In search of perfection
No. 2 Hurricanes try to close out undefeated regular season with win at Pitt.
Nine Miami teams have finished undefeated in the regular season. That list includes the mighty Canes of 1926, a group of freshmen who went 8-0 after a major hurricane caused havoc in South Florida.
Ninety-one years later, a slightly more veteran Miami team can turn similar fate into a familiar feat.
The second-ranked Hurricanes (10-0, 7-0 ACC), who spent September sidetracked by Hurricane Irma, October walking a tightrope of near-losses, and Novem
ber announcing their presence as a playoff contender, can close the first unbeaten regular season in 15 years by beating Pittsburgh (4-7, 2-5) at chilly Heinz Field (noon today, ABC). A win would
extend the nation’s longest winning streak to 16 games.
“Our record says we’re perfect, but we had opportunities to lose games and made plays,” safety Jaquan Johnson said. “That’s what we’re looking at. We’re not looking at the Ws. We’re looking at how we can get better each and every day.”
Miami went without losses in 1933 and 1950, though it tied in three of those 17 combined games. When fans think of Undefeated ‘U,’ they think of 1986-87, 1991-92 and 2001-02, all back-to-back regular seasons without a loss.
Is this the beginning of something so great? Greater? Let’s have that conversation in a couple weeks, after Miami faces Clemson in the ACC Championship.
But fifirst, Pitt:
When Miami passes
At this point in the season, Miami knows what it has in Malik Rosier. He will throw an interception ( fifive in the past three games), but quickly shrugs it offffffffffff. He has been especially dangerous with his legs of late, which keeps UM’s off ff ff ff ff ff en se moving. Braxton Berrios has been the most reliable receiver, but the Hurricanes spread it around more than most teams.
While Pitt’s pass defense does a decent job of forcing mistakes (49th in opponent completion percentage), hits often go a long way. The Panthers are 113th nationally in yards per game allowed, and only three teams have allowed more catches of 30-plus yards. A big- play team like Miami can have a day-after Thanksgiving feast on that. Edge: Miami.
When Miami runs
Rosier has rushed for an effifficient 5.35 yards per carry and three touchdowns in UM’s past three games. He is three touchdowns from setting a UM single-season record for total touchdowns (31). Travis Homer — who is 151 yards away from 1,000 in a shortened season — has been a revelation as UM’s lead back, while DeeJay Dallas has shown flflashes of great promise, though he needs to improve his pass-protection.
Pitt had some awful performances in the fifirst half of the year, allowing well over 6.0 yards per carry to Penn State, Georgia Tech and North Carolina State, but seems to have tightened the screws. In its past four games, against Duke, Virginia, UNC and Virginia Tech, Pitt has allowed 3.34 yards per carry. Edge: Miami.
When Pitt passes
Confident quarterbacks can expose holes in Miami’s coverage, but neither second-stringer Ben DiNucci or third-stringer Kenny Pickett, both of whom may play, will stress the Canes in that manner. Pickett, a true freshman, was sacked four times last week against Virginia Tech, but had an efficient day ( 15 of 2 3, 242 yards, touchdown, interception). DiNucci, a sophomore, com- pleted 4 of 8 passes for 54 yards with a touchdown and a pick. Senior Jester Weah (6-3, 210) is a threat on the outside.
The Panthers are 106th in tackles for loss allowed per game, and 107th in sacks. They’ll have to be a lot better if they want to stop the Canes. Even after Virginia’s Kurt Benkert sliced them up for a half last week, Miami still ranks seventh in opponent passer rating. It is fifirst in sacks and interceptions per game and fourth in tackles for loss. Senior Trent Harris is second in the ACC in sacks (8.0). Edge: Miami.
When Pitt runs
Junior Darrin Hall was on fifire before fifizzling last week. He had 254 yards against Duke and topped 100 yards against Virginia and North Carolina, with eight touchdowns in those three games. Virginia Tech held him to just 4 yards on 15 carries in last week’s 20-14 loss.
Miami creates negative plays all over the fifield, and once the Turnover Chain comes out, it doesn’t typically go away for long. Miami’s stretch of games with four turnovers gained ended last week, when it forced three. Edge: Miami.
Special teams
Pitt punter Ryan Winslow ranks second in the ACC in average (44.6), but kicker Alex Kessman is 3-for-7 on fifield goals in his past four games (10-of-18 overall). Quadree Henderson has seven career kick return touchdowns and has taken two punts back for scores this year. Miami’s punter (Zach Feagles) and kicker (Michael Badgley) are reliable, Braxton Berrios is smart and surehanded as a punt returner, and freshman kick returner Jeffff Thomas has potential. Its coverage teams must corral Henderson. Edge: Miami.
Coaching
Miami’s current winning streak began Nov. 5, 2016, with a 51-28 win over Pitt at Hard Rock Stadium. Mark Richt’s staffff has made all the right moves since then, creating a winning culture in Coral Gables. Pat Narduzzi’s team has taken a step back after the graduation of standouts James Conner, Ejuan Price and Nathan Peterman. Pitt, which has beaten Miami twice since 1976, can only play spoiler.
Prediction
Fun fact: the Hurricanes are the highest-ranked team to play at Heinz Field in 16 years. The last team that was ranked higher than No. 2: top-ranked Miami, which blew out Pitt in its national title season of 2001.
This Miami team shares a few traits with their predecessors: fast, physical and confifident, and loaded with NFL talent. When they play their best, these Hurricanes can dominate. But this team is four quarters from 11-0 because it has been fortunate. Hard to see that luck running out now.
Miami 37, Pitt 13