Miami football legend Jonathan Vilma likes switch to spread offense
The hiring of new offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee and switch to the up-tempo spread offense has the approval of legendary Miami football alum, linebacker Jonathan Vilma.
The hiring of Rhett Lashlee as offensive coordinator by Manny Diaz to run an uptempo, spread offense for the Miami football team has been lauded throughout the offseason. Legendary Hurricanes linebacker Jonathan Vilma was among the latest to praise the move to the spread offense.
Lashlee has experience in a few iterations of the spread offense. The new offensive guru for the Miami football program has learned under Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn at a few stops and studied the air raid as the offensive coordinator at SMU under head coach Sonny Dykes the son of former Texas Tech head coach Spike Dykes.
SMU played fast under Lashlee the last two seasons. The Mustangs averaged about 15 plays per game more than Miami did in 2019. Lashlee was the offensive coordinator at Auburn when the Tigers led the nation in rushing. Lashlee stated earlier this week he aims for his offense to be a power spread.
Vilma was quoted by Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald earlier this week discussing the addition of graduate transfer quarterback D’Eriq King to the Miami football roster, the decision by athletic director Blake James to hire Diaz in December 2018 and the need for the Hurricanes to win the games they are supposed in 2020.
"“I do like the move to a spread offense with an offensive coordinator who knows how to run a spread offense…And I’m excited who’s at the helm of instituting the spread offense. I thought [new quarterback] D’Eriq King was a rock star two years ago [at Houston]. He is every bit the leader that everyone hoped.You cannot lose to inferior teams. Play up to the caliber [of the competition]. They have [enough] on paper. Now it’s a matter of not losing to inferior teams…I embraced the Manny decision. I trust in Blake that he took the time and made the right decision. I said great [when he was hired].Unfortunately the season wasn’t what anyone wanted or expected.”"
Getting prominent Miami football alums on board with the decisions being made by James, Diaz and the Hurricanes staff is important. It is a good look to the fanbase and the media when those with experience playing for the Hurricanes to praise the decision making adds credibility to the moves being made.
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Jackson did not have any information about any thoughts Vilma might have had with the decision by Diaz to add Miami football legend and the LB’s former teammate Ed Reed to the Hurricanes staff. Reed and Vilma were arguably the two biggest stars on the defense for the 2001 National Championship Miami football team.