Mark Richt, Stacy Searels need to take up Bryant McKinnie’s offer

Miami Hurricanes Head Coach Mark Richt and Offensive Line Coach Stacy Searels should take up former Miami All-American tackle Bryant McKinnie up on his offer to assist “a few times a week on technique & film study.”

McKinnie is one of only two Consensus All-American linemen in Miami Hurricanes history. He was an All-American at tackle in 2001. Former Canes center and current Miami sports talk show host Brett Romberg was an All-American at Center in 2002. Mark Richt and Stacy Searels would be smart to take up McKinnie on his offer.

McKinnie would be a great addition for Mark Richt and his staff even on a part-time basis. One fan stated to McKinnie on Twitter “We have too many skilled, great alumni for the talent on this roster to not have access to them.”  McKinnie responded to the fan with a very simple “true.”

The Miami Hurricanes offensive line has been a continual problem since Mark Richt took over at Miami in 2016. It was also a problem at the end of his tenure with Georgia.

When Canes Warning spoke to our FanSided Georgia partner site Dawn of the Dawg their frustration with the play on the offensive line at the end of his UGA tenure was evident.

DotD’s Allistair Penny had a lot to say about the Bulldogs poor play up front at the end of Mark Richt’s time in Athens.

"“He didn’t demand excellence and he paid for it in the end…The biggest example of this was the OL…UGAs recruiting on the offensive line was shocking for the final half-decade of his tenure.”"

McKinnie’s offer to help is a no-brainer. One of the best things that Mark Richt has done during his nearly three years as the Miami Hurricanes Head Coach is to bring back the alums of the Miami Hurricanes football program and reintegrate them as a part with the team.

Richt had former Miami Hurricanes quarterback Bernie Kosar speak to the team before UM’s game at Toledo this season and has had Ed Reed and Ray Lewis also speak to the team at practice during his tenure. Having a player as great as McKinnie with his experience in college and the NFL can only help.

McKinnie had a series of exchanges with fans on Twitter about the possibility of getting him involved with helping out on the offensive line. Asked what his take on the offensive line and if the struggles were techniques or schemes McKinnie replied that he has seen “is technique @ times.” in his words.

By virtually every measurable stat the offensive line has been mediocre to poor this season. The Miami Hurricanes offense has accumulated big stats in four games against FCS and Group of Five opponents. In their other six games, this season Miami’s offensive line has hindered them.

Miami is 87th in the nation in sacks allowed at 2.44 per game. Duke had three against the Hurricanes on Saturday night. The Hurricanes offensive line has been a bit better keeping opponents out of the offensive backfield overall. Miami is 60th nationally allowing 5.78 tackles for loss per game.

The Miami offensive line has been much better at run blocking than pass protection. The Hurricanes 4.9 yards per carry is 38th nationally. Some fans want McKinnie to replace current Offensive Line Coach Stacy Searels. McKinnie said he doesn’t have time but would like to help a couple of days per week.

According to his official profile on HurricaneSports Searels is in his second tenure coaching under Richt. He was also the Offensive Line Coach under Richt at Georgia from 2007-10. HurricaneSports lists Searles at an All-American at Auburn from the Associated Press and the Football News in 1987.

Getting a player of McKinnie’s stature who played at stared at the U can only help the Hurricanes offensive linemen. One fan asked McKinnie if he would consider being the Offensive Line Coach at some point.

The question of McKinnie considering being the Offensive Line Coach was followed up with another fan stating that Miami needs McKinnie as the Offensive line Coach.

During Al Golden’s era as Head Coach, it seemed as if many of the former Miami Hurricanes greats were turned away. Richt has embraced the former players but maybe needs to do so more often and by having the football alums have more of a hands-on approach.

It’s probably overstating it to say that the team is in crisis. The fact is that Miami has now lost seven of their last nine games against Power Five teams. The Miami offense scored 39 points in the losses to Virginia, Boston College and Duke. The poor play by the offensive line has been a big reason for that.

Bringing in McKinnie might not make the difference between winning and losing. McKinnie’s observation about the poor technique being used on the offensive line might be able to help with a few corrections and lead to a slight improvement that can only help the team.