Miami Hurricanes CB Te’Cory Couch becoming top playmaker

Miami Hurricanes cornerback Te’Cory Couch has become a key playmaker on defense.

During the Miami Hurricanes four-game winning streak, sophomore cornerback Te’Cory Couch has become one of the top playmakers on defense. Among the accomplishments for Couch were a critical sack against North Carolina State on third down to get the ball back on offense and a key interception against Virginia Tech.

Couch has 28 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, the interception against Virginia Tech, three pass breakups and a forced fumble. All three pass breakups by Couch came against Pittsburgh when the Miami defense held the Panthers to one touchdown and four field goals in the red zone in a 31-19 victory.

Couch has pushed for more playing time behind juniors Al Blades and D.J. Ivey. Against Virginia, Tech Couch was the starter at CB opposite Ivey. Couch is the highest-ranked Miami CB but has played fewer snaps than Blades and Ivey this season. Blades has 29 tackles, two interceptions and three pass breakups.

Ivey has 24 tackles, one interception and two pass breakups. Miami only has five scholarship CBs currently on its roster. The next two games against Wake Forest and North Carolina are going to challenge the Miami secondary. Blades, Couch and Ivey will all play extensively with the likelihood of facing multiple wide receivers.

North Carolina has the second-best passing offense in the ACC averaging 316.7 yards per game. Wake Forest is third at 271.7. Couch been utilized in pass coverage and on the blitz for Miami. The critical sack against North Carolina State came off the blitz. Couch has been in coverage in the slot and on the outside.

Couch has been impressive and played physically despite being undersized at 5’10 172 pounds. Couch has graded out higher against the run and as a pass rusher than he has in coverage. The physicality from Couch will be important against bigger wide receivers.