Miami put forth a good second half in their game against UNC but came up just short. How did it look on film? Follow along here at Upon Further Review.
First play and one of the issues I see so often with our DL/LB group is how often they lose sight of the ball and just dive with their shoulder. If Steed keeps his head up and locks his arms out on this TE, this play is defended well. Instead, he ducks his head, throws his shoulder into a blocker, as so often happens on Miami film, and there is a cutback for the RB.
I try not to be an incessant screamer at our coaching staff each week, as I know they are major D1 coaches for a reason, but I cannot understand how you look at what UNC has done on offense to this point in the season and come out with a game plan that basically forgets to cover Josh Downs. Coming into the game, UNC had completed 114 passes and 49 of them had gone to Downs. Yet, they just don’t cover him on play two of the game. At least not within the frame of the screen.
This goes for a 1st down. It is so frustrating to watch this over-and-over again. The defense should’ve been off-the-field. He’s hit in the backfield by McCloud. Steed is right there, unblocked, to provide a second defender to get him down. They let this go for a 1st down!
All. Season. Long. Miami has just completely refused to take advantage of opportunities. I know this coaching staff has a lot to answer for with the issues we are seeing with tackling, physicality, adjustments needed, but the players all have a lot of culpability as well. We just don’t have defensive backs who will catch the ball. At least seven interceptions have been flat out dropped this season and they only have three all season. Look the ball in and make a play.
Downs gets a little swing pass, Flagg misses a tackle. Drink. (Not pictured)
3rd down and Miami parts like the red sea for Howell to pick it up. UNC goes on to score a TD after Miami had two opportunities to get them off-the-field early. (Not pictured)
Very next play. Bolden is pushing his forcing player. Couch loses his outside position where he should be attacking and Bolden should be attacking inside. Neither has any desire to make a tackle and this goes for a TD. It’s just all season long and this kind of S play cannot be tolerated. Couch has to just make this tackle as well instead of diving at his feet, but this picture right here is just brutal. Hall takes a bad angle and gets outran to the end zone. #99 gets blocked by a TE 1-on-1. No excuse for this drive ending in a TD.
First play and Miami has Keyshawn Smith wide-open on the flea flicker and TVD makes a really poor throw. (Not pictured)
If you’re going to throw on 1st down and it goes incomplete, you have to be prepared to throw again on 2nd down, otherwise you’re just about giving up the drive in most cases. A 2nd-and-10 run after an incompletion is the single least inefficient play-call in football. Goes for one yard, brings up 3rd-and-9. I’ve written many times I’m disappointed in the job that Lashlee is doing and this is just another example why. (Not pictured)
Miami had a wide-open Keyshawn Smith on 1st down. A wide-open Keyshawn Smith on 3rd down. TVD makes an awful throw on the first. A really bad throw on the third down. I’m a TVD fan, but this is not acceptable. Miami should’ve had points on their first drive and instead go 3-and-out. (Not pictured)
I’m going to skip to highlighting just big plays because you’ve all read all season long about execution issues and probably don’t want to read more of them, frankly.
This is an incredible play by Harvey, first you sprawl to keep the cut blocker off your legs, then you gather, locate the ball, tip it, catch it, score it. The type of play Miami has failed to make all season long. Way to go.
Gotta hit this gap and make this tackle, Steed. Nothing outside on the edge, as is common with this scheme, and it’s another big run. Chandler stiff-arms Bolden to the ground. I don’t go back to every game I’ve ever seen and review, but I cannot remember a team that is worse at tackling than this Miami team.
The defensive gameplan was, “Let’s back Gurvan Hall off of Downs 10 yards and let him have space to do whatever he wants.” Also, look at where your MLB is, there is no help on a slant and Hall this far in off-coverage. This is stealing on a 1st down play and a good OC/QB checks into this throw every single time you get this look. Leverage in this defense is almost purposefully given away, it seems.
This route combo is nasty from UNC. They run a switch concept on the outside, which gets the outside man to have to come across and switch receiver, but the route is to Downs the whole way if you look at Howell, he is staring it down. Downs is running a Texas route out of the slot behind the switch and there is no chance Gurvan Hall could cover this even if he was up on the LOS, but from that depth, he is toast. The defensive gameplan to have Gurvan Hall take their best WR 1-on-1 in the slot is maddening. This play goes for a TD.
Slide the OL to the right, 55 doesn’t even touch the DT, Knighton is taking a play-action and not expecting to block a free rushing DT. Shows you the trouble with our red-zone play-calling as well. Run the ball twice for zero total yards. On 3rd & 10 run play-action and no one is biting on that. Total bust by Donaldson.
