Numerous factors led to the loss by the Miami football team on Saturday to Georgia Tech at Hard Rock Stadium. Following the game, Miami head coach Manny Diaz lamented the Hurricanes’ lack of consistency.
Another week, another subpar performance and loss by the Miami football team at home to a team they were expected to defeat handily. When the Hurricanes schedule for the 2019 season came out their five-game homestand was seen as a positive that could lead to a good season. Miami finished the homestand 3-2.
The Hurricanes very easily could have started the FBS part of the homestand with a disastrous loss to Central Michigan. Miami had to hold on late due to an inconsistent offense in the Hurricanes 17-12 win over the Chippewas. Coming off a bye following that game most people expected Miami to defeat Virginia Tech.
The Hurricanes came out flat against the Hokies with turnovers on their first four possessions. That contributed to a 28-0 Virginia Tech lead. Miami rallied and was in position to take the lead with an extra point following a DeeJay Dallas 69-yard TD run in the fourth quarter. Bubba Baxa’s missed PAT is a 2019 microcosm.
Diaz said the miss deflated the Miami football team. Virginia Tech scored on their next possession to take a 42-35 lead. Quarterback N’Kosi Perry put Miami in position to tie the game from the Virginia Tech 10 yard, but was unable to and lost. The Hurricanes bounced back in a 17-9 win over Virginia last week.
Miami seemed poised to easily defeat a 1-5 Georgia Tech team who lost to FCS THe CItadel at home last month. The Hurricanes seemed to find their kicker in the victory over Virginia. Turner Davidson made both extra-point attempts and a 19-yard field goal against the Cavaliers. Manny Diaz spoke about the issues postgame.
"“It is a matter of winning these close games. These toss-ups. What are all these things that matters in winning the close games? Finishing red-zone drives and field goal kicking is a massive thing. Let’s not just point the finger at our field goal kicking. There are things we need to do better to make us tougher to beat. We are trying to throw a screen and we don’t get rid of the ball and it turns into a touchdown. Something we coached up all week on punt safe was driving their missiles out of bounds and the punter throws a great throw and gets them a touchdown. We are not in a situation where we are going to roll up on somebody and beat them by 28 points. I felt like we controlled the game in the first half and we went into the locker room at halftime and the game was tied. In the second half they did a better job of leaning on us and taking advantage of our lack of depth in some spots that we had injuries."