Miami football will work on situational plays during Saturday scrimmage

Speaking to reporters after practice on Thursday, head coach Mario Cristobal stated the Miami football team will work on third downs, red zone, short yardage, goal line and potentially a two-minute drill during the first scrimmage of August training camp on Saturday as trans by Christy Cabrera Chirinos of MiamiHurricanes.Com.

With running back Damien Martinez and wide receiver Sam Brown transferring to Miami after spring practice, this will be the first scrimmage the Hurricanes will have with them and quarterback Cam Ward together. Brown and Martinez are projected starters for Miami in 2024.

Miami should be significantly improved in situational football in 2024 with Brown, Martinez and Ward on the roster, Miami should improve significantly in situational football in 2024. Ward has the ability to be a playmaker with his arm or feet. Martinez is a bruising and explosive back. Brown provides Miami with a third 800-yard receiver.

Miami finished 52nd nationally in 2024 converting 41.10 of their third downs. Miami drops to 63rd versus FBS opponents converting 38.96 percent of its third-down conversations. In ACC games Miami was fourth converting 39.13 percent of their third down conversions.

"Playing ball, flat-out playing ball. Halfway through, we will go back to...situational football: third down, red zone, short yardage, goal line..maybe a two-minute [drill], one or two shots of it. But the first part will be just playing football. As you can see, referees are out here...Helps us a bunch.

I think every day is graded like a game. You know, we go from drill to drill. We grade one-on-ones. We grade two-on-twos. We grade five-on-fours. And they know that every single day, for us to be the team we want to be, we’ve got to treat it like a game."

- Mario Cristobal

Miami finished 38th nationally, holding opponents to 35.80 percent on third down. Against FBS opponents, Miami was even better, holding opponents to 34.97 percent on third downs. That was 31st nationally. With a deep group of edge rushers, Miami should be even better on third downs defensively in 2024.

Miami needs to significantly improve its Redzone offense in 2024. The Hurricanes tied for 66th converting only 84.62 percent of its red zone trips into scores. Miami was 90th with touchdowns on only 57.69 percent of its redzone appearances and 37th with field goals on 26.92 percent

Defensively Miami was 104th nationally allowing opponents to score on 87.5 percent of their red zone trips. Miami did hold opponents to TDs on 54.17 percent of their trips. That was 33rd. Miami was 125th nationally allowing opponents to convert 33.33 percent of their red zone trips into field goals.

Miami should be significantly improved in short-yardage and goal situations with a bigger and deeper defensive line in 2024. Transfer defensive tackles Simeon Barrow from Michigan State, C.J. Clark from North Carolina State and Marley Cook from Middle Tennessee State give Miami experienced players on the defensive interior.

Ward running the two-minute drill is also critical. Ward's ability to improvise when plays break down is critical for Miami in 2024. Brown, Jacolby George, Isaiah Horton and Xavier Restrepo provide Miami with a deep-receiving corps to work with. Miami should be significantly improved offensively in situational football in 2024.