Ten things we’ve learned about the Miami Hurricanes after four games
The Miami Hurricanes are 4-0, ranked second in the country and seem to have everything going right for them as they wrap up nonconference play and enter their first bye week of the season.
Miami beat Notre Dame 27-24, Bethune-Cookman 45-3, USF 49-12 and Florida 29-7 in its first four games of the season. Atlantic Coast Conference play comes next, with the first game coming Oct. 4 against the Florida State Seminoles in Tallahassee.
Here are 10 things we have learned about the Hurricanes through the first month of the season.
Carson Beck doesn’t have to be perfect
Carson Beck came to Miami with big shoes to fill in replacing Cam Ward, who rewrote the Hurricanes’ record book in one season on his way to leading UM to the best offense in the country and becoming the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft.
Through four games, Beck has completed 73.2% of his passes for 972 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions. For the most part, Beck is making the plays he needs to make and isn’t trying to overdo it. And, really, that’s all Miami needs him to do. He has enough supporting cast members in a stout run game and a solid defense (more on both in a minute) where he doesn’t have to be the hero on a nightly basis, something Ward had to do frequently down the stretch last year.
Miami’s one-two punch at running back is solid
The Hurricanes’ Mark Fletcher Jr. and CharMar “Marty” Brown might not have many explosive runs so far this season (although Brown had a 48-yard touchdown run called back against Florida that probably shouldn’t have been), they have been menaces at beating down opposing defenses.
Of the duo’s 594 rushing yards this season, 394 — 66.3% — have come after first contact. Fletcher’s 249 yards after contact specifically ranks ninth among all Power 4 conference running backs. They have forced 29 missed tackles overall.
The offensive line paves the way
There would be no talk of Miami’s success on offense if not for the overall play of the offensive line. UM’s six main players — Markel Bell at left tackle, Matt McCoy and Samson Okunlola rotating at left guard, James Brockermeyer at center, Anez Cooper at right guard and Francis Mauigoa at right tackle — set the unit up for success.
Pro Football Focus has Miami ranked among the top 15 nationally in both run blocking (T-10th) and pass blocking (14th). Iowa, Indiana and Penn State are the only other teams ranked among the top 15 in both metrics.
The defense is noticeably better in Year 1 under Corey Hetherman
Through four games, Miami ranks 15th nationally in yards allowed per game (244.5) and points allowed per game (11.5), tied for 11th in third-down conversions allowed (24%, 12 for 50). They are one of eight teams that has played at least four games to allow no more than five touchdowns.
Rueben Bain Jr. is a menace
Bain has been the best defensive player so far this season according to Pro Football Focus with a 95.8 overall grade. His 18 quarterback hurries are No. 1 nationally and 22 quarterback pressures overall are second nationally. He’s a tone-setter for Miami and looks to be fully back to his dominant form he showed as a freshman after being hobbled by an injury last season.
Transfers have made an impact
Ten players who transferred to UM this offseason have started every game: quarterback Beck (Georgia), wide receivers CJ Daniels (LSU) and Keelan Marion (BYU), Brockermeyer (TCU), defensive tackle David Blay Jr. (Louisiana Tech), linebacker Mohamed Toure (Rutgers) and defensive backs Xavier Lucas (Wisconsin), Zechariah Poyser (Jacksonville State), Keionte Scott (Auburn) and Jakobe Thomas (Tennessee). An 11th in tight end Alex Bauman (Tulane) has started the past three over sophomore Elija Lofton. Plus, kicker Carter Davis (FAU) and long snapper Adam Booker (Charlotte) have been instrumental on special teams despite not actually getting credited as starters.
There’s no drop-off in the kicking game
There were questions heading into the season about how Miami’s kicking game would be after Andres Borregales left for the NFL.
Turns out everything is just fine. Carter Davis is 4 for 4, hit the go-ahead field goal late against Notre Dame and nailed a career-long 53-yarder against Florida.
The freshman class has talent to make an impact
Malachi Toney is the team’s leading receiver (22 catches, 268 yards, one touchdown). Bryce Fitzgerald has two interceptions and has been part of the safety rotation. Running back Girard Pringle Jr., wide receiver Josh Moore and defensive tackle Donta Simpson Jr. have been noticeable in limited snaps as well. There’s a core to build around with this group.
The Hurricanes’ path to the playoffs is clear...
The simplest way to ensure a spot in the College Football Playoff would be to win the ACC Championship Game, something Miami hasn’t done since joining the league in 2004.
But if Miami doesn’t win the conference title, it’s resume is already pretty strong for one of the seven at-large bids with two ranked wins at the time of the game (Notre Dame and USF). A third over FSU in two weeks would all but cement their playoff status, barring a massive collapse down the stretch of the season.
... But the Hurricanes aren’t looking that far ahead
This team under Mario Cristobal has preached one week at a time. The only goal is winning against the team directly in front of them on the schedule. Anything else loses sight on what they actually need to do to get to their ultimate goal.
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