Lance Guidry run defense remains elite with Miami football
Mario Cristobal hired Lance Guidry as the defensive coordinator after he led Marshall to the fourth-best defense against the run in 2022 allowing 93.00 yards per game. Miami is currently eighth nationally allowing 60.33 rushing yards per game. The Miami football team is 10th nationally allowing 2.33 rushing yards per carry.
Miami began the season holding Miami (Ohio) to 51 yards on 25 carries. Texas A&M ran 29 times for 97 yards and Bethune-Cookman was held to 33 yards on 30 carries. Those numbers include the seven sacks Miami has recorded for 49 yards. Without the sacks Miami has allowed 230 rushing yards on 77 carries.
Taking the sacks out, Miami still allows an elite 2.98 rushing yards per carry. Miami would still rank 15th nationally allowing 76.67 rushing yards per game when the sack totals are taken out. The Hurricanes would rank 33rd in yards per carry allowed when the sack totals are taken out. Miami is trending up defensively.
The one number thing the Miami football team could improve on is the three rushing touchdowns allowed. Miami ranks 48th nationally in that category. Texas A&M scored two rushing TDs against Miami that came after extremely short fields. The rushing TD by Bethune-Cookman and one by Texas A&M came by quarterbacks.
Lance Guidry is up now.
— Adam Lichtenstein (@ABLichtenstein) September 18, 2023
On UM's run defense: "Right now, we're ranked high. I know it was a big question mark going in. ... I think we tackle well. Thats why we stop the run."
Miami should continue to have success stopping the run on Saturday at Temple. The Owls are 86th averaging 139.67 rushing yards per game. Temple is 60th averaging a semi-respectable 4.51 yards per carry. The Owls’ numbers are extremely bloated after running for 290 yards on 41 carries versus FCS Norfolk State on Saturday.
In their two games versus FBS opponents, Temple is 120th averaging 64.50 rushing yards per game. Temple is 114th averaging 2.48 yards per carry against FBS opponents. Louisville who is 18th nationally versus FBS opponents averaging 205.50 rushing yards per carry is the best run offense Miami will play.
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Mario Cristobal told Joe Rose on WQAM on Monday he expects defensive linemen Akheem Mesidor, Branson Deen, and Nyjalik Kelly to be back soon. With Deen, Mesidor and Kelly out, freshman edge rusher Jayden Wayne was the Miami co-leader with four tackles. Freshman Rueben Bain started with Kelly and Mesidor out.