Josh Gattis expected to take Miami football to next level offensively

Mike Farrell of Rivals.Com expects new offensive coordinator Josh Gattis to take the offense for the Miami football program to the next level. Gattis was hired as the Hurricanes new OC earlier this week. On his way out from Michigan, Gattis made it clear he felt underappreciated with the Wolverines.

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh interviewed for the same position with the Minnesota Vikings. Gattis and Michigan running backs coach Mike Hart were two of the reported potential candidates if Harbaugh had been offered to become the head coach of the Vikings. Miami will slightly modify its style under Gattis.

The Hurricanes were an uptempo spread offense in 2021 that frequently struggled in the run. With Mario Cristobal as head coach, Gattis as the OC and Alex Mirabal as the offensive line coach, Miami is expected to become more physical in 2022. Cristobal will lead a Miami recruiting effort expected to upgrade the Hurricanes roster.

Gattis is expected to work well with the talent Miami has returning offensively. That begins with quarterback Tyler Van Dyke. Cristobal and Gattis fit well together as they emphasize physical teams that strive for an equal balance between pass and run offensively. Miami passed on 52.9 percent of their offensive plays in 2021.

"2. Josh Gattis can take Miami to the next level on offense.Farrell’s Take: FACT. This was a surprising move and apparently a result of Jim Harbaugh’s decision to interview for the Minnesota Vikings job.As Harbaugh was rumored to be a lock for the NFL, internally assistant coach Mike Hart was apparently getting more consideration as a replacement than Josh Gattis, the Broyles Award winner as the best assistant in the country in 2021.Whatever the real reason, the timing certainly makes you believe that Harbaugh’s intention to leave (he was apparently not offered the job in Minnesota) has led to consequences that benefit Miami and hurt Michigan.Gattis led this team to more than 35 points per game in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year and without a marquee quarterback. He will be a great fit with the talent Miami will recruit under Mario Cristobal."

Gattis joins an elite staff being built by Cristobal. Cristobal has also hired defensive coordinator Kevin Steele and defensive backs coach Jahmile Addae in the last week. Gattis is also expected to coach wide receivers. That would leave open the QBs coach for the Miami football program. Gattis was previously a Co-OC at Alabama.

Michigan was 16th in 2021 in scoring offense and 24th averaging 443.1 total yards per game. Miami was 23rd averaging 34.1 PPG and 20th averaging 448.8 YPG. Gattis will have a deep RB corps in 2022 and will have to develop the WRs. The Miami offense will have time to develop in the first two games of the 2022 season.