Monday Musings: a strong effort by the Canes’ defense on Saturday

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTT’SSSSSSSS MONDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

And it’s a victory Monday, my friends. And it’s a victory Monday after getting to TEN WINS ON THE SEASON. I don’t think I’ll ever take ten-win seasons for granted again.

With that being said, let’s put on those orange speedos and green diving caps, toe the line, and swan dive into the pool of Miami Hurricanes-related thoughts swirling inside my brain.

1) Alright, man. I will own it when it’s proper to do so. I said on Twitter that defensive coordinator Lance Guidry needed to be counting his days in Coral Gables (and updating his LinkedIn account) after a coverage bust led to about as easy a touchdown as you’ll see this year from this defense on Wake’s opening drive.

Welp. Maybe that was a tad premature.

Wake went 75 yards in 7 plays, topping that off with a 36-yard touchdown from Hank Bachmeier to Micah Mays, Jr. where NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOBODY was even in the vicinity of Mays, Jr. when he scored.

I thought, damn, here we go again. This is inexcusable.

Then…..a funny thing happened. That would be the last points the Wake offense would score all game. The Demon Deacons totaled 99 yards passing and just 94 yards rushing ON 40 RUSHING ATTEMPTS. It was an elite recovery by Guidry’s unit after a rough start, and he and the defense deserve major credit for keeping the Canes ahead as the offense struggled until the fourth quarter.

Props coach. Proved me/other doubters wrong – at least for last week. Time to do it again.

2) Cam continues to both thrill and flummox me with decisions lately.

I was screaming at the TV to throw it here to Mark Fletcher, Jr., who had time to take that and turn it up for a touchdown.

Instead, the delay and eventual incompletion led to 3 points instead of 7. Fortunately, Miami wouldn’t need them, but these kinds of decisions could prove costly in very tight games.

3) Jacolby George was a force down the field on Saturday.

7 catches, 91 yards, 2 tuddies. I really, REALLY hope that, on that Syracuse turf, Miami can turn him loose and get some big chunk plays against the Orange this weekend. He could be a difference maker.

4) Speaking of speed, man, how damned good does Jordan Lyle look running the football?

The freshman had the longest run of the game, breaking free for a 61-yarder that set up the cherry on top on the scoreboard. He finished with a game-high 115 yards on just 7 carries. Very impressive.

No, I’m not saying a massive change needs to be coming, with Damien Martinez and/or Mark Fletcher, Jr. getting major reductions. I’m saying, situationally, he needs to be used more.

Our Justin Dottavio had a great suggestion today on Twitter.

Yes, please. Basically this.

5) I’m really going to miss Elijah Arroyo next year.

I think he can be one of the next Canes to make a name for himself as an NFL tight end. He’s got all the tools to do it. Really has stepped up this year in a way I hoped someone would from that TE group.

6) Meesh Powell was the player of the game on defense.

3 tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss, 2 passed defended and a pick six. Talk about an impact player. A hell of a way to help this defense bounce back from Atlanta. That’s the kind of performance Miami needs from the veteran moving forward if they’re going to make a run at an ACC title over the next two Saturdays.

7) Speaking of secondary, Miami is set to get Damari Brown back for Saturday against Syracuse, per Mario Cristobal today.

That’s huge. They’ll need him back and productive because…….

8) The Orange really worry me with QB Kyle McCord and their passing game.

The Cuse are one of two teams above the Canes this year in passing yards – by just 15 yards. Conversely, the Cuse are dreadful running the football at less than 3 yards per carry and seventh worst in FBS in total rushing yards.

As such, get ready for the Cuse to try to take advantage of what’s been a major issue with the Canes’ defense and exploit the back four. As such, a big key in this game is whether Miami’s pass rush can get home on Saturday. If not, it could be a long day for Guidry’s defense.

9) Lastly, the door might have opened a crack for the Canes to get into the playoff if they make it to Charlotte but lose.

Obviously don’t want that to happen, but with Alabama and Ole Miss losing (and more possible upsets to come this Saturday), there could be an avenue for an 11-2 ACC Championship Game loser to claim an at-large spot. Long way to go before that’s in play, but the chaos might have opened up multiple doors to the playoff for the ACC, and you always want as many options as possible.

But none of that matters if the Canes don’t take care of business in (what I will always call the Carrier) Dome on Saturday.

Go Canes!