Series:
Welcome back to Upon Further Review, where I will review each Canes game and bring you screenshots from important moments in plays throughout the action. This week is the infamous “week zero” in which Miami and Florida engaged in a sloppy battle filled with mistakes and coulda, shoulda, woulda’s.
First play of the game and Miami motions both TE’s to the wide side of the field and runs a jet sweep to KJ Osborn. I froze the action here for a couple of reasons: 1. I’m not sure why John Campbell is attacking the backside LB and leaving the pursuit LB free to roam on a play designed to go outside. 2. The Florida defender is pretty sneakily holding Brevin Jordan from getting outside to his block. I still cannot imagine the plan is to simply let the LB flow down the line and make a pretty easy tackle here.
2nd down and Miami motions out of a bunch set and puts DeeJay out wide on the boundary. They take Brevin from one side and put him into the slot. This is nice design as it gets Marco Wilson to follow DeeJay, the slot CB to go on Jeff Thomas and the LB to come over on Brevin. That’s exactly what you want is to get Brevin isolated onto #33. Small additional tidbit is you can see the maturity that Osborn has among the receiver group as he is the one pointing out a possible CB blitzer. The play was a little swing pass to Brevin that goes for big yardage and was half a step away from a TD. I like how they started Jarren out under center, then put him back into shotgun.
The truth of the matter is that Mallory was a poor blocker last year and on this play if he gets one step upfield and turns this block, this play goes for nice yardage. Instead, #7 easily long arms him with one arm and strings this play out. Have to do better or they might need to think about replacing him in that role.
First game as a true freshman and he’s out there at LT, I get that part of things, but Zion is late off-the-ball. Ball is essentially to the QB and he hasn’t moved out of his stance. Look at Scaife, who is halfway into his pull already. This was a swing pass to Osborn outside and the defender nearly knocked it down because he runs right by Zion on this play. By the way, if anyone ever wonders why Mike Harley plays so much, it’s because he is a ferocious blocker. He blocks his man with a cut block, then gets up and impedes a second defender to allow Osborn a big run.
Campbell never touches this defender, who if he makes this block Brevin might score. He has to evade 51 and it pushes him to the sideline where the S gets him down. It probably isn’t a popular sentiment, but I think Scaife should be the LT and Donaldson should be the RT moving forward and fill out the interior with what is left. These T’s are starting out very poorly.
Mallory on the end (against 7) is such a bad blocker. This is comical how easily he is tossed away by the defender. Donaldson completely bent over at the waist. Then the second screen shot shows 51 just stealing Campbell’s soul. Go hit someone big fella! You are the lead on a toss sweep against a LB and a S. Go in hard right and cut through #51 and impede the S at the same time and he gets the edge! Scaife is the best OL on this team by a long way.
To this point in the game, I haven’t seen a play where I would say Zion “won” his block. Welcome to college, my man.
Jarren missed it here. I think he’s looking for the corner route, so this may not have been his read, but he can throw #3 open behind that LB on this play. Essentially throw it to the official and this is a completion. Zion is beat easily again and the RB has to help, which means he can’t step up and hit the defender coming up the middle who eventually sacks Jarren.
Gurvan has to make this tackle in the hole rather than getting shook and giving up a bunch of extra yards.
Something went wrong in the special teams alignment here. Two guys should not be standing on top of one another at the 31-yard line here. I really wish 7 would just kept going upfield here and made sure he was outside and forced the punter back inside to his pursuit. He stops his feet and let the punter get outside of him. Bad contain and poor alignment led to one of the biggest plays of the game.
I believe Pinck and Shaq were supposed to slide one step to their left on this play as Toney is in motion and creates a mismatch at the bottom of your screen.
But this official standing right there and watching the play misses a blatant hold on Bandy. That has to be called, my man.
Then the OL has a pretty blatant block-in-the-back. This has to be called, my man.
Then Gurvan has to make this tackle. Yes, the official standing there should be let go after this play, but this is exactly what we feared without Jaquan out there erasing mistakes in the secondary. Last year, this is simply a first down and move to the next play. This night it was a TD as Hall and Carter both fail.
