When the NCAA approved a 10th on-field assistant coach Mark Richt went with an in-house promotion to fill the role. Instead of bringing in an outsider Manny Diaz’s quality control assistant, Jonathan Patke, was promoted to “outside linebackers coach.” Patke was charged with the molding of the new striker position on defense.
With offenses choosing to be more multiple Miami could no longer completely sub out a box linebacker for a nickel back in the era of up tempo offense. Instead, Miami wanted a position that could both stop the run and play in pass coverage.