UVa At Miami Scouting Report: Miami Offense

It’s easy to understand why, unlike a lot of new coordinators who often retain some systems and schemes, new Miami offensive coordinator Patrick Nix scrapped the spread offense and read-option of former offensive coordinator Rich Olson completely. UM started this season with new plays, new signals, new terminology, and apparently did so without the offensive coordinator even reviewing what the team did last season offensively.

As expected, the results have been mixed. The Canes have return to their days of big-time rushing success, currently ranking 39th in the nation in rushing. Overall, however, there has been little improvement as the offense still ranks 108th in passing and 91st in total offense.

The biggest factors have been little consistency at the quarterback position or with Miami’s corps of talented, but young wide receivers. Adjusting to the complete overhaul of the offense behind an inexperienced offense line has not helped matters.

Miami rushed for 314 yards against a poor N.C. State run defense, but the passing offense was awful. After that pathetic 1 for 14 outing last week passing by QB Kirby Freeman, the Hurricane faithful welcome back Kyle Wright for Saturday’s game. Wright is still recovering from a ankle sprain but is expected to start.

Statistics

  • The Hurricanes are 4-1 this season when they get at least one ‘explosive’ running play (a run of 18 yards or greater) and one ‘explosive’ pass play (a pass play of 25 yards or greater). They are 1-3 when not getting at least one from each category.
  • Miami has won 132 consecutive games when scoring 30 or more points, dating back to a 31-30 loss at Notre Dame in 1988. The Canes have won 153 consecutive games when scoring 31 or more points, dating back to a 39-37 loss to UCLA in the 1985 Fiesta Bowl. Excluding bowl games, Miami has won 147 consecutive regular-season games when scoring more than 31 points, dating back to a 47-45 loss to Boston College in 1984.
  • Beginning with the 1983 season, the Hurricanes have gone 193-21 when scoring first. The latest exception was against N.C. State last weekend when Miami scored first and led 10-7 at halftime. The Wolfpack overcame a 13-7 deficit to win 19-16 in overtime.
  • The Canes are 3-1 this season when passing for more than 220 yards.

Coach Groh Says …

“To this point, Miami is the overall most athletically gifted team that we’ve played. They’ve had challenges to try to develop the cohesiveness and performance that I’m sure that they are looking for. They went through a quarterback switch earlier in the season, then when they seemed like they had things going pretty decently Kyle Wright got hurt. Then they had to flip back again. Now they’ve had a weekend where they’re kind of lamenting their performance. But that happens a lot of times [during] the first year in the program.”

Jon Copper Says …

“Their receivers are excellent. I read on the scouting report that several of them are on the track team down there and do very well with that. Both of their running backs are exceptional. Both of them are top 10 in the ACC. They’re averaging something like 175 yards rushing a game. Obviously, [their speed is] something we’re going to prepare for this week. I don’t necessarily know that you can do extra things in practice to really prepare for that, but it’s something we’re mindful of and something we’re going to have to execute well against to maybe bridge a little gap there if there is one.”

Who’s That?

#5 Javarris James, RB, 6-0/211, Sophomore, 131 rushes for 519 yards, 10 receptions for 63 yards, 4 TDs: After a successful freshman campaign where James posted the second highest rushing yardage by a UM freshman since Clinton Portis in 1999, great things were expected in 2007. James opened the season averaging 73 yards per game in the first three outings but has been hampered because of an injury suffered Sept. 29 against Duke. He has rushed 28 times for 85 yards in the succeeding three games. The decline in his production led to more carries for freshmen Graig Cooper and Shawnbrey McNeal. Since returning to full strength against Florida State, James has reclaimed the top spot on the depth chart and is productive again averaging 88 yards per game against the Noles and Wolfpack, including 4.6 yards per carry.

#2 Graig Cooper, RB, 6-0/192, Freshman, 113 rushes, for 624 yards, 12 receptions for 125 yards, 5 TDs: With his 60 yards rushing against N.C. State a week ago, true freshman tailback Graig Cooper ranks fourth nationally in rushing among true freshmen. He is a good receiving back and has the ability to go the distance so sure tackling is a must.

