Miami Hurricanes: One-Game Seasons, UNC Next-Up

In the wake of an injury, it’s always about a “next man up” mentality—and with four games remaining for the three-loss Miami Hurricanes, each week must shift to, “next opponent up”.

The Canes are coming off a two-game win-streak and have won three of their past four—but the blemishes stand out a bit more than the successes, due to their ramifications.

Instead of lamenting losses, Miami’s mindset needs to embrace that heart-of-a-champion; acting as-if the Coastal top dog, treating everyone as if they’re trying to take what’s rightfully the Canes.

Play as if there’s no margin for error, but do so with confidence, opposed to worry.

Knowing that’s the case, Miami must roll into this weekend’s home showdown against North Carolina optimistic, prepared and ready to execute—and then deliver.

This marks another scenario where the coaches had a few extra days to game plan and players’ bodies got a little more rest—not to mention the added incentive of homecoming, a better-than-average early-game crowd and a “green out”, as well as a legend like Jim Kelly in attendance—#KellyStrong and operating as grand marshall, while expected to use his work ethic and life setbacks to give this team another dose of perspective.

Weeks back it was eight-year old Carter Hucks, not letting a disease get him down and living in the moment. This time around, a Hurricanes legend who has battled cancer, kicked its ass, achieved at the highest level in the NFL, but also dealt with unthinkable lows, losing his son Hunter Kelly to Krabbe Disease almost a decade ago.

The reality of what Hucks and Kelly are living though and dealing with—it has and will guide this program towards maturity faster than wins or losses ever could.

In breaking down Miami’s recent win at Virginia Tech, all eyes were on a 30-6 final score and monster showing by running back Duke Johnson. The Hurricanes dominated, quieted a normally-rowdy Lane Stadium and got a rare Thursday night win in Blacksburg.

Lost in the shuffle, the fact that Miami still struggled to stop the run, with Virginia Tech moving the ball with relative ease in the second half. What prevailed? The fact that the Hurricanes found a way. Can’t shut down the run? Take away the ball—which Miami did on three consecutive third quarter possessions.

Over the past few weeks, the intensity has been ratcheted up a few notches. The offensive line is working together.

Running backs are pushing for those extra yards. Defenders are hitting harder. Cliché as it might sound, Miami is truly playing like it wants it more than the other guys—which wasn’t the case earlier this season. Mental lapses have subsided. Fewer penalties, better scheming and all in all, smarter football is being played.

On paper, North Carolina might not seem like much, but as it usually goes with Miami, a next-up opponent is finding a bit of a groove before facing off against the Hurricanes. Back-to-back wins for the Tar Heels, while breakout players are emerging.

Dual-threat quarterback Marquise Williams has come alive the past eight quarters. 33 rushes for 122 yards and two scores, while equally as effecting as a passer. Williams torched Georgia Tech for 390 yards through the air and a week later, a 259-yard outing against a stout Virginia defense. Meanwhile, receiver Ryan Switzer went next-level against the Yellow Jackets with a nine-reception, 136-yard, two touchdown afternoon.

Tar Heels Will Struggle To Get Stops, But Will Score Points

North Carolina sits at 4-4, but in both victory and defeat, this offense is putting up both yards and points, At Notre Dame, a 516-yard, 43-point performance. Against Georgia Tech, 579 yards and 48 points. At Virginia, slowed down to a 28-point, 374-yard outing.

Knowing all that, Miami faithful needs to take a deep breath and accept reality as Saturday approaches; North Carolina is going to move the ball and find the end zone.

When that happens, don’t cite their Coastal Division, cellar-dweller status or be pointlessly critical in regards to a Hurricanes’ defense that has had their struggles this season and over the past several years.

If defense is Miami’s most-glaring weakness, then it’s North Carolina’s tenfold—and the key to success this weekend is exploiting that through a top-notch offensive game plan.

The Hurricanes’ offense has been feast or famine at times this year. Quick starts have been followed by mid-game slumps, while a handful of turnovers have been as big of a factor in some losses as defensive breakdowns, if not more.