They run another Texas route, this time with the RB isolated on Keontra Smith. If he doesn’t drop this, it’s a TD. The single-high S is to the top of the screen and it’s Bubba Bolden flat-footed. Miami defenders act as though they have never seen this route before, maybe because we never run it in practice.
How many times are we going to see Corey Flagg in this position before someone else gets a shot at MLB? Steed gets called for hands-to-the-face penalty, but he was being held bigger than nothing out there and no call.
How do the Miami coaches watch Kamren Kinchens and James Williams play at S and watch Bubba Bolden and Gurvan Hall play at S and choose to put the latter group out there repeatedly? Kinchens with an excellent open-field tackle on Downs. (Not pictured)
Keontra is your force player to the boundary, yet he drops way out of his zone and gives up the edge easily. Keontra is almost touching Williams on this play he’s so far out of position. It’s all the time with the defense. Maintaining an edge defender is a basic principle in any defense. If you can’t defend your edges you can’t stop anyone. Carter does that delayed blitz, runs into #96, both end up on the ground again, with an OL standing over them. This is so brutal they might call taunting in the NFL.
Howell gets 17 out of this. Sigh. #81, you have to run to where he’s going, son, not where he is.
I’m throwing to Downs isolated on a S with a free release, two-way go, on every single play. What these defensive coaches came up to start this game was this pretty mind-blowing. Howell never looked anywhere else.
You’re telling me Miami defenders are seeing what they’re hitting? This S ducks his head and absolutely drills his own man in the open field. Never touched Howell. Ivey basically breathed on Howell, who fell over his own feet or he walks in for a TD after Miami defenders just run into each other. It was Gurvan Hall, who had the embarrassing “block tackle” against Michigan State as well. This one just isn’t viral.
Here is Flagg’s attempt at a “tackle.” I don’t understand.
Jump offsides on 3rd down. They get in-close and play-action for the TD. Miami gives it all away over-and-over. (Not pictured)
What is this route combination? Makes no sense. You’re trying to run two shallow crosses together off read-option play fake. Woof. Gets tipped on a bad pass and decision really, and intercepted. But your OC did you no favors here.
Another “tackle” attempt from #5. This just isn’t acceptable. He takes this from a TFL into a 1st down. They’re just leaning into people and not even trying to use their arms. What is happening?
Howell throws this right to your entire defense basically. Ivey drops another would-be interception. Over and over, again.
James Williams needs to play every snap. Makes a great tackle on Downs on 3rd down. (Not pictured)
Next play Williams roughs the kicker and it was a game-changing play. He was bumped by his own guy #2, which I didn’t realize live because I was so ticked. Leads to the TD. (Not pictured)
Restrepo gets open for a nice reception. He has to play more. Has to. (Not pictured)
Goal line and they use Justice as an extra TE and he has a nice block to spring Knighton for the TD. This is a game Miami should’ve won. (Not pictured)
Corey Flagg missed tackle. Drink. Nesta has had a bad game. Gets bullied here.
Why yes, that is Corey Flagg matched up 1-on-1 in coverage against Downs. Easy 1st down.
I talk about the limitations in contain with our defense on the edges and you can see it here again. Just push the edge defender upfield and no one replaces. They run the LB off with a decoy underneath route as this is a QB draw all the way. This defense will not work. There is no one here.
What is this tackle attempt, Flagg? Seriously just diving at the legs of Howell. He steps over Flagg’s lifeless corpse and picks up a 1st down. Incredible that he keeps seeing the field.
Keontra is shot out of a cannon on 3rd down for a big sack. Nice play. Keontra, James Williams, Harvey, Tyrique have all played well thus far. (Not pictured)
TVD throws to a spot and doesn’t see the field at all. Interception. Just a really bad throw and awareness. (Not pictured)
This has to be called on JHH. They tried to pull a G and JHH split the gap and the OL just grabs him in a bear hug from behind and throws him. No call. Instead, they call Miami for an atrocious rough-the-passer call.
Here is an example of a catch being made, but why are you going to the ground on the catch? Not great accuracy, no doubt, but if Harley just stays on his feet he has tons of room to run. Harley falls down catching the ball so often.