This play needs to be a check to a pass at the LOS. He’s got all that space in front of him and you can just pitch it out there and one missed tackle might be 6. They run a slant right into where #3 is going already and it’s a big hit.
Does Zion know the snap count? Hasn’t moved and his man runs straight by him and sacks Jarren.
If I’m the OL coach at Miami I’m questioning my tackle’s manhood. You have a free shot at this man’s ribs and you give him a love tap. He didn’t release downfield, he just taps him. Hit this dude so hard in his ribs with everything you’ve got and you will start to slow down that pass rush. You can truly impact speed rushers by attacking their ribs every single chance you get. I want my OL to be mean and want to body people out there. Zion, get physical. In fact, this guy gets off this block and hits DeeJay downfield. That is despicable to allow that to happen to your RB.
Then we take a timeout on the punt because we can’t get lined up. No Bueno, fellas, no Bueno. (Not pictured)
Florida does the quick jet sweep to Toney and he gets the edge. Garvin retraces and hits him, but Romeo did a great job taking on two blockers to force Toney to come back inside. (Not pictured)
Bethel gets off a block and makes a tackle right at the LOS. Miami is playing assignment sound defense for the most part. (Not pictured)
Bandy gets off a Trevon Grimes block and tackles Perine before the can get the 1st down. I thought there was no way he was getting there.
But then you gotta make this play on 4th down. They had him stopped. As a point of reference, Mullen is doing a much better job utilizing his chess piece (Toney) than Enos is with his (Thomas).
Finley called for PI on this play when he’s knocking the hand away from the receiver pushing on him. As a reminder, face guarding is legal in college football, you do not have to turn and look for the football. Some truly poor officiating thus far.
Frierson saved our backsides on this play. He was shot out of a cannon here and splits this block and beats #61 to the ballcarrier. If Frierson gets blocked it could be trouble because they had a pursuit blocker and a lead blocker in #7. Shaq did beat this block and had pursuit though.
Have to make this play #15. You’re too talented to be letting guys get away this easily and get big yardage pickups.
This gave me flashbacks to D’Onofrio. You can’t defend this play with this alignment and the QB just walks around the edge to the top of the screen for an easy 1st down. Miami needs to steal this play with the ease in which they picked this up. What made it so easy for them is they created so much space with the receivers up top rather than trying to bunch everything together.
Two plays in-a-row Florida does an inside give and Miami misses tackles to bring up 3rd and short. This entire drive isn’t happening if Rousseau gets the pretty easy sack earlier. Little things add up to big things in games like this and it was apparent Miami simply wasn’t ready for the moment on this night. (Not pictured)
This is an awesome play design by Florida. They run the TE and slot up the seams, which holds the outside CB and the striker. They slip the RB behind the DE and the LB will never get there in time because of the TE running straight at the LB at the snap and holding him for a split second. Patchan tips this pass and Perine still gets it, so when UF fans talk about Brevin’s tip, remind them they got their own luck here.
74 gets beaten like he stole something straight off the snap. He kind of ruins a decent looking play as well. This is an RPO and the LB’s are playing pass the entire way.
Jarren showed some nice escapability here and I think he’s throwing it to Jordan, but Mallory sat down in his zone when his QB scrambled. Goes through Mallory’s hands or Jordan has a nice play and an easy 1st down. Miami can’t get out of their own way.
Miami gets a penalty for 12-men in the huddle. Then Campbell jumps. This is tough to watch and I may need to simply speed this up. (Not pictured)
If you’re going to use a FB, he needs to be able to make this block on the Mike. Right at the 5-yard line Realus can make this block and Harris has a nice gain. Instead he whiffs and it goes for just a few yards.
Knowles makes a nice tackle on the punt return. Then fills his gap and gets the RB down on 1st down. Headley has sucked as a punter thus far. (Not pictured)
Trevon Hill used his athleticism to get to the edge and the RB bobbled a pitch play and the Canes get the turnover. (Not pictured)
Yes, Tate playing so much at WR was surprising, but you can see it got Florida’s attention here. There were so few Florida defenders left in the box that Campbell and Scaife both pull and both take the same guy because there was no one for Scaife to take so he just hit the guy Campbell was engaged with. This run goes for 24 yards.
