Entering their game on Saturday versus Georgia Tech, the Miami football team ranks ninth in the nation with an average of 222.50 rushing yards per game. The Miami offense will face a Georgia Tech defense that is 131st (or third to last) nationally allowing 224.20 rushing yards per game.
Georgia Tech has been shredded on the ground in all five games this season. Mississippi ran for a season-high 299 yards, averaging 8.08 yards per carry with five touchdowns versus Georgia Tech in week three. Georgia Tech allowed a season-low 175 rushing yards in a 38-27 loss to Bowling Green last week.
The Miami football team has run for at least 240 yards in three of its four games. The outlier was against Texas A&M. Miami had 24 carries for 77 yards versus Texas A&M. Georgia Tech could elect to stack the box to attempt to stifle Miami on the ground. Miami thrived passing in a 48-33 win over Texas A&M last month.
Miami had a season-high 42 carries for 323 yards rushing and added two TDs against Temple in their last game two weeks ago. Henry Parrish had a career-high 139 yards rushing on 16 carries and had the two TDs on the ground versus Temple.
Miami will see a new look from the Georgia Tech defense. Georgia Tech promoted Kevin Sherrer to defensive coordinator and moved Andrew Thacker to safeties coach after the loss to Bowling Green last week. Georgia Tech allowed 175 yards rushing but held the Falcons to 3.89 yards per carry.
The Yellow Jackets allowed over 4.0 yards per carry in their other four games this season. New Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Kevin Sherrer previously held that position (and defensive backs coach) at South Alabama in 2013 and Tennessee in 2018. Run defenses under Sherrer have been relatively mediocre.
South Alabama finished 56th nationally in 2013 allowing 159.67 rushing yards per game. Tennessee finished 52nd allowing 154.50 rushing yards per game in 2018. Sherrer has a huge task to improve the Georgia Tech run defense. Facing Miami in his first game as Georgia Tech’s defensive coordinator is a huge assignment.
Expect Miami to commit to the run early and put up huge numbers against Georgia Tech on the ground. Don Chaney Jr. and freshman Mark Fletcher should continue to receive carries behind Parrish. There has been no discussion if Ajay Allen who did not play versus Temple will return versus Georgia Tech.