Miami's run game poses a huge challenge to Georgia Tech on Saturday

Georgia Tech ranks 128th in the country in rush defense

Georgia Tech enters their matchup against Miami with the 128th-ranked rushing defense. The Yellow Jackets give up well over 200 yards per game on the ground and are one of the worst tackling teams in the country. Miami on the other hand has the top rushing attack in the ACC, averaging over 222 yards per game, including a 300+ yard performance against Temple in their last game. 

That seems like a problem for Georgia Tech. 

Things have gotten so bad on that side of the ball for Georgia Tech that they have already made a change at defensive coordinator. 

Linebackers coach Kevin Sherrer was promoted to the defensive coordinator spot, while Andrew Thacker, defensive coordinator of the program since 2019, was moved to coaching the safeties.

For the first time since making that move, Key met with the media on Tuesday to discuss the move:

"I felt that it was the right time to make a change and have a new voice and a new type of energy leading the group on defense. This was not a knee jerk reaction, this is something that we evaluate every week on all sides of the ball and all of the coaches and at the end of the day, performance is what matters, that is where we stand and that is why the decision was made, to make an adjustment and a change on the defensive side of the ball." 

Georgia Tech is hoping that the coaching changes are enough to improve the rush defense. It is not going to be an easy first task for Sherrer. 

Henry Parrish is the leader in the Miami ground game / Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Henry Parrish leads the Miami ground game with 331 yards on 42 carries and he averages nearly eight yards per carry and has scored three touchdowns this season. He is not the only talented player in the backfield for the Hurricanes though. Donald Chaney, Nebraska transfer Ajay Allen, and true freshman Mark Fletcher help form one of the best ground games in the country. All four of these players average at least five yards per carry. 

So what can Georgia Tech do to slow the Miami ground game down?

Why did GT make a change at DC?

Jackets have allowed the most rushing yards (on designed runs) of any P5 team... are tied with Colorado in yards/designed run allowed among P5s... and only Virginia, among P5 teams, has allowed more rush TDs.

Must. Stop. The. Run.

— 💫🅰️♈️🆔 (@ADavidHaleJoint) October 4, 2023

For starters, tackling better would be great. The front seven does not do a good enough job of stopping guys at or behind the line of scrimmage, leaving it to the defensive backs to be able to get a stop. 

Coaching adjustments and schemes are also going to play a huge role in this game. This is going to be Sherrer's first game as the defensive coordinator and play-caller, so the question is, will things be different? Georgia Tech safety Clayton Powell-Lee talked about this earlier in the week with the media and here is what he had to say: 

"No real reaction out of me. Me personally, its really, nothing big of a change for us, it's the same people, different chairs and a different person presenting whatever install might be that day or that week. For us, it is that same standard that we are going to keep holding the high standard of playing fast and playing physical and making plays and eliminating explosives. Nothing really different, its just same people, different chairs."

If Georgia Tech can't find a way to play a physical game with Miami, Saturday night could go south quickly. The Yellow Jackets have to set the tone early and not allow Miami to get comfortable. Winning on the line of scrimmage and creating havoc are things that Georgia Tech could not do this season under Thacker, but might be able to under Sherrer. It is not just scheme and coaching though, the players have to play better for Georgia Tech to turn things around on that side of the ball and help get things back on the winning track. 

How to Watch Georgia Tech at Miami

Who: Georgia Tech at Miami

When: 8:00 p.m., Saturday

Where: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, FL

TV: ACC Network

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