The Miami Hurricanes (12-2) won their first ever College Football Playoff quarterfinal game over the Ohio State Buckeyes (12-2) 24-14. Mario Cristobal’s squad jumped out to a 14-0 lead and never looked
back, well, maybe a little but not too much!
The Canyonero Keys to Victory main theme was to own the damn road. There could be no hesitation, the ‘Canes had to come out like they belong and they did. The three individual keys to victory were:
1- Force that Sayin pick. I told everyone that Sayin would throw ‘that pick’ he’s thrown against Michigan and Indiana and he did it again. This time it was to Keionte Scott for a pick six that broke the game open for UM.
2- Control Curry. Caden Curry didn’t record a single TFL, sack, or PBU. Controlled? Controlled.
3- Force Tate to beat you, not Smith. Smith got his while Tate didn’t. Maybe I had this gameplan backwards. Jeremiah Smith caught seven balls for 157 yards and a TD while Carnell Tate was held to 37 yards on three catches.
I predicted OSU would win by six and boy am I glad to be wrong. I figured they would cover the Las Vegas spread of 9.5 but beating OSU? Now that is a hell of a job by Cristobal and Co.
The Doppler
Miami finished 8-of-15 on money downs while OSU struggled converting on only 4-of-11 tries. Both teams picked up their 4th down attempt.
This was an extremely clean game when it came to the referees. The refs didn’t want to be the spotlight and certainly weren’t. Miami wasn’t flagged while OSU was flagged only two times for 15 yards.
Julian Sayin threw two interceptions, one to seal the ball game and the Scott pick that broke it open. Mark Fletcher Jr. did fumble early in the game and the lead could’ve been even larger had he not.
Miami’s Carter Davis made his lone FG attempt and all three PAT’s while OSU’s Jayden Fielding missed a FG.
Prior to Miami the most points the Buckeye defense had allowed in a single game this season was 16 to Illinois. While the UM offense only put up 17, the ‘Canes scored 24 total.
The Miami Offense
Carson Beck averaged only 5.3 yards per pass attempt but he threw a touchdown and didn’t turn the football over. Game manager initiated. He also ran the ball for a sneaky 3.3 yards per carry.
Mark Fletcher took the brunt of the workload on the ground. Fletcher rushed for 4.7 yards per carry. Marty Brown added 5.2 yards per carry and a score. Fletcher also caught the touchdown to make the game 7-0.
Beck found six different receivers for catches but only Fletcher averaged double-digit yards per catch. OSU sacked Beck twice and came away with four TFL’s.
Malachi Toney was caught up in the big moment. He fumbled twice, but recovered both. He ran the ball once for four yards, and caught five balls for only 16 yards. His lone punt return was for 2-yards.
Above– Take your check downs was a “DO” for Miami vs. OSU. Beck short-armed a couple early but this one was a nice throw him open play and a 1st down.
Above– Toney was a better decoy than a player. Here his little pivot route opens a window for a big catch on the Dig route.
Above– 26 did a great job of punching the peanut and pocket. Fletcher has to squeeze that ball up.
Above– Winning contact is a skill. Fletcher re-accelerates first and the LB slides off. These guys like to go down to a knee these days and against Fletcher that means you’re just sliding off.
Above- Look at the defenders’ eyes… Beck has already thrown the ball and no one has turned to look where it’s going yet. They’re so caught up on the run and even funnier ON BECK RUNNING as he was there alone! Great call and great execution.
Above– Now it’s the Toney blocking show. He didn’t throw a pass, he only ran the ball once. But he did other things (and not just almost fumble) so damn well. He arc’s inside and cuts off the LB here.
Above– Here he sets a pick on 3rd and 3 for Brown who catches that thing just barely and gets the 1st down. If Toney doesn’t go balls out on the pick like this that could’ve been a PBU.
Above– Brown almost runs directly into the DE and then decides to one-cut and go here. When they needed Brown he really delivered. This is patience and vision on display.
Above– One last Toney moment: look at the bock on the screen to Daniels for the 1st down. Just another display of being a selfless player and a hell of a blocker.
The Miami Defense
Julian Sayin started off slow but did average 8.2 yards per attempt. He threw one TD to Smith but two picks. Sayin was sacked five times.
RB Bo Jackson averaged 5.0 yards per carry with a TD, while CJ Donaldson averaged 4.4 yards per touch. Miami picked up seven TFL’s vs. the OSU run game.
Sayin found only five different receivers with two, Smith and Tate, hitting double-digit yards per catch numbers. Smith averaged 22.4 yards per catch on a 59-yard long.
K. Scott was the defensive MVP with his pick six. Rueben Bain Jr. had one sack and 1.5 TFL’s, while Akheem Mesidor had two sacks and two TFL’s. Jakobe Thomas caught the game sealing INT from Sayin.
Above– The OSU O-Line was lost all night and got dominated. Imagine being Sayin and having to see this. A quick twist turned into two free releases.
Above– I think that’s Moten who goes too deep. You have to scallup and scrape at some point down the line, you can’t chase a faster ball carrier like that. But the onus is on Bain. He uses his inside shoulder on half a man to dog walk the OT back.
Above– As a defender you have to rep engaged tackles. Very few tackles, especially for DL, are made with both arms free.
Above- Sayin is going to read the safety (circle). He’s potentially got a 1-on-1 for Tate on the fade. It’ll be up to OJ Frederique to make a play.
Above– The S plays the inside route from #2 and now it’s a 1-on-1 game. The CB is a step further than the WR in our ‘even leavin’ rules.
Above– Here’s an even leavin’ for no6 of Miami. He’s even with Smith and then Smith gets a 5-yard lead on his 59 yard catch.
Above– This is what film review CAN do for you, if you watch it for tendencies. I’m assuming OSU motions that TE guy out like that on this screen every damn game. Scott read it and the TE runs right past him, you can see him think ‘oh crap’ here.
Above– Bain keeps pressure on Sayin on this screen. One guy has to keep rushing the Q on a screen to try to throw his timing off. Scott houses this for a 14-0 lead.
Above– Bain does the guard’s job for him, it’s a kick out block and he jumps outside. That allows the RB to work inside, where he wants to go, without Bain there to help. Bain has to wrong-arm this and put his outside shoulder in the G’s chest and keep his inside hand free.
Above– This guard makes a huge mistake vs. Moten. He steps up to engage. As an OL you want to delay contact because that means you’re more than likely using more time and the QB has the ball out. Engaging early does what a defender wants- gets his hands on you.
Above– And the hand fighting goes to Miami here. Interior pressure is a bad sign for QB’s, and Sayin’s escape route to the left will have Thomas in his face.
Above– Again Bain has to wrong arm this. his outside shoulder should be in the OSU dude’s chest and his inside arm should be free to at least slow down Jackson.
Above– This is why you shouldn’t throw your head in there with eyes down, it doesn’t work AND you’re risking injury. Jackson scores by sliding over the defender.
Above– Oh man Chase Smith… you can’t let him get outside of you here. But he does and Smith scores.
The Wrap
The ‘Canes did it, they upset OSU and have proven me wrong two games in a row. I clearly picked Miami to cover in both but while I thought they could beat TAMU I didn’t think they’d get it done against OSU. They hit on the Canyonero Keys and will now play in the semifinals.
Enjoy the ride!
