Exploring UM’s options in depleted secondary. And Lofton’s rise, a trouble spot and notes
A six-pack of Miami Hurricanes notes on a Wednesday:
▪ After losing cornerback Jadais Richard to a significant injury, the Canes have three choices on Saturday at Georgia Tech (noon, ESPN):
1). Play their three experienced cornerbacks (Daryl Porter Jr., Dyoni Hill and impressive freshman OJ Frederique) nearly every snap when they’re in nickel.
2). Give a package of plays to any of the team’s three inexperienced cornerbacks: Robert Stafford (who has played just 28 defensive snaps all year), converted receiver Robby Washington (eight defensive snaps) or freshman Ryan Mack (who has played no snaps).
3) Use safety Mishael Powell some at nickel corner — where he played a lot in the spring and as a Washington Huskie — and give Markeith Williams or freshman Zaquan Patterson more safety snaps alongside Jaden Harris.
While Frederique has played 393 defensive snaps, Patterson has logged just 97. Defensive coordinator Lance Guidry noted Monday that it’s far more difficult to learn safety than cornerback as a freshman. That partly explains the snap differential between Frederique (who has been excellent) and Patterson.
Patterson hasn’t overtaken Harris, who played 67 snaps against Duke, compared with 16 for Patterson. But coach Mario Cristobal said on his WQAM coach’s show that “you’re going to see a lot more of Zaquan. One of the best tacklers as a freshman as I’ve been around.”
The Canes’ cornerback room will be bolstered by the return of Damari Brown, who could be back Nov. 23 against Wake Forest or Nov. 30 at Syracuse.
“He’s very close,” Cristobal said. “I wouldn’t say this week is a reality. But soon after we feel very good about it.”
▪ Pro Football Focus rated linebacker Francisco Mauigoa as UM’s worst defender against Duke, a byproduct of three missed tackles and poor coverage grades. Duke completed all four passes in his coverage area for 56 yards and two touchdowns.
For the season, Mauigoa has permitted 27 of 39 passes to be caught for 275 yards and four touchdowns. That’s a 112.7 passer rating in his coverage area, which is poor defensively.
Why has Mauigoa ended up in pass coverage so much against quicker players?
“Unless you check into some kind of zone, the linebacker has to cover the running back,” defensive coordinator Lance Guidry said. “It just so happened Kiko was on a good, fast running back. It is what it is.”
▪ While the Canes defense has yielded 30 points or more points in four of the past five games, they’re 19th in yards allowed per game at 309.8, 12th in third down conversion defense at 30.1 percent, eighth in rushing defense and tied for 26th in takeaways.
Those numbers are somewhat skewed by the nonconference schedule. After all, the Canes are allowing 32.4 points per game in conference matchups and are just 52nd in scoring defense overall.
While Guidry has made some questionable decisions, he generally has done a good job with second-half adjustments, including Saturday against Duke, when the Blue Devils’ last five possessions ended in punt, punt, interception, fumble and punt. Cristobal credited the players and also the “coaches for some adjustments to allow us to keep things in front” of defenders in the second half.
Former UM quarterback Malik Rosier was among those who implored Guidry to play less man defense and more zone against Duke.
“Backers have gotten lost in man all year,” Rosier said on social media. “Do not think Guidry needs to get fired. I think he should slickly adjust his coverages and change some stuff up.”
Guidry said it’s taking his defense about a “quarter and a half” to adjust. That must change. And there have been too many miscommunications, which falls on Guidry and his players.
▪ Cristobal can’t stop raving about freshman Elija Lofton, who has a touchdown on his only rushing attempt this season as well as eight receptions for 133 yards and a touchdown.
“He gets a lot of touches in practice,” Cristobal said. “We have really good tight ends and are getting the ball spread out. That guy is one of the best freshman football players I’ve ever been around. … He’s in every package we have. You’ll continue to see more and more of him.”
Lofton has played 118 offensive snaps, and PFF ranks him as Miami’s fifth best player among 42 players who have appeared in a game on offense this year.
▪ Cristobal told WQAM’s Joe Rose this week: “We have built this program from the inside out, have layered it the right way, are sitting on our two best classes in history and this one coming up might be better than all of them.”
247 Sports has UM’s 2025 class ranked 11th. Rivals has the Canes’ class No. 7.
▪ Though UM was ranked fourth by the College Football Committee in the initial poll this week, the Canes would be rated no worse than third in the final poll if they win their final three regular-season games and win the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Game. The top four seeds in the field will be given to the four highest-ranked conference champions and those four teams will get first-round byes.
In the committee’s first playoff rankings, UM currently is behind two two Big Ten teams (No. 1 Oregon and No. 2 Ohio State) and an SEC team (No. 3 Georgia). But two teams from the same conference cannot finish in the top four of the final rankings.
If UM loses a regular-season game but wins the ACC Championship Game, the Canes could be ranked either third or possibly fourth (if BYU wins the Big 12 title game, finishes unbeaten and gets moved ahead of Miami). The Canes cannot be a top-four seed if they do not win the conference championship game.
This story was originally published November 6, 2024 at 1:08 PM.
