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Though the Miami Hurricanes offense has been under much scrutiny through most of the 2019 season, you can’t question the success they had against Louisville this past Saturday in the 52-27 thrashing of the Cardinals.
That’s the Dan Enos offense we’ve been waiting to see. And it’s beautiful
— Greg Rousseau All-American (@hurricanesmarsh) November 10, 2019
Coming into Saturday, the Hurricanes had amassed 30 points just once this year against a P5 opponent, and many people, including myself, were calling for the firing of new offensive coordinator Dan Enos.
Orgeron fired his OC after his first year at LSU. Hired a new OC as well as passing coordinator, and their offense is now thriving. Manny needs to do the same, cut Enos loose after this year.
— Greg Rousseau All-American (@hurricanesmarsh) October 28, 2019
Couple things were holding Miami’s offense back from achieving its full potential so far this season, inconsistency at the quarterback position and poor play from the offensive line. On Saturday, you had both of those things going well, highlighted by the spectacular play from QB Jarren Williams.
The success started on Miami’s first drive, which they began on their own 8-yard line. One of the things that Williams did a great job at was getting rid of the ball very quickly, and Enos’ offense relies on those quick and short passes for success. Here he does that to Mike Harley, who takes a simple slant pass 41-yards.
Jarren Williams had this offense humming early. First drive, hits Mike Harley and #3 takes it for 41 yards pic.twitter.com/eqaKyHQ36D
— Greg Rousseau All-American (@hurricanesmarsh) November 11, 2019
Harley had a career day with six catches, 116 yards and two touchdowns. His speed and playmaking ability is being used wonderfully in Enos’ offense.
Mike Harley balled out yesterday. 6 catches, 116 yards, 2 touchdowns. pic.twitter.com/rhvElscVR6
— Greg Rousseau All-American (@hurricanesmarsh) November 10, 2019
And then again you see the quick throw, this time to K.J. Osborn. Prior to the season starting, it was said that Jarren could run the Dan Enos offense the best out of the Miami quarterbacks, and Saturday was a perfect example of that.
One of the reasons why Jarren Williams was so successful on Saturday, quick passes. Look at this throw to K.J. Osborn. 11 yards just like that pic.twitter.com/1Sav9yA1Jm
— Greg Rousseau All-American (@hurricanesmarsh) November 11, 2019
Another aspect of Williams’ game that is evolving over the past two games is throwing the deep ball, and this weekend he aired it out to Dee Wiggins for a 68-yard touchdown. Jarren does a great job at trusting his arm on this throw even though he’s about to get blasted by a defender.
Jarren Williams to Dee Wiggins. New connection in Miami pic.twitter.com/o6xH2hI0PX
— Greg Rousseau All-American (@hurricanesmarsh) November 10, 2019
The emergence of Wiggins as a deep-threat receiver has been huge for the Hurricanes offense over the duration of these last two weeks. Wiggins finished the day with three catches for 85 yards and added another touchdown in the second quarter.
Dee Wiggins could be Miami’s next star at receiver. 3 catches 85 yards and 2 touchdowns against Louisville pic.twitter.com/TC0L4Tak8s
— Greg Rousseau All-American (@hurricanesmarsh) November 11, 2019
What Miami’s passing game demonstrated on Saturday was that it’s not dependent on just one receiver. Jeff Thomas finished with just one catch, Osborn with three catches for five yards, superstar tight end Brevin Jordan was out with an injury, Williams was still able to move the ball downfield and score points. Like here when he found other tight end Will Mallory for another touchdown.
Jarren does a great job on the run finding a open Will Mallory for the touchdown. So happy for #85 pic.twitter.com/8QKfgrK71B
— Greg Rousseau All-American (@hurricanesmarsh) November 11, 2019
Then you have the offensive line, which has undergone a major transformation over the past month. The line was a huge reason why Miami was able to average 8.2 yards per play on offense.
Here in the third quarter, the line gives Jarren plenty of time has he finds Harley with a beautiful pass for the touchdown.
Best throw of the day by Jarren Williams. Put it only where Mike Harley could get it. Also great protection by the line pic.twitter.com/eiyAJUup7R
— Greg Rousseau All-American (@hurricanesmarsh) November 11, 2019
Against Louisville, the unit had their best performance of the season, allowing just one sack, and also plowing the way for 196 yards of rushing, which was Miami’s highest total of the year against a P5 opponent. Look at the hole that they provided for Cam’Ron Harris on this run earlier in the first half.
Look at the hole that the offensive line creates for Cam Harris. Gaynor, Zion, Campbell. This line continues to improve each week and you love to see it. pic.twitter.com/y3yMPw5Vxd
— Greg Rousseau All-American (@hurricanesmarsh) November 11, 2019
The duo of Harris and DeeJay Dallas also had their finest game in the backfield as a tandem. Harris finished the day with 78 yards, and Dallas for 96 yards and a touchdown. It was DeeJay who capped off Miami’s impressive first drive with a score, his eighth of the season.
DeeJay Dallas caps off a 7 play 92 yard drive with this touchdown. Dallas has been awesome down near the goal line lately pic.twitter.com/ItAAhwVUBf
— Greg Rousseau All-American (@hurricanesmarsh) November 11, 2019
Dallas has also been valuable in the Miami passing game as well, as he hauled in his second receiving touchdown of the season. Enos has been very fond of this particular play-call, as the Canes have scored on it several times throughout the year.
So many times this play has worked for Miami this season, and it works again here. Jarren finds DeeJay on the screen and he gets into the endzone pic.twitter.com/UO4htIRcvb
— Greg Rousseau All-American (@hurricanesmarsh) November 11, 2019
All in all, it was arguably Miami’s finest offensive performance of the season, 52 points and 449 total yards, and hopefully it was a sign of things to come for the Hurricanes. Their QB, Williams, set a school record with six touchdown passes in a game and was also named both ACC Rookie of the Week and ACC Quarterback of the Week.
Canes QB Jarren Williams was named today the ACC Quarterback of the Week and ACC Rookie of the Week. Had a school record 6 touchdown passes on Saturday vs Louisville.
— Will Manso (@WillManso) November 11, 2019
They went through the growing pains during the first half of the year with their quarterbacks and offensive line, but it seems like this was the Dan Enos offense we waited all off-season for.