Where does Miami need to improve the most?

By Kartik Krishnaiyer
Canes Rising Staff

While most of the anger this season by fans has been focused on Pat Nix's offense the real concerns for Miami are on the defensive side of the ball. Nix is the latest UM offensive coordinator to face the wrath of delusional fans. First it was Bob Bratkowski brought in by Dennis Erickson to run the one back offense. Then it was Larry Coker, Rob Chudzinski, Dan Werner and finally now Pat Nix. A pattern has developed on that front so let's focus on the defense which was shredded by the likes of Florida State, Duke and NC State this season. (Miami was just one of many teams to be clocked by Georgia Tech so I don't hold that game against the defense as much as others.)


1) Takeaways

The reason Miami was so great in the 1983 to 1994 period was not because of prolific offenses. In fact if you compare Miami's era of dominance to Florida State's run from 1987 to 2000 and Florida's 1991 to 1996 run you'll note Miami scored far fewer points on offense than those programs. But Miami also returned more interceptions and fumbles for scores during that period than any other team in the nation. The same was true between 1999 and 2004 when Miami scored almost one non offensive TD on average per game. Many of these were Santana Moss, Devin Hester or Roscoe Parrish Punt Returns, but still a majority were defensive TDs.

While statistically, Randy Shannon's defenses were ranked in the top 10 nationally in 2005 and 2006, the lack of big turnovers was apparent both seasons. The 2005 numbers were so poor compared to the previous six seasons under Greg Schiano and Randy Shannon that it provided one of the impetuses for me to pen my "falling U" piece before the bowls that season.

This season the Hurricanes ranked DEAD LAST nationally in interceptions. The Canes were also a 101st in turnover margin.

2) Red Zone Defense

The Canes ranked DEAD LAST in the nation in red zone defense. In 39 trips to the red zone Miami opponents scored 37 times and missed a FG, and ran the clock down (GT). Miami never once forced a turnover inside the 20 yard line on defense. Miami never once blocked a short FG this season.

For all the Nix bashing that goes on, some of it justified, Miami ranked 5th nationally in red zone offense. Miami turns the ball over often and has had other issues offensively, but thanks to some good red zone play calling and the reliability of Matt Bosher when not kicking off the baseball dirt, the Canes usually come away with points when deep in the opponents territory. This statistic is particularly impressive when you consider the turnover problems Miami's QBs had all year. Robert Marve and Jacory Harris combined to throw 19 interceptions and fumbled the ball 2 times. That's 21 turnovers from the QB position this season, yet very few of these mistakes were in the red zone which is partly due to the ultra conservative nature of many Pat Nix play calls. This can be criticized but when you have one of the best kickers in the nation and turnover prone freshman QBs can you really blame Nix?