Defensive line full of NFL-worthy talent tops our Hurricanes midseason position evaluation.
CORAL GABLES — It has been a unique season on many fronts for Miami.
There was the battle with Hurricane Irma, which forced UM to cancel one game (sorry, Arkansas State), reschedule two more and take a 21-day break between games. We have seen new faces emerge in Year 2 of Mark Richt’s tenure. The Hurricanes ended their seven-year drought against Florida State, leaving them in position to battle for the ACC championship.
It’s mid-October, and the Hurricanes have played five games, while many other teams have played seven. Let’s consider this the halfway point and hand out grades:
Quarterbacks
Malik Rosier has given Miami’s offense a new dimension — he can run a bit — that Brad Kaaya couldn’t. He needs to improve his accuracy (59.1 completion percentage), but his misses haven’t led to disaster (three interceptions). His slow starts in games are a slight concern. But when Rosier is locked in, he’s outstanding — witness the game-winning drives against Florida State (twice) and Georgia Tech. He was money.
Grade: B+
Running backs
Mark Walton (428 yards, three TDs) was Miami’s best all-around player before his season-ending injury. Tra-
vis Homer has fifilled in admirably, picking up 377 yards and four touchdowns on 45 carries (he is 10th nationally in yards per carry, 8.38). The main worry is depth; neither Trayone Gray, receiver-turned-tailback DeeJay Dallas, fre shman Rober t Burns nor walk-on Crisp - ian Atkins has shown he can contribute.
Grade: B
Wide receivers
This would be a Grade-A unit if Ahmmon Richards (hamstring) were healthy. Hard to argue with what Braxton Berrios has done in Richards’ absence (326 yards, fifive touchdowns on 24 grabs). UM hopes to get its No. 1 target back for the second half. Newfound hero Darrell Langham has come on strong, giving Miami a p hys ic a l weapon on t he perimeter. Dionte Mullins, Mike Harley and Jeffff Thomas have shown flflashes of their high- level talent. Dayall Harris and Lawrence Cager have yet to make an impact.
Grade: B
Tight ends
Chris Herndon has had a quietly productive start, ra n k i n g se c o n d o n th e team in catches (18, for 175 yards and a touchdown). He helped UM march the fifield in a screen-heavy winning drive against Georgia Tech. Michael Irvin II has seen regular action as an H-back/ blocking type. He’s still getting his feet wet.
Grade: C+
Offffffffffffensive line
Still too much inconsistency here. UM’s backs had little room against the better defenses Miami has faced ( Florida State and Duke). Rosier’s mobility masks some of the protection issues, but that and the run game struggles leave one wondering how UM will hold up against Vi rg i ni a Tech a nd Not re Dame next month. Starting right guard Navaughn Donaldson’s sprained ankle is a concern. Senior left tackle Kc McDermott and two juniors, center Tyler Gauthier and right guard Tyree St. Louis, have been Miami’s most solid linemen.
Grade: C
Defensive line
As advertised. Miami ranks third nationally in tackles for loss per game (8.6) and fififth in sacks per game (3.4), making life diffifficult for every offffffffffffensive line it has faced. Nine difffffffffffferent linemen have recorded a tackle for loss, le d by se n i o r en d Ch a d Thomas (6.0). NFL-caliber talent abounds. A few busts against the run, but little to complain about. This unit wins games.
Grade: A
Linebackers
Worthy of the preseason hype. S haq Quar te r man picked up where he left offffffffffff, Zach McCloud has improved, and Michael Pinckney has made his share of plays while dealing with various injuries. Charles Perry and Mike Smith seemed to grow up a little during the Georgia Tech game; they are capable backups. Grade: B+
Defensive backs
Replac ing four seniors who are now in the NFL is not an easy task. Safety Jaquan Johnson and cornerback Malek Young have been mostly steady, but there’s not enough consistency in this group. Cornerbacks Michael Jackson and Dee Delaney and safet y Sheldrick Redwine will make plays but get beaten at times. Delaney started slow and seemed to be picking it up before his knee injury against FSU. Redwine has been on the shelf since that game, too. His backup, Robert Knowles, has strug gled. Freshmen Trajan Bandy, Amari Carter and Derrick Smith have big potential but are rounding out their games.
Grade: C-
Special teams
Michael Badgley, one of the heroes of the Georgia Tech win, has made 9-of-10 fifield goals. Freshman punter Zach Feagles has a big leg but has shanked a few. Berrios has been one of the best punt returners in the country (sixth nationally, with 17.14 yards per return). UM hasn’t allowed a punt return of longer than 20 yards but has given up four kickoff returns of 30-plus.
Grade: B
Coaching
A few odd decisions but a lot to like. Mark Richt’s play-calling has helped Miami remain unbeaten. He’s still trying out difffffffffffferent personnel in difffffffffffferent spots, but most of his calls put Miami in a position to succeed. His development of Rosier is a major positive. Defensive coordinator Manny Diaz, especially after halftime, has hit most of the right notes. It’s no accident the Hurricanes are 20th in points allowed (18.6).
Grade: B+
Overall
Miami (5-0, 3-0 ACC) is unbeaten and ranked No. 8, and could be 3-2 and out of the Top 25 with a few bad bounces. Richt recognizes that . “We’re not a dominant football team,” he said. “We’re a very, very solid football team that’s fifighting like mad just to win the close battles, is where we are right now. A lot of positive things are happening through the adversity that we’ve been able to overcome to this point.”
Grade: B+