Miami Hurricanes dominate PFF All-ACC Offense for Week three

The Miami Hurricanes occupied five of the 12 spots on Pro Football Focus’ All-ACC team for week four. Miami wide receiver Jeff Thomas had the highest score at 93.1.

Thomas is off to a dominant start as a wide receiver and kick returner through the Miami Hurricanes first three games. His 27.64 yards per reception is first in the country. Thomas is on pace to set the Miami records for all-purpose yards and receiving yards in a season and is close to the record for return yardage in a season.

The other Miami Hurricanes that graded out as the best in their position for the win over Toledo were quarterback Malik Rosier, running back DeeJay Dallas, left guard Jahair Jones and center Tyler Gauthier.

Rosier had the best game of his career as a starter. He scored a 90.1 on PFF’s ratings, his highest for the season. Using ESPN’s QBR his 92.6 rating was his highest as a starter in his career.

Rosier ran for three touchdowns and threw for two in the Miami Hurricanes 45-24 win over Toledo on Saturday. He is the first Miami quarterback to run for three touchdowns and throw for two or more since the Hurricanes joined the ACC.

Rosier completed 13 of 23 passes for 205 yards and added another 80 yards rushing. His rushing yards were four off of his career high. Rosier ran for 84 yards on 13 carries with a touchdown against Virginia Tech last year.

Courtesy of Pro Football Focus

Dallas also had a career day against Toledo. The Sophomore’s 110 yards rushing set a career high. He obliterated his previous high against Wisconsin in the Orange Bowl with 69 yards on eight carries. Dallas’s 17 carries also eclipsed his career high of 12 set last season against Notre Dame. He rated an 82.3 Saturday.

Thomas had his third straight dominant performance. In addition to the numbers, he put up receiving he also had 47 yards in kickoff returns and 19 rushing. He has become one of the most dangerous players with the ball in his hands in college football.

Courtesy of Pro Football Focus

Gauthier and Jones helped lead a Miami offense that compiled 473 yards. The Hurricanes averaged 6.22 yards per play. The Hurricanes were run dominant in the victory. Toledo could not stop the Miami ground attack. The Hurricanes averaged 5.05 yards per rush. They ran 53 times and attempted only 23 passes.

Gauthier who is on the Rimington Award Watch list as the nation’s best center graded out at 74.1. Jones at 76.5. Miami Offensive Line Coach Stacy Searles has to be exceptionally happy with Jones’ progress. Both he and right guard Hayden Mahoney were question marks entering 2018.

The Miami offensive needs to continue to run the ball exceptionally well and be able to dominate up front. That’s what they did in the victories over Virginia Tech and Notre Dame last season. The run sets up the big plays in the passing game.

Rosier had four completions over 30 yards against Toledo. The run set that up. Because Miami was having so much success running the football the Rockets had to use the safeties to help support the run. That allowed Rosier to take more shots downfield and for the receivers to get open.

Thomas, Lawrence Cager and Darrell Langham all had big receptions on Saturday. That included a Rosier to Thomas 38 yard touchdown in the first half. Cager also scored a second-half touchdown in one on one coverage in which he simply outmuscled the defender for the ball in the end zone.