Miami continued their dominance over the state of Florida as they matched up with their biggest rival this week in Florida State. The Seminoles were opening up their shiny new stadium revisions at night for the first time and they were honoring Lee Corso. Coming off a loss at Virginia, you knew the Seminoles would give their best shot. They did that, but how did it look on film? Find out with me at Upon Further Review.
#11 is trying to shuck the OL here but turning away gets him out of his gap and allows for a decent run.
Miami fans don’t like FSU (me included) so it isn’t popular to talk up their scheme, but they really do a great job of scripting plays and using motion to “break” your rules on defense. Two back set, Toure has the RB nearest him but when the second back heads to the flat he takes the wrong RB and lets the wheel go. Big play. Yellow has yellow and red has red.
In this game, the Miami DL had a tendency to get too far upfield in their rush and the interior would take the wrong shoulder of the blocker at other times. Here, Mesidor gets too far upfield rather than pinch and #11 is on the wrong shoulder to leverage outside. Castellanos gets out for a big run.
You see the QB view here, getting the rush to Castellanos does make his eyes drop and he looks to get out of there. Bain is a wrecking crew as he dusts the FSU LG. In man coverage against this guy you have to pinch that pocket or he will rip you up. Blay really needs to attack the chest of a C when being blocked 1-on-1 and push that pocket. He’s kind of peeking to both sides and that just won’t work, he needs to reset that LOS into the backfield and reduce the angles that Castellanos has to escape. Jakobee Thomas sees it quickly here and is already closing to tackle the QB on the backend. He scores if Thomas doesn’t click-and-close here. The improvement at S this year is so big for the outcome of these games as FSU doesn’t score a TD on this drive, which is obviously a four-point play here. He stays back or is timid and it’s a TD, no doubt.
Miami starts trying to pinch those gaps and FSU hits them with an end-around.
Scott “spills” this play back inside. He’s the force player on the outside, which most know what that is, but when you play Spill you’re trying to get across and in front of the blocker like this rather than taking them on head up. End result is forcing the runner back inside into your pursuit. Poyser runs the alley and makes a sure tackle in space. Nice complimentary play by Scott, who won’t get credit from public, but this is tough for your nickel to do. S play has been so improved this year and Poyser shows it again. Shout out to Bissainthe, who takes on an OL and stays on his feet to reduce the space available as well. Look at how he uses a long-arm into the chest of the OL to control him and keep balance.
FSU was pretty crafty inside on this opening drive with their hands etc. Here, Blay gets a bit off-balance and the OL just helps him fall opening up a hole. You just can’t have your NT getting turned and blocked 1-on-1 vs. a C like he has this drive. Blay is slanting and trying to get into the path of the OL so they can’t get to second-level, so the only thing he needs to do better is stay balanced and keep eyes on ball.
Moten does a much better job on this third down play. Look how he’s just focused on pushing the pocket, controlling the blockers, eyes up and able to run either direction. Moten actually assists on the tackle here. Nice job, big fella. Bissainthe looks like a man on a mission in this game as he makes a sure tackle at the four.
Toney fights and gets the first. Big time. Ole reliable Mesh on third down for Miami. FSU DC said they knew what was coming and they probably did to a certain extent, it’s just stopping it that can be the problem.
This throw is a dime from Beck. Tough catch, need it. Sprinting, ball drops right out of the helmet most likely, which means you have nanoseconds to adjust, so I get it, but it was there.
This play was incomplete, and #20 comes free, but this is a smart play by Fletcher. He steps up to take #20 but he’s X-stunting with the inside guy. #20 just smashes into C from side and makes it where he doesn’t block anyone. Stunter comes from and Fletcher takes him rather than chasing #20. Good play the defense and they won this rep. FSU crowded everything and dared Miami to win outside deep in this game.
Mesidor just made a nice play for a four-yard loss on 1st down. Here, he makes a mistake. He’s chasing into a gap that isn’t his and falls for the eye-candy. #13 comes around and gets the wham on S, where if Mesidor comes into his gap and squeezes there isn’t a hole.
I don’t know the call, so maybe they are asking him to long gap (skip a gap across the LOS), but typically this is not the responsibility. There are already defenders in that gap, so I would be surprised. RB gets a first down.
