Winning ain't easy. The Miami Hurricanes ( 8-0) survived a scary encounter with the UNC Tar Heels ( 4-4) on Halloween night, winning 38-35.
The Canyonero Keys to Victory main theme was to avoid self-implosion. Miami didn't implode at all just played flaccid zone while getting picked apart by an average QB. The three individual keys were:
1- Block. Some. Bodee.The Hurricanes O-Line held a good UNC defense to onesack and oneTFL. It helped that Darian Mensahwas willing to scramble around for the cause as well.
2- Pressure Edwards.Edwards was sacked fourtimes including the Marquise Lightfootstrip sack that wound up the difference maker. The issue is it took more than four to get pressure opening up more holes in coverage.
3- Shutdown Jordan Shipp. Shipp did catch a TDpass from Edwards but he caught only fourballs for 44yards. I would've thought that was a massive sign that Miami covered the spread but nope the Corey Hethermandefense Jelani Thurmanscore twice.
The biggest stat in this one was the lone turnoverof the night, the UNC fumble that gave Miami an extra possession. The 'Canes used it to score with Fletcher on the ground and take a 10point lead.
On money downs, UNC got the win finishing 10-of-13while Miami was only 8-of-13on the night.
Miami did win the penalty yardage game with sevenless yards in flags than UNC, Miami was only flagged threetimes to UNC's six.
Jake Weinbergbeing perfect on his fivePAT's, and making his only FGattempt, were the difference in the game as Miami won by three.
Mensah finished the game nearly perfect as he rushed for 36yards, averaged 9.4yards per pass attempt and tossed threetouchdowns withouta turnover.
Mensah found sixdifferent Miami receivers with fourgoing for double-digit yards per catch marks. Toney caught twoTD passes and Fletcher the other. Elija Loftonhad a game breaker with a hurdle over a defender for a 1st down.
On the ground Javian Malloryled the way with 4.3yards per carry while Fletcher handled the hard thumping yardage with 3.3YPC and twoTD's. The OL allowed only oneTFL against a really strong UNC front six.
Above- Miami forced UNC to switch multiple times on Sat. night with great success. Here Toney starts outside and they run a Run & Shoot switch call. In the Air Raid both guys go deep, just to crossed markers. In the R&S the outside guy crosses then settles in space.
Above- Lofton on the kick out. I'd like him slightly more square vs. using the sharp point of the shoulder more chest/shoulder but it works here and he buzzes his feet to avoid the 'whiff' miss if the guy moves or wrong arms it.
Above- So here in Q1 it's 1on1 vs Toney and they call a fade. Mensah reads that S when he doesn't bail to help the 1on1 and instead plays the run Mensah pulls and throws a TD. WE'LL BE BACK TO THIS LATER!
Above- Now unlike Lofton, Briggs doesn't buzz his feet. He and the LB explode into each other and both fall down. Briggs wins because it's a first down, but people worried about shoulder injuries should look at that clip. That's not how it should be done, but at least his head is on the right side and it worked!
Above- It's 4over4 which made it a tougher play, but it's three TE's if I'm not mistaken. Toney draws a CB and S, Mensah has been scrambling which holds the ILB in case it's a draw. And Mensah slings it quick to Fletcher who scores.
Above- Barkate ran a hitch and go. It requires pass pro which Mensah got the ball off clearly just in time. Barkate got "even" so he's leavin' re the CB. nice explosive from the Duke Duo.
Above- This is a smart way to run mesh. Lofton was on the inside as the #2 and ran a corner. Upshaw was on the outside as the #1 but he runs the crosser for Mesh. The mesh, switch and attempted bracket on MT all collide here and he's open on the corner route. Another great way to line up and get Toney free.
Above- Rodriguez has really flipped the switch and picked up his game. Here he grabs a DL and drives him back for the TD carry from Fletcher to go-ahead.
Above- WE'RE BACK. Exactly how it looked last time, except this time Toney knows the CB is going to worry about an outside release. MT baits him out and breaks in. The safety being there means do NOT run a slant or glance- it's either a hospital ball or a pick.
Above- So MT runs it flat like a fin route and the S over runs thinking slant the CB is outside thinking fade and Toney scores once again.
On the other side of the ball Miami struggled mightily against an average UNC offense. Edwards averaged 10yards per pass attempt with fourTD's and only the strip sack turnover.
Edwards found ninedifferent receivers with fivegoing for double-digit yards per catch marks. Thurman, the TE, torched Miami's sloppy secondary and LB corps for 14yards per catch plus the twoTD's.
Demon June, Benjamin Halland Jaylen McGillweren't exactly explosive. The trio averaged 3.4, 4.3and 2.4yards per carry, respectively. But they did score and move the chains when needed.
The defense came away with foursacks, fiveTFL's and once again a low number of PBU's- ONE, and it was a bat down by Ahmad Moten.
The stud of the night was Lightfoot who had fivesolo stops, twoTFL's, and twosacks. JJ Dunniganhad 1/2a TFL and 1/2a sack with foursolo tackles.
Above- Dunnigan and Lightfoot are a dangerous duo off the edge. Power and speed collide at the Q.
Above- The LB needs to just eat this block of the guard and let the other two (LB/S) on the chain make the stop. Once he ducks outside (which has closer help) he vacates the inside (further help + a safety not a LB). It's a bad 2-way go for the LB.
Above- So the S has first out of the backfield typically here between the RB and the TE. That's the "#3" in football terms. His eyes never leave the RB so someone should have the TE on the insert. Rhett Lashlee ran this with great success at Miami, too. Having the TE insert and up the seam for a TD or explosive.
Above- In previous games Thornton had been 'running through' tackles rather than coming to balance, buzzing his feet, and making a secure tackle. Here he buzzes and scrapes to make the stop.
Above- And he went full Lightfoot and shot the legs with both arms and squeezed the clinch and rolled. Made for a great stop on a hard situation.
Above- Outbreaking routes vs a Safety being used as a nickel corner. Petrino was in his bag last night.
Above- I'd attack Poyser too. As an OC you have to find someone to pick on, last night he was the victim quite often in the pass game. Also back pylon = throw high. Front pylon = throw low.
Above- The broadcast did a good job of explaining how Edwards looked Poyser over to create space over the LB and under the other DB.
Above- Thurman once again. Lucas this time if I'm not mistaken. Dropping into that flaccid Miami coverage.
Above- Poyser in the shot again, outbreaking route, pick on him for a TD.
Above- The strip sack from Lightfoot. Had Edwards scramble off his hitch up it's probably a first down vs. a strip sack and then Miami 10 point lead.
Above- SCREEEEEN! Teams are going to continue to run RB delayed screens if they keep working like this. Miami DL doesn't retrace until far too late (and the most outside guy) and then Lucas can't tackle to save his life downfield on this.
Above- At least it's not 7 this time, right? They went over the LB and under the S. This ball had to be dropped in right where it is, in front of the WR, to keep the S from killing him. TD UNC and a 3 point ball game.
Above- It's not that they touch Fitzgerald early, that isn't actually the issue. He comes across the 10y window line and that makes him eligible to be destroyed.
Above- The issue is that it hit the kill shot guy right before the 10y off his hip and that's why he and the recovery were ineligible. Not for hitting Fitzgerald.
Win your clunkers meet survive your scares. In order to finish undefeated, even against this slate, you have to win a few scary games. It's now time to prove you have what it takes. Miami travels to South Bend for a showdown with Notre Dame in primetime.
Even if Miami loses this one and wins out they're in the ACC Championship Game and the CFB Playoff. But Miami needs to secure a bye in round one to allow the players to heal up and the only way to get that week off is to beat ND.
