By the Numbers: Miami vs. Louisville

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Stefan Adams

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Ahead of Miami-Louisville tomorrow, CIS took a deep-dive and compared the two programs. How do the teams match up in key areas of the game, what players were recruited by the other school, and how does the series history shake out? Let's find out.


Head-to-Head

Miami Rush Offense vs. Louisville Rush Defense


The Canes have been sluggish to say the least on the ground this season, averaging 111.3 ypg at 120th nationally. DeeJay Dallas has one of the best yards per carry figures (6.0) in the conference, but 9 games in, it’s pretty clear the only reason Dan Enos will occasionally run is in order to set up play action. Still, Miami would be wise to mix more of the ground game in with their passing attack this week, as Louisville is 85th in the country at stopping the run (177.6 ypg). The Cardinals have actually given up over 200 yards rushing against each of the 4 best offenses they’ve faced this season and don’t have anyone in their front seven (3-4) that truly scares you; LB Rodjay Burns (48 tackles, 6 TFL) comes closest. In terms of run blocking, the Miami OL has been up and down depending on the game.

Advantage: Even


Louisville Rush Offense vs. Miami Rush Defense

Led by the electric freshman Javian Hawkins, who is 4th in the ACC in rushing (887 yards), the Cardinals have boasted one of the best rushing attacks in the country so far in 2019. At 218.1 ypg, Louisville is currently sitting at 23rd in the country and is getting an extra boost from their duo of running QB’s; Micale Cunningham and Evan Conley have combined for 397 yards and 5 TD’s on the ground and can threaten a defense in multiple ways. Not to be outdone, Miami’s D is even better defending the run, as the Canes come into this game at #12 in run defense (97.8 ypg). UM has actually faced a ton of running QB’s this season and, aside from one breakdown game against VT and Hendon Hooker (76 yards rushing, TD), the Canes have fared pretty well in that no other opposing QB has gone over 30 yards on the ground this season. UM linebackers Shaq Quarterman (10.5 TFL in 2019) and Mike Pinckney (7.5 TFL) are also probably coming off their best games of the season against FSU last week and were constantly blowing up runs at or behind the LOS. If Miami can get the shifty Hawkins down on first contact, they should shut him down much like they did with Cam Akers last week, but easier said than done.

Advantage: Even


Miami Pass Offense vs. Louisville Pass Defense

Jarren Williams is coming off a career-high game on the road against FSU last weekend, and will be licking his chops yet again this week against one of the worst secondaries in the FBS. Led by CB Chandler Jones (team-leading 7 PBU’s, 36 tackles, 3.5 TFL, FF), the Cardinals have been a sieve against pretty much every passing offense they’ve played this season, and are #106 in pass defense at 259.4 ypg. On the other side, Miami is #35 in passing offense (269.3 ypg) overall and also does a good job spreading the ball around to their top 4 receivers in KJ Osborn (36 receptions), Brevin Jordan (35), Mike Harley (28), and Jeff Thomas (28). One aspect to watch here is that Jordan will be a game-time decision with an undisclosed injury, and this is a different offense without him. Still, Louisville is only average at rushing the passer this season and their two starting edge rushers in Burns and Yasir Abdullah have combined for just 3 sacks this season; not to mention the Miami OL has been much improved at protecting the QB in recent weeks. Williams has shown he can pick apart a secondary if given time, so if this weak pass rush doesn’t get home, it could be a long day for this UL pass defense.

Advantage: Miami


Louisville Pass Offense vs. Miami Pass Defense

Louisville has used a two-QB system the past 4 games, switching back and forth between Cunningham and Conley. At a pedestrian 70th in passing offense (226.5 ypg), Louisville is much more of a team that prefers to run to set up the pass more than anything. Cunningham, however, does have a penchant for the big play, as he leads the ACC in yards per attempt at a whopping 11.6 and he has the weapons to make you pay. WR Tutu Atwell (668 yards, 7 TD’s) is 5th in the conference in receiving, while Dez Fitzpatrick is 6th in the ACC in ypc (19.2), and both are plenty explosive. UM’s pass defense is considered better on the surface, with the Canes at #29 and allowing 192.3 ypg. Looking deeper, Louisville’s OL is one of the worst pass blocking lines in the country and is #110 in sacks allowed, which could be a problem when going up against a UM pass rush that tallied 9 sacks last week and is led by a budding star off the edge in Gregory Rousseau (ACC leading 12 sacks).

