The mobility of quarterback D’Eriq King could be what the Miami Hurricanes need to have any chance at an upset over Alabama on Saturday. Speaking to reporters on Monday ahead of the game with the Crimson Tide, Miami offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee discussed how dual-threat QBs have performed against Alabama.
Mississippi and Florida provided the Miami Hurricanes with a blueprint in 2020 on how to have offensive success against Alabama. The Crimson Tide allowed 94 points and 1,328 yards in victories over the Rebels and Gators in 2020. King can speak to his former high school teammate and Florida QB Kyle Trask about Alabama.
Trask was 26-40 for 408 yards and three touchdowns as Florida lost 52-46 in the 2020 SEC Championship Game. Miami has to be more productive than the 26 carries for 54 yards rushing that Florida had against Alabama. Transcendent Florida talents Kyle Pitts and Kadarius Toney combined for 15 receptions for 282 yards.
Pitts and Toney were both first-round picks in the 2021 NFL Draft. Miami is going to need big performances from tight-end Will Mallory and wide receivers Mike Harley and Charleston Rambo. King will be ready to put the Miami skill position place in a place to perform. Lashlee discussed the history of success by QBs against Alabama.
"“If you look at the history…not many people give them trouble but the ones who have had a quarterback, with the exception of LSU and Joe Burrow a few years ago, they have a quarterback who can also hurt you with his feet…They were able to put some points up and what I noticed was nobody was open.They made a lot of one-on-one contested catches…Both Ole Miss and Florida would probably tell you they played lights out and made a lot of plays to get those opportunities. But they’re not much easy that’s going to be out there and, in both cases, those teams still lost the game.I’d say one of the things they have now that they didn’t have in the past is they have two elite edge pass rushers…Will Anderson, he’s as good as they come. (Chris Allen) on the other side too. In the past, they’ve had good run-stopping d-lineman. They had a lot of good pressures to get their pressure.”(Scouting the Alabama defense there are) just not any weaknesses.”"
King might have to come close to his 430 yards passing and five TDs with 130-yards rushing performance against North Carolina State for Miami to have a chance to beat Alabama. The Miami Hurricanes were practically carried to victory by King against the Wolfpack. Harley led a strong Miami WR corps against NC State.
Supporting the brilliant performance by King, Harley had eight receptions for 153 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning 54-yard score with 2:43 remaining. Mallory had six for 78 and a TD. Rambo adds another dimension that potentially provides Miami with three game-breaking receivers in 2021.
Canes QB D'Eriq King on the recent importance of quarterback play against Alabama pic.twitter.com/U7pzlu9ggg
— Khobi Price (@khobi_price) August 31, 2021
King knows that Miami has to take shots downfield and is aware of what other QBs have done to have success against Alabama. Big plays will be critical for Miami to have a chance to pull off the upset as a 19.5 point underdog (according to WynnBet where you can make your pick now) against Alabama.
"“The teams that beat those guys, they usually move their quarterbacks…They throw the ball downfield and get extra yards with their legs. They have a really good defense.Everybody knows they have a really good defense but we just have to take our chances and take our shots and I have to play ball rather than stay in the pocket and hand the ball off.”"
Legendary Miami WR Santana Moss once said “big time players, step up in big games” which was originally attributable to former Hurricanes linebacker Rohan Marley. Against Alabama that will be truer than any game, the Miami Hurricanes are likely to play in 2021. Miami needs their big-time players to step up in a huge game.
King is the type of incomparable talent that any team needs to beat Alabama. King needs to be successful running and passing, the Hurricanes need to force and limit turnovers and create big plays on offense while limiting them defensively. How well King plays against Alabama could be the barometer for how well Miami competes.