Miami's Offense: Three Objectives Through The Rest Of Spring Practice
The Miami football team needs to begin to show three things.
From CFB Stats, the 2023 Hurricanes found a way to be their own worst enemy, finishing #97 in the nation in turnover margin. That's the starting point for what the Canes need to work on through spring ball, along with two more key points.
1) Do the Hurricanes show consistency in protecting the football?
Watching the first spring practice for Miami, the crisp nature of the passing game should be considered a major upgrade. Generally speaking, a college football team's defensive unit is far ahead of the offense during spring ball.
Led by quarterback Cam Ward and one of the deepest quarterback units in the country, the Canes possess an uncanny connection between signal-callers and pass-catchers. It's fun to watch, pass after pass hitting its mark. Now for the next step.
Can Miami be crisp like it was a week ago, but also do it in 11-on-11 situations and it being live? Whether it would be a fumble in the red zone, an errant throw late down the middle – a Cardinal sin – or a simple miscommunication between two Miami offensive linemen, the 2024 UM offense must finish drives by eliminating self-inflicted wounds.
Throughout the rest of the viewing periods, that's what every reporter and fan should want to know. Nothing else matters until the Hurricanes fix that problem. It's been a good start, now it's time to take the offense to the next level when the hitting begins.
2) Which running back steps up?
Mark Fletcher, Jr. has a lower-body injury likely to keep him out of action until at least fall camp. While Henry Parrish, Jr. is tough as nails, there needs to be another running back, preferably one with more size, that takes part of the workload.
It would be cool if that's redshirt sophomore TreVonte' Citizen. He's been through multiple lower body injuries and is now in the mix at running back. Citizens' 6-foot-1 and 220-pound frame is built for power football. Miami wants to run downhill, so Citizen will get his chance.
Going back to point No. 1, an effective rushing attack will help to limit sacks and interceptions. Plus, it opens up play-action passing with Miami's budding wide receiver corps.
There could be many combinations for Miami's running back depth chart, but if Citizen is a prime runner, it's likely the Canes will have a great mix of speed and size heading into the summer and fall.
3) Can Isaiah Horton and/or Michael Redding III be big-play threats?
Now that Colbie Young is at Georgia, the boundary position needs a new leader. Maybe it is one player, perhaps two, who makes the position impactful. Young's 2023 statistics include 47 receptions, 563 yards, 12.0 average, and 5 touchdowns.
His big frame and contested-catch ability made opposing defenses stay honest and not automatically roll coverage to Xavier Restrepo and Jacolby George. Basically, Miami's receivers – across the board – needed to be respected.
If at least one of Horton and Redding are not starting to be true big-play threats before the end of spring, that's a concern. Game 1 is in the Swamp. Miami needs a full arsenal ready to walk into Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and overwhelm the Florida Gators.
A great way to do that would be deep shots from Ward to the boundary receivers. Nothing takes the air out of the home crowd like seeing one of its defensive backs get head-tapped by losing a 50-50 ball in the first quarter.
