Five things we learned in Hurricanes’ blowout win over Central Michigan

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The Miami Hurricanes closed out their first month of the season with another blowout, crushing Central Michigan, 52-3.

The Chippewas kicked a go-ahead field goal on their first drive, and Miami rolled from there.

Here are five things we learned from Saturday night’s game:

Offense gets back to business

When Miami played Wake Forest last week, the Demon Deacons (who picked up a big win over Louisville on Saturday) halted UM’s offense for most of the second half. The Hurricanes punted on their first drive on Saturday, as well. After that, it was business as usual for Miami’s high-flying offense.

“After that first drive, we really got our cleats in the ground,” UM coach Mario Cristobal said.

The Hurricanes scored on eight consecutive drives, notching seven touchdowns and one field goal. Even with a season-worst 112 penalty yards, the Hurricanes could not be stopped. They averaged 8.4 yards per play and racked up 572 yards.

Miami excelled through the air, and even without starting running back Mark Fletcher Jr., it moved the ball on the ground. Redshirt sophomore Chris Wheatley-Humphrey, a South Broward High alum, notched his first career touchdown and his first 100-yard game.

Darian Heismensah?

A third of the season is in the books. It is not too early to start talking about award contenders. UM quarterback Darian Mensah is firmly among the top Heisman Trophy contenders. Mensah currently has the second-best odds to win the award, according to FanDuel.

Through four games, the Hurricanes quarterback still has more touchdown passes (14) than incompletions (12). He has 1,211 passing yards.

Mensah was good at Tulane and Duke, but he has been elite through four games with the Hurricanes. Pro Football Focus gave Mensah a 91.8 offensive grade against Central Michigan, and he has a 94.1 grade this season, which is the best in the nation.

“I think (the offensive line does) a great job of protection up front,” Mensah said. “And I think that I’ve got elite pass catchers, and so I don’t feel like I have to press or do anything spectacular. I just got to put it in play, and my guys will do the rest.”

Lockdown defense

Central Michigan entered Saturday’s game with one of the worst offenses in FBS. Miami did what an elite defense should do to a poor offense: lock it down. Miami gave up 40 yards on its first defensive drive and allowed a field goal, but didn’t allow a first down for another three drives.

The Chippewas are an option-style offense, and they prefer to keep the ball on the ground. UM did not allow them to do that; CMU finished the game with only 37 yards (not including negative yards on sacks) after averaging 219 rushing yards in their first three games.

“I would say that was just our standard,” said defensive end Marquise Lightfoot, who had two sacks and a forced fumble. “We came in knowing that they prioritized running the ball, so we just wanted to stop it.”

Forced to pass, the Chippewas could not move the ball. They averaged 3.1 yards per play and turned the ball over three times. The Hurricanes were constantly in the backfield, sacking CMU quarterbacks four times. UM had 15 quarterback pressures, according to PFF.

Miami-Clemson kickoff time announced

Looking for O-line answers

Miami’s offensive line has been imperfect early in the season. The two young starting guards, sophomores SJ Alofaituli and Max Buchanan, have had what Cristobal described as “growing pains.”

On Saturday, Miami tried out different combinations on the line. Freshman Ben Congdon and transfer Jamal Meriweather got reps with the first team as UM searches for the best group of five linemen. Meriweather even scored a touchdown, falling on a loose ball when running back Jordan Lyle fumbled into the end zone.

“I thought SJ, Max, Ben and Jamal, at least out there just seeing it with the naked eye, … (they) created a lot of movement up front, created some vertical push and finished blocks,” Cristobal said.

Get healthy and ready for Clemson

Miami has dealt with more than its fair share of injuries so far this season. The Hurricanes opted to keep two players on the bench this week as they recovered from injuries they suffered against Wake Forest.

Fortunately for UM, Cristobal said Fletcher Jr. and standout defensive tackle Ahmad Moten Sr. missed Saturday’s game for precautionary reasons. The UM coach made it seem likely that both of those players will play next week against Clemson. Additionally, Cristobal said defensive lineman Armondo Blount should be OK after he was removed due to an injury; Cristobal said Blount’s medical tests during the game were negative.

The Hurricanes’ game against the Tigers, which will be at 7:30 p.m. next Saturday, will be Miami’s biggest test thus far.

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