The Miami Hurricanes (11-2) knocked off the Texas A&M Aggies (11-2) 10-3 on Saturday afternoon in the first round of the College Football Playoffs. The Canyonero Keys to Victory main theme was to sell
the farm to get yourself a brand new Canyonero.
The individual keys to victory were:
1- Can’t let Reed run. Marcel Reed was sacked seven times and rushed for only 27 yards with sack yardage included. While he scrambled to pick up a few 1st downs he wasn’t as deadly of a weapon on the ground.
2- Must run to win. Miami ran the ball 28 times (plus two sacks) for 175 yards. The ‘Canes mostly gave the rock to Mark Fletcher, the bruiser, as opposed to the shiftier Girard Pringle.
3- Win the kicking game. Malachi Toney hit on a 55-yard punt return while KC Concepcion was bottled up. Carter Davis and the A&M kickers missed FG’s and the kick return game was non-existent. Miami didn’t win the KG but didn’t lose it either.
The Doppler
The ‘Canes lost the money downs by finishing 3-of-12 while A&M finished 8-of-19, mostly due to Reed’s ability to scramble. The Hurricanes were also flagged for 30 yards in penalties compared to the Aggies 15 yards.
Miami kicker Carter Davis finished the game 1-of-4 on field goals while the A&M kickers were 1-of-2. Neither defense scored a touchdown, and no one scored on special teams. Not punts were blocked.
If I told you this information you’d assume TAMU won, except Reed turned the football over three times, compared to Miami’s one turnover from Toney on a fumble. Turnovers, especially key turnovers, are a true difference maker.
The Miami Offense
Carson Beck averaged 5.2 yards per attempt with one touchdown pass and zero turnovers on the day. He rushed twice for minimal gain. Toney missed on his lone pass attempt.
Fletcher was the star of the show. The veteran RB rushed for 10.1 yards per carry and carried the offense to a 10 point victory. Toney averaged 3.0 yards per carry, Elija Lofton 4.0, and Pringle 1.0. The O-Line allowed two sacks and six TFL’s.
Beck connected with six receivers but only two were for double-digit yards per catch ranges in the Texas wind. That intense wind impacted both the QB’s and the punters and kickers.
Above– This ball was thrown way too far behind the receiver. Beck was off, Reed was off- we’ll blame the wind.
Above– The C gets bullied back but Fletcher wiggles around it. Mauigoa opens a huge hole with his turn on the DE. Fletcher’s vision was A+ vs. A&M.
Above– Screens into the F’ing boundary. Shannon Dawson, stop this crap. The sideline never misses a tackle. The edge rusher and LB work inside out, the CB and S work outside in. Easy to stop especially to Toney who was getting a ton of attention all game.
Above– Aggies overload the OL and RB, but the real question is who is the rush route? If I have to get rid of the ball NOW who is getting it in this concept? Maybe Daniels but that’s a risk and Toney isn’t looking.
Above– The OL working outside tips the play. This is more of a commentary on the A&M defender, he doesn’t leave his feet, he buzzes down and meets him in the chest.
Above– Miami really starts feeling split zone. Lofton FINALLY gets his hat in the right place, inside, and the LT turns his man. This turns into a huge gain for Fletcher.
Above– Cooper gets whooped on this rep but the DL lunges and Fletcher is reading him. He’s the one to beat and then it’s space on space. The ‘cut and go’ mentality for Fletcher was on point.
Above– The go-ahead score on a jet sweep to Toney was fitting. Motion got the NB across the field, Toney comes back on the snap fast, then works slow enough to read the blockers. Miami gets 4 with Toney on 3 outside.
The Miami Defense
Reed averaged 6.1 yards per attempt but threw two picks including the game sealing INT in the end zone. Reed averaged only 1.8 yards per carry including the seven sacks.
Rueben Owens, Le’Veon Moss and EJ Smith were stifled on the ground. The trio averaged 3.0, 2.1, and 3.5 yards per carry, respectively. Miami came away with nine TFL’s in a dominating performance from DC Corey Hetherman’s side.
Reed found nine different receivers with three hitting the double-digit yards per catch mark. The 59-yard grab from Mario Carver was a huge play that was negated by the ‘Canes defense in the end.
Keionte Scott, welcome back my friend. Scott was everywhere including a strip sack, two total sacks, three TFL’s, and 10 tackles. Rueben Bain Jr. had a blocked FG, three sacks and four TFL’s. And of course rookie centerfielder Bryce Fitzgerald picked Reed twice including that game sealer in the end zone to win the game.
Above– Later Miami adjusts to this and gets 3over3. Here it’s 2over3 and an easy read for Reed.
Above– Bissainthe freezes his feet instead of buzzing down and just implodes on one little cut from Reed. Toure does a great job of tracking the Q and makes the stop.
Above– When you’re in the open field you have to shoot the hip and single leg the WR. It’s a perfect example of it above.
Above- Inverted Veer. Bain plays the RB so Reed keeps. Toure has to win the block vs the pulling guard who wraps and he does when the Q cuts back vs. staying to space.
Above- Frederique needs to use the sideline as a 12th man (pun). Instead he goes outside and the WR can now work in and avoid being shoved out.
Above– Toure is solid vs the box runs but this is where he falls apart, in coverage. He doesn’t feel the TE working away and into space. Toure is covering no one and nothing.
Above– Miami cleans this up, stops Reed’s scrambling, and wins the game. Early the rush lane integrity is poor. You can see two defenders stacked here. That allows Reed to escape through the gap they leave. We’ll come back to this later.
Above– The busted coverage. There’s 1-high and the CB is in press man. He’s either playing Cover 0, 1, or 3 but regardless the S can’t be responsible for that outside deep 1/3 that the CB gives up.
Above– you see Poyser chasing and something was wrong here on the call or comms.
Above– Now the rush lanes are fixed. The DT (arrow) thought about going inside but stays out and keeps Reed from escaping.
Above– Again everyone is in their lane, no one is stacked. This is how you keep a mobile QB bottled up.
Above– Why does Dawson and why do other OC’s use bunched sets? Because it’s hard to communicate who has who once they spread out post-snap. The crosser comes free and nearly scores the game tying TD.
Above– If Reed leads the TE it’s a tie ball game but he doesn’t and Fitzgerald picks the pass that’s thrown behind by stepping in front of it. He may not tackle but he can sure pick passes and cover ground.
The Miami Special Teams
Above– Lets learn about tracking in space. The first guy on the ground is allowed to miss, he’s the kill shot guy. As a STC you hope he doesn’t miss but he can. This 2nd guy up top cannot miss. Toney, wisely, goes to space. That guy has to know he’s not as fast as Toney so he has to stay wide and turn him back to help.
Above– WHOOPS. He comes inside and winds up even with Toney’s far hip in image 1, giving up space by the acre.
Above– Ballsy fake punt by A&M in the wind. Your QB’s passes are off target but you trust the punter. Maybe it was between gusts. If this wheel route carries outside of the numbers and deep it’s a TD or at least explosive. Fitzgerald sees this and makes a huge play, add in the short arm throw into trouble and it’s an INC pass.
The Wrap
They’ve done it. The Miami Hurricanes not only ended their meaningful post-season game drought, but now are in the Elite 8 and will face Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl on New Years Eve. If you had some fancy plans cancel them, because if you’re reading my SOTU post you have to be quite a die hard fan. If the weather is nice I’ll probably watch on the projector by the fire pit and freeze my ass off.