TVD misses an open Harley deep. Then he gets pressured and throws it to Smith five yards behind the LOS. Just throw it away TVD. He’s really had a rough game thus far. Accuracy has been nonexistant. (Not pictured)
TVD on a 4th down takes off and scrambles and gets the 1st down. He’s been much more dangerous with his legs thus far. Tough kid. I call his type a “gamer.” You need that accuracy to start showing up though. (Not pictured)
Cody Brown scores a TD after keeping his legs moving and bouncing in. (Not pictured)
UNC gets a 3rd down, waits for the defense to run past the QB for the fifth time in this game thus far, Howell runs for an easy 1st down again.
James Williams has now caught the shoulder tackle affliction. TD. Never seen a team tackle like this. Never. Will you tackle? If yes, you can play. That’s my requirement.
Whew. Haven’t seen this sort of thing in a while. Knighton in space after catching the wheel route. Let’s go, Lashlee, give me more wheel routes with Knighton now that Cam is out for the year. Makes this man miss and goes to the house.
Double-team Downs, Howell doesn’t throw it even though he was open really, then Keontra sacks him again. His speed makes a difference and he needs to play every snap. (Not pictured)
Excellent play call by Lashlee here as he releases Hodges late after giving max-protect look. He is wide open and Hodges just falls down on his own or this is a big play. It wasn’t perfectly accurate. Sigh.
Awful play call on 4th down as they just run a stop route, as if the defender won’t be sitting on the sticks. (Not pictured)
These officials, man. Miami had them off-the-field and then they throw a roughing the passer flag when James Williams throws Howell down. This is football. He didn’t body slam the guy and how does he know he doesn’t actually have the ball still? Leads to a TD. (Not pictured)
These officials, man. #91 jumps on the guy as he’s going to the ground and they throw another flag. The announcers are incredulous as these calls are just awful. (Not pictured)
Flagg gets a sack on the previous play (where he barely was able to tackle him). But then he completely runs himself out of this gap on the next play. Where is he going way over there when he has the A-gap? Runner gets 8, allows Howell to get the TD on the infamous everyone dive and not actually make a tackle, play.
I just can’t with this shoulder stuff. Use your arms. Kinchens, hit him! A gift of a TD from this team that absolutely cannot stop shooting themselves in their foot.
I am done with this at this point. Play the young players and do not play these veterans who cannot/will not tackle another snap if you can help it. That is harsh and that will anger several on the team, but at some point accountability has to come into play. Miami gave this game away. Point blank.
First play and one of the issues I see so often with our DL/LB group is how often they lose sight of the ball and just dive with their shoulder. If Steed keeps his head up and locks his arms out on this TE, this play is defended well. Instead, he ducks his head, throws his shoulder into a blocker, as so often happens on Miami film, and there is a cutback for the RB.
I try not to be an incessant screamer at our coaching staff each week, as I know they are major D1 coaches for a reason, but I cannot understand how you look at what UNC has done on offense to this point in the season and come out with a game plan that basically forgets to cover Josh Downs. Coming into the game, UNC had completed 114 passes and 49 of them had gone to Downs. Yet, they just don’t cover him on play two of the game. At least not within the frame of the screen.
This goes for a 1st down. It is so frustrating to watch this over-and-over again. The defense should’ve been off-the-field. He’s hit in the backfield by McCloud. Steed is right there, unblocked, to provide a second defender to get him down. They let this go for a 1st down!
All. Season. Long. Miami has just completely refused to take advantage of opportunities. I know this coaching staff has a lot to answer for with the issues we are seeing with tackling, physicality, adjustments needed, but the players all have a lot of culpability as well. We just don’t have defensive backs who will catch the ball. At least seven interceptions have been flat out dropped this season and they only have three all season. Look the ball in and make a play.
Downs gets a little swing pass, Flagg misses a tackle. Drink. (Not pictured)
3rd down and Miami parts like the red sea for Howell to pick it up. UNC goes on to score a TD after Miami had two opportunities to get them off-the-field early. (Not pictured)
Very next play. Bolden is pushing his forcing player. Couch loses his outside position where he should be attacking and Bolden should be attacking inside. Neither has any desire to make a tackle and this goes for a TD. It’s just all season long and this kind of S play cannot be tolerated. Couch has to just make this tackle as well instead of diving at his feet, but this picture right here is just brutal. Hall takes a bad angle and gets outran to the end zone. #99 gets blocked by a TE 1-on-1. No excuse for this drive ending in a TD.
