Miami Hurricanes defense will be ready to roll against LSU
In an appearance on the Miami Hurricanes flagship station WQAM’s Joe Rose Morning Show on Tuesday, Miami Defensive Coordinator Manny Diaz said that the Hurricanes will be ready to roll for the September 2 season opener against LSU.
The Miami Hurricanes season opener against the Tigers is their first one versus a team from a Power Five Conference since they lost 31-13 at Louisville in 2014. That was the Cardinals ACC debut.
This is also the Miami Hurricanes first non-conference game against a team from a Power Five Conference since they defeated Nebraska 36-33 at home in 2015. Miami will play Florida in Orlando in 2019 and at Michigan State in 2020.
Preparing for a team of LSU’s quality can be difficult in the season opener. The Tigers have a new Offensive Coordinator. They will also have a new quarterback, starting running back and top receiver.
The Hurricanes defensive staff had to do a lot of research and cultivate film from different places to get ready for LSU. The Tigers likely starting quarterback Joe Burrow is a Graduate Transfer from Ohio State.
Steve Ensminger who played quarterback at LSU in the seventies is the Tigers new Offensive Coordinator. Ensminger replaces Matt Canada who came to LSU with a lot of fanfare but lasted just the 2017 season in Baton Rouge.
This is Ensminger’s second stint as LSU’s Offensive Coordinator. He ran the Tigers offense for the final eight games of the 2016 season.
Diaz spoke about the challenge in College Football of not having a preseason to prepare. He added what the Hurricanes had to do to scout LSU on film.
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"“We don’t get four exhibition games or preseason games to find our way…We’ve got to be ready to roll Day 1. I think that’s just the nature of college ball. You’re piecing a lot of information together from a lot of different sources.”"
The challenge of getting the players ready and what they should be watching can also be difficult. Diaz discussed the challenges of relaying to his players what they should be watching on film.
"“It’s funny…You can tell guys ‘Hey, watch this film from two years ago, but none of the players.’ You can say ‘Hey, watch the film from this year, but only these players and don’t watch the schemes or the plays.’ And then ‘Oh, by the way, watch this guy in red and gray who will be throwing the ball.'”"
Without a track record of what the opponents and the opposing players have done yet in that season, the opener is often about focusing on controlling what you and your team can do.
"“Game openers, season openers usually have a lot more to do with you and making sure that you’re sound and your guys can get lined up…Special teams are always important in opening games like this and obviously turnovers.You’re trying to make sure that you’re ready to go in terms of your techniques and fundamentals because there’s no way you can completely predict exactly what your opposition will do.”"
Next: Miami football has great homefield edge under Mark Richt
Teams can often spend the first few weeks of a season finding themselves. College football more than any other sport doesn’t allow you the luxury of doing that. Miami has to be ready for LSU. This isn’t an opener against Bethune-Cookman or Florida A&M.