who had the highest grade, snap count, pass coverage and sack metrics, more

A six-pack of Pro Football Focus nuggets from the Miami Hurricanes’ spectacular and extremely entertaining 5-0 38-34 win over Virginia Tech Friday night at Hard Rock Stadium:

▪ The defensive backfield has always been this team’s concern, and the problem is magnified with the indefinite absence of Damari Brown.

Cornerback Daryl Porter Jr., who was supposed to be UM’s top corner, struggled for a second straight game, allowing six of seven passes to be completed in his zone coverage, for 50 yards.

Cornerback Jadais Richard allowed three of four targets to be caught for 59 yards.

The stats were much better for Dyoni Hill (one of two catch targets for seven yards) and freshman OJ Frédérique (one target and one catch against him, but for minus three yards).

▪ The safety play wasn’t particularly good either, although Mishael Powell had an interception. Powell and Jaden Harris (who was injured in the first half) each allowed a TD pass.

Powell allowed 3 of 5 passes to be caught for 36 yards. The only completion Harris allowed was a 25-yard touchdown.

Markeith Williams, who replaced the injured Harris, was not targeted on a pass, according to PFF. Harris did not return to the game.

▪ What we didn’t expect were holes in the run defense. Virginia Tech rushed 32 times for 206 yards (6.4 per carry). This can partly be blamed on Simeon Barrow Jr’s injury in the second quarter.

But the problems extended far beyond that.

Among Miami’s front seven defenders, PFF gave excellent run defense grades to Wesley Bissainthe (who played 23 snaps of run defense) and Ahmad Moten (16) and mediocre grades to Tyler Baron (who played 20 snaps of run defense) and Francisco Mauigoa (28).

Miami missed 13 tackles, including three from Mauogia. One of Mauogia’s missed tackles came on a long Virginia Tech scoring play. It was an uncharacteristically poor game for one of UM’s best defenders.

PFF gave defensive linemen Elija Alston and Akheem Mesidor average shutdown grades.

▪ Pass protection sometimes broke down.

According to PFF, left tackle Markel Bell, center Zach Carpenter and right guard Anez Cooper each allowed a sack.

UM allowed 16 quarterback pressures, including five from Carpenter and four from Cooper. (Carpenter and Baron were injured during the match.)

Right tackle Francis Mauogia and left guard Matthew McCoy were UM’s two best run blockers among offensive linemen, according to PFF.

▪ UM’s top five offensive players on Friday, according to PFF: tight end Cam McCormick, quarterback Cam Ward, Francis Mauogia, tight end Elijah Arroyo and running back Mark Fletcher Jr.

Here’s how the snaps were assigned to the running back: Damien Martinez 39, Fletcher 23, Chris Johnson 6, Jordan Lyle 5 and Ajay Allen 2.

Here’s how the snaps were allocated to receiver: Xavier Restrepo (67 of UM’s 74 offensive snaps), Sam Brown (49), Jacolby George (47), Isaiah Horton (40) and Ray Ray Joseph (1).

On the tight end, Arroyo played 49 offensive snaps, Riley Williams 18, McCormick 16 and Elija Lofton 8.

▪ UM’s five best defensive players on Friday, according to PFF: Bissainthe and defensive tackles Justin Scott, Marley Cook, Barrow and Clark.

Barrow played 23 snaps. Also at defensive tackle, Akheem Mesidor played 49, Moten 32, Clark 23, freshman Scott 14 and Cook 10….

At cornerback, Richard played all 68 snaps. Porter played 62, Hill 39 and Frédérique 35.

At safety, Powell played all 68 snaps. Harris played 29 before leaving and Williams 25. Freshman Zaquan Patterson played 14 defensive snaps.

Our Jordan McPherson has more on the crazy finish here. And here’s more on Ward’s big night.