The comeback kid Miami Hurricanes roar back after being down 11 to the Duke Blue Devils to cover the spread.
The Miami Hurricanes survived an 11-point scare to move to 9-0 (5-0) on the season. The Hurricanes covered the spread to beat the Duke Blue Devils (6-3, 2-3) 53-31 at Hard Rock Stadium in front of a sparse crowd on a rainy Saturday at noon.
The Canyonero Keys to Victory to beating Duke were:
1- Win Bully Ball. The ‘Canes rushed for 126 yards on 4.1 per carry with two scores while Duke rushed for 80 on 3.0 yards per rush and one score. Miami didn’t dominate bully ball but certainly won that aspect of the game.
2- Limit turnovers. Ward threw that one ugly pick he’s prone to throwing, the one where he breaks every rule a QB has even been taught. But besides that Miami clearly dominated the turnover game four to two, as Ward’s fumble came in garbage time.
3- Take the points. I made taking the FG a clear objective early and yet when Mario settled for the FG in the 2nd quarter I was a little upset. Miami had two TO’s plus the 2-minute timeout and five minutes to work with and took a FG. Andres Borregales does what he do and made the kick, along with six PAT’s over the game.
The Doppler
Let’s open up with the middle eight. The middle eight is defined as the last four minutes of the 1st half and the first four minutes of the 2nd half. Miami got smacked in the middle 8 essentially losing it 14-0. That’s typically tough to overcome and losing the 2nd and early 3rd quarter 21-3 but the ‘Canes in an 11-point hole.
Photo by Michael Pimentel/ISI Photos/Getty Images
Miami converted 6-of-12 third down attempts while holding Duke to a 5-of-13 mark on 3rd and 1-of-2 conversion on 4th down.
The ‘Canes won the turnover margin 4:2, and also had less penalty yards than the Blue Devils after being flagged for 52 yards while Duke was flagged for 60.
Both teams made their lone FG attempt and were perfect on PAT’s. Duke’s punter had some interesting punts but they worked to limit return yardage, while their squib kick to Elija Lofton completely failed and set Miami up at midfield. Manny being Manny.
The Miami Offense
QB Cam Ward threw for 400 yards on 9.8 yards per attempt with five touchdowns and two turnovers (one INT, one fumble). Ward wasn’t run happy and that’s how he wound up being drilled on the RPO and in the situation to throw that ugly interception.
Damien Martinez and Mark Fletcher Jr. carried the load for Miami with a combined 23 carries for 131 yards and one TD. Athlete Elija Lofton scored the other rushing TD for Miami.
Xavier Restrepo continued his record setting senior season catching three touchdowns from Ward on 18.3 yards per catch. He’s going to make an NFL team very happy with his Football IQ and work ethic.
Five Miami receivers hit on an explosive play and six hit the double-digit yards per catch mark against Diaz’s defense. Jacolby George averaged 18.5 per catch with an explosive TD reception of his own.
The offensive line allowed two sacks and six TFL’s against the Blue Devils.
Above– With the run action this throw is too far to get solid timing. Also do the Miami blockers on screens no make an ‘in-out’ call? Elijah Arroyo is fine here as long as George comes back inside, but moving outside vs a kick out block is bad b’ness.
Above– Ward could’ve taken off and ran but instead he chucks one deep and it’s tipped. Restrepo makes a circus catch for the TD. Duke is a middle of the road P4 team not a top 12 playoff team. These plays are going to become harder to come by in a few weeks.
Above– Skinny post to the big body WR is the smart play here and Isaiah Horton is having a payday season at six-foot-four.
Above– This goof ball caught another TD I think just to shut me up. Cam McCormick won’t be the oldest college football ever, thanks BYU missionaries, but I dunno about 30 year olds dancing after scoring on some jits. Nice play design to get the backside TE across on the drag, I’d prefer an outlet play side for a hi-low but I’m assuming the 2nd read is a throw away.
