It’s been a rough last two weeks for the Miami Hurricanes’ running game. Let’s get the ugly numbers out of the way.
at FSU: 32 carries for 97 yards, 3.0 yards per rush
vs Louisville: 24 carries for 63 yards,
2.6 yards per rush
Those numbers are, as my two-and-a-half year old son says, poo-poo. What makes the struggles in the run game even more frustrating is the talent the Canes possess both on the field and the sideline. There are multiple future NFL players on the offensive line, with Francis Mauigoa being the best of the bunch and a likely top ten pick. The running back room is one of the best in the country, featuring Mark Fletcher Jr., CharMar “Marty” Brown, and Jordan Lyle. I know, Lyle has been injured for much of the season, but the two bigger lead backs are plenty talented enough to carry the workload. Lastly, offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson is a skilled and effective play caller. I know I know, he’s not perfect. No OC is. Still, Miami is fresh off having the number one offense in the country in multiple categories (not to mention the best in school history). Sure, Cam Ward and his pass catchers and running backs were awesome last season, but Dawson had a lot to do with that success. Beyond Dawson is offensive line coach Alex Mirabel, who is well respected among his peers.
Fast forward a year and the vaunted Miami Hurricanes running attack is not nearly the same. The performance against FSU seemed to be excused due to both the Seminoles selling out to stop the run, combined with Carson Beck’s strong passing performance. Two weeks later, that might not be the case. And that’s because of the Louisville game last Friday night. It was a putrid showing. Watching live, I started having flashbacks to 2020 when Mario’s first OC hire Josh Gattis kept insisting on running 185-pound Henry Parrish Jr. straight into the offensive line on many a first and second down. It was baffling to watch then. It’s even more baffling now with Dawson’s creativity and the players he has on offense.
I’m a generally curious person. I like to know things. Even more, I like to know why. Luckily for me, SOTU has someone who can break down film with the best of them, Justin Dottavio. I asked Coach Justin Dottavio some questions, and he answered.
Question #1: What is the “duo” run concept? And why does it seem to be so popular all of the sudden? I never heard the word before this season.
Dottavio: Duo is a run concept that features two ‘combo’ blocks. Let’s pretend the ball is being ran right and the TE is to the right side in 11 personnel (one running back, one tight end).
The RT and RG would combo block the 3-technique (DT) to that side. The C and LG would combo block the 1-tech (NT) back side. The TE would block the 5-tech (DE) and the back side LT would gap-hinge the back side B-gap.
If the RB sees the front side A-Gap open he’ll “bang.” The bang is the first read. The “bend” is a cutback to the back side A-Gap. The “bounce” pushes outside play side and is going to push into the C-Gap.
Which ever OL in the combo can secure the block the best will stay on the block. The other OL will work “second level” to the LB’ers. It’s a lot like Iso from the 90’s except there’s two combos instead of one.
Question #2: Why does Miami rely on “duo” so often in the run game?
Dottavio: Duo is fairly easy to install, it’s power without the puller. The issue is that the LB’ers can shoot inside the TE and BSDE and squeeze four DL into the B-to-B gaps. With Beck a non-threat at running and the TE’s not dominating on run blocking the DC’s are picking up on how to stop Duo.
The Detroit Lions run a ton of duo, too. But they have two really good but different backs and both are pass catchers as well as gifted runners.
Question #3: I do know that “duo” doesn’t have any pulling by offensive linemen. Call me a layman, but shouldn’t the powerful and athletic guys on Miami’s o-line, Francis Mauigoa especially, be pulling to create mismatches outside the tackle box?
Dottavio: One negative of pulling is that if the DL and LB follow the puller they can blow up the play. No puller, no obvious key. But yes the point of pulling OL is to get more hats at the point of attack (POA). More blockers, more yards. Think about any wide sweep type of pull where the guards pull out wide and in space against safeties and CB’s.
Question #4: Is there a reason why Miami almost refuses to run outside, no matter what the concept is? It can’t simply be Mario Cristobal’s conservatism as head coach, can it? Can it?!
Dottavio: I have no idea what they’re doing. Toney has been give the under center jet sweep obviously for a TD. Clearly they’re using screens as ‘outside runs’ but I agree it’s not the same. Wide pull, pin-pull, and even a truck toss would be nice changes of pace. Anything to keep DC’s guessing and to slow down the OODA Loop of the defenders. Instead their LOOP is firing fast because of the limited playbook.
Question #5: What suggestions do you have for Miami’s running game moving forward this season?
Dottavio: They seem averse to pulling at all, but they need more counter in the playbook. I’m not sure if it’s because McCoy and Cooper aren’t as mobile of guards. In that case run Dart where the OT pulls and wraps instead of the guard. The issue there is Bell can’t run Dart. They’re caught in a “Dart away from Mauigoa so he can pull” conundrum.
They’re also in an issue where Beck has misread a few of the RPO tags and that’s resulted in plays not working or working even though they shouldn’t have. Beck needs more practice time on 2nd level RPO reads to slow the ILB’s down as they crash to blow up Duo before the OL can get to them.
Well, I know I’m smarter after Justin’s answers. Hopefully Coaches Cristobal, Dawson, and Mirabel make the necessary adjustments to get Miami’s running game back on track.
GO CANES!
