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The Miami Hurricanes lost their 4th straight game on Saturday, falling 27-21 to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Here were my takeaways and grades from the game.
With the loss, the Canes are officially eliminated from Coastal contention. For myself, I’d say falling to the Yellow Jackets this week didn’t really move the needle for me in any direction; losing to Duke at home was the final indictment for this team in my eyes and they are what they are at this point: really bad. I’d say there’s not much further they can fall at this point, but then again, this team might not even make a bowl game. Considering where the team started the season, the expectations, and the overall weakness of the schedule and the division, this has been an abject failure for this coaching staff in 2018.
The lack of urgency on the team in the 4th quarter shows up every week. Down two scores in the 4th quarter, the Canes were only able to get one possession in the quarter. I’m not a math major, but it’s hard to win like that. Yes, the defense played a role in this, but yet again the Canes’ offense went slow and methodical on their final drive, burning nearly 5 minutes off the clock on the scoring drive to a team that is known for holding the ball for long amounts of time. This coaching staff has serious time management issues, just more problems in a long line of them at this point.
N’Kosi Perry got the start and played decent. His final numbers were nothing to write home about: 14-23 (61%) for 165 yards. But there were some great throws threaded into zone coverage, and Perry was finally able to get Jeff Thomas (6 catches, 84 yards) back involved into the offense after an extended absence. He also played pretty clutch, driving the Canes 95 yards for a TD when they absolutely needed it in the 4th quarter and converting on numerous third downs to keep drives alive. Yes, there were some passes off target of course, he didn’t see a wide-open Brevin Jordan for a TD on one play, and he dropped a snap for a turnover. Perry also had little to no time on many of his dropbacks and used his legs to escape and create something out of nothing (6 carries for 38 yards). Ultimately, Miami made the right call in starting him and he’s not why the Canes lost this game.
Miami’s offensive line is one of the most undisciplined units in the country. 4 of the 5 starting linemen committed penalties in this game, and Navaughn Donaldson added another off the bench. 2 of them came from senior “leaders” Tyler Gauthier and Tyree St. Louis. The miscues played a role in killing multiple promising drives for the UM offense and it’s to the point where you’re not even surprised anymore. I think many would be more accepting of a mediocre unit that plays their hearts out and doesn’t shoot themselves in the foot, but just doesn’t have the talent to be anything more than it is. This is coaching again. Along with Perry running for his life all night, Stacy Searels is on the chopping block.
Manny Diaz’s defense did not play as well as the yardage totals indicates. GT only ran for 231 yards, more than 100 yards under their FBS-leading season average (377 rushing ypg). However, GT had many short fields, so the numbers are pretty misleading. The fact was, UM just wasn’t getting many stops in this game, forcing only three punts and allowing GT to eat up nearly 35 minutes of game clock. And, when the Canes absolutely needed a stop in the 4th quarter, they let GT burn the final 6:43 off the clock and gave up three straight third down conversions. Yes, the defense isn’t the problem and is handicapped by the offense and special teams, but they have to dominate for this team to win and they know it, so I expect more of them. That didn’t happen on Saturday.
Cam Davis got the first real playing time of his career… and earned himself some more playing time next week. He led the team in rushing on just 6 carries for 48 yards and a TD, as UM's other two backs struggled on the day. Davis showed off his patience and speed on his score, waiting for the hole to develop and cutting upfield quickly. A great seal block by a pulling Navaughn Donaldson helped spring Davis as he outran the GT secondary into the endzone. I want to see more of the young freshman next week against Virginia Tech and it will be interesting to see if he actually plays, considering he now has appeared in 4 games and playing against VT will burn his potential redshirt.
Where are the different looks? In the off-season, there was a lot of talk of getting Travis Homer and DeeJay Dallas on the field at the same time. However, we haven’t really seen that look at all this year. No two back sets, no Dallas in the slot. Besides the wildcat, which has been done to death by every team to this point, there’s nothing in the playbook to throw a defense off balance or to make them account for players “out of position”. Considering that Dallas is one of the most versatile players in the country, that’s a travesty. With the idea being to get your best players on the field as much as possible, Dallas and Homer on the field together is something I’d like to see in these last games.
Grades
Offense: D
Miami was held under 300 yards of total offense, and besides Cam Davis’ 6 carries, the running game was a non-factor. Did well on third downs with 60% (9-15) conversion rate. The offensive line continues to give up way too much pressure and commit too many penalties. The bright side: UM finally scored over 20 points.
Defense: C+
The defense was yet again put in a bunch of bad spots after UM had three turnovers in their own territory and Miami’s D held GT to 100 yards under their season rushing average. Still, was unable to come up with stops in key moments (GT was 9-16 on third downs) and forced no turnovers to help the offense out. I expect more from this unit.
Special Teams: D-
I’m not buying the rugby run-up punt was “planned” to a hit an unsuspecting GT player. Kudos for Shaq Quarterman for having the awareness to jump on the ball, though. The bottom line is Jack Spicer averaged a pitiful 31.2 yards per punt as it seems impossible for UM to kick a 40 yard punt. 2 turnovers from a unit that should never have any and continues to be an anchor on this team every week. Jeff Thomas had a nice 52 yard kick return to set UM up in GT territory.
Coaching: F
The undisciplined nature of the offensive line is on the coaching. Running the same few plays over and over on offense is on coaching. Poor time management and lack of urgency is coaching. Not being prepared for GT’s few passes they throw every game is coaching. Losing to a 4th straight inferior opponent is coaching. For the steaming pile we’re seeing every week, the staff gets a steaming “F”.