Above– Ward actually releases when he should and where he should the spy just closes down on him and he takes the sack on 3rd and goal. Could’ve thrown this away to avoid risk of a fumble or lost yards but it’s an okay decision.
Above– Wrong throw, right guy. Restrepo with his second TD on a ball that was questionably thrown. Clearly a pump and dump to George if we’re reading the CB or nickel.
Above– Diamond formation has Diaz’s d-backs in a twist. His defenses, like Guidry’s for Miami, have always been poor at switching off.
Above– Ward breaks every single last QB rule here: intermediate (or deep), late, across body, well past three seconds… if the Duke DB doesn’t trip on his teammate it’s a pick 6 and a different ball game.
Above- Glance RPO: when the overhang runs outside it’s an open low–hole. Ward bangs it in there and Restrepo does the rest on his record setting day.
The Miami Defense
Maalik Murphy is really an all-or-none type of QB. Murphy threw three TD passes on 7.9 yards per attempt but also threw three interceptions while missing and hitting on third down throws.
RB Peyton Jones carved up the UM defense with 5.9 yards per carry and a touchdown. Star Thomas was held to just 2.1 yards per carry and a long of seven yards.
Only three Blue Devils receivers hit on double-digit yard per catch marks but all three caught explosives and touchdowns. Sahmir Hagans, Jordan Moore, and Jones came up really big for Murphy- especially Moore on a pair of amazing catches.
The ‘Canes defense came away with one sack, four PBU’s and four TFL’s on the afternoon. It was boom or bust for the Duke offense but also for the Miami defense and the pass coverage woes have to be fixed before the ACC Championship Game and CFP run.
Above– I dunno what Murphy is doing. He should be reading the safety to that side who intercepts the ball. Instead he’s just chuckin’ like George Costanza. I hate seeing bad football, no matter who benefits.
Above– Fin route should go for 5-yards and instead the broken tackle leads to a 1st down. Guidry’s squad is so bad at tracking and finishing. Look at that truck stick at the end.
Above– Alderman gets himself blocked. No sense at LB to go under and in. He works directly into the combo block… no safety in the alley to that side some how?
Above– In the Film Forecast I predicted Duke would take these deep 1-on-1 shots. Wouldn’t you as an OC? The Miami CB’s are waiting to get cooked as long as the QB reads the Safety it’s an easy throw.
Above– When a defense starts playing man you have to figure out if they’re allowing a “banjo” call, aka a switch, or not. No one switches for Miami and the whip route is an easy TD. Any time you see three DB’s in the exact same spot it’s not going to end well.
Above– When you run this many screens like Duke does you have to have a counter. I’ve always created my offense like the Tecmo Super Bowl offense- base, counter, play-action. The counter to your WR screen was this perfectly timed RB arrow with an OL as a lead blocker.
Above– Murphy looked off Miami’s worst safety, Harris, and the back shoulder throw by works to perfection. Duke had other really good 1-on-1 throws but they weren’t necessarily “schematically” anything special.
Above– Beating Miami’s defense seems simple. Make Francisco Mauigoa cover laterally in space, make the CB’s cover 1-on-1, make any defensive back tackle. Avoid Rueben Bain Jr.
Duke scored their second highest points total on offense vs. Miami, the highest coming against G5 scrub MTSU. Motion left and a cross formation slide route right where Mauigoa is chasing. There’s no blitz peel for Guidry?
The Wrap
Great teams battle through adversity. The 1983 Hurricanes opened the season with a loss and needed a fingernail to hold on vs. Nebraska in the Orange Bowl. The 1987 Miami team needed a late comeback vs. FSU and a fade to Michael Irvin to hold on.
The ‘89 group had to overcome Craig Erickson’s injury and a loss to FSU. The ‘91 squad needed Wide Right I, and the 2001 team had its own late game heroics from Ed Reed and Matt Walters.
Miami is dabbling with greatness at 9-0 and a real chance of facing SMU in the ACC Championship Game. If this Miami team can overcome multiple double-digit deficits and point swings to go 12-0 they deserve a spot in the College Football Playoff.