Mario Cristobal Oregon offenses were run oriented

The offenses at Oregon under Mario Cristobal were run-oriented. In all four seasons under Cristobal, the Ducks averaged more runs than passes. In 2021, Oregon is averaging 38.6 rushing attempts and 28.5 passes per game in 2021. Cristobal has a clear identity he wants his teams to have.

During the first season under Mario Cristobal in 2018, Oregon averaged 40.5 rushing attempts and 32.1 passes per game. Oregon became a bit more balanced in 2019. The Ducks ran 36.1 times per game to 31.8 pass attempts. In 2020, Oregon averaged 33,9 rushing attempts and 27.3 passes per game.

As a former offensive lineman, Mario Cristobal wants his teams to be tough at the line of scrimmage. Under former offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee, Miami was a good to elite passing team the last two years but was inconsistent running. Miami was also much better in pass blocking than for the run in 2021.

Miami was able to supplement their passing game in 2020 with D’Eriq King at quarterback. When King was lost for the season in September, Tyler Van Dyke was elevated to starter. Van Dyke is a more traditional pro-style passer who can run when needed. Miami will be in transition on offense in 2022.

Van Dyke returns, but Miami loses wide receivers, Mike Harley and Charleston Rambo. Lashlee left to become the head coach at SMU. The Lashlee offense is a power spread. It is clear from the numbers from Oregon that Cristobal likes power football. Cristobal discussed it in his introductory press conference.

"“(Cristobal wants his teams to be known for) “Resilience, toughness, physicality. We want to make sure the program here is always a program you can be proud of for the right reasons… (with a) relentless effort. I’m going to invest every ounce of my existence to make sure we get to a level we need to get to.”"

In an interview with The Athletic in July asked about the explosive offenses that Oregon had under Chip Kelly and Mark Helfrich versus physical, run-first pro-style offenses, Cristobal said“We want to combine the two (philosophies).” Miami’s current starting running back Jaylan Knighton is ideal for the spread,

Miami struggled significantly in short-yardage in 2021 with Knighton getting nearly all the carries for most of the season. Miami was 107th nationally with a stuff rate of 21.2 percent. Oregon led the country in stuff rate in 2021. The Ducks had only 9.7 percent of their runs go for one or two yards.

Cristobal is going to have to find the balance he professes to want to combine. Thad Franklin who is bigger and more of an inside runner than Knighton received more playing time late in the season. Franklin helped Miami close out wins against Virginia Tech and Duke with 15 carries for 81 yards and a touchdown in the two games.

Van Dyke returning at QB with Knighton as an explosive receiver out of the backfield and young and talented WR corps Miami will be at its best as the explosive offense it often was in 2021. Who Cristobal hires as offensive coordinator to replace Lashlee will be critical for the style Miami plays in 2022.