Through their first five games of 2018, the Miami Hurricanes defense has returned to their dominant form from 2017.
After finishing fourth in the nation in tackles for loss per game and first in sacks in 2017 the Miami Hurricanes defense is at or near the top of the leaderboard again this season. Miami is first in the nation in tackles for loss in 2018 and 28th in sacks.
The Hurricanes penetration into opponents backfields has skyrocketed this season. After averaging 8.54 tackles for loss per game in 2017 Miami is averaging 12 tackles for loss this season. Miami’s sacks have gone down from 3.38 per game in 2017 to 2.20 this season.
Florida State’s offensive line has had trouble blocking all season. The Seminoles rank 86th nationally allowing 2.4 sacks per game. The FSU offensive line is even worse at allowing tackles for loss. The Seminoles are 123rd in the country allowing 8.6 TFLs per game.
The Miami defense should have no trouble getting into the Florida State backfield all afternoon. Miami has the best defensive tackle-defensive combination nationally. Tackle Gerald Willis is tied for third in the country averaging 2.1 TFLs per game. End Jonathan Garvin is slightly behind at 1.9 TFLs per game.
Willis and Garvin have wrecked havoc on opponents all season. Even in the loss to LSU which was not as close as the 33-17 final score they could not block Willis. The Senior tackle finished with eight tackles, four TFLs, one sack and one pass breakup.
Garvin has somewhat been overshadowed by Willis this season. The Sophomore defensive end is second on Miami to Shaq Quarterman with 25 total tackles and second to Willis with 9.5 TFLs. Garvin added a fumble return for a touchdown on Thursday after Quarterman’s strip sack of North Carolina QB Nathan Elliott.
If the Miami Hurricanes defense can dominate the Florida State offensive line that will increase the likelihood of Seminoles turnovers. FSU has 12 turnovers this season while forcing only eight. Nine of their 12 turnovers came in two games.
Virginia Tech which returned only four starters from last season’s defense forced five in their 24-3 season-opening victory in Tallahassee. Three of those came on Francois interceptions. The Hokies also had two fumble recoveries and added a blocked punt return for a touchdown.
The turnover chain got off to a slow start in 2018. Miami had forced only six turnovers in their first four games. Four of those turnovers came against FCS and headed for Division II in 2019 Savannah State. That all changed on Thursday night.
Miami had more defensive touchdowns against North Carolina then they had turnovers in their three previous games this season against FBS opponents. That all blew up against the Tar Heels.
The Hurricanes had the fumble recovery for a touchdown by Garvin and Joe Jackson and Romeo Finley added interception return touchdowns.
Miami forced six turnovers in all against North Carolina. That was the most turnovers forced by a Hurricanes defense since they also forced six in a 44-37 victory over North Carolina State in 2012.