Stakes are high for quarterbacks in Orange Bowl

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No. 9 Florida and No. 24 Virginia have arrived in Miami to prepare for the Orange Bowl. Virginia makes its second trip to Hard Rock Stadium this season while Florida ends the season the same way it began, on a neutral site.

“Seeing all of this, it makes you feel like that we are finally here,” UVA quarterback Bryce Perkins said. “All off-season we’ve been practicing and it feels like fall camp all over again. We’ve been anxious to get here and compete and after our loss in the ACC Championship, we’ve been eager to get back out and play football again.”

Being from Arizona, Perkins said the warm weather of South Florida, “feels like home.” There’s a lot at stake for the Cavaliers, as a win in the senior quarterback’s final game puts their total to 10. 

“Only one other team has reached 10 wins at UVA, so that kind of just frames it right there,” Perkins said. “Looking back to where coach Mendenhall first started to with six, then eight, then this year with nine wins, it speaks to the culture of this team.”

“It is an absolute tangible and realistic step for the advancement of our program,” UVA head coach Bronco Mendenhall said. “It’s a little surreal right now, but acknowledging the journey we’ve been on and how hard our players have worked, this is the next step for our program and we can’t wait to capitalize and do our very best.”

Perkins enters the game with 3,215 passing yards and 18 touchdowns against 11 interceptions on the season. Florida’s quarterback, Kyle Trask, has 2,636 yards and 24 touchdowns against six interceptions. Unlike Perkins, Trask didn’t begin the season as the Gators’ starting quarterback. He took over for the injured Felipe Franks in Sept. 14 against Kentucky and has not looked back.

Florida head coach Dan Mullen seems to have his quarterback situation set for a run in 2020 and whatever happens in the Orange Bowl could set the stage for next season.

“It can build a lot of momentum and a lot of confidence,” Mullen said. “For the team that’s why bowl games are huge. This year’s team gets one more game together, but there are a lot of guys on this year’s team that will also be on next year’s team. You play on December 30th and then you don’t have another game until September. You have a lot of off-season training, conditioning and developmental growth. You have 15 spring practices and 25 training camp practices before you play again. The momentum a bowl game and a bowl win can do for you builds yourself up through this huge developmental stage until you get on the field again.”

The Florida defense has their work cut out for them when trying to contain Perkins. He is not only the Cavaliers leading passer but also their leading rusher with 745 yards and 11 touchdowns.

“He runs he ball a lot, even more than their running backs, so that is a big key we are looking at,” Florida Defensive Back Donovan Stiner said.

Florida has the advantage but anything can happen in bowl season.

Miami Hurricanes: Offensive coordinator Dan Enos to part ways with program

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The Miami Hurricanes will be in the market for an offensive coordinator in 2020.

As the Miami Hurricanes take on the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs in the Independence bowl, news has come forth that Miami may have a new offensive coordinator come next season. According to a tweet from Tim Reynolds  of the Associated Press, offensive coordinator Dan Enos will part ways with the team following the game.

The offensive numbers hadn’t exactly been spectacular for Miami in the regular season. The Hurricanes struggled moving the ball at times. Miami  ranked 41st in the country in passing yards with 257.2 per game. They rushing attack ranked  120th in the country with 121.8 rushing yards per contest. They scored 27.8 points per game offensively. For comparisons sake, the defense allowed 20.8 points per contest.

To say that the offense hasn’t looked great over the past couple of weeks would be an understatement. At the time of publishing, Miami was scoreless in the Independence Bowl , trailing the Bulldogs by a 7-0 margin. The departure of Enos may give the Hurricanes an opportunity to find a fresh voice offensively. It will be intriguing to see who the new offensive coordinator will be in 2020.

 Dan Enos had success prior to Miami Hurricanes

This was Enos’ first season with the Hurricanes, as he joined Manny Diaz’s staff following the 2018 campaign. Prior to this, he served as the quarterbacks coach for Alabama. While there, he coached Tua Tagovailoa. Tagovailoa was extremely successful in 2018, throwing for 3,966 yards, 43 touchdowns, and only six interceptions. Starting all 15 games, he had a completion percentage of 69%.

Unfortunately, that success could never seem to translate this season. There was a ton of inconsistency and many peaks and valleys throughout the course of the season. A fresh voice may be able to help the Miami Hurricanes’ offense find an identity and give them a better chance to compete in what is a crowded Atlantic Coast Conference.

Adam Gase’s burner account is nothing short of extraordinary

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Adam Gase, or someone close to him, has been defending the Jets on Twitter.

