A report from Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press emerged that first-year offensive coordinator Dan Enos would not be returning to the Miami football program in 2020. Three candidates are emerging to replace Enos.
The aggressive up-tempo offense that offensive coordinator Dan Enos and head coach Manny Diaz promised for the Miami football program in 2019 never materialized as the Hurricanes struggled on offense throughout the season. Tim Reynolds of the AP reported that Enos coached his last game for Miami on Thursday.
If Thursday was indeed the last game for Enos they went out far more like a lamb than a lion if this had been spring football. Far too many times this season the Miami offense whimpered against opponents they should have been able to use their superior talent to defeat. Thursday was their worst performance of 2019.
Miami only had 227 total yards and punted nine times against Louisiana Tech. They did not have one snap in the game in the Bulldogs RedZone. If Enos was going to save his job the Hurricanes performance in the Independence Bowl gave one more reason why the Miami football team needs a new direction on offense.
Three candidates have emerged above the rest from a few sources. Mississippi offensive coordinator and former West Virginia, Michigan and Arizona head coach Rich Rodriguez, former North Carolina and Southern Mississippi head coach Larry Fedora and Texas Tech offensive coordinator David Yost.
Barring a significant change in plans, the Miami Hurricanes and offensive coordinator Dan Enos are expected to part ways after today’s Independence Bowl.
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) December 26, 2019
Manny Navarro from The Athletic and Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald both reported that the three coaches listed above are likely to be the three candidates preferred to land the job with Yost as the top choice. Jackson listed the stats from the Mississippi and Texas Tech offenses this season and examined all three candidates.
"“Yost, who this season guided an offense that was 11th in the country in average yardage (474.3) and scored 30.5 per game…He uses an up-tempo, spread-option offense and learned passing game concepts from Washington State’s Mike Leach."
Rodriguez was fired two seasons ago at Arizona after administrative issues and the Wildcats offense has not been the same since under Kevin Sumlin despite having star quarterback Khalil Tate. Per Jackson “the Rebels were 29th in the nation in yards per game at 445.3…but…averaged only 25.4 points per game.”
Miami was 90th in
in 2020 averaging 378.9 yards per game and
before the loss to Louisiana Tech. The loss to the Bulldogs lowered the season average for the Hurricanes to 24.6 PPG. In Fedora’s final season as the
head coach, they averaged 27.8 PPG.
North Carolina averaged 469 yards per game on offense in 2018 to finish 14th nationally. Their problem was putting points on the board. The 27.8 PPG was 78th nationally. While fans always clamor for coaching changes seemingly after every loss. MIami needs to upgrade the talent on the offensive line and at wide receiver.
Miami will have a stable of four and five-star running backs in 2020. If they do not upgrade the offensive line, none of that will matter. The 2020 offseason other than hiring a new head coach seems a lot like the 2019 offseason. Manny Diaz and whomever his staff is have a lot of work to do.