The Miami Hurricanes handled the Pitt Panthers at home on Saturday afternoon with a 52-23 victory. Miami remains undefeated along with Utah and UCLA as the three teams left in FBS without a loss this season.
The Canyonero Keys to Victory main theme from the preview was that even without Mason Heintschel Pitt would still try to take a few deep shots and to watch out for any tricks. Pitt attempted an onside kick to start the second half, but the ‘Canes recovered.
The individual keys were:
1- Protect Mensah.
Pitt sacked Darian Mensah three times while also creating 14 pressures on the QB. Ben Congdon was charged with allowing four pressures of his own. Miami has a lot to fix before facing UNC’s D-Line.
2- Tighten up in the back end. Miami’s DB’s allowed Holden Geriner to average 8.4 yards per pass with a touchdown, no interceptions, but a lost fumble on a strip sack. Geriner had his 2nd highest QB Rating of the season, and highest since replacing Corey Dailey as starting QB after Heintschel’s injury.
3- Don’t get caught up in penalties. Miami was flagged 10 times for 77 yards while Pitt was flagged six times for 54 yards. Miami was penalized but not in most of the cheap games Narduzzi’s squad was playing with late hits.
The Doppler
Miami dominated Pitt on money downs finishing 10-of-16 including garbage time. Pitt was held to 4-of-14 including a string of 3-and-outs to start the game.
Pitt had the lone turnover of the game in Geriner’s fumble, as Miami was once again clean in protecting the ball. Miami had a scoop and score play overturned by the officials (rightfully).
As I said earlier, Miami was flagged for 77-yards in penalties including far too many pre-snap false starts on offense. Mario Cristobal was giving the refs hell about Pitt clapping (maybe don’t clap your cadence?) but the refs didn’t seem to believe him.
PK Jake Weinberg was flawless once again nailing his only FG attempt to go up 3-0 to start the game and hitting on all seven of his PAT attempts.
The Miami Offense
Mensah finished the game 31-of-37 to average 10.5 yards per pass with four touchdowns and no turnovers. Mensah found nine different receivers with seven hitting double digit yards per catch marks.
Malachi Toney is the single greatest player in Miami Hurricanes history… IF HE WINS A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. Stats are for losers but everyone remembers a championship story. Toney caught three TD’s from Mensah on 16 receptions, a record.
Freshman stud RB Javian Mallory averaged 6.2 yards per carry with two scores while Mark Fletcher was held to just 3.2 yards per carry and one TD.
The offensive line allowed three sacks and six TFL’s along with 14 pressures. I’ll put together the offensive line and tight end review once again this week.
Above- Mensah has started to panic on Mesh, and not have a feel for who is getting open. Some of that is when you leave the back in to block on mesh he’s not replacing a crosser, which holds a LB. Instead the LBs can get in between the mesh without a RB in the flat or on a wheel to pull them away from the MOF.
Above- I love the slide route. Look at the amount of space for Lofton here as long as he beats the LB that’s sucked in on the play-fake. It’s useful as an RPO, a check down, and on PAP’s.
Above- Sometimes sacks are on QB’s and not the OL. This is Mensah’s 4th hitch up including his initial drop step. The OL held on for over 3 seconds before Mensah panicked. He’s got to take off faster in his progression. When he waits too long it results in these big ugly sacks.
Above- 3over2 on a screen with Malachi Toney as the screen guy… bold move Narduzzi, bold move! A LB drops but if it’s not that guy I put the arrow on, the EMOL, it won’t matter. that inside guy is too far from Toney to make any move on him and too slow. Toney walked in.
Above- What I don’t like is the aggressive, over-commitment from the OL. Congdon steps up into the DL and the Pitt DT rips past him. Why engage in contact in pass pro when space creates time. Never rush it, take your two steps back and let them come to you. Stepping into them allows these stunts and twists to beat you.
Above- Congdon with a great kickout block and Toney seals down on the LB. Mallory is so elite at the ‘one cut and go’ he can excel in zone or gap schemes.
Above- Lofton is starting to lose the plot on the shoulder block technique. He can’t roll his shoulder down and put his eyes down. He has to stick his shoulder pad, eyes up, head inside, and knee through the crotch looking to re-accel.
Above- This time on mesh Fletcher runs the swing without a chip, hesitation, etc. By replacing a crosser it allows him to become wide open and he can be used as a rush route vs. Mensah not having the time to get to him or having to get to him really late so it’s an errant throw.
Above- Toney 2nd screen TD. This is on Pitt as far as missed tackles in space but seeing 12 owning his block while Toney shakes two guys is a ‘future is now’ clip.
Above- Lofton watches a defender go right by him with an “oh crap” face on. He eventually gets back there because the LB goes too deep but c’mon man. One good play can’t turn into a false start, a half-asked* block and this.
The Miami Defense
Again, Geriner averaged 8.2 yards per attempt with one TD and one fumble lost. Geriner and Dailey found 10 different receivers with five hitting double-digit yards per catch marks.
WR Cataurus Hicks averaged 29.8 yards per catch with one touchdown and Cam Sapp caught a 49-yard TD. The Miami back end had ups and downs vs. the Panthers.
Pitt’s RB Damon Ferguson averaged 4.3 yards per carry with a touchdown, while Miami logged two sacks, four TFL’s and five PBU’s against the Panthers.
Safety JJ Dunnigan logged five solo tackles, one sack, one TFL and was involved on other plays. Bryce Fitzgerald logged a sack and TFL, with DE Armondo Blount logging a 1/2 TFL.
Above- When Lightfoot gets the clamps on it’s too late. He grabs both thighs and yanks the ball carrier to the turf.
Above- You have 2nd level guys coaching up 1st level guys but then BOOM Pitt gets a nice run off it. Hetherman has gotten himself into a few Guidry type positions after a really strong 2025 showing. Running into bad O’s (Clemson) and injured QB’s (Pitt) has been a nice benefit for him.
Above- Fitzgerald isn’t a 1-on-1 coverage guy. He’s a deep centerfield safety. He doesn’t tackle well enough to be put out here trying to bring Hicks down.
Above- Three guys in the box as 2nd level players and this still goes for a TD. 25 isn’t a LB type while Thornton was supposed to be. Toure just gets out ran too many times.
Above- Again that’s 25 getting kicked out (not a job he should be asked to do).
Above- Lightfoot finally wrong arms a kick out and what happens? When the back bounces Toure is too slow and Fitzgerald avoids contact.
Above- I’d toss this way too. You have Lucas who is contact shy at CB, I can pick off Smith who is good at run defense, while making Toure run over the top. Oh and Wilson is the PSDE vs. Lightfoot. Teams should run more toss as a check with me to find the weakest side.
Above- Moten SHOT this gap and blew the play up. He’s actually so damn quick he nearly over-runs it but comes to balance and uses his strong grip to slow the RB down.
Above- Oh’Connor. He tries to chest run the guy and gets pushed off and away. Embarrassing lack of effort and thump.
Above- And then 24 is beat on another red zone throw. Always a step behind.
The Wrap
Were there pressures and sacks allowed? Yes. Does Pitt have a very formidable front six? Also yes. Were there yards allowed vs. Pitt’s meh offense? Yes. Did Miami force a string of 3-and-outs to start the game? Also yes.
This isn’t a perfect team by any means, including the back end of the defense and O-Line; but there are only three undefeated teams in the country right now: Miami, Utah, and UCLA. Utah beat Houston, UCLA has knocked off Oregon, and Miami has played… hell, no one.
But the ‘Canes will get a trap game in UNC on Halloween and then the big showdown with Notre Dame on November 7th in primetime.
