All the chatter about the return of Duke Johnson, the next-level maturity of true freshman quarterback Brad Kaaya and the stewing frustration of a bowl game loss to Monday night’s foe—it was all for naught.
Fact remains Bobby Petrino had his squad ready to go and it looked like the same old, same old from Al Golden and crew. Some thoughts:
Per last night’s presser, Golden said on WQAM, “The errors we made tonight, there’s no excuse. That starts with me. I need to challenge the coaches to look at everything we’re doing on the way back and use all day tomorrow. It’s important we get better. We made too many mistakes against a good team in a tough environment to win the game. I want to make sure I evaluate all three phases before I talk in-depth. We’ve got to be accountable, can’t make excuses starting with me.”
What that all sounds good, fans have to wonder what that means. Always seems to be an evaluation of the phases underway and a line in the dirt regarding taking blame and no excuses, but seeing the same mistakes September 2014 as this team was making a year ago—nothing short of mind boggling.
On Miami’s third offensive play from scrimmage, Kaaya was tattooed by linebacker James Burgess Jr. and you could see a look on his face that it was more than he bargained for.
Early in the second quarter, an in-the-dirt pass to Stacy Coley that was registered a fumble, but had all the makings of a Miami go-ahead touchdown if Kaaya made the routine throw.
Kaaya went on to throw two interceptions in his debut and was a liability—which is understood, but frustrating nonetheless. Even more frustrating, he remains Miami’s best option until Ryan Williams is healthy enough to give it a go.
None of this is to say that Kaaya won’t develop as the season rolls on and over the next few years becomes all-world for Miami. Even the great Ken Dorsey was a deer-in-headlights when thrust into action mid-game at Virginia Tech as a true freshman in 1999.
Just saying, coaches raved about Kaaya maturity and being ready for the big stage and no matter how you slice or dice it, it was as rattled as any true freshman could’ve been.
Olsen was afforded the opportunity to learn the offense last season, to hit it hard in the weight room and to step up as a bonafide leader, earning the starting job this fall. Unfortunately he did none of that—suspended for the bowl game and again for the season opener.
The Hurricanes shouldn’t have been in a position where they had to lean on a true freshman, or look to Kansas for a senior transfer in Jake Heaps. Olsen should’ve been “the guy” and his immaturity has hurt Miami—while wasting a redshirt opportunity for Kaaya.
Last year’s bread-and-butter play—hitting Coley in the flats and giving the receiver some space to make a play—was overused and the season rolled on, yet was the first offensive play Monday night, which Louisville was ready for.
A similar play on the next possession, where Kaaya went to freshman speedster Braxton Berrios, resulting in a one-yard loss. In both cases, Johnson was in a second-and-long situation. picked up four and left Miami in third-and-long situations, both resulting in incompletions.
All week Golden talked about keeping the chains moving, avoiding third-and-long and keeping the offense on the field. Instead, same old situation as last year.
Miami only held the ball 26:43 and was a paltry 1-of-13 on third-down conversions. The ground attack netted 70 total yards, mostly because the box was stacked nine-deep and the passing game was never respected or seen as a threat.
Where former quarterback Stephen Morris was criticized for his overuse of the deep ball, Miami coaches never let Kaaya go deep—testing an inexperienced Louisville secondary or showing off the blazing speed of wide receiver Phillip Dorsett, who had one reception on the night and was visibly frustrated when a handful of Kaaya’s attempts weren’t where they were supposed to be.
Kaaya was handcuffed much of the night, going three-and-out on a few occasions without even attempting a pass.
If this staff claims to have such faith in the kid, why not let him get after it? Even going the conservative route, the mistakes were there because he was playing scared and didn’t appear to have the full trust of the coaches.
In short, a true freshman quarterback is only one of Miami’s offensive issues right now. Another is a sophomore coordinator who is still coaching like a rookie.
Miami’s offensive line lost some talent, but was still supposed to be a strength this season and was raved about by coaches the past few weeks. This was not the night to no show, with so much on the line—Johnson’s return and the start of a true freshman at quarterback—yet they flopped and must regroup.
