 OXFORD, OH -- When you play Big 12 and Big Ten opponents, the margin for error is small. Miami head coach Don Treadwell was likely well aware of that before the 2011 campaign started. However, that observation was reinforced through play over the RedHawks first two games.
Treadwell and the RedHawks are still looking for 2011 victory No. 1 after road losses at Big 12 member Missouri (17-6) and Big Ten member Minnesota (29-23). With Kent State coming to Oxford Saturday for the RedHawks’ conference opener, MU needs to find a way to “clean up” some errors.
Several problems surfaced in special teams during the first two weeks. Some involved potential points. At least one play provided points for the other team. The latter occurred most recently and proved to be the winning points in the 29-23 loss to Minnesota . Early in the fourth quarter, Minnesota ’s Duane Bennett found a clear lane around the corner. He not only blocked the punt, he also found the ball in the air and took it in from four yards out for a touchdown.
During the first week of action, kicker Mason Krysinski missed a field goal and a partially-blocked extra point. Quarterback Zac Dysert threw just one interception, but E.J. Gaines’ pick at the goal line ended an 11-play, 67-yard drive that was MU’s best scoring chance of the first half.
Dysert was also sacked three times in the opener. One of the sacks resulted in a fumble when the RedHawks were facing second-and-four at midfield. Missouri recovered with 1:22 remaining and ran out the clock.
Dysert was sacked twice two weeks later at Minnesota . However, he scrambled out of several other potential losses. One even ended up as a touchdown when he found freshman Dawan Scott in the end zone on a 26-yard play. The touchdown and Krysinksi’s PAT (he converted a field goal and all his PATs at Minnesota ) made it a six-point game. On its next possession, Miami drove to the Minnesota 20 before two incompletions -- including one on the game’s final play -- ended the RedHawks bid.
Defensively, Miami ’s main problem in each game was stopping a big – and very mobile – quarterback.
Missouri ’s James Franklin rushed 14 times for 72 yards (5.1 ypc) and a touchdown. Minnesota ’s Marquis Gray more than doubled that, setting a school single game record for rushing yards by a quarterback with 171 yards on 25 attempts (6.8 ypc).
Gray also had over 100 yards rushing in his first collegiate start against New Mexico State the previous week. His repertoire against Miami included designed runs, draws, option reads and scrambles that came after receivers on routes opened up running space for the 6-4, 240-pound quarterback. Time and again, Gray kept drives going, ate up clock and changed field position.
Certainly, strength of opponent should be considered in looking at both the RedHawks won-loss record and stats. For example, Miami finished fourth last year in turnover margin (MAC-only) with a plus-six (+.75 per game). Thus far, the Red and White are minus-two (-1.0 per game). Of course, the blocked punt didn’t go down statistically as a turnover.
Will the turnover margin change as change s MU heads into conference play? To date, the turnovers have been more costly than plentiful.
Offensively, Miami entered 2011 as a potential dichotomy. Few doubted the RedHawks ability to pass the ball. More than a few doubted MU’s ability to run the ball. A resurgent running game, led by senior Thomas Merriweather and a relatively healthy offensive line, played a key part in Miami ’s six-game winning streak down the stretch. But with Merriweather, among others, gone, the RedHawks ground game became one of the biggest question marks of 2011.
To address the void, former MU linebacker Eric Finklea was moved from the defensive side to a running back spot. The 6-1, 202-pound redshirt sophomore rushed for over 1,400 yards and scored 19 touchdowns as a senior at Woodward High School in Cincinnati .
Through two games, the RedHawks running game has had mixed success. Finklea has been the main workhorse and gives MU some production via the ground game. He rushed 19 times for 71 yards (3.7 ypc) and scored Miami ’s only touchdown against Missouri . Finklea added another 54 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries (3.6 ypc) at Minnesota . With two catches for 15 yards against the Gophers, his numbers were very similar to the production in Game No. 1.
While Miami has 156 total yards on the ground, junior quarterback Zac Dysert has completed 53-of-86 (61.6 percent) of his passes for 519 yards. Although his completion percentage dropped from 66.7 percent (26-of-39) against Missouri to 57.4 (27-of-47) at Minnesota , MU was much more productive. The RedHawks had 194 yards through the air at Missouri and 325 passing yards against the Gophers. Dysert threw two touchdowns in the latter contest and MU had three touchdowns overall. The RedHawks were 20 yards from another possible score when time expired.
One reason for the bump up at Minnesota was the availability of wideout Nick Harwell. After missing the first game due to a team rules infraction, Harwell returned to catch 12 balls for 162 yards (13.5 ypc). His 66-yard reception set up a field goal on Miami ’s opening drive.
Steady Chris Givens contributed seven catches for 84 yards with a touchdown, while true freshman Dawan Scott chipped in three receptions for 49 yards and his first career touchdown.
NOTES:
- Miami officials are expecting close to a sellout crowd for Saturday’s game. MU’s all-time attendance record for one game is 30,087 vs. Marshall in 1999. The new capacity following a renovation to Yager Stadium’s east and north stands prior to the 2005 season is 24,286. There were 23,493 fans on hand for Miami’s home game against Cincinnati in 2009, and the Bearcats are returning in two weeks, when MU closes a three-game homestand. Army comes to town for the middle game.
- Miami’s Trevor Cook kicked a field goal as time expired to give MU a 24-21 win in last year's Falcons-RedHawks meeting. The opportunity was set up by defensive back D.J. Brown’s interception at foggy Doyt Perry Stadium. Miami has won 10 of the last 12 meetings. The most recent Falcons win was a 35-14 decision at Yager Stadium in 2009.
- BG comes to Miami with a 2-1 record. The lone loss was a 28-27 setback last week. A missed extra point following the Falcon’s final touchdown proved decisive.
- Several years ago, quarterback Tyler Sheehan made the Falcons one of the more feared passing offenses in the MAC. Quarterback Matt Schilz now has BG’s passing game back in high gear. The Falcons are 10th nationally in passing offense (344.0 ypg). Another 177.3 ypg rushing contributes to a nationally-ranked (10th) total offense mark of 521.3 ypg.
- Wide receiver Eugene Cooper averages 107.7 ypg.
- Bowling Green’s defense ranks 25th nationally, yielding 289.6 ypg.
- Miami’s quarterback Zak Dysert was injured late in last year’s Bowling Green game. The spleen injury caused him to miss the remainder of the season. Austin Boucher replaced Dysert and led Miami’s stretch run to the MAC title and GoDaddy.com Bowl championship.
- True freshman Zach Lewis made his first career start at Minnesota and is slated to fill in for veteran Matt Kennedy.
- Miami coach Don Treadwell not only is a former Miami player, he is still No. 1 in reception average 22.0 ypc (1980) for one season and also career (21.1 ypc).
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