#8 Darnell Jenkins, WR, 5-10/188, Senior, 23 receptions for 550 yards, 23.9 YPC, 61.1 YPG, 2 TDs, 8 rushes for 44 yards: Through the first four years of his career, Jenkins was considered more of a possession receiver, specializing out of the slot. In fact, over the first 38 games of his career, Jenkins averaged 10.9 yards on 62 receptions. This year, however, Jenkins has turned into a big-play threat. He leads the team with an average of 23.9 yards per catch on a team-leading 23 receptions. In the first nine games, Jenkins already has long catches of 84 yards vs. NCSU (tied for the eighth-longest in school history), 64 yards at Florida State, 97 yards at North Carolina (second-longest in school history), 46 yards vs. Duke, and 35 yards vs. FIU. Of Jenkins’ 23 catches this fall, 12 of them have been for first downs.

#3 Kyle Wright QB, 6-4/225, Senior, 88 of 142, 1,240 yards passing, 9/9 TD/INT ratio, 49 rushes for 92 yards: Coming off an injury and some less than stellar performances this season, Kyle Wright can be described as inconsistent and gimpy. That doesn’t change the fact that with Jenkins and Wright on the field, Miami is a big play threat if the Hurricane line can keep Wright on his feet. The senior quarterback is 18-9 as UM’s starter and is moving up Miami’s career passing charts. Wright has thrown 35 career TD passes, which ranks eighth all-time at UM. His six completions against Florida State moved him into fifth place all-time, giving him 425 career completions. He also is eighth in career passing yards with 5,298 yards.

A Closer Look

Jeffrey Fitzgerald and the defense will need to stop the run against Miami.

Running Offense: While the return of Kyle Wright to QB improves UM’s chances for big plays, the most productive component of the Miami offense is the running game. Many of the great Miami offenses of the past were driven by a dynamic running game, and with this new era of Hurricane football trying to regain those moments of greatness, Randy Shannon and offensive coordinator Patrick Nix have gone back to the run to build the program.

MUCH LIKE VIRGINIA, MIAMI USES A COMBINATION OF INSIDE ZONE, DRIVE AND STRETCH RUN BLOCKING and the offensive line has adapted fairly well to Nix’s system. Tailbacks Javarris James, Graig Cooper, and Shawnbrey McNeal might be the youngest backfield in the country and arguably one of the most talented. Like Cooper, McNeal is a true freshman.

Cooper leads the team with 564 yards rushing on a fine 5.9-yard per carry average. He has two 100-yard games so far, and in the season opener vs. Marshall he had the best debut ever for a Miami running back, gaining 116 yards on 12 carries (a 9.7-yard average). McNeal, who has played running back in only six games so far this season, has come on of late with the injury to James.

Miami’s three backs have a slashing, cut-back running style (similar to the type of backs we’ve seen from Georgia Tech over the last few years). That means a primary focus for the Cavalier defense and especially the linebackers will be gap control. UVa could opt to run blitz Miami, but despite their youth the Cane tailbacks possess good field vision and can read that approach and they often cut-back into the spot vacated by the blitzer. That means a safety must make the play and with UM’s big play potential that’s not the preferred option.

I look for Virginia to try to maintain gap control from its basic 3-4 set and force the Miami backs wide, affording the corners and safeties time to converge on the play. A key to success here is for the outside linebackers not to get sealed off from the play and they must keep the backs from getting cleanly to the edge to allow the trailing defenders to close for the stop.

When the Cavaliers are effective at forcing plays outside, the backside defenders must be aware of the cut-back lanes and the UM backs’ ability to reverse field. With the required emphasis on pursuit that the Hoos will need to stop the Miami run, Virginia must guard against over pursuit.

Passing Offense: In ACC play, the Hurricanes have thrown and completed fewer passes than any other ACC club this season but make big yardage when they do. Miami has attempted 46% fewer passes than the league’s third best passing unit (N.C. State) but has thrown for only 30% fewer yards per game as the Pack. ALL FOUR OF MIAMI’S TOP FOUR PASS CATCHERS AVERAGE MORE THAN 10.4 YARDS PER GRAB. SO ONE THING IS CLEAR, MIAMI WILL THROW THE FOOTBALL DEEP. It’s a Hurricane and Patrick Nix trademark. Expect to see it. Deep outs, deep posts, and crossing routes behind the linebacker drops.

