#54 Miami Hurricanes |
#9 in ACC |
The only constant in Coral Gables recently, has been inconsistency. The offense should have a totally new look after a disastrous close to 2019, getting shut out in the Independence Bowl by Louisiana Tech. So out after just one year is offensive coordinator Dan Enos, and freshman quarterback Jarren Williams, who transferred out. For those keeping score at home, the Enos/Williams combination replaced the OC/freshman quarterback combination from 2018, of Thomas Brown and N’Kosi Perry. While Williams left, Perry remains on the roster, as does Ohio State transfer Tate Martell, the presumptive starter going into 2019, before being passed over by Williams. D’Eriq King, arguably the top transfer quarterback on the market, joins the team, and while seeing Martell transfer only to not win the job last year was surprising, for it not to be King this year would be a total shock. Pulling the strings is Rhett Lashlee, a Gus Malzahn disciple, who coordinated SMU’s offense a year ago, and played at the third fastest pace in the FBS. This is not Lashlee’s first crack at the Power Five level. He was Malzahn’s quarterback coach back at Springdale High School, and followed him to Arkansas, Auburn, Arkansas State, and eventually back to Auburn. From 2004-2016, they were only apart for one year. However, by 2016 Malzahn had taken control of the offense back from Lashlee, who left for UConn. King, likewise has had a ton of success...but at the AAC level. In his last full season, 2018, he finished 4th in the nation in Total QBR, behind only Kyler Murray, Tua Tagovailoa, and Jake Fromm; ahead of Dwayne Haskins, Trevor Lawrence, and Will Grier. Not that Oklahoma or Washington State are known for their defensive prowess, but King acquitted himself decently against them last year, albeit relying more on his legs, than his arm. He’s not going to survive the season running the ball 15 plus times a game this year. That said, his ability to run, may help ease what was the biggest problem with the Hurricane offense, a dismal pass blocking line. Miami opened the season by allowing 10 sacks against Florida, and wound up allowing the fourth most sacks per game in the FBS. So while the Hurricanes averaged just 3.7 ypc, third worst in the ACC; you take away the quarterback sacks, it jumps to 2nd. That inability to pass block just trickled down. They were the worst third down conversion team in the nation, because once you knew they had to pass it, they were particularly awful. And even when they got into short yardage situations, an offensive line, which was generally at least mediocre in run blocking, couldn’t get it done. Their 48% short down conversion percentage was also the worst in the nation. They started three freshmen and two sophomores, all of whom return, so you have to hope there was some growth. But for as bad as the line was at keeping their quarterbacks upright, the defensive line was equally good, generating the fourth highest sack rate in the nation, led by Gregory Rousseau. The defensive line was top 11 nationally in six of the eight metrics tracked by Football Outsiders, and Rousseau finished second, behind only Chase Young, with 15.5 sacks. There were no other freshmen in the top 25. Rousseau redshirted in 2018 after suffering a season ending injury in the second game, so he’ll be draft eligible after this sophomore season. I wouldn’t put money on getting him back. Aside from Rousseau the defense could take a major step back, after 6 starters graduated, and another two left early for the draft. Rousseau is the only starter back from that front seven.
| KEY PLAYERS |
QB | D'Eriq King, Senior |
RB | Cam'Ron Harris, Junior |
TE | Brevin Jordan, Junior |
| . |
DE | Gregory Rousseau, Sophomore |
CB | D.J. Ivey, Junior |
S | Gurvan Hall Jr., Junior |