If you can't convert third downs or stop other teams from converting 3rd downs, it don't matter how fast you go. If you convert 3 or 4 more 3rd downs and stop 3 or 4 more by the other team, Miami is in the top 60 in plays last year. Playing faster can help get you a few more plays a game, but being efficient with the plays you run helps a lot more. The right balance of those two, along with getting some stops on third down and it doesn't matter where you rank in plays per game. Alabama was 49th and they run at a pedestrian pace, but they get first downs and they get stops on defense.
Getting stops early on drives and not giving up 12 play drives that end in punts or conversely giving up a long TD instead of watching a team methodically move the ball down the field for 8 minutes before scoring a TD should play a part in helping increase offensive plays per game. I'm looking forward to the aggressive defensive mindset, even if it gives up big plays, because it should also translate to being aggressive on offense, even if the offense isn't playing at break neck speed.
