Against Jackets, points at a premium for ’Canes
night at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta.
“We’re taking that as the main emphasis this week. We know they can get in there and hold the ball for eight, nine minutes and just run off a quarter. And they may not even score,” left tackle Tyree St Louis said. “If they do score, that adds even more pressure.”
One thing the Hurricanes (5-4, 2-3) may be able to rely on for help, this week more than ever, is their defense.
Miami defenders have, typically, played well against Tech’s option in recent seasons, even if they’ve allowed the Yellow Jackets to gain yards. In 2016, during Miami’s last visit to Atlanta, Miami’s defense gave up 267 rushing yards in 39:54, but scored twice.
And last year, the Hurricanes held Tech to 281 yards in a 25-24 win.
The hope now is that that trend continues, especially as the offense tries to put things together and improve on its average of 390 yards and 32 points per game — an average still being helped, of course, by a 77-0 win over a Savannah State team that will be playing in Division II next season.
“Playing against [Georgia Tech] for the last 10 years of my career, it is tough on an offense to be sitting there waiting, waiting, waiting for an opportunity, if it holds true to form,” said Hurricanes coach Mark Richt, who saw plenty of Georgia Tech during his time at Georgia and has a 15-2 career record against the Yellow Jackets. “But our defense has played well against them in the past and I have a lot of faith and confidence in this week.
“Bottom line is, the best way to beat them is somehow get turnovers or get them behind the sticks a little bit, which is hard to do because most everything is downhill coming at you.”
A depleted Miami offense will be pressed to respond.
Whether it can, considering what has happened in recent weeks, is one of the biggest questions facing the Hurricanes.
“Mainly, we’re all just getting fed up with the same things. No one is ever happy after one loss, let alone two, three, four,” St. Louis said. “So now, we’re saying enough is enough.”