Honestly this D might improve dramatically if it switched to more of a hybrid front like NE or the Fins play. That way the focus is just taking the best athletes and creating mismatches on a week to week basis.
@Coach Macho what do you think brotha?
For years I've been thinking that we aren't multiple enough. I run 6 different fronts, 7 different coverages and at least 4 different personnel groupings... and we're just a high school team. There's no reason why the University of Miami should always be lining up in the same fronts and same coverages versus every opponent.
There's many new and innovative fronts and coverages in the college football world, and I see Miami use NONE of them. We are very stubborn and stuck to certain schemes. Up front we are dead-set on being an upfield 4-front. Meanwhile I've watched our offense play against traditional 4-front defenses that used the Odd Tite front against us to stop inside zone and the zone/read. (Clemson for example)
There are teams all over the college football world that run man/zone combo coverages ("special" is one of them for example) yet at Miami we generally only run zone or man, no combos. And our zones leave areas wide open because we don't play a "match" version...so if we want tight coverage and contested throws we have no choice but to go 'man'.
(I could be wrong, I don't review all of our film, but that's what I've personally seen)
Kinda makes you wonder about that anonymous quote from a fellow ACC coach about Manny thinking he's the smartest guy in the room. Generally those type of guys are stubborn and stuck to their ways, never innovative or embracing new ideas.
I will say this though, some of the blitz schemes that we've drawn up over the years have been ****, but then we overuse them versus too many different opponents so they become predictable. But IMO we leave a lot to be desired in our coverage schemes.