This certainly goes under the category of something you don’t hear about every day. New York Jets head coach Adam Gase has been in the media recently. In the latest installment of the Adam Gase extravaganza, a report came out Wednesday that he has never cared about the criticism of the fans. His go-to motto is “I’m rich as f—k.”

Now, there is speculation that he has his own Twitter burner account. In what has been circulating around the Internet, the burner account is under the username of @Wyattv18. Gase has a son named Wyatt, who is seven. It is not likely that those are his tweets, but with modern technology anything is possible. I’m willing to bet it is Gase himself or at least someone involved with the organization. This all seems like too elaborate a scheme for any fan to conjure up.

If you look at some of the tweets that have been screenshotted, whoever this is has been vehemently defending Gase from the beginning. The screenshot that we took only showed a retweet from the New York Jets main account. Since we got the picture, the account has nothing on its profile. Apparently, whoever runs the account is finally come onto the fact that it has been discovered.

I am totally not shocked by this at all. This is such a New York Jets move. As the Jets sit at 6-9 and third place in the AFC East, I can’t blame anybody from the New York Jets for having a burner account. They certainly have a right to defend themselves from the criticism. Nevertheless, whoever created it certainly doesn’t realize that this is a bad look.

Such is a day in the Twitterverse. Hopefully, we’ll never have to see the day where Miami Dolphins burner accounts are created. We have already dealt with Adam Gase once. As this season has proved, it would be in the best interest of the Dolphins to never deal with him again

Miami Dolphins: Ryan Fitzpatrick has record-setting day in win

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The Miami Dolphins quarterback had a big day on Sunday.

The Miami Dolphins defeated the Cincinnati Bengals by a 38-35 score in what took five quarters of football to play. One of the major reasons Miami won on Sunday was the play of Ryan Fitzpatrick.

He has the nickname  Fitzmagic for a reason, and he showed why on Sunday. He went 31-of-52 on the day, throwing for 419 yards, four touchdowns, and an interception.

Fitzpatrick steps up right from the get-go

Fitzpatrick started his successful day early on. His pass to Christian Wilkins set the tone early, no matter how it looked. At the five minute mark in the first quarter, he threw a strike to Devante Parker for a seven-yard touchdown. That gave Miami a 14-0 lead.

Fitzpatrick would be silent until near the end of the second quarter. With 2:20 left in the quarter, he threw a pass to Mike Gesicki. Fitzpatrick and the tight end would find a connection twice in this game. A touchdown at the 8:24 mark in the third quarter would give Miami a 28-6 lead. Admittedly, that lead felt extremely safe at the time.

As the Bengals came roaring back, I wondered if Fitzpatrick would be able to keep up his level of play. He managed to do so, hanging in there and moving the ball downfield. The offensive line was a big part of that. Fitzpatrick was only sacked twice for a combined loss of 13 yards on the afternoon. It was great to see that unit be able to give him time in the pocket in order to get the job done.

Fitzpatrick put together a vintage performance

Sunday’s game was Ryan Fitzpatrick at his best. Just on the first drive alone, he got several wide receivers involved. Patrick Laird, Allen Hurns, Albert Wilson, and Christian Wilkins all recorded receptions to begin the game.

The reception by Wilkins was interesting to say the least. For those who didn’t see it, Fitzpatrick passed to Wilkins at the one-yard line where Wilkins was tackled. Wilkins fumbled the ball, got up and raced into the end zone to recover the ball for a touchdown. It wasn’t pretty, but it got the job done.

Any way you slice it, Fitzpatrick was able to get everyone involved on Sunday. This was a great game offensively for him. Whether you are pro-tank or anti-tank, there is no doubt that he makes this offense better. It will be interesting to see what he does against New England next Sunday. That defense will certainly present a formidable challenge.

Hurricanes Won’t Lose Independence Bowl…Right?

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The Hurricanes should win the Independence Bowl, right?

You would hope that the Miami Hurricanes would have learned their lesson.

After another long layoff they will close out a disappointing 2019 campaign December 26th, in the Walk-On’s Independence Bowl.

The Hurricanes (6-6) will face the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (9-3) from Conference USA, where they finished with a 6-3 mark.

Louisiana Tech has never beaten the Hurricanes in four previous matchups, could this Miami team be their first conquest?

 

We’ve Been Here Before

Miami has one prior trip to the Independence Bowl in 2014 under Al Golden. That team finished 6-6 during the regular season and entered the game on a three game losing streak.

Sound familiar?

Granted, this current Miami losing streak is only two games but those two should count for more.

