Miami D may be fast, but can it tackle anybody?
Published: 9/30/2009 8:09 AM
Last Modified: 9/30/2009 8:09 AM
There's so much talk about Miami's team speed that I halfway believe Oklahoma is playing at Land Shark Raceway Saturday night. I expect the Hurricanes to take the field with those mimi-parachutes fastened to their backs. It's crazy.
Here's a thought: Does it matter how fast the Hurricanes are if they can't do what they're supposed to once they get where they're going? Consider their defense, and something Manny Navarro wrote in the Miami Herald this week while pondering whether Sam Bradford will return Saturday night:
"It doesn't matter who is throwing the ball if the Hurricanes defense doesn't turn things around quickly. Nationally, UM ranks 85th in scoring defense (27.33 ppg) among 119 FBS teams, 86th against run (159 ypg), and 89th in passing effeciency defense. They haven't been getting to the quarterback (4 sacks in 3 games) or creating turnovers (two fumble recoveries and one interception) either. But the biggest problem? Tackling."
By one account, the Hurricanes missed 17 tackles in their 31-7 loss to Virginia Tech last weekend. Linebacker Colin McCarthy said that 163 of the Hokies' 272 rushing yards came after contact. Navarro reported that the day-after film session was designed the make the Canes "sick to their stomachs as much was it was to teach them a lesson."
"He wasn't playing around," cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke said of defensive coordinator John Lovett. "He wanted us to chew on what we did against Virginia Tech and make sure we get that taste out of our mouths."
-- Guerin Emig
Written by
Guerin Emig
Sports Writer
