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| Brad Kaaya hands off to Duke Johnson(Photo Credit: Associated Press) |
Written By: Nathan Skinner
Canes Rising Contributor
Losing always hurts, but it's worse when the loss is to a rival. Saturday's 30-26 defeat at the hands of FSU was frustrating, but it wasn't the end of the world. A significantly younger team with little depth had the defending National Champions on the ropes late in the game. The 'Canes couldn't finish the job, but there's plenty to build upon. This game should serve as a signal that the rebuilding project is progressing, but there's significant work to be done.
Offense
Quarterback--Brad Kaaya has been solid all season, and he was solid once again on Saturday. Kaaya threw for over 300 yards and two touchdowns, but also threw the pivotal interception. The young quarterback locked onto receivers at times, and he wasn't accurate for a good portion of the game. James Coley didn't help Kaaya by ignoring the playaction pass in the second half, but that doesn't excuse Kaaya's shaky decision on the final drive. That said, Miami fans have a star in the making at the most important position. Grade: B-
Running Back--Duke Johnson takes a lot of heat from Miami fans, most of it completely undeserved. Miami didn't lose tonight because of Duke, but Duke wasn't able to make the big play that could have gotten Miami over the hump. Johnson rushed for 130 yards, and averaged almost 5 yards per carry, but apparently that's not good enough for a myopic fanbase. Joe Yearby filled in while Johnson was injured and had a rough night. Grade: B
Wide Receivers--It was a quiet night for the receivers, as they didn't see too many targets. Philip Dorsett caught an early touchdown, but struggled in the second half. Stacy Coley was open twice, but couldn't come up with a catch. Braxton Berrios couldn't make a tough catch in the endzone, which was huge. Malcolm Lewis had a solid game as a blocker, throwing some outstanding blocks on the perimeter. This unit missed on some big opportunities, but it wasn't an awful performance. Grade: B-
Tight Ends--One can say that this position group lost this game. Both Clive Walford and Standish Dobard had huge fumbles, potentially taking points off of the board. Walford was the best tight end on the field, out dueling Nick O'Leary, but he fumbled after making a big play in the first quarter. The same exact thing happened to Dobard in the 3rd quarter. Miami couldn't afford to turn the ball over, and these two found a way to do so. Walford's touchdown catch doesn't make up for these drive killers. Grade: C
Offensive Line--Art Kehoe continues to be the biggest coaching surprise of the season. This line gave Brad Kaaya plenty of time to throw, and they opened some holes for the backs. What was really impressive is the fact that Miami was able to consistently win on 3rd and short, converting on numerous occasions. The only time FSU could get pressure was when they overwhelmed Miami with superior numbers. Grade: B+
Defense
Defensive Line--FSU has a mediocre O-Line, and the 'Canes still couldn't get pressure on Jameis Winston. The only time the 'Canes were able to get to Winston is when Mark D'Onofrio sent pressure from the second level. Ufomba Kamalu struggled, as he was manhandled by tight end Nick O'Leary. The inability of Kamalu to beat a tight end is a damning indictment on Jethro Franklin's lack of coaching acumen. Enough is enough. This unit may not have overwhelming talent, but the fact that this line is so awful in regards to hand placement, and rush moves shows that they aren't being coached. Grade: D
Linebackers--Jermaine Grace has officially arrived. Grace, a highly recruited player is finally coming into his own as he dominated the game from the second level Denzel Perryman had his usual big time tackles, and was a force in the middle. The linebackers were everywhere, they were active, and Mark D'Onofrio used them in a variety of blitz packages. Perryman will leave after this season, but fans should rest easy knowing Grace will fill his shoes. Grade: B+
Secondary--This unit could have used Rayshawn Jenkins Saturday night, because Nantambu Fentress struggled. Fentress is a gritty, tough player who isn't afraid to get active, but he lacks the athleticism to play against elite teams. FSU's Dalvin Cook pulled a number on Fentress early in the game and it didn't get better for the former walk-on. Artie Burns and Corn Elder did a good job of keeping Rashad Greene from being a factor as he only could garner 4 receptions. The player who had the best game was Deon Bush, who made an breathtaking catch on an errant Jameis Winston pass late in the 1st half. This unit limited Jameis Winston, despite not getting much help from the D-Line but Fentress' play is a sore point. Grade: B
Special Teams
In the Miami/FSU rivalry, points are hard to come by, and not taking advantage of opportunities usually leads to defeat. Having a PAT blocked, and missing a short field goal was the difference in the game. Yes, Michael Badgley made some field goals, including two from 40+, but that doesn't change the facts. Had Badgley made that one short field goal, Miami would have only been down by a single point late in the football game. In that case, a field goal wins it, and everything changes. Badgley isn't responsible for the blocked kick, that was just awful protection. Justin Vogel only had 3 punts, and wasn't a factor. Grade: C-
Coaching
Offense--In the first half, James Coley's offense dominated, scoring at will and gaining yards in bunches. In the second half, Miami went away from some things that were working and chose to be conservative. The rationale behind the strategy was sound: keep the clock moving while forcing FSU to stop the run, something they've been unable to do all season. The problem with the strategy was that it didn't allow Miami to take advantage of FSU when they brought their safeties up, and made adjustments. The lack of playaction passes in the second half, when FSU was daring Miami to take a chance was troubling. What was even more troubling was the inability to get plays off on time. Yes, FSU made multiple defensive shifts before the snap, but Miami should be able to adjust, and not looked rushed in the process. Coley left the defense on an island due to his play calls late in the game. On a 3rd and long, with the defense obviously out of gas, Coley chose to call a tailback screen, instead of taking a shot down field. An elite coordinator understands the situation, and understands his personnel. Even if Kaaya throws an interception in that situation, it's far better than calling a play that had a low probability of success. Odds are that it's an incomplete pass, maybe there's pass interference, but take a chance. While fans are once again calling for Coley's head, it's obvious that the offensive gameplan was sound and it should have worked. The problem was that Coley bailed on what was working. Grade: C
Defense--In the "Keys To Victory" article, I mentioned that Miami had nothing to lose, and should play that way. Mark D'Onofrio must be a fan of Canes Rising, because the 'Canes played with reckless abandon all night. The embattled defensive coordinator called a variety of blitzes, Miami rarely sat in a base defense, choosing to have four down linemen on most plays. One play that stood out was a delayed blitz in the 3rd quarter that led to a sack of Jameis Winston. While this unit eventually ran out of gas, they looked well coached, and executed the game plan to perfection. The one problem with the game plan was the fact that it called for Nantambu Fentress to play significant snaps. D'Onofrio should have noted that Fentress just couldn't compete, and gone to Jamal Carter. Carter may not have the football I.Q. of Fentress, but his athleticism easily makes up for that shortcoming. Overall, it was a good game for the defense, and it showed that the aggressive play calling is here to stay. Grade: B-
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