Virginia has won three consecutive games against Miami, but that trend may not be enough to stop a spiraling season. UVa has lost seven straight after all. The Wednesday Watch List takes a peek at the contest this week with the Hurricanes.
Mirror, Mirror
Pistol, Shotgun, I formation … varying sets, receiver screens, running back power plays … orange uniforms sometimes. Yes, this week will be a lot like looking at a reflection of Virginia’s offense when you look at Miami.
The Cavaliers may not like the answer for the old fairy tale mirror’s question ‘Who is the fairest of them all?’, though. Because the Hurricanes execute the schemes a lot better than the Hoos. Miami has produced 34.5 points per game this season behind averages of 180.0 yards rushing and 278.2 yards passing, while UVa has registered 20.5 points per game on averages of 152.7 yards rushing and 212.6 yards passing.
One concept that Miami seems to use frequently is a play-action call out of the Pistol or shotgun looks, often with a quick target releasing into the flats or outside the numbers on the field. This video link (click here) will show you back-to-back plays with this strategy. The first is out of the shotgun and the throw quickly goes a receiver on the sideline. The second is out of the Pistol and the throw quickly goes to the second player releasing out of the backfield. Here’s another look at one against Wake Forest: click here. Miami will also take shots downfield if you start to crash up on these quick-hitters. This link (click here) shows a deep completion off the same play-fake concept.
Like the Wahoos, the Canes also like receiver screens. But like the overall scheme discussion above, they often execute those looks much better than the Cavaliers have this season. Here is one example (click here) from the Duke game.
Delayed Blitzes
One area that has given the UVa offensive line fits all season is the use of delayed blitzes by opponents. Miami likes to bring that sort of pressure with its safeties and corners at times so Virginia will be challenged to pick those up again this week.
One example on video (click here) features defensive back Tracy Howard sprinting off the edge in tandem with linebacker Denzel Perryman on the back-side of the play against Georgia Tech.
Other Items in the Watch List …
4-3 and 3-4 looks. Miami’s defense mixes up its front seven with both 4-3 and 3-4 looks. The Hurricanes seem to prefer the 3-4 as a change-up to their usual 4-3 scheme.
Tight ends in the passing game. Miami’s defense sometimes has issues with opposing tight ends. UNC’s Eric Ebron had 8 catches for 199 yards (1 TD), FSU’s Nick O’Leary had 3 catches for 45 yards, and Duke’s Braxton Deaver had 3 for 30 yards this season. In UVa’s last-gasp win last season, tight end Jake McGee caught the game-winning touchdown and he had 4 catches for 26 yards in the game. Cav tight end Colter Phillips had 3 catches for 26 yards and 1 TD in the 2010 win too. Keep an eye on McGee and Zach Swanson this week.
Vertical routes. Miami’s Cover-2 looks prove vulnerable fairly often to vertical passes on the sidelines in the video that I’ve seen. Of course, the receiver has to get open and the quarterback has to have time to throw it, but it is an area that can be attacked. Duke scored a touchdown by going after that area in this clip (click here) on a running back streak pattern.
Pulling guard power play. A staple of NFL teams (and the stretch play was used frequently by Al Groh here at UVa), the Hurricanes like to use a pulling guard as a lead blocker into the ‘B’ gap or to the outside edge. The Canes scored a touchdown in this example (click here) against Wake.
