Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
RAPID RESPONSE TEAM
Fans got a look into what ’Canes can do when they’re firing on all cylinders
LOUISVILLE — It may just be one of 10 Atlantic Coast Conference games in this odd, revised 2020 season, but the Miami Hurricanes sure seemed to make a statement at Louisville on Saturday night.
With the eyes of the nation, sans maybe some in South Florida who were more concerned with the Miami Heat’s Game 3 result against the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals, UM stepped up and delivered against a ranked opponent on the road, albeit with limited fans at Cardinal Stadium.
It was a true glance at what the new-look Hurricanes can accomplish when they are clicking on all cylinders.
Here are 10 things we learned in Miami’s 47-34 win on Saturday night over the Cardinals:
This offense can respond in a hurry
As Louisville clawed back early in the second half, Miami had a (very swift) reply each time — as in, two one-play touchdown drives.
Junior running back Cam’Ron Harris, a power, downhill runner already showed in last week’s win over UAB that he can break off the big run too when he busted free for a 66-yard touchdown.
He established a new career high with a 75-yard scamper Saturday, showing his explosiveness once he got to the second level of the defense and hurried down the sideline.
Then, it was the electric freshman from Deerfield Beach, Jaylan Knighton, taking a wheel route from quarterback D’Eriq King for a 75-yard touchdown of his own where he was left unaccounted for.
UM’s quick strikes can demoralize a team trailing and trying to mount a comeback.
Rhett Lashlee puts players in position to succeed
The Hurricanes’ new offensive coordinator has his players prepared for what they’ll see in games from opposing defenses.
Tight end Brevin Jordan emphasized that Miami’s offensive playmakers “knew” when they were going to be wide open based on looks they got from Louisville and what they had studied on film in preparation. That was the case for Jordan on his 47-yard touchdown with 5:20 that essentially put the game away, as well as Knighton’s long touchdown catch and Harris’ run, among other examples.
The rapport between Lashlee, King (325 passing yards, three touchdowns), the backs, receivers and offensive line has developed quickly, two games into Lashlee’s tenure.
Jose Borregales is an additional offensive weapon at kicker
It’s not just that the grad transfer from FIU finally gives UM the ability to convert drives that don’t result in touchdowns into 3 points, which the team had so much trouble with last year.
Borregales is a certified weapon for the offense. Going 4 for 4 on field goals, he assures the Hurricanes won’t come up empty on drives, and his 57-yard field goal in the second quarter shows that even drives that don’t get into traditional field-goal range can translate to the scoreboard.
King said the team is confident it is getting points as soon as it crosses midfield.
Bubba Bolden was all over the field
The long, rangy 6-3 redshirt junior safety got his second start with Miami and first of the season. He made the most of it, leading the team with 11 tackles.
Bolden had a key thirddown tackle for a loss on Louisville’s opening series that kept the Cardinals to a field goal. At the end of the first half, he forced the fumble that fellow safety Amari Carter recovered. Carter was one of three Turnover Chain recipients with cornerback
Al Blades Jr. (second-quarter interception) and linebacker Zach McCloud (fourth-quarter fumble recovery).
The second unit defensively is minimizing any dropoff
Miami’s defensive rotations were in full effect, and the second unit is holding its own while keeping starters fresh.
Defensive tackle Jared Harrison-Hunte had a sack, in which end Cameron Williams applied the initial pressure, and another tackle for loss. Linebacker Sam Brooks made six tackles, as well as cornerback Te’Cory Couch, one of which was a third-down stop on Louisville quarterback Malik Cunningham in the open field. Linebacker Waynmon Steed also had a tackle for loss. Considering Bubba Bolden and Amari Carter started at safety, Gurvan Hall (four tackles) is not too shabby for technically playing second team on Saturday in the safety rotation.
Key red-zone plays early and third downs set the tone
The Hurricanes first established a lead in the first half because the Cardinals didn’t make the plays in the red zone and on third downs.
Louisville was held to a field goal on its first two trips to the red zone, each time failing to convert a third-and-short — the second on which Cunningham failed to connect with an open Ean Pfeifer in the end zone.
The Cardinals were two for their first 12 on thirddown tries on Saturday as a Miami defense that collected 10 tackles for loss made plays when it needed to despite surrendering more than 500 yards of offense.
Dropped passes can’t continue
Among several drops by Miami pass catchers, Mark Pope had one deep down the sideline between the cornerback and safety that hit him in the chest. Michael Harley also had one at the goal line where, if he corrals the ball, he turns around for an easy touchdown.
As impressive as the UM offense was, it could have been better if receivers simply look the ball in and secured it after they get open.
A concerted effort to get Pope involved?
Pope led the team in targets, as he was thrown to 10 times. He had four receptions for 64 yards with a long of 31, a couple of those aforementioned drops, and he also drew a key pass interference.
Jordan was the Hurricanes’ second-most targeted pass catcher as King threw to him eight times for a more-efficient seven receptions, 120 yards and the late touchdown.
UM found itself in penalty trouble
After a clean opener, the Hurricanes had 11 penalties for 89 yards against Louisville.
Striker Keontra Smith had a late hit out of bounds he should of pull up on. Amari Carter had one personal foul, but fortunately, his big hit in the fourth quarter that was originally called targeting was overturned upon review as he led with his shoulder.
A DJ Scaife false start wiped away a big play from King to tight end Will Mallory, and Scaife also had an unsportsmanlike conduct.
John Campbell had a false start and holding call go against him on the same series, and Jakai Clark was hit with an early false start after being inserted into the starting lineup this week.
There’s momentum going into FSU week
It’ll be another Saturday night ABC matchup for the Hurricanes, this time at home and against in-state rival Florida State — with ESPN’s College GameDay in Miami.
UM is building momentum with Saturday’s impressive result while the Seminoles are coming off a bye week where Mike Norvell revealed he tested positive for COVID-19, likely making him unavailable to lead his team vs. Miami. FSU lost its opener the previous Saturday to Georgia Tech.