Miami Hurricanes Need to Play Well on Special Teams and Key Downs

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - OCTOBER 21: Travis Homer
MIAMI GARDENS, FL - OCTOBER 21: Travis Homer /
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The Miami Hurricanes have been inconsistent at times this season on key downs and special teams. If they are going to defeat Virginia Tech they are going to have to play well on key downs.

The Miami Hurricanes have had their struggles all season on third down on both sides of the ball and with punting. Virginia Tech is the biggest challenge thus far this season. If Miami is going to win, they are going to need consistency on third down from their offense and defense and a good game punting the football from Zach Feagles.

Miami has been poor on third down all season. The Hurricanes rank 119th in the country on third down conversion at 30.7 percent. Now they face the added challenge of facing the nation’s third-best team in third-down defense. The Hokies allow teams to convert just 24 percent of their third-down conversions.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Miami Hurricanes have improved since a shaky start with their third-down defense to begin the season. Bethune-Cookman and Toledo combined to convert 13 of the first 18 third-down attempts against the Miami defense this season. The Hurricanes held Toledo on their last five attempts to close the game out.