Dissecting Mark Richt Presser Part II
Miami has what many consider to be its first serious challenge of the season when they play at Georgia Tech Saturday in their ACC season opener. Richt met with the media to discuss the game and his Miami team.
Richt downplayed his 13-2 record against Georgia Tech. He is 5-2 against current Tech Head Coach Paul Johnson. Richt said “There were different head coaches and different schemes. Since Paul was there, I think he was there seven years, [we went] 5-2 and the games that were lost were against Paul Johnson’s teams.”
Miami won at 38-21 at the Rock last season but lost 28-17 in 2014. Richt was asked if the players wanted to avenge the loss in 2014. He said he hasn’t seen that yet, but that could happen closer to the game. Brad Kaaya said after Tuesday’s practice that Tech embarrassed them in 2014.
The Hurricanes front seven that was decimated by injuries earlier in the season is starting to get healthy. Redshirt defensive lineman Scott Patchan is starting to participate in drill work and is working with the scout team. Richt said they are “Just kind of breaking him in…(and that he should be able to play) relatively soon” Patchan is rehabbing from a knee injury.
Demetrius Jackson is healthy and said: “he’s good to go”. Jackson has been outstanding with six tackles, including one tackle for loss from the Defensive Line. Linebacker Damion Owens returned from his serious knee injury against FAU last year and had two tackles against the Owls three weeks ago.
Cornerback Adrian Colbert is also expected back after having knee surgery after the FAMU game. He was out against FAU and App St. Colbert is listed as the starter at right cornerback ahead of Sheldrick Redwine who played well while Colbert was out.
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Owens is listed as the backup at Will linebacker to Michael Pinckney and Jackson is Chad Thomas’s backup at Defensive End. Brad Kaaya has a knee injury but is expected to play.
Simulating Georgia Tech’s option is nearly impossible in practice. The logical choice to play Yellow Jackets Quarterback Justin Thomas would be a skill position player. Likely a wide receiver, quarterback, running back or defensive back.
Miami is using backup right end Jovani Haskins as their scout team QB. Haskins is 6’4 250 pounds. Thomas is 5’11 185. Asked how Haskins was doing, Richt said: “He’s trying his best”
Part of why Tech’s option offense is so difficult to defend is that they spread the ball around well. Despite the large rushing numbers as a team, Georgia Tech has not had a 1,000-yard rusher since Anthony Allen had 1,316 in 2010.
Richt is familiar with the Jackets leading rusher from 2015 Marcus Marshall. Richt coached his brother Keith at Georgia. Marshall had 650 yards last season. Keith had 759 yards and eight touchdowns as a freshman in 2012 but was plagued by injuries the rest of his career.
Dedrick Mills leads Tech this year with 201 yards on the ground. Four players have over 100 yards and a fifth has 95 yards rushing. Richt was also impressed with Tech’s leading receiver Ricky Jeune who has seven catches for 108 yards, that’s 15.4 yards per catch. He averaged 21.4 YPC last season.
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Tech’s defense has also been tough this year. Richt made it a point to mention that Tech is 14th (he said 15th) nationally in scoring defense allowing just 14.3 PPG. Georgia Tech has three starters back on their defensive line back from last season. Leading tackler P.J. Davis is also back and is currently second in tackles. Their leading tackler this season is safety Corey Griffin.