That the Hurricanes (9-0, 5-0 ACC) have adapted that mindset and allowed it to drive them even after all the success they’ve had so far this season is a testament, head coach Mario Cristobal says, to the team’s work ethic and willingness to be coached and challenged.
After last week’s comeback win over Duke, the Hurricanes watched a series of plays that Cristobal said highlighted Miami’s “culture and physicality.”
They also watched plays where those two elements were lacking, and both sets of clips were equally important.
“I think we got a really good dose of reality and some very, I would say, enthusiastic, diligent, driven approach to get better,” Cristobal said. “That’s where our guys are right now.”
Miami will have its next opportunity to put together another complete performance against an upset-minded Yellow Jackets (5-4, 3-2) team that will try to create yet another hostile road environment and could be bolstered by the return of quarterback Haynes King.
Haynes was injured in Georgia Tech’s 41-34 win over North Carolina on Oct. 12 and did not play in the Yellow Jackets’ losses to Notre Dame and Virginia Tech. And while his status for Saturday’s game remains unclear, Yellow Jackets coach Brent Key announced this week that King, who has thrown for 1,568 yards and eight touchdowns and rushed for another 353 yards and six touchdowns, would be one of Tech’s captains on Saturday.
If he is on the field, the Hurricanes know he’ll provide a challenge.
“He’s a really good player,” Cristobal said. “Haynes King and that offense is really good. Yards per play, they’re up there. Some of the tops in the country. They are really good at generating chunk plays. They protect him really well. … They certainly do a great job, also, of getting him loose. I mean, he’s a really good runner as well and he’s got explosive playmakers. So, watching a guy like that play, you’ve got understand that you making them one dimensional isn’t necessarily the answer because he could chuck around all over the place, too. You just have to prepare for a lot. And he’s surrounded with a great supporting cast and his offensive line is one of the most experienced in the entire country.”
Miami will counter with a standout quarterback and effective offense of its own.
Last week, Ward helped the Hurricanes engineer their third double-digit comeback win of the season and the signal caller now stands just one touchdown pass away…
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