The Miami Hurricanes have already had an improbable run to get to the national championship game to face the Indiana Hoosiers.
Miami’s defense dominated the Texas A&M Aggies and the offense did enough for a 10-3 win. Once again their defense was the story when facing the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl Classic. Recording a pick-six and getting consistent pressure on Julian Sayin with Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor.
Against the Ole Miss Rebels, Bain Jr. and Mesidor did not record a sack, yet still got some pressure on Trinidad Chambliss. Yet it was the Hurricanes’ offense that needed to make plays to keep their season alive. Quarterback Carson Beck did that and capped off a 15-play 75-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown run with 18 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
Though Chambliss and the Rebels’ offense did get one last chance for an improbable win after gaining 40 yards quickly.
So the question becomes how can the Hurricanes slow down and beat the Hoosiers? The answer is simple, slow methodical drives on offense that will wear down the opposing defense. Beck has been able to manufacture those kinds of drives throughout the college football playoffs excluding the game against the Texas A&M aggies.
Against the Buckeyes on the Hurricanes’ first drive that resulted in a touchdown, a 13-play 83-yard drive went for a little over eight minutes. The touchdown drive that put the game away was a 10-play 70-yard drive that went for a little over five minutes.
To start the scoring for the Hurricanes against the Rebels it was a 13 play 44-yard drive that resulted in a field goal that took over seven minutes. On their next offensive possession which was a touchdown drive it went for 15-plays for 75-yards and took a little under eight minutes.
Miami did have another long drive that took 13 plays and went for 42 yards and took a little over seven-and-a-half minutes, yet ended with an interception. That is a lot of time possessing the football and a recipe for getting a defense worn out.
Running back Mark Fletcher Jr has also been impressive during this run with 58 carries for 395 yards. Running back CharMar Brown has done a solid job as well with 19 carries for 80 yards and two touchdowns.
Also, offensively the Hurricanes do like to set up screen passes which may keep the Hoosiers’ defense honest if too aggressive going after Beck. Their leading receiver who is only a freshman, Malachi Toney has made tremendous plays including one that did not count. Wide receiver CJ Daniels has gotten tough yardage as well.
Now Beck and his experience will help Miami the most. Something that Dante Moore did not do when plays started to break down was to take off with the football. If he does not take sacks, uses his ability to run with the football, takes time off the clock with long sustained drives which helps to keep their defense off the field, while taking care of the football, he will keep Indiana’s defense honest, and will ultimately give the Hurricanes a great shot at winning.