FSU runs a neat trick play and Toure gets lost in coverage. TE is wide open if QB had a bit of time. Thankfully it goes incomplete. Bain flushed the QB and didn’t let him have time.
This is a nice run by Fletcher and some good blocking, but if 63 rolls his hips and sets a base here he really opens a hole. He’s trying to get to the second level and the defender is holding him so he can’t, but it still goes for a first. FSU is well-coached on the nuances of line play inside. They just don’t have the athletic talent to win matchups without tricks and games.
Here you see what happens when you’re too high, you can’t change directions as quickly. Samson (63) doesn’t block 6 or 7 (sixxxxxx, sevvveeen) and if he did this could’ve popped big.
CJ Daniels gets the double-move on FSU CB and it’s a huge play. He’s been such a huge addition to this team. I really love how this team loves and roots for one another. Toney is completely engaged on this play and is celebrating his teammates. Beck couldn’t have walked down there and handed it to him better.
I know the coaches like the package using Alofaituli as a FB, but he’s not great at it. Nearly tackles Fletcher on this 4th down because he stops his feet. Never actually blocks anyone on this play. The big block is made by 87 on the edge there.
This is how badly Daniels shook the FSU CB. The CB is going the wrong way as Beck is releasing the ball.
Few things on this one: Aguire sees this play already and is running to it, one of the keys of the play. Bain is chasing him after taking the dive. Look at the double team anchor from Blay as FSU tried to get movement. Tackled at LOS.
Remember earlier when Blay got caught on wrong shoulder of the C? Here he does it correctly as he’s head-up on the C and resetting the LOS to cut down the angle for QB. When he takes off he disengages and gets his arms around Castellanos, who rolls forward out of the tackle for a few yards. In this defense if they block your NT with just a C he has to reset the LOS and push him back. Has to.
The Canes got a physics lesion as they stopped their feet and velocity and the FSU runner did not. He runs through the defenders here and gets the 1st down. Can’t happen on 3rd & 11.
Bain is strong. Forklifts, sheds, makes the tackle right there. Really, the entire DL reset the LOS and won their matchups.
WR gets Lucas to open his hips and good timing on the outside. FSU is blocking downfield with Pittman to stop that defender from sinking into that zone. I’m sure the Miami coaches were pointing this out to the officials.
Justin Scott with one of the plays of the game here. He stays home, trusts his keys, gets into the backfield and makes the speedster stop long enough for the defense to recover because if Scott doesn’t get out there it’s at least inside the 30 and could score. It’s 5 blockers on 4 defenders to that side without Scott doing this. FSU emptied the CLIP in this game. Every misdirection and trick they could come up with they tried in this one.
Mesidor tackles Castellanos on the other hash just past the LOS on this play (yellow circle). He splits a double team and then runs down Castellanos. This pair of edge rushers is simply special. Enjoy them this year, friends. #51 look for work, my dude.
Next play.
Then the next play.
Always like to highlight the nuances that make this defense more sound than some of the ones we’ve seen recently. Mesidor stunts inside, but Miami replaces him on the edge with a creeper who inserts into the pressure. RB steps up to take the creeper and Mesidor loops and gets the sack on 3rd and long. Notice how the creeper (Toure) attacks the outside shoulder of the RB so he can maintain leverage and get off this block if the QB tries to escape outside. Keep your technique and good things happen.
That close to a pick-6 for Thomas. Lucas had a little trouble with Robinson in this game.
I only highlight it because I’m seeing it, but Al isn’t good at FB. He again just gets in the way and doesn’t block anyone but the backside of his own OL.
Miscommunication here. #73 didn’t get the line call and stepped down rather than take his guy while McCoy pulled.
This is an example where coaches keep a play in their pocket. They lined up Toney in the backfield as an H-back. For most defenses that gets him matched up with a LB or S and that’s a matchup you want. Toney lets the two receivers next to him switch release. Which clears it out with natural traffic and then settles into a zone where Beck has an easy conversion that Toney takes it to the house. Perfect call in that spot.
FSU missed a chance here. Look at all that space.
