The Miami football team should have success running at Texas A&M on Saturday night. Texas A&M is 84th allowing 144 rushing yards per game and 69th with opponents averaging 3.69 yards per carry. FCS Sam Houston State ran 27 times for 107 yards in a season-opening 31-0 loss to Texas A&M in the season opener.
Appalachian State had 52 carries for 181 yards and a touchdown versus Texas A&M. Starting running back Camerun Peoples had 19 carries for 112 yards for Appalachian State. Peoples had 17 carries for 95 yards and a TD versus Miami in 2021. The Hurricanes run a different defense than they did in 2021.
Miami has been much better running in 2022 than they were last season. The Hurricanes are 15th averaging 241 rushing yards per game. Miami had 42 carries for 305 yards and seven TDs in a 70-13 season-opening win over FCS Bethune-Cookman in the season opener. Miami has committed to the run in 2022.
The Miami football team had 47 carries for 177 yards and two TDs in the 30-7 win over Southern Mississippi last week. Henry Parrish leads Miami with 35 carries for 205 rushing yards and four TDs in the first two weeks. Thad Franklin has complemented Parrish with 21 carries for 135 yards and three TDs.
Texas A&M has not been good at getting into opponents’ backfields.
The Aggies are 84th with 10 tackles for loss
through the first two games. Texas A&M has been good at preventing opponents from big runs. The Aggies have allowed only five runs of 10 or more yards this season and only one of 20, 30 and 40 or more yards.
Miami has been methodical running this season. Offensive coordinator Josh Gattis stated earlier this week that he is comfortable taking three to four-yard gains if that is what the defense is allowing Miami. Miami is 35th nationally with 13 runs of 10 or more yards. The Hurricanes are 68th with only two runs of 20 plus yards.
Josh Gattis on what stood out from App State’s offense in its performance against Texas A&M:
— Luke Chaney (@luke_chaney4) September 12, 2022
“The biggest thing that stands out when you watch that game is time of possession … That’s a critical factor in games.”@AllHurricanes
Appalachian State gave Miami a blueprint on how to beat Texas A&M. The Mountaineers ran 82 plays to 38 for Texas A&M and held a 41:29 to 18:17 advantage in time of possession. Gattis also discussed the importance of time of possession. The new Miami offense is a huge departure from last season under Rhett Lashlee.
Miami strives for a physical, ball control offense this season. Under Lashlee, the goal was an up-tempo offense that would run as many plays as possible to tire out the defense. Miami has an experienced offensive line going up against a young but extremely talented Texas A&M front seven and particularly defensive line.
Including Peoples, three Appalachian State RBs had 11 or more carries. The Miami football team has the depth to accomplish that with Franklin, Jaylan Knighton and Parrish. Appalachian State was able to tire out the Texas A&M defense. A 48-yard run by Peoples on the final drive iced the game for Appalachian State.