Miami Hurricanes coaching staff has high expectations for DL

The Miami Hurricanes coaching staff has high expectations for their defensive line in 2019. The return of starters Jon Garvin and Pat Bethel provides Miami with good experience upfront.

Junior defensive end Jonathan Garvin and senior defensive tackle Pat Bethel return as starters for the Miami Hurricanes on the defensive line in 2019. They will be joined on the first-team by senior end Scott Patchan and junior tackle Jon Ford. Big things are expected from Ford this season by the coaching staff.

Ford has the difficult task of replacing Gerald Willis who was a second-team all-American last season. Willis led Miami with 18 tackles for loss in 2018, added four sacks and was second among defensive linemen with 59 tackles. Garvin led the defensive linemen with 60 tackles was second to Willis with 17 TFLs and was also second with 5.5 sacks.

Ford is expected to have the same kind of breakout season for the Miami Hurricanes in 2019 that Garvin and Willis did last season. There has been a lot made during the offseason nationally about Miami losing Willis and defensive end Joe Jackson and not who is returning for the Hurricanes this fall. That is expected from the national media.

Local writers and those that follow Miami closely are going to be more familiar with the Hurricanes roster. Miami head coach Manny Diaz is confident in his defensive system and in the potential that Ford has for 2019. At 6’5 306 pounds Ford is the prototype defensive tackle for Miami. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald quoted Diaz.

"“This is a scheme that will lead the nation in tackles for loss or [finish] top five or top 10. Jon Ford, this is his time. He’s hard to block, a dynamic 4-3 defensive tackle that Miami has always been known for.”"

There is far more talent on the Miami defensive line beyond the four starters. The Hurricanes have an embarrassment of riches on the ends and the tackles should be stout also. Co-defensive coordinator Blake Baker expects Miami to go 10-12 deep on the defensive line when sophomore Nesta Silvera returns from foot surgery in early October.

"“Our defensive line is so deep, I can realistically see us, especially once we get [Nesta Silvera] back, seeing us playing, as crazy as this sounds, maybe 10-12 defensive linemen, which is awesome…Trust me, that does not happen at a lot of places.It’s just great timing, I guess too, of Jahfari Harvey coming in, being able to bring in Trevon [Hill] and Chigozie [Nnoruka]. I think we have great depth there, and if we can roll those guys and keep them fresh, that can be the strength of our defense.”"

The Miami talent on the defensive line extends beyond the four starters and the freshman Harvey and graduate transfer Hill and Nnoruka. Redshirt freshman Greg Rousseau has been a sack machine, mostly against his teammates since arriving on campus in January 2019. Rousseau missed most of 2019 with an ankle injury.

Garvin will step into the role that Jackson had initially in 2019 as the player on the Miami defensive line that most opponents game plan for. He is expected to leave for the NFL after the 2019 season. Jackson quoted Garvin saying that he doesn’t expect that role to make a difference how teams handle him.

"“They already put two, three [blockers] on me last year…They can’t put eight on me.”"

That should be the case with Harvey, Rousseau or Patchan playing opposite Garvin. Rousseau and Harvey are listed behind Garvin, with Hill listed behind Patchan. The Hurricanes will be able to keep their pass rushers fresh. That should cause problems for Florida inexperienced offensive line. The Gators returns only one starter in 2019.