Miami football needs more big plays from offense

During a season which no defense has given up more big pass plays than the Miami football team, the Hurricanes offense needs to start coming up with some of their own to match opponents.

The offense for the Miami football team is a respectable 25th in plays produced over 10 yards. Once you start to climb above that number in increments of 10 the Hurricanes big-play offense starts to dive. Miami prides itself on defense not giving up big plays.

The Hurricanes are the only team to have given up three pass plays over 60 yards in 2019. Miami led the nation in pass defense in 2018. The Hurricanes passing offense has improved significantly this season. Jarren Williams has completed 71 percent of his passes in the first two games. That would set a Miami season record.

The Miami offense has been mostly bereft of big plays this season. The ones that they have had have been mostly via the run. The Hurricanes have the offense with Williams accuracy and the running game with DeeJay Dallas and Cam’Ron Harris to sustain drives. That was not often the case in the last two seasons.

Now with the skill position players that Miami has they need to be able to make big plays on offense more often. Miami has only six pass plays of 20 or more yards, three of 30 plus and one that has been over 40. The Hurricanes have to be able to keep opposing defenses more honest by putting pressure on them deep.

Part of that has been missed opportunities with

Jeff Thomas

. Thomas has nine receptions for 79 yards in 2019. In 2018, Thomas averaged 16.1 yards per reception and he is at 16.7 YPC in his career. Miami has to be able to break him deep. They should have plenty of opportunities in the next two weeks.

Williams spoke after practice on Wednesday about what the offense is working on and what they have to do to continue to improve. He discussed connecting more on the deep ball and being more efficient in the red zone as an offense.

"“My deep ball is something I got to work out every day if I want to be efficient in that and that comes with time and building that chemistry…That just comes with me working hard all day on Greentree [Practice Fields] and practicing it every day and just getting that timing right and getting a good feel for the deep ball.“We got to finish…We drive the whole field and then kick a field goal. We decided that’s not going to happen anymore, and we’ve been working extra hard on red zone schemes and really making sure that we finish drives. That’s important. Those are points, touchdown points, so we’re really focusing on scoring.”"

Tight end Brevin Jordan has been outstanding through the first two games. Williams looks for him in the middle of the field but has struggled to throw the out balls. Jordan leads all tight ends nationally with 161 yards receiving and is tied for the lead with 11 receptions. He is the only Miami receiver in the top 100.

K.J. Osborn has matched Jordan’s 11 receptions and leads the Miami wide receivers with 117 yards. The Miami football team needs more production from Osborn, junior Mike Harley and Thomas. All three have the skill sets to make big plays. Williams needs to be more adept at getting them the football.