Third-down ineptitude highlights Hurricanes 'execution' woes

CORAL GABLES, Fla. -- Over the course of a season, certain words become synonymous with the coaches and players surrounding a program.

For the University of Miami, "execution" -- or the lack thereof -- has become a major point of emphasis through the first six games.

Whether it was the offense's struggles in the opener against Louisville or the defense's troubles at Nebraska two weeks ago, not finishing plays has equated to three losses for the Hurricanes. Getting all three phases of the team clicking in the same game has been difficult to achieve.

"Execution starts with the head coach and goes all the way through the organization," head coach Al Golden said on Tuesday. "Just because I'm saying execution is the issue doesn't recluse anybody. Me, the staff, the defensive leaders and players -- when a player doesn't execute we all fail. Bottom line on gameday. If we don't have the right call, if we don't execute, we all fail. It's immaterial who we think the source is. When we don't execute we all fail. I think if you look back at that game (in Nebraska) we have to get off the field on third down, especially in medium and long. We did not make them pay and did not take the ball away. If you don't it's going to be a long day."

But why is execution still an issue halfway through the season after practices during the spring, over the summer and every week leading up to games?

A lack of consistency could be a reason. It is an aspiration, one that is attainable, but hard for younger players learning through game experience.

Five months ago, for example, true freshman quarterback Brad Kaaya was graduating from high school. In four of the six games, he has been intercepted multiple times. Only in the Duke matchup did he not commit a turnover.

"I think for us in terms of staying consistent it's more in practice just practicing good habits and not developing bad ones," Kaaya said. "It's hard sometimes when you practice every day. It's hard. (Tuesday) it was raining. When it's 90 degrees outside it's hard to stay focused for that long. For us it's staying focused and that will improve consistency."

Senior wideout Phillip Dorsett and junior All-ACC running back Duke Johnson agreed. As the adage goes, "practice the way you play and play the way you practice." 

Not transferring what guys learn in practice to games could be part of the issue. Momentarily losing focus or straying away from what coaches preach would affect performance.

"There's some guys not doing what they're trained to do, not really being too into the details the coaches say," Johnson said. "Really not taking first and second down as important as we should. We as an offense not really executing the way we should. There's really no way to explain it. We're just not doing what we're supposed to do and know we're capable of doing."

No statistic better represents Miami's inconsistent execution than the failures on third downs. At 24 percent, the conversion rate ranks last in the nation. The Hurricanes are 84th in total yards (394) and 70th in points (27.5) per game.

It's hard to imagine with an offense that boasts playmakers like Johnson, Dorsett, sophomore Stacy Coley, junior Herb Waters, freshman Braxton Berrios and senior tight end Clive Walford.

On the second drive of Saturday's loss to Georgia Tech, a dropped pass forced a punt. Inadequate yardage gained on first and second downs has set up third-and-long in previous games. That, in turn, puts added pressure on guys to make up for a play and make success less likely.

"Got to execute, got to catch the ball," Dorsett said. "We've got to do everything right. Third down is real critical. It all goes down to execution, and we didn't do that. We have to work on that a lot. Got to catch the ball. You've got to do everything right. We had some mishaps, but that happens."

Maybe trying to do too much is a factor? Preparation doesn't seem to be the case as senior linebacker Denzel Perryman stated players know the playbook. Their roles get drilled into their heads every day at practice.

As a defense, guys must follow through with their assignments, fill their gaps and lock down tackles or else opponents will run wild like the Cornhuskers and Yellow Jackets did for 661 combined yards. Including those two matchups, the unit still ranks 16th in total yards allowed (312). Twice, though, it has permitted 30 points or more (both losses).

Even Perryman, an All-ACC performer, acknowledged he doesn't execute each play. Perfection is an ideal. If he doesn't do his job on every play, surely his less experienced teammates don't.

"Everybody's not happy with losing and whatnot," Perryman said. "We're just unhappy right now because we could've performed way better than we did but didn't. We left a lot of plays on the field. Everybody knows the playbook. Like I said all it comes down to is execution. After we lost to Nebraska I felt like guys wanted to do too much. I felt like we had that going on (Saturday). Like I said it's just comes down to execution."

Or maybe it's the simple fact that football is a team sport?

With 11 players on the field, it's hard for each guy to execute a play the way it was meant to be. One person veering away from the script -- one unable to block or make the tackle -- can be the difference between a play for negative yardage and one that goes for a touchdown.

"You really can't pinpoint everything," Berrios said. "Overall it's not him or him or him. It's, 'If 10 people do great on one play and one person does bad then that was the problem on one play.' The next play it might be somebody else or it might be everybody perfect. There's really no pinpoint source that you can say why a drive stalls or we don't execute on third downs. It's as a team we're not executing to our potential, and I think that's our focus right now."

A shot at the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game is now an outside chance with six games remaining. If the Hurricanes (3-3) hope to keep it a possibility, they must rebound this Saturday when they host Cincinnati (2-2). After that, stringing together a winning streak is essential.

Talent isn't in short supply. True freshmen like Kaaya and Berrios and seniors like Perryman and defensive lineman Olsen Pierre are contributing. But a play here or a play there can be the difference. A misstep gets magnified on both sides of the football.

We've just got to focus on ourselves," Pierre said. "We've got to make better plays ourselves, execute the defense more. Guys can't do one thing. Whenever our number's called we've got to execute on that play. We can't worry about what the other teams do. When we do what we're doing well we can't be stopped. Some guys just mess up, so we've just got to focus more on what we've got to do."

You can follow Christina De Nicola on Twitter @CDeNicola13 or email her at cdenicola13@gmail.com.