The Hurricanes would lose the 2014 game to South Carolina 24-21 despite being the favorite.

This time around the Hurricanes are again the favorite and cannot afford another slow start which has doomed them repeatedly.

Miami was outscored 72-20 in their six losses, five of which were by single digits.

Diaz Must Have Team Prepared

The Hurricanes were dreadful after bye weeks, losing all three of their games after extended hiatus.

Including the FIU debacle.

Lack of preparation defined their season, and they will once again have to gain focus or the results will be similar.

Louisiana Tech averaged 34 points per game this season and should not be taken lightly.

The Bulldogs have an excellent quarterback in J’Mar Smith who threw for 2814 yards with 17 touchdowns against just four interceptions.

Smith shares the wealth as Louisiana Tech has three receivers with at least 500 receiving yards this season.

 

They are succeptable to the pass rush as they allowed 26 sacks (76th in NCAA) and only average 3.8 yards per carry on the ground.

Gregory Rousseau should be primed for a big day, along with Miami’s top-20 run defense.

 

Louisiana Tech has an opportunistic defense which had 15 interceptions, whoever starts at quarterback for Miami must make the easy plays.

The Hurricanes are not good enough to overcome a turnover deficit, we have seen that movie before.

Cam Harris should be a focal point of the running game against a Bulldogs defense that surrenders over 142 rushing yards per game.

Dan Enos has one more opportunity this season to prove he should get another year.

While Manny Diaz has to ensure his team comes out firing on all cylinders and does not overlook Louisiana Tech.

If Miami somehow manages to have another FIU-type performance and lose, the offseason in Coral Gables will be a rocky one.

The Independence Bowl can be seen on ESPN December 26th at 4PMEST.

 

 

Early Signing Period: How did the Hurricanes fare?

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Depending on who you ask, you’ll get differing opinions on the current state of  the Miami Hurricanes recruiting going into the Early Signing Period. Overall, Miami did a relatively good job of keeping the majority of their commits but the Canes were also on the shorter end of the stick of a few recruits on the fence. Altogether, 19 recruits faxed over their national letters of intent to Manny Diaz today. Let’s take a look and evaluate how Miami did by position.

 

Quarterback: B+

 

Signees: Tyler Van Dyke (Suffield Academy, Suffield, CT)

 

 

No drama here as Miami and QBs coach Dan Enos were able to lock in their guy back in April of this year and he never wavered. Tyler Van Dyke is a four-star prospect from Suffield, CT and the 6’4” 212 lb. QB committed after a secret visit to campus with his father. The 209th-ranked overall prospect has excellent size and poise when in the pocket and shows excellent accuracy. It would be no surprise if Van Dyke shows enough talent in practice to compete for a starting job next season. 

 

Running Back: A

 

Signees: Don Chaney (Belen Jesuit, Miami, FL), Jaylan Knighton (Deerfield Beach HS, Deerfield Beach, FL)

 

 

I’m giving the team an A with this coup of backs coming in not only because of the talent level but also because of the talent level considering the current depth on the team. Running backs coach Eric Hickson received Chaney’s commitment in February after only three weeks on the job and is considered a borderline four/five-star prospect throughout every recruiting service. Very well-built at 5’10” and 203 pounds, Chaney is a weight room freak and has the perfect combination of size and speed. On top of that, adding Knighton only makes the cake a little sweeter as Knighton finishes his high school career as the all-time leading rusher in Broward County history. You most likely will not find another school in the entire country that has a better group of running back signees. As of right now, Miami will be five-deep at tailback with Deejay Dallas (assuming he returns), Cam Harris, Lorenzo Lingard, Chaney, and Knighton. 

 

Wide Receiver: B

 

Signees: Michael Redding (IMG Academy, Bradenton, FL), Dazalin Worsham (Hewitt-Trussville, Trussville, AL), Xavier Restrepo (Deerfield Beach HS, Deerfield Beach, FL)

 

 

With Jeff Thomas announcing his decision to enter the draft as well as losing two other receivers to the transfer portal, Miami has some work to do in terms of rebuilding the depth at receiver and it seems like they did just that with this year’s class. Redding is an outstanding athlete at 6’2”, 200 pounds as the four-star prospect runs a 4.5 40 with a 41-inch vertical leap. Wide receivers coach Taylor Stubblefield was able to pry Daz Worsham away from Alabama and as a result, he gets a very productive receiver who graduates from Hewitt-Trussville High as the all-time leading receiver in school history. Restrepo wanted the Miami offer badly and he committed on the spot once he was given the go-ahead. He’s a very sneaky fast guy in the slot and plays with a chip on his shoulder. Would not surprise me if they utilize him in a comparable way to former UM receiver Braxton Berrios. 

