This game is going to sting for quite a while for Miami fans. Not since the 2002 season had the Hurricanes played for a national title. Sadly, they came up one possession short of winning it all vs. to-seeded Indiana. Although the worst play of the game from Carson Beck sealed Miami's fate, it was a pair of miscues on special teams that really sunk the Canes. Danny Kalter may need to go after this...
Kalter may be a South Florida native. He may have gone to the University of Miami before spending three years as a graduate assistant from 2017 to 2019. Although Kalter bleeds The U through and through, his crucial third phase of the game is what did the Hurricanes in. Whether it was Carter Davis' 50-yard missed field goal near halftime, or Dylan Joyce's blocked punt for a touchdown, it was all bad.
We are talking about a combined 10-point swing between the final score of 27-21 Hoosiers to what could have been a 24-20 Hurricanes victory... No, Cristobal is probably not going to fire Kalter after the worst game of his coaching career. That being said, Cristobal had been buoyed by his two star coordinators all season long in Shannon Dawson on offense and Corey Hetherman over on defense.
Let's be honest with ourselves. When both of the miscues occurred, we knew they would matter later.
Danny Kalter's special teams unit let Miami Hurricanes down massively
Throughout the last decade or so, Miami has been a bastion for sound special teams play. It was a point of emphasis under Mark Richt, his successor Manny Diaz, and now Cristobal. Even when the team was not playing up to its lofty standard, this was an area of regular strength for the program. After Monday night's brutal home loss to Indiana, you have to wonder if that still holds true for The U.
Yes, Davis' missed field goal was a 50-yard try. It is a tall ask for any specialist to make that kick at any level, especially in a situation like the one at hand on Monday night. However, this game was at home for Miami. The Hurricanes had a distinct advantage when it came to understanding how the field of play could work for or against them at Hard Rock Stadium. Davis' doink was such an unexpected thud.
And for the blocked punt, this is why coaching matters. This is the seminal play of the game where you kind of knew Indiana was going to figure out a way to win it. Pinned deep in their own territory, Kalter and Miami opted to go with an Australian style punt near their end zone. A tremendously well-coached Indiana team used that to its advantage. Joyce held onto the ball too long, and there you go.
In the end, Indiana executed better for long than Miami did. The more well-coached team won, not the most talented one... So when people may argue that being hypercritical of Kalter's unit is a bit much, get your head around this. Special teams is all about focus, determination, and execution. Miami just did not have it in crucial spots on Monday night. It had to be perfect to beat Indiana, and it was not...
Beck's final interception in Miami uniform may have ended the game, but special teams lost it earlier.