Self-inflicted injuries halted Miami’s advancement significantly last year.
The Hurricanes’ point difference was plus-120 in 2022 as opposed to minus-34 from their 5-7 campaign the previous year. The Hurricanes went from being 99th in the nation in yards per play in 2022 to 22nd in 2023. According to offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson, in every program he has coached, that is the largest jump he has witnessed from one year to the next.
Why, therefore, didn’t Miami have more victories than they had in 2017? Following the Hurricanes’ second spring practice, Dawson considered the areas in which the team had fallen short in 2023.
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Dawson stated, “Turnovers were glaring.” “They were glaring not just when they happened, but even before that. Turnovers and red zone offence were the two areas where we either stagnated or declined in performance. They complement each other. We ranked in the top 35 in the country when it came to red zone offences, but we turned the ball over seven times over that stretch. At the one-yard line, two of those were.”
Dawson pointed out that when the best 10 teams in the nation advanced, they did not turn the ball over.
“That results in a deduction of points on the scoreboard. It not only deflates you and everyone else, but it also removes points from the scoreboard. In the end, we need to safeguard the football better.”
Twelve of the 14 interceptions that Miami quarterbacks threw last season came from former starter Tyler Van Dyke. With Cam Ward at the controls this season, Miami is hoping for increased efficiency. Eight fumbles went to the Hurricanes. Their turnover margin was minus four at the end. Not up to par. Regardless of your football-moving prowess, a 7–6 season is inevitable if you consistently make mistakes and sabotage yourself in the red zone.
Miami was 94th in the country last season with 19 turnovers lost.
