We all knew that playing Alabama week one would be a tough game, but the Miami Hurricanes could never have expected to be blown out by 31 in Atlanta. Nick Saban showed us why he is arguably the greatest coach in college football history, as the Tide rolled through the Canes to the tune of a 44-13 victory in the neutral site game.
While the scoreline and the overall gameplay of the Miami Hurricanes is cause for concern, we do not need to worry as much as we think. In good news, both North Carolina and Clemson, both top ten teams, went down in their week one matchups as well.
This puts the Miami Hurricanes on a somewhat even playing field as the other top ACC teams moving forward. Miami takes on UNC in Chapel Hill on October 16 in a game that will have major implications for both squads. There were, although few, some positives to take away from this game for the Canes.
Offensively, D’Eriq King looked solid in his first game back from his ACL injury that he suffered in December. King went 23-30 with 179 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. The Hurricanes QB had some good-looking throws and led a strong drive at the end of the first half.
The Borregales tradition continues, as @Borregales_andy knocks down his first college kick. 👀🔥 pic.twitter.com/Mhxjqt4GN5
— 305 Sports (@305Sportss) September 4, 2021
At the end of that drive, Andres Borregales kicked a field goal, the first of his college career, another positive note for Miami. Borregales nailed another field goal towards the end of the third quarter. Lou Hedley also had a good day, averaging 47.2 yards per punt. Defensively this was not a game to remember Miami.
Miami could not stop the Alabama offense and quarterback Bryce Young. Young became the first Crimson Tide QB to throw four touchdown passes in his first career start. It was an impressive beginning for the five-star recruit who backed up Mac Jones a year ago.
Manny Diaz has a lot of work to do with the defense moving forward. Miami allowed 344 yards in the air to Young as well as giving up five yards per carry to running backs, Brian Robinson Jr. and Trey Sanders. The Canes’ five leading tacklers were defensive backs which says a lot about the weakness the team has at linebacker.
The defense also had just one sack from freshman Chantz Williams. Diaz’s defense is going to have to get to the quarterback moving forward to help take pressure off of the defensive backs. On the other side, King was sacked four times and the constant pressure made life hard for the Miami quarterback.
This is a game that you need to take with a grain of salt. Alabama is one of the best teams in the nation year in and year out. Young was a five-star recruit out of high school, and it was clear that he is the real deal for the Crimson Tide.
This was by far the toughest game that Miami will play all year as Alabama looks like title contenders once again. Moving forward, the team should look to build off of their strong special teams play, a unit that Miami knew would be strong coming into the year.
The offense had some good plays and after all, the Hurricanes QB is coming off of major knee surgery that he suffered less than nine months ago. It was a poor opening week for the ACC, something that is going to help Miami in the long run.
This conference (well at least the ACC Coastal because Clemson will certainly bounce back) is still very wide open and the Canes have a very good chance to bounce back and have a successful season.