This Canes season has been so exciting that our three-touchdown humiliation of FSU last week seemed boring. The drama was back this weekend, and the Canes came out on top. My thoughts, from an in-person view and rewatch, our below:
- This is one of the best offenses of the past decade. Below is a list of the top offense every season, with some key players and coaches in parenthesis:
2024 Miami- 46.3 PPG
2023 LSU- 43.3 PPG (Jayden Daniels, Malik Nabers, Brian Thomas, Jr.)
2022 Tennessee- 44.5 PPG (Josh Heupel, Hendon Hooker, Jaylin Hyatt)
2021 Ohio State- 45.7 PPG (CJ Stroud, Garrett Wilson, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Chris Olave)
2020 Alabama- 48.5 PPG (Mac Jones, Najee Harris, Devonta Smith)
2019 LSU- 47.2 PPG (Joe Burrow, Justin Jefferson, Jamarr Chase)
2018 Oklahoma- 48.4 PPG (Kyler Murray, Lincoln Riley, Hollywood Brown)
2017 UCF- 46.2 PPG (McKenzie Milton, Scott Frost, TreQuan Smith)
2016 Oklahoma- 43.9 PPG (Baker Mayfield, Joe Mixon, DeDe Westbrook)
2015 Baylor- 46.6 PPG (Art Briles, Russell/Stidham, Corey Coleman)
2014 Baylor- 46.4 PPG (Art Briles, Bryce Petty, Corey Coleman)
Miami is up there with the loaded, trend-setting offenses we all remember. The key -- along with having the best player in the country taking snaps -- is the balance. We are strong and deep at every skill position, we have a mammoth OL, and we can play with both finesse and power. All of that was on display in the second half against Duke.
- Nine games in, the defense is what it is. It's an average to below-average P4 group. In weeks prior, it looked like we were doing too much in the secondary and struggling to communicate. This week, it seemed we kept it very simple and gave Duke a very clear picture of what our safeties were doing. Duke, like California, is a middling offense with limited explosiveness. We made them look comfortable for most of the game.
- An obvious issue is the lack of playoff-caliber talent in the secondary. This is the direct result of poor high school recruiting during the Addae Era. When you get a guy like
OJ Frederique or
Zaquan Patterson, they look different physically. It is easy to see in the way Frederique moves or the way Patterson strikes. It's hard to get those physical tools in the Portal at defensive back unless you are taking a big character risk. We'll work the Portal hard this offseason, but we really need to solve this problem in high school recruiting.
- Guidry looks to me like he's having trouble adjusting to the lack of talent in the secondary. At Marshall, he had really good corners (relative to the league) and put a lot of responsibility on them. He has to play differently here. The lack of a nickel (which was the only major Portal miss) hurts you at two spots, since
Daryl Porter is much more comfortable outside.
- Manny Diaz and Duke's coaching staff did a good job having his team ready to play. They surprised us with tempo down 14-0, they got to favorable matchups (Mauigoa one-on-one with a RB with no safety help), and they played with confidence. Duke is a good spot for him- less pressure, self-starting players, more room to experiment. If he can find a niche recruiting undersized, fast smart guys, I could see him sticking there a while.
- We have the best tight end room in the nation.
Elijah Arroyo will be a high pick,
Riley Williams is a specimen (watch his inline block on the Fletcher TD and his catch on the next drive),
Elija Lofton does everything, and
Cam McCormick is proving doubters wrong as a valuable role player.
- Not much more needs to be said about
Xavier Restrepo. He's an all-time great. One thing I did want to highlight is his short-area burst- he's much more like a running back than your average slot receiver. His cut upfield on the third TD was an explosive move.
- Restrepo deserves the attention, but
Jacolby George played one of his better games. He's the best example of Mario's player development. I don't think he makes it under the prior culture.
- I feel terrible for
Jadais Richard. Hoping for good news and, if not, a clean rehab process.
- It's hard to know the full story without being in the building, but it sure seems like
Kiko Mauigoa is playing downhill less this year. On a per game basis, his TFLs are down almost 40% and his sacks are down 61%. He's at his best creating havoc.
- True freshman LB
Bobby Pruitt got into the game early on third down. I love the move- we need to get faster there and better in coverage. Pruitt has a nose for the ball and is one of the best athletes on defense.
- RT
Francis Mauigoa was dominant in the run game. There just aren't ACC teams that can handle his size, movement and power. He and
Markel Bell will be one of the best tackle duos in the nation next year.
- The crowd wasn't what it needs to be, but it was better than it looked on television. Hope Wake Forest is not another noon game.
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Rueben Bain causes a lot of problems that don't show up in the box score. He caused the Meesh Powell INT with pressure, and he forced a fumble in the fourth by clubbing the OL into Maalik Murphy.
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Booker Pickett looked like he was at a different speed on the fourth quarter sack. Miami feels it hit a home run with the 2024 defensive line class.
- We're 9-0. Florida and FSU are a combined 5-12. Life is good.
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