Rhett Lashlee will use TEs strengths in new Miami Hurricanes offense

The hiring of Rhett Lashlee as the new Miami Hurricanes offensive coordinator is expected to use the strengths of tight ends Brevin Jordan and Will Mallory more than in their first two seasons.

Junior Brevin Jordan is thought of as one of the best tight ends in college football. With junior Will Mallory, the two should provide the Miami Hurricanes the best TE unit in the country in 2020. The hiring of Rhett Lashlee from SMU for the 2020 season is expected to utilize the strengths of Mallory and Jordan more often.

When Jordan and Mallory signed in 2018 many expected they would put a lot of pressure on opposing defenses. Jordan has been very good for Miami but injury-prone. Mallory finally showed glimpses of the player he can become at the end of last season with Jordan out for the remainder of the year.

The way that Jordan and Mallory lined up in the Mark Richt and then Dan Enos pro-style offenses in 2018 and 2019 will be very different to where they are in the Lashlee offense in 2020. Lashlee often had defenses guessing in 2019 where he would line up TE Kyle Granson while the Mustangs offensive coordinator last season.

After transferring from Rice to SMU and sitting out in 2018 with a chance to learn the Lashlee offense, Granson had 43 receptions for 721 yards and nine touchdowns in 2019. Jordan should at least reach those numbers if not drastically exceed them in 2019. It’s reasonable to expect Mallory to record 30 receptions in 2020.

David Lake of Inside the U examined the numbers of how Granson lined up in the Lashlee offense in 2019 versus where Enos lined Jordan up with Miami last season. It is clear from how Lashlee uses his tight ends versus how Enos and Richt have used Jordan the last two seasons that his talents were not brought out completely.

Where Kyle Granson lined up for SMU in 2019

• Slot: 51%
• Inline: 27%
• Backfield: 15%
• Wide: 7%

Where Brevin Jordan lined up for Miami in 2019

• Inline: 69%
• Slot: 26%
• Backfield: 5%

It has to be questioned why Enos never lined Jordan up wide in 2019. His athletic ability and size would be a huge mismatch no matter who was covering him. What made the 2001 Miami National Championship team so dynamic on offense was the versatility of TE Jeremy Shockey. Shockey was a mismatch for defenses.

Jordan spoke about the new offense and how Lashlee plans to use the TEs. Jordan and Mallory’s athleticism at TE will be utilized far more in 2020 than it was in 2019. Jordan sounds appreciative of Lashlee and how he will be used in 2020. Getting Jordan out in space this season should increase his numbers.

"“They use us in a way in which we are all over the field…We are outside, we are in the slot, we are in the backfield and we are lined up on the line. We are really just all over the field and coach Lashlee loves to throw the ball to us. He loves to get ball out to guys in space and let them go to work.This offense definitely shows our athleticism, but if you throw us in any offense you would see that those big dudes can run.”"

With D’Eriq King at quarterback in 2020 running the Miami offense is expected to be greatly improved. King’s ability to throw the football as mentioned by Jordan in the above video and his maturity should help the entire Miami offense. King should put the Hurricanes receivers in a better position to succeed than the QBs in 2019.

Jordan has been a steady player on the Miami Hurricanes offense in his two seasons. Before getting injured in 2019, Jordan was on pace to lead the Hurricanes in receiving. If Jordan can stay healthy this season he will have a chance to win the Mackey Award denoting the best TE in college football and a chance for an All-American season.