The Hurricanes are in line for a College Football Playoff spot largely thanks to their elite offense, which ranks first in the nation in points per game. The defense, however, has lagged behind.
The defensive struggles caught up to Miami as Georgia Tech gouged the Hurricanes for more than 270 rushing yards, handing UM its first loss of the year.
Fortunately for the Hurricanes, a bye week followed the road loss, giving defensive coordinator Lance Guidry an extra week to correct issues as Miami works to clinch a spot in the ACC title game and secure its playoff destiny. UM hosts Wake Forest at noon on Saturday (ESPN).
“We’re just doing what we’re doing: communication and execution,” defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. said. “That’s really it. That’s how we spent the whole bye week working on.”
Guidry attributed Georgia Tech’s success on offense to both UM’s struggles and the Yellow Jackets’ plan to attack Miami’s defense.
“It was a little bit of everything,” Guidry said. “A little bit of scheme. I thought they had a really good plan. You can tell they used their open week wisely. So they did a good job, and we didn’t do some things well. We didn’t adjust like we needed to. I didn’t adjust like I needed to. It’s a little bit of everybody.”
Communication was a common theme for Guidry and defensive players during the bye week. Coach Mario Cristobal also cited getting aligned correctly.
“I feel like it was just communication,” defensive back Daryl Porter Jr. said. “We have four new dudes on the back end from last year, so we’re just trying to mold together and try to fix the communication aspect on the back end.”
“I feel like we’re going to be much better this week,” Porter added.
Those communication issues showed in the most egregious way when Miami surrendered a third-and-18 pass to Georgia Tech, extending a crucial drive that led to the difference-making touchdown.
In order to fix those communication issues, Guidry said the coaches emphasized talking more and signaling back and forth with players.
“Make sure you overcommunicate,” Guidry said. “Sometimes you communicate things, but if they don’t give you a signal back, you really don’t know if they got it or not. So just some of those things, we’ve got to a better job as coaches, making sure we implement those things.”
Fortunately for Miami, the Hurricanes’ defense could also be getting some reinforcements soon. Cornerback Damari Brown, who has been out of commission since the season opener against Florida, and defensive lineman Elijah Alston, who has missed four games, could return to the field as soon as this weekend.
Alston would help improve the Hurricanes’ defensive line rotation. He has been solid in pass coverage when dropping back, giving up one catch on one target on 31 coverage snaps.
“That’s the strong part of our defense, the D-line in particular,” Bain said. “We can rotate guys in and out all game, no matter what spot it’s at.”
Brown’s return could not come at a better time. Miami is 50th in the nation in pass defense, and the Hurricanes will face Syracuse, the second-best passing offense in the conference, in their regular-season finale on Nov. 30.
“I feel like everybody knows he’s a big leader on our team that can give us an extra spark,” Porter said. “It’s been lovely having him back, seeing him get back in the groove. I feel like he’s going to be a big part of this defense.”
