New Miami football offense could help WR Mark Pope

The new offense for the Miami football team is expected to make better use of players’ skills. Both the offensive line and skill positions players are expected to benefit. One player to watch according to one national writer is wide receiver Mark Pope.

The hiring of new offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee to replace Dan Enos is expected to provide a spark for the Miami football team in 2020. Lashlee’s up-tempo, spread offense will better utilize the players Miami has on the offensive line and at the skill positions. Junior wide receiver Mark Pope is expected to benefit greatly.

In two seasons with the Miami football program, Pope has recorded 19 receptions for 277 yards and two touchdowns and added four carries for 27 yards. All but one reception for 11 yards and one carry for four yards rushing came last season. If Pope improves his number equally in 2020 he will be a key part of the Miami offense.

Pope is expected to be a starter in the three WR sets the Hurricanes are expected to run in the Lashlee spread offense. The other starters at WR are expected to be Pope’s classmate rising junior Dee Wiggins and rising senior Mike Harley. Harley was by far the most productive of those three in 2019.

Harley leads players returning to Miami for the 2020 season with 38 receptions and three touchdowns and is second with 485 yards to rising junior tight end Brevin Jordan. With Harley taking 93 percent of his snaps in the slot last season Pope is expected to work outside. Charles Power of 247 Sports summarized Pope.

Video Courtesy Inside the U

"“Mark Pope arrived at Coral Gables in 2018 with big expectations as a top 50 prospect and local product. He’s yet to live up to those lofty expectations with just 19 receptions for 277 yards and two touchdowns through two seasons.After struggling mightily down the stretch of the 2019 season, the arrivals of new offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee and transfer quarterback D’Eriq King mark a new day for the Hurricane offense and perhaps Pope. Lashlee’s scheme is viewed as more wide receiver-friendly than that of former offensive coordinator Dan Enos and King loved to get the ball to playmakers on the outside in his time at Houston.”"

Pope’s vast potential and playmaking ability have been talked about throughout his two years at Miami. Early in his Miami career the failure for Pope to learn the playbook of former head coach Mark Richt severely limited the playing time that Pope had. Under his third offensive coordinator, Pope has the simplest offense.

Lashlee does not have the thick playbook that Richt and Enos had. His system relies on getting to the line of scrimmage and playing quickly. Lashlee relies more on getting the ball into the hands of his playmakers than out thinking the opposite. Tiring out the opponents is the greater concern than the scheme.