Kyle Wright will start against Virginia on Saturday but is still not fully healed from a sprained left ankle and knee. He took snaps Monday for the first time since he sustained the injuries against Florida State. The QBs will operate under center and out of the shot gun and will throw to all targets, including the tight ends. Three different TEs have started games this season, combining for 16 receptions, 178 yards, and 11.1 YPC. Dedrick Epps , who plays a hybrid TE/FB position, and DajLeon Farr have come on at the tight end position, which Nix seemed to ignored earlier in the season.

From key catches on third down in the Texas A&M game to a 97-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown against North Carolina, some would call Hurricane receiver
Darnell Jenkins UM’s most reliable offensive weapon this season. He had a few more big plays last Saturday, including an 84-yard touchdown catch and a 39-yard run, which set up a field goal. But when the pressure was on late in Miami’s 19-16 loss to North Carolina State, Jenkins was inexplicably relegated to a frustrated blocker and observer.

That presents one of the oddities of Nix. He likes to create personnel packages specific to certain formations. While that allows for improved proficiency in that particular set, it can also take playmakers out of the line-up or limit the use of ‘hot’ players. It also adds a great deal of predictability to the offense, something the studious Jon Copper can exploit. Of course, getting too smart in those situations makes defenders subject to play-calling modifications within those sets.

With Wright’s mobility still somewhat limited and thus a big-time target for Virginia’s sack attack, I look for Miami to run lots of maximum protection sets combined with deep, two-pattern, receiver routes. Miami has the skill people to attack Virginia in various ways with the passing game, but the Cavaliers’ primary goal must be to stop the run. Miami is a running team that relies on the big strike in the passing game, usually off a play-action fake, to move the football.

I look for Virginia to test Wright’s mobility and how the Canes respond to heavy pressure early on. Hopefully after last week’s holding fest against Wake Forest, the Cavalier pass rushers may get some help from the guys in stripes. Wright will be given every chance to play since he is the Canes’ best option for success. But if UVa can get some hits on Wright, that might mean a move to a more mobile but less accurate Kirby Freeman.

On first down: UM RUNS 68% OF THE TIME ON FIRST DOWN AND SLOWING THE MIAMI PRODUCTION ON FIRST DOWN RUNS IS CRITICAL. In five wins this season, UM has averaged 5.51 YPC on first down runs. In four losses, the Hurricanes have netted just 3.09 YPC rushing on first down.

The Canes have completed 55% of their first down passing attempts and average a high 12.65 yards per catch (6.9 per attempt). They are also subject to play disruption, suffering eight sacks on first down passing plays and tossing nine interceptions. In six of nine games this season, Miami has thrown a pick on first down. In an odd statistical quirk, the Hurricanes lost two of the games where they did not throw an INT.

In Miami’s four losses, it has struggled passing on first down, completing just 39% of passing attempts while averaging 4.9 yards per play.

When UM goes to air on first down, the area of attack is vertical with go and deep out cut routes. Look for Mike London to use defensive sets on first down that allow him to incorporate run and deep coverage blends.

With the possible return to full action for cornerback Chris Cook , an improving Vic Hall, and impressive freshman Ras-I Dowling, watch for the defense to deploy more press coverage against Miami. The safeties are still vulnerable to big plays, but the Cavaliers will need their assistance in run support. The concern here is to avoid biting on play fakes and the occasional misreads could mean big plays for Miami. I like the man approach because the cover responsibilities are clear in man and it minimizes the chance for mistakes. Press coverage on first down will free up one of the safeties for run support while holding the other safety back to provide coverage support in the middle and deep zones.

On third down: The effectiveness of the Miami running game is evident on third down as well. UM converts 66% of its third-and-medium or less plays on the ground but like most teams has little success rushing on third-and-long converting just 13% of its chances.