Too much athleticism and talent to leave guys sitting in soft zone all night, relying on a three-man rush from a defensive line that lacks superstars.
This unit is certainly improved talent-wise and shouldn’t bear the brunt of this loss, holding Petrino’s offense and the Cardinals to 17 offensive points until the game’s final two minutes. Miami’s offense was the culprit on Monday night—inefficient, mistake-prone and putting the defense on the field too often.
Also, not to take away from the effort, but credit Louisville’s receivers with some inexplicable drops—especially on third down, which killed a few drives.
A few fans on Twitter were asking why we weren’t hearing much from Tracy Howard, Deon Bush and the rest of the secondary all night—because Petrino knew that was Miami’s strength and instead chose to pick apart the middle of the field and a sub-par linebacking corps (Denzel Perryman obviously excluded.)
Meanwhile, the Cardinals’ strength is their front seven and instead of exploiting a young secondary, the Hurricanes kept everything underneath, never threw deep and continued to force the run with nine in the box.
At some point this staff has to figure out what is so blatantly obvious to others; play to one’s strengths and exploit an opponent’s weakness.
Also, with Johnson running the ball effectively all drive early second quarter, why is Gus Edwards getting his first touch of the night in a crucial 3rd-and-3 situation from the Louisville five-yard line? Everyone in the building knew Miami was going to conservatively hand off to the bigger back and the play was stuffed for a two-yard loss.
If you going to run, keep Johnson in there. If you bring in Edwards, it’s the optimum time for a roll-out, using him as a decoy.
Handing off to the big guy—way too scripted, yet the Hurricanes did it again first drive of the third quarter facing a 3rd-and-1 from their own 34-yard line. No gain and punt time—on the heels of back-to-back runs by Johnson and not even giving Kaaya a shot with three consecutive runs.
After the Hurricanes recovered a Will Gardner fumble on the ensuing drive, Miami went with three more runs, starting at the Louisville 8-yard line and settling for a field goal.
No balls, innovation or even any basic common sense on those early, game-defining third quarter possessions.
Equally as bad was watching the Hurricanes’ defense in a few 4th-and-1 situations where the didn’t fill the gap and the Cardinals’ bowled ahead for first downs.
In the end, the effort was a comedy of errors and missed opportunities. Points were left on the field and drives that should’ve been sustained rolled on, resulting in points or field position.
Lots of talent from Dade and Broward counties on the other side of the ball last night—19 players and many who made big time plays. Corvin Lamb (Miami Northwestern) with the 97-yard kickoff return. Burgess (Homestead), who was all over the field making tackles and wreaking havoc. Eli Rogers (Miami Northwestern), who hauled in five receptions for 65 yards and Gerald Christian (Palm Beach), right behind him with six grabs for 59 yards and a score.
Miami has it’s share of local talent, but damn does it hurt when those made in South Florida, who played in South Florida didn’t stay in South Florida.
Eight quarters of football and 18 days to clean things up before a late-September road trip to Lincoln to take on the Nebraska Cornhuskers in a primetime showdown—in what will be another colossal flop if this staff doesn’t properly game plan.
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Great analysis and agree with pretty much everything. Last night wasn't going to be easy and Kaaya will make mistakes as a true freshman, but if he won the job you can't coach scared. Play calling and O-line were terrible. Too many weapons to score 13 points. Thought the defense played well enough to win until the end when they wore down due to being on the field for so long.
It has been 3 years, and now starting fourth, with all the same issues and frustrations making themselves randomly repeat collectively. I don't buy the NCAA sanctions of the past 3 years being hindrance, because the talent has been there (always has been). This lack of continuity and less killer mentality simply cannot be allowed to continue, or the fan base will disperse and ultimately kill the program. Simply put, we are literally clinging to football life, and the talent we currently have should scream as if we are thriving. That being said... Practice in the heat, let them hit like they are in the game, eliminate mistakes on game changing plays, and get the coaches that want to be on their ass after each play, good or bad.
Yup. The coaches lost this one. Some of the worst play-calling since Patrick Nix.
Completely predictable, ultra-conservative, and un-creative. Horrible.
