Offense - One word: WOW. I realize that FSU is having a bad year, but that is still a rival, still a team with respectable coaches, and still a team with some defensive talent. 11 for 18 on 3rd Down (61%)! 3 for 4 on 4th Down (75%)! WOW. 200 Rushing Yards against Florida State. WOW. 77 total plays for 52 Points! WOW. But the biggest stat to me that last night: First Punt Came 13:31 FOURTH QUARTER. WOW. Lot of WOW with the Offense, and I knew Rhett was going to be a good OC here seeing what I saw last yeaer at SMU, but this is SMU on steroids with 4-5 star talent. Having both Rhett and King this year is a job saver for Manny, but to Manny's credit, he made the moves. For as awful of a hire as Enos was last year, the Rhett hire this year is the exact opposite. This is the offensive system which this Program has sorely needed for 15 years. And now it's here, and we are unleashing offensive hell on opponents right now.
Defense - Sill not sold on the Baker-Patke duo, both in terms of recruiting and coaching, but this Defense has done enough through 3 games. Last night, 3 turnovers, held FSU to 0-2 on 4th Down, less than 200 passing yards, multiple sacks, and several TFL. This Defense has vulnerabilities with Corner depth, DT play, and defending the inside run. But the Defense is making impact plays (INT, Fumble, Sack, TFL), and if the Defense can keep making impact plays, then the Defense can handle occasionally giving more points/yards becauase our Offense will get the points that the team needs to win.
Another thing which is helping me feel better about our Defense is what I saw yesterday in other games. When I see Texas, I can't tell whether either Sam Ehlinger or Kevin Durant is in uniform for the Longhorns, because their football scores look like their basketball scores. The great LSU defending National Championship Defense gave up 40+ to MSU at home. Oklahoma's Defense allowed K-State to score 24 unanswered points in the Second Half to upset the #3 Sooners. The Gators' Defense gave up 35 points and a truck load of yards to Kiffin's Ole Miss.
So, this Miami Defense is not the Reed-Vilma-Wilfork-Rolle Defense of 2001, and there are clear weaknesses in it, but it has proven through three games that it is capable of holding its own: only allowing 20 PPG and making a lot of impact plays (INT, Fumble, Sack, TFL) should be good enough with our Offense for an improved successful season.
Special Teams - Get Pope off of Punt Return. We're going to have close games at some point, and we won't be able to afford a bonehead fumble in at a key juncture. Borregales and Hedley are an excellent K-P combo; arguably the best in the ACC, but our Return Game in Special Teams is garabage right now. Manny must find something, and someone, to signficantly improve the Return Game in Special Teams.
As We Transition To Clemson - Last night was an EXCELLENT win. Don't let anyone try to marginalize that dominating win by saying FSU sucks. Yes, FSU sucks. Miami teams in the past struggled to beat bad FSU teams. You can have a bad FSU team, but it takes a GOOD Miami team to beat a bad FSU team in that dominating fashion by SIX TOUCHDOWNS. The U is not back, but The U is WELL ON ITS WAY BACK. Celebrate both the the win last night and impressive 3-0 start, but I suggest maintaining balanced perspective. Clemson provides the ultiamte test in two weeks- I expect to give Clemson a good fight. A win would UNEQUIVOCALLY mean we ARE back. A loss is not the end of the season, either. Pittsburgh will be a formidable opponent. UNC will have something to say about the Coastal, and UVA and VT are seldom easy wins. This is a rock solid improved Miami team, with still 3-5 legit tests this season.
Great start to the season!
Defense - Sill not sold on the Baker-Patke duo, both in terms of recruiting and coaching, but this Defense has done enough through 3 games. Last night, 3 turnovers, held FSU to 0-2 on 4th Down, less than 200 passing yards, multiple sacks, and several TFL. This Defense has vulnerabilities with Corner depth, DT play, and defending the inside run. But the Defense is making impact plays (INT, Fumble, Sack, TFL), and if the Defense can keep making impact plays, then the Defense can handle occasionally giving more points/yards becauase our Offense will get the points that the team needs to win.
Another thing which is helping me feel better about our Defense is what I saw yesterday in other games. When I see Texas, I can't tell whether either Sam Ehlinger or Kevin Durant is in uniform for the Longhorns, because their football scores look like their basketball scores. The great LSU defending National Championship Defense gave up 40+ to MSU at home. Oklahoma's Defense allowed K-State to score 24 unanswered points in the Second Half to upset the #3 Sooners. The Gators' Defense gave up 35 points and a truck load of yards to Kiffin's Ole Miss.
So, this Miami Defense is not the Reed-Vilma-Wilfork-Rolle Defense of 2001, and there are clear weaknesses in it, but it has proven through three games that it is capable of holding its own: only allowing 20 PPG and making a lot of impact plays (INT, Fumble, Sack, TFL) should be good enough with our Offense for an improved successful season.
Special Teams - Get Pope off of Punt Return. We're going to have close games at some point, and we won't be able to afford a bonehead fumble in at a key juncture. Borregales and Hedley are an excellent K-P combo; arguably the best in the ACC, but our Return Game in Special Teams is garabage right now. Manny must find something, and someone, to signficantly improve the Return Game in Special Teams.
As We Transition To Clemson - Last night was an EXCELLENT win. Don't let anyone try to marginalize that dominating win by saying FSU sucks. Yes, FSU sucks. Miami teams in the past struggled to beat bad FSU teams. You can have a bad FSU team, but it takes a GOOD Miami team to beat a bad FSU team in that dominating fashion by SIX TOUCHDOWNS. The U is not back, but The U is WELL ON ITS WAY BACK. Celebrate both the the win last night and impressive 3-0 start, but I suggest maintaining balanced perspective. Clemson provides the ultiamte test in two weeks- I expect to give Clemson a good fight. A win would UNEQUIVOCALLY mean we ARE back. A loss is not the end of the season, either. Pittsburgh will be a formidable opponent. UNC will have something to say about the Coastal, and UVA and VT are seldom easy wins. This is a rock solid improved Miami team, with still 3-5 legit tests this season.
Great start to the season!
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