OPINION: Miami’s Run Game Lacks Creativity Against Georgia Tech
As the Hurricanes are 4-1 heading to Chapel Hill this weekend, one constant positive you hear about the Canes all season is the depth and talent at the running back position. The Hurricanes have five running-backs (Parrish, Chaney, Allen, Fletcher and Johnson) who are each super talented in their own way, but I have to question are we maximizing them?
As a group between the five they have 1,022 yards on 174 carries for an average of 5.87 yards per tote. On the surface the numbers look good but I for one have to say I am disappointed in the lack of creativity in the run game, and have been for the last few seasons.
We have one run over 30 yards in five games and that’s Henry Parrish with a long of 37 yards. Last season, Parrish had a long of 24 while as a team we had one run over 30 yards as Jaylan Knighton did have a 56 yards burst. All of the talent and speed at the running-back position, you would think that you would be able to break a run for chunk yardage.
I don’t really know who to put the blame on. Shannon Dawson is a new offensive coordinator for the Canes this season and our third different OC in three years along with two different head coaches. The more things change, the run game seems to be the same though.
I am the first to admit that I don’t know all the blocking schemes on the line but on the surface it seems we just run the same old running play over and over. I am going to call a spade a spade and say I am tired of seeing us run up the centers butt crack everytime. We have speed guys, but we never give them a chance in space when we run between the guards and into a pile over and over.
I am not a fan of running out of shot gun in general but understand we have to live with it but is it to much to ask to get the ball outside the tackles on designed runs rather than having to get thru a series of bodies for any daylight?
What is everyone else’s thoughts, maybe I’m wrong but if I’m a running back with speed, I am not coming to Miami. I appreciate the blocking of the offensive line and the consistency our backs are able to produce this year with essentially no negative runs and almost six yards a carry but we need to give these guys the opportunity showcase their skills in space. This is equivalent to a basketball coach taking athletes and not giving them space, rather making them run the flex over and over. It’s kind of painful to watch on Saturdays when on Sundays we are able to see Mike McDaniel create space for the Dolphins to run in the open pasture. It’s like we treat every play as a 1 yard to go.
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
