Miami Football 2023 Stats: The Good, and the The Bad
The new calendar in college football is unforgiving. As soon as the season ends, the transfer portal is humming. Now, a month after the loss to Rutgers in New York, there’s finally some time to exhale and reflect on the 2023 Miami football season.
Mario Cristobal led the Hurricanes to a 7-6 record, culminating with a postseason loss. Fans are left wanting more, and rightfully so. Miami improved in various aspects from the year prior, yet still left too much meat on the bone. Let’s dissect where specifically Miami excelled and where they came up short by taking a closer look at the numbers.
The Good
Offense
— The advanced offensive stats are some of the best we’ve ever seen at Miami. The Hurricanes finished 31.46 in points per game.
— The offense’s efficiency numbers are great because Miami was explosive (at some times).
— The Miami offensive line allowed only 16 sacks, tied for the second-fewest in the ACC, a year after they gave up more sacks than any other Power Five program with 36.
— Xavier Restrepo had a career year with the Miami Hurricanes in 2023. He set the program’s single-season receptions record with 85 catches. He eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark, hauling in 1,092 receiving yards.
Defense
— UM gave up 89.2 rushing yards per outing. That number was good enough to rank first in the Conference. A closer look depicts a unit that did register a high number of QB sacks (30). In fact, the Canes finished the season ranked 11th in the nation for sacks. Miami intercepted 12 passes and recorded 13 forced fumbles.
— Four-star signee Rueben Bain was outstanding as a true freshman in 2023 playing over 500 defensive snaps and becoming a full-time starter at outside tackle. The Miami (FL.) Miami Central product led the defensive line in sacks (8) Bains tape against Clemson, Virginia, and Rutgers flashes big-time potential as a pass rusher and the young player is already stout against the run in multiple playing spots along the defensive line
— The Hurricanes allowed 255.3 passing YPG versus winning teams and 190.3 against non-winning teams in 2022.
The Bad
Offense
— The passing game was inefficient, leading to a myriad of problems. Miami was 50.79% passing the success rate.
Shannon Dawson´s 2023 offense finished the season converting 67 of 163 attempts on third down. When Cristobal needed to extend drives, close out games, stretch a lead, and even play from behind; his offense frequently did not answered the call.
— Xavier Restrepo was targeted 122 times, but only caught 85 passes.
— And the worst one overall, the clock management.
Defense
I did not see much mistakes on the defensive side of the ball, but Miamidoesneed to clean of the lack of tackling in the secondary position.
Trinton is the owner of CanesToday. He writes for all sports, with a focus on football and recruiting, he is a freshman in high school and wants to graduate from the University of Miami
