Saturday evening, the Texas A&M Aggies defeated the Miami Hurricanes 17-9 in a barnburner. The Miami Hurricanes looked sluggish and never got out of second gear against the Texas A&M Aggies. ESPN decided to play the game at 9 p.m. ET, and the ‘Canes looked like they were already in their pajamas and slippers all night.
Canyonero’s keys to victory were 1- to capitalize on potential Aggies QB drama. The Aggie went with USL transfer Max Johnson completed 50% passing with seven yards per attempt and one scoring without turnover. Johnson also ran a little in-game from the playback option and on the scramble to pick up the footage. Obviously, that was enough to win the match.
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Photo by Jack Gorman/Getty Images
2- for Miami to win the kicking game– I don’t know how much worse the kicking game could have been. Miami gave up a 36-yard kick return, missed a field goal, blocked another, and A&M’s punt team pinned Miami inside the 20 on three occasions.
Additionally, the illegal formation that moved the punt was knocked down from the one-yard line with three minutes left on the punt returner but jumping on the fumble at the eight instead. Also – all this talk about “dawgs” but the “Canes couldn’t wrestle that one from a talented guy?” eh.
3- for the ‘Canes O-Line to protect Tyler Van Dyke – The ‘Canes O-Line allowed six runs but no sacks and only three tackles for loss. Van Dyke tried to scramble or shoot and run into the inside zone but struggled. Van Dyke looked slow, as did the whole team. This program feels slow and stiff.
The Doppler
Hurricanes OC Josh Gattis won the Broyles Award last season, which recognizes college football’s top assistant. Gattis won ‘The Broyles’ under Jim Harbaugh in Michigan. A year later, his offense finished 5 for 14 on 3rd down and 0 for 1 on 4th down.
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Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images
What about Gattis’ theory of possession time? Miami beat the Aggies in TOP, 34-25, but failed to score a single touchdown. Miami also recorded seven penalties for 52 yards while the Aggies recorded five for 55 yards.
The ‘Canes lost the kicking game and reached penalty balance, while having the only turnover against their team. Hard to win football games with this type of data against you.
Miami O
My issue with Mario Cristobal’s (“Josh Gattis”) offense is the time it takes for each pass concept to develop. There are too many concepts in the offense that take more than three seconds to get to the original reading.
In Dub Maddox’s R4 system, this first reading is a rhythmic concept. Rhythm concepts should come out in 1.8 seconds. Reads in 2.2 to 2.6 seconds. Gattis needs to take the pressure off the offensive line and QB while waiting for a threat to open up.
Above– Henry Parrish rushed for 85 yards on 5.3 yards per carry but had a key fall on a wide-open throw. Jaylan Knighton rushed for 77 yards on 5.5 yards per carry and walked away with just one short catch. The movement went one way and the pulling guard and tackle went the other. Miami ran the football well at times, but was still hit with necessary “and short” runs that resulted in field goal attempts or punts.
Above– Drops like this can be physical and mental. Shape your hands into a “U”, elbows bent, use your brakes, straighten your shoulders and eyes. He’s doing a U-turn here and his shoulders aren’t turned all the way back.
Above– When the QB turns his back like that, a number of things change. 1- this is obviously not an RPO for LBs. That’s why I don’t like the race pattern where the Q’s back is running unless you’re in Alabama or Georgia and can just physically overpower everyone.
2- Q’s eyes/balance/perception need to recalibrate when he rolls over. He looked away from safeties and linebackers and now has to reorient himself to the field when he turns around. It’s a four-second piece. The pressure forces Van Dyke to get rid of his back foot and the zip just isn’t there for TE Elijah Arroyo. It’s complete, but a number of them resulted in bad throws later on.
Above– The game that called all night, but mostly in the red zone, is what you need to master Mario Cristobal as a head coach. He is not a risk taker, the man is as risk averse as possible. He’s going to throw, he’s going to kick field goals, he’s going to run the ball to 3rd and the goal. Get used to it. No RPO tags, just WR outputs. 8 guys hovering to swing down into the box. Weft.
Above– How many drops were there? How many hurt duck throws? Something is wrong with Van Dyke and his throws, but the pressure, both mental and physical, has gotten to the receivers. People who think playing a bad G5 is the same as playing an SEC team need to put their thumbs up and listen to those of us who have been coaching this game for 20 years.
MiamiD
Miami’s defense came away with three sacks, six TFLs, five PBUs and three runs on Saturday night. The kicking game yielded a short field touchdown, and other than that it was a 10-9 ball game.
The tackles weren’t always pretty, but there were some great things going on. Leonard Taylor looked explosive at defensive tackle. Kam Kinchens made some great tackles in the open field. DJ Ivey was everywhere with a much improved game.
Above– The defensive line pushed into second-tier defenders causes LB Caleb Johnson to be taken in the trash. Steed forces that on the inside but Johnson isn’t there to fill it in.
Above– Taylor showing his five-star potential in real life. He jumps the gap, later on some key runs he will also jump gaps and the LB doesn’t “make him straight”, which is often the job of an LB.
Above– Aggies cut the power and Miami is out of position and rushing on missing tackles. Linebackers are still a problem for Miami, as is the DL who jumps into gaps and doesn’t play true defense. Things to clean for ACC game.
Above– Harvey is a “5 tool” type prospect and it’s good to see him getting PT and making plays. I’ve been brought up on his advantage for a few years now.
Above– At times the defense has fallen back into the tackling and tracking style of soccer madness. Players rush, roll, dive and punch each other while the catcher runs free. I disagree with the penalty given to James Williams for ending this game. It wasn’t a belly-to-back suplex, just a little takedown using a wrench.
Above– And four more missed tackles for a touchdown. The first miss was on the follow-up, the second on not closing the space between the ball carrier and the tackler, the third was Manny Diaz’s stack on the point shit, and the fourth was just a last effort.
Kick in Miami
I covered the stats on the kicking game above. You rarely win football matches with a terrible kicking game. It’s hard to miss and have blocked field goals, a costly penalty and a stifled punt return and still win.
Above– you can see Tyrique Stevenson’s fumbled punt return. Things you can have fun with against Southern Miss that just won’t work against TAMU. Speed, reaction time, etc. are simply much faster compared to an SEC team.
Above– It seems to me that his hips were squeezed left when following him. He pushed the ball to the left with his spin there.
Above– The blocked kick is a great play from Regis on the Aggies. The big man gets up and uses his length to block him. Clever by TAMU to know they didn’t have to cover the ball.
The envelope
Canyonero’s keys to victory unfolded again. The Hurricanes did some good things in offensive running play and defensive pass coverage; but some of the same things plagued Miami from 2021 here in 22. Kicking issues, dumb penalties, falls, 3rd and short run and tackles proved to be the difference at College Station.
The idea that wide receivers are “going to practice” more has proven to be a mistake anyway. Players need rest and recovery for a long season and the body only has a few miles to go.
Rest up everyone, Middle Tennessee State is coming in for another cupcake, followed by a week off, before the ACC slate resumes with the North Carolina Tar Heels back at home. Gattis can’t settle for nine points against a team that can put up 40 in a quarter.