 

Tight End: B

 

Signees: Dominic Mammerelli (Naples HS, Naples, FL)

 

 

Mammarelli has been a long-time commit of Miami, even before Manny Diaz took the reigns as head coach. The 13th best tight end in the country measures out at 6’4” and 235 pounds and should be in the mix for playing time next season. 

 

One name to keep an eye out for, whether he makes a decision by Friday (the last day of the Early Signing Period) or waits until February to announce his choice is five-star tight end Darnell Washington. Washington announced on Tuesday that he would not be signing on Wednesday and has been deliberating between Miami, Alabama, Tennessee, and Georgia with the odds swaying towards each of the schools at times. The Canes are pushing hard for 6’7” 261 pound giant from Las Vegas and a lot of credit goes to tight ends coach Stephen Field for keeping them in this race.

 

Offensive Line: C

 

Signees: Jalen Rivers (Oakleaf HS, Orange Park, FL), Chris Washington (Overton HS, Nashville, TN)

 

 

Miami is getting a very talented left tackle in Jalen Rivers, who has the ideal build and length at 6’6” and 330+ pounds and could very well compete for a starting position in the spring. Washington is considered a project at tackle, also with great size at 6’6”, and honestly, me calling him a project may be just a prediction when you consider that the same was said about Zion Nelson last year. The offensive line unit was probably the worst position group performance-wise this past season and even with Washington and Rivers coming in, there is still much to be desired. It would have been ideal to add more than just two bodies to a unit that is also lacking depth. Miami chasedafter Jacksonville-based guard Kobe Baynes but very late in the process and he opted to honor his commitment to Louisville. It is likely that Miami will re-evaluate their OL board and assess options that are still available as well as rummaging through the transfer portal.

 

Defensive Line: B+

 

Signees: Chantz Williams (Oakleaf HS, Orange Park, FL), Quentin Williams (Mallard Creek HS, Charlotte, NC), Elijah Roberts (Columbus HS, Miami, FL)

 

Unsigned Commits: Willie Moise (Chaminade-Madonna Prep, Hollywood, FL)

 

 

This is such a great haul for Miami at this position as Todd Stroud has plenty to work with next season. This group is headlined by Chantz Williams, who is ranked as the 4th-best weak side defensive end in the country and 77th overall. Williams had an excellent senior season and is considered an athletic freak, who has been clocked in at a 4.56 40 and an 6’8” wingspan at 6’3”. The same can be said about Quentin Williams, who was a great find out of Charlotte and is ranked as the 31st-best weak side defensive end in the country. Quentin had excellent testing numbers at The Opening in Charlotte in January, where was clocked in at a 4.8 40 with a 33.4 inch vertical. The four-star prospect Roberts most recently led his high school to a state championship and is a hometown kid who always preferred to stay home and play in Coral Gables. He’s extremely strong at 6’3”, 267 pounds and it seems like the plan is to move him to the inside at tackle, which is reminiscent of what Miami did with RJ McIntosh. Miami could look to add another DT in the next couple of months.

 

Miami did lose the commitment of Romell Height, who did indeed take a secret visit to Auburn this past weekend and signed with the Tigers as a result.

 

Must note that Willie Moise has been committed to Miami for a long time but due to grades, Moise will wait to sign in February. 

 

Linebacker: B

 

Signees: Corey Flagg (North Shore HS, Houston, TX), Tirek Austin-Cave (Camden HS, Camden, NJ)

 

 

The Canes are preparing for the loss of seniors Shaq Quarterman and Mike Pinckney after this season so it was imperative that linebackers coach Jonathan Patke had to re-up and reload at the position. Manny Diaz may have missed out on a big fish in five-star prospect Justin Flowe (Oregon), but they found a way to hold on to A tackling machine from Houston area , Flagg is ranked as the 38th best inside linebacker in the country according to the 247Sports Composite. Austin-Cave is a lengthy linebacker at 6’1” and plays very physical and knows how to navigate through traffic. Would it have been more ideal for Miami to add a 3rd linebacker? Maybe, and they would’ve had they added the services of Flowe or decided to keep Largo’s AJ Mathis, but luckily their position is more favorable than not with Zach McCloud and Avery Huff redshirting.

