What Went Right, Wrong, And Expected In Miami's Win Over The Wildcats
To the surprise of nobody, Miami took care of business last night in comfortable fashion winning 48-7 over Bethune-Cookman. Given they faced a lesser opponent in the Wildcats, Miami was able to dive into their depth and see what they had with their depth. Here's my thoughts on last night's game ahead of next Saturday's matchup against the Temple Owls:
What Went Right: Control Of The Game
While many sports betting sites had the Hurricanes winning this game by more than 50 points, Miami's 41 point margin of victory was a modest one. However, Miami controlled this game throughout and could've done more damage if they felt like it.
Tyler Van Dyke and Emory Williams were both over 80% on the night, and the running game was averaging 6.7 yards per carry. While Miami didn't put up 60-plus points, they showed just how efficient they can be as an offense. Look for Miami to play this style of football for their next two games as well.
What Went Wrong: Careless Penalties
Going into this game, I thought one of the biggest focuses for Miami would be to keep as clean as a game as possible in terms of penalties. Given they've been one of the most penalized teams in the nation, it's an area of concern going forward for the Hurricanes.
Last night, Miami was penalized five times for 34 yards but were lucky enough that it didn't affect the outcome of the game much at all. Miami was charged with three off sides penalties, which I imagine will be something they'll focus on limiting the next two games. If Miami fails to get this penalty problem under control, it could very well be the reason they lose a game or two coming up.
What Went Expected: The Defensive Performance
Despite letting in a late touchdown at the end of the fourth quarter, Miami's defense was on lock down all game despite missing key pieces all around. Jaden Harris received high praise from Mario Cristobal starting in place of Kam Kinchens, and the defensive line performed well despite missing three starters. The Hurricanes defense walked away with four sacks and ten tackles for loss, swarming Bethune-Cookman all night long.
Now that Miami was able to play their depth some significant snaps this game, it helps the Hurricanes going forward to know who they can rely on if a player goes down. It would've been nice to see Miami force more than one turnover, but holding the Wildcats to 3.5 yards per play will do.
All Hurricanes Staff Predictions: Miami's Win-Loss Record
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You can find Liam on Twitter @theleftyliam where he shares news on University of Miami basketball and football as well as opinions