Number 17. Miami has done everything possible to start a conversation about “The U” and how much it is “back” or not. After entering a new up-tempo offense with a dynamic and experienced quarterback at ACC on Thursday night against UAB, the Hurricanes boosted their production as they took a step up in the competition and won 47-34 at No. 18 Louisville. Saturday night.
De Eric King threw 5૨5 yards and three touchdowns without interruption, while Cameron Harris hit another touchdown on the house during a nine-carry, 144-yard effort on the ground. Harris’ backfield teammate, freshman Jellon Knight, also made the most of his chances, creating a touchdown on the ground and adding a touchdown reception to a 75-yard catch-and-run score.
The biggest missteps were evident when Miami landed in the open field, hitting 20-plus five-yard touchdowns against the Louisville defense, including a 75-yard touchdown. The Cardinals had some coverage buses on some big passing plays, but the speed and athletics of players like Harris, Knighton, Mark Pope and Michael Harley would also cause trouble for most teams on Miami’s schedule.
Of course, you can’t discuss the Hurricanes ’skilled players without mentioning tight-end Brewin Jordan, who touched down on seven catches and eight winning targets for 120 yards. Jordan turns around in the offense, and when he finds a favorable matchup King is dialed for what feels like an automatic 10 to 15 yards each time. As the Miami star rises, the focus will be on Jordan, a player who is already on the radar of the NFL Scouts for his physical characteristics and the ceiling for the next level.
The way to Miami deserves attention and adoration coming, but comparisons and expectations will be out of control. This is the main part of the season here in the first week as the national spotlight will be on the team taking part in next week’s hostile game with Florida State. Then, after a week’s leave – and presumably after the win Mike Norwell-less seminals – Hurricane Champs gets his shot when he goes to play No. 1 Clemson in Death Valley on Oct. 10. If Miami goes 3-0 with the Tigers on that date, it will enter the game with fanfare and excitement It’s hard to come to ACC for most of the program time.
Speaking of Louisville, the loss also comes from the disappointment that the team will not be able to play a better fight with a peer in the city. After an eight-match winning streak and finishing second in the ACC Atlantic Division with Scott Sutterfield in 2001, the fight for the ACC Championship in the one-division format in 2020 was not ruled out. The conference was an early season meeting between the title contenders, and Louisville was just one step slower during key moments of the game. The defense of delivering big plays was concerned in a way that could not be seen against Western Kentucky, and now the team will have to face a one-on-one fight with a low margin due to error if they want to finish in one of the top two places. Bid the standings and ACC Championship game.
Let’s now take a look at the three major takeovers from Miami’s win on Saturday night.
1. Javian Hawkins came out
The 164 yards (6.1 yards per carry) combined with a touchdown on a total of 27 attempts running behind Louisville, and it felt a little less smooth. The Miami defense was getting good pressure and infiltration at the front against Louisville, but Hawkins has a unique wiggle and is flooded with his running style that allowed him to slip through defenders or reverse field to find open space.
This was a good performance from the Louisville offense. Most of them came at a time when Miami was leading, sure, but making the most of them opportunities is remarkable. Malik Cunningham threw 307 yards and three touchdowns in 267 four-passing passes, while Tutu Atwel brought eight catches for 114 years and two touchdowns. The Stars were the stars against a good Miami defense, but right now this team will need better consistency in superstar performances or third-down and red-zone scenarios to trade paint with the best teams in the league.
2. Signature wins for the Manny Diaz era
Hurricanes beat Florida State in Turlhassi last year, but after handing the Seminoles state in the final game under Willie Taggart, you could argue that Saturday night’s road win against a sorted team, as evidenced by what Diaz is building, also stands. Coral gables. Continuing losses to FIU, Duke and Louisiana Tech to close 2019, put Cannes in a bad position, but that story has slowly changed but the staff changes, the arrival of De Eric King and now the evidence of this aggressive attitude is positive. Under Rhett Lashlee. Miami fans are hoping this is an even more significant win in the 2020 season, given Diaz’s appointment as head coach given the shape of the 15-game model.
Lou. Louisville’s offensive line is complete in his hands next week
There is no drop-off in the competition of the next Cardinals as they go to play pit next week against Miami. The Panthers are made out of the trenches, and they will cause a similar barrier to offense being able to make it to Cunningham and Miami on Saturday night. As long as Louisville bounces with the win, we can still consider him a contender in the ACC Championship race. But a 0-2 start with a road trip to Notre Dame in the rest of the games on schedule makes the conference title argument very unlikely.