In the air, Miami is perfect on three short third down situations but has a 28% conversion rate in third-and-medium plus. On the season, the Canes have completed 50% of their third down passes. OVERALL, UM HAS HAD DIFFICULTY ADVANCING THE CHAINS, CONVERTING A LEAGUE LOW 30% OF ITS THIRD DOWN ATTEMPTS. They will face a Cavalier club that holds opponents to a 35.4% conversion rate (6th ACC).

WR Darnell Jenkins is the Hurricanes’ top third down receiving target, getting the look 26% of the time. Fellow wideouts Lance Leggett (#9) and Sam Shields (#83) are the focus of the action on 34% of Miami’s third down passing chances while the receivers in total collect 75% of the conversion opportunities. Miami has thrown one pass to the fullback this season on third down so that is certainly a tendency change to be aware of. The tight ends are a big option in the red zone but get few chances on third down. The backs also get limited opportunities in the third down passing game as the targets of just 15% of the passing attempts.

Look for Virginia to continue to disguise and change coverages to try to create confusion in an attempt to disrupt the timing routes for Miami’s quarterback and receivers. The Cavaliers have been very effective this season with their zone blitz packages and the Canes should expect to see that approach Saturday. The 3-4 defense has proved to be an excellent scheme for the zone blitz. Having four linebackers adds an inherent degree of unpredictability because offensive lines don’t know which linebacker will be attacking the quarterback. It also affords London the best of both worlds, allowing the Hoos to apply pressure by sending a fifth or sixth defender at the quarterback but still defend the secondary by using safer zone coverages.

In the red zone: Miami’s 10th-rated ACC red zone offense will face off against Virginia’s fourth best defensive team in the red zone. The Cavaliers continued their impressive performances in the red zone last week against the Demon Deacons, preventing touchdowns in three of Wake’s four opportunities inside the 20.

THE CANES HAVE SCORED TDS ON 19 OF 36 RED ZONE POSSESSIONS THIS SEASON (52.8%), the eighth best average in the conference. In goal-to-go situations, Miami is 14 of 22 (63.6%), relying almost exclusively on the run in those situations.

With the loss of stud TE Greg Olsen, concern arose that Miami’s well of star tight ends might have dried up. But a look at the numbers shows that isn’t accurate, especially in the red zone. In fact, through nine games, Miami tight ends have accounted for five touchdowns so far, tied for the most by the position since 2002. #11 DajLeon Farr has been the most dangerous target in the red zone this season. He has just five receptions total but three have gone for scores.

The Canes will throw in the red zone, but they like to pound the football via the run – 11 of UM’s 19 TDs in the red zone have been on the ground. Against the red zone run, Virginia will want to keep Miami from getting to the edge where the backs have the vision and skills to find the backside creases that so often develop inside the 20-yard line. The Cavaliers will try to set the edge by deploying the outside linebackers 2 to 3 yards beyond the line of scrimmage while the ends try to clog the gaps and disrupt the counters and sweeps. As noted, the Miami backs are adept at attacking the cut-back alleys, so sealing the ends and staying with assignments will be crucial for off-side defenders.

Coaching: One of the big issues this year with the Canes is that they are on their third offensive coordinator in 3 years. Not only does it take time for players to adapt to the new coordinator, it takes time for the new coordinator to understand the strengths of his player as well as recruit the kind of athletes he needs to do what he wants to do. Nix is used to running a completely different style of offense than what the players were brought in to run.

Miami’s pro style offense is more diverse now, and has more of a college flavor. Nix has brought his multi-formation, multi-personnel grouping offense to Miami and tried to adapt to the Canes athletic personnel. The running game consists of counter plays and slants with a fullback lead or a pulling off-side guard. Nix complements this diverse running attack with a dangerous vertical passing attack. It’s a more creative scheme, a less predictable scheme, a player-friendly scheme.

“There are two new coordinators, so there is a bit of a transition that goes on in those circumstances,” Coach Groh says of Miami. “So often when you have a highly talented team such as Miami, that maybe isn’t accomplishing quite what they want, sometimes a really galvanizing event like [the N.C. State loss] brings out the very best in them. That’s what we are assuming is going to be the case and we will have to have our team ready play at that particular level.”

