Hetherman’s first game at Minnesota as the DC was high on missed tackles but low on points allowed. The new Hurricanes DC held UNC to 19 points but did allow Omarion Hampton to rush for over 100 yards.
The Miami Hurricanes will open the 2025 season against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish down in Miami Gardens, FL at Hard Rock Stadium. The ‘Canes and Irish will renew their rivalry over Labor Day Weekend as the first game of the season for both squads.
In 2024, the Minnesota Golden Gophers opened their season against the UNC Tar Heels. In his one season as the Minny defensive coordinator, new Miami DC Corey Hetherman, finished the year 68th on 3rd down conversions, 31st on 4th down, 58th in takeaways per game, 39th in sack percentage and the Gophers finished 10th in penalty yards per game.
PJ Fleck’s teams do play fundamental, disciplined football while continuing to punch above their weight class. UNC got the best of Minny in August, knocking off the Gophers 19-17.
The Film
Against the Heels, Minnesota’s defense missed 22 tackles, finished 8-of-17 on 3rd and 4th down combined, produced one turnover, and allowed Omarion Hampton to pound out 129 yards on 30 carries (4.3 yards per rush).
The Gophers defense came away with two sacks, six tackles for loss, and four PBU’s against the Tar Heels in the loss. The Gophers were called for six penalties for 50-yards which is high for their expectations under Fleck.
Above– Early in the game and motion doesn’t panic the Gophers. Safety walking down talking to LB’s to bow over to the trips look. Even front with someone standing up is the base for the defense.
Above- I get why the DE squeezes inside because the nickel is coming off the edge but he’s an easy wash here and the OL can kick a smaller DB out easily against this look.
Above– one thing fans will like to see here is that Minny’s defenders don’t give up on plays. Early pressure starts the breakdown and continual effort leads to a throw away.
Above– Here’s the clip from the screenshot from earlier. As the DE gives up the outside for the NB, UNC has a great call on and it’s a pulling guard vs a DB. DB is an easy kick out and the first tackle is missed as Hampton drags two more.
Above– Miami will desperately need Zaquan Patterson to develop into this box and roll down safety role that Hetherman used at Minny. Looks like a role he could play really well and that would maximize his potential.
Above– it’s 3rd and 7 with UNC backed up and the Gophers come up with a clutch PBU. Slight pressure, with five being sent and tight press coverage by the CB.
Above– DC sends six and gets home. It’s not the initial rush but the relentless effort that finally gets the strip sack. Should the UNC QB have thrown it away earlier? YES. But he doesn’t and the Gophers make a play.
Above– Back to playing pinball. That’s 4-5 misses tackles on one rep in the 2nd quarter.
Above– Five man pressure, the DB should shoot outside hip but he goes inside. Again- relentless effort makes the QB throw a stupid ball that could’ve been a disaster for UNC.
Above– Three missed tackles on the way to a touchdown for UNC.
Above– Pocket gets collapsed back into the QB and he throws a bad ball off balance and it’s picked easily.
Above– The UNC inside move doesn’t work but again that effort from Minny gets the sack on the secondary outside move.
Above– 2nd and 5 and the Gophers defense rips, spills, and finishes in an attempted vice tackle.
Above– That dreaded toss play for Miami is a TFL for Minnesota. The CB plays the outside force perfectly and turns the run back in where the LB and S bounce off him but eventually finish the play.
The Wrap
There are things I like from this UNC game and things I don’t. UNC’s offense was no world-beater in 2024. The Tar Heels finished 43rd in SP+ offense in Mack Brown’s final season as head coach.
Minnesota’s defense did what they should’ve against the bad UNC pass game. The Gophers held the Heels QB’s to 4.6 yards per pass attempt with an interception and only WR JJ Jones had double-digit yards per catch numbers on the day.
But Hampton hit over 100 yards, even without a passing game, and scored once on the ground thanks to the Max Johnson scramble.
I did like the effort I saw on second attempts at things like sacks and TFL’s. Most of the tracking looked solid from the defense and they forced and spilled well vs. Hampton- all things considered.
I didn’t like the number of missed tackles that I saw and playing the Irish as your first game won’t leave time for ‘working into tackling form.’ Miami is going to have to get their off-season contact prep in order, and their tackling work needs to improve in camp.