Aggies vs. Hurricanes: Miami Offense Or Defense The Bigger Threat?
The Aggies traveling to Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday to play the ACC's Miami Hurricanes should be one of the more interesting matchups on the schedule. Both teams enter Week 2 with impressive wins over lesser opponents, and both teams are trying to establish themselves as contenders in their respective leagues.
In Miami's win over Miami of Ohio on Friday, it was much the same as we saw in A&M's win over the Lobos on Saturday. A bigger, better, stronger team beating the snot out of a team just there for a check.
One area of concern for the Aggies entering the game will be the Hurricanes' rushing attack. Not only is it potent, it's deep. Each of Miami's four running backs who posted carries on Friday had at least one carry of 15 or more yards, while three of them found the end zone.
Henry Parrish Jr. led the team with 90 yards and one touchdown on just nine carries. while Mark Fletcher Jr. had 76 yards in nine carries and one score. Nebraska transfer Ajay Allen carried the ball nine times for 47 yards while Donald Chaney Jr. added a touchdown on 38 yards and eight carries.
Miami clearly has the depth at running back to keep ground pressure on a defense. It'll obviously be the Aggies' biggest test of the season thus far in rushing defense. But on the other side of the coin, it'll also be Miami's biggest test on the ground against a good defense.
From a defensive standpoint, the Hurricanes can be intimidating too. Miami held the RedHawks to under 100 total yards in the first half and to just 215 for the game. The Canes' defense was outstanding on third down conversions, holding Miami of Ohio to just 2-12 conversions, and stopped all of the RedHawks' fourth down attempts.
While offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino certainly cut quarterback Conner Weigman "loose" more than the offense allowed last season, he hasn't faced a defense with the ability to pressure like Miami's. But after the impressive showing by Petrino, Weigman, and Co. on Saturday night at Kyle Field, who are we to question their ability to take on even the best defenses in college football?
We'll find out which team is for real on Saturday in Miami.
