Former Miami Hurricanes quarterback Gino Torretta sounded off on 790 The Zone recently when asked about The U’s recent offensive woes. Click here to check out the interview and below, a transcript of the portion where he and the hosts commented on the current state of Miami’s O.
Does this guarantee current offensive coordinator Patrick Nix a first-class ticket out of town at season’s end? Of course not. But it does lend some credibility to the argument that the Canes signal caller isn’t getting the job done.
Gino is as old school as current Miami coach Randy Shannon and if one old school Heisman-winning Cane sees the writing on the wall, you have to believe a former linebacker during the Decade of Dominance sees it as well.
#13’s comments also echo the cries of Miami faithful, proving in this case that it’s not just some irrational, impatient fans who disagree with the direction the Canes’ offense is going.
What Shannon decides to do, we’ll see after the season wraps up. Until then, check out Torretta’s recent comments:
790: How closely do you follow the Miami program to this day?
Gino: Very close. We broadcast the Miami at Florida game and the game this weekend (Virginia Tech), obviously I was there to go in the Ring Of Honor, so that was only the second time I’ve seen them live and our offense hasn’t shown up in either game I’ve been to.
790: They might want to keep you out of the building….
Gino: Well you guys have seen Patrick Nix longer than I have, calling plays as an offensive coordinator…
790: Hold on, is that the shot I think it just was?
Gino: I don’t know… I know we’re young and all that… I see two quarterbacks who’ve shown they can play and they’re good enough athletes and it just doesn’t seem like we can get anything going… we don’t have a real identity at times… sometimes we want to go I-Formation and pound it right at a defense and it works and then we move to the spread and we go backwards. I think we’re kind of looking for an identity on offense.
790: I don’t think you were on hold yet, but I just said I don’t think any of us ever thought we’d see the day where Miami is ranked 100th in the country on offense. That’s what they are, they’re 100th.
Gino: I got their stats in front of me… they’re 91st in passing offense. When was the last time we average 181 yards passing? I think I did that in the first half ever week.
790: Now you’re just bragging. I will tell you, it might’ve been right after you, Frank Costa. I had to sit there and go “who?” What kind of career did Frank Costa have?
Gino: Hey, Frank threw for more yards than 198 a game, I know that.
Eh, not saying that Nix isn’t part of the problem, but our players just are executing. We aren’t getting the blocks that set up the RB’s, the RB’s aren’t breaking the tackles that leads to the 40 yard scamper. The QB’s aren’t placing the ball where the receiver has a chance to make a grab, the receivers aren’t making the moves that cause the D to miss etc, etc. I know having a poor coordinator isn’t helping the matter, but at some point in time, these guys need to step up. We’ve seen flashes of it, but its time to start seeing it every game.
Amen Gino.
Say, why did Torretta never come back to the U as a quarterbacks coach or something? Does anyone know if he was ever offered such a position?
With all due respect, fuck Nix.
One year has passed since Sean Taylor left us. Was expecting and hoping more to see a piece on him rather than on some corn pone douche bag who belongs on a high school sideline.
R.I.P. Sean,,, shit still hurts.
Tampa, I posted this Gino piece the 25th. Sean was shot on the 26th and died on the 27th last year.
I will most definitely post something about #26 on the one-year anniversary. You know me better than that.
I think we’re getting there with some talented players coming in, but we still have to do better than we have the past 2 years. As I have said, just look at all the high octane offenses around. You don’t have to run the spread to score a lot of points. The U is a pro style offense and always has been. As Gino said, there is no identity being laid down by Nix. 90th in passing and 100th in offense is abysmal. Many times we struggle to move the ball. 7-4 and hopefully 8-4 is a nice comeback season, but to take that next step, we really need to find ourselves. What are we going to be as a team? What will the philosophy be on both sides of the ball? Coaches have to get better, not just the players. I’m interested to see how we play Saturday and where we end up going for a bowl. I will say that it’s great to be back in a bowl. Next step is to play in a bowl at least on New Year’s Day and then a BCS Bowl. We can get there.
-Columbus Cane
Bring back Gary Stevens. He knows how to run Miami’s offense with this talent base.