Miami Herald Logo

Miami Hurricanes’ passing game getting back on target | Miami Herald

×
  • E-edition
  • Home
    • Site Information
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Herald Store
    • RSS Feeds
    • Special Sections
    • Advertise
    • Advertise with Us
    • Media Kit
    • Mobile
    • Mobile Apps & eReaders
    • Newsletters
    • Social
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Google+
    • Instagram
    • YouTube

    • Sections
    • News
    • South Florida
    • Miami-Dade
    • Broward
    • Florida Keys
    • Florida
    • Politics
    • Weird News
    • Weather
    • National & World
    • Colombia
    • National
    • World
    • Americas
    • Cuba
    • Guantánamo
    • Haiti
    • Venezuela
    • Local Issues
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • In Depth
    • Issues & Ideas
    • Traffic
    • Sections
    • Sports
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Pro & College
    • Miami Dolphins
    • Miami Heat
    • Miami Marlins
    • Florida Panthers
    • College Sports
    • University of Miami
    • Florida International
    • University of Florida
    • Florida State University
    • More Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Auto Racing
    • Fighting
    • Golf
    • Horse Racing
    • Outdoors
    • Soccer
    • Tennis
    • Youth Sports
    • Other Sports
    • Politics
    • Elections
    • The Florida Influencer Series
    • Sections
    • Business
    • Business Monday
    • Banking
    • International Business
    • National Business
    • Personal Finance
    • Real Estate News
    • Small Business
    • Technology
    • Tourism & Cruises
    • Workplace
    • Business Plan Challenge
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Cindy Krischer Goodman
    • The Starting Gate
    • Work/Life Balancing Act
    • Movers
    • Sections
    • Living
    • Advice
    • Fashion
    • Food & Drink
    • Health & Fitness
    • Home & Garden
    • Pets
    • Recipes
    • Travel
    • Wine
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Dave Barry
    • Ana Veciana-Suarez
    • Flashback Miami
    • More Living
    • LGBTQ South Florida
    • Palette Magazine
    • Indulge Magazine
    • South Florida Album
    • Broward Album
    • Sections
    • Entertainment
    • Books
    • Comics
    • Games & Puzzles
    • Horoscopes
    • Movies
    • Music & Nightlife
    • People
    • Performing Arts
    • Restaurants
    • TV
    • Visual Arts
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Jose Lambiet
    • Lesley Abravanel
    • More Entertainment
    • Events Calendar
    • Miami.com
    • Contests & Promotions
    • Sections
    • All Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Op-Ed
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Jim Morin
    • Letters to the Editor
    • From Our Inbox
    • Speak Up
    • Submit a Letter
    • Meet the Editorial Board
    • Influencers Opinion
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Blog Directory
    • Columnist Directory
    • Andres Oppenheimer
    • Carl Hiaasen
    • Leonard Pitts Jr.
    • Fabiola Santiago
    • Obituaries
    • Obituaries in the News
    • Place an Obituary

    • Place an ad
    • All Classifieds
    • Announcements
    • Apartments
    • Auctions/Sales
    • Automotive
    • Commercial Real Estate
    • Employment
    • Garage Sales
    • Legals
    • Merchandise
    • Obituaries
    • Pets
    • Public Notices
    • Real Estate
    • Services
  • Public Notices
  • Cars
  • Jobs
  • Moonlighting
  • Real Estate
  • Mobile & Apps

  • el Nuevo Herald
  • Miami.com
  • Indulge

University of Miami

Miami Hurricanes’ passing game getting back on target

By Christina De Nicola

    ORDER REPRINT →

October 14, 2013 09:09 PM

University of Miami quarterback Stephen Morris capped last season’s final four games with 1,131 yards, 11 touchdowns and no interceptions.

It created both excitement and expectation heading into his senior year, even more so when he earned praise for his performance at the Manning Passing Academy this past summer.

But through the first two games this season, the passing game struggled to find its groove under a new offensive coordinator and a new system.

Despite beating Florida Atlantic 34-6, Morris threw for just 200 yards, while tossing an interception and touchdown. A week later, the entire offense failed to get going against Florida. The team still managed a victory, relying on the defense and timely forced turnovers.

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to the Miami Herald

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

Drops plagued freshman Stacy Coley. The timing on deep balls seemed to be off. Third-down conversions (19 percent) were hard to come by.

“We come in each week focusing on what we didn’t do very well and learning from that,” senior wide receiver Allen Hurns said. “Learning from every game and just communicating better.”

Since facing the Gators, Morris has 628 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions over parts of three games. He played sparingly in the Savannah State and South Florida games because the scores were not close.

Miami, which plays at North Carolina on Thursday at 7:45 p.m., now ranks 34th in the nation with 274.8 passing yards per game and 29th in completion percentage (64.7).

The three quarterbacks who have seen playing time have combined for a 174.7 rating, sixth best in the nation.

“I thought we made great strides from where we were in the beginning of the season,” Morris said. “Obviously, in the beginning of the season — new coordinator, new system — our receivers … we weren’t really on the same page.

“The [defensive] line got great rushes on the offensive line because we weren’t making the right calls. Our biggest focus on that off week was just focusing on ourselves. I think we made great strides, and it’s showing.”

Players agree on the turning point: the 49-21 win over South Florida on Sept. 28 in the season’s fourth game.