And you're right to call out Olsen, Chris. Kaaya and Heaps still need maps to get around campus. Williams' injury was unavoidable. But Olsen's wounds are self-inflicted.
Nonetheless, I lay this loss completely on Golden's shoulders. I'm a huge fan of the guy, but this was the same slop we saw last year. I genuinely cannot believe it, and I can't see anything changing. It's not like James Coley and Golden will wake up tomorrow and suddenly be something they haven't been in almost two years.
You can't have the defense give you the ball in scoring position twice and only get 3 points out of it. Ugh.
Obviously, I have no interest in waiting for a coaching change - especially since that seems very unlikely for at least a handful of seasons. So I want the coaches to improve. But they've got to grow a pair and play. Clearly they were trying to keep things simple for Kaaya so he doesn't lose confidence like Stephen Morris would at times, but winning games is a better confidence-booster. And the coaches were NOT playing to win.
And they've also got to get angry. Kaaya's post-game conference sounded like an echo of Golden-speak, saying all the right things with mature introspection and analysis. I don't want that. I want him to get angry. I want him, and all the players, to HATE losing. Where's that passion we've been known for? Where's Ed Reed and Kellen Winslow getting pissed and holding each other accountable?
So the keys to success this season, aside from the obvious, are (1) passion and (2) balls.
This version of the U is so , what else can be said, miserable. A lot of Talent, except where it is needed. Coaching. A 2nd year Offensive coordinator, Coley, 4 year O-line Coach, Kehoe. Then of course 4th year, Goldie.
How have they improve, only in one area, they all speak the right words but NO and I mean NO Offense improvement. The over all direction of all this offensive talent and horrible play calling will lead to another 3rd tier bowl game . 7 or 8 wins and once again destroyed by FSU.
Don't lay this on Kaaya, lay this on coaching. You can't set this guy up to win if you can't line up 4 or 5 wide and allow this kid to throw. How many times did he get laid out, hit, 10 , 12 times. flat on his back. No matter who is back there, this new scheme of playing not to lose, 2 runs and a three yard throw, only leads to one thing. New coaches next year. Coley knows every play in the play book, use them all, let it go.
Goldie is charge , lets see some changes in scheme or next year will be his last too.
REMEMBER ME! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I TOLD EVERYONE HERE YEARS BACK AL GOLDEN WAS IN OVER HIS HEAD....HE AND HIS STAFF ARE JR VARSITY HIGH SCHOOL COACHES.... JUST BECAUSE HE WON SOME GAMES AT TEMPLE (AND DID WIN A CONFERENCE TITLE THERE) HOW DO YOU GIVE HIM THE KEYS TO MIAMI!!!!! HE IS IN LOVE WITH THAT GARBAGE DC D'ONOFRIO ...THE DEFENSE DID PLAY A HAIR BETTER BUT THAT WAS ONLY DUE TO ANOTHER SUMMER OF EXPERIENCE AND PERRYMAN AND CHICKOLO NOT DEPARTIN
OUR O LINE IS HORRIBLE ...IF DUKE JOHNSON WAS ELSEWHERE HE WOULD BE A HEISMAN CANIDATE. ...THEY KEEP MAKING IDIOTIC EXCUSES FOR GOLDEN....SHANNON ALWAYS GOT GOD RECRUITS HE LEFT THEM BEHIND.....GOLDEN COULDN'T GET GOING WITH THAT!!!! AND SINCE, CAN'T GET GOING WITH WHAT HE HIMSELF HAS PICKED UP!!!!!! SAD BUT TRUE THE ONLY WAY TO GET RID OF GOLDEN IS LOSING...SMH......GOLDEN WILL NEVER BEAT RELEVANT TEAMS ONLY TRASH.....3 OR 4 LOSS SEASON AGAIN AND PRAY FOR DUKE JOHNSON!!!!!!!!!!! YET......LOVE MY CANES 4EVA!!!!!
Good post & good comments. *Passion & Balls* should become the new 2014 motto
Good Article. You hit on so many valid topics
Kaaya: I kept reading so much about how Perryman and others tried to rattle him and how he stayed poised and was a Cool/Calm&Collected QB. What i saw was a guy that showed flashes of talent, but also looked really shaken. At one point the TV cameras showed him on the sideline and he kept blinking in a kind of akward way.... clearly he was very rattled. You could legitimately say he cost Miami the game. Glad the next 2 games are easier teams for him to settle in. At this point I figure let him take his lumps and push on.
