Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/85895
✦ TOP STORYLINES: NOTRE DAME VS. MIAMI BY LOU SOMOGYI DEFENSE-LESS Where have you gone Warren Sapp, Russell Maryland and Cortez Kennedy? How about you Ray Lewis and Dan Mor- gan? Ed Reed, Bennie Blades and Antrel Rolle, are you anywhere to be found? The football machine that was "The U." at Miami has produced a plethora of pros on offense, but the defense was its heart and soul over the years, giving the pro- gram its intimidating persona. It has evaporated in 2012: • In the season-opening 41-32 victory at Boston College, Miami's defense sur- rendered 537 yards total offense to an Eagles unit that finished 112th out of 120 teams last season in both total offense (298.75 yards per game) and scoring of- fense (18.17 points per game). BC quar- terback Chase Rettig completed 32 of 51 passes for 441 yards. • A week later in Manhattan, Kan., the Hurricanes lost 52-13 to Kansas State — the most points they had yielded in 167 games, dating back to a 66-13 loss in 1998 to quarterback Donovan McNabb's Syra- cuse team that won the Big East title. The Wildcats amassed 288 yards rushing and 210 passing with quarterback Colin Klein, who completed 9 of 11 passes. • The numbers were bound to improve against Bethune-Cookman Sept. 15, but even there the Football Championship Subdivision member rushed for 233 yards, with both of its top running backs, Rodney Scott and Isidore Jackson, averaging 5.1 yards per carry. Bethune-Cookman — whose running backs coach is Notre Dame all-time lead- ing rusher Autry Denson (4,318 yards from 1995-98) — controlled possession for 36:57 compared to Miami's 23:03, although the Hurricanes won going away (38-10). • Against Georgia Tech Sept. 22, Miami jumped to 19-0 lead in the first quarter, yielded 36 unanswered points, but then came back with 23 consecutive points — highlighted by a goal-line stand in over- time — to win 42-36. The Yellow Jackets finished with 419 yards total offense, in- cluding 287 on the ground via the triple option. • On Sept. 29, just like a week earlier, Miami stormed to a 23-7 advantage versus North Carolina State in the first quarter and then saw the Wolfpack chip away to tie it at 37-37. The Hurricanes scored the game-winning touchdown on a 62-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Stephen Morris to sophomore wideout Phillip Dorsett with 19 seconds left in the contest. North Carolina State amassed 664 yards total offense (440 passing and 224 rushing) in its defeat. Currently, Miami is: • 112th against the run (225.60 yards allowed per game). • 114th in total defense (494.60 yards surrendered per game). • Tied for 98th in scoring defense (33.40 points allowed per game). • Maybe the most notable defensive stat is its 100th ranking in pass efficiency defense. Opponents are averaging an as- tounding 17.2 yards per pass completion and 9.7 yards per attempt. Put it this way: even the 2009 Notre Dame defense that was so maligned under fifth-year coach Charlie Weis yielded "only" 13.8 yards per completion and 8.0 yards per attempt. Part of the reason for Miami's defen- Redshirt freshman linebacker Eddie Johnson, who ranks second on the team with 31 tackles, is one of the main figures on a rebuilding Miami defense. PHOTO BY JC RIDLEY/COURTESY MIAMI ✦ PAGE 7 sive downfall included the early entry into the NFL of defensive end Oliver Vernon (third-round selection) and tackle Marcus Fortson (not drafted), who was a stand- out in the 33-17 loss to Notre Dame in the 2010 Sun Bowl while making three stops behind the line of scrimmage and six