Miami Football: Hurricanes’ 2017 season preview, predictions

Defense

When Miami was the baddest team in the land, they had a ridiculous stable of running backs and explosive weapons on the outside. However, what really set them apart were their terrifying defenses. This defense is building towards those.

Richt brought in two coaches that completely revamped the Miami front seven. Manny Diaz was hired as defensive coordinator after a one year stop at Mississippi State. Craig Kuligowski was hired to coach the defensive line after coaching under Gary Pinkel at Missouri and Toledo.

The defense improved 10 points to give up just 18.5 points a game last season, 12th-fewest in the country. The most marked improvement was in the rushing defense. They shaved off nearly 70 yards per game and 2 yards per carry, down to 132 per game and 3.4 per carry.

All but one backup on Kuligowski’s defensive line comes back. Juniors RJ McIntosh and Kendrick Norton lead the way on the inside after leading the team with seven and eight tackles for a loss last season. Sophomore defensive end Joe Jackson led the team with 8.5 sacks as a true freshman.

A trio of true freshmen linebackers started for Miami last season. Middle linebacker Shaquille Quarterman finished one tackle shy of the team lead, had 3.5 sacks, 6.5 tackles for a loss, and hit the quarterback eight more times. Weakside linebacker Michael Pinckney had 61 tackles, 2.5 sacks and five tackles for a loss. Both were named to the freshman All-American team. Zach McCloud will start once again at strongside linebacker. He had 37 tackles last season, 3.5 for a loss.

Terror in the front, Questions in the back

The Miami defensive backs have not quite matched the caliber of the defensive front. The Hurricanes were 47th in passing defense last year, and it was one of the only categories where they got worse.

To make matters potentially worse, they are essentially starting over back there with their departures after last season. On the one hand, they weren’t great before, so maybe it will be better with some fresh blood. On the other hand, they lost their best cornerback and man with the best name in college football, Corn Elder. He led the ACC in passes broken up last season with 12.

Ed Reed and Sean Taylor aren’t walking through that door, but the pressure the front seven will get on the quarterback will hopefully offset some of the deficiencies in the defensive backfield.