Miami Defense Smothers Duke In Key ACC Win

The Miami Hurricanes knocked off the Duke Blue Devils, 22-10 this past weekend at Sun Life Stadium.

On paper, that sentence may come off a bit unimpressive, but based on where the Hurricanes stood this time last week—five weeks into the season and coming off a humiliating defensive performance at Nebraska, the result was just what the doctor ordered and offers up some optimism with seven regular season games remaining.

Fact remains, Miami (3-2) had slipped into “must-win” mode before the month of September event closed—especially in the ACC’s Coastal Division, having lost the season-opener at Louisville.

The Canes also hovered in “show-me” and “prove it” mode regarding a fan base frustrated with two losses in winnable games and souring on a coaching staff proving stubborn and ill-prepared twice in four outings.

Outside of the much-needed conference win, Miami supporters needed visible proof that head coach Al Golden and defensive coordinator Mark D’Onofrio were listening to the understandable criticism in the wake of the Nebraska loss and planned to make some necessary changes and tweaks to the current scheme and game plan.

I touched on this in a since-scrapped, way-too-long for consumption piece written last week about the Huskers upending the Hurricanes, instead choosing to remain silent, shelving the piece and waiting to see what Golden came back with this week.

Another disappointing defensive performance and an updated, more critical version the article would’ve gone live had Miami lost to Duke. Instead, a united, revived group of Hurricanes took the field, played with passion and reminded everyone there’s still much to play for—especially in a wide open Coastal Division.

Miami’s offense came up short on the opening drive, settling for a field goal after quarterback Brad Kaaya and running back Duke Johnson helped move the Hurricanes 63 yards on eight plays. Kaaya hit Herb Waters for a 25-yard gain on the first play from scrimmage, while Johnson picked up 25 yards on three carries.

An incomplete pass to Phillip Dorsett on 3rd-and-2 from the Duke 12-yard line resulted in a 29-yard Michael Badgley field goal.

From there the defense immediately went to work, proving this wasn’t the same mindset that players and coaches brought to Nebraska last weekend. A three-and-out for Duke on their opening drive was followed by another Kaaya-heavy offensive possession, 76 yards gained ad a seven-yard Johnson punch-in, followed by a missed extra point.

The defense forced another three-and-out, with the Blue Devils forced to pass with quarterback Anthony Boone as the Hurricanes’ defense crowded the line and was intent on stuffing the run.

An unsportsmanlike penalty on Jamal Carter gave Duke a first down on the ensuing drive, but four plays later, another Blue Devils’ punt.

Penalty aside, Miami held Duke to a mere 2 yards in four offensive possessions. A questionable, overturned incomplete pass led to a Blue Devils’ touchdown early second quarter, but from three the Hurricanes’ defense again clamped down—holding Duke to 30 yards on its three final possessions of the half.

Miami eventually pulled away late after some missed opportunities. A would-be 35-yard Dorsett touchdown was called incomplete on a bobble, leading to a 4th-and-6 and missed Badgley field goal, but the Hurricanes got an early third quarter reprieve.

Facing a 4th-and-19—in the rain, with a struggling kicker—Miami’s offense took the field and Kaaya hit Waters for a fall-back, 28-yard touchdown. Leading 16-7 midway through the fourth, Kaaya used some fancy footwork and scrambled to find a streaking Joseph Yearby, who hauled in a 47-yard touchdown and all but shut the door on a Blue Devils comeback.

Again, for those claiming this was “just Duke” and an expected performance against a “basketball school”, that mindset diminishes a good win against a solid opponent—which says more about the Blue Devils and David Cutcliffe than it is a knock on how far the Hurricanes have fallen.

Duke had won 12-straight regular season games entering this past weekend’s showdown at Miami. This program also took the ACC Coastal last year, reached the Peach Bowl, put up 661 yards against SEC power Texas A&M and almost knocked off Johnny Manziel-led Aggies, falling late in Atlanta, 52-48.

Last year Duke outscored Miami, 17-0 in the fourth quarter, rolling up 543 total yards—358 on the ground—in a 48-30 victory. A year prior, the Blue Devils fell to the Hurricanes, 52-45 in a shootout where they still amassed 583 total yards—432 coming through the air.

Duke has played some quality football the past two years and with Miami struggling to slow the Blue Devils’ offense the past two seasons, coupled with serious heat after surrendering 456 yards—including 343 on the ground—and 41 points at Nebraska last week, this win deserves a tip of the hat and should earn this program and its staff a week’s worth of breathing room.

That said, for a staff eager to put a loss in the rear-view, the same must be done after a win. Undefeated Georgia Tech looms next weekend in Atlanta and while the Canes have matched-up well against the Yellow Jackets the past few seasons, until Miami’s defense proves it can bring its best week in and week out, nothing will be taken for granted.

Especially a team that is 1-0 in conference, having knocked off Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, 27-24 weeks back. The Hurricanes will need to bring it all over again for another nationally-televised Saturday night showdown (ESPN2, 7:30 p.m. ET at Bobby Dodd Stadium.)

During ESPN’s broadcast of Saturday’s night game, the commentators Brock Huard and Joe Tessitore—who witnessed last week’s loss in Lincoln—praised Miami’s defensive effort, as well as the overall turnaround this staff and group of players orchestrated.

Both talking heads mentioned this being a “rebirth” type of moment for the program, sitting at .500 four games into the season. It was mentioned that coaches made the defensive unit watch every defensive play from last week, turning a breakdown into a learning experience and the fact Miami did indeed respond—it was nationally recognized as it deserved to be.

Cliche as it comes off, truth be told it’s seven mini-seasons for the Hurricanes over the next two months—with a proper degree of intensity, focus and game-planning put on a handful of opponent, each with different strengths and circumstances.

The Hurricanes are yet to play a full game all season. At Louisville, the offense no-showed while the special teams had its breakdowns. Against Nebraska, the defense was bowled over and key turnovers by Kaaya and Johnson were back-breakers.

Most-recently against Duke, an offense that still struggled on third down, a handful of mistakes and a special teams unit that did little on the return front, while a back-up kicker shanked an extra point and field goal opportunity.

There’s still a lot of clean-up work to be done as the Hurricanes find their true identity, but as far as last weekend’s one-game season, Miami proved it’s capable of showing up, correcting mistakes and playing much better than it has on a handful of occasions thus far.

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