Struggles dating back to last season continue for ’Canes
The Miami Hurricanes’ tailspin that started at the end of 2020 continues to carry through into this season, with the latest example being UM’s 38-17 loss to Michigan State (3-0) on Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium.
Miami (1-2) entered the fourth quarter trailing the Spartans, 17-14, with possession of the ball on its own side of the field, but two costly UM turnovers allowed Michigan State to outscore the Hurricanes, 21-3, in the final 15 minutes to secure the 21-point win.
The Hurricanes have now lost four times in their past five games dating back to last season. Three of those losses (North Carolina in 2020, Alabama and Michigan State this year) have been by at least 20 points.
Miami has lost its past seven games to non-ACC Power Five programs, with its last win over an out-of-conference Power Five team coming against West Virginia in the Russell Athletic Bowl on Dec. 28, 2016. The Hurricanes beat Notre Dame, an Independent program that was ranked No. 3 at the time, within that timeframe.
Here are 10 things we learned from Saturday’s loss for UM:
Hurricanes facing same issues: The same issues Miami’s been dealing with all season plagued the Hurricanes in some fashion against the Spartans.
Red-zone struggles: UM only got inside Michigan State’s 20 three times and came away with 14 points — two touchdowns — in those situations. The Hurricanes are now 4 of 11 when it comes to scoring touchdowns on drives that reach the red zone through three games.
Self-inflicted errors: Miami was penalized nine times for 78 yards on Saturday, with at least two of those penalties being called on UM’s offense that halted drives where it looked like the Hurricanes were going to score but wound up with zero points for their effort.
Similar to their first two games, the Hurricanes once again struggled with tackling, recording a season-high 30 missed tackles, according to Pro Football Focus.
These issues have shown up consistently through UM’s first 12 quarters, which will need to change if the Hurricanes intend to compete for the ACC Coastal Division title or the conference as a whole.
Banged-up King carrying load: Starting quarterback D’Eriq King continues to carry a significant offensive load for the Hurricanes.
His 38 completions and 59 passing attempts were both career highs, and his 12 rushes — including being sacked three times for 26 yards — for seven yards meant 71 of UM’s 84 plays ended with King throwing the ball, running or being brought down in the backfield.
King, who threw for 388 yards and two touchdowns, was far from perfect, and was responsible for all four of Miami’s turnovers (two fumbles and two interceptions). But it’s clear the Hurricanes need someone else to step up and consistently make plays to ease King’s burden.
King, who sustained a shoulder injury after taking a hard hit in the third quarter, wore a black brace on his right arm but said he was “all right” after the game.
Offensive line remains problem: UM went with its third different starring offensive line unit versus the Spartans, with Jarrid Williams stepping in at right tackle for Justice Oluwaseun, who shifted over to right guard, and Navaughn Donaldson being moved to a reserve role.
The new group didn’t stick together for long, with DJ Scaife Jr. replacing Williams on Miami’s third offensive drive. Donaldson also had to come in for starting left guard Jalen Rivers in the first quarter after Rivers went down with a leg injury.
Finding a starting offensive line group that’ll consistently protect King and give the running game a boost — UM averaged 3.6 yards per carry when not taking into account sacks — would help take the offensive load off King.
Rambo shows up: Wide receiver Charleston Rambo arguably had the best game of his college career against the Spartans, finishing with career highs of 12 receptions, 156 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
He consistently was an intermediate threat and got open on curl routes, while also making four “big” plays (pass plays of 15 or more yards).
Rambo didn’t have a catch in the fourth quarter after the Spartans started to defend him tighter, but through at least three quarters he made plays alongside King.
Dropped balls persist: The Hurricanes continue to have an issue with holding onto the ball.
The most notable came during the second quarter with UM up, 7-3, when tight end Will Mallory dropped a potential touchdown pass in the end zone that would’ve likely given Miami a 14-3 lead. Instead, the drive stalled out and ended with Andy Borregales missing a field goal attempt before Michigan State scored a touchdown on the ensuing drive to go up, 10-7.
Wide receiver Mike Harley also had a couple of drops, including one in the first quarter that would’ve extended a drive, but he made some impressive catches in the second quarter.
Most of these drops remain surprising from Miami’s veteran players, and they continue to slow the Hurricanes down offensively.
Borregales has nice kick, but field position didn’t help:Borregales impressed with his 55-yard field goal in the fourth quarter that kept Miami in the game, 24-17, before the Spartans responded with a touchdown on their following possession.
But the special teams unit had its own issues even outside of the aforementioned Borregales missed field goal.
All 13 of Miami’s possessions started with its own 25, with the Hurricanes having an average starting field position of their own 21. Meanwhile, Michigan State had an average starting field position of its own 34, making it easier for the Spartans to get their offense into a rhythm.
Brinson making plays: Wide receiver Romello Brinson, a true freshman out of Miami Northwestern High, stepped up in his most significant playing time to date.
Brinson caught three passes for 33 yards, including a 15-yard reception on the drive that help set up Borregales’ 55-yard field goal.
His performance against Michigan State should help him get more playing time in the immediate future.
Run defense still needs work: The Hurricanes did a better job of stuffing the run up the middle, but they had problems when Michigan State ran the ball to the outside.
Spartans running back Kenneth Walker III led his team with 172 rushing yards on 27 attempts, as Michigan State finished with 5.8 yards per carry when not taking into account sacks.
Better tackling in the secondary would help, but the Hurricanes need to do a better job of closing down gaps quicker.
C. Williams continues to make plays:
Second-year freshman defensive end Chantz Williams continues to be a playmaker.
After having a strip-sack against Alabama and tipping the ball at the line of scrimmage against Appalachian State to force an interception, Williams sacked Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne during a drive that the Spartans were forced to punt two plays later.
Williams also deflected a pass against Michigan State.
Miami needs an easier opponent: With the way the Hurricanes are playing, there isn’t such a thing as an “easy” game for Miami.
But UM’s matchup against Central Connecticut State, an FCS program that was beat, 56-10, by Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday, should give the Hurricanes the kind of opponent they need to get their confidence back.
ACC play starts against Virginia on Sept. 30, so Miami needs to find its mojo and fix its issues soon.