Red Zone and 3rd down struggles hinder Miami Hurricanes in Orange Bowl
As they have all year, the Miami Hurricanes struggles on third down and in the red zone greatly impacted their offense in a 34-24 loss to Wisconsin in the Orange Bowl.
The Miami Hurricanes struggles on third down on both sides of the ball and in the red zone offensively all-season have often hindered their path to success this season. The Orange Bowl became a microcosm of the 2017 season.
Miami went two for ten and allowed Wisconsin to convert seven of their 15 attempts on third down. The Hurricanes were also just one for two in scoring in the red zone. The Hurricanes lack of success was even worse in the red zone than the numbers indicated.
Travis Homer scored on a five-yard run in the first quarter to give Miami their first lead of the game. Michael Badgley’s extra-point made it 7-3. Miami was not able to convert again in the red zone.
After falling behind 24-14 at halftime, a Malik Rosier to Lawrence Cager 38-yard touchdown brought the Miami Hurricanes within 24-21. After forcing Wisconsin to a three and out the Hurricanes took over on their own 39-yard line.
They drove to the Wisconsin 24 where Rosier was intercepted in the end zone attempting to connect with Cager again. Badgers defensive back Derrick Tindal clearly tugged on the bottom of Cager’s jersey. No interference was called and Tindal was able to secure the interception.
Because the play originated from the Wisconsin 24 yard line it doesn’t count as a red zone failure. It was, however, another failed opportunity for Miami to get some points and stay in the game.
Late in the fourth quarter, Michael Badgley had a 23-yard field goal clank off the right goal post. That would have made it a one-score game with 4:34 remaining. Wisconsin took over, was able to run nearly three minutes off the clock and game was practically over.
The Hurricanes performance on third down also proved to be fatal to their chances to win. Wisconsin was seven for 15 overall on third down. On their scoring drives alone, the Badgers were six for eight.
One of those third-down conversions came on the play that Mark Richt berated the officials after a clearly missed holding call. Wisconsin quarterback Alex Hornibrook’s 21-yard completion to Kendrick Pryor on third and 11 should have been called back. Instead, Wisconsin got a first down at the Miami 10 yard line.
GIF Courtesy of Yahoo
An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty called against Richt pushed the ball five more yards five-yard line. Hornibrook hit Danny Davis on the next play to extend the Wisconsin lead to 24-14, 28 seconds before halftime.
The Miami offense just as awful on third down as the defense was. The Hurricanes went two for ten on the night on third down. Both of their conversions came on the same drive in the third quarter.
Rosier completed a 13-yard pass to Lawrence Cager on third and eight on the third play of the drive. Four plays later Rosier connected with Cager for 14 yards on third and 12 from the Wisconsin 42. Three plays later the drive died and Miami had to settle for a 43 yard Michael Badgley field goal.
Instead of taking the lead, Miami had to settle for cutting the Badgers lead from six to three. Other than on that drive, Miami went zero for seven on third downs the remainder of the night.
Miami entered the Orange Bowl 124th in the country in third down conversion. They had converted 28.8 percent of their third-down conversions entering the Orange Bowl. They were somehow worse than that at two for ten for 20 percent on the season.
The defense finished 75th in the country allowing teams to convert 39.5 percent of their first downs on the season. The red zone and third down offense and third-down defense need to get better next season.
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The teams that are truly elite teams make the big plays in the red zone and on third and fourth down. If Miami hopes to contend in 2018, that has to be an area of emphasis in the offseason
.