’ve been know for defense, special teams and mistake free offense. All three areas are failing this year, but particularly defense and I think this started with the DC change a couple of years ago. I hope Grobe is willing to honestly evaluate his position coaches at the end of the year.
Jim on 10/18/2010 (10:24 am)
I absolutely agree with Mike B’s comment. College football is about recruting, plain and simple. Whoever can put the best horses on the field will win. The best coaching staff in the world will not win with inferior talent. Not in today’s college football. Grobe has not been able to duplicate the recruiting success he had in his first few years with the program and success on the field will not return until he (or someone else) does. It’s all about recruting, and the past two or three classes just haven’t been very good.
Tim on 10/18/2010 (10:14 am)
Spot on Dan. Grobe will get it done.
jr hunter on 10/18/2010 (10:07 am)
Coach Grobe has owning up on be responsible. Question now is, what will he do about it? The rest of this season can be salvaged if the coaching staff dedicates themselves to showing the team that they can play better, play smarter, then the results should show. The team has a week off to “start again”. Let’s hope they do.
As for Coach Grobe, this man has done more for WFU football, than any other coach, period. He brought respectability and pride to a program, that desperately needed it. He’s having some problems, so now, more than ever, he needs our support.
Richard Armstrong - Deac 69 on 10/18/2010 (9:50 am)
Dan,
This is a great article. You do a wonderfull job. Grobe will get it together.
jimmy on 10/17/2010 (9:58 pm)
Grobe shook up his staff this past off season internally by moving guys around. Maybe he should consider adding some new blood that might give him some new ideas.
Mike on 10/17/2010 (9:30 pm)
well…you did say this Dan..“Name me another conference coach other than George Welsh of Virginia who had ever turned a program’s fortunes around so dramatically:”. I remember in the mid 1980’s NC State went up to Maryland on a rainy Labor Day weekend and beat the consistent League power at that time. Young guy name Dick Sheridan moved from Furman and this was his first game as Wolfpack head coach. I still remember Gary Hahn on the radio after this major upset…sounded like he had a religious experience give his heartfelt thanks to Sheridan in the locker room for this one victory nobody saw comning. State dominated Carolina, Duke, Wake and remained competitive throughout his tenure there. I would put him in the George Welsh class as a turnaround wizard because the Wolfpack had been pretty miserable since Holtz left almost a decade earlier.
pensive1 on 10/17/2010 (9:13 pm)
Does anyone else remember ‘06 and ‘07 like I do…we had some good players who made spectacular plays when it counted? Primarily at the Placekicker position. Yes, Riley Skinner put us in position to win so many games those years, but in the end it was Sam Swank’s foot that won many games.
Chris on 10/17/2010 (8:28 pm)
The problem with getting the db’s to make plays is that Coach usually has a quick hook for those who make mistakes.
Dan S on 10/17/2010 (7:24 pm)
We attended the Wake/VT game. Our DBs were playing well off the VT receivers, even on third down. No wonder they converted all but one third down tries. That is coaching tactics. Think about the last minute drives that we got beat on by Navy and GT; we played a prevent and prevented nothing. When we had the ball in the 4th q, we played not to lose by running up the middle instead of mixing in runs and passes. That is coaching. What is wrong with our tactics? I think we have to look at the coaches here.
Ray on 10/17/2010 (6:29 pm)
Dan, you should change the title of your article to “It Starts with Recruiting”. Wake has had bottom of the barrel classes the past few years and the results of those recruiting efforts are showing up on the field. When we won 3 years ago it was because Grobe was “smarter” than all of the other coaches and found diamonds in the rough in his recruiting trips. Wake caught simply caught lighting in a bottle with Skinner, Curry, Smith and Co and unfortunately we’re back to “Wake normal” on the field since few of the low level recruits have panned out. Not all 4 or 5 star recruits become good college players, but more of those types of recruits develop than the 1 and 2 star recruits that Wake seems to attract. I hate to say it, but we simply lack the talent on the field to compete against good college programs.
MikeB on 10/17/2010 (5:34 pm)
This is an exceptionally well thought out and well written piece. Nice job Dan!
We are at the mid point in the season and the staff needs to make necessary adjustments now.
j.Howell on 10/17/2010 (4:35 pm)
I have great respect for Coach Grobe and am not interested in him leaving. However, there is no excuse for last year and this year. Coaches are being paid far too much for the Deacs to embarrass themselves and their fans with their play. We could easily finish 2-10. I don’t have the answer, but it doesn’t appear our coaches do either.
Steve on 10/17/2010 (4:18 pm)
This is the same head coach that every Wednesday night on the radio call in show three or four of the “know it alls” would call in and say “Coach you are starting the wrong guy at tail back I would be starting Josh Harris”..Every Wednesday night different people from the Dallas Texas area would call and say ” you would see some exciting things if you put in Josh Harris” ... Finally in the seventh game he gets the start and looked what happend. Yes we may never have been a divison one football coach but we have eyes.
Doug on 10/17/2010 (4:04 pm)