Williams panics in the pocket here. He’s got a beautiful pocket if he just steps up a step. He literally runs into the back of his OL standing there. Hit somebody Scaife, look for work!
It was at this moment that Ventrell Miller regretted the day he decided to buzz the flats on Cam’Ron Harris.
Brevin, you have to catch this ball. There was a ton of hype and praise coming Brevin’s way after this game, and he had a pretty good game, but he’s one of the ones that needed to play better for Miami to win this game. Football comes down to who is going to make the most plays. Jarren Williams stands in there, evades pressure after his line folded immediately like a cheap suit (look at Gaynor knocked flat on his butt), finds a window, zips a dart to you on a critical 3rd down and this is you right here. This ball is in your hands and you just drop it. Make a play, playmakers.
Knowles is going to take crap for this in the film room. He gets lifted and put on his backside right in the middle of the screen on the kickoff.
I understand why you do it, Franks really took off as a player when he started using his legs last season, but I want Garvin hunting the QB, not standing there in the middle of the field doing nothing but being “in case” he runs. Gurvan Hall comes on a late SS blitz and it’s going to actually work because the secondary held up in 1-on-1 coverage. Your Sr. MLB needs to stay with his assignment here and stick with the RB. Instead he lets him go and the QB drops it off for a nice gain.
Major hold that wasn’t called on Patchan that impacted the play as Patchan was set to make a TFL.
Defense runs that same SS blitz again and Hall is trying to get there. Thankfully, Franks is pretty terrible and throws a “hospital ball” to the RB instead of taking either guy wide open in the middle of the field. Btw, this is what I want Garvin doing for my defense. Making LT’s look silly.
Couple of plays and Miami gets a 1st down. Then Campbell jumps again. Just can’t have that stuff. (Not pictured)
Williams throws a nice little swing pass over the outstretched arms of Zuniga that goes in the books as a run because it was slightly backwards, but it was a nice spin by Thomas to get the yards. 14 more yards could be on Williams’ ledger from this game. (Not pictured)
Ball is in Jarren’s hands and Zion hasn’t moved out there. You can’t even see him because Donaldson is already standing up. It’s no wonder why he gets blown by on this play, but Harris, help your LT out. It’s clear as day that Zion is expecting the RB to chip the edge player on this play-action pass. Instead, Harris misses the edge and chips Zion and nearly knocks him down. Harley doesn’t block the S either and they meet at the QB. This was going to be a big play on a deep crosser to Osborn but didn’t have time.
Campbell is absorbing blows far too often. Go hunting for contact on this pass play. Scaife, look for work! Hit somebody! Jarren does a great job of stepping up on this play and hitting Thomas on the square-in for a huge 3rd down conversion. This OL has to get meaner and start looking to bury 3-man rushes. This is frustrating to watch.
I don’t know the play design, so I can’t speak to why, but you need someone to go attack the LB’s if you want your run game to work and not have Brevin doing whatever this is on this handoff. That’s an uncovered play-side LB reading a 7-yard deep handoff.
Next play Campbell and Scaife do a pretty solid job of passing off a stunt and giving Williams time. He scrambles down the sideline and slides just short of a 1st down. Guess he was being smart, but go get me that 1st down. (Not pictured)
Gotta recognize this nickel blitzer sooner and update your protections. Dallas does come across and at least get in the way (he gets blown up) but if he flips Dallas to the other side, slides his protection right (to allow Scaife to be responsible for the inside shoulder of Campbell) you cover this up and give yourself protection. Gaynor doesn’t recognize the MLB blitz and crashes down, they double up top as well and the MLB has a free walk to the QB. Herbie says he held the ball too long but there was nothing to do except spin the opposite way, but that’s a tough move.
The big screen to Dallas before halftime. Great catch. Gaynor getting out in front and making the key block. Donaldson misses his block here DeeJay breaks that tackle. This is an example of a playmaker making a play and was simply something Brevin and Thomas didn’t do enough of.
Campbell holds on the next play and Jarren runs around and holds the ball for an eternity. You can rest assured the coaching staff will be speaking to Jarren about throwing the ball away in the next game. (Not pictured)
This is the throw that makes you salivate at the potential of Jarren Williams. Look at the muddied pocket he is trying to throw into. This is a throw that Franks has never thrown in his life and Jarren is in the first half of his first start. This was all arm talent and toughness to take the shot from both sides.