 

Cornerback: C

 

Signees: Marcus Clarke (Winter Park HS, Winter Park, FL)

 

 

Miami’s bringing in a speedy cornerback in Clarke from the Orlando area. Clarke should add depth to a unit that will possibly lose Trajan Bandy should he opt for the draft. However, outside of performance, this is a very similar situation compared to the offensive line, where depth could become a problem next season. If you do not include Clarke, the Canes could have as little as four scholarship cornerbacks on the team next season. Look for Miami to add another corner to close out the class.

 

Safety: B+

 

Signees: Keyshawn Washignton (South Dade HS, Homestead, FL), Jalen Harrell (Champagnat Catholic, Hialeah, FL), Brian Balom (Miramar HS, Miramar, FL)

 

 

Miami missed out on getting a third and final commitment from South Dade’s Jaiden Francois, who opted to attend Nebraska after a very strange signing ceremony in which he appeared to step out twice, causing delays. Nevertheless, safeties coach Ephraim Banda deserves a lot of credit for the group of safeties joining the team next year. Headlined by Harrell, the 6’2” 180 lb. long-ranged safety committed to Miami on Black Friday after decommitting from FSU in October. The 22nd-ranked safety country is a great addition to a now loaded safety room. Washington is also highly-regarded as a four-star prospect and played a big role on South Dade’s tenacious defense this past season. Balom is considered a project but the three-star prospect is not afraid to lay the hammer down by any means. 

 

The Canes are still after top safety Avantae Williams who recently decommitted from Oregon and will wait until February to sign. Miami’s chances are really good but they have to fend off Florida for his services. 

 

Overall: B

 

If it weren’t for the holes yet to be filled at offensive line and cornerback, the 17th-ranked class in the country could’ve very well been a B+, even without the possible additions of Darnell Washington and Avantae Williams. When you consider the team’s performance at this point in the season and the plethora of decommitments they’ve had, it is astounding to me that Diaz and his staff were still able to pull off a top-20 class with lots of talent. Miami only added to the depth at defensive end and the competition for playing time at running back next year will be very intense. We would be having a very different conversation if Miami did not lose to FIU and Duke and carried on the momentum that came about after the win at Doak Campbell. 

 

Just a reminder that this class may not be finished yet. Miami only signed 19 players, which means they will have six spots available and with the recent attrition that occurred during the season, the Canes should look to utilize all six. 

Related:

2019 Miami Hurricanes Football: Season of Missed Opportunities

 

2019 Miami Hurricanes Football: Season of Missed Opportunities

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To put it mildly, the 2019 Miami Hurricanes football team endured a tumultuous campaign.

Week after week a different uncertainty loomed.

Who will be quarterback?

Do we have a kicker?

Why does Dan Enos constantly throw to the short side of the field?

How can we beat Virginia but lose to FIU?

 

Many repetitive questions went unanswered and the doubt piled on.

The Hurricanes finished the regular season with a 6-6 record.

A perfectly balanced mediocrity sandwich, with some hints of flavor but mostly stale.

So how did we get here?

And where do we go?

Bookends Tell the Story

The 2019 season ended as it started, with a two game losing streak.

In his first season as Head Coach, Manny Diaz could never quite turn the corner and build momentum.

A 24-20 loss to Florida to open the year lent false hope of being competitive with the upper tier in college football.

Yet also showed how far Miami had to go as the offensive line allowed ten sacks and looked completely overmatched.

Miami would follow that close game with an embarrassing effort at North Carolina, the first of many ACC tragedies that played out this year.

Bubba Baxa missed short, crucial kicks in both games which would haunt the Hurricanes.

 

Jarren Williams was one of the few bright spots for the offense early as they struggled under offensive coordinator Dan Enos, whose system did not exactly mesh well early on.

Williams opened the year with seven touchdowns and no interceptions in his first four games before the wheels came off.

Miami would cruise to a no-contest win against Bethune Cookman for their first victory of the year, followed by a closer than it should be escape against Central Michigan.

ACC Hunt a Wild Goose Chase

Sitting at 2-2 and with the heart of the ACC slate on the horizon, the season still had plenty of promise and potential.

Which would evaporate like perspiration in the South Florida sun.

Williams was pulled from the Virginia Tech game even though none of his passes hit the ground.

Only problem was out of his seven attempts, his guys caught four while Virginia Tech intercepted three.

N’Kosi Perry would lead a near epic comeback which fell just short as Miami fell 42-35 in front of a shook Miami Gardens crowd.

Perry would tie a career high with four touchdowns and set a career mark with 422 yards through the air.

That game exemplified the struggles of the Hurricanes early in games. Virginia Tech jumped out to a 21 point lead in the first quarter which made Miami one dimensional.

