QB controversy just 1 problem facing Miami after upset loss
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — What difference week makes.
After rallying from a 20-point deficit against rival Florida State last week on their home field at Hard Rock Stadium, the Hurricanes found themselves facing another double-digit deficit, this time on the road at Virginia.
This time, there would be no comeback.
The 16th-ranked Hurricanes struggled on offense, committed costly penalties and wasted a solid performance by their defense on Saturday night and a rested Virginia team that was coming off an open date capitalized, notching a 16-13 upset that left the Hurricanes humbled.
As rough a night as Miami endured in Charlottesville, the worst may come in the next few days. Because the Hurricanes have their own open date next week, there will be plenty of time to dwell on everything that went wrong against the Cavaliers.
There is also, for Hurricanes coach Mark Richt, time for the Hurricanes to evaluate where they are with five Coastal Division games still remaining to be played.
Here is a look at some of what the Hurricanes can take from their second loss of the season and their first in conference play.
aa1. The Hurricanes now have a full-blown quarterback controversy on their hands
Three weeks ago against FIU, Hurricanes coach Mark Richt made the decision to let N’Kosi Perry play in a game that hadn’t been decided. Perry dazzled that night, connecting on his first 10 passes and making it impossible for Richt to take him out. A week later, Perry made his first start and after that, he helped engineer the comeback against Florida State. But when Perry struggled in his first road start Saturday, Richt pulled the redshirt freshman and put veteran Malik Rosier into the game. Rosier led three scoring drives and even scored on a late touchdown run himself, but he finished 12-of-23 for 170 yards with an interception, and some of the inconsistent play he has shown throughout his career was still an issue against Virginia. Will Richt give Perry another chance at Boston College later this month? Or will he stick with Rosier? There’s a lot for the coach to think about over the next dozen days.
2. Quarterback play isn’t Miami’s only offensive problem
Miami’s offensive line struggled against FSU, prompting Richt and offensive line coach Stacy Searles to make changes to the starting group. But moving Hayden Mahoney to left guard, putting Navaughn Donaldson at right guard and giving right tackle DJ Scaife his first start didn’t help. Neither of Miami’s quarterbacks had much time to work. Rosier was sacked twice and the Hurricanes couldn’t manage more than 14 yards in the first quarter. It didn’t get much better later when the line was called for penalties. It didn’t help on some key short fourth-down attempts — and the offense, as a whole, sputtered all night. 3. Lack of discipline proved costly against Virginia
Penalties, it seems, have been a problem for the Hurricanes for an eternity. They were an issue again Saturday, Miami being penalized eight times for 71 yards. Several proved extremely costly. A personal foul by Tito Odenigbo late in the fourth extended a Virginia drive after the defense had put the Cavaliers in position for a field goal attempt that would get the ball back to the Miami offense. A roughing the kicker penalty on Trajan Bandy minutes later gave Virginia the first down it needed to end the game, and in the first half, a Hayden Mahoney holding penalty on third down negated what would have been a Miami first down. Coaches often warn being undisciplined can cost their teams games. Saturday, two bad penalties cost the Hurricanes one last chance to try and put together a gamewinning drive.
4. Travis Homer bright spot
While the Hurricanes were bad on offense most of the night, Travis Homer still found ways to make plays. The running back had a career-long 70-yard run that set up a Miami field goal. He finished the day with 145 total yards, rushing for 95 yards and catching three passes for another 50 yards. He was effective and powerful and one can’t help but wonder why the Hurricanes didn’t turn to him more often, particularly on short passes where he showed his effectiveness more than once.
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a5. This loss wasn’t on the defense
Yes, two defenders were whistled for the costly late penalties, but, Miami’s defense was solid again on Saturday, especially considering how often they were called on to try and stop the Cavaliers. Miami allowed just one Virginia touchdown — and it came on a short field after a N’Kosi Perry interception. The Hurricanes picked off Virginia QB Bryce Perkins three times, sacked him four times and notched nine tackles for loss. While players and coaches made it clear post game they weren’t about to point fingers after the loss, this one couldn’t really be pinned on the defense.
6. Richt says are coming
Losses will always make teams think and the fact that Miami has 12 days before it plays its next game means the Hurricanes will have plenty of time to review the film from Saturday’s loss and make any changes they see fit. And Richt said he’ll be looking at everything from scheme to personnel. He’ll also have time to make a decision about the Hurricanes quarterback position. Will that lead to changes at Boston College? Time will tell.
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7. The Hurricanes need to figure out how to beat Power 5 teams on the road
Over the course of the last two seasons, the Hurricanes have been a force at home, winning 13 straight regular-season games at Hard Rock Stadium. But the Hurricanes haven’t beaten a Power 5 team on the road since a 24-19 win at North Carolina last October. Since, there have been losses at Pittsburgh, in Charlotte at the ACC Championship Game, in Arlington at the AdvoCare Classic and now Saturday in Charlottesville. Considering the three of their next four games are on the road, the Hurricanes better adjust to playing in hostile environments. Fast.
8. The Hurricanes run as a top-25 team will likely end on Sunday
Miami started the season ranked No. 8 in the AP Top 25. It marked the Hurricanes’ highest preseason ranking since 2004 and entering Saturday’s game at Virginia, the Hurricanes had appeared in 23 straight AP polls. That streak will more than likely come to an end Sunday afternoon. Pollsters haven’t been kind to the Hurricanes this season, dropping Miami 14 spots to No. 22 after their seasonopening loss to LSU. After the Hurricanes beat North Carolina 47-10, Miami still fell a spot to No. 17 in that week’s poll. The Hurricanes may get a few votes even after the Virginia loss, but given how things have gone for the Hurricanes in the rankings this season, it’s more likely than not that their time as a ranked team has come to an end, for now anyway.
9. Richt’s Miami honeymoon seems to be over
In his first year as Hurricanes coach, Mark Richt led Miami to its first bowl win in a decade. In his second, the Hurricanes won their first Coastal Division championship and appeared in the ACC Championship Game. But losing three straight to end the year and the season-opening loss to LSU soured some Hurricanes fans, especially when Richt opted to start the year with Rosier at quarterback. Now, it seems a growing number of (very vocal) fans have seemingly lost their patience with Richt, his play-calling and his decision to pull Perry and put Rosier back under center. There is still a lot of football to be played, but some skeptics eager to see the Hurricanes return to national prominence are getting ready to turn the pressure up on Miami’s third-year coach.
10. As ugly as Saturday’s loss was, the Hurricanes can still win the division
There’s no sugar coating it — this loss to Virginia was bad. But, as disappointing as it was and as badly as the offense played, some of Miami’s significant goals are still within reach. Only Virginia Tech is undefeated in conference play and the Hurricanes still have to face the Hokies next month. Miami and Virginia are right behind Virginia Tech in the Coastal Division standings and if the Hurricanes win out and the Cavaliers lose one more game in conference play, Miami could find itself back in the ACC Championship. And as the Hurricanes left Charlottesville dejected and disappointed, that was the silver lining many of them pointed to. The season is far from over. But there isn’t much room for error anymore.