Stanford's Defense vs GT's Defense

Curious from an X & O's standpoint whats the reason for Stanford's defensive prowess and GT's lack there of. Both
went to a 3-4 around the same time, both have had simular recruiting classes, and both have simular size lineman.
Both using coaches with NFL experience Stanford Vic Fangio GT Al Groh
There hasn’t been a turnaround like this since the Second Punic War | The Unofficial Stanford Blog

Since then Stanford's defense has taken off even while losing their D coordinator and has even improved to be what they are known for and rely heavily on:
Mason builds defensive power at Stanford - Stanford Football Blog - ESPN

While Tech's sputtered to having to fire Al Groh. Was this purely poor coaching, poor recruiting once Al took over, lack of motivation, or is like many have said is it that his scheme was too complicated. According to the article listed above Stanford's defense has expanded to be more complicated as well. I just would like to get an idea.

Just look at what happens at the LOS. You don't have to go any further.

So that begs the question if it was a scheme issue or a talent issue. It's not size.

Stanford's Defensive Line Roster

90 Josh Mauro DE 6-6 277 SR Hurst, TX/L.D. Bell HS
7 Aziz ****tu DE 6-3 264 FR Atwater, CA/Buhach Colony
91 Henry Anderson DE 6-6 278 JR Atlanta, GA/Woodward Academy
72 J.B. Salem DE 6-4 266 SO Newport Beach, CA/Newport Beach HS
55 Nate Lohn DE 6-3 273 FR Kansas City, MO/Staley HS
92 Charlie Hopkins DE 6-6 274 SO Spokane, WA/Gonzaga Prep
49 Ben Gardner DE 6-4 275 SR Mequon, WI/Homestead HS
79 Alex Yazdi DE 6-1 255 SO Cave Creek, AZ/Cactus Shadows HS
99 Terrence Stephens DT 6-2 305 SR Gaithersburg, MD/Quince Orchard HS
58 David Parry DT 6-2 300 JR Marion, IA/Linn Marr HS
97 Anthony Hayes DT 6-3 298 SO Brooklyn Park, MN/St. Thomas Academy
95 Lance Callihan DT 6-3 300 SO Baton Rouge, LA/Catholic HS
94 Ikenna Nwafor DT/DE 6-6 308 FR Irving, TX/Cistercian Preparatory School
75 Jordan Watkins DT/DE 6-5 274 FR Decatur, GA/Woodward Academy


Georgia Tech's Defensive Line Roster:

94 Izaan Cross DE 6-4 300 SR Flowery Branch, Ga. Flowery Branch HS
41 Roderick Chungong DE 6-3 246 FR Silver Spring, Md. Good Counsel
91 Patrick Gamble DE 6-5 262 FR Carrollton, Ga. Central Carroll
93 Emmanuel Dieke DE 6-6 270 RS JR Riverdale, Ga. North Clayton HS
99 Euclid Cummings DE 6-4 275 RS JR Atlanta, Ga. Centennial HS
61 Adrian Gardner DE 6-2 260 RS FR Dawson, Ga. Terrell County HS
95 Christopher Crenshaw DE 6-3 256 RS JR Louisville, Ga. Jefferson County HS
92 Francis Kallon DE 6-5 289 FR Lawrenceville, Ga. Central Gwinnett
98 Jimmie Kitchen DE 6-3 270 RS FR Lithonia, Ga. Lithonia HS
56 Anthony Williams DE 6-4 264 RS SO McDonough, Ga. Union Grove
96 Adam Gotsis DL 6-5 300 FR Abbotsford, Victoria (AUS) Kew
97 Shawn Green DL 6-0 280 RS SO Grayson, Ga. Grayson
67 Ben Keith DT 6-1 269 RS JR Gainesville, Fla. Buchholz
90 T.J. Barnes DT 6-7 345 RS SR Enterprise, Ala. Enterprise HS

Was Andy McCollum a bad Defensive Line Coach ?

Still think it goes to AG trying to run a NFL level nuanced scheming with a limited number of hours a week. Players were out of position etc, once AG was gone, and the scheming was simplified (and no doubt more fundamentals practice) things improved dramatically. So yes, it was coaching.

Size was not our problem. Heck, Barnes is huge. Getting low, firing off the ball, getting leverage, moving laterally, and shucking blocks were the problems. They do it, we don't.

Originally Posted by Boomergump

Size was not our problem. Heck, Barnes is huge. Getting low, firing off the ball, getting leverage, moving laterally, and shucking blocks were the problems. They do it, we don't.

Interesting enough, read a quote from one of our DLs saying Coach Walkosky (who moved over to DL after Groh was let go) started emphasizing other aspects of playing DL besides getting up field in a hurry to get to the QB, and it showed against USC. We didn't get a ton of pressure on USC's QB from the DL, but they played smarter, kept the OLs off our LBs who were free to get to the ball carrier, and when Wittek did pass, they batted down the ball a good deal.

Maybe keeping Walkosky at DL could be a good thing in the future. I looks like shifting the coaches around worked out very well towards the end of the season. Sometimes you need a different set of eyes looking at players and schemes.

Originally Posted by AllGT

Interesting enough, read a quote from one of our DLs saying Coach Walkosky (who moved over to DL after Groh was let go) started emphasizing other aspects of playing DL besides getting up field in a hurry to get to the QB, and it showed against USC. We didn't get a ton of pressure on USC's QB from the DL, but they played smarter, kept the OLs off our LBs who were free to get to the ball carrier, and when Wittek did pass, they batted down the ball a good deal.

Maybe keeping Walkosky at DL could be a good thing in the future. I looks like shifting the coaches around worked out very well towards the end of the season. Sometimes you need a different set of eyes looking at players and schemes.

Well I can agree with parts of this, especially the idea that if you can't beat the guy in front of you, keep contain and get your hands in the air. Getting pushed up field past the QB rarely helps anything. Our DLs did a lot of things better Monday, especially holding point and freeing up the LBs. I haven't slowed it down and watched the replay, but I feel pretty sure in saying that. One of the biggest strengths of the 2012 DL was their length. Just filling the passing lanes with all those arms is a help, plus, when you stay in front the sight lines are compromised.

I would like Walkosky concentrating on the Special Teams full time, so GT needs a D-Line coach badly.

Originally Posted by Atllove

I would like Walkosky concentrating on the Special Teams full time, so GT needs a D-Line coach badly.

Giff Smith is available...just sayin'...