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Home > Blogs > RedHawk rumblings | Miami University sports news > Archives > 2008 > October > 12 > Entry
This time, it wasn’t so much the offense
By Pete Conrad
It’s true, the Miami offense did not score a touchdown in the 17-13 loss at Northern Illinois on Saturday, Oct. 11.
And I won’t try to pretend that the RedHawk offense has come even close to running in full power at any point this season. You take the games against Vanderbilt, Michigan, Temple and Northern Illinois.
In those four games the Miami attack (if you can call it that) came up with exactly two touchdowns, a 30-yard pass from Daniel Raudabaugh to Eugene Harris against Vanderbilt, and Thomas Merriweather’s 2-yard touchdown run against Temple. That’s two touchdowns in 16 quarters. Ouch.
On Saturday, however, it’s difficult to point the finger at Miami’s ability to produce points. After all, the Huskies also allowed only 13 points in their 13-9 loss at Tennessee a week earlier.
And Miami did come back to take a 13-10 lead in the third quarter against NIU.
The problem was that Miami’s defense, with all that talent and experience, was unable to hold the lead against a Huskie offense that has been less than overpowering, that has been using the revolving-door system of quarterbacks.
After Nathan Parseghian’s 35-yard field goal put Miami ahead by three, the Huskies answered with a touchdown, without much of a problem.
They got a little help from the RedHawks right off the bat. Offsides. Then five straight carries right through Miami’s defense, the big one being Me’co Brown’s 36-yarder, after which Chad Spann’s back-to-back carries of 15 and 2 yards got the Huskies into the end zone. Five plays, 63 yards.
As far as Miami’s defense is concerned, that is not coming through in the clutch. And the same thing happened the week before after Miami had pulled close against Temple.
In the post-game press conference, linebacker Clayton Mullins, one of the best in the business, looked disgusted, dismayed, dejected, puzzled. “I felt everybody on defense played as hard as we’ve played all year,” he said. “We just didn’t make the plays.”
Sometimes it’s as simple as that.
This was by no means a bad game by the defense. Just as it wasn’t a bad game by the offense.
But right now the RedHawks need something better than that. And after six weeks, I wonder if they’re capable. They sure need to win their next game.
You know, that’s about the fourth time I’ve said that. Not a good indication that all’s right with the world.
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By Jim
October 13, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this
I guess the Ben years spoiled me. Will Miami reach the point of being an exciting team to watch, again? Is this a coaching problem? I am a season ticket holder and proud to be a redhawk fan, but it hurts to watch this team.