Film Review: Miami Hurricanes 77 – FAMU Rattlers 7

The Miami Hurricanes move to 2-0 after drubbing the FAMU Rattlers 77-7 on Thursday night at Hard Rock Stadium. I predicted Miami by 40+ and clearly that was an easy take.

Diatribe coming, skip ahead: I greatly appreciate what the FCS games do for the FCS athletic departments, essentially the payoff keeps the schools afloat for the year, however these games need to be recalibrated. I was bored halfway through the first quarter and went to sleep at halftime.

My suggestion is to move these games to Week Zero, treat it like a preseason game ie. it doesn’t count, and still pay the teams the fee to come and play. That would give FSU a chance to check their light system, and everyone else a chance to simulate the game day experience with a lower ticket price while still being televised. The fact that your season ticket package includes this boring game, in addition to Central Michigan, would feel like robbery to me. OK- DIATRIBE OVER.

The Canyonero Keys to Victory main theme was to drive over a team ranked in the 200’s in SP+ and throw it in reverse and back over them again. Miami did just that and we’re all ready to move on to real opponents now. The three keys were:

1- Don’t get cocky, stick to the plan. Miami pounded the rock three times on the opening drive and it was capped by a Mark Fletcher TD. The ‘Canes plan was to get the run game going and the Darian Mensah to his receivers connection fresh. It worked.

2- Win the kicking game. There wasn’t a whole lot to the kicking game to see, but Malachi Toney had a nice punt return early on and the kickers went 11-for-11 on PAT’s. Miami did not punt, nor return a kick.

3- Jimmy’s and Joe’s. FAMU having a backup QB and center in didn’t help, but they were out classed in every way as it was. Their bodies don’t look like FCS bodies and it showed on the field with Fletcher, Toney and Josh Moore running away from them easily early on.

The Miami Hurricanes offense was only 1-of-4 on money downs against FAMU. Scoring 77 points while only seeing three 3rd down attempts all night is a WILD stat line. The ‘Canes held FAMU to 1-of-14 on their 3rd down attempts as the Rattlers were defanged (I had to) by Corey Hetherman’s defense.

The ‘Canes were only flagged one time for 5 yards which is a solid showing for a Mario Cristobal squad that’s normally sloppy about penalties. FAMU was flagged six times for 54 yards.

A Miami walk-on was stripped of the ball on a bubble screen and FAMU returned it for a touchdown to break the shutout.

The Miami kickers were perfect on PAT’s and weren’t forced to settle for a FG so I count that as a win. Jake Weinberg as looked solid as the new kicker for The U.

What can you say about the Miami offense except that Shannon Dawson has now blown apart two cupcakes in consecutive weeks. Mensah finished with 16.8 yards per pass attempt and three touchdowns. Luke Nickel, the backup, averaged 18.0 yards per attempt with three TD’s as well. Dereon Coleman got in but only averaged 5.0 yards per attempt surrounded by walk-ons.

Javion Mallory led the backs with 142 yards on 10 carries and two scores. Fletcher averaged 15 yards per carry with two TD’s as well. Girard Pringle Jr. had a sensational TD run in the red zone, and Marty Brown thumped his way for 8.3 yards per carry.

Josh Moore only caught one ball but it was for a 55-yard TD from Mensah. Moore was one of six ‘Canes to hit the double-digit yards per catch mark vs. FAMU. Six different Hurricanes also caught a TD pass in the game, including Toney who had another ridiculous grab for a 1st down.

The Miami offensive line pitched a sack party shutout vs. FAMU and allowed only one TFL on the night.

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Above- SJ Alofaituli had a much better game and it’s not just the level of competition. I’m looking at his tactical and technical side not the end result. Instead of looking down and shoulder shivering he kept his chest square and eyes up. He comes off of his combo blocks to the 2nd level much more effectively.

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Above– As your TE gets ran over your WR springs this huge run with his downfield blocking. Toney’s blocking and Fletcher showing a little spark create this TD on wide zone.

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Above– FAMU’s defense is a solid FCS squad but they’re no match for Miami’s offense. Beautiful, clean pocket for Mensah on the Josh Moore deep ball TD.

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Above– McCoy got OUT THERE running wide zone blocking and the TE Gavin Mueller got his hands on a little DB and didn’t let up. I like seeing Buchanan looking back for something to pick up as well.

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Above– SJ with another chest forward, eyes up combo to 2nd level. This one isn’t on him. Elija Lofton never closes the gap and his only job is to seal off that gap and keep the overhang from making the play on Duo. He actually shoves the defender into the play.

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Above– Mensah is about to get destroyed and Brown comes in with a full head of steam throwing his body in there for his QB. This is why someone that’s less athletic than say Lyle or Pringle will always get on the field for Cristobal- HE CAN BLOCK IN PASS PRO.

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Above– I like some of the wrinkles Dawson flashed on Thursday night. A counter run with a slide RPO off of it. Look at the FAMU defender’s posture, he’s DONE FOR. This is to Pringle who I liked seeing get involved in different ways. Dude’s a ballerina out there.

The defense faced the FAMU backup QB and center and while Nickel and Woodrow would’ve pulled off a win vs. the Rattlers, the Rattlers weren’t going to power through vs. the ‘Canes. FAMU QB’s averaged only 2.7 yards per attempt, but did not commit a turnover- a weird sign for Miami’s defense.

The FAMU run game (including sacks) averaged only 1.8 yards per carry. Miami’s defense logged two sacks, four TFL’s and four PBU’s on the night.

FAMU connected with only five receivers for 6.4 yards per catch and a 16 yard long. It was a dismal night for the Rattlers offense.

The Miami defense’s two sacks came from Marquis Lightfoot and Herbert Scroggins III. The four TFL’s came from Lightfoot, Scroggins, Ezekiel Marcelin Jr. and Jaelen Waters.

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Above– I liked what I saw from Marcelin (17). Blount plays the Q perfectly on speed option and Marcelin cuts under the block for a sure tackle. He was one of the better tacklers vs. FAMU for Miami.

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Above– The ‘square button’ diving has come back for Miami. Guys are diving around all over the ground versus staying on their feet and running to a play.

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Above– If you saw this and I told you this isn’t a tackle you’d never believe me. 17 is the one who makes the tackle in the end (although a smidge high on the shoulder pads vs. thighs). Hetherman needs to get the boys to do some real tackling work this week before Wake Forest.

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Above– Of course Toure is out of position on this spot route. No pressure on the FAMU QB even remotely getting there in time, either.

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Above– The D finally got home against a mid level FCS program.

Not a whole heck of a lot can be learned from this contest. It was good to see Nickel come in and get PT as well as Coleman. Cristobal is much more comfortable with his team, and his staff than he was even back to 2024 re getting young guys valuable PT in games.

I’m a little worried that the Miami defense has zero turnovers, three sacks and only six TFL’s in two games against cupcake teams. If you want to win the big one you have to dominate the turnover margin game.

BUT- much more will be learned from the road trip to Winston-Salem against Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons are 1-0 after a win over Akron and will be a much tougher out than Stanford and certainly than FAMU. Miami should easily start 4-0 before facing Clemson.