With 2019 over, here’s how Miami did in all three phases compared to nation (and LSU)
The 2019 football season is closed, with the LSU Tigers’ perfect national championship season capped with a perfectly breathtaking performance Monday by quarterback Joe Burrow against formerly undefeated Clemson.
The Miami Hurricanes (6-7, 4-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) are already eyeing 2020, as the early enrollees have arrived and are working, along with the veterans, toward what they hope will be a much brighter year.
The final 2019-20 numbers for all the Football Bowl Subdivision teams are in, and we can see how Miami fared among the 130 FBS teams in various offensive, defensive and special teams categories.
The Hurricanes actually improved in total offense in 2019, although inching to 98th (367.2 yards a game) from 104th (358.8) is not exactly a positive.
UM finished next-to-last nationally and worst in the ACC in third-down conversion percentage (27.2), 120th in rushing offense (118.1 yards a game), 52nd in passing offense (249.2), 61st in passes had intercepted (10), 90th in scoring offense (25.7-point average), 122nd in red zone offense and a dismal 128th in total sacks allowed (51).
In 2018, the Canes were 53rd in third-down conversions, 51st in red zone offense, 45th in rushing offense (191.5), 112th in passing offense (167.3), 102nd in passes had intercepted (14) and 56th in total sacks allowed (27).
How far off is UM’s offense, which promises to be more explosive and prolific with new offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee, from the basic LSU numbers?
The Tigers’ No. 2 passing offense (Washington State is No. 1) averaged 401.6 aerial yards a game, and their rushing offense ranked 60th with a 166.9 average. They were fourth nationally in third-down conversion percentage (49.7). They were 108th in total sacks allowed (35, but over 15 games).
Another interesting comparison: LSU ran 1,080 plays this past season to UM’s 844.
Defensively, the Canes were still very strong overall, but in some areas not quite as intimidating as in 2018.
Miami finished 13th in total defense, allowing 309.8 yards a game, compared to fourth a year ago (278.9 yards allowed). The Canes were 23rd in scoring defense (23 points), compared to 18th a year ago (19.5). LSU, which had the top scoring average this season (48.4 points), was 32nd in scoring defense (21.9).
In 2019, Miami 17th against the run (114.6 yards allowed) and 18th against the pass (195.2), compared to 2018’s 42nd ranking against the run (143.3 yards) and No. 1 pass defense (135.6).
Miami was seventh nationally this season in total sacks (46) compared to 11th last season (40). The Canes can thank rising redshirt sophomore defensive end Greg Rousseau, who finished second in the country in 2019 in sacks with 15.5 in 13 games to Ohio State’s Chase Young’s 16.5 in 12 games.
The Canes were fourth in total tackles for loss (108) compared with 2018’s No. 1 ranking (136).
On special teams, behind the excellent play of Lou Hedley, UM was 30th in net punting (40.8) compared to 117th in 2018 (34.4). Behind K.J. Osborn’s No. 3 national ranking for punt returns (15.9 yards a return), UM was 10th overall this season (14.2), compared with third in 2018 (19.8).
And this season’s punt-return defense was much stronger, ranking 28th (5.5 yards a return allowed) compared to 2018’s 92nd ranking (10.0).
UM regressed this season in kickoff returns, dropping from 27th in 2018 (23.2) to 69th in 2019 (20.4), and dropped in kickoff return defense from 104th in 2018 (22.5 allowed) to 114th in 2019 (23.9 allowed).
Individually, quarterback Jarren Williams finished 38th nationally (and third in the ACC) in passing efficiency of 109 quarterbacks ranked. Williams finished 51st in passing touchdowns (19), 81st in passing yards (2,187), 82nd in passing yards per game (182.3) and 34th in passing yards per completion (12.9).
Just to compare, Heisman Trophy winner Burrow was No. 1 in passing efficiency, passing touchdowns (60) and passing yards (5,671), No. 2 in passing yards per game (378.1) and No. 14 in passing yards per completion (14.1).
However, keep this in mind: In 2018, Burrow’s first season playing with LSU after transferring from Ohio State, Burrow finished No. 65 in passing efficiency, No. 62 in passing touchdowns (16), No. 35 in passing yards (2,894), No. 51 in passing yards per game (222.6) and No. 22 in passing yards per completion (13.2).
This story was originally published January 16, 2020 at 12:35 PM.
