The Miami Hurricanes knocked off Arkansas State at home on Saturday, 41-20 in precisely the type of game “The U” needed with the Nebraska Cornhuskers on deck.
After a season-opening loss at Louisville and a sloppy, albeit convincing win against Florida A&M, the Hurricanes held the upset-minded Red Wolves in control in a game that was seemingly over by the second quarter.
More importantly for Miami, a breakout game for true freshman quarterback Brad Kaaya, who threw for 342 yards and four touchdowns. Kaaya also proved he could throw the deep ball, finding Phillip Dorsett four times for 201 yards—including a 63-yard score on the Canes’ opening drive and another of equal distance in the third quarter.
Offensive coordinator James Coley and head coach Al Golden came under fire the past few weeks, most-notably for conservative offensive playcalling and what can only be described as a lack of trust with a newbie under center.
A run-first approach was the Canes’ game plan the first two weeks of the season, with Duke Johnson held in check as opponents stacked the box and dared Kaaya to throw.
By week three, more passing plays on first and second down opened things up, making Miami two-dimensional. Johnson finished with 90 yards and a score, while back-ups Gus Edwards and Joe Yearby carried a dozen times for a combined 70 yards.
Defensively Miami continues to improve—playing downhill and more aggressively than it has in the past. The Hurricanes’ front seven is getting penetration, while the secondary has seen more man coverage and less zone, which has been a constant complaint of the fan base.
While the secondary has had its issues, the talent on that side of the ball should help that unit gel as the season progresses. Still, Miami is getting back to hitting. Deon Bush laid some lumber and forced a fumble (recovered by Arkansas State), while linebacker Raphael Kirby had a solid awareness and an interception when the Red Wolves attempted a fake punt.
Special teams had some struggles, most notably walk-on kicker Michael Badgley, who missed a routine extra point, subbing for the injured Matt Goudis.
The Hurricanes also haven’t found an answer on returns. Stacy Coley sat out last week’s game with a shoulder injury, but even prior to has been ineffective two games in. Dorsett, explosive as a receiver on Saturday, hasn’t don’t much on punt returns, either. With so much team speed and talent on the Miami roster, the Canes need a go-to and spark when it comes to the return game.
2-1 after three games means little right now based on where the two wins came and how lopsided the first loss was. Miami was in the game at Louisville for much of the night, but conservative offensive play calling and a few mistakes put the Canes in a lurch and the Cards put it away in the fourth.
Still, the beauty of the sport comes in the fact there’s always another challenge waiting around the corner. For Miami, a road trip to Lincoln to take on the Nebraska Cornhuskers, again in primetime and with a chance to shine.
The Huskers roll in undefeated, though with an inflated record, having beat-up on Florida International and Fresno State, while needing a mini-miracle to top McNeese State, at home—reminiscent to a close home opener last year, almost falling to Wyoming, 37-34.
Homefield advantage will be strong this Saturday night, but Miami should march into Memorial Stadium with some newly found confidence based on Kaaya’s performance. The season-opening road trip to Louisville was a different ball game—the freshman quarterback seeing his first collegiate action and the entire team feeling the pressure.
One-third of the season is already in the rear view and Kaaya—on campus since May—is growing up quickly, which will have a trickle-down effect on the rest of the Hurricanes.
While an early statement game was lost week one, Miami gets another shot at redemption this weekend at Nebraska. Win, move to 3-1 and less focus will be put on the Louisville loss (unless it eventually hurts Miami in the ACC Coastal Division race weeks from now).
It will also give the Hurricanes a little more bounce in their step with Duke (9/27), @Georgia Tech (10/4) and Cincinnati (10/11) on deck and a realistic shot at being a one-loss team when heading to Virginia Tech (10/23) for a nationally televised Thursday night showdown.
One battle at a time, but as far as week three played out, Miami avoided all talk of an upset and truly found their quarterback in the process—which is as big as it gets this point of the season.