The Miami Hurricanes need a break.
After playing for eight consecutive weeks and facing a schedule that includes three teams ranked this week among the nation’s 11 best, the Hurricanes are worn out — physically and mentally.
UM (4-4, 3-2 ACC) will be off until Nov. 1 when it meets Virginia Tech in a Thursday night home game that could well decide the ACC’s Coastal Division championship.
The bye week couldn’t come at a better time. The youthful Hurricanes are reeling after enduring their third consecutive loss on Saturday night, a 33-20 defeat to rival Florida State at Sun Life Stadium.
“It’s critical,” UM coach Al Golden said following the FSU game. “We’re hanging on by a thread. We need time off. Brutal schedule, eight weeks in a row, young team. We need time off.”
It’s unknown if the bye will be enough time for the return of freshman running back Duke Johnson, who left Saturday’s game in the third quarter after sustaining a foot injury and did not return. Golden said Sunday he had no “update” regarding Johnson or the seriousness of the injury except to say it was not the turf toe that bothered the fleet-footed tailback the week before against North Carolina.
Regardless of whether Johnson is ready to play against the Hokies, the extended time between games will allow coaches an opportunity to fix an offense that has sputtered since scoring 44 points against North Carolina State. Miami has combined for only 37 points the past three weeks.
Virtually everyone on UM’s offense has struggled recently, including quarterback Stephen Morris, who started against Florida State despite not practicing all week because of a left ankle sprain sustained against North Carolina.
Morris completed 25 of 43 passes for 223 yards and one touchdown, but fumbled and threw an interception. He’s thrown for 579 yards and one touchdown in his last three games after setting a school record against N.C. State with 566 passing yards and five touchdowns.
Golden said Sunday that “we all appreciate the leadership and effort (Morris) provided” against FSU and said the blame for the recent offensive troubles didn’t rest with the quarterback.
“We have to do a better job catching the ball and a better job protecting (Morris),” Golden said. “He was hit too many times last night to have a good percentage. (And) we’ve had too many drops. It’s not just a function of Stephen, it’s a function of our offense right now.”
Defensively, the Hurricanes played better. But Golden said “we have a long way to go before we start using phrases like ‘turn the corner.’ ”
Despite their losing streak, the Hurricanes can still capture the Coastal Division if they win their remaining three conference games beginning next week against Virginia Tech.
But before their attention turns to the Hokies, Golden will give his players a couple days off to rest their weary bodies and psyches.
“We can definitely use a break,” freshman defensive end Tyriq McCord said.
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