 After surrendering sole possession of first place with a 34-13 home loss to defending MAC East champ Ohio last week, the Miami RedHawks travel to Buffalo Saturday. A win would enable the RedHawks (4-4, 3-1 MAC) to hold on to a share of first place in the East. Buffalo, meanwhile, needs to rebound from a 42-0 thumping at the hands of preseason MAC East favorite Temple on UB’s turf.
Buffalo (2-5, 1-2 MAC) has lost six-of-seven since a 31-0 win over Rhode Island in the season opener. Head coach Jeff Quinn’s crew edged Bowling Green on the road two weeks ago in the Bulls MAC opener. Any momentum from that, however, was lost as the Bulls met two of MAC’s tougher teams in back-to-back weeks. Northern Illinois disposed of the Bulls, 45-14, before Temple came to town.
It was UB’s first home game in a month, but the Owls had too much of just about everything. By the 10:30 mark of the second quarter, Buffalo trailed 28-0. UB converted just 2-of-17 third down attempts and was 0-for-4 on fourth down conversions while picking up just 161 yards of offense.
Brandon Oliver (87/247) and Jeffvon Gill (37/215) have provided most of Buffalo’s rushing gains. Senior Brandon Thermilus was lost to an ACL injury during the NIU game. Tight end Jake Reeder went down against Temple and is also unavailable.
Just who will quarterback against Miami was unclear early in the week. Alex Zordich made his first career start against Temple, completing 11-of-26 for 98 yards. He was intercepted three times and sacked by the tenacious Temple defense five times.
Jerry Davis, a starter in six games, entered the contest late. For now, Buffalo coach Jeff Quinn said, both are in competition for the QB position.
Among the targets for whoever gets the call are receivers Marcus Rivers and Terrell Jackson. Rivers has 39 receptions for 542 yards, while Jackson owns 30 catches for 288 yards.
Generating more offense – including points - will be important as the Bulls try to dig themselves out of an early MAC standings hole. Buffalo is next to last among MAC teams in scoring offense (15.7 ppg). Miami, however, is just one spot higher (19.2 ppg). In fact, Buffalo ranks seventh in total offense (327.7 ypg), while Miami is right behind (8th) at 325 ypg.
The vast majority of MU’s offense comes out of the passing game. At least on the surface, that might seem to be a bit of good news for Buffalo. Buffalo is second (MAC) in pass defense efficiency. Miami is fifth.
Sophomore quarterback Zac Dysert and the Redhawks (262.6 ypg) both rank third in passing. The Bulls are No. 1 in pass defense, yielding 183.7 ypg.
That, however, could also reflect a propensity of some opponents (e.g. Northern Illinois and Temple) to keep running the ball as long as they can – especially with leads.
Miami has struggled mightily with its running game – averaging just 62 ypg. That is 119th nationally.
Should senior running back Thomas Merriweather start to find running room, especially early, it could spell trouble for UB. On the other hand, if the Bulls can contain Miami early, it might force the visitors into familiar role – relying on the pass.
Its certainly not that Miami can’t pass. Dysert is 18th nationally in total passing yardage (1,954 yards through eight games). Although Jamal Rogers is out with an injury and Chris Givens has also missed time recently, Armand Robinson is fifth (MAC) in receptions (7.12 rpg) and is just one of many targets for Dysert, who has completed. 64.5 percent of his throws.
With the pass, however, comes a little more risk, and that risk has proved costly on more than one occasion. Miami had six turnovers in last week’s homecoming loss to Ohio. Four of the turnovers were interceptions. Another was a fumble while Dysert was being sacked.
It was a flashback to 2009 when the RedHawks won one game and finished last in turnover margin.
Prior to the Ohio loss, Miami had gone from worst (2009) to first in TO margin. However, the six mistakes against OU dropped Miami to third. Buffalo ranks 11th with a minus-5 turnover margin – similar to what Ohio had prior to its trip to Oxford. The Bobcats are now at zero (6th MAC).
Among the Buffalo defenders capable of creating a few turnovers is safety Dominic Cook, who has provided eight of the Bulls 17 turnovers for the year. He ranks first (MAC) in pass break-ups (1.57 pg), first (tie) in interceptions (5) and is tied for second in forced fumbles (0.43 pg)
Safety Davonte Shannon is another standout defender. He had 14 tackles against Temple and ranks sixth among MAC defenders
In addition to turnovers, special teams could be a factor. Jackson is a dangerous punt returner. He currently ranks third in the nation on the strength of nine punt returns for an average of 20.6 yards.
Several weeks ago, Miami could claim its own special teams weapon in kicker Trevor Cook. But after making 10 of his first 11 field goals, Cook suffered a knee injury against Central Michigan. Seth Philips took his place and converted all his kicks in the win over CMU. However, he missed two field goals and an extra point in the loss to Ohio last week.
NOTES:
- Miami (1) and Buffalo (2) are ranked atop MAC red zone defense stats. It’s a good thing – unless it means other teams are scoring on a lot of longer plays. Miami, for example, yielded two long runs (56, 48) for TDs against Ohio. Buffalo gave up two long plays (81, 90) at Northern Illinois.
- UB – The Bulls have not scored an offensive touchdown in either the first or fourth quarters this season.
- UB – Buffalo coach Jeff Quinn has previous MAC experience at Central Michigan and followed former CMU coach Brian Kelly to Cincinnati, which plays Miami each year in a local rivalry. Quinn was the interim coach for UC when Kelly left for the job at Notre Dame and the Bearcats went to the Orange Bowl.
- Buffalo ranks last (MAC) in red zone offense. Miami is ninth.
- MU – The Redhawks have been hit hard with injuries along the offensive line and at the linebacker position. Some of the offensive line members have been working their way back in the mix. Linebacker is another story. Luke Kelly is out for the year and Ryan Kennedy has missed four games (and counting). Wide receiver has more depth this year, but the RedHawks are using more young talent to replace Rogers and Givens, who hasn’t played since Kent State. Freshman Nick Harwell shined with 11 catches for 219 yards last week but also showed his inexperience by dropping the ball just before crossing the goal line on a long pass play that would have been a touchdown. Instead, the ball bounced through the end zone and Ohio took over on the 20.
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