Can Hurricanes’ run game step up when it’s needed most in playoff game vs. Texas A&M?
Mark Fletcher Jr. admittedly wasn’t 100% when he returned for the Miami Hurricanes’ final two games of the regular season after a two-week absence due to injury.
But the veteran running back isn’t using that as any sort of excuse.
“I‘m doing good enough to do my job,” Fletcher said Tuesday. “Man, I’m just ready to roll. I’m excited. Hey, I woke up today. I’m breathing. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
Fletcher being at his best — or as close to it as possible — could be key for the Hurricanes on Saturday when they face the Texas A&M Aggies in their first-round College Football Playoff matchup at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas (noon, ABC/ESPN). The Aggies feature one of the most potent pass rushes in college football, tied for the nation’s lead in sacks (41), so Miami’s ability to balance a Carson Beck-led passing game with a productive run game is crucial.
“We just want to show up and be the best running backs that we can be,” Fletcher said.
And while UM’s running backs corps — Fletcher, freshman Girard Pringle, redshirt sophomore CharMar “Marty” Brown and, to a much lesser extent late in the season, sophomore Jordan Lyle — has been serviceable this season, the group has lacked an explosive element to their game.
The Hurricanes have just three carries this season of at least 30 yards. Only 12 of 136 Football Bowl Subdivision teams had fewer. Miami’s 4.19 yards per rush this season ranks tied for 80th nationally and is ahead of only Oklahoma and Alabama among the 12 teams in the College Football Playoff field.
“I think it’s a combination of a lot of things,” Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal said. “Sometimes, if you’re not blocked up like you should be — sometimes a guy falls off, sometimes the wide receiver doesn’t get to a safety, sometimes you should throw it on that particular down — but I think we have gotten more in sync. I think we’ve created some opportunities with some other guys in there as well. Mark was on the mend, but he’s fully healthy now. I think we’re in a good place.”
A healthy Fletcher is definitely a benefit. He leads the team with 685 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns. His 24 career rushing touchdowns are two shy of being tied for the fifth-most all-time in UM history.
But Fletcher is also more of a short-yardage back, one whose strength is bruising the defense with his physicality and wearing them down as the game goes along. Brown, a transfer from North Dakota State, is similar in that regard.
That’s where the emergence of Pringle is beneficial. His vision and shiftiness give him a higher chance to break out for longer runs. Pringle is averaging 6.24 yards per carry on 54 touches.
His usage has increased since Fletcher was initially sidelined for games against Syracuse and NC State. During the past four games, Pringle has run 48 times for 302 yards — a 6.3 yards per carry average.
“He just brings another dog [to the room],” Fletcher said. “He’s a fast guy, but he has power too. He runs real hard. He’s excited, ready to learn always. Man, I just can’t wait to see how far he goes in his career.”
Also potentially benefitting Miami on Saturday: Texas A&M’s defense has shown a propensity to give up big runs. The Aggies have allowed 11 runs of at least 30 yards — more than all but 12 teams nationally and two more than any other playoff team (Ole Miss has given up nine; nine of the 12 teams have given up four or fewer such runs, including Miami with three).
“We’ve just gotta stick with it,” Miami offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson said. “I mean, there’s been games where we ran the ball really well, and there’s been games where defenses have stacked the box and made us do other things. We have the ability to stress you in a lot of different ways. I think we’ve been running the ball really efficient the last month, and we have people that can be explosive with the ball. ... Sometimes stats don’t paint all the picture. We’ve been pretty efficient in the run game. Now, I would like to be more explosive, yes, and I think that’s coming.”
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