The stage is about for the Hurricanes this Saturday in Syracuse, New York, win and also you’re in. The id of Miami soccer has been in all places all season. None of that ought to matter to the ‘Canes anymore as a result of their future is of their palms.
With SMU clinching their spot within the ACC Championship in opposition to Virginia final week, Miami has no different possibility however to win this recreation.
Miami enters the week as 10 level favorites in opposition to the Orange for good motive.
Syracuse ranks 58 within the nation in whole protection permitting near 32 factors a recreation in opposition to their final 5 opponents. Additionally they rank 79 within the nation in opposition to the push, a stat that Miami ought to benefit from coming off one among their greatest operating performances of the season.
Everyone knows what Miami can do within the passing recreation however a door was unlocked final week in freshman operating again Jordan Lyle. The 2 headed monster of Fletcher and Martinez has been up and down all season, however Lyle’s breakout performances in opposition to Wake Forest final week unlocked an entire new id to the ‘Canes floor recreation. Lyle is way faster by means of the road of scrimmage and gives extra elusivity to the backfield than the traditional powerback type of operating Martinez and Fletcher convey.
The place Miami can get damage is within the passing recreation on protection. Syracuse likes to throw the soccer. They rank second within the nation in move yards per recreation averaging yet one more yard a recreation than the Hurricanes, who’re third within the nation. Though the averages are good, the stat is inflated for Syracuse, as their quarterback Kyle Mccord has thrown 108 extra passes than Cam Ward this season.
The Miami secondary has been criticized all 12 months for permitting explosive performs within the move recreation, however the return of sophomore cornerback Demari Brown must be an enormous distinction of their efficiency this week. Brown has solely performed in a single recreation in opposition to the Florida Gators, however appeared robust in protection together with his bodily, palms on model protection.
The method on offense for the ‘Canes shouldn’t change. When one section of the sport works, stick with it. Quite a lot of instances groups suppose {that a} balanced assault is a should, but when the passing recreation is working, stick with the passing recreation. It looks like there’s this “we should run the soccer” mentality on each drive Miami has, however that mentality has typically left them in medium to lengthy second and third downs. Let no matter is working work.
On protection, first downs are the place the Hurricanes could make a distinction on this recreation. Brief yardage first down performs for Syracuse imply that on second and third down they’ll throw the ball. Predictable passing conditions in opposition to a group who throws the ball as a lot as Syracuse does implies that the secondary ought to play one among their greatest video games. Any group who has tried to place Miami in a observe race has misplaced, and that’s precisely what Syracuse has tried to do to groups all 12 months.
This is likely one of the most proficient Miami Hurricane groups within the historical past of the college. There are file breaking seasons in all places for this group and particularly this offense. The ‘Canes are going into their greatest take a look at of the season with all the pieces on the road, however when the lights shine brightest, Cam Ward is at his greatest.