Miami football run defense challenge versus improving UVA offense
The Miami football team enters its game versus Virginia on Saturday with the top run defense in the ACC allowing 79.57 rushing yards per game. After struggling through its first five games, Virginia has run for over 200 yards in each of its last two games. The Miami run defense will be challenged by Virginia.
Virginia is second in the ACC in October averaging 224.50 rushing yards per game. The run defense for the Miami football team is third in the ACC in October allowing 121.6 rushing yards per game. Running backs Mike Hollins, Parris Jones and Kobe Pace and quarterback Tony Muskett are all capable runners.
Jones is third in the ACC averaging 100.5 rushing yards per game in October, Pace is 17th at 56.5 and Muskett is 25th at 25.0. Miami has to account for Muskett as a ball carrier. Jones had 67 rushing yards and Hollins and Muskett each had 66 as Virginia ran 54 times for 228 yards in their upset over North Carolina last week.
After allowing a season-high 235 yards rushing on 43 carries versus North Carolina two weeks ago, Miami got back on track versus Clemson. Against arguably the best backfield in the ACC, Miami held Clemson to 34 carries for 31 rushing yards. Virginia is not nearly as talented at running back as Clemson is.
Canes DC Lance Guidry explains his adjustment to go with a 3-3-5 look against Clemson, as opposed to his usual 4-2-5 base. Miami’s defense stifled Clemson’s run game all night. pic.twitter.com/Sa9RlzTBTf
— CanesInSight (@CanesInSight) October 24, 2023
The Miami football team has held every team except North Carolina under 100 rushing yards this season. Omarion Hampton of North Carolina could be the best RB Miami plays against in 2023. Hampton ran 23 times for 197 yards and a touchdown versus Miami two weeks ago.
Jones leads Virginia with 302 yards rushing and Pace has 241 yards. The key for Miami defeating Virginia will be to stop the run and make the Cavaliers one-dimensional. Clemson was only able to move offensively by passing last week. Miami was able to rush the passer and record 10 tackles for loss and five sacks versus Clemson.
dark. Next. Miami has huge line of scrimmage advantage versus Virginia
If Miami can accomplish the same game plan against Virginia as they did against Clemson, the Hurricanes should have success. Virginia is 12th in the ACC allowing 52 tackles for loss and 24 sacks. The Cavaliers are sixth in the ACC allowing 5.5 TFLs and ninth with opponents averaging three sacks in October.