Couldn't hit the long ball? Rosier couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. Good kid, but straight-up wasn't a Division-I quarterback.
That 10-0 start in 2017 could't just as easily have been 6-4. Needed mini-miracles to beat Florida State and Georgia Tech. Needed a late score against Syracuse to put that game away. Needed a late turnover to avoid an upset against a bad North Carolina team.
The fast start set the stage for two big night games at home against Virginia Tech and Notre Dame, as well. The city was ablaze for both those games and the Canes rolled on all cylinders. Rosier was able to play average and not throw the game away—while the defense took care of business. (Irish turned it over four times. Pick Six. Short fields set up for the offense.)
Miami showed up flat against Pittsburgh, got clobbered by a much better Clemson squad and didn't play up to par against Wisconsin—giving away a very winnable game ; blowing a 14-3 lead starting with Rosier tossing a pick in UM territory that was a quick Badgers score. Three-and-out on next two possessions and Wisky scored twice more; the defense letting the average Alex Hornibrook toss four touchdowns en route to game MVP.
Rosier grossly overachieved in 2017 and by 2018 he was brought back down to earth as the average quarterback he was—made even worse by the fact Team Richt didn't rely on his running skills as much year two as they did year one.