Miami would only gain 94 yards on the ground and turned the ball over five times, themes which would continue as the year rolled on.

Somehow the Hurricanes would rally at home with Perry at the helm the next week, beating the eventual ACC Coastal champs Virginia 17-9.

The Hurricanes defense had an uneven year but the emergence of defensive end Gregory Rousseau is the main story.

Rousseau was mysteriously absent from the starting group early in the year but quickly became undeniable, finishing with 14 sacks and ACC Rookie of the Year honors.

 

While the defense was finding footing the offense was once again stagnant in a shocking 28-21 home loss against Georgia Tech.

Special teams would again prove fatal as Miami would have a chip shot field goal blocked which would have won the game late.

The Yellow Jackets would also score on a fake punt and a fumble recovery, proving the Hurricanes could be creative when giving games away to lesser opponents.

Return of Williams Stops the Bleeding

After the Georgia Tech game Miami sat at 1-3 in ACC play before they would finally go on to find some sustained success, winning three straight.

A 16-12 thriller at Pitt would mark the return of Williams to the starting quarterback job and the best stretch of football during the season.

Winning at Florida State is never easy, no matter the records. Miami put forth a suffocating effort on defense and cruised to their most convincing win to that point 27-10 and were riding high when they returned home to face Louisville.

Against the Cardinals, the Hurricanes would put up their most complete performance of the season in a 52-27 dismantling. Williams would set a school record with six touchdowns and the Hurricanes had a season high three-game winning streak heading into a seemingly easy victory the following week.

Butch Davis and FIU Ruin the Hurricanes

Miami had managed to turn their season around and reached bowl eligibility at 6-4, with games against FIU and Duke to close out the regular season.

Like previous underdogs, FIU stole the thunder early and had the Hurricanes on the ropes from jump street.

Butch Davis was twisting the knife and his defense engaged in some gamesmanship to slow down Williams and the offense.

 

On the site of the old Orange Bowl, Marlins Park, the ghosts of the past haunted the Hurricanes once again.

The last time Miami played in the Orange Bowl they were shutout by Virginia 48-0.

This could have been worse.

A game like this has little plausible explanation, other than a severe lack of preparation and composure.

There was no rebounding from the FIU game as Miami would lay one more egg to close out the year, a 27-17 humbling experience at Duke.

Williams and Perry would share the misery in that one as Miami finished the regular season as it began.

Few Bright Spots on Offense

The bad far outweighed the good for the 2019 Miami Hurricanes, but there were several players that emerged and made real contributions.

Before being injured for the season against FIU, running back DeeJay Dallas was having a solid season despite a severe lack of carries.

Dallas finished with a team high 693 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. In his relief Cam Harris stepped in and played very well, finishing with 545 yards and five touchdowns.

Tight end Brevin Jordan led the Hurricanes with 495 receiving yards, while senior receiver KJ Osborn led the team with his 45 receptions and five touchdowns, he was also second on the team with 491 receiving yards.

The Buffalo transfer was a key addition and an excellent leader with his tough play. Miami spread the wealth through the air as 11 players caught at least one touchdown pass.

Wil Mallory came on late and led the team in receiving yards in each of the last two games, unfortunately his impact was limited for most of the season prior.

Numbers Tell the Story

A major downfall for the Miami offense was their lack of success on third down. The Hurricanes finished dead last in the FBS, converting just 26.4% of their attempts on the money down.

Part of that could be the poor offensive line play, or the shuffling of quarterbacks. Williams led the team in passing yards in the first four games and the final four, while Perry was on top during the middle third.

Neither could take a firm grasp on the job despite intermittent stretches of excellent play.

Miami was 120th in FBS converting red zone opportunities and left points on the field almost every week.

Only three teams gave up more sacks than Miami’s 47, the offense was unable to find rhythm or sustain any type of continuity for long.

All but one of their losses was by single digits, this season was defined by missed opportunities.

The Hurricanes were outscored 72-20 in the first quarter of those losses, showing they simply did not come out ready time and time again.

Although they had lapses, the defense was by far the best group on the team. Miami allowed a respectable 197.9 passing yards per game (22nd FBS) and an even better ranking against the rush, finishing 16th allowing just 109.7 yards per game.

Unfortunately as the season wore on the lack of offensive success took a toll, Miami could not run the football with any consistency and finished 120th in FBS with just 121.8 yards rushing per game.

Combine that with a lack of third down conversions and the defense simply could not hold. The Hurricanes scored 17 or fewer points four times, yet managed to win three of those games thanks in large part to the defense.

