With conference play starting next week against rival Florida State, is it hard to believe that tomorrow’s matchup against the Cincinnati Bearcats could be a statement game for the Miami Hurricanes?
Cincinnati: A Statement Game for Miami
Flashes of Old, Reminder of the New
Two weeks ago against the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Miami opened the game looking like world beaters, amassing a 23-point lead headed into the fourth quarter.
Quarterback Brad Kaaya and his receivers put on an air show, the defense made big plays, every asset of the Hurricanes game plan was clicking; it was like watching the 2001 National Championship game all over again.
…and then Nebraska scored 23 points behind Tommy Armstrong, Jr.’s three touchdown passes in the final nine minutes to force overtime.
If it hadn’t been for a Corn Elder interception on Nebraska’s first drive of overtime, Miami would have fell victim to one of the biggest throat gagging choke jobs of the season.
On North to Cincinnati
Miami looks to go 4-0 before their game against Florida State on October 10. A decisive win tomorrow against a battered Cincinnati team will help silence the critics and allow the Hurricanes to find out who they really are as they move into conference play.
Miami and Cincinnati have both had extra time to prepare for their upcoming matchup. Both escaped their previous games with a victory, but left with more questions about themselves than answers.
Cincinnati lost quarterback Gunner Kiel to a head injury, meaning backup quarterback freshman Hayden Moore will start. Moore threw for a school record 557 yards to go along with four touchdown passes in the shootout against Memphis, but lost on a late interception on a tipped pass thrown as Hayden was being tackled; punctuating the turnover plague that has affected Cincinnati since the start of the season (t-127th in turnovers lost in FBS).
Juxtapose Cincinnati’s turnover problems with Miami’s defense, which leads the country in turnover margin. Safety Artie Burns is the first Hurricane since the legendary Sean Taylor to snag an interception in the first three games of the season. Miami heads into Cincinnati facing the third ranked offense in the country, but the defense has been able to contain the pass, allowing only 167 yards per game.
The Miami linebacker corps has been struggling with injuries, starting with the loss of sophomore linebacker Darrion Owens, and the scary injury to linebacker Marques Gayot last Wednesday that required him to be air lifted from the practice field. Safeties Deon Bush and Jamal Carter were ejected for targeting in the fourth quarter, allowing Armstrong, Jr. to take advantage of a weakened Miami secondary which contributed to the Cornhuskers comeback attempt. Both Bush and Carter will be needed to contain Bearcats receivers. If the pass rush and secondary play smart and consistent for four quarters as well as they did during the majority of the Nebraska game, Miami will be able to take control of the game early from the pass happy Bearcat offense.
With Miami averaging 41 points per game this season, the Bearcats will have a hard task in stopping the Kaaya and the rest of the Hurricanes offense.
In his first game against a competent defense, Kaaya was efficient as always and needs to continue his stellar play this season (quarterback rating of 145.5 for the season) if the games turns into a shootout against the Bearcats. In the first half, Kaaya took advantage of the Cornhuskers weak secondary, completing several passes for big yardage to receivers Rashawn Scott and Herb Waters, finishing with 379 yards and two touchdowns. Cincinnati gives up an average of 217.3 yards per game passing, with one of the highest yards per completion averages in the country (14.25 yards per completion).
Miami has shown that their running game is a viable threat that has yet to be contained. The running game continues to shine on the legs of Joe Yearby and Mark Walton, with 451 yards and seven touchdowns combined on the season. Cincinnati gave up 4.3 yards per carry against Memphis. This, along with surrendering 172 rushing yards per game for the season, should give Cincinnati something to fear as they face a Miami backfield that is averaging 184 yards per game on a 5.3 yards per carry average.
However, failure to convert third downs has killed many of Miami’s drives this season, and the Hurricanes are one spot away from dead last in FBS in third down conversion percentage. Cincinnati’s defense ranks 12th overall in the country on third down, with an allowed conversion rate of 25%. Due to their inability to convert on third down, Miami is a perfect 5/5 on fourth down conversions, but in a shootout, a failed fourth down conversion can spell death. Miami has to remedy this problem if they want to keep up with the Bearcats high scoring offense.
Last week was Miami’s first test against legitimate competition, and early own showed that this team is a lot better than the final score indicated. The players are doing their part, but it ultimately comes down to coach Al Golden and his staff to keep the Hurricanes playing with the consistency and dominance we saw during the first half against Nebraska.
The season that really matters begin next week in Tallahassee. This Cincinnati matchup is Miami’s last chance to show themselves, and the rest of the country that this season is not just another mirage.
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