Miami football run defense advantage over Texas AM offense
The Miami run defense has a big advantage over the Texas A&M offense entering their game on Saturday night at Kyle Field. Miami ranks 15th allowing 58.5 rushing yards per game. Texas A&M is 114th averaging 98.5 rushing yards per game. The Miami football team has improved running and stopping the run in 2022.
Mario Cristobal placed an emphasis on improving play on the line of scrimmage in 2022. Five of the 12 transfers Miami added to the 2022 roster are on the defensive line. At 6’6, 300 pounds, defensive tackle Darrell Jackson has helped Miami improve against the run in 2022. Jackson has been the best Miami interior defender.
Jackson provides Miami with a needed space eater on the interior of the DL. Mitchell Agude and Akheem Mesidor helped add experience at edge rusher as transfers and Jacob Lichtenstein and Antonio Moultrie have given Miami versatility from two upperclassmen. The Miami DL was ranked seventh nationally in the preseason.
Devon Achane has had the majority of the carries for Texas A&M this season. Achane has 28 carries for 108 yards and two touchdowns in the first two Texas A&M games this season. Texas A&M has given carries to only two other running backs this season. Quarterback Haynes King has 14 carries for 52 yards in 2022.
After starting the first two games in 2022, King has been benched in favor of Max Johnson on Saturday. Johnson is not as much of a threat to run as King. Texas A&M is 81st averaging 3.98 yards per carry in 2022. The Aggies have also had difficulty generating big runs. Texas A&M is 107th with six runs of 10 or more yards.
The Aggies have just two runs of 20 or more yards and one of 30 or more yards. The Miami football team has done an exceptional job of limiting big running plays. That included stopping Frank Gore Jr. of Southern Mississippi who had 189 rushing yards in the Golden Eagles’ season-opening loss to Liberty.
The Miami defense has allowed five runs of 10 or more yards and one of 20 or more yards. The hire of Kevin Steele and Charlie Strong as the co-defensive coordinators for the Miami football team has thus far significantly improved the Hurricanes’ defense which has been on a steady decline for a few years.
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The switch from King to Johnson should significantly improve the passing game for Texas A&M. Even with Johnson at QB expect Steele and Strong to make Johnson beat them. Texas A&M has not proven it can generate a consistent run game. Achane has only three runs of 10 plus yards and one of 20 or more this season.