The Miami Hurricanes offense has fallen. Can it get up by Saturday at Georgia Tech?
The Miami Hurricanes haven’t scored a touchdown the past nine-plus quarters, don’t know who their starting quarterback will be Saturday at Georgia Tech, are missing two offensive line starters, rank 92nd in scoring and 127th of 131 FBS teams in turnovers lost.
Basically, the offense is a mess.
Both head coach Mario Cristobal and offensive coordinator Josh Gattis were asked Monday during UM’s weekly news conference if they had ever experienced an offensive situation like this, and how it can be remedied.
“No, not at all,’’ Gattis said. “It’s been nine quarters — exactly right — without a touchdown. A lot of that time was there without [starting quarterback] Tyler [Van Dyke] and we’ve got to be able to respond. We’ve had some close calls [regarding] touchdowns, to say the least, then something happens in a sequence when we’re down in the red zone. We’ve kind of been in a funk. Can’t hide from that. I have to do a better job of getting these kids to respond to adversity.
“...It has not been pleasant lately. We’ve got to score points ultimately. We gotta find ways to score touchdowns.’’
Said Cristobal in response to the same question: “It’s been a long time. Been a long time. Gotta work.’’
With Van Dyke’s shoulder-injury status still being evaluated, the coaches are preparing redshirt freshman Jake Garcia and true freshman Jacurri Brown as potential starters for UM (4-5, 2-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) against the Yellow Jackets (4-5, 3-3). Garcia has had a particularly hard time the past few weeks, fumbling twice Oct. 22 against Duke, once Oct. 29 against Virginia and once in UM’s 45-3 home loss Saturday to FSU. Garcia threw three interceptions against Duke and on his first of only two pass attempts Saturday.
“Jake has had some good moments, some tough moments,’’ Gattis said. “For us it’s about us re-instilling the confidence back in himself. It’s like a batter. You go on a string of strikeouts or whatever. You just got to get back in rhythm. You gotta get back your confidence. We’ve got tremendous confidence in him and unfortunately some things haven’t gone his well. But we’ve got to respond as an overall team, including myself.”
Brown, who has been used extensively as a runner, also threw an interception against FSU on UM’s last offensive play. And in the third quarter, during a drive in which tailback Jaylan Knighton had a season-long 45-yard gain, the young quarterback took the snap at second-and-goal at the FSU 1-yard line, lost five yards on a keeper. Then, on third-and-goal from the 6, an errant snap by center Jakai Clark went right past Brown when defensive clapping on the play confused communication, Gattis said. FSU recovered and scored five plays later to make it 38-3.
O-line woes
As for the offensive line, left tackle Zion Nelson, formerly projected as a prospective NFL high-round draft pick, has only played one game because of injury. Right guard Justice Oluwaseun has a significant undisclosed injury and has been replaced by true freshman Anez Cooper. And left guard Jalen Rivers’ seemingly significant right-leg injury Saturday put redshirt freshman Laurance Seymore in his place.
“We’re down to six or seven maybe healthy offensive linemen,’’ Gattis said. “So, we’re having to rotate different guys in for the what ifs... “
UM is now ranked 95th nationally in sacks allowed (24). Its rushing offense is 94th nationally (131.6 yards a game). The Canes are averaging a paltry 24.7 points a game.
Lack of buy-in
Gattis spoke about developing “tough kids” and said “the buy-in within our whole program hasn’t gone, necessarily, the way we wanted.”
“For us, it’s about first and foremost, developing the culture in the locker room and in the team that we’re going to compete no matter who the opponent is for 60 minutes each and every week. For those that don’t understand that, we’ve got to come to grips that there’s other opportunities out there.”
Clemson game
The ACC has not decided on a kickoff time for UM’s Nov. 19 game at No. 12 Clemson. The conference exercised a six-day hold and will announced the time after this weekend’s games.
‘Pissed off’
Cristobal indicated at the end of the WQAM interview, as he has all along, the Hurricanes will eventually rebound and become a great program.
“I’ve been watching it from afar for a long, long time, he said. “I know everything that needs to be done and all the things we have to work on and unfortunately it takes time...Are we going to get there? Absolutely. 100 percent. Undoubtedly. And we’re going to do that at full force with unbelievable players and an unbelievable program. Right now, you know what, it’s tough sledding. We gotta eat it, we gotta own up and be tough. If you ain’t tough, you know what, well tough crap, it ain’t for you.”
He also said he was “pissed off.’’
“Mario is pissed off, that’s what I’m thinking,’’ Cristobal said. “I’m upset...Early on it’s tough-ass sledding. I hate every bit of a loss that comes with it. But I also get up more enthused than ever to go to work. And that’s where we’re at. It’s that simple and that truthful, brother. There ain’t no other fluff to it.”
