Miami football WRs need to improve in week two

After catching nine passes for 89 yards in the season opener against UAB, the Miami football team needs improvement from their WRs in week two at Louisville.

Senior Mike Harley was the highest-rated wide receiver for the Miami football team in the season-opening win over UAB. Harley who caught three passes for 27 yards was ranked 43rd by Pro Football Focus. Those rankings included Miami tight end Brevin Jordan who had three receptions for 51 yards and a touchdown.

Jordan who led Miami in receiving yards was the 61st ranked WR according to PFF. Juniors Mark Pope and Dee Wiggins were 59th and 62nd according to PFF. Jordan lined up in the backfield five times, inline 16 times, in the slot 41 times and wide four times according to PFF. That explains why Jordan is listed at WR.

Jordan was the catalyst in the Miami passing game in the second half. All three of Jordan’s receptions came on back to back scoring drives in the third quarter. Miami quarterback D’Eriq King was 6-8 for 75 yards and his lone TD to Jordan in the third quarter. King threw for only 66 yards in the first half.

The Miami football team mostly ran the ball in the fourth quarter with 19 yards on 13 carries. Redshirt junior N’Kosi Perry came in late and was 2-3 for 14 yards. Miami plays at Louisville on Saturday. Against a good UAB defense, Miami was focused on running the ball. The Blazers were unable to stop Miami who ran for 337 yards.

Miami and Louisville was a shootout in 2019. The Hurricanes won 52-27 with former QB Jarren Williams throwing for a Miami record six TD passes. Miami and Louisville combined for 945 total yards, 580 passing in 2019 at Hard Rock Stadium. Wiggins and Harley did most of the damage against Louisville in 2019.

Harley had six receptions for 116 yards and two TDs, Wiggins 3-85 and two TDs. Louisville held Western Kentucky to 249 total yards, 129 passing in their season-opening 35-21 victory. Hilltoppers WR Jahcour Pearson had five receptions for 67 yards. After one game for all but six teams, Louisville is seventh in pass defense.

The Cardinals were 79th in pass defense in 2019. King often seemed disconnected from his receiving corps other than Jordan against UAB. Miami is going to need more balance in the play calling and production against Louisville than the Hurricanes had against UAB. Miami passed 27 times to 52 runs against the Blazers.

King overthrew receivers a few times against UAB. The Miami passing game has to improve significantly from week one to week two. Offensive balance will be the key. Miami ran 32 times for 197 yards and a TD last season in the blowout victory over Louisville. If the WRs improve just enough Miami can defeat the Cardinals.