Canes Try To Take Sting Out Of Yellow Jackets
MIAMI (CBSMiami.com) – The Miami Hurricanes have the unenviable task of trying to slow down Georgia Tech's triple-option attack Saturday without several key defensive linemen.
Miami lost defensive tackle Micanor Regis this week after he punched a North Carolina Tar Heels player in the groin last week. This only complicates the job of the Miami defense on Saturday.
Georgia Tech has the number two rushing offense in the country. The Rambling Wreck is averaging 347.9 yards per game on the ground.
Even more impressive is that the Yellow Jackets have put it into the end zone 29 times this season. Tech averages 55 running attempts per game.
Tech may not run into much resistance on the ground from the Canes. Half-way through the 2011 season, the Canes defense is ranked 94th in the country for run defense, allowing 187 yards per game.
The key to beating the triple-option will be for Canes players to maintain their responsibility through the end of the whistle.
The triple-option works by outflanking the defense and getting defenders to take poor angles, among other areas.
Tech can also throw the ball when it wants to, just not for a high completion percentage. The Yellow Jackets average 169 yards passing per game. But, the team has passed for 10 touchdowns versus just 4 interceptions this season.
Obviously, the Tech offense has no problem scoring. For the season, Tech is averaging just fewer than 43 points per game, good for 10th in the country, according to cfbstats.com. Miami's defense is giving up 23.7 points per game.
On the other side of the ball, Georgia Tech is allowing 24.1 points per game, while Miami is scoring around 30 points per game.
The numbers don't bounce in Miami's favor, but the game will be played at Sun Life Stadium, which will give the Canes the home-field advantage at least.
