David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
Saturday provided another disappointment that has been haunting the Miami (OH) RedHawks all season. Their inability to sustain drives and score points have the RedHawks sitting at 0-3 following their 14-0 loss at the hands of the Cincinnati Bearcats.
Their schedule will not get any easier this coming weekend as the RedHawks travel to Champaign, Illinois. The RedHawks must pull out all of the stops offensively and utilize the entire playbook if they are to defeat the Illinois Fighting Illini on Saturday.
The RedHawks’ lack of offensive firepower is clearly evident this season. In last week’s loss to the Bearcats, the team gained a total of 87 yards for the entire game. The RedHawks continue to fail to put points up on the board, and as a team they rank 124th in the nation in scoring offense averaging seven points per game.
The offensive line continues to fail in opening up holes for the running game as the RedHawks are averaging 60 rushing yards per game (120th in the nation).
The passing game has not been much better. The RedHawks are 121st in the nation with 89.3 passing yards per game. RedHawks quarterback Austin Boucher has been under constant pressure and has completed 40.4 percent of his passes with one touchdown and three interceptions. That type of offensive production will not get the job done against their Big 10 conference opponent this weekend.
If the RedHawks are to compete this coming weekend they will need to run the football. Illinois’ defense is surrendering 162 rushing yards per game. The RedHawks must control the clock and keep Illini quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase on the sidelines. The Illini are averaging 37 points per game, and Scheelhaase can burn the RedHawks with his arm and his legs. On the season, Scheelhaase has completed 63.4 percent of his passes with seven touchdowns and two interceptions.
The Miami (OH) defense has been opportunistic on the season with a +2 in turnover margin.
Game time is set for 12pm at Illinois.
Joseph Lisi is a MAC writer for www.Rantsports.com, follow him on Twitter @GoForthe2, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google
