The Hurricanes shut out Ball State and picked up an impressive third win of the season.
IIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTT’SSSSSSSSSSSS MONDAY!!!!!!!! And another Miami Hurricanes victory Monday at that (which never, ever get old, regardless of opponent).
And you wonderful folks know just what that means. Let’s grab those orange and green sledgehammers and start squashing those Canes-related fruits of thought stacked up inside my mind.
1) I mean, where to begin after another obliteration of an overmatched opponent?
Which, by the way, I’m NOT taking for granted. Ball State is an FBS team, and plenty of other programs around the country have stubbed their toe and either barely stayed standing or fallen on their face against inferior teams.
Miami has done what good teams are supposed to do against bad or outclassed ones – blew them the eff off the field. That’s what the upper echelon teams in college football do. Miami to its credit has done that in 2024.
2) So, yes, turning back to the game itself, I gotta say it’s wonderful watching Cam Ward play football.
Not just his escapeability and athleticism. It’s his mind and vision, too, y’all. He has a natural instinct for where his blockers are at and where the protection is coming from – all while keeping his eyes downfield. That’s an advanced skill that’s hard to teach. More of a natural instinct, I believe.
Regardless, it’s something that I don’t think gets mentioned enough among the oohs and ahhs he pulls off on the field. What an absolute thrill it is to watch elite QB play in Coral Gables. Not good. Not very good. Elite. Love it.
3) You have to love seeing Ward build up that connection with Jacolby George on Saturday. 6 catches, 109 yards, and a score.
Clearly, that trust and connection is already there with Xavier Restrepo, who had 2 touchdowns, by the way. Being able to get on the same page with your top 2 wideouts like that in the same game is a terrific sign for Miami’s passing game moving forward. Sometimes it can take some time to build that timing together. Clearly, it’s improving, and just at the right time.
4) Also, how damned cool was that score by Chris Johnson, Jr.?
37 yard TD for Chris Johnson Jr pic.twitter.com/M178sh5gF9
— NMD Grant (@NMDgrant) September 14, 2024
I love the philosophy of get your guys the ball and let them just go make a play. Sometimes, it’s just that easy. Nothing too complicated; just block it well, and good things can happen. Just a simple swing pass, and the receivers on the edge did a terrific job with their perimeter blocks to spring it. They deserve a ton of credit for the score. In the games that will matter, executing on the blocking side of things will make a difference, because you’re not going to be able to run away from guys as easily. Love to see the effort there all the way around from the offense.
4) Defensively, once again, the pressure and play of the Canes’ defensive front is bringing it every week.
4 more sacks and 9 more tackles for loss. Tyler Baron is close to unblockable right now. Speaking of, he bumped the QB late in the first half and forced a floater right to Elijah Alston. Miami would turn that into 7 more points two plays later and the game was well out of hand at the break.
5) But as well as Miami’s defense has played up front, the linebackers have kind of gotten lost in the shuffle.
I’m talking specifically about the level of play they’ve shown in coverage. Want to know who on the defense had the highest coverage grade from Pro Football Focus on Saturday? Francisco Mauigoa with 85.3. Who had the third highest? Wesley Bissainthe with 73.7. Jaylin Alderman was also solid with a 72 grade in 7 coverage snaps.
Being able to handle things in coverage and lay the wood is a combination Miami has been trying to find for a while now. It appears, hopefully, that Miami has a tremendous duo on its starting defense in Kiko and Wesley. Really excited to see how they handle themselves in league play.
All in all, man, what a week. Winning is fun. But now, the challenge goes up a notch this week against a USF team that’s a solid group. If Miami is what we all hope they are this season, they will take care of business handily on Saturday night inside Raymond James Stadium.
Go Canes!