If Georgia Tech’s offense is to unlock Miami’s defense Saturday, the Yellow Jackets will have to find a way to minimize the impact of middle linebacker Denzel Perryman.
Some observers project Perryman as the first at his position selected in next year’s NFL draft. At 6-foot, 242 pounds, he’s built and hits like an orange-and-green bulldozer, leading the Hurricanes with 36 tackles, including four for loss, and has more than 300 in his career.
“He’s a good player,” Tech coach Paul Johnson said. “Good speed, good skill set, tough.”
Perryman is the living embodiment of the trouble Tech (4-0, 1-0 ACC) has had in defeating Miami (3-2, 1-1) the past five seasons. Fielding athletic players such as Perryman at many positions, the Hurricanes have won their past five games against the Jackets and trail only Virginia Tech among division opponents in success in controlling Tech’s triple-option offense.
In those five wins, the Jackets averaged 232 rushing yards per game. That’s usually a healthy amount, but far less than the 309 rushing yards the team over those seasons. The Jackets have averaged 36.2 points and 292 rushing yards per game this season.
As Virginia Tech did, Miami likely will try to use its defensive linemen and outside linebackers to funnel runs toward Perryman. The Hokies’ tactic was successful — Chase Williams had 17 tackles two weeks ago — but the strategy failed, and the Jackets rushed for 250 yards and averaged 5.7 yards per carry in a 27-24 victory.
Former Tech lineman Will Jackson was one of those given the task of trying to get in Perryman’s way last year, when he finished with 11 tackles.
Jackson came at Perryman from guard and then tackle. From guard, Jackson said that Perryman wasn’t afraid to hit bigger linemen trying to take him out on the front side of the plays. Jackson said Perryman also had the speed to get around blockers who were attempting to cut him off on the backside of plays.
Moving to tackle, Jackson said Perryman was very difficult to get to.
“He’s a really special player,” Jackson said. “It was no easy task trying to block him last year.”
Offensive line coach Mike Sewak said it’s impossible to try to create a consistent one-on-one matchup against Perryman because Miami will scheme to stop that from happening.
Because Perryman has such good closing speed and instincts against the run, the 5-yard runs Tech had against Virginia Tech may turn into 3-yard runs … unless Tech can get him blocked.
“We’ve got to get some good blocks,” left guard Trey Braun said. “We have to get better and work harder. We don’t want to have a guy make 17 tackles, no matter what the scheme is.”
Those are some of the reasons why Perryman’s importance can’t be diminished Saturday. Miami coach Al Golden said Perryman must handle the quarterback and fullback dive and be able to get to the edge to handle the pitch and counter.
“Can’t be a phone booth for him,” Golden said.
Perryman, who couldn’t be reached for comment, seems born to be a linebacker at Miami. He shares a common lineage with past Hurricanes greats at the position, such as Micheal Barrow, Ray Lewis and Jonathan Vilma. Like that trio, Perryman is from south Florida. Like them, he leads a defense that is playing very well.
The Hurricanes rank 14th among FBS in schools in total defense (299.8 yards per game) and No. 45 in points (21.8 per game).
Though the Hurricanes struggled to stop Louisville (130 rushing yards allowed) and Nebraska (343 rushing yards) in their two losses, they rebounded to thwart Duke, holding the Blue Devils to 10 points, more than 30 less than their season average. Miami stopped the Blue Devils on 14 of 16 third downs and limited them to 85 rushing yards.
Golden said it will take a similar effort from Perryman and the Hurricanes to control the Yellow Jackets.
“Nobody runs the ball better than coach Johnson and that offense,” Golden said. “We have to stop the run. We know they are going to run. Everybody knows they are going to run the ball.”
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