Uneven performance dooms Miami football in Independence Bowl loss

The theme for the Miami football team the last three to four seasons has been the defense putting in a playoff-worthy performance and the offense doing nothing or scoring minimally in a game that was there to win. The Hurricanes Independence bowl performance was bad.

Louisiana Tech gained only 337 yards against the defense for the Miami football team but the Hurricanes offense was even worse in a 14-0 loss to Louisiana Tech in the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, Louisiana. The Hurricanes’ lack of points marked the first shutout in 44 years of the Independence Bowl.

The defense for the Miami football team came to play, but the offense for the Hurricanes played like the reports that emerged in the days leading up to the game that the veteran players were disinterested and unmotived for the Independence Bowl. Miami finished the game with 227 yards of total offense.

No trips into the RedZone, an Independence Bowl record nine punts (by both teams) and 4-13 on third down by the Miami offense was more of the same narrative that the Hurricanes have had throughout the last two seasons. The players have continued to underperform no matter who is running the Miami offense.

There has been a lot of talk on social media what were the positives in the loss to Louisiana Tech.  Despite the ineptness of the Miami offense, the defense kept the Hurricanes in the game and they were competitive compared to the 35-3 embarrassment to Wisconsin in the Pinstripe Bowl last season.

Miami was missing starting running back DeeJay Dallas, tight end Brevin Jordan and starting left guard Navaughn Donaldson. It is still no excuse for the performance of the offense. Offensive coordinator Dan Enos who is expected to have coached his game in the Independence Bowl played three quarterbacks.

Starter Jarren Williams was 9-20 for 94 yards and an interception. N’Kosi Perry was 5-13 for 52 yards and an interception and Tate Martell completed his only pass for seven yards. Martell played his first series of the season at QB but that was it after the one completion and five carries for five yards.

Perry was brought in the second half after Martell and Williams played in the first half. Playing Perry seemed like a desperate effort to be able to throw the ball downfield and bring in more mobility than Williams. Martell should have received at least a second drive even though he looked lost at times.

In his third season in the program, we know what Perry can do. Louisiana Tech got on the board in the first half with a 26-yard pass from J’Mar Smith to Israel Tucker in the second quarter. The Bulldogs cemented the final score with an eight-yard touchdown run by Smith with 1:15 remaining. Miami heads to another uncertain offseason.