ESPN names Rhett Lashlee as new coordinator who could be key to CFP

New Miami Hurricanes offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee has been named as “New coordinators who could be key to the College Football Playoff.”

Through two games Rhett Lashlee has transformed the Miami Hurricanes offense. ESPN has taken notice naming Lashlee as a “New coordinators who could be key to the College Football Playoff.” Miami has a lot left to accomplish before they can be in the conversation for the College Football Playoff, but the offense is legitimate.

Rhett Lashlee has shown the ability to adapt his play calling to what opposing defenses are giving him. Miami ran for 337 yards against a good UAB defense in the opener. Against a much more porous Louisville defense on Saturday, quarterback D’Eriq King threw for 325 yards and three touchdowns in a 47-34 Miami victory.

ESPN noted the difference has made for a Miami offense that was wildly inconsistent in 2019 and anemic at times under former offensive coordinator Dan Enos. Through the first two games of 2020, Miami has three plays of 60 yards or more. With Enos calling the plays in 2019, Miami had two.

Lashlee was listed with coordinators from Georgia, Auburn, LSU, Texas and Notre Dame. The Miami offense has quickly proven under Lashlee they are greatly improved from 2019. The Miami offense had the most improving to do under the five schools listed. ESPN is already impressed with the Miami offense two games into 2020.

"Miami offensive coordinator Rhett LashleeDebut: 31-14 home win over UAB on Sept. 10; 47-34 win Saturday at LouisvilleMiami has to make the biggest jump of any team listed here, but the offense is already leaps ahead after two games under Lashlee.A unit that bottomed out in 2019 under Dan Enos is averaging 39 points, 490 yards per game and 7.1 yards per play. Houston quarterback transfer D’Eriq King is as advertised, but Lashlee’s system is delivering the big-play spark Miami needed to maximize its talent.Lashlee came up under (head coach Gus) Malzahn at Auburn, landing the offensive coordinator job at age 30 in 2013. But his development as a coordinator away from Malzahn, first with….UConn in 2017, and then the past two years with Sonny Dykes at SMU, sharpened his schematics, especially with the passing game.Miami averaged 18.1 yards per completion in Saturday’s win against Louisville, recording both a 75-yard rushing TD and a 75-yard passing touchdown. Tight end Brevin Jordan, who scored on a 47-yard reception, said Lashlee provides “that sense of identity” and a confidence that explosive plays and points are coming.“He’s just opening it up,” an ACC coordinator said, “and then you get an elite quarterback, that’s a good combination.”"

Miami ranks in the top five for plays of 20 yards or more and continuing in 10 yard increments through the two 75 yard TDs the Hurricanes had against Louisville. Jordan and junior running back Cam Harris have led the way in the explosive Lashlee offense. Jordan leads all TEs nationally with 162 receiving yards on 10 catches with two TDs.

Harris is third nationally with 268 yards rushing, fifth with three TDs and seventh averaging 10.31 yards per carry. Freshmen RBs Jaylan Knighton and Don Chaney Jr. and junior TE Will Mallory have also been explosive for the Miami offense in 2020. Lashlee and King will continue to make the Miami offense explosive.