Hurricanes seek anotherwell-rounded effort vs. Virginia
Hurricanes seek another well-rounded effort vs. Virginia
The Miami Hurricanes showed last week they can get through a game that’s not as sexy of a matchup as facing No. 1 Clemsonor rival Florida Stateor an ACC opener against then-ranked Louisville.
Shifting fromthe constant prime-time atmosphere, UM played a noon game last week and had a well-rounded performance
and topped a solid Pittsburgh team. Now Miami must battle the temptation to relax after bouncing back from the loss to Clemson and come out with the same intensity against Virginia, which is 1-3 andcoming off three straight losses of 17 points or more.
“We each have to be aware [that] the gravity of mediocrity is so strong,” coach Manny Diaz said. “If you’re not fighting and scratching and clawing and swimming against it, it’ll just suck you back into the mediocre middle.”
The Hurricanes are offto a 4-1 start and ranked No. 11 in both the Associated Press and Coaches polls— an impressive early-season turnaround given that this teamwas 6-7 a year ago. While Miami had reason for motivation for its previous games, it has to dig a little deeper to find it in this 8p.m. kickoff at Hard Rock Stadium, televised on ACC Network.
“Every game, you got to rebuild [that motivation], and the second you think it’s a habit, that’s when you get beat,” Diaz said.“We talk about it everyweek.
“We’re playing this game as if we’re coming off a three-game losing streak.… No one’s record swalk onto the field with them. It’s just Miami-Virginia, their guys versus our guys, and the team that protects the football, scores in the red zone, tackles and all those things that you hear a coach talk about will determine a winner and loser.”
While the Cavaliers’ record may be something the Hurricanes should forget when facing them, they can recall that this teamwas the ACC Coastal Division representative in the conference championship game last season. They were 17-10 the previous two seasons.
“Everyweek, it’s a big game. Virginia’s a good team,” said junior tight end Will Mallory, whomay once again lead the team at his position with Brevin Jordan’s status in doubt.
“They won our division last year, so you can’t pass that up and take that lightly. Everyweek is a bigweek.”
UM was able to get big plays in the passing game against Pitt thanks to the deception offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee created and quarterback D’Eriq King’s threat to run on the draw, which allowed his man to get open over the top of the defense for two of his four touchdown passes.
The passing game still left much to be desired as King threw four interceptions— one coming off one of his three balls deflected at the line of scrimmage— and completed just 16 of 31 passes. He hasn’t been able to connect on contested deep balls with his receivers, whohave been placed back into an open competition in practice thisweek.
The Cavaliers have a question mark at quarterback as starter Brennan Armstrong may still be in concussion protocol. Last week, Virginia used three different quarterbacks in a loss to Wake Forest.
Redshirt junior Lindell Stone was 24 of 42 against the Demon Deacons. Keytaon Thompson and Iraken Armstead are more running threats fromthe quarterback position.
“It’s amystery,” Diaz said of game-planning against the Cavaliers signal-callers. “They do change a little bit with those other guys in there, but again that’s changing in a small sample size. They can certainly expand the package with those other two that went in.
“We expect we’ll see something thatwe haven’t seen [on film], and we’ll have to adjust to it during the game.… Our players will have to prepare for a lot of stuff thisweek.”
Virginia’s defense, under coach Bronco Menden hall, has been known to be stout.
“Bronco and that group there, they’re really known for being tough, really physical, well-coached,” Lashlee said. “They’re really long. Their scheme almost allows themto really shrink the field on you. I know Wake Forest was able to get some big plays on them. That’s why theywere able towin the game. They did a nice job of generating those, but traditionally Virginia does a nice job of keeping everything in front of them.”
Lashlee and Diaz were pleased with the run game — despite averaging just 2.6 yards per carry against the Panthers’ strong defensive front. The Hurricanes will look for more production in the run game, while King will have to avoid the Cavaliers’ pass rush and the potential for 6-7 and 6-5 outside linebackers Charles Snowden and Noah Taylor to tip balls at the line of scrimmage against the 5-11 King.
“They have a good defense,” King said. “They’re real long and athletic. They canmake plays in space. We just got to take what they give us and try to hit the shots when they come.”
Miami has a bye next week, followed by a Friday night game at N.C. State on Nov. 6.