Mario Cristobal shares how Georgia Tech's defensive coordinator change impacts prep

Heading into game week against the Miami Hurricanes, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets made a change at defensive coordinator. For Miami coach Mario Cristobal, that’s created a challenge in preparation for their game.

Cristobal emphasized that the biggest challenge for Miami is going to be the unknown that comes with going against a new defensive coordinator.

“It just leaves an unknown factor that you’ve got to dig deep into that person’s history, what they’ve done, where they’ve been, how they may tweak or add to the system even though it’s five, six, seven days,” Mario Cristobal said. “There’s still plenty of time where they can change things. At the same time, they’ve had a lot of success in their current system. So, I’m sure it’ll be a blend of some sort.”

Mario Cristobal did emphasize that the Miami offense under Shannon Dawson runs a specific system. It’s not designed to go against one specific type of defense. So, whatever changes Georgia Tech does make shouldn’t have too large of an impact on the offense.

“With that being said, we’re systematic on offense. Yeah, we like certain things against certain things, but should we be in a situation where we do get some type of surprise look, schematically, that rules take over. We’re built on rules. So, if something shows up that’s something we haven’t seen, trust your rules and go execute,” Cristobal said.

“So, the uncertainty is something that you just have to deal with and go play your best football.”

Georgia Tech made a change at defensive coordinator

In head coach Brent Key‘s first season as the full-time head coach at Georgia Tech, the Yellow Jackets are 2-3 and 1-1 within the ACC. Through those first five games, Key hasn’t been happy with the defensive play, so he made a change at defensive coordinator, elevating Kevin Sherrer to defensive coordinator.

“Our performance on defense this season hasn’t met the standard that we expect at Georgia Tech. While the responsibility for that does not fall on any one individual – in fact, as the head coach, that responsibility begins with me – I do feel that a new voice and perspective from the coordinator role is necessary for us to improve,” Key said. “Coach Sherrer is a veteran coach that has had great success in all aspects of coaching defense and at the highest levels of football. I’m confident in his ability to lead our defense and achieve the improvement that we expect and demand.”

Andrew Thacker, who served as the team’s defensive coordinator since 2019, will now be the safeties coach.

To this point in the season, Georgia Tech has the 103rd-ranked scoring defense, giving up 30.8 points per game.