Miami football common opponents and Rhett Lashlee successful vs. Temple

The Miami football team opens the 2020 season against Temple on September 5. New offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee led SMU to 45 points against the Owls in 2019 and North Carolina scored 55 points versus Temple in the Military Bowl.

The Miami football team opens the 2020 season against Temple with new offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee bringing an up-tempo, spread offense that is expected to increase the Hurricanes scoring output. Expect Miami to average about 15 more plays per game. Lashlee faced Temple in 2020 as the offensive coordinator at SMU.

SMU defeated Temple 45-21 last season in October in Dallas. The Mustangs had 457 yards passing and 655 yards in total offense on 109 plays against a Temple defense that finished 49th nationally in points allowed with 25.9 per game. Temple was 54th in total defense allowing 377.8 yards per game.

SMU quarterback Shane Buechele was 30-53 for 457, six touchdowns and one interception. Xavier Jones ran for 105 yards on 29 carries. Wide receiver Reggie Roberson Jr. burned Temple for eight receptions for 250 yards and three TD. Roberson had 803 receiving yards the entire season.

Temple finished the 2019 season allowing 219.9 passing yards per game. That was 50th nationally. SMU rolled up those numbers against a Temple defense that included American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year Quincy Roche. Roche signed with Miami in the offseason.

The Hurricanes should be able to gain some insight about the Temple game plans, particularly on defense when they play September 5 at Hard Rock Stadium. Roche had 19 tackles for loss and 13 sacks for the Owls last season. The 655 total yards and 457 passing yards allowed were the most against Temple in 2019.

North Carolina had a season-highs of 55 points and 238 rushing yards against the Temple defense. The Tar Heels finished with 534 yards of total offense in the 55-13 victory. Tar Heel QB Sam Howell was 25-34 for 294 yards and three TDs. Miami played UNC in 2019 week two. It was just Howell’s second college start.

Howell was 16-24 for 273 yards and a TD as UNC rallied for a 28-25 victory over Miami. UNC threw for 292 yards as a team against the Hurricanes. The Miami football team was able to hold North Carolina to 97 yards on 37 carries rushing. The one other factor against Temple is Houston graduate transfer QB D’Eriq King.

Houston is in the AAC like Temple and SMU. The Cougars and Owls played twice during King’s three seasons playing football at Houston. He caught seven passes for 51 yards as a receiver in 2017. As the Cougars QB in 2018, King lit up Temple by going 28-46 for 322 yards, five TDs and an interception passing.

King blitzed Temple on the ground for another 125 yards and a TD. Temple won the game 59-49. The three commonalities between UNC and SMU against Temple project Miami to have a big day offensively. King, Lashlee and especially Roche are all familiar with the Temple defense. The Miami offense should shine in the opener.