Miami football needs more consistency from Cam Ward in 2024
The Miami football needs more consistency from quarterback Cam Ward in 2024 than he had with Washington State during the 2023 season. Ward was exceptional during the first four weeks of the 2023 season before but was not able to maintain the same level over the final eight games in 2023.
Ward completed 75.0 percent of his pass attempts for 1,393 yards with 16 touchdowns and no interceptions in his first four games during the 2023 season. Over the last eight games, Ward's completion percentage fell to 63.3 percent for 2,342 yards with 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Washington State began the 2023 season 4-0 with wins at Colorado State and versus Wisconsin, North Colorado and Oregon State. The Cougars averaged 45.75 points in their first four games in 2023. Washington State averaged 24.626 points per game during the final eight games of the 2023 season.
Washington State's fall culminated with seven losses in its final eight games. The fall of Washington State was precipitous. Washington State lost 25-17 at UCLA as the Bruins ended the Cougars' four game win streak to begin the season. A week later Arizona surprised Washington State 44-6 in Pullman.
In the last eight games of 2023, Ward had one game over 400 yards, three 300-yard games, two 200-yard games and two below 200 yards. Miami will provide Ward with a complementary running game that he did not have at Washington State. The Cougars finished 130th nationally in 2023 averaging 84.83 rushing yards per game in 2023.
Washington State ran for over 100 yards only four times during the 2023 season. The Cougars ran for 229 yards versus Northern Colorado and 106 versus Oregon State. Washington State ran for over 100 yards only twice in the final eight games. That included rushing for 127 yards in a 56-14 week 11 win over Colorado.
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Washington State ran for under 60 yards four times in the last eight weeks. Oregon State transfer running back Damien Martinez ran for over 100 yards six times in 2023. Miami ran for under 100 yards six times in 2023. Surrounded by more talent and a better offensive line in 2023, Ward and Martinez should both improve on their 2023 numbers.