Castellanos doesn’t have the arm to make this throw with pressure in his face. Thomas with an easy interception of the arm punt.
Too little.
This is so good. Centers are often tasked with getting a “reach” block which is essentially getting across the face of the defender and past the midline so your shoulders are past theirs and you can turn them out of a hole. It’s really difficult to make a NT turn away from where he wants to go and requires quickness, strong base, leverage, and good technique. He hits it all here. Teach tape. Remember, Brockermeyer started on the other side of that defender and then had to snap and move.
Always funny to see an OL actively avoiding a defender. 70 gets across and is one of the leads on this end around. Baumann gets out ahead as well.
When I watched this play live I thought it was a bad run. I even texted my buddy it was a bad run where if he slowed down and let his blockers block he would’ve scored. I was wrong. The Miami blockers didn’t block anyone other than Mauigoa and if Marion slows down and lets things develop he’s run down from pursuit. #7 gets him in this hole or #93 from behind if he lingers at the LOS. I’d have liked to see Miami blockers look for work on pursuers just a little more. You had three lead blockers on this play not touch a soul. My apologies Marion, I was wrong.
Toney makes the key block here on this tunnel screen. Knocks his defender to outer space. Baumann almost blew the play by getting knocked down here and tripping up Bell. Daniels makes a play in space, but that Toney block is the key to giving him time. TD.
Not just the Toney block, but Cooper got a nice block at the second level as well.
Thomas runs him down for the sack.
I’m not going to relive that 4th quarter, but Miami is up 28-3 going into the 4th and Florida State never went above a 2.2% win probability in that 4th quarter, so if anyone ever tells you the game got close, it’s really just not true. This was booty whipping.
Overall
Miami turned in a performance of who we thought they are. This was a game that was dominated by Miami against a desperate opponent who threw everything they had at Miami from a play calling, trick play, effort, crowd standpoint. Through it all, Miami just laughed it off and methodically and systematically dismantled FSU.
This wasn’t a game that was a six-point score, this was a game of a team with a huge lead who knew the only way anything but a victory was happening is if they beat themselves and allowed explosive plays.
This team is not just good, but they are great right now. Next test is going to be playing with expectations and a target on your back, then we have to tackle the November demons, but for this game, I am celebrating and excited to see where this version of the Canes can take us.
#11 is trying to shuck the OL here but turning away gets him out of his gap and allows for a decent run.
Miami fans don’t like FSU (me included) so it isn’t popular to talk up their scheme, but they really do a great job of scripting plays and using motion to “break” your rules on defense. Two back set, Toure has the RB nearest him but when the second back heads to the flat he takes the wrong RB and lets the wheel go. Big play. Yellow has yellow and red has red.
In this game, the Miami DL had a tendency to get too far upfield in their rush and the interior would take the wrong shoulder of the blocker at other times. Here, Mesidor gets too far upfield rather than pinch and #11 is on the wrong shoulder to leverage outside. Castellanos gets out for a big run.
You see the QB view here, getting the rush to Castellanos does make his eyes drop and he looks to get out of there. Bain is a wrecking crew as he dusts the FSU LG. In man coverage against this guy you have to pinch that pocket or he will rip you up. Blay really needs to attack the chest of a C when being blocked 1-on-1 and push that pocket. He’s kind of peeking to both sides and that just won’t work, he needs to reset that LOS into the backfield and reduce the angles that Castellanos has to escape. Jakobee Thomas sees it quickly here and is already closing to tackle the QB on the backend. He scores if Thomas doesn’t click-and-close here. The improvement at S this year is so big for the outcome of these games as FSU doesn’t score a TD on this drive, which is obviously a four-point play here. He stays back or is timid and it’s a TD, no doubt.
Miami starts trying to pinch those gaps and FSU hits them with an end-around.
Scott “spills” this play back inside. He’s the force player on the outside, which most know what that is, but when you play Spill you’re trying to get across and in front of the blocker like this rather than taking them on head up. End result is forcing the runner back inside into your pursuit. Poyser runs the alley and makes a sure tackle in space. Nice complimentary play by Scott, who won’t get credit from public, but this is tough for your nickel to do. S play has been so improved this year and Poyser shows it again. Shout out to Bissainthe, who takes on an OL and stays on his feet to reduce the space available as well. Look at how he uses a long-arm into the chest of the OL to control him and keep balance.
