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Miami Hurricanes Offensive Line Fails Again

By Alan Rubenstein

Oct 29, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Brad Kaaya (15) is pressured by Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive lineman Jerry Tillery (99) in the third quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. Notre Dame won 30-27. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Brad Kaaya (15) is pressured by Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive lineman Jerry Tillery (99) in the third quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. Notre Dame won 30-27. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Miami Hurricanes offensive line let them down once again this season. The Hurricanes allowed five sacks and were never able to get the running game going in a 30-27 loss at Notre Dame.

The offensive line was porous for both the run and the pass. The Hurricanes had 18 yards rushing on 35 attempts, that includes sack yardage. Taking away the sack yardage, the Hurricanes still only had 59 yards rushing on 30 carries.

The poor offensive line play isn’t the only reason the offense has struggled, but it’s arguably the biggest. The Hurricanes rode a dominant rushing offense and a stifling defense to begin the season 4-0.

The Hurricanes began the season with a 373-yard performance rushing performance against FCS Florida A&M and had 279 yards on the ground for an encore against Florida Atlantic. They had 164 and 114 in the wins over Appalachian State and Georgia Tech.

Except for 139 yards against North Carolina, the ‘Canes running game has failed them during the losing streak. The inability to run the football has limited the Hurricanes offensively and has allowed defenses to tee off on Brad Kaaya.

Miami has rushed for 261 yards the last four weeks for an average of 61.25 yards per game. In the losses to Florida State, North Carolina, and Notre Dame, the Hurricanes rushed for a total of 122 yards.

Football Outsiders whose tagline is Innovative Statistics and Intelligence Analysis has come up with a system to measure the play of offensive lines, and the ‘Canes play has not been good as of late. Below they explain how they measure run blocking.

Run-blocking stats

  • Adjusted Line Yards: One of only two opponent-adjusted numbers on the page, this aligns with the ALY figure FO tracks for the NFL and is presented on a scale in which 100.0 is perfectly average, above 100 is good, below 100 is bad.
  • Standard Downs Line Yards per Carry: The raw, unadjusted per-carry line yardage for a team on standard downs (first down, second-and-7 or fewer, third-and-4 or fewer, fourth-and-4 or fewer).
  • Passing Downs Line Yards per Carry: The same unadjusted averages for rushing on passing downs.
  • Opportunity Rate: The percentage of carries (when five yards are available) that gain at least five yards, i.e. the percentage of carries in which the line does its job, so to speak.
  • Power Success Rate: This is the same as on the pro side — percentage of runs on third or fourth down, two yards or less to go, that achieved a first down or touchdown.
  • Stuff Rate: Same as STUFFED on the pro side — percentage of carries by running backs that are stopped at or before the line of scrimmage.

The Hurricanes scored a 93.1 on adjusted line yards. That ranks 92nd nationally. Only seven teams in power five conferences rank behind Miami in ALY. Miami’s Standard Down Line Yards per carry is 2.77 that ranks 94th in the country and is ahead of only 11 power five teams plus Notre Dame.

Miami is no higher than 85th in the country in the other run metrics. In four of the six-run metrics, the Hurricanes below 100th nationally.

Football Outsiders uses only three metrics to measure pass protection.

Pass-blocking stats

  • Adjusted Sack Rate: An opponent-adjusted version of a team’s sack rate — sacks divided by (sacks plus passes), presented on a scale in which 100 is perfectly average, above 100 is good, below 100 is bad.
  • Standard Downs Sack Rate: Unadjusted sack rate for standard downs pass attempts.
  • Passing Downs Sack Rate: Unadjusted sack rate for passing downs pass attempts.

Miami’s pass protection has not been any better. They rank 97th in Adjusted Sack Rate, 100th on Standard Downs Sack rate and 79th on Passing Downs Sack rate. If they do not get better production from the big uglies up front Brad Kaaya might not last the season.

The Hurricanes are also going to need better production up front for the running game. The Hurricanes rushing yardage has dropped significantly during the four games losing streak.

Next: Former Miami Hurricane Denzel Perryman Earns NFL Awards

Kaaya has stepped up his game while the run game has struggled, but opponents have been able to concentrate on the Hurricanes passing game and almost dare Mark Richt to run the ball.

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