Morris, who has been dealing with an ankle injury, focused on improving his accuracy and hand coordination with the ball to compensate for his limitations. He finished 11 for 15 for 222 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the win over the Bulls.

Backups Ryan Williams and Gray Crow both entered the game. Williams went 8 for 14 with 153 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

“I definitely thought the USF game was a big confidence booster for everyone on the team, myself included, especially with my ankle and how I responded,” Morris said. “Ryan came in and [it] just shows you no matter who’s in — the system’s working and guys are communicating and running the ball well and opening up the passing game.”

The following week against Georgia Tech, seven different players caught a pass. On the season, seven players have caught a touchdown.

A variety of options makes it tough for opposing defenses to plan for each position, especially when Morris can distribute the ball to the running backs, tight ends or wideouts.

Hurns leads the team with 383 receiving yards. Coley has rebounded with 205 yards, second most on the team, and a team-high three receiving touchdowns. Twenty of junior tight end Clive Walford’s last 22 touches have resulted in a first down or a touchdown.

“They’re fast. All of them. You can’t just pick one of them out,” junior cornerback Ladarius Gunter said. “They’re different in a lot of different aspects. You’ve got good route runners that are fast, you’ve got speed guys that are extremely fast, guys with great hands. Bigger receivers. Morris and the receivers are clicking on all cylinders right now.”

And additional ammo is on the way for the Hurricanes (5-0), who continue to nurse injuries and would happily welcome more depth.

Junior Rashawn Scott has not been cleared for full-contact work but should return soon.

Morris and the coaching staff said his aching ankle continues to get better every day.

“I think we’ve improved in a lot of areas,” coach Al Golden said. “I think we’re catching the ball better. Obviously, we’ve been working a lot of different concepts — I don’t really want to get into all that. I think we’ve improved and, hopefully, we’ll bring that into this game.”

North Carolina (1-4), which allows 238.8 passing yards per game, ranks 30th in the nation in pass defense. Last season, the Tar Heels held the Hurricanes to 235 passing yards. Morris threw two interceptions before exiting with a lower left-leg injury in an 18-14 loss.

“We’ve seen some really great catches and great routes and great throws,” offensive coordinator James Coley said. “I think when you can execute and you’re dialed in and you catch the ball and you throw the ball and make great reads and protect — I think that helps you. That’s the name of the game.”

Related stories from Miami Herald

HOMEPAGE

UM beat writer recalls many sad days covering the Hurricanes

July 20, 2012 10:15 PM

  Comments  

Videos

Diaz: Our team isn’t far from competing for championships

University of Miami Defensive Coordinator Blake Baker

View More Video

Trending Stories

Patriots owner Robert Kraft is among the hundreds charged in Florida sex traffic sting

February 22, 2019 12:23 PM

Trump threatens to deport Venezuelan military officials’ families that have fled to Miami

February 22, 2019 07:21 PM

It’s about to get easier for legal immigrants in Miami to get their papers. Faster, too.

February 22, 2019 03:14 PM

Government preparing to be sued in 2023, when the Keys stop issuing building permits

February 23, 2019 07:00 AM

Venezuelan aid convoys meet fierce resistance; 2 killed

February 23, 2019 10:23 PM

Read Next

Sharp shooting Vasiljevic leads Miami Hurricanes to 80-65 home win over Georgia Tech

University of Miami

Sharp shooting Vasiljevic leads Miami Hurricanes to 80-65 home win over Georgia Tech

By Michelle Kaufman

    ORDER REPRINT →

February 23, 2019 04:50 PM

DJ Vasiljevic scored 21 points to lead the University of Miami men’s basketball team to an 80-65 win over Georgia Tech Saturday in Coral Gables. Ebuka Izundu scored 18. Anthony Lawrence 16 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to the Miami Herald

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI

Here’s what the Canes’ new five-star transfer has in mind for the 2019 season

Barry Jackson

Here’s what the Canes’ new five-star transfer has in mind for the 2019 season

February 23, 2019 06:52 PM
Here’s what you need to know about the UM men’s basketball game vs. Georgia Tech

University of Miami

Here’s what you need to know about the UM men’s basketball game vs. Georgia Tech

February 22, 2019 05:06 PM
14th-ranked UM women play No. 22 FSU at home Sunday. Here’s why it’s such a big game

University of Miami

14th-ranked UM women play No. 22 FSU at home Sunday. Here’s why it’s such a big game

February 22, 2019 12:08 PM
Will Manny Diaz’s ‘New Miami’ be enough to keep South Florida’s top players home?

High School Recruiting

Will Manny Diaz’s ‘New Miami’ be enough to keep South Florida’s top players home?

February 22, 2019 12:35 PM
Get to know UM’s 2020 recruiting class: Willie Moise continues Chaminade-Madonna pipeline

University of Miami

Get to know UM’s 2020 recruiting class: Willie Moise continues Chaminade-Madonna pipeline

February 22, 2019 11:49 AM
He was nation’s No. 1 five-star recruit in 2017. Now Jaelan Phillips will join the Canes

University of Miami

He was nation’s No. 1 five-star recruit in 2017. Now Jaelan Phillips will join the Canes

February 21, 2019 08:41 PM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

Miami Herald App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
  • Public Insight Network
  • Reader Panel
Advertising
  • Place a Classified
  • Media Kit
  • Commercial Printing
  • Public Notices
Copyright
Commenting Policy
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story