Miami needs work on red zone offense versus Ball State
![Miami Hurricanes running back Mark Fletcher Jr. (4) celebrates after goes up and over for a touchdown during the season opener at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, August 31, 2024 against the University of Miami Hurricanes in the second half. Miami defeated the Gators 41-17. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_3205,h_1802,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2F200%2F01j7pfypknjhq5m2a6jb.jpg "Miami Hurricanes running back Mark Fletcher Jr. (4) celebrates after goes up and over for a touchdown during the season opener at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, August 31, 2024 against the University of Miami Hurricanes in the second half. Miami defeated the Gators 41-17. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]")
Miami is tied for 65th nationally scoring points in 85.17 percent of their red zone opportunities. The Hurricanes have scored points on 12 of their 14 trips into the red zone combined versus Florida and Florida A&M. One of the red zone trips was a kneeldown at the end of the game versus Florida.
If the kneel-down was taken out, Miami would be tied for 42nd converting 93.31 percent of their red zone trips for scores. Miami has eight touchdowns and four field goals in 14 red zone trips in 2024. The Hurricanes are 83rd converting 57.14 percent of their red zone trips into TDs.
Miami would move up to 75th in red zone TD percentage when taking the kneel down versus Florida out of the equation. Against Florida, Miami had five scores in six red zone trips. Miami was seven for eight in the red zone versus Florida A&M. Running back Mark Fletcher leads Miami with three redzone TDs.
Tight end Cam McCormick had a nine-yard TD reception versus Florida. Tight end Elijah Arroyo, running backs Chris Johnson and Jordan Lyle and quarterback Cam Ward scored red zone TDs versus FAMU. In its only game this season, Ball State allowed Missouri State to score TDs in all three of its red zone trips last week.
Miami will have a huge advantage upfront versus Ball State on Saturday. Expect Miami offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson to pound the ball in the red zone and potentially mix in some play-action passes in the red zone. Expect to see Fletcher when Miami gets inside the Ball State 10-yard line.
Fletcher had 10 and one-yard runs versus Florida and a four-yard TD run versus FAMU. All of Fletcher's carries this season have come on first or second down. Fletcher has nine carries for 50 yards on first down and three for 15 with all three TDs on second down. When Miami gets in short yardage on third down expect that to change,
Next. Cam Ward has turned Miami into big play offense. Cam Ward has turned Miami into big play offense. dark
Xavier Restrepo has been the clutch Miami receiver as expected. Restrepo has 11 receptions for 216 yards and two TDs with eight catches for first downs. Restrepo had a 24-yard TD reception versus Florida and a 50-yard score versus FAMU. Watch Restrepo in the red zone versus Ball State on Saturday.