Miami Hurricanes will throw downfield more in 2020

The hiring of Rhett Lashlee as the new offensive coordinator and addition of Houston graduate transfer D’Eriq King should open up the Miami Hurricanes offense more in 2020.

The hiring of Rhett Lashlee as the new Miami Hurricanes offensive coordinator in the offseason is expected to increase the amount plays run offensive in each game by about 15. Houston graduate transfer quarterback D’Eriq King brings a dimension not seen before by as a dual-threat running and throwing the football.

Lashlee and King working together should also provide Miami with more attempts throwing the ball deep. While the offensive coordinator at SMU in 2019, Lashlee worked with QB Shane Buechele who tied for second with Heisman Winner Joe Burrow and Heisman Finalist Justin Fields with 10 TDs on balls thrown over 30 yards.

Buechele finished second in the nation overall with 10 completed passes that went for over 30 yards with 37. Burrow had 42 plays of over 30 yards. Those include yards after the catch by a wide receiver.

King finished 19th nationally in 2018 with 23 completions of 30 yards or more despite playing only 11 games. Only Will Grier of West Virginia and Khalil Tate of Arizona had as more completions over 30 yards in 2018 playing as few as 11 games. King and Lashlee working together should create an explosive Miami offense.

The expected Miami Hurricanes starting wide receiver corps of senior Mike Harley and juniors Dee Wiggins and Mark Pope should thrive in the new up-tempo, spread offense with more opportunities downfield. Wiggins had a 56-yard TD reception against Florida State and 67-yard TD reception against Louisville in 2019.

Pope had a 35-yard TD reception against FIU in 2019, a 54-yarder against Bethune-Cookman and the memorable 38-yard hail mary catch against Virginia Tech. Harley is more of a possession receive but did have receptions for over 30 yards in four different games in 2019. The Miami tight ends can also stretch the field.

Miami starting TE Brevin Jordan had four games in 2019 with a reception that went for at least 20 yards. In more limited playing time, second-team TE Will Mallory had three games with a reception that went at least 29 yards. The talent is on the roster for Miami to throw the ball downfield more in 2020.

There will be many more opportunities in the Lashlee offense. The up-tempo, spread system Lashlee runs should be more wide open, run more plays per game and take more shots downfield with King at the controls. The Miami Hurricanes should be more fun to watch in 2019 and put more pressure on opposing defenses.