The Miami starting offensive line with an average weight of 329 pounds will play against a South Florida defensive line with an average weight of 272.5 pounds on Saturday. With a 56.5 pound weight advantage, Miami should be able to assert its will against South Florida on the line of scrimmage offensively.
Max Chadwick and Dalton Wasserman of Pro Football Focus extensively examined the edge Miami will have on the line of scrimmage over South Florida in their preview of the game earlier this week. South Florida had trouble creating pressure from their front four in an 18-16 win over Florida in week two.
Florida averaged 4.5 yards per rush when adjusted for sack yardage lost and held South Florida to one sack for a loss of one yard. Chadwick and Wasserman mentioned that despite Florida earning their highest-ever PFF pass blocking grade, quarterback D.J. Lagway did not complete a deep ball versus South Florida.
Per Wasserman, Lagway was under pressure only three times versus South Florida. In their preview of South Florida at Miami, Chadwick and Wasserman mentioned all three pressures for South Florida in their win over Florida came from blitzers. None of the pressures for USF versus Florida were from a DL.
Chadwick and Wasserman questioned if South Florida can get more pressure on Miami quarterback Carson Beck than they did on Lagway. Lagway, who is far more mobile than Beck, had six carries for nine yards versus South Florida. The Bulls made Lagway one-dimensional.
Lagway did not complete a deep ball against South Florida per PFF, but he had four completions of at least 20 yards. South Florida is 89th nationally, allowing seven completions of at least 20 yards through week two. Lagway completed 23 passes in 33 attempts for 222 yards one touchdown and one interception.
Wasserman stated Beck is a singles hitter and Lagway a HR hitter. Since 2023 the only QBs with higher passer grades with a clean pocket than Carson Beck are Jaxson Dart, Shedeur Sanders, Caleb Williams, Cam Ward and Jayden Daniels. Ward and Williams were the top pick in the NFL Draft and Daniels was second.
Wasserman expects Beck to be the difference in the game and keep the Miami offense moving. Miami is seventh nationally, allowing 2.5 tackles per loss per game and 58th with opponents averaging 1.5 sacks per game. Miami is 52nd nationally, averaging 4.9 yards per carry.
South Florida is 57th nationally, averaging 6.0 TFLs, 106th posting 1.0 sack per game; and 72nd, with opponents rushing for 3.7 YPC. Miami should dominate at the line of scrimmage. Expect Beck to take what South Florida gives him and for Miami to have a good game on the ground.