Miami’s recent win over Virginia Tech was offense-fueled, but also calculated and well-designed. The Hurricanes were intent on running the ball—and did, all night long with a handful of tailbacks. Incredible as Johnson was, Gus Edwards arguably had his best game on a big stage, in a Hurricanes uniform.

Furthermore, both backs were Miami’s leading receivers—proving that offensive coordinator James Coley is embracing a key mantra at “The U”; get the ball in the hands of playmakers and let them make plays.

Johnson and Edwards both had big third down receptions that kept drives alive—helping move the chains and control the clock. Miami won the time of possession battle by ten minutes over Virginia Tech, while going 7-of-15 on third down and picking up 22 first downs—numbers that were nowhere near that solid in recent losses.

Coley’s game plan is Miami’s key to success this week, opposed to an expectation that defensive coordinator Mark D’Onofrio is going to have the magic bullet that takes out North Carolina’s potent attack. The key for Coley; take what the defense gives, control the clock and keep the chains moving.

There will always be an understandable temptation for Brad Kaaya to find Phillip Dorsett with the deep ball—which worked in video game fashion against the likes of Cincinnati and Arkansas State, but isn’t necessarily the recipe for success this week.

Look back at the late September win over Duke. Miami amassed 426 yards and was balanced through the air and on the ground, but only came away with 22 points—including a mini-miracle 4th-and-19 touchdowns hook-up between Kaaya and Herb Waters.

The Canes forced three Blue Devils turnovers, but were still a paltry 2-of-13 on third down conversions, getting away from what was working and looking for some sizzle.

The ground-and-pound was wearing Duke’s defense down, but there were still occasions where Miami was attempting the deep ball on first down, setting up the obvious second down run and daunting third-and-long situations—opposed to taking what the Blue Devils were giving.

Johnson, Edwards and a healthier Joe Yearby must chip away at the stone and wear down the Tar Heels’ front seven, while tight end Clive Walford seems a logical option for quick pick-ups and extra yards. Chip away, move the chains and achieve that desirable dynamic of both North Carolina’s offense and The U’s defense off the field.

In both wins and losses, Miami has at times scored early, but later fell apart—unable to convert, or turning the ball over at most inopportune times. A bad recipe for a defense that can’t get off the field; especially against running teams like Nebraska and Georgia Tech, who controlled the clock and limited the Hurricanes’ offensive touches.

Miami Has A Formula; Will The Canes Implement It?

A solid output from Kaaya, Johnson, Edwards and crew can give Miami an early lead and wake up a less-than-stellar crowd, as another 12:30 p.m. kickoff is sure to result in a share of empty seats.

Yes, it’s homecoming, Kelly is in the house and a green-out is in effect—all of which will help, but North Carolina isn’t sweating it. Head coach Larry Fedora admitted that his squad isn’t stressed about the “crowd”, while Tar Heels’ offensive lineman Landon Turner boldly called out the lack-of a game day environment at Sun Life Stadium.

“The stands are so far that you could almost have another game from the stands to the bench area,” mused Turner.

Contrast that to last year’s thriller in Chapel Hill. Despite being a one-win team in mid-October, North Carolina packed Kenan Stadium for a Thursday night “blackout”. Nearby business shut down early and had anyone lit a match, the town would’ve gone up in flames. The energy was infectious and palpable—yet the Hurricanes rallied late and came back big for the win.

Saturday in South Florida will be the antithesis, but it doesn’t matter as long as Miami sticks to the script; block out distractions, show up prepared and execute.

Fans will focus on math, upsets an crazy scenarios in an attempt to paint a Coastal Division champs picture, but players and coaches have to ignore that and make it all about taking it to North Carolina. Yes, opportunities were lost at Louisville and Georgia Tech, with repercussions for those failures—but all of that is out of the Hurricanes’ control right now.

Focus on week-to-week match-ups and rolling in prepared. That might sound a bit like a broken record in pre-game previews, but until the style of play is consistent and the wins are the norm, that remains the mantra no matter who the opponent.

Get this thing to 6-3, push the win-streak to three and then spend two weeks getting focused and ready for that archival from Tallahassee who has won four in a row and four straight in Miami’s house.

Miami 41, North Carolina 30

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