Plays That Could Hurt Virginia

‘Wild Cat’ formation. It appears every team in the country is riding the hip new ‘Wild Cat’ formation wave and the Hurricanes are no different. UM will line up receivers or tailbacks at the quarterback spot for direct snaps. Darnell Jenkins, Graig Cooper, and Javarris James have all taken snaps from center with Kyle Wright at wide receiver. Miami has some success with the play and we can certainly see Wright taking a pitch or lateral and throwing from this formation.

Wide receiver screen. Virginia defenders also need to be aware of receiver screens, both bubble screens and screens off of motion. Sam Shields is part of UM’s WR screen personnel package and Jenkins is an option on this play as well.

Strengths

  • Wide receivers. They’re fast, they can jump, they’re physical, they separate well, they get open, and they can score on any play. The only good news is that Miami’s quarterbacks can’t consistently get them the ball.
  • Running game. James and Cooper bring electricity to the running game not seen at Miami since Frank Gore left for the pros. Ever since Cooper’s first game against Marshall, where he ran for more than 100 yards, he’s been the talk of the town. Miami will line its three productive backs in pro-set, I-formation and run them at tailback and fullback. They’ve even lined up at wide receiver. They can move the chains on sustained drives or break it to the house on any play.

Vulnerability

  • Quarterback. The QB situation is Miami’s prevailing weakness. Wright played horribly last season, his confidence and play deteriorating with each game. He went from a player poised for a breakout year after a strong sophomore season in 2005, to a guy who held the ball too long, forced throws and eventually lost his job. Freeman, who played when Wright was ineffective and injured, didn’t fare much better. Both were hamstrung by sporadic play on the offensive line and receivers who either didn’t or wouldn’t fight for balls. Both have a tendency to lock on to their primary targets, which has led to INTs at critical times and neither is very accurate under pressure.
  • Passing offense. The Hurricane pass offense has the potential to be a very lethal attack and if a QB and wide receiver can connect, they can burn a defense in a similar fashion to what N.C. State did to Virginia two weeks ago. But the problem has been consistency: from play-calling to execution, the Canes have lacked it. If Virginia can bottle up the Miami running game, it will put a ton of pressure on an operation that needs pressure relieved, not added.

Virginia’s Defensive Keys

  • No big plays. Miami’s offense has proven over the years it can strike quickly, making the big play. An “explosive play” is a run of 18-plus yards or a pass of 25-plus yards, and that is a key factor in the team’s success. They have made a conscious effort under Nix to take shots downfield. This season, Miami has recorded 12 ‘explosive’ runs and 16 passes. Wright has been on the throwing end of 14 of Miami’s 16 pass plays in excess of 25 yards and his return this week heightens the big play threat. Darnell Jenkins and Graig Cooper have contributed 10 of Miami’s 28 ‘explosive’ plays. Keep a close eye on personnel packages. When Cooper and Jenkins are in the game, don’t be surprised if Miami goes vertical, especially on third down.
  • Stifle the Miami run game. Miami doesn’t have much going for it on offense but does have three quality running backs. Through nine games, the Canes are averaging almost 175 yards game, which isn’t exactly blowing away defenses, but it’s good enough for second in the conference and 39th in the country. Randy Shannon would like nothing better than to see his club grind out the game on the ground and while Virginia is not a great run defense, they are 23rd in the nation.
  • Keep the pressure on Wright. Virginia sat back and forced Wake’s Riley Skinner to complete passes between eight defenders. It worked but I’m not sure it will work as well this week with the Hurricane running attack. The pass offense has been highly productive when completing passes, but also highly inconsistent overall. No one is sure just how much mobility Wright has. The last thing a QB wants to be called when facing Chris Long , Clint Sintim , and Jeffrey Fitzgerald is gimpy. While the Canes have had issues on offense, they have done a decent job protecting the quarterback. Opposing defenses have gotten to the Miami signal-caller just 13 times in nine games. As a comparison, UVa has given up 22 sacks in 10 outings. Test Wright with coverage and pressure mixes, force him to make mistakes, and get hits on the QB.
  • Make the Canes one-dimensional. Yes, Miami has had success throwing the football at times this season. But the Hurricanes win with success in the running game. Eliminate that element and they will struggle.

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