First play and Miami has Keyshawn Smith wide-open on the flea flicker and TVD makes a really poor throw. (Not pictured)
If you’re going to throw on 1st down and it goes incomplete, you have to be prepared to throw again on 2nd down, otherwise you’re just about giving up the drive in most cases. A 2nd-and-10 run after an incompletion is the single least inefficient play-call in football. Goes for one yard, brings up 3rd-and-9. I’ve written many times I’m disappointed in the job that Lashlee is doing and this is just another example why. (Not pictured)
Miami had a wide-open Keyshawn Smith on 1st down. A wide-open Keyshawn Smith on 3rd down. TVD makes an awful throw on the first. A really bad throw on the third down. I’m a TVD fan, but this is not acceptable. Miami should’ve had points on their first drive and instead go 3-and-out. (Not pictured)
I’m going to skip to highlighting just big plays because you’ve all read all season long about execution issues and probably don’t want to read more of them, frankly.
This is an incredible play by Harvey, first you sprawl to keep the cut blocker off your legs, then you gather, locate the ball, tip it, catch it, score it. The type of play Miami has failed to make all season long. Way to go.
Gotta hit this gap and make this tackle, Steed. Nothing outside on the edge, as is common with this scheme, and it’s another big run. Chandler stiff-arms Bolden to the ground. I don’t go back to every game I’ve ever seen and review, but I cannot remember a team that is worse at tackling than this Miami team.
The defensive gameplan was, “Let’s back Gurvan Hall off of Downs 10 yards and let him have space to do whatever he wants.” Also, look at where your MLB is, there is no help on a slant and Hall this far in off-coverage. This is stealing on a 1st down play and a good OC/QB checks into this throw every single time you get this look. Leverage in this defense is almost purposefully given away, it seems.
This route combo is nasty from UNC. They run a switch concept on the outside, which gets the outside man to have to come across and switch receiver, but the route is to Downs the whole way if you look at Howell, he is staring it down. Downs is running a Texas route out of the slot behind the switch and there is no chance Gurvan Hall could cover this even if he was up on the LOS, but from that depth, he is toast. The defensive gameplan to have Gurvan Hall take their best WR 1-on-1 in the slot is maddening. This play goes for a TD.
Slide the OL to the right, 55 doesn’t even touch the DT, Knighton is taking a play-action and not expecting to block a free rushing DT. Shows you the trouble with our red-zone play-calling as well. Run the ball twice for zero total yards. On 3rd & 10 run play-action and no one is biting on that. Total bust by Donaldson.
They run another Texas route, this time with the RB isolated on Keontra Smith. If he doesn’t drop this, it’s a TD. The single-high S is to the top of the screen and it’s Bubba Bolden flat-footed. Miami defenders act as though they have never seen this route before, maybe because we never run it in practice.
How many times are we going to see Corey Flagg in this position before someone else gets a shot at MLB? Steed gets called for hands-to-the-face penalty, but he was being held bigger than nothing out there and no call.
How do the Miami coaches watch Kamren Kinchens and James Williams play at S and watch Bubba Bolden and Gurvan Hall play at S and choose to put the latter group out there repeatedly? Kinchens with an excellent open-field tackle on Downs. (Not pictured)
Keontra is your force player to the boundary, yet he drops way out of his zone and gives up the edge easily. Keontra is almost touching Williams on this play he’s so far out of position. It’s all the time with the defense. Maintaining an edge defender is a basic principle in any defense. If you can’t defend your edges you can’t stop anyone. Carter does that delayed blitz, runs into #96, both end up on the ground again, with an OL standing over them. This is so brutal they might call taunting in the NFL.
Howell gets 17 out of this. Sigh. #81, you have to run to where he’s going, son, not where he is.
I’m throwing to Downs isolated on a S with a free release, two-way go, on every single play. What these defensive coaches came up to start this game was this pretty mind-blowing. Howell never looked anywhere else.
You’re telling me Miami defenders are seeing what they’re hitting? This S ducks his head and absolutely drills his own man in the open field. Never touched Howell. Ivey basically breathed on Howell, who fell over his own feet or he walks in for a TD after Miami defenders just run into each other. It was Gurvan Hall, who had the embarrassing “block tackle” against Michigan State as well. This one just isn’t viral.
Here is Flagg’s attempt at a “tackle.” I don’t understand.
Jump offsides on 3rd down. They get in-close and play-action for the TD. Miami gives it all away over-and-over. (Not pictured)
What is this route combination? Makes no sense. You’re trying to run two shallow crosses together off read-option play fake. Woof. Gets tipped on a bad pass and decision really, and intercepted. But your OC did you no favors here.