So, now What?

After all is said and done, the Hurricanes still have a bowl game to play.

 

Miami will face Louisiana Tech in the Independence Bowl on Dec. 26th, in Shreveport Louisiana naturally.

No matter the result, the Hurricanes will finish off a disappointing 2019 season searching for answers.

Dan Enos is undoubtedly on the hot seat, his offense simply did not put the skill players in position to succeed.

The offensive line will need to be upgraded and who knows who will be under center in the spring.

Manny Diaz must take a look inward and make some tough decisions in both his coaching staff and roster.

Another highly ranked recruiting class is likely, but the development and deployment of those players will be key.

Diaz must quickly seize control of a program in purgatory, or another lackluster season will follow.

Photo courtesy of Tony Capobianco.

DeVante Parker took flight for seven catches for 159 yards against the Eagles. (Tony Capobianco for Five Reasons Sports)

Dolphins sign WR DeVante Parker to four-year contract extension

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The Miami Dolphins have agreed to a four-year contract extension with WR DeVante Parker, worth an estimated $80-Million through 2023.

2019 has been an up-and-down season for the Miami Dolphins. But truth is, this year is about evaluating the roster–and trying to decide which players fit the chemical makeup of what Flores wants from his players. Today we found out one player that fits the new culture in Miami.

DeVante Parker, the first-round WR that many experts, analysts, and fans deemed a bust after his first four seasons, has seen quite the transformation with this new coaching staff. So much so, that he was rewarded with a nice contract extension a short time ago.

According to the Miami Dolphins official website, Parker has signed a contract extension through the 2023 season.

Parker, 26, is having the best season of his young NFL career. This season, Parker has recorded 55 receptions for 882 yards and 6 touchdowns. Though the details of his new contract are not 100% public, Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald reported Parker will cost $8M in 2020 and $10M in 2021, before the Dolphins are forced to make a decision on their star wide receiver. One quick glance around the NFL, and this seems like a great signing for an ascending WR.

DVP’s biggest game of the year came in Week 13 vs the Philadelphia Eagles when he had his way with the Eagles’ secondary.

 

Hopefully, we get to see more of this from DeVante Parker for many, many years to come.

 

This article was written by Josh Houtz (@houtz) who believes the DeVante Parker extension is very good tbqh 

 

 

DeVante Parker was missed by the Dolphins against the Jets

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Wide receiver DeVante Parker has reached another level in 2019. Miami’s offense felt the void left by the fifth-year receiver after he suffered a concussion early in Sunday’s 22-21 loss to the New York Jets.

The Dolphins lacked a clear target that could push the offense into the end zone. They had drives stall at the 21, 13, 16, and twice at the 19. While kicker Jason Sanders finished the day with seven made field goals on eight attempts, finding the end zone once could’ve been the difference for Miami.

The offense lost traction after losing both DeVante Parker and Albert Wilson to concussions. Parker had only two receptions for 28 yards before exiting the game.

It was also the first time since Oct. 13 that Parker was held beneath 50 yards. 

“It definitely made it a little bit difficult,” quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said postgame about losing both Parker and Wilson. “We had guys out there hobbled and giving everything they had. I was proud to be in the huddle with those guys. I know there’s a lot of stuff people won’t see or don’t really care to write about, but there were some guys that really gutted it out today. It was tough sledding in the second half from communications and lining up for us just because of some of the injuries we had.”

The Dolphins entered action on Sunday as one of the league’s strongest teams inside the red zone. Parker helped Miami score with touchdown grabs of 17 and 43 against the Eagles in week 13.

Keep in mind, DeVante Parker has spent most of the season playing at an elite level. 

Mike Gesicki then caught a touchdown from 14 yards out after the defense turned its attention to Parker. The Dolphins tried to go back to Gesicki after Parker left the game on Sunday, but the second-year tight end finished with just one reception on six targets for just six yards.

Isaiah Ford stepped in and had career highs in both receptions (6) and yards (92). With that in mind, the Dolphins lacked a player with a nose for the end zone.

“He’s a guy that has done a great job of despite not being on the active roster,” offensive coordinator Chad O’Shea said of Ford. “He’s a conceptual learner, so he can line up anywhere and that happened in the game. He basically lined up at several different spots in the game. He did a good job of getting some other guys lined up, helping ‘Fitz’ (Ryan Fitzpatrick) in the huddle.”

The Dolphins are excited to see Ford finding himself a role on the team. However, they’re hoping to get both Parker and Wilson back sooner rather than later. Both were still in concussion protocol as of Wednesday morning.

