Blake Baker: Miami Hurricanes offense is dizzying
The new Miami Hurricanes offense led by new offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee was called dizzying in an interview with defensive coordinator Blake Baker on the Joe Rose Show Monday morning.
The Miami Hurricanes offense led by new offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee is going up-tempo and in a spread. Going against Lashlee offense during the four practices Miami was able to get in during March were called dizzying by second-year defensive coordinator Blake Baker during an appearance on the Joe Rose Show.
Baker was interviewed by the eponymous host and cohost Zach Krantz on Monday morning on WQAM. Asked about facing Lashlee’s offense, Baker stated it was dizzying and fast. Baker likes the new Miami Hurricanes offense and stated he thinks it will be good for the team. The new offense is a good barometer for the defense.
Having to get up to the line of scrimmage much quicker, defensive players have to know their assignments and be in good physical and mental condition to succeed against an up-tempo offense. Baker felt that the Hurricanes offensive players had a good grasp of what they needed to do through just four spring practices.
The difference in the pace the Miami offense goes at during the 2020 season versus what they played at in 2019 will be noticeable. Led by Lashlee, SMU was seventh in the nation with 1,037 plays in 2019. Only eight teams ran over 1,000 plays in 2019. Miami finished 91st with 844 plays in 2019.
"“Dizzying. That thing is fast, man. They are rolling. It was phenomenal. We talked about from a defensive perspective you have to know your stuff to be able to succeed. You find out a lot about your guys from a conditioning standpoint and from a mental standpoint at the pace that they go. I love it.I think it’s going to be a good change for us.”"
Baker’s defense got a chance to prove they can stop a high tempo offense. Central Michigan was ninth in plays in 2019 with 999. Miami defeated the Chippewas 17-12 while holding them to 248 yards on 88 plays. Central Michigan averaged 434.1 yards per game and 6.08 yards per play in 2019.
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Baker should have more success in 2019 defensively with the return of All-America candidate Greg Rousseau at defensive end and the addition of graduate transfer Quincy Roche from Temple. Former UCLA transfer Jaelan Phillips will also make his Miami debut in 2019. Defensive depth is critical against an up-tempo offense.