About 15 years ago, the Miami Hurricanes-Nebraska Cornhuskers rivalry reached its pinnacle when the Hurricanes won their fifth National Championship by a score of 37-14 in the Rose Bowl.
It’s definitely not 2002 anymore.
KEYS FOR A MIAMI VICTORY VS NEBRASKA
After several down years, both programs come into the game Saturday looking like shells of their former selves. Both are seeking to get their programs back on track and recapture the glory that made them college football juggernauts in the 90s and early 2000s. Miami comes into the game at 2-0 after having their first two games both delayed by lightning strikes. The Hurricanes opened the season with a crushing defeat of FCS opponent Bethune-Cookman, and followed that up with an ugly win against cross-town rival Florida-Atlantic. After beating up on South Alabama last week, Nebraska comes to Sun Life Stadium with a 1-1 record; their loss coming on a last second touchdown by BYU in Lincoln on opening day. A Miami win would help to show if Coach Golden really does have this team moving in the right direction, and, even though it is still early in the season, it can be looked at as a must win to set the tone for the rest of the Hurricanes’ season. The game against Florida Atlantic was their toughest test so far, and that matchup exposed flaws that have to be improved upon if the Hurricanes expect to win not only this week, but in conference play as well.
Below are three keys Miami needs to focus on if they expect to win Saturday, and possibly find themselves in Charlotte for the ACC Championship Game in December.
OFFENSIVE LINE MUST STEP UP IN PASS PROTECTION
The offensive line struggled at times against FAU, registering several false starts, and not giving quarterback Brad Kaaya adequate time to throw the football consistently. This week they will be going against a Nebraska D-line that can get to the quarterback, with five sacks on the season so far. The Hurricanes’ offensive line has been great in run blocking, allowing running backs Mark Walton and Joe Yearby to accumulate 313 yards and six touchdowns through the first two games of the season. But Miami will have to do a better of job of protecting Kaaya for this offense to have success Saturday against the Blackshirt defense of Nebraska.
LET KAAYA AND HIS RECEIVERS LOOSE
Saturday against Nebraska will be Kaaya’s chance to prove whether he is the quarterback fans expected him to become this season. Kaaya hasn’t been explosive to start the season (37/59 for 460 yards and three touchdowns) but, as mentioned above, this can be contributed to the ‘Canes lack of adequate pass protection, along with a shortened game against Bethune-Cookman, and short drives against FAU due to the Miami defense causing turnovers in FAU territory. But Kaaya has been consistent during his short time on the field, with a 62.7% completion percentage and a QB rating of 145.0. BYU runs a spread offense similar to Miami, and they were able to pass the ball by finding receivers on the outside and holes in the middle of the Cornhuskers’ secondary. Veteran wide receiver junior Stacy Coley is expected to play, and if the O-line can give their quarterback some protection, Kaaya will be able to find his receivers consistently going against a Nebraska defense that struggled at times in pass coverage against BYU.
ESTABLISH THE RUN GAME EARLY
Despite some issues in pass protection, the Miami offensive line has shown they can allow their running backs to run the ball consistently. Running backs Joseph Yearby and Mark Walton have been able to find daylight when Miami runs plays out of the shotgun formation in the place of the injured Gus Edwards. Coach Golden says that the formation allows the backs to find cutback lanes and is more suited to their style. The run game contributed greatly to Miami’s victory against FAU, and making it an offensive focus early against Nebraska will allow for the passing game to open up, keeping the Cornhuskers defense honest allowing Kaaya and his receivers to exploit the gaps in Nebraska’s pass coverage.
Saturday will be a tone setting game for the Hurricanes. The defense has shown that they are up to the challenge with their performance the past two weeks, but it is up to the offense to find their identity in order to pull out a win. This game will go a long way in proving if this Miami team has turned the corner offensively, and can compete not only Saturday, but for the rest of their season as well.
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