FSU was pretty crafty inside on this opening drive with their hands etc. Here, Blay gets a bit off-balance and the OL just helps him fall opening up a hole. You just can’t have your NT getting turned and blocked 1-on-1 vs. a C like he has this drive. Blay is slanting and trying to get into the path of the OL so they can’t get to second-level, so the only thing he needs to do better is stay balanced and keep eyes on ball.
Moten does a much better job on this third down play. Look how he’s just focused on pushing the pocket, controlling the blockers, eyes up and able to run either direction. Moten actually assists on the tackle here. Nice job, big fella. Bissainthe looks like a man on a mission in this game as he makes a sure tackle at the four.
Toney fights and gets the first. Big time. Ole reliable Mesh on third down for Miami. FSU DC said they knew what was coming and they probably did to a certain extent, it’s just stopping it that can be the problem.
This throw is a dime from Beck. Tough catch, need it. Sprinting, ball drops right out of the helmet most likely, which means you have nanoseconds to adjust, so I get it, but it was there.
This play was incomplete, and #20 comes free, but this is a smart play by Fletcher. He steps up to take #20 but he’s X-stunting with the inside guy. #20 just smashes into C from side and makes it where he doesn’t block anyone. Stunter comes from and Fletcher takes him rather than chasing #20. Good play the defense and they won this rep. FSU crowded everything and dared Miami to win outside deep in this game.
Mesidor just made a nice play for a four-yard loss on 1st down. Here, he makes a mistake. He’s chasing into a gap that isn’t his and falls for the eye-candy. #13 comes around and gets the wham on S, where if Mesidor comes into his gap and squeezes there isn’t a hole.
I don’t know the call, so maybe they are asking him to long gap (skip a gap across the LOS), but typically this is not the responsibility. There are already defenders in that gap, so I would be surprised. RB gets a first down.
FSU runs a neat trick play and Toure gets lost in coverage. TE is wide open if QB had a bit of time. Thankfully it goes incomplete. Bain flushed the QB and didn’t let him have time.
This is a nice run by Fletcher and some good blocking, but if 63 rolls his hips and sets a base here he really opens a hole. He’s trying to get to the second level and the defender is holding him so he can’t, but it still goes for a first. FSU is well-coached on the nuances of line play inside. They just don’t have the athletic talent to win matchups without tricks and games.
Here you see what happens when you’re too high, you can’t change directions as quickly. Samson (63) doesn’t block 6 or 7 (sixxxxxx, sevvveeen) and if he did this could’ve popped big.
CJ Daniels gets the double-move on FSU CB and it’s a huge play. He’s been such a huge addition to this team. I really love how this team loves and roots for one another. Toney is completely engaged on this play and is celebrating his teammates. Beck couldn’t have walked down there and handed it to him better.
I know the coaches like the package using Alofaituli as a FB, but he’s not great at it. Nearly tackles Fletcher on this 4th down because he stops his feet. Never actually blocks anyone on this play. The big block is made by 87 on the edge there.
This is how badly Daniels shook the FSU CB. The CB is going the wrong way as Beck is releasing the ball.
Few things on this one: Aguire sees this play already and is running to it, one of the keys of the play. Bain is chasing him after taking the dive. Look at the double team anchor from Blay as FSU tried to get movement. Tackled at LOS.
Remember earlier when Blay got caught on wrong shoulder of the C? Here he does it correctly as he’s head-up on the C and resetting the LOS to cut down the angle for QB. When he takes off he disengages and gets his arms around Castellanos, who rolls forward out of the tackle for a few yards. In this defense if they block your NT with just a C he has to reset the LOS and push him back. Has to.
The Canes got a physics lesion as they stopped their feet and velocity and the FSU runner did not. He runs through the defenders here and gets the 1st down. Can’t happen on 3rd & 11.
Bain is strong. Forklifts, sheds, makes the tackle right there. Really, the entire DL reset the LOS and won their matchups.
