The Mid-Season Report Cards are a subjective look using objective numbers with a look toward the remainder of the season as well. Teams are being reviewed in random order once they reach 6 games.
Ok, I’ll try to be polite and concise. Miami is really, really bad. They lost their first two games by a combined 90-0, and in fact gave up 125 points before scoring their first. Things have been better since that start, but but not better enough to win a game.
- Wins: F. None, and never closer than 10.
- Offense: D-. Nope, not an F. In fact, the Redhawks have the #38 passing offense in the country, averaging 240 ypg. Unfortunately, that’s paired with the 110th rushing attack, eeking out only 88 ypg. And the scoring offense? Last in America at 10.67, a full 3 points below Western Kentucky in 119th. Keep the passing game going, run a little better, and get in the endzone once in a while, and Miami can still avoid 0-12.
- Defense:D-. Like the offense, it’s not good, but it’s not the worst in America either. Total defense is up at 81st, but the scoring defense is 116th, allowing 36.67 points per game.
- Special Teams: F. Net punting 118th, Punt returns are 65th but still only 9 yards per return, and kickoff returns are the worst in the country.
- Turnovers: F. Once again, Miami is dead last in 1-A here. Miami has given the ball away 22 times, more than any team, and only gained 5 of them back. Their -17 margin is 6 worse than Nevada in 119th at -11.
- Grading Curve: Bonus Points, but it’s not going to help. Miami has the 19th most difficult schedule in America to date, playing 5-0 Boise State and 5-0 Cincinnati so far.
- Final Grade: F. There’s not much to suggest that Miami would have done much better with an easier schedule here, and while the trends are upward, things aren’t getting easier any time soon.
Remaining Games:
- at Ohio
- Northern Illinois
- Toledo
- at Temple
- Bowling Green
- Buffalo
Best Case Scenario: 2-4. That’s not the worst draw possible in the MAC, but none of them are struggling outright either. That being said, Miami’s offense did put up a few points against MAC competition, so if a team or two looks past the Redhawks, they could get stunned.
Worst Case Scenario: 0-6. It’s certainly not out of the realm of possibility. Miami didn’t draw Eastern Michigan (currently 0-5), so there’s nobody on their schedule who’s had as remotely bad a season as they have so far.
Prediction: 1-5. Knowing the way the MAC tends to deal in unpredictable outcomes, I will be a little surprised if Miami doesn’t sneak up on somebody. I don’t really think it will happen twice.