ANALYSIS: Top 3 toughest defenses the Miami Hurricanes will face this season
ANALYSIS: Top 3 toughest offenses the Miami Hurricanes will face this season
Today we are breaking down the top three defenses the Miami Hurricanes will face this season. With new coordinator Shannon Dawson on board, these will be the programs that probably give him the most challenges.
TOUGHEST DEFENSES MIAMI WILL FACE
3. at NC STATE, Nov. 4
NC State is perhaps not yet on the radar of Miami fans in the same way as a Clemson, Florida State or Texas A&M. But don’t underestimate the Wolfpack, a team that’s won nine games three times in the last five seasons and has one of the best defenses UM will face this year. A sample of last year’s defensive stats for NC State: No. 19 in the nation in total defense (326.9 yards), No. 10 in rushing defense (100.7 yards), No. 12 in team passing efficiency defense (113.35), tied for 11th in scoring defense (19.2 points allowed per game) and No. 18 in third down conversion percentage defense (32.8 percent). So pretty much every meaningful stat you have on defense, the Wolfpack was in the nation’s top 20. And this year’s team has several key players returning. That includes LB Payton Wilson, who had 82 tackles, 12.5 TFL and 4.5 sacks, first-team All-ACC cornerback Aydan White (4 INTs, 9 PBU) and CB Shyheim Battle (2 INTs), along with defensive linemen Davin Vann 8 TFL, 4.5 sacks), Savion Jackson (3 TFL in 7 games) and C.J. Clark (3 sacks, 4 QB hurries). The major losses here are 2-time All-ACC DT Cory Durden (27 tackles, 2.5 TFL) and LBs Isaiah Moore (82 tackles, 15 QB hurries) and Drake Thomas (team high 101 tackles, 7.5 sacks). This team will sorely test Shannon Dawson and Miami’s offense.
2. vs. TEXAS A&M, Sept. 9
If you want to rate this list based on four and five star talent on the defensive side, Texas A&M would be right there at the top. This is a team that signed 15 four-stars and six five-stars on defense in just the last two cycles. Now, did this team struggle mightily last year when most expected a top 20 finish? For sure, going 5-7 like Miami. But the defense still held its own allowing 21.2 points (ranked No. 22 in the nation) and 365.0 yards per game (No. 51). The Aggies also were the nation’s No. 1 ranked defense in passing yards allowed last season (156.2 per game) and No. 7 in red zone defense (72.7 percent). There’s plenty of talent back up front in DEs Fadil Diggs (5 TFL, 3 sacks in 8 games) and Shemar Stewart (23 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 4 QB hurries) along with DTs Shemar Turner (4.5 TFL) and Walter Nolan (2.5 TFL). There’s no letup at the next level, with LB Chris Russell (66 tackles, 7 TFL) and LB Edgerrin Cooper (61 tackles, 8 TFL) returning. In the back end is where there are some question marks. The team gets back leading tackler Demani Richardson at safety (he had 73 tackles and an INT), but doesn’t have much back at corner off last season’s team and saw transfer portal departures from DBs Denver Harris (LSU), Smoke Bouie (Georgia), Marquis Groves-Killebrew (Louisville), Brian George (Houston) and Myles Jones (Duke). To help the team added CBs Sam McCall from FSU and Tony Grimes from UNC via the transfer portal, so that could shore up this group. An ESPN analysis shows the team has back 77 percent of its defense, and while the Aggies did lose some talent in the secondary there aren’t a lot of other obvious holes. The bottom line: This will be a very formidable D, with the team’s real question marks an offense that struggled last year.
1. vs. CLEMSON, Oct. 21
Perennial ACC favorite Clemson will look to be better than last year on offense, when the team ranked No. 47 in the nation in total offense and No. 29 in scoring offense. The defense? That should continue to be as dominating as usual. The group ranked No. 27 in the nation in total defense last year (334.4 yards), No. 12 in rushing defense (102.7 yards) and was one of the nation’s stingiest in third down conversions at No. 12 (47.6 percent). As you look under the hood there are some significant losses, but the sense is this team will just keep reloading. Up front key departures are DEs Myles Murphy (6.5 sacks) and KJ Henry (3.5 sacks) as well as DT Bryan Bresee (3.5 sacks), but there’s talent here in DE Xavier Thomas (2 sacks, was banged up), DE Justin Mascoll, DT Tyler Davis (9.5 TFL, 5.5 sacks) and DT Ruke Orhorhoro (8 TFL, 4 sacks). Davis is a three-time All-ACC pick, and Orhorhoro is an NFL level talent. All four are also seniors. At linebacker the returning talent is stellar with Barrett Carter (77 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 2 INTs), Jeremiah Trotter Jr. (team high 92 tackes, 6.5 sacks, 2 INTs) and Wade Woodaz (5.5 TFL). The loss at this level is Trenton Simpson to the NFL – he had 77 tackles and 2.5 sacks. In the back end? The team has everyone back and it’s expected to be one of the nation’s top secondaries. The returning starters are safeties Andrew Mukuba (50 tackles, 4 PBU) and Jalyn Phillips (82 tackles, 4 PBU) and CBs Nate Wiggins (12 PBU) and Sheridan Jones (31 tackles). This is a defense just stacked with talent and is going to be a major test for Shannon Dawson & Co.
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