Miami Hurricanes pass defense has to improve in 2018
For most of the 2017 season, the Miami Hurricanes pass defense played at a high level. In the last four games, they were exposed. If the Hurricanes are want to compete with the nation’s elite teams they will need to correct the slide they had at the end of the season.
Through the first nine games of the 2017 season, the Miami Hurricanes allowed teams to complete 51.7 percent of their passes. That number rose to 70.1 percent over the final four games.
The 20 percent increase in completion percentage is a big reason why the Miami Hurricanes lost their final three football games of the season. The game before the slide, the Canes had to rally twice from 14 point deficits to defeat Virginia.
Miami finished 2017 56th nationally allowing 217.1 yards per game. That number ballooned to 272.25 yards per game over the last four. That included Pittsburgh throwing for just 184 in their 24-14 victory to end the regular season.
Entering the game against Virginia, teams were averaging just 192.5 yards per game in the air against Miami. That includes a game against Georgia Tech’s triple option. That number goes up to 209.75 without the game against the Yellow Jackets. It’s still over 60 yards per game less than Miami allowed over the final four games.
Three of the Hurricanes final four opponents threw for at least 250 yards. Over the final four games, Miami allowed 10 passing touchdowns and had just one interception. The Miami defense did recover six fumbles in those games to make sure the turnover chain was still making appearances.
Virginia’s Kurt Benkert and Wisconsin’s Alex Hornibrook each threw four touchdown passes against Miami’s usually stout defense. Hornibrook was the Orange Bowl MVP. Benkert is signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent.
Miami allowed an average of 31 points over the final four games. The Hurricanes scoring average went up from 16.5 points per game heading into the Virginia game to 21.0 PPG allowed after losing to Wisconsin.
Through the first ten games of the year, the Hurricanes had 17 interceptions. They failed to get one in their three-game losing streak at the end of the season.
Twelve of their 17 interceptions on the season came over a four-game stretch in wins against Syracuse, North Carolina, Virginia Tech and Notre Dame. In each of those four games, Miami had multiple interceptions. They forced four turnovers in all four of those victories.
The Hurricanes finished 15th in FBS last season in interceptions. Over two-thirds of those interceptions came over that four-game stretch.
With all but cornerbacks Dee Delaney and Malek Young returning this season the Miami Hurricanes need more consistency from their secondary. Their two best games of the season came at home in prime time on national TV. Hard Rock Stadium was loud and electric. Miami needs to bring that kind of intensity all season.
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Miami expects big seasons out of potential high draft picks safety Jaquan Johnson and cornerback Michael Jackson. Johnson and Jackson are both Seniors. The key will likely be how the rest of the secondary plays. Safety Sheldrick Redwine is the third returning Senior starter in the secondary.
The competition to be the other starting cornerback is likely to come down to Sophomore Trajan Bandy and Senior Jhavonte Dean. Bandy had some big moments as a Freshman last season. That included an interception return for a touchdown that sent Hard Rock Stadium into a frenzy.
Bandy finished the season with 25 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and was third with six passes defended.
Dean was disappointing after being ranked the nation’s top Junior College cornerback in 2016. He chose Miami over Alabama. Dean had 11 tackles and one pass defended last year.
Next: Miami Football CB Trajan Bandy getting offseason recognition
The Hurricanes also have an outstanding group of defensive backs in the 2018 recruiting class. Expect some of them to make an impact. Cornerbacks Al Blades Jr, D.J. Ivey and Gilbert Frierson and safety Gurvan Hall are four-star signees. Cornerback Nigel Bethel is three-stars.