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The Good, The Bad, The Ugly: North Carolina Edition

What went right, what went wrong, and everything in between Vs the Tar Heels. Plus team grades.

By Jerry Steinberg
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

I don't think the defending champion FSU Seminoles worry too much about anyone on their schedule.

I also do not think any of the pundits, myself included, can call that 11/15 match-up on the horizon between the 'Noles and 'Canes a given anymore.

Not when Miami plays the way they played today.

With an abundance of good vibes filling up Sun Life Stadium, the Hurricanes obliterated North Carolina today.

Let's break it all down:

The Good

  • This is a pregame banner I can support!

  • This was nice to hear, albeit you would hope for a more packed house for the occasion (we were told it was a late arriving crowd).

  • Russell Maryland and Jerome Brown (RIP) the 16th and 17th members of the Miami Hurricanes Ring of Fame. Well deserved!
  • Congrats to Duke Johnson for another milestone.

  • Second straight week a blitz effectively ends the opponents 1st drive.  Overall the defensive game planning remained aggressive.  This unit seems to thrive on getting in opponents faces.  UNC's Qb Marquise Williams often appeared to be rattled and confused.

  • Freshman Trevor Darling at RT (first start) and Jon Feliciano at LT (filling in for Ereck Flowers, shifted from RT) - held up well, especially in the run game.  Fellow frosh Nick Linder continues to impress at LG.... And speaking of good blocking... 

  • After a 14 yarder to Clive Walford put Miami up 16-7.

& another.......

  • The middle screen to Johnson from 37 yards out,  that the 'Canes  to put them up 37-6, was run  flawlessly.  Fantastic blocking all around.
  • Joe Yearby is going to be a star.  Congrats to the freshman RB on his first career rushing TD today. Plenty more to come.


The Bad

  • Miami picks up a huge sack on a CB blitz and Michael Wyche gets flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct.  Can't have that.
  • This!

  • Gus Edwards appeared to sustain some kind of leg injury in the first half.

The Ugly

The weather was spectacular today in South Florida and the performance on the field was impressive, to say the least. Also, in honor of Jim Kelly, Russell Maryland, Jerome Brown, and Carter Hucks, this section will be left bank today.

Team Grades

Offense:

The blocking on Johnson's 90 yard 2nd quarter TD run to put Miami up 23-9 was picturesque (Ditto the middle screen in the third quarter). Especially great job down field by Phillip Dorsett on the safety after the the big guys opened a huge hole. Both TD tosses from BK to Clive were perfectly placed where only the UM TE could catch them.

grades

Defense:

This is a completely different unit when they pin their ears back and play in the opponents' faces. Lots of effort plays and gang tackling.  The pass rush was close to ferocious at times, with blitzes from all angles and Tyriq McCord showing great burst on the backside. Denzel Perryman remains a beast. Today, this unit  made a potent offense look pedestrian.  Whatever little success they had was well after the game was long decided.

grades

Special Teams:

Justin Vogel continues to be a weapon at punter.  Stacy Coley looks like he has some burst back on returns. UNC has 2 huge miscues that the 'Canes ST capitalized on as well. Still waiting on a punt block or a kick return for TD.

grades

Coaching:

Can we give a little love to Mark D'Onofrio yet?   Is he saving his job by letting loose and calling more blitzes? Is there a more intense man than Al Golden on game day?

Some real smart calls by James Coley as well, helped UM break this one open in the 2nd half.

Not all Hurricanes fans may want to admit it, and surely we need to see how the rest of the season plays out, but this staff appears to be growing and improving in a big way.

grades

Stay tuned for much more coverage on Miami's big win today and all of the news and notes on the Hurricanes, right here on SOTU.