I enjoy reading your cleveland.com articles, keep up the good work!
I am chewing on Miami, Oh myself this week. Disappointing start for them no doubt. They had some O vs a tougher D in Marshall week 1, but Miami D didn't do enough. Last week they had to play vs the weather and Cincy, and with being more of a QB-throw oriented O compared to more of a run-first team, that definitely hurt their chances. It was just 7-0 early in the 4th qrt there, so for 3+ qrts it was competitive despite being a 21-0 loss.
I am starting to sour on Miami some overall. I am getting to the point that they need to show me they can play good again. Part of me holds out for Ragland because of how he was able to finish the 2016 season. Then he gets injured last year, comes back late with some rust and this year at 0-2, they aren't 0-2 necessarily because of him, but I am at the point now that I want to see him and them prove it. They have a very veteran team and this is was supposed to be the year it finally fell into place and they play up to expectations. This game strangely enough could be a let down spot for them, off two important rivalry games and have the MAC opener on deck. So other than just being hungry for a win, I don't think we have any motivational angles for Miami and perhaps it could even work against them if they are flat this week.
Minnesota I believe is going to rely on Annexstad more now. Tyler Johnson is good and has been now their #2 and #3 receivers are both Fr and rFr. Last year Johnson caught 35 in 12 games, he has 11 already now after just two games. #2 had 11 catches all of last year, that #2 has 10 already now. They avg 10 more pass attempts this year compared to last year on average and their QB is Fr. With Smith out I think we continue to see this evolution take place and they will keep giving Annexstad more and more as the season wears on. That is still alot of youth in the passing game to be relying on and there should be opportunities for mistakes opposing Ds can create and capitalize on.
Gophers O should remain fairly limited in the near future. The D is pretty good and they will have to continue to rely on that to lead them (and a good special teams group).
So for them to cover 2 TDs vs an experienced team that has played alot of ball together and a QB that should have the skills to move the ball and make plays, how would Gophers cover? Minny isn't likely to do it with their O. It comes down to who will make more plays, Miami's O or Minny's D? The under would look like a logical play. Minny's D vs Fresno was pretty impressive and I don't think Miami fields a better O than Fresno so this will be interesting to see what Miami can do. I think they have the potential to play well, but they don't put a complete game together very often.
On that final play vs Fresno, the RB throw into the EZ that Winfield made a great pick on. Fresno got what they wanted, they saw the DBs agressively playing towards the LOS, and they did on that play too, but the RB/passer hesitated, the receiver was open right away the play was there and the ball was underthrown, a better throw and it would've been a TD and Fresno ties the game and then who knows who wins. It was great recovery and amazing play by Winfield, but Fresno got exactly what they wanted, just failed on the most important part, the execution.
