How Miami Hurricanes future is viewed by national media after Clemson loss

The national media reacted to the Miami Hurricanes blowout loss to Clemson on Sunday and wrote about what to expect for the remainder of the season.

The Miami Hurricanes offense was almost completely shut down by Clemson on Saturday night. In their 42-17 victory, the Tigers were able to make Miami one dimensional by not allowing any room running the football except on scrambles on quarterback D’Eriq King. Miami is 3-1 after the loss to Clemson.

Miami will have another challenge next week against Pittsburgh, one of the best defenses in the country. The Hurricanes will not have to contend with a Panthers offense that will not challenge them nearly as much as Clemson did. Miami still has a lot to play for this season. Miami is tied for fourth with a 2-1 ACC record.

How the Miami Hurricanes react against Pittsburgh and through the remainder of the season will show as much or more about where the Hurricanes are than the blowout loss to Clemson. The obvious talent gap between Clemson and Miami is the same after the Hurricanes’ loss to the Tigers as it was entering the game.

David Hale wrote the reaction about the Miami loss to Clemson for ESPN and what the Hurricanes can expect next. The expectation for Miami realistically should have been to be more competitive against Clemson, but a win would have been a huge upset. The Hurricanes have a lot to clean up for the remainder of 2020.

"No. 13 Miami (3-1)How much did Miami fans really believe Saturday’s game was a potential win? The recent history against Clemson was ugly, and the Tigers delivered another drubbing Saturday. So where does that leave Miami? If expectations were set high before Saturday’s loss, this feels like a real setback.But the truth is, it simply exposed some obvious differences in talent that Clemson probably would have exposed against nearly any team. Miami’s future might still end with a rematch of this one in the ACC title game, and the real measure of progress for this Canes team is probably better determined by how it responds from here."

Chip Patterson of CBS Sports wrote a summary of the Clemson Miami game and had three points in the postgame. Patterson wrote about the health of Miami tight end Brevin Jordan who left with an injury and the two-quarterback set that Clemson used. The anemic Miami passing game was the most important area Patterson discussed.

"2. Miami has to improve its passing attack to have a chance in a potential rematch: Clemson’s game plan against Miami’s up-tempo offense was fantastic.The defense kept King contained and the secondary consistently tight with Miami’s receivers, stepping up with big-time plays on the interceptions right when Miami finally some momentum in the game.But as much as you want to give credit to Clemson’s game plan and its cornerbacks for holding their own, there also needs to be concern about the Hurricanes’ receivers and the effectiveness of the passing attack.Not every team has the coaching and talent of Clemson, but certainly every opponent that Miami faces will try to do what the Tigers did and make King beat them down the field from inside the pocket."

Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables and his staff devised a blueprint on how to defeat Miami. Clemson shutting down the Miami wide receivers should have been expected. None of the Miami WRs had asserted themselves in the wins against the far lesser defenses of UAB, Louisville and Florida State.

Teams are going to stack the box against Miami and make King and the Hurricanes passing game beat them. Rhett Lashlee will have adjustments to make for Pittsburgh this weekend and the rest of the season. Miami is four games into Lashlee running the offense. The Hurricanes offense will continue to evolve in 2020.

"“The Tigers ran No. 7 Miami out of Death Valley in a 42-17 victory Saturday…Who will beat Clemson? A team that wins the turnover battle and has an elite offense…the Hurricanes’ explosive offense was mostly silent after two weeks preparing for Clemson’s defense.Quarterback D’Eriq King accounted for 205 of Miami’s 210 yards, a season low for coordinator Rhett Lashlee’s bunch and a season-best for Brent Venables’ defense. So, you can count out Miami, even if the teams meet in the ACC title game.”"

Brandon Marcello of 247Sports mentioned exactly what Miami seemed to not be able to do to defeat Clemson. The Hurricanes offense was explosive entering the game on Saturday and had only one turnover in three games. Two of the three Miami turnovers the first two weeks came on lost fumbles on punt returns.

The Miami offense had only 220 total yards, King and N’Kosi Perry combined for three interceptions and 15 penalties for 135 yards took away any chance Miami had to win the game. Minimizing the penalties continuing to play turnover-free as Miami did in their three wins and offensive development will be critical.

Miami was exposed by Venables and the Clemson defense who made Miami one dimensional. Pittsburgh’s defense will be a challenge, but their offense will not present the problems Clemson did. It’s up to Manny Diaz and his Miami Hurricanes coaching staff to figure out how to adjust to how Clemson shut the down.