ANALYSIS: Miami Hurricanes keys to tonight’s game against Georgia Tech
Miami is set to open its ACC schedule tonight at Hard Rock Stadium against Georgia Tech. Here are some key areas from a Hurricanes perspective to keep an eye on:
Run the Rock
When you take a look at this year’s Georgia Tech team, one glaring weakness has been its inability to stop the run, as the Yellow Jackets have allowed 224.2 rush yards (No. 128 in rushing defense) and 427.8 total yards per game (No. 112 in total defense).
One of Miami’s strengths?
Running the ball to the tune of 222.5 yards per game this year (No. 9 rushing offense) under Hurricanes offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson and a stable of tailbacks behind a revamped offensive line, Miami has one of the most potent rushing attacks in the country. Although the Yellow Jackets made a change at defensive coordinator by promoting Kevin Sherrer as its sole defensive coordinator and demoting Andrew Thacker, how much can really change in a week?
Limit Haynes King and the air attack
Although the Yellow Jackets defense has had its fair share of troubles this season, on the other side of the ball Georgia Tech offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner has gotten the most of his unit, which has averaged 467.4 yards per game this year, which is the 19th best in the nation. Led by quarterback Haynes King, Georgia Tech may present a bit of a challenge for the Hurricanes through the air, with Miami allowing 225 passing yards per game, which has been one of the few question marks for this team. You can almost guarantee King and the Georgia Tech offense will look to test Miami’s secondary, so tonight will be a great opportunity for Hurricanes defensive coordinator Lance Guidry’s unit to show that passing yards won’t come easy against his squad.
Keep it clean
While there aren’t too many areas of concern you can’t point out with this year’s Miami through four games, one of the few team statistics that the Hurricanes are among the worst in is penalties per game. Heading into Saturday’s matchup, the Hurricanes rank No. 113 in the country with 7.5 penalties per game. Although Miami’s penalties have not proved too costly just yet this season, playing a clean game could be a major factor in the outcome of the game … and give a sign to the team’s future success.
Play to be 1-0
Entering ACC play, Miami is currently 4-0, with arguably one of its biggest games of the season looming next week as the team heads to Chapel Hill to face the currently unbeaten North Carolina Tar Heels. While it may be easy to overlook a Georgia Tech team that Miami’s beaten the last two seasons and is coming off an upset loss to Bowling Green at home, the Hurricanes must stay focused on the task at hand. Yes, that one-game-at-a-time approach.
The post ANALYSIS: Miami Hurricanes keys to tonight’s game against Georgia Tech appeared first on On3.
