Canes’ grit promising, but season could slip away fast
At this point, the University of Miami would happily take a bowl game.
But the Hurricanes want more.
Halfway through the 2021 season, Miami must win four of its last six games to qualify for a bowl, something so basic that it normally would be an afterthought. Yet the Canes (2-4, 0-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) have had two weirdly encouraging comebacks in two defeats the past two weeks, essentially helping to secure Manny Diaz’s job status for the moment.
But time is slipping away.
The day after UM’s latest fourth-quarter surge and ultimate collapse — a 45-42 defeat at North Carolina after driving to the UNC 16-yard line before throwing an interception with six seconds left — it’s hard to fathom that Miami is still not eliminated from the race to win the Coastal Division of the ACC.
“Conflicting emotions,’’ a clearly upset Diaz said Saturday after the game, his voice going from barely audible to stronger as the session continued. “In the years I’ve been doing this, to be part of a team that has mental toughness, resiliency, the courage this team has, I’ve never been part of it before. That’s why my heart breaks, because we just can’t find the play to get them to victory that in my mind they deserve.
“The pride I feel of being a part of this with these guys, the way they fight, I know the reward is coming . ... There’s a really good team in that locker room . ... If we stay the course it’s going to show.’’
N.C. STATE NEXT
Miami is off to its worst start since 1997, almost all of its preseason goals either unattainable or slipping away. But next Saturday’s 7:30 p.m. home game against North Carolina State is still in play, though the No. 18 Wolfpack (2-0, 5-1), which beat Boston College 33-7 on the road last Saturday, has only one loss — to Mississippi State on Sept. 11. The Wolfpack, in the ACC’s Atlantic Division, opened Sunday as a 2 favorite over UM.
The week after NC State, Miami travels to Coastal Division foe No. 23 Pittsburgh (5-1, 2-0), another team that has excelled other than a damaging 44-41 home loss Sept. 18 to Western Michigan.
So, realistically, the Canes could be 2-6 in two weeks, or 4-4 for any remaining optimistic Hurricanes fans.
TYLER VAN DYKE
On Saturday in Chapel Hill, the negatives were flowing in the first half, with UM second-year freshman quarterback Tyler Van Dyke often throwing late and sometimes unable to even come close to his targets no matter how much time he had. Van Dyke was 5 of 16 for 59 yards and two interceptions in the first half, but like last week in the loss to Virginia, greatly improved in the second half to 15 of 30 for 205 yards and a touchdown — with the fateful late pick. In the final drive, Van
Dyke again showed he can run with gains of 14 and 12 yards.
And during UM’s final, fourth-quarter touchdown drive that made it 45-40, Van Dyke scrambled to his left and threw a perfect dart to Charleston Rambo for the two-point conversion. .
“They just told me to calm down, just be yourself,’’ Van Dyke, who got his third career start in place of injured starter D’Eriq King, said of Diaz and offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee. “Practice and game situations are totally different. I’ve really learned a lot in the last two games — disguising their coverage, when they blitz [and] when they don’t. I’m starting to settle down, be
more comfortable. It took me a little bit of time in this game, too. Once I get that right, we should start having a fast start, getting points right out of the gate.
“... There are definitely a lot of things going through [my mind], a lot of mistakes of mine. The last drive we had them. Unfortunate break.’’
JAYLAN KNIGHTON
UM also could barely run the first half, gaining four rushing yards the first quarter and 25 the second. But it combined for 136 yards and two touchdowns in the second half. Second-year freshman Jaylan Knighton had a strong game, rushing for 92 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries, a
5.4-yard average; and adding two catches for 73 yards and a touchdown.
Knighton could take over the lead running back role if veteran starter Cam’Ron Harris’ right leg/foot injury that took him out of the game at 14:49 of the third quarter is as debilitating as it looked. He was unable to put any pressure on his right leg as he was helped off the field.
TACKLING WOES
Defensively, the Hurricanes had four sacks, two by returning linebacker Keontra Smith, one by linebacker Corey Flagg Jr and a combo sack by Amari Carter and Deandre Johnson. But the lack of proper tackling again was a killer, as players seemed to believe that just using their shoulders to ram opponents would be enough to bring them down. UNC quarterback Sam Howell’s 30-yard touchdown run to make it 38-24 in the third quarter came after safety James Williams, who is clearly an inspired talent but was flagged for multiple personal fouls, tried to stop him with his shoulder.
“Those are just gross errors,’’ Diaz said, “and we mentioned at halftime, you’ve got to wrap his legs.’’
An overly zealous Williams roughed the kicker in the second quarter, and instead of a 29-yard field goal that UNC hit, the Tar Heels got a first down and scored two players later. UM lost by three points. That penalty ultimately gave UNC an extra four.
“We gotta wrap people up,’’ said end Jahfari Harvey, who returned an interception for a touchdown for UM’s first score. “We can’t just try to lay a big hit.’’
Diaz continues to insert younger players such as defensive tackle Leonard Taylor and end Chantz Williams and safeties Williams and Kamren Kinchens and receiver Key’Shawn Smith, who are all contributing despite the occasional lapses of youth.
“One thing I know about all my teammates is we’ll never give up on a mission,’’ Knighton said. “Stuff’s not going as planned, but the main point is we got to finsh off strong and stick together.
“At the end of the day we’ll get the result we want.’’