The Miami Hurricanes are entering their second week of fall camp, eagerly preparing for their season opener against the Florida Gators on Aug. 31. Offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson appreciates the remaining time before the season starts. “We’ll make a few plays and then we’ll go backwards,” Dawson said Tuesday. “It’s not anywhere close to where it needs to be. Our communication from play to play, the urgency that we need — we need to be way more consistent in what we’re doing. We’re doing some good things, but it’s too up and down. We’ve got to clean up the stuff that kills drives.”
As Dawson embarks on his second season as offensive coordinator, there’s anticipation for a significant step forward. Last year, Miami’s offense ranked 31st nationally in yards per game (431.2) and tied for 39th in points per game (31.5). The team is expected to improve, especially with the additions of quarterback Cam Ward, running back Damien Martinez, and wide receiver Sam Brown from the transfer portal. These new players join key returnees like wide receivers Xavier Restrepo and Jacolby George, running back Mark Fletcher, and three starting offensive linemen (Jalen Rivers, Francis Mauigoa, and Anez Cooper).
Dawson identified three key areas for improvement beyond general consistency:
Limiting Turnovers
Turnovers were a significant issue last season, with the Hurricanes losing the ball 22 times (14 interceptions and eight fumbles), tying for the second-most in the ACC. “We’ve got to take care of the ball better,” Dawson emphasized. “If we take care of the ball better, everything else will fall into place.”
Explosive Plays
Dawson is focusing on increasing yards per play, with the Hurricanes averaging 6.4 yards per play last season, ranking 24th nationally. He believes the team can reach the top 10 or top five. The Hurricanes’ ranking in long plays from scrimmage last season showed room for improvement:
- Plays of 10-plus yards: 194 (tied for 40th nationally)
- Plays of 20-plus yards: 68 (tied for 35th nationally)
- Plays of 30-plus yards: 25 (tied for 70th nationally)
- Plays of 40-plus yards: 14 (tied for 57th nationally)
Dawson stresses the importance of playing fast, getting up the field, and making defenders miss to create explosive plays.
Red Zone Offense
Finishing drives in the red zone is crucial. Last season, Miami scored on 84.62% of their red zone trips (44 of 52), ranking tied for 66th nationally, but only scored touchdowns on 57.69% of those trips, ranking tied for 90th nationally. “Some of the turnover stuff happened in the red zone,” Dawson noted, “so that’s double bad. That’ll take points off the board.”
As the season approaches, the Hurricanes aim to address these areas to enhance their offensive performance in 2024.
Leave a Reply