Another “tackle” attempt from #5. This just isn’t acceptable. He takes this from a TFL into a 1st down. They’re just leaning into people and not even trying to use their arms. What is happening?
Howell throws this right to your entire defense basically. Ivey drops another would-be interception. Over and over, again.
James Williams needs to play every snap. Makes a great tackle on Downs on 3rd down. (Not pictured)
Next play Williams roughs the kicker and it was a game-changing play. He was bumped by his own guy #2, which I didn’t realize live because I was so ticked. Leads to the TD. (Not pictured)
Restrepo gets open for a nice reception. He has to play more. Has to. (Not pictured)
Goal line and they use Justice as an extra TE and he has a nice block to spring Knighton for the TD. This is a game Miami should’ve won. (Not pictured)
Corey Flagg missed tackle. Drink. Nesta has had a bad game. Gets bullied here.
Why yes, that is Corey Flagg matched up 1-on-1 in coverage against Downs. Easy 1st down.
I talk about the limitations in contain with our defense on the edges and you can see it here again. Just push the edge defender upfield and no one replaces. They run the LB off with a decoy underneath route as this is a QB draw all the way. This defense will not work. There is no one here.
What is this tackle attempt, Flagg? Seriously just diving at the legs of Howell. He steps over Flagg’s lifeless corpse and picks up a 1st down. Incredible that he keeps seeing the field.
Keontra is shot out of a cannon on 3rd down for a big sack. Nice play. Keontra, James Williams, Harvey, Tyrique have all played well thus far. (Not pictured)
TVD throws to a spot and doesn’t see the field at all. Interception. Just a really bad throw and awareness. (Not pictured)
This has to be called on JHH. They tried to pull a G and JHH split the gap and the OL just grabs him in a bear hug from behind and throws him. No call. Instead, they call Miami for an atrocious rough-the-passer call.
Here is an example of a catch being made, but why are you going to the ground on the catch? Not great accuracy, no doubt, but if Harley just stays on his feet he has tons of room to run. Harley falls down catching the ball so often.
TVD misses an open Harley deep. Then he gets pressured and throws it to Smith five yards behind the LOS. Just throw it away TVD. He’s really had a rough game thus far. Accuracy has been nonexistant. (Not pictured)
TVD on a 4th down takes off and scrambles and gets the 1st down. He’s been much more dangerous with his legs thus far. Tough kid. I call his type a “gamer.” You need that accuracy to start showing up though. (Not pictured)
Cody Brown scores a TD after keeping his legs moving and bouncing in. (Not pictured)
UNC gets a 3rd down, waits for the defense to run past the QB for the fifth time in this game thus far, Howell runs for an easy 1st down again.
James Williams has now caught the shoulder tackle affliction. TD. Never seen a team tackle like this. Never. Will you tackle? If yes, you can play. That’s my requirement.
Whew. Haven’t seen this sort of thing in a while. Knighton in space after catching the wheel route. Let’s go, Lashlee, give me more wheel routes with Knighton now that Cam is out for the year. Makes this man miss and goes to the house.
Double-team Downs, Howell doesn’t throw it even though he was open really, then Keontra sacks him again. His speed makes a difference and he needs to play every snap. (Not pictured)
Excellent play call by Lashlee here as he releases Hodges late after giving max-protect look. He is wide open and Hodges just falls down on his own or this is a big play. It wasn’t perfectly accurate. Sigh.
Awful play call on 4th down as they just run a stop route, as if the defender won’t be sitting on the sticks. (Not pictured)
These officials, man. Miami had them off-the-field and then they throw a roughing the passer flag when James Williams throws Howell down. This is football. He didn’t body slam the guy and how does he know he doesn’t actually have the ball still? Leads to a TD. (Not pictured)
These officials, man. #91 jumps on the guy as he’s going to the ground and they throw another flag. The announcers are incredulous as these calls are just awful. (Not pictured)
Flagg gets a sack on the previous play (where he barely was able to tackle him). But then he completely runs himself out of this gap on the next play. Where is he going way over there when he has the A-gap? Runner gets 8, allows Howell to get the TD on the infamous everyone dive and not actually make a tackle, play.
I just can’t with this shoulder stuff. Use your arms. Kinchens, hit him! A gift of a TD from this team that absolutely cannot stop shooting themselves in their foot.
I am done with this at this point. Play the young players and do not play these veterans who cannot/will not tackle another snap if you can help it. That is harsh and that will anger several on the team, but at some point accountability has to come into play. Miami gave this game away. Point blank.
