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| Tyriq McCord(17) returns an interception for a touchdown(Photo Credit: Miami Herald) |
Written By: Nathan Skinner
Canes Rising Contributor
It was sloppy, it was uneven, but it was a blowout. Miami beat the overmatched Cincinnati Bearcats 55-34, in front of an apathetic crowd at Sunlife Stadium. While this game looked relatively close, it was never a contest, with Miami leading the entire way. Following the Georgia Tech debacle, it was nice to see the 'Canes rebound.
The Good
Duke Johnson&Joe Yearby--Whenever backs combine to rush for 275 yards, it's a great day. Duke and Joe both cracked the 100 yard barrier, becoming the first 'Canes duo to accomplish that feat since 2003. Yearby has been flashing his potential over the last month, today was the first game in which he flashed for an extended period. Once Yearby develops physically, watch out, he's going to be a player. Duke had another outstanding afternoon, breaking off an 80 yard touchdown run. Gus Edwards got in on the action late, but this was the Duke and Joe show.
Phillip Dorsett--When Dorsett gets targets, big plays will inevitably follow. Philip dominated the Bearcats, averaging over 47 yards per reception. The question fans should ask at this point is why this talented receiver isn't targeted more often. Cinci has one of the worst secondaries in the country, but that shouldn't take away from this performance. Dorsett's play should be a signal to both Brad Kaaya and James Coley that he should find his way to the top of the play chart.
Artie Burns&Corn Elder--There's nothing better than seeing the light come on for a young player, and that's something fans are starting to see from these two cornerbacks. Artie Burns has the physical tools, he's finally understanding the mental aspects of the position. Corn Elder, long a standout at practice is finally showing up in games. Look for these two players to become All-ACC level talents by the end of their collegiate careers.
The Bad
James Coley--Yes, the 'Canes offense put up 48 points against Cinci on Saturday, but that doesn't excuse Coley for his mind boggling calls. At one point, Duke Johnson was averaging almost 50 yards a carry, but Coley felt the need to call three consecutive pass plays, squelching all momentum. When you find something that works, run it until the defense stops it. When the 'Canes face FSU, or Virginia Tech, that philosophy will have to apply. Those teams are well coached, and won't fall for gadget plays, or trickery. By the way, why can't the 'Canes hand the football to Stacy Coley on fly sweeps, instead of tossing it? Handoffs are less risky, and it allows Coley to secure the ball in one motion. It's a minor detail but indicative of a larger issue.
Defensive Line--Another week, another quarterback who didn't have anything to fear from the Miami defensive front. Cincinnati doesn't have an outstanding offensive line, and they rarely ran the ball, yet the 'Canes couldn't get pressure on the quarterback. The only time Gunner Kiel faced pressure is when Miami blitzed. This has to improve, because the 'Canes can't expect to blitz FSU's Jamais Winston, or VT's Michael Brewer and survive. Those players will find the open receivers that Kiel missed, and they will make the 'Canes pay. Defensive Line coach Jethro Franklin has managed to avoid major criticism, but his unit has shown little consistency. A lack of mature talent is one thing, but the nuanced observer can see that key coaching points aren't being taught. It's a rarity for a defensive lineman to use his hands to disengage a blocker, it's even rarer for any lineman to win a 1 on 1 battle, or collapse the passing pocket from the inside.
The Ugly
Mark D'Onofrio--This segment has been a broken record for the past month, but the same issues continue to plague the defense. This week, it's not about the overall gameplan, but more about the management of said plan. The original gameplan featured plenty of blitzing, plenty of differing looks, and did a solid job limiting Gunner Kiel, and destroying Cinci's limited running game. After this game became a rout, D'Onofrio went away from what worked and chose to play soft, which allowed Cinci to put up some late scores. It's not wrong to be aggressive with the second team, it's not wrong to use the waning moments in a blowout to teach players who will play a role in the future. This isn't a call to embarass an over matched opponent, this is a call for consistency. Whether D'Onofrio wants to admit it or not, perception is reality, and giving up 27 points to a Cinci team that is one of the worst teams in FBS isn't going to save his job.
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