I gotta wonder how strong and accurate he is in practice...
That said on Kaaya - The OLine was terrible so the time needed for deep throws wasn't there. The time for medium range throws was barely there. Then once those hits took their toll the time he had didn't matter because he was auditioning for the next Happy Feet movie.
The Defense: I did see a push at times from the D-line that I haven't seen in the last several years. I am still waiting to see Chikillo live up to his hype. He's not horrible, just not as strong and fast as I expected at this point in his career.
Olsen P had a few plays were he was able to almost push his guy back into the QB. McCord looked good at times.
If the DBs are going to line up 15-20 yards off their guy then we really have no hope??!!
South FL Talent Lost - I do think this will improve now that the NCAA stuff is done. It happened late in the recruiting season this last year when many were already set on where to go. No such excuses in 2015. It looks decent so far but this is September and a sub-par season could cost UM recruits.
Ahhh - Thanks for the vent and Go Canes!
I agree with this 100%.
James Coley had proven absolutley nothing in his time at FSU to earn another OC gig. FSU was 33rd and 39th in scoring offense in 10 and 11...Jimbo steps in and they climb to 10 in 2012 then they let Coley walk and they're #2 in 2013 + a NT with a RS Frosh....
Coley takes over an offense with a multi-year senior starting QB and a stocked cubbard skill wise in 2013...where did we rank? You guessed it, 33rd in the nation. He makes elite talent average and is going to ruin Kayaa.
I think the D is an issue...but they were on the field almost the entire game. They held strong until the 4th when they finally broke. Over half our drives we 3 and out. It's pathetic. I was worried the day Coley was announced as our new OC and he hasn't shown one single thing to eleviate those concerns since then.
Im tired of all this "Freshman mistakes are gonna happen" BS. Throwing the ball in the dirt to Coley is not a Freshman mistake, neither is underthrowing the ball Dobard (pick). Not to mention not going through your progressions and finding Phillip Dorsett wide open in the flats on 4th and 4.
I will find it hard to believe that Jake Heaps couldn't put up a better offensive effort than this....if that's the case, why is he in Miami to begin with. On the defensive side WHERE was AQM...didn't see him all night. I HOPE THEY REPLAY KIRBY AND CRAWFORD GETTING RAN OVER ON BACK TO BACK PLAYS....and just getting up and walking back to the huddle. WHERE IS THE SWAG?!?!?
Furthermore, I felt the same way for the past year about Gus Edwards....HE HAS NEVER BEEN USED AS A DECOY.....EVER. This game reminded me of the same conservative BS playcalling that got us whacked against DUKE, V Tech, and FSU last year. I don't care who you are, you cant rush the ball when the D has 9 in the box. No misdirection plays, no pulling guards to the strong side, no slip screens to Duke Johnson NOTHING!!! I see why Jimbo never let Coley call plays. Where is Fidsh, shit where is Whipple.
ALL SUMMER we heard the goals were to win a conference division championship. It seems as if MIAMI forgot that Louisville is in the ACC now. Double Whammy. You cant play a compact play book against a conference foe....should've started HEAPS. Let Kaaya come in during mop up duty at FAMU and Arkansas State.
We showed up to an interview for our dream job with a ripped shirt and dirty jeans..
For those Ryan Williams supporters. He couldn't beat out a one legged Stephen Morris for the past two years. If he was any good, he would have been on the field.
One last note....for those who didn't turn the TV off. Miami comes out in a 4 wide set for the first time of the game after the game is all but wrapped. Mind you Louisville still had the 1st team on the field. Chains were moving by the way.
Food for Thought, is it me or can Stacey Coley actually catch the ball with his hands. Everything he has caught has been with his body. Im Just Saying.
Amen to this article. It's time to hold Al and his staff accountable for having his team prepared to play big time football. I no longer have the faith that he's capable of winning against the top teams. He should feel right at home against FAMU next week.