Miami vs. Georgia Tech: Complete Game Preview
An early-season advantage in the ACC Coastal Division is at stake when the Miami Hurricanes battle the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Saturday, Oct. 4.
Riding high after a defensive masterpiece against Duke, Miami is looking to extend its series winning streak to six games over Georgia Tech.
The Yellow Jackets enter the matchup confident and fresh, having improved to 4-0 after toppling Virginia Tech on the road and resting on a bye last weekend.
According to OddsShark, the 'Canes are favored by two points. The game can been on ESPN2, kickoff set for 7:30 p.m.
Miami Keys to Victory
1 of 6
Score Early and Often and Make Georgia Tech Throw
The triple-option isn't exactly efficient when the team running it is losing, so Miami needs to make Georgia Tech's Justin Thomas use his arm.
The Yellow Jackets earned an early 17-7 lead last season, and Miami didn't take control until the fourth quarter—when 11 of Georgia Tech's 19 passes occurred. A slew of backs helped the Jackets amass a 5.4 yard-per-carry average, and that production is what kept them competitive until the final frame.
In 2014, Georgia Tech has allowed the 84th-most plays of 20-plus yards, and much this came playing against the likes of Wofford, Tulane and Georgia Southern. Conversely, the Hurricanes offense is the No. 18 unit in that category.
If the 'Canes build a quick edge, Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson must decide when to move away from his game plan, which is certainly not something he wants to do.
Gap Control, Gap Control, Gap Control
Miami failed to maintain gap control at Nebraska, something linebacker Denzel Perryman knows cannot happen against the Yellow Jackets.
Per Christy Cabrera Chirinos of the Sun-Sentinel, he said Saturday is "really assignment football. Guys cannot freelance, they can't make up things. They really have to be in their gaps."
The temptation to generate a game-changing play will always be strong, but staying in proper position and forcing a three-and-out is infinitely better than ceding an explosive gain.
Georgia Tech Keys to Victory
2 of 6
Be More Than Thomas and Laskey Offensively
Georgia Tech possesses the No. 11 rushing attack in the country, but the offense is there by virtue of volume and not necessarily because its been particularly outstanding.
The Jackets haven't found a reliable third option in their ground game behind Justin Thomas and B-back Zach Laskey, who have accounted for 64.0 percent of the team's rushing attempts. Six other backs have logged between nine and 13 carries, so Georgia Tech is still missing a consistent complement.
Previous seasons have always highlighted at least one superb A-back—the players who come in motion from either side of the flexbone formation—but that athlete hasn't yet emerged.
Without a speedster to break a long run down the sideline, the Yellow Jackets are slightly limited. But if Tony Zenon or another lesser-known back has a breakout day, Georgia Tech is primed to steal a victory.
Force Turnovers, Turn Them into Points
Since the 'Canes have already committed 13 turnovers this season, Georgia Tech should have a few opportunities to take advantage of Miami mistakes.
Georgia Tech intercepted three passes on the road at Lane Stadium, and the defensive effort proved to be the difference in a significant conference victory.
The three takeaways resulted in 17 points, including a 41-yard pick-six by Paul Davis. What's more, D.J. White's interception helped set up the game-winning field goal by Harrison Butker.
Horrid decisions by Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Brewer contributed to the takeaways, but the Yellow Jackets capitalized on the gifts. Simply put, taking advantage of another team's mistakes is what ultimately matters, and it could be the deciding factor Saturday, too.
Miami Players to Watch
3 of 6Duke Johnson and Joe Yearby, Running Backs
After four decent performances to begin 2014, Duke Johnson tallied 155 yards and one touchdown against Duke in Week 5. Now, the junior enters a matchup with a team he destroyed last year to the tune of 325 all-purpose yards.
Granted, Johnson was slowed by an ankle injury suffered against the Blue Devils. According to Matt Porter of the Palm Beach Post, though, coach Al Golden said his running back "will be OK."
Fortunately for Miami, Johnson's expected backup Joe Yearby proved he was ready to step in and be productive. Yearby slashed his way to 6.8 yards per carry against the Blue Devils, and he also caught three passes for 61 yards and a score.
