The Hurricanes say these are the two issues badly hurting them. And UM personnel notes
A six-pack of Miami Hurricanes notes on a Wednesday:
▪ College football teams that rank in the top 20 nationally in offense and defense are usually worthy of a spot in the Top 25.
But two issues are bedeviling the Hurricanes, who dropped out of the Top 25 after Saturday’s loss in North Carolina dropped them to 4-2.
“It’s as simple as this, and it’s very tangible: the progress of our program is very tangible,” coach Mario Cristobal said on WQAM’s Hurricane Hotline. “Our offense, total offense is in top 10 in the country. Our total defense is top 18.
“But where we kill ourselves is turnovers and penalties, where we’re in the bottom, in the 100s in the country. Those things are controllable, and it starts with being great leaders as coaches.
“We have to get that done, do that together with our program, analyze and assess that. All that good stuff we’re doing, we’re also hurting ourselves in routine situation on routine plays because we’re doing this.”
Among 130 FBS teams, UM ranks 120th in penalty yards per game at 70.5. That’s fourth worst among Power 5 teams.
“We have to do a better job coaching and teaching that playing hard is not enough,” Cristobal said.
UM’s minus-3 turnover margin is tied for 100th. UM has 12 giveaways, nine takeaways.
“The amount of time invested in” turnover-creation drills “is insane,” Cristobal told Joe Zagacki and Don Bailey Jr.
Conversely, UM is seventh in the country in yards per game on offense (501.8) and 18th in yards permitted per game on defense (308.3).
▪ Cristobal said Isaiah Horton and Brashard Smith, who have essentially become top-five receivers based on snap counts, will continue to get more opportunities.
“They are showing signs of being great,” Cristobal said. “There’s more meat on the bone. We’re going to lean and press on them.”
Horton played more than starter Colbie Young against UNC. Xavier Restrepo and Jacolby George play the most among the receivers and are having very good seasons.
▪ Nebraska transfer Ajay Allen has 84 snaps at running back, compared with 186 for Henry Parrish Jr. and 91 for Don Chaney Jr.
Parrish has 72 carries, Chaney 56 and Allen 31.
Why doesn’t Allen have more snaps?
“Consistency is the key,” offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson said.
“Kids ask me about playing time; everybody wants to know if they’re not playing, [why they’re not playing] ” Dawson said. “I want him to play more because his ability to make big plays is there, but he has to do everything.”
▪ Draft analyst Todd McShay, who was part of ESPN’s round of June layoffs, told podcast personality Ryen Russillo that UM quarterback Tyler Van Dyke “doesn’t see” the field very well.
“Big arm, moves OK for such a big quarterback,” McShay said. “Physically looks the part, can drive the ball as well as anyone in this class and most classes.
“He makes some throws where you’re like `damn, this guy’s got it.’ And there is a chance that he gets in the right system in the NFL and winds up being a better NFL player than college player.
“Even Justin Herbert wasn’t as prolific at Oregon in this kind of system… There’s hope for his future.
“But the thing I keep coming back to and see on tape: He’s locking on the guys, leading safeties or other DBs to his throw. And even with that strong of an arm he’s giving guys too big of a jump.
“And he’s not going through progressions as quickly as he needs to. If he’s making one read and knows where his primary target is, he’s just locking into that guy.”
▪ Cristobal said tight end Elijah Arroyo — expected to have a bigger role this week in his second game back from a knee injury 13 months ago – “can do it all. He can stretch the field, good in the run game. You’ll see that tight ends production go up and up and up.”
▪ ESPN assigned Wes Durham and Tim Hasselbeck to Saturday’s game on ACC Network. Before Chaney’s fumble, Hasselbeck questioned Cristobal for not kneeling late in the loss to Georgia Tech….
The time and TV network for UM’s Oct. 28 home game against Virginia will be determined and announced this weekend.
