Through its first five games this season, the University of Miami’s offense was scoring enough points to make up for a defense that may be the worst in the program’s history.
But since registering a 44-37 victory against North Carolina State on Sept. 29, the Hurricanes (4-4, 3-2 ACC) have scored a combined 37 points in losses to Notre Dame, North Carolina and Florida State.
The explosive plays that were common earlier in the season have gone missing. Two of the team’s biggest playmakers — tailback Duke Johnson and receiver Phillip Dorsett — are running cold.
Even quarterback Stephen Morris, who thrilled UM fans passing for a school-record 566 yards and five touchdowns in the last-minute win over N.C. State, hasn’t been himself. In his last three games, Morris is completing only 53 percent (55 of 104) of his passes and has thrown more interceptions (3) than touchdowns (1). His lone touchdown pass came during garbage time of last Saturday’s 33-20 loss to FSU.
“We haven’t been as explosive the last three weeks for a variety of reasons,” coach Al Golden said. “No. 1 we’re playing really good defenses, and No. 2 we haven’t connected like we had been. We have to get settled in here and get back to business.”
The sooner the better. The Hurricanes face Virginia Tech (4-4, 2-2) at Sun Life Stadium on Thursday night with the loser all but falling out of the Coastal Division race.
The lack of a consistent running game has been part of the offensive stagnation. When UM can’t run, it loses. In each of the Hurricanes’ four defeats, the rushing attack has failed to crack 100 yards. Last Saturday against the Seminoles, UM generated a season-low 29 rushing yards on 21 carries.
Johnson, the electrifying freshman who made a splashy career debut against Boston College by rushing for 135 yards and two long touchdowns, has seen his production plummet in recent games. Bothered by turf toe and an undisclosed foot injury he sustained against Florida State, Johnson has been limited to 135 yards on 43 carries in his last four games. That’s as many yards as he had in the season opener against Boston College on just seven carries.
Part of the problem for UM’s running woes are the schedule. Three of the opponents — Kansas State, Notre Dame and FSU — that held the Hurricanes under 100 yards rank among the nation’s top 15 in rushing defense. The fourth — N.C. State — is No. 35.
“I don’t think there’s any question we have to get more production from the ground game,” Golden said. “We have to do a better job regardless of who the competition is.”
While Johnson’s drop-off is partly attributable to injuries, there are no such excuses for Dorsett’s slump. The 5-foot-9, 187-pound sophomore enjoyed two of the biggest receiving days in UM history in September, starting with a nine-catch, 184-yard afternoon at Georgia Tech followed by a seven-reception, 191-yard performance against N.C. State that included a game-winning 62-yard touchdown catch with 29 seconds remaining.
But Dorsett Dorsett has only six receptions for 54 yards during UM’s three-game losing streak. He also infamously dropped a pair of passes against Notre Dame that would have resulted in UM touchdowns.
The Hurricanes’ other receivers haven’t been able to take up the big-play slack for Dorsett.
“We have to do a better job as a staff making sure he gets his touches because he is explosive and he has shown the ability to make plays,” Golden said.
After a fast start, Morris hasn’t played at his early-season level either. He’s thrown for 579 yards during UM’s losing streak, barely more than he compiled in the N.C. State game.
“Really just need to get everybody on the same page,” Morris said of what will fix UM’s offensive sluggishness. “(Offensive coordinator Jedd) Fisch’s offense is a great offense – explosive, it’s fast and it’s physical.”
But lately, not very productive.
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