Georgia Tech's run defense has not been strong, allowing 5.43 yards per carry, which ranks 114th in the nation. The Hurricanes' two-headed monster appears to have become a reality, and the duo enters a great situation to prove the beast has arrived.
Denzel Perryman, Linebacker
It's easy to say Perryman is a player to watch because he's the Hurricanes' best defender. Having said that, the middle linebacker might be the most critical component to stopping the triple-option.
Whether he collides with Laskey in the middle or stunts to terminate an outside run, Perryman will be a fixture around the football.
The senior has registered 7.2 tackles per game so far, but he's extremely likely to make double-digit stops against the Yellow Jackets.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Georgia Tech Players to Watch
4 of 6
DeAndre Smelter, Wide Receiver
Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson has established a trend of finding one tall, big-play receiver (see Calvin Johnson, Demaryius Thomas, Stephen Hill) to be a downfield passing threat in his run-heavy offense.
Baseball convert DeAndre Smelter has grabbed that role after deciding to focus on football. He has snared only 14 passes so far, but the 6'3" target isn't required to get double-digit touches in the team's run-heavy offensive system.
Through four games, Smelter boasts an average of 24.2 yards per reception. No other Georgia Tech offensive player has more than four catches. Meanwhile, the senior wideout has four touchdowns.
If the Yellow Jackets catch UM defensive backs looking into the backfield, Smelter will be the latest in a string of outstanding Georgia Tech receivers to take it to the Hurricanes.
Quayshawn Nealy, Linebacker
Defending Duke Johnson and Co. isn't easy, but Quayshawn Nealy is capable of making it difficult for the Miami rushing attack to break long runs.
The senior shoots through gaps with impressive speed, as evidenced by a tackle for loss against Virginia Tech, where he completely blew by the lineman responsible to block him.
Nealy has tallied 26 total stops, which is tied with fellow 'backer Paul Davis for No. 1 on the Yellow Jackets defense. Additionally, he's managed 3.0 TFLs, 0.5 sacks and one quarterback hit.
Ken Sugiura of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution notes Nealy was recently voted a permanent team captain, and Georgia Tech's defense will be relying heavily on its leader to contain Duke Johnson and Miami's running game.
What They're Saying
5 of 6
Miami
According to Susan Miller Degnan of The Miami Herald, Golden wants his team to focus on Georgia Tech and not revel in a pivotal conference win over Duke:
"It's a tournament now...You have to maintain that. Part of that is the buildup. I don't need them to be like that [Monday]. I need them to be receptive. We need everybody, starting with me, to check our egos.
Look at everything, be accountable, don't gloss anything over. Learn, prepare and as the week gets less physical on Wednesday night and Thursday, and turns more to mental, we need to start to play faster, with more energy.
There's no letup for a long time. We've got to be mature right now and know that Georgia Tech is an excellent team and obviously undefeated and...we've got to get ready to go.
"
Georgia Tech
Ken Sugiura writes that if the Yellow Jackets want to contend for the division, a victory over Miami is paramount:
"...the Tech-Miami game is of huge importance for Tech's chances to win the Coastal and probably vital for Miami's.
If the Jackets can stop Miami's five-game winning streak in the series, the Hurricanes would drop to 1-2 in the ACC with Tech holding a tiebreaker. That would mean that in order for Miami to win the Coastal (barring a tie between Tech, Miami and one or more teams), the Jackets would have to lose three of its final six ACC games. And that scenario would require Miami to run the table with a game against Florida State remaining.
"
Prediction
6 of 6
Justin Thomas and Zach Laskey post solid numbers, rushing for a combined 170 yards and two scores. However, Brad Kaaya and Co. take advantage of a shaky Georgia Tech defense to earn an important conference win.
Led by Duke Johnson's 130-yard performance, the 'Canes rack up 420 offensive yards and seal the victory with a late field goal. Denzel Perryman paces the defense with 12 tackles, and Miami does not allow a momentum-shifting touchdown to Georgia Tech receiver DeAndre Smelter.
The Hurricanes improve to 4-2 (2-1 ACC) while the Yellow Jackets fall to 4-1 (1-1).
Prediction: Miami 27, Georgia Tech 17
Note: Stats courtesy of CFBStats.com.
Follow Bleacher Report college football writer David Kenyon on Twitter: @Kenyon19_BR.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
