Some perspective on what this UM offense is doing. And nuggets on every offensive position
News and notes, by position, on offense – and some perspective on what this UM offense is achieving – as the 4-0 Hurricanes prepare for Friday’s home game against Virginia Tech (7:30 p.m., ESPN):
▪ Quarterback: Cam Ward emerged from another stellar game against USF ranking first in the nation in touchdown throws (14), second in the nation in QBR (narrowly behind Navy’s Blake Horvath), second in passing yards (behind Mississippi’s Jaxson Dart), tied for third in average yards per completion and 10th in completion percentage (at 72.4).
“He’s one of a kind, playing at a really high level,” coach Mario Cristobal said of Ward in his weekly Monday segment with WQAM’s Joe Rose. “He makes people around him better. One of the keys to the game was keeping him upright.” UM didn’t permit a sack.
Several Las Vegas sportsbooks have made Ward the clear leader in Heisman Trophy handicapping.
NBC draft analyst Connor Rogers said Ward is the quarterback “prospect I’m most impressed with compared to expectations/grades from summer scouting (had him QB5).
“He’s always had the big play ability plus mobility, but is showing significant growth from the pocket. You live with some recklessness because that also allows him to do the spectacular. It was just about cutting down on those turnover worthy plays and he is.”
▪ Running back: Jordan Lyle’s 91 yard TD was the longest running touchdown in UM history.
“Jordan with his run didn’t surprise anybody because he’s been doing that in camp and throughout practice,” Cristobal said. “That guy has an elite future ahead of him, is an elite presence.”
Damien Martinez - who scored three times against USF but ran for just 31 yards on 11 carries - has seen his per carry average drop from 6.1 the past two years at Oregon State to 4.8 this season.
But he has improved as a receiver out of the backfield and had two catches for 50 yards on Saturday.
UM allocated snaps this way at halfback on Saturday: 34 snaps for Martinez, 14 for Mark Fletcher, 12 for Lyle, seven for Ajay Allen and two for Chris Johnson.
“The competitive depth at running back is what it needs to look like at every position,” Cristobal said.
▪ Wide receiver: Isaiah Horton could make a strong case for being the most improved player on the team. This was the first UM team this century with three receivers coming off 800-yard receiving seasons (Xavier Restrepo, Jacolby George and Houston transfer Sam Brown), and Horton went out and snatched a rotation spot.
His eight receptions for 108 yards on Saturday left him 57th in the nation in receiving yards. Xavier Restrepo is 13th. Restrepo, with 2,079 career receiving yards, has a good chance to top Santana Moss’ career UM receiving yardage record of 2,547.
On Saturday, UM gave 53 offensive snaps to Brown, 44 snaps to Restrepo and 34 to Horton, 24 to George, 9 to JoJo Trader and three apiece to Ray Ray Joseph, Chance Robinson and Ny Carr.
Among 29 players who appeared on offense for UM in the game, PFF ranked Horton first, Restrepo second, tight end Elija Lofton third, Ward fourth and Lyle fifth.
Cristobal called Horton “a great example of development.”
And Brown, who shook off a bad drop against Ball State to catch a 76 yard TD against USF, “is starting to get in a rhythm,” Cristobal said. “The receivers did a great job not just beating man coverage but finding soft spots in the zone.”
▪ Tight end: Found it interesting that ESPN’s Louis Riddick called Elijah Arroyo a potential first-round talent. He played 45 snaps, compared with 22 for Cam McCormick, 21 for Riley Williams and 15 for Lofton.
Among all UM players on offense on Saturday, PFF rated Lofton third, Arroyo 12th, Williams 15th and McCormick next to last at 28th.
▪ Offensive line: Pro Football Focus rated UM’s linemen in this order, from best to worst, in terms of performance on Saturday: right guard Anez Cooper, center Zach Carpenter, right tackle Francis Mauigoa, left guard Matthew McCoy and left tackle Markel Bell, who has been filling in for starter Jalen Rivers.
Rivers has a good chance to return from injury in time for Friday’s game, Cristobal said.
Samson Okunlola replaced Bell for a time and played 14 snaps in the game but was UM’s worst player on offense, according to PFF. Bell permitted three pressures, per PFF; no other UM player allowed more than one.
Carpenter was Miami’s best run blocker among the starters and Mauigoa was the worst, per PFF.
OVERALL OFFENSIVE NUMBERS
▪ UM is fourth in scoring offense nationally at 52.2 per game, trailing only Mississippi (55), Tennessee and Ohio State.
▪ The Canes are first in third down conversion percentage at 64.3 (27 for 42).
▪ Their 114 first downs are third in the country, behind only Mississippi and Arkansas.
▪ Their 605 yards per game ranks second, trailing only Mississippi (670.8).
▪ Their 405 yards per game passing trails only Mississippi (422.8).
▪ They’re averaging 6.1 yards per rush, which ranks 15th.
▪ The Canes have allowed only three sacks, tied for 18th best in the country.
This story was originally published September 23, 2024 at 11:04 AM.
