double NOX::LineSearch::Utils::Slope::
computeSlope(const Abstract::Vector& dir, const Abstract::Group& grp) 
{
   if (grp.isGradient()) 
     return(dir.innerProduct(grp.getGradient()));

  // Allocate space for vecPtr if necessary
   if (Teuchos::is_null(vecPtr)) 
     vecPtr = dir.clone(ShapeCopy);

  // v = J * dir
  NOX::Abstract::Group::ReturnType status = grp.applyJacobian(dir,*vecPtr);
  
  if (status != NOX::Abstract::Group::Ok) 
  {
    utils.out() << "NOX::LineSearch::Utils::Slope::computeSlope -  Unable to apply Jacobian!" << std::endl;
    throw "NOX Error";
  }

  // Check that F exists
  if (!grp.isF()) 
  {
    utils.out() << "NOX::LineSearch::Utils::Slope::computeSlope - Invalid F" << std::endl;
    throw "NOX Error";
  }

  // Return <v, F> = F' * J * dir = <J'F, dir> = <g, dir>
  return(vecPtr->innerProduct(grp.getF()));
}