Two of the areas the Hurricanes have no doubt focused on this week? Improving their efficiency in both the passing game and in the red zone.
While Miami (2-1) outgained Texas A&M 392-264, the Hurricanes had just three field goals from kicker Andy Borregales to show for it. Drives sputtered because of penalties and miscues.
Making things tougher was the fact the Hurricanes were without top receiver Xavier Restrepo, who is sidelined with a foot injury. Miami’s available receivers dropped a handful of quarterback Tyler Van Dyke’s passes.
Van Dyke finished the day 21 of 41 for 217 yards.
The Hurricanes know they have to be better on that front.
“We each have to focus on our execution. That’s the thing. That’s what it comes down to. It’s the little details,” said fifth-year senior tight end Will Mallory, who had a team-high 56 receiving yards against Texas A&M. “Every little bit is something that we have to really, really focus on. We have to improve on that. All of us feel we’ve got playmakers. We’ve got nothing but belief in everybody. We’re going to keep spreading that ball around.”
Said offensive coordinator Josh Gattis, “We’ve obviously got some deficiencies there from a depth standpoint, some challenges we’re facing. But we’ve got to be better. We’ve got to be better consistently. That’s across the board. That’s ball placement. That’s quarterbacks. That’s running backs. That’s tight ends. That’s receivers. Too many balls were on the ground. Too many open opportunities…Obviously, when you lose someone as important as Restrepo, he’s our leader, captain, there’s a significant difference in that room. We have to overcome it. There are no excuses. There’s challenges and we have to overcome it with opportunities for everyone.”
Miami’s defense, meanwhile, did a solid job of pressuring Aggies quarterback Max Johnson throughout the game, sacking him three times and hurrying him three more times.
The unit will look to do the same this week against a Middle Tennessee (2-1) offense that likes to move quickly and pass the ball.
Blue Raiders quarterback Chase Cunningham has completed 71.9 percent of his passes through Middle Tennessee’s first three games. That ranks 12th nationally. He’s also thrown for 592 yards and four touchdowns.
Running back Frank Peasant, meanwhile, has totaled 218 rushing yards and five touchdowns.
Both will pose their own unique challenges for Miami on Saturday.
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