After a disappointing loss to Louisville, The Miami Hurricanes will go on to play Florida A&M. While most people think of this as just a fluff game and an easy win, which it should be, it really is so much more. The Canes had many mistakes vs. Louisville, but a large majority of them were very correctable. The Canes will be able to correct the mistakes in practice and then have an easy game to fully implement these actions before moving ahead to stronger opponents. Here’s three reasons why this weeks’ game against FAMU is more meaningful than many believe.
1. Bring Along Brad
It was evident in Monday’s game against Louisville that the coaches were being far to conservative with the play calling as they attempted to ease Brad Kaaya into the offense. At one point in the second half, the Canes had six straight running plays against a defense that was stacking the box against the run. Playing a lower caliber team will allow Offensive Coordinator James Coley to loosen the reigns and implement a larger variety of offensive plays. Doing this will not only allow Kaaya to become more comfortable slinging the ball around, but will also show the coaches that he is capable of doing more when the bigger games come. Kaaya will be able to get further acclimated to game speed and environment, with extremely small risk of a loss. Like Louisville, many teams will stack the box and force Miami’s QB to beat them, so using these easier games to help Kaaya and the offense mature will be crucial when the Canes travel to Lincoln and take on Nebraska in a few weeks.
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2. Improve Defensive Depth and Experience
Many newcomers played in the first game of the season, mostly on the defensive front seven. Freshman Courtel Jenkins and Juco transfer Calvin Heurtelou really stood out at DT. Chad Thomas, Trent Harris, and others also saw playing time in the opener. This week against FAMU, the Canes should be able to get large amounts of playing time for these new guys. This will help boost their confidence and allow them to better understand the scheme in a game situation. As the new guys continue to gain experience, they will be able to help with depth issues and keep bodies fresh. Chad Thomas, Trent Harris, Demetrius Jackson, Courtel Jenkins, and Anthony Moten are all guys that will be able to increase the defensive line rotation and help out as the season continues. I expect Chad Thomas to see a ton of playing time and make an impact this week vs. FAMU. This game is important for players like Chad, Trent Harris and other young guys as they continue to improve and gain more playing time. Having more depth on defense will really help later in the year.
3. Talk it Out, Offensive Line
The Canes offensive line was manhandled by Louisville’s defense in the season opener and senior lineman, Jon Feliciano attributed that to failures in communication among the lineman. The Game against FAMU this weekend will be a great time for the offensive line to improve their communication and blitz pickups. The offensive line looked confused at times vs. UL and this game will give them an opportunity to work out all of the issues. There are many new lineman in the rotation this year, so the more they can get out on the field and communicate in game situations, the better they will be together. Hopefully, the O-line will be able to get out any hitches the next two weeks before the big game against Nebraska.
Simply put, this game shouldn’t be close. The Canes are 40 point favorites and should have a rather safe lead early on in the game. Miami needs to use this game as a way to correct the fixable mistakes, like errors in communication, and get experience for the new players. Improvement during these next two games is essential if the Canes want to leave Nebraska with a W and ultimately win the ACC Coastal.