With the loss, the Canes are officially eliminated from Coastal contention. For myself, I’d say falling to the Yellow Jackets this week didn’t really move the needle for me in any direction; losing to Duke at home was the final indictment for this team in my eyes and they are what they are at this point: really bad. I’d say there’s not much further they can fall at this point, but then again, this team might not even make a bowl game. Considering where the team started the season, the expectations, and the overall weakness of the schedule and the division, this has been an abject failure for this coaching staff in 2018.
The lack of urgency on the team in the 4th quarter shows up every week. Down two scores in the 4th quarter, the Canes were only able to get one possession in the quarter. I’m not a math major, but it’s hard to win like that. Yes, the defense played a role in this, but yet again the Canes’ offense went slow and methodical on their final drive, burning nearly 5 minutes off the clock on the scoring drive to a team that is known for holding the ball for long amounts of time. This coaching staff has serious time management issues, just more problems in a long line of them at this point.
N’Kosi Perry got the start and played decent. His final numbers were nothing to write home about: 14-23 (61%) for 165 yards. But there were some great throws threaded into zone coverage, and Perry was finally able to get Jeff Thomas (6 catches, 84 yards) back involved into the offense after an extended absence. He also played pretty clutch, driving the Canes 95 yards for a TD when they absolutely needed it in the 4th quarter and converting on numerous third downs to keep drives alive. Yes, there were some passes off target of course, he didn’t see a wide-open Brevin Jordan for a TD on one play, and he dropped a snap for a turnover. Perry also had little to no time on many of his dropbacks and used his legs to escape and create something out of nothing (6 carries for 38 yards). Ultimately, Miami made the right call in starting him and he’s not why the Canes lost this game.
Miami’s offensive line is one of the most undisciplined units in the country. 4 of the 5 starting linemen committed penalties in this game, and Navaughn Donaldson added another off the bench. 2 of them came from senior “leaders” Tyler Gauthier and Tyree St. Louis. The miscues played a role in killing multiple promising drives for the UM offense and it’s to the point where you’re not even surprised anymore. I think many would be more accepting of a mediocre unit that plays their hearts out and doesn’t shoot themselves in the foot, but just doesn’t have the talent to be anything more than it is. This is coaching again. Along with Perry running for his life all night, Stacy Searels is on the chopping block.
Manny Diaz’s defense did not play as well as the yardage totals indicates. GT only ran for 231 yards, more than 100 yards under their FBS-leading season average (377 rushing ypg). However, GT had many short fields, so the numbers are pretty misleading. The fact was, UM just wasn’t getting many stops in this game, forcing only three punts and allowing GT to eat up nearly 35 minutes of game clock. And, when the Canes absolutely needed a stop in the 4th quarter, they let GT burn the final 6:43 off the clock and gave up three straight third down conversions. Yes, the defense isn’t the problem and is handicapped by the offense and special teams, but they have to dominate for this team to win and they know it, so I expect more of them. That didn’t happen on Saturday.
Cam Davis got the first real playing time of his career… and earned himself some more playing time next week. He led the team in rushing on just 6 carries for 48 yards and a TD, as UM's other two backs struggled on the day. Davis showed off his patience and speed on his score, waiting for the hole to develop and cutting upfield quickly. A great seal block by a pulling Navaughn Donaldson helped spring Davis as he outran the GT secondary into the endzone. I want to see more of the young freshman next week against Virginia Tech and it will be interesting to see if he actually plays, considering he now has appeared in 4 games and playing against VT will burn his potential redshirt.
Where are the different looks? In the off-season, there was a lot of talk of getting Travis Homer and DeeJay Dallas on the field at the same time. However, we haven’t really seen that look at all this year. No two back sets, no Dallas in the slot. Besides the wildcat, which has been done to death by every team to this point, there’s nothing in the playbook to throw a defense off balance or to make them account for players “out of position”. Considering that Dallas is one of the most versatile players in the country, that’s a travesty. With the idea being to get your best players on the field as much as possible, Dallas and Homer on the field together is something I’d like to see in these last games.
Grades
Offense: D
Miami was held under 300 yards of total offense, and besides Cam Davis’ 6 carries, the running game was a non-factor. Did well on third downs with 60% (9-15) conversion rate. The offensive line continues to give up way too much pressure and commit too many penalties. The bright side: UM finally scored over 20 points.
Defense: C+
The defense was yet again put in a bunch of bad spots after UM had three turnovers in their own territory and Miami’s D held GT to 100 yards under their season rushing average. Still, was unable to come up with stops in key moments (GT was 9-16 on third downs) and forced no turnovers to help the offense out. I expect more from this unit.
Special Teams: D-
I’m not buying the rugby run-up punt was “planned” to a hit an unsuspecting GT player. Kudos for Shaq Quarterman for having the awareness to jump on the ball, though. The bottom line is Jack Spicer averaged a pitiful 31.2 yards per punt as it seems impossible for UM to kick a 40 yard punt. 2 turnovers from a unit that should never have any and continues to be an anchor on this team every week. Jeff Thomas had a nice 52 yard kick return to set UM up in GT territory.
Coaching: F
The undisciplined nature of the offensive line is on the coaching. Running the same few plays over and over on offense is on coaching. Poor time management and lack of urgency is coaching. Not being prepared for GT’s few passes they throw every game is coaching. Losing to a 4th straight inferior opponent is coaching. For the steaming pile we’re seeing every week, the staff gets a steaming “F”.