First play of the game and Miami motions both TE’s to the wide side of the field and runs a jet sweep to KJ Osborn. I froze the action here for a couple of reasons: 1. I’m not sure why John Campbell is attacking the backside LB and leaving the pursuit LB free to roam on a play designed to go outside. 2. The Florida defender is pretty sneakily holding Brevin Jordan from getting outside to his block. I still cannot imagine the plan is to simply let the LB flow down the line and make a pretty easy tackle here.
2nd down and Miami motions out of a bunch set and puts DeeJay out wide on the boundary. They take Brevin from one side and put him into the slot. This is nice design as it gets Marco Wilson to follow DeeJay, the slot CB to go on Jeff Thomas and the LB to come over on Brevin. That’s exactly what you want is to get Brevin isolated onto #33. Small additional tidbit is you can see the maturity that Osborn has among the receiver group as he is the one pointing out a possible CB blitzer. The play was a little swing pass to Brevin that goes for big yardage and was half a step away from a TD. I like how they started Jarren out under center, then put him back into shotgun.
The truth of the matter is that Mallory was a poor blocker last year and on this play if he gets one step upfield and turns this block, this play goes for nice yardage. Instead, #7 easily long arms him with one arm and strings this play out. Have to do better or they might need to think about replacing him in that role.
First game as a true freshman and he’s out there at LT, I get that part of things, but Zion is late off-the-ball. Ball is essentially to the QB and he hasn’t moved out of his stance. Look at Scaife, who is halfway into his pull already. This was a swing pass to Osborn outside and the defender nearly knocked it down because he runs right by Zion on this play. By the way, if anyone ever wonders why Mike Harley plays so much, it’s because he is a ferocious blocker. He blocks his man with a cut block, then gets up and impedes a second defender to allow Osborn a big run.
Campbell never touches this defender, who if he makes this block Brevin might score. He has to evade 51 and it pushes him to the sideline where the S gets him down. It probably isn’t a popular sentiment, but I think Scaife should be the LT and Donaldson should be the RT moving forward and fill out the interior with what is left. These T’s are starting out very poorly.
Mallory on the end (against 7) is such a bad blocker. This is comical how easily he is tossed away by the defender. Donaldson completely bent over at the waist. Then the second screen shot shows 51 just stealing Campbell’s soul. Go hit someone big fella! You are the lead on a toss sweep against a LB and a S. Go in hard right and cut through #51 and impede the S at the same time and he gets the edge! Scaife is the best OL on this team by a long way.
To this point in the game, I haven’t seen a play where I would say Zion “won” his block. Welcome to college, my man.
Jarren missed it here. I think he’s looking for the corner route, so this may not have been his read, but he can throw #3 open behind that LB on this play. Essentially throw it to the official and this is a completion. Zion is beat easily again and the RB has to help, which means he can’t step up and hit the defender coming up the middle who eventually sacks Jarren.
Gurvan has to make this tackle in the hole rather than getting shook and giving up a bunch of extra yards.
Something went wrong in the special teams alignment here. Two guys should not be standing on top of one another at the 31-yard line here. I really wish 7 would just kept going upfield here and made sure he was outside and forced the punter back inside to his pursuit. He stops his feet and let the punter get outside of him. Bad contain and poor alignment led to one of the biggest plays of the game.
I believe Pinck and Shaq were supposed to slide one step to their left on this play as Toney is in motion and creates a mismatch at the bottom of your screen.
But this official standing right there and watching the play misses a blatant hold on Bandy. That has to be called, my man.
Then the OL has a pretty blatant block-in-the-back. This has to be called, my man.
Then Gurvan has to make this tackle. Yes, the official standing there should be let go after this play, but this is exactly what we feared without Jaquan out there erasing mistakes in the secondary. Last year, this is simply a first down and move to the next play. This night it was a TD as Hall and Carter both fail.
This play needs to be a check to a pass at the LOS. He’s got all that space in front of him and you can just pitch it out there and one missed tackle might be 6. They run a slant right into where #3 is going already and it’s a big hit.
