A look at how Miami’s defense regressed in 2022

After making plenty of additions via the transfer portal going into the 2022 season, the defense was expected to be a strength for the Miami Hurricanes.

That did not prove to be the case, however.

Miami consistently got exposed in 2022 when they faced any offense with a pulse.

Let’s take a look at key defensive metrics and how Miami stacked up year over year to a 2021 defense that also did not play at an acceptable standard.

Points Per Game Allowed: Miami allowed 26.8 points per game, which ranked 68th nationally and tenth in the ACC. The Hurricanes allowed at least 40 points to five opponents: Middle Tennessee State (45), Duke (45), Florida State (45), Clemson (40), and Pittsburgh (42). In ACC play, Miami allowed 29.8 points per game, which ranked 12th in the conference.

UM benefitted from playing some of the worst offenses in the country in Coastal Division foes Virginia (17 ppg), Georgia Tech (17.2 ppg) and Virginia Tech (19.3 ppg). Texas A&M was a non-conference opponent as well and they averaged only 22.8 points per game. This Miami defense was buoyed statistically by bad offensive opponents. Miami’s defense allowed 28 points per game in 2021, but the Hurricanes played a much higher caliber of offensive opponent during the season, taking on Alabama, Appalachian State, and Michigan State in the non-conference as well as facing ACC teams that were putting up big numbers on offense like Virginia, UNC, NC State, and Pittsburgh.

Yards Per Play Allowed: On a per down basis, Miami’s defense was below average, allowing 5.6 yards per play, ranking 83rd in the country (when excluding the FCS game against Bethune-Cookman).

Year over year, this number is worse, with Miami allowing 5.4 yards per play in 2021, which ranked No. 57 overall in the country.

Third Down Defense: You can’t play good defense without getting off the field on third down. Miami’s 2022 defense was quite poor in this regard, allowing opponents to convert 42 percent of their third down opportunities, ranking No. 100 in the country and No. 13 in the ACC.

These numbers are worse year over year from 2021, when the the Hurricanes allowed opponents to convert 39.7 percent of their opportunities, which ranked No. 76 nationally and ninth in the conference.

Keep in mind, Miami faced plenty of below average offenses in 2022.

Explosives Allowed: This phase of defense was unacceptable from the Miami in 2022.

The Hurricanes allowed ten plays of at least 50 yards on the season, which ranks No. 124 overall in the country. That is almost one 50 yard play per game against FBS opponents.

In 2021, Miami’s defense allowed six plays of at least 50 yards, which ranked No. 49 overall in the country.

Explosive plays is one of the biggest indicators of who will win a game. Miami’s defense made it easy on opponents in this phase.

Pass Efficiency Defense: Miami featured one of the better pass rushing defensive lines at the Power Five level in 2022. Unfortunately that pass rush did not translate to a strong showing on the back end of the defense.

Miami ranked 100th in pass efficiency defense in 2022, which ranked 12th in the ACC.

The previous season, UM ranked 60th in pass efficiency defense while facing a much higher caliber of quarterback over the course of the season.

Run Defense: Stopping the run will always be a big point of emphasis in college football.

As the season progressed and Miami started playing offenses that could run the ball, UM’s 2022 run defense proved to be pretty average.

The Hurricanes allowed 142.9 rushing yards per game, which ranked 55th overall in the country.

In 2021, Miami allowed 139 rushing yards per game, which ranked 44th nationally.

Tackling Grade: Miami was one of the worst tackling teams in the country in 2021.

In 2022, UM improved in this phase, but overall the Hurricanes were still a below average tackling team.

The folks at Pro Football Focus graded Miami as the No. 109 tackling team in the country in 2022.

Miami needs to take a significant jump in this phase in 2023.

Overall Thoughts: When judging the totality of the 2022 season, Miami’s defense was disappointing.

Especially when judged within the context of the opponent.

Miami faced four offenses that ranked inside the top 40 of points per game in 2022: North Carolina (37.1 ppg), Florida State (36.2 ppg), Clemson (34.3 ppg), and Duke (33.1 ppg). Those offenses averaged 39.2 points per game against Miami in 2022.

The Hurricanes also faced five offenses that ranked 90th or lower in points per game in 2022: Southern Miss (24.2 ppg), Texas A&M (22.8 ppg), Virginia Tech (19.3 ppg), Georgia Tech (17.2 ppg), and Virginia (17 ppg).

In 2021, Miami faced seven offenses that ranked top 40 in points per game: Pittsburgh (41.4 ppg), Alabama (39.9 ppg), North Carolina (35.2 ppg), Virginia (34.6 ppg), Appalachian State (34.5 ppg), NC State (33.1 ppg), and Michigan State (31.8 ppg). Those offenses averaged 34.8 points per game against Miami in 2021.

UM faced three offenses that ranked 90th or worse in points per game: Georgia Tech (23.8 ppg), Virginia Tech (23.7 ppg), and Duke (22.8 ppg).

Miami’s defense regressed year over year while playing a weaker schedule.

The one phase in which UM did make a leap defensively was with forcing turnovers. The Hurricanes totaled 20 takeaways in 2022, which was up from the 11 takeaways UM forced in 2021.

Overall, the issues were continuous and always changing on the defensive side of the ball for Miami in 2022. Miami’s personnel on that side of the ball isn’t where it needs to be, but there is no excuse for the Hurricanes to not feature at least a top 50 defense in 2022. UM fell way short of that level of play.