Kirk Herbstreit, CFB analysts state obvious about Miami Hurricanes schedule

Kirk Herbstreit is one of many college football analysts who are pointing to the Miami Hurricanes schedule as a reason for them to be able to win their schedule division title in three seasons.

The ACC media picked Virginia over Miami Hurricanes in the ACC Coastal. The Cavaliers have to travel to Hard Rock Stadium in October. Virginia and Virginia Tech’s trip to South Florida combined with Louisville as Florida State as Miami’s crossover games in the ACC put the Hurricanes in a good position to win the ACC Coastal.

ESPN lead college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit is one among many experts who pick Miami to win the ACC Coastal this season. There is a lot to learn about Manny Diaz and the many Hurricanes players in prominent roles for the first time. On the surface, the season looks promising for Miami.

Despite coming out of the Florida game with a loss there were some positives to glean from the way the Miami Hurricanes played against the Gators to expect the Hurricanes to contend for the ACC Coastal title. Herbstreit discussed the rest of the season for Miami.

"“I walked out of there (Orlando) thinking that if you have their schedule, why not dare to dream? Go back to the drawing board and learn how to get better with the pass protection and let’s find ways to change the launching point.Let’s help him out with a better running game. Look at that schedule. It is very manageable. To me, I think they end up in Charlotte. If they keep growing and if they can avoid big injuries, they should get to the ACC Championship Game against Clemson and win nine games or maybe even ten games.They were a team that was a disaster during the second half of last season and a lot of those guys were on the field in those games.To me, there was a divide between the defense, which was playing championship caliber ball and the offense, which was struggling mightily. Manny Diaz is trying to bridge all of that together.There has to be a buy in and there has to be a maturity. If they win one, win two, and win three—people are going to pat them on the back, but they will need to try and stay laser focused and if they can do that, there is no reason why this team can’t win up to ten games.”"

Herbstreit’s points all tie together. Miami will get better on the offensive line. Florida is the best defense the Hurricanes will face in the regular season. Miami is young on offense through. Diaz was in his first game as a head coach, Zion Nelson and John Campbell are freshmen starting at the tackles as is Jarren Williams at quarterback.

Graduate transfer wide receiver K.J. Osborn is the only starter who is senior in eligibility on the Miami Hurricanes offense. Left guard Navaughn Donaldson and wide receiver Jeff Thomas are the only juniors in eligibility on the Hurricanes offense. Miami is going to have growing pains on offense throughout the season.

The Miami running game should be fine. DeeJay Dallas was outstanding against Florida. Dallas ran for 95 yards on 12 carries and added four receptions for 37 yards. Looking at raw numbers on the ground in college can be deceiving. Miami had 87 yards rushing on 36 carries. Sacks are figured into rushing yards.

Florida sacked Williams 10 times for 60 yards. Taking the sack yardage out of the equation Miami ran the ball 26 times for 137 yards. Manny Diaz will take 5.26 yards per carry for the season. Miami needs more from Cam’Ron Harris who had only 15 yards on six carries. WR Jeff Thomas added 16 yards on one attempt.

The Hurricanes also added 11 yards on a fake field goal from kicker Bubba Baxa. Taking away the sacks, Williams ran five times for 12 yards. It’s not the strength of his game, but offensive coordinator Dan Enos would probably like to see more out of Williams on the ground.

The Hurricanes will get sophomore Lorenzo Lingard back later in the season from a knee injury to help substantially with the depth at running back. Miami has to stay healthy this season. Due to injuries entering the season and attrition the Hurricanes are thin at numerous positions.

If there is as a deep of a divide in the level of play on the field between the defense and offense in 2019 do not expect there to be animosity as had been reported last season. Diaz has repeatedly stated about his goal of changing the culture in the Miami football program. The Hurricanes culture already seems to be changing.