Does Zion know the snap count? Hasn’t moved and his man runs straight by him and sacks Jarren.
If I’m the OL coach at Miami I’m questioning my tackle’s manhood. You have a free shot at this man’s ribs and you give him a love tap. He didn’t release downfield, he just taps him. Hit this dude so hard in his ribs with everything you’ve got and you will start to slow down that pass rush. You can truly impact speed rushers by attacking their ribs every single chance you get. I want my OL to be mean and want to body people out there. Zion, get physical. In fact, this guy gets off this block and hits DeeJay downfield. That is despicable to allow that to happen to your RB.
Then we take a timeout on the punt because we can’t get lined up. No Bueno, fellas, no Bueno. (Not pictured)
Florida does the quick jet sweep to Toney and he gets the edge. Garvin retraces and hits him, but Romeo did a great job taking on two blockers to force Toney to come back inside. (Not pictured)
Bethel gets off a block and makes a tackle right at the LOS. Miami is playing assignment sound defense for the most part. (Not pictured)
Bandy gets off a Trevon Grimes block and tackles Perine before the can get the 1st down. I thought there was no way he was getting there.
But then you gotta make this play on 4th down. They had him stopped. As a point of reference, Mullen is doing a much better job utilizing his chess piece (Toney) than Enos is with his (Thomas).
Finley called for PI on this play when he’s knocking the hand away from the receiver pushing on him. As a reminder, face guarding is legal in college football, you do not have to turn and look for the football. Some truly poor officiating thus far.
Frierson saved our backsides on this play. He was shot out of a cannon here and splits this block and beats #61 to the ballcarrier. If Frierson gets blocked it could be trouble because they had a pursuit blocker and a lead blocker in #7. Shaq did beat this block and had pursuit though.
Have to make this play #15. You’re too talented to be letting guys get away this easily and get big yardage pickups.
This gave me flashbacks to D’Onofrio. You can’t defend this play with this alignment and the QB just walks around the edge to the top of the screen for an easy 1st down. Miami needs to steal this play with the ease in which they picked this up. What made it so easy for them is they created so much space with the receivers up top rather than trying to bunch everything together.
Two plays in-a-row Florida does an inside give and Miami misses tackles to bring up 3rd and short. This entire drive isn’t happening if Rousseau gets the pretty easy sack earlier. Little things add up to big things in games like this and it was apparent Miami simply wasn’t ready for the moment on this night. (Not pictured)
This is an awesome play design by Florida. They run the TE and slot up the seams, which holds the outside CB and the striker. They slip the RB behind the DE and the LB will never get there in time because of the TE running straight at the LB at the snap and holding him for a split second. Patchan tips this pass and Perine still gets it, so when UF fans talk about Brevin’s tip, remind them they got their own luck here.
74 gets beaten like he stole something straight off the snap. He kind of ruins a decent looking play as well. This is an RPO and the LB’s are playing pass the entire way.
Jarren showed some nice escapability here and I think he’s throwing it to Jordan, but Mallory sat down in his zone when his QB scrambled. Goes through Mallory’s hands or Jordan has a nice play and an easy 1st down. Miami can’t get out of their own way.
Miami gets a penalty for 12-men in the huddle. Then Campbell jumps. This is tough to watch and I may need to simply speed this up. (Not pictured)
If you’re going to use a FB, he needs to be able to make this block on the Mike. Right at the 5-yard line Realus can make this block and Harris has a nice gain. Instead he whiffs and it goes for just a few yards.
Knowles makes a nice tackle on the punt return. Then fills his gap and gets the RB down on 1st down. Headley has sucked as a punter thus far. (Not pictured)
Trevon Hill used his athleticism to get to the edge and the RB bobbled a pitch play and the Canes get the turnover. (Not pictured)
Yes, Tate playing so much at WR was surprising, but you can see it got Florida’s attention here. There were so few Florida defenders left in the box that Campbell and Scaife both pull and both take the same guy because there was no one for Scaife to take so he just hit the guy Campbell was engaged with. This run goes for 24 yards.
Williams panics in the pocket here. He’s got a beautiful pocket if he just steps up a step. He literally runs into the back of his OL standing there. Hit somebody Scaife, look for work!
