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In a long-standing rivalry game, the saying is that “anything can happen.†Going into Tallahassee is always a significant challenge. Now, going into Tallahassee with a vulnerable defense is another task altogether.
The 5-4 Miami Hurricanes take on the 6-3 Florida State Seminoles in a game that, in the context of the broader college football landscape, means “less†than it used to mean. For a team like Miami, however, with 1[SUP]st[/SUP] year Head Coach Al Golden, this is the type of game that can set the course of a program in the right direction. In an ironic twist of fate, the Seminoles, under then 1[SUP]st[/SUP] year Head Coach Jimbo Fisher, had a similar opportunity during the 2010 season. They stepped on to Miami’s home field and executed a 45-17 rout that altered the course of the Hurricane program.
A year later, given different dynamics within the programs, Miami may not have that same type of opportunity to deter FSU’s general course, but the game can serve as a launching point for Al Golden’s version of the Miami Hurricanes. It is once again a point where the program’s course can be altered.
This glimpse into the game will focus on a particular defensive vulnerability. In a press conference this week, Al Golden emphatically mentioned the damaging effects of the “explosive play.†I decided to take a closer look at that by breaking down every single play of 20 or more yards given up by the Miami Hurricane defense during the current 2011 season.
Below, you will find four specific points for all the "explosive plays" during the first 2 games (guess how many there were in the victory against OSU?): (1) The play, (2) a brief description (including video on the first 6 games), (3) how I expect FSU to take advantage of this type of vulnerability and (4) how I would expect Miami to respond.
MARYLAND
Play #1
0 plays
Ohio State did not complete a play of 20 yards or more. QB accuracy against Miami is lethal. It was clear that Ohio State could not hit Miami’s vulnerable areas, and the game became one-dimensional. Miami must somehow force this type of scenario, but it will be difficult if FSU is patient and consistently spreads the field horizontally waiting for a precise vertical opportunity.
The 5-4 Miami Hurricanes take on the 6-3 Florida State Seminoles in a game that, in the context of the broader college football landscape, means “less†than it used to mean. For a team like Miami, however, with 1[SUP]st[/SUP] year Head Coach Al Golden, this is the type of game that can set the course of a program in the right direction. In an ironic twist of fate, the Seminoles, under then 1[SUP]st[/SUP] year Head Coach Jimbo Fisher, had a similar opportunity during the 2010 season. They stepped on to Miami’s home field and executed a 45-17 rout that altered the course of the Hurricane program.
A year later, given different dynamics within the programs, Miami may not have that same type of opportunity to deter FSU’s general course, but the game can serve as a launching point for Al Golden’s version of the Miami Hurricanes. It is once again a point where the program’s course can be altered.
This glimpse into the game will focus on a particular defensive vulnerability. In a press conference this week, Al Golden emphatically mentioned the damaging effects of the “explosive play.†I decided to take a closer look at that by breaking down every single play of 20 or more yards given up by the Miami Hurricane defense during the current 2011 season.
Below, you will find four specific points for all the "explosive plays" during the first 2 games (guess how many there were in the victory against OSU?): (1) The play, (2) a brief description (including video on the first 6 games), (3) how I expect FSU to take advantage of this type of vulnerability and (4) how I would expect Miami to respond.
MARYLAND
Play #1
- 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] and 3 – PASS – LATE BLITZ – WR Screen for 25 yards
- Maryland set trip WRs to the short side of the field. DBs played off the line. 7:17 of this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=A6I6BgCOsTk#!
- With poor tackling angles and an overall lack of speed from the Safety position, FSU has a chance to spread the field horizontally against Miami and force difficult tackles in open space. Outside of Spence, who historically covers WR screens well, Miami LBs struggle with long angles.
- Miami will need to effectively mix and match press coverage throughout the game. Naturally, this will open up a few opportunities for EJ Manuel to hit some talented WRs in one on one matchups, but if you’re picking a “poison,†I’d rather force precision from Manuel and his WRs than to lean on Miami’s secondary tackling.
- 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] and 22 – PASS – NO BLITZ – TE completion down the seam for 24 yards
- Maryland set trip WRs to the wide side of the field. DBs played off the line. Miami LBs bit hard forward and left an enormous gap in front of the Safety. Miami defense actually SHOWED a single-high Safety pre-snap. 3:05 of this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Zo6nm-S-tNU#!
- This is one of Miami’s main weaknesses. There isn’t a Centerfielder (Safety) on the roster. There isn’t a Safety with the instinct or range to play the middle of the field. Nevertheless, in the play above, there isn’t a Safety that would have likely stopped the play without completely baiting and guessing. One of FSU’s biggest opportunities this upcoming Saturday is to take advantage of Miami’s Safeties. If Miami somehow shows a single high Safety on ANY FSU pass play – and they might depending on FSU’s run game – Manuel simply has to be patient and have average accuracy to pick his target up the seam (as in the play above).
- Show less single high Safety and simply roll up the Safety late. If FSU goes trips (something they’d be smart to do), LBs either need to keep proper drop depth or Coach D (Miami D-coordinator) has to gamble with various blitzes that force quicker throws. It’s simply a gamble.
- 1[SUP]st[/SUP] and 10 – PASS – NO BLITZ – WR Slot Seam for 21 yards
- On the very next play, Maryland simply set in the exact formation and ran the same route combinations against the single high Safety. This time, the QB hit the opposite side of the Safety. Without proper LB depth, there isn’t a Safety in America that can cover a split of this magnitude. 3:10 of this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Zo6nm-S-tNU#!
- Exactly as was said above, the seams are vulnerable against a Miami team whose Safeties lack range and LBs fail to get consistent depth.
- Another alternative to these plays is to play more Cover 2 variations, though that would (1) be difficult against trips and (2) open Miami up to a significant amount of Read-options and Shotgun handoffs. The key, in my opinion, is for the LBs to play with discipline and the Safety to force the more difficult seam pass (typically the opposite hash mark).
- 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] and 10 – PASS – NO BLITZ – WR down the sideline deep pass for 52 yards
- In an answer to anyone asking for more press coverage and aggressive calls from Miami’s D-Coordinator, Maryland sets up trips (with the TE) to the wideside. The QB reads press, man-coverage down the right sideline. 8:02 of this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=HDN5VHE5jOk#!
- When people ask about the Miami defense, the usual answer is this season is that they’re “between a rock and a hard place.†If they play aggressively, they open themselves up to big plays such as this one. If they play loose coverage, the bend-but-don’t-break mentality allows consistent opponent opportunities and places significant pressure on Miami’s tackling.
- Outside of saying “hope and pray,†Miami absolutely must take their chances and mix up these types of press coverages. If the QB and WR are precise and on, it’ll be a long day. If Miami can sneak by with a few incomplete passes in these scenarios, they have a real opportunity.
0 plays
Ohio State did not complete a play of 20 yards or more. QB accuracy against Miami is lethal. It was clear that Ohio State could not hit Miami’s vulnerable areas, and the game became one-dimensional. Miami must somehow force this type of scenario, but it will be difficult if FSU is patient and consistently spreads the field horizontally waiting for a precise vertical opportunity.