WR gets Lucas to open his hips and good timing on the outside. FSU is blocking downfield with Pittman to stop that defender from sinking into that zone. I’m sure the Miami coaches were pointing this out to the officials.
Justin Scott with one of the plays of the game here. He stays home, trusts his keys, gets into the backfield and makes the speedster stop long enough for the defense to recover because if Scott doesn’t get out there it’s at least inside the 30 and could score. It’s 5 blockers on 4 defenders to that side without Scott doing this. FSU emptied the CLIP in this game. Every misdirection and trick they could come up with they tried in this one.
Mesidor tackles Castellanos on the other hash just past the LOS on this play (yellow circle). He splits a double team and then runs down Castellanos. This pair of edge rushers is simply special. Enjoy them this year, friends. #51 look for work, my dude.
Next play.
Then the next play.
Always like to highlight the nuances that make this defense more sound than some of the ones we’ve seen recently. Mesidor stunts inside, but Miami replaces him on the edge with a creeper who inserts into the pressure. RB steps up to take the creeper and Mesidor loops and gets the sack on 3rd and long. Notice how the creeper (Toure) attacks the outside shoulder of the RB so he can maintain leverage and get off this block if the QB tries to escape outside. Keep your technique and good things happen.
That close to a pick-6 for Thomas. Lucas had a little trouble with Robinson in this game.
I only highlight it because I’m seeing it, but Al isn’t good at FB. He again just gets in the way and doesn’t block anyone but the backside of his own OL.
Miscommunication here. #73 didn’t get the line call and stepped down rather than take his guy while McCoy pulled.
This is an example where coaches keep a play in their pocket. They lined up Toney in the backfield as an H-back. For most defenses that gets him matched up with a LB or S and that’s a matchup you want. Toney lets the two receivers next to him switch release. Which clears it out with natural traffic and then settles into a zone where Beck has an easy conversion that Toney takes it to the house. Perfect call in that spot.
FSU missed a chance here. Look at all that space.
Castellanos doesn’t have the arm to make this throw with pressure in his face. Thomas with an easy interception of the arm punt.
Too little.
This is so good. Centers are often tasked with getting a “reach” block which is essentially getting across the face of the defender and past the midline so your shoulders are past theirs and you can turn them out of a hole. It’s really difficult to make a NT turn away from where he wants to go and requires quickness, strong base, leverage, and good technique. He hits it all here. Teach tape. Remember, Brockermeyer started on the other side of that defender and then had to snap and move.
Always funny to see an OL actively avoiding a defender. 70 gets across and is one of the leads on this end around. Baumann gets out ahead as well.
When I watched this play live I thought it was a bad run. I even texted my buddy it was a bad run where if he slowed down and let his blockers block he would’ve scored. I was wrong. The Miami blockers didn’t block anyone other than Mauigoa and if Marion slows down and lets things develop he’s run down from pursuit. #7 gets him in this hole or #93 from behind if he lingers at the LOS. I’d have liked to see Miami blockers look for work on pursuers just a little more. You had three lead blockers on this play not touch a soul. My apologies Marion, I was wrong.
Toney makes the key block here on this tunnel screen. Knocks his defender to outer space. Baumann almost blew the play by getting knocked down here and tripping up Bell. Daniels makes a play in space, but that Toney block is the key to giving him time. TD.
Not just the Toney block, but Cooper got a nice block at the second level as well.
Thomas runs him down for the sack.
I’m not going to relive that 4th quarter, but Miami is up 28-3 going into the 4th and Florida State never went above a 2.2% win probability in that 4th quarter, so if anyone ever tells you the game got close, it’s really just not true. This was booty whipping.
Overall
Miami turned in a performance of who we thought they are. This was a game that was dominated by Miami against a desperate opponent who threw everything they had at Miami from a play calling, trick play, effort, crowd standpoint. Through it all, Miami just laughed it off and methodically and systematically dismantled FSU.
This wasn’t a game that was a six-point score, this was a game of a team with a huge lead who knew the only way anything but a victory was happening is if they beat themselves and allowed explosive plays.
This team is not just good, but they are great right now. Next test is going to be playing with expectations and a target on your back, then we have to tackle the November demons, but for this game, I am celebrating and excited to see where this version of the Canes can take us.