It was at this moment that Ventrell Miller regretted the day he decided to buzz the flats on Cam’Ron Harris.
Brevin, you have to catch this ball. There was a ton of hype and praise coming Brevin’s way after this game, and he had a pretty good game, but he’s one of the ones that needed to play better for Miami to win this game. Football comes down to who is going to make the most plays. Jarren Williams stands in there, evades pressure after his line folded immediately like a cheap suit (look at Gaynor knocked flat on his butt), finds a window, zips a dart to you on a critical 3rd down and this is you right here. This ball is in your hands and you just drop it. Make a play, playmakers.
Knowles is going to take crap for this in the film room. He gets lifted and put on his backside right in the middle of the screen on the kickoff.
I understand why you do it, Franks really took off as a player when he started using his legs last season, but I want Garvin hunting the QB, not standing there in the middle of the field doing nothing but being “in case” he runs. Gurvan Hall comes on a late SS blitz and it’s going to actually work because the secondary held up in 1-on-1 coverage. Your Sr. MLB needs to stay with his assignment here and stick with the RB. Instead he lets him go and the QB drops it off for a nice gain.
Major hold that wasn’t called on Patchan that impacted the play as Patchan was set to make a TFL.
Defense runs that same SS blitz again and Hall is trying to get there. Thankfully, Franks is pretty terrible and throws a “hospital ball” to the RB instead of taking either guy wide open in the middle of the field. Btw, this is what I want Garvin doing for my defense. Making LT’s look silly.
Couple of plays and Miami gets a 1st down. Then Campbell jumps again. Just can’t have that stuff. (Not pictured)
Williams throws a nice little swing pass over the outstretched arms of Zuniga that goes in the books as a run because it was slightly backwards, but it was a nice spin by Thomas to get the yards. 14 more yards could be on Williams’ ledger from this game. (Not pictured)
Ball is in Jarren’s hands and Zion hasn’t moved out there. You can’t even see him because Donaldson is already standing up. It’s no wonder why he gets blown by on this play, but Harris, help your LT out. It’s clear as day that Zion is expecting the RB to chip the edge player on this play-action pass. Instead, Harris misses the edge and chips Zion and nearly knocks him down. Harley doesn’t block the S either and they meet at the QB. This was going to be a big play on a deep crosser to Osborn but didn’t have time.
Campbell is absorbing blows far too often. Go hunting for contact on this pass play. Scaife, look for work! Hit somebody! Jarren does a great job of stepping up on this play and hitting Thomas on the square-in for a huge 3rd down conversion. This OL has to get meaner and start looking to bury 3-man rushes. This is frustrating to watch.
I don’t know the play design, so I can’t speak to why, but you need someone to go attack the LB’s if you want your run game to work and not have Brevin doing whatever this is on this handoff. That’s an uncovered play-side LB reading a 7-yard deep handoff.
Next play Campbell and Scaife do a pretty solid job of passing off a stunt and giving Williams time. He scrambles down the sideline and slides just short of a 1st down. Guess he was being smart, but go get me that 1st down. (Not pictured)
Gotta recognize this nickel blitzer sooner and update your protections. Dallas does come across and at least get in the way (he gets blown up) but if he flips Dallas to the other side, slides his protection right (to allow Scaife to be responsible for the inside shoulder of Campbell) you cover this up and give yourself protection. Gaynor doesn’t recognize the MLB blitz and crashes down, they double up top as well and the MLB has a free walk to the QB. Herbie says he held the ball too long but there was nothing to do except spin the opposite way, but that’s a tough move.
The big screen to Dallas before halftime. Great catch. Gaynor getting out in front and making the key block. Donaldson misses his block here DeeJay breaks that tackle. This is an example of a playmaker making a play and was simply something Brevin and Thomas didn’t do enough of.
Campbell holds on the next play and Jarren runs around and holds the ball for an eternity. You can rest assured the coaching staff will be speaking to Jarren about throwing the ball away in the next game. (Not pictured)
This is the throw that makes you salivate at the potential of Jarren Williams. Look at the muddied pocket he is trying to throw into. This is a throw that Franks has never thrown in his life and Jarren is in the first half of his first start. This was all arm talent and toughness to take the shot from both sides.