Advantage: Miami


Miami Special Teams vs. Louisville Special Teams

The Cardinals will be without one of the best kickers in the ACC this week, as senior Blanton Creque tore his ACL in his last game and will miss the rest of the season. That leaves sophomore walk-on Ryan Chalifoux to handle FG’s this week, and Chalifoux has never attempted a college FG. That’s in contrast with Camden Price, who has brought some stability to the UM kicking game the past two weeks; Price has hit 3 of 4 chip-shots and looks to be the most reliable option right now. Punter Louis Hedley has emerged as a weapon in helping Miami win the field position battle, placing 3rd in the ACC in ypp (45.5); UL’s Mason King has been a solid, middle of the pack punter, coming in at 8th in the ACC with 43.0 ypp. While KJ Osborn has proved one of the leagues better punt returners since taking over midway through the season (first in the ACC at 19.3 yards per return), UL has themselves a true homerun threat; Hassan Hall is second in the conference in yards per KR (35.2) and has a 100 TD to his name in 2019.

Advantage: Even


Roster Notes

Louisville Players recruited by Miami (9):
WR Devante Peete, WR Emonee Spence, QB Jawon Pass, WR Justin Marshall, OL Caleb Chandler, DL Jared Goldwire, LB Robert Hicks, DB Trenell Troutman, OL Renato Brown

Miami Players recruited by Louisville (37): DE Scott Patchan, DT Pat Bethel, DT Tyreic Martin, LB Shaq Quarterman, LB Mike Pinckney, LB Zach McCloud, STRK Romeo Finley, QB N’Kosi Perry, WR Jeff Thomas, WR Mike Harley, TE Evidence Njoku, OL Navaughn Donaldson, OL Kai-Leon Herbert, DE Jonathan Garvin, DT Jonathan Ford, LB Waynmon Steed, LB Bradley Jennings, CB Trajan Bandy, S Amari Carter, QB Jarren Williams, RB Lorenzo Lingard, RB Cam’Ron Harris, TE Brevin Jordan, TE Will Mallory, CB DJ Ivey, S Gurvan Hall, WR Jeremiah Payton, TE Larry Hodges, OL Jakai Clark, DE Jahfari Harvey, DE Cameron Williams, DT Jared Harrison-Hunte, DT Jalar Holley, LB Avery Huff, LB Sam Brooks, CB Te’Cory Couch, S Keontra Smith

Louisville Players that were committed to Miami (2): WR Emonee Spence, OL Renato Brown

Miami Players that were committed to Louisville (0): None

Louisville Players from South Florida (9): WR Tutu Atwell (Miami Northwestern), WR Devante Peete (St. Thomas), DB Chandler Jones (Miami Central), LB Robert Hicks (Miami Central), DB Trenell Troutman (St. Thomas), LB Yasir Abdullah (Carol City), OL Renato Brown (Palm Beach Central), WR Emonee Spence (Flanagan), WR Tyler Harrell (Columbus)


Series History

**
Miami leads the overall series with Louisville, 9-3-1.

**The Cardinals are currently on a three game-winning streak vs. Miami; the longest ever winning streak in this series was 7 games, done by Miami (1979-2004).

**The largest margin of victory in this series is 38 points, accomplished by Miami in 1985 (45-7).


Last Time They Played

**
The game was the 2014 season opener in what was Louisville’s ACC debut; in a unique twist, it was the second straight game the two teams were playing against each other, as Miami and Louisville both ended their 2013 seasons playing against each other in the Russell Athletic Bowl.

**The Canes went up 10-7 late in the second quarter on the road after a FG by Matt Goudis, but gave up the lead on the ensuing kickoff when UL KR Corvin Lamb took the kick back 97 yards for a TD. That extinguished Miami’s first and last lead of the game, as they ended up falling to Louisville, 31-13.

**The game marked Brad Kaaya’s first career start; the true freshman struggled to the tune of a 17-29, 174 yards, 1 TD, and 2 INT line.

**UL RB Dominique Brown was a bell-cow for the Cardinals, racking up 33 carries for 143 yards and a TD.

 
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Stefan great break down, but did you really have to add in that highlight video? Really? Isn't bad enough I paid to go watch them lose to GT and VATech...
 
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Typo on the special teams section. Says FSU. Otherwise, thanks. Looks like we should win via the air.
 
We need to force them into 3rd and long and get them to drop back and throw. Be careful with the underneath stuff to their fast guys and come and up and tackle the qb when he scrambles. Should be spying him the whole game
 
We need to force them into 3rd and long and get them to drop back and throw. Be careful with the underneath stuff to their fast guys and come and up and tackle the qb when he scrambles. Should be spying him the whole game
Captain obvious. Don't you want to get every team in 3rd and long
 
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The laws of sports writing compel me to always add highlights
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And this is the ******* problem with the offense. We should not be running occasionally just to set up the play action. We should be making the run a focal point of our offense, and both dallas and cam should have about 30 touches combined. Play action is so much more effective when you run the ball effectively.
 
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They like to run, and our D sold out pretty hard on Cam last week. Louisville surely noticed, and if I’m them I game plan to get our LBs biting hard and then work the screen game or pass behind them. Hopefully we’re ready for that. And/or hopefully our pass rush gets home more often than not.
 
By the numbers suggest Canes should easily. Why I ignore stats. Just hope the Canes show up with an attitude like last week
 
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