The Miami Hurricanes are hiring Josh Gattis from Michigan as their offensive coordinator. Gattis was named the 2021 Frank Broyles Award winner as the best assistant coach in college football in 2021. Expect the Miami offense to be closer to the physicality Mario Cristobal wants than the uptempo spread Rhett Lashlee ran.
Michigan averaged 41.1 rushing plays per game in 2021 and 28.2 pass attempts. The Wolverines were 16th nationally averaging 35.8 points per game in 2021, Miami was 23rd at 35.1. Michigan was 24th averaging 443.1 total yards per game, 15th with 214.36 rushing yards per game and 68th in passing at 228.7 per game.
The Miami Hurricanes were almost inversed to Michigan offensively. The Hurricanes were 20th averaging 448.8 total yards per game, 97th averaging 127.67 rushing and 10th in passing averaging 321.1 yards per game. Miami averaged 38.7 pass attempts per game and 34.3 rushing attempts per game.
Michigan had more rushing attempts than passes in all but three games in 2021. In their loss to Georgia in the Orange Bowl, the Wolverines had to pass frequently after falling behind in a 34-11 defeat. In the first four games of 2021 Michigan had a huge imbalance in runs and passes.
Being on Mario Cristobal’s staff is a grind & some even shy away from it
— Josh Pate (@LateKickJosh) February 6, 2022
BUT Josh Gattis has worked for Saban & Jim Harbaugh - both of whom believe there are 25hrs in a day - so this could be a perfect fit
Michigan ran 185 times to 65 pass attempts in the first four games in 2021. Miami ran 149 times and attempted 143 passes in the first four games in 2021. With Tyler Van Dyke at quarterback and the talent the Miami Hurricanes have returning at wide receiver, expect the Hurricanes to have a greater balance.
One of the mentors for Gattis was Joe Moorhead who he worked under at Penn State. Moorhead was the OC at Oregon in 2021 under Cristobal. Oregon averaged 38.2 runs and 29.4 passes in 2021 with the offense led by Cristobal and Moorhead. Miami will likely commit more to the run in 2022.
Gattis showed his reverence for Cristobal and Oregon last season. After Oregon won at Ohio State, Gattis used that blueprint when Michigan defeated the Buckeyes 42-27 in Ann Arbor in November. Michigan ran for 297 yards and six touchdowns in the victory. Gattis spoke about the Buckeyes’ lack of toughness after the Michigan win.
"“They’re a finesse team, they’re not a tough team..And we knew that going into the game that we can out-physical them, we can out-tough and that was gonna be the key to the game, and that’s what we prepared for all year long..You saw earlier this year in the game they lost to Oregon, Oregon was the most physical team on the field. That’s the way they lost, and we committed to that recipe, and it paid off.”"
The uptempo spread offense Miami ran the past two seasons under Rhett Lashlee will also likely be changed. Miami averaged 73 plays per game in 2021, Michigan 69.3 and Oregon 67.6. Cristobal is clearly setting the culture he wants Miami to have offensively and defensively. Miami will be a more physical team than in the past.
Gattis has also been adept as a recruiter. The average rating for players Gattis has helped sign received 4.4 stars. Gattis was able to secure five-star signees at Alabama and Penn State. Cristobal has frequently repeated the importance of having a staff willing to work hard in recruiting. That showed with the 2022 Miami class.