New Miami football OC Rhett Lashlee fits profile Manny Diaz wanted

The hiring of former Southern Methodist offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee to the same position with the Miami football program fits the profile of what head coach Manny Diaz said he wanted to replace Dan Enos.

The Miami football program is expected to announce next week the hiring of Southern Methodist offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee to replace Dan Enos in the same position with the Hurricanes. Lashlee fits the profile of what Diaz has stated he wants in a new OC since Enos dismissed in December.

Billy Embody of Pony Stampede, the SMU 247 site was the first to report that Lashlee was leaving Dallas and talent his talents South Beach, or at least Coral Gables and Miami Gardens. Embody reported that Lashlee helped guide the Mustangs to their best offensive season in recent program memory.

SMU set several program records this season. Embody reported them to “include scoring (544), scoring average at 41.8 (PPG)…6,368 total yards, yards per game at 489.8 and plenty more.” The key number for Diaz was likely the pace at which SMU played with. The Mustangs 1,037 total offensive plays were fifth in FBS.

When Diaz was hired to replace Mark Richt in December 2018 he said at his January 2019 introductory press conference that he wanted an offense that played with the same fervor as his get up the field aggressive defense. In the only season under Enos, the offense for the Miami football team ran 844 plays.

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On a per-game basis, the SMU offense ran an average of 79.77 plays per game. Miami ran nearly 15 plays per game less than the Mustangs with an average of 63.93 plays per game. That average is basically one of two more drives per game. Diaz sees the future and wants to increase the tempo to have an offense match his defense.

Several SMU players had exceptional seasons on offense. According to Embody “(Shane), Buechele broke the passing TD mark with 34 and passing yards with 3,929. Running back Xavier Jones ran for 25 TDs and wide receiver James Proche snagged 111 receptions and 15 touchdowns on the season, which were all records.”

Lashlee will have a plethora of talent to work with in the Miami backfield, although the Hurricanes will not be deep with the transfer of former five-star RB Lorenzo Lingard to Florida. Second leading rusher Cam Harris will be backed up by redshirt junior Robert Burns and incoming freshman Don Chaney Jr and Jaylan Knighton.

Chaney and Knighton should more than makeup for the loss of Lingard behind Harris. Chaney is expected to come in a contribute immediately. It would be shocking if Chaney was not the second team RB when the Hurricanes open the season in September against Temple. Lashlee’s offense is one that makes big plays.

The Mustangs had 50 plays go for 30 yards or more in 2019. Central Florida and Oklahoma were the only two teams with more. SMU finished the 2019 season seventh in scoring offense at 41.8 PPG and ninth in total offense averaging 489.8 yards per game.

According to Manny Navarro of The Athletic Diaz likes Lashlee’s balanced offense. Navarro laid out the parameters from the Mustangs offense in 2019 and compared it to the Miami offense this past season.

"“SMU ran the ball 534 times this season and threw it 503 times. SMU averaged 309 yards passing per game and 180 rushing. Miami threw it 437 times and averaged 249.2 yards passing in 2019. The Hurricanes ran it 407 times and averaged 118 yards rushing per game, which ranked 122nd among FBS teams."

The expectation is that the offense in the Miami football program will be far more aggressive and modern than it was under Enos. The same things were said a year ago when Enos left Alabama for Miami. With Lashlee, he has proven what his offensive style is. ACC analyst Roddy Jones who worked the Independence Bowl likes the hire.

"“Canes got a really good coach who’s been around some of the best offensive minds in the country…Expect a completely different look and feel next season.”"

Jones was quoted in The Athletic by Navarro. If Jones is right, Lashlee could be the most innovative offensive coach in Coral Gables since Dennis Erickson succeeded Jimmy Johnson in 1989 bringing early elements of the spread offense from Washington State. If Lashlee doesn’t work out, Diaz likely will be.