Film Review ‘24: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 28 – Miami Hurricanes 23

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets upset the Miami Hurricanes 28-23 on Saturday, November 9th. The Hurricanes first loss of the 2024 season puts their ACC Championship Game appearance into some doubt, and the College Football Playoff as well.

The Canyonero Keys to victory over Ga. Tech were:

1- Bully Ball or Air Raid? Miami went with the Air Raid and Brent Key played his high school brand of bully ball to perfection. When does dominating time of possession by almost 10 minutes matter? When Miami is struggling on 3rd down on offense.

2- Deep shots. I was mistaken here as Miami gave up more deep shot runs than passes. The weak CB play didn’t hurt Miami in the pass game as much as the weak safety play hurt the ‘Canes in the run game.

3- Win the kicking game. The kicking game was neutralized with neither team making a HUGE mistake, although GT’s returner should’ve fair caught more kickoffs. Andres Borregales made his lone field goal attempt and both punters did a good enough job.

The Doppler

If you’re trying to lose this is basically how it’s done. Miami converted only 3-of-10 third down attempts, and 1-of-4 tries on 4th down. The Yellow Jackets converted 9-of-14 of their 3rd downs dominating the money down on both side of the ball.

Miami lost the turnover margin battle as Cam Ward fumbled away the ‘Canes comeback hopes while GT managed to play a clean football game. The ‘Canes and Jackets were both flagged three times but Miami’s went for 35 yards compared to 29.

Borregales made his lone field goal attempt while both kickers were perfect on PAT’s. Ray Ray Joseph was once again lost on punt returns and Chris Johnson Jr. is still just a track sprinter in pads as he has no vision on kick returns.

The Miami O

Ward had some odd misfires and Miami had a few uncharacteristic drops but he still managed 8.9 yards per pass attempt with three touchdowns and did not throw an interception.

Damien Martinez averaged 5.4 yards per carry while Mark Fletcher averaged only three yards per attempt. Neither back found the end zone on the ground, nor did Ward.

The ‘Canes had five receivers hit double-digit yards per catch marks, with three coming away with explosives. Elijah Arroyo had the 74-yard TD catch that almost looked like it was an accident. Xavier Restrepo was quiet until he wasn’t converting a big 3rd down and hauling in a TD.

The offensive line looked lost as Zach Carpenter was called for being downfield, Jalen Rivers for a crucial holding call, and they gave up three sacks and four tackles for loss as well.

Above– Interesting play design… I almost thought Ward misfired here but it looks intentional on the end zone angle. Elijah Arroyo is a stud and I was high on him out of high school. He was my “don’t ruin him!!” prospect for the ‘Canes.

Above– You know GT has this offense game planned to the 9’s. Of course Dawson runs this screen into the boundary where there’s less space for the defender to cover on his way to the play. Bell is NOT the guy you want blocking this in space, I bet it worked against bags on Wednesday though.

Above- Isaiah Horton has been a monster on slants and glances in the red zone so his inside-out move works to perfection. He’s going to make a solid NFL wide receiver, I just hope that it’s in ‘26 and not ‘25.

Above– George with a nice spin move in space. Ward’s throws just lacked some zip and sailed a little on him… I wonder if he’s not getting some dead arm or something else is up here with him.

Above– GT had some really good pressures for Ward keeping him off balance. He doesn’t feel this one coming and at three seconds should have escaped or throw it away already.

Above– Speaking of moves, the out and up from Restrepo here is a thing of beauty. He’s a gamer and the NFL is going to love a guy like him. Polished route runner with good hands who finds space on option routes.

Above– Ward should have dumped this off right away on 2nd and 10 with two timeouts but he always goes for the shot play. This time it backfired on him and he fumbles the ball back to GT who learned when to take a knee from Cristobal a year ago.

The Miami D

RB Jamal Haynes ripped the game open for a 7-0 Tech lead with a pair of huge runs including a 16-yard touchdown before going down with an injury. Eight different Jackets carried the football in Key’s Shotgun Wing-T styled offense.

Aaron Philo and Haynes King averaged 6.7 and 5.3 yards per pass attempt but both QB’s threw a touchdown without an interception.

Only two GT receivers hauled in double-digit yards per attempt games with only one explosive all afternoon. Bailey Stockton’s 27-yard reception was the big play through the air for GT, while Chase Lane and Malik Rutherford caught TD’s.

The Tech offensive line didn’t just pave the way for 5.6 yards per carry, they also held Miami without a sack but did allow six TFL’s- which is expected on 48 carries.

Above– On the Tech TFL to open the game, I’m not sure what Rueben Bain Jr. is doing but he cuts inside here, looks like he’s going to wrong arm the puller but doesn’t and nearly falls flat on his face. If King pulled, which he should’ve, it’s a solid gain for the QB.

Above– Bain does it again, he jumps inside and avoids the wrong arm opening a huge hole and eliminating himself from even needing to be blocked. If this is how they’re being taught how to take on a wrong arm Jason Taylor should be fired immediately.

Above– GT goes back to the well and at least this time someone takes on the puller but this is walk in stuff after shaking Jaden Harris in space. That’s how you cut and re-accelerate.

Above– The sky fell a little but didn’t completely cave the roof in like the Kingdome or something. King on the pull read and he gets swallowed up for a TFL.

Above– Miami had this covered that’s just perfect timing and ball placement to lead the TE. Thrown to his outside hip so the Miami defender can’t get there. Good play from Miami but better play from GT.

Above– Rush lanes, rush lanes, my kingdom for a rush lane. The major area I thought Lance Guidry fixed compared to Kevin Steele and Manny Diaz has completely fallen apart. I’m not sure if guys are just freelancing for big plays / NFL scouts or what is going on. Add this to the wrong arm issues and Miami has gone back to 2020 Manny Diaz defensive woes.

Above– If you asked me what I would do against the Miami defense I absolutely would make Francisco Mauigoa run laterally and chase plays like screens. He’s stiff and slow laterally and has no idea how to buzz and finish in space.

Above– This is why in man with no one helping over the top you HAVE to take away the inside. Force that WR to outside release and you have help from the sideline for an incompletion. Instead he can adjust inside with no safety help and came down with the ball.

Above– This is why I love the arc’ing H-back on inside zone read plays. Don’t leave your QB out there on his own, give him a lead blocker. That lead blocker does jus enough to spring King for the insurance points.

Above- Y-Cross is an Air Raid staple that you would have expected Miami to have seen in camp as well as throughout the season. Powell passes him off to no one and Patterson doesn’t move an inch from 10-yards away.

The Wrap

The Miami Hurricanes are now 9-1 (5-1 in ACC) but with the Pitt Panthers loss are still in control of their own destiny. Win and you’re in the ACC Championship Game in Charlotte. Wake Forest should be an easier win but Syracuse is going to follow the Brent Key model.

Ward’s loose play backfired on Miami and a “Cha Cha Slide”-off during a game when you’re losing screams Manny Diaz but after rubbing my eyes the head coach was Mario Cristobal.

This will be the true test of Cristobal’s leadership: how does your program respond after a bad loss to an unranked opponent. On top of that it’s the off week and keeping the Miami program focused with all this noise will be God’s work.