Miami Hurricanes defense back to basics to learn tackling
A plethora of broken tackles in last week’s loss to Florida hindered the Miami Hurricanes against the Gators. Miami defensive coordinator Blake Baker stated that the coaches need to do a better job of working with the defensive players on taking angles and in their pursuit.
The most egregious example of shotty tackling by the Miami Hurricanes defense came on Florida’s first touchdown. Kadarius Toney broke at least three tackles on a short pass on his way to a 66-yard touchdown. Toney’s catch and run shifted the momentum of the game. Miami had a field goal on their opening drive.
Poor tackling was seen on both sides. DeeJay Dallas broke his several tackles on his own 50-yard scamper to the end zone in the fourth quarter to give Miami a 20-17 lead. Miami head coach Manny Diaz said the players were upset with the loss after the game and during a film session last Sunday.
Diaz had not seen that level of exacerbation following a loss in his tenure as defensive coordinator and head coach at Miami. The Hurricanes first-year head coach was annoyed following last season’s losses to LSU in the season opener and Wisconsin in the Pinstripe Bowl. Poor tackling can encumber a few things. One of those is effort.
From what the Miami coaching staff said following the game they were not upset with the Hurricanes effort against Florida. Poor tackling can also result in over aggression. The Hurricanes defenders have to do a better job of wrapping up the ball carrier or receiver. Getting the opponent down is more important than a big play.
Last week
how the defense will work on better tackling in practice. That will include strike zones, how to get low and take the correct angles. The Miami Hurricanes defense worked on pursuit drills in practice last week.
"“We do a tackle circuit every day…We probably need to do a better job, as coaches, emphasizing strike zones and getting low, and then angles. We took some really poor angles. So we have a pursuit drill that we do, and that’s what we’ve done the last two days — tackling, pursuit.”Mad, took it to heart…Tell the Truth Sunday…There’s a good, bad and ugly tape…We don’t make stuff up. We praise what we did a good job of. That’s like anything in life. If you just beat someone down all the time, they’re not going to want to come to work.”"
Other than the four Florida turnovers Miami’s pressure defense which has been a signature under Diaz as defensive coordinator was not seen against the Gators. The Hurricanes had six tackles for loss and one sack. That was after leading the country with an average of 10.46 TFLs in 2018. Florida had 16 TFLs and 10 sacks vs Miami.
The Miami Hurricanes defense that was first nationally in pass defense in 2018 allowed the Gators two long pass plays. The first was Toney’s 66-yard touchdown. The second was a key play on Florida’s game-winning drive. Florida QB Feleipe Franks connected with wide receiver Josh Hammond to the Miami 15-yard line.
The longest pass play the Miami defense allowed in 2018 was 48-yards. The Hurricanes had to replace the two-year starting tandem of Jaquan Johnson and Sheldrick Redwine at safety. Baker gave some of the credit on the Florida success in the passing game and lack of Miami pass rusher to the Gators game planning.
"“Florida did a great job game planning, getting the ball out quick, a lot of seven-man max protections to protect their offensive line. Some things out of empty [sets] that they had not necessarily shown. Overall, I thought there was some good push in the pocket.Forced two interceptions, even though it doesn’t necessarily go down as a sack. There’s some room to improve, but they also did a nice job, I thought, upfront."
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Florida has a young and relatively inexperienced offensive line. The Gators only had one starter returning upfront. Despite the four turnovers, the Hurricanes were not able to create the havoc, as Diaz says, that they are accustomed to upfront. If Miami is going to have success this season they need more production from their DL.