Dolphins fans are hoping Hawaiian born Tua Tagovailoa will be their quarterback next season. (Tony Capobianco for Five Reasons Sports)

Dolphins latest Tankathon Mock Draft is PERFECTION

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If Chris Grier and his staff could emulate this latest 3-round mock draft from Tankathon, Dolphins fans everywhere would be over-the-moon excited!

The Miami Dolphins are now 3-10 and where they will pick in April’s draft is still very much undecided.

However, one thing we are very certain of is that the Dolphins need a complete overhaul of the roster. As of now, Miami has glaring holes at QB, RB, OL, DL, DB, SAF, and everything in between. And although mock drafts remain the flavor of the moment, very few have left fans satisfied. That is until now.

There is plenty of speculation on whether or not the Miami Dolphins will take the chance on Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa. And although most of the fanbase is divided, for a team that desperately needs a quarterback the answer could not be easier.

In the latest Tankathon three-round mock draft, the Dolphins do what each and every fan hopes they do come draft night.

Let’s take a look at what I believe to be one of the best three round-mock drafts in the world.

First Round

Despite his season-ending injury, Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa is still at the top of many fan’s draft boards. And although he himself has said he might never be the same, the reward is far greater than the risk. And although many teams could remove him from their draft board altogether, the Dolphins have several draft picks to play with. So, as long as Miami’s doctors don’t make a similar mistake as they did in the Daunte Culpepper/Drew Brees fiasco– they should finally get their QB of the future.

With the fourth-pick in the 2020 NFL draft, the Miami Dolphins select–Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama

Despite his gruesome hip injury, Tagovailoa remains the favorite to land in Miami. After all, his skill-set is perfect for Chad O’Shea’s offense, and many believe owner Stephen Ross and his minions have been enamored by the young QB for several years. In 2019, Tagovailoa completed 180/252 passes for 2,840 yards, 33 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. And if you ask anyone, there was a very good chance he would’ve been one of the Heisman finalists if he never got hurt. Of course, there’s still a chance Tua decides to return to school. But after Utah State QB Jordan Love reportedly received a favorable grade from the draft committee, one would expect Tagovailoa to receive an even better one. And if he does declare, there’s a team and fanbase, in South Florida anxiously awaiting his arrival.

Fortunately, Miami made several moves at the beginning of the 2019 season that has set them up to do as they please in April’s draft. However, with each passing week, those two picks are looking a lot later than many had hoped. Both Pittsburgh and Houston are very much alive and well in the playoff picture. And if the Dolphins decide to stay put, they will currently be drafting back-to-back in round one.

There should be plenty of talent available in the latter part of the first round. In Tankathon’s latest mock draft, the Dolphins get an EDGE defender that would fit nicely in Flores defense. Yeteur Gross-Matos, the 6’5 262 lbs. pass-rusher from Penn State has been nearly unstoppable this season. And for a team that desperately needs anything resembling a pass-rush, this would be the perfect pick at #22. Next, the Dolphins get one of the best offensive linemen in the 2020 draft at #23 with Alabama’s Jedrick Willis. Willis would be the perfect tackle to help protect the blindside of Tagovailoa, his former Crimson Tide teammate.

Tagovailoa, Gross-Matos, and Willis would be an A+ first round for Chris Grier and his staff.

Second Round

There is no team in the NFL worse at running the football than the Dolphins. And although Patrick Laird is starting to emerge as a nice piece to the puzzle, they will still draft an RB in April. With the first of their second-round picks, Miami selects Georgia RB D’Andre Swift. In 2019, Swift carried the ball 195 times for 1,216 yards and 7 touchdowns. The explosive back would be the perfect thunder to Laird’s lightning.

Later in round two, Miami lands yet another premier offensive lineman in Oklahoma’s Creed Humphrey. The addition of both Humphrey and Willis would not only make Tagovailoa and Swift very happy. And will help solve a problem the Dolphins have struggled to fix for years.

Third Round

Lastly, in round three Miami adds a defensive back to their secondary. Jaylon Johnson, the 6’0 shutdown CB from Utah would be the perfect addition for Josh Boyer, who has consistently got the most out of his unit. The Dolphins need more depth in the secondary and Johnson fits what Flores and his staff covet. The perfect ending, to the perfect three-round mock draft.

This will change many more times between now and April 23, 2020. With that said, how do you feel with Tankathon’s latest mock draft?

Josh Houtz (@houtz) is a die-hard fan of the Miami Dolphins, and all he wants for Christmas is TUA #Tankovailoa