Miami’s Branson Deen has an advantage over many other defensive linemen around the nation. When he is practicing, he is going against one of the nation’s top offensive lines. That may mean he gets fewer winning reps in practice, but it pays off in the end.
“It’s better for us because you kind of get to see where you’re at,” Deen said. “When you do get a win you appreciate it a whole lot more, I can tell you that.”
Through the season’s first two months, the Hurricanes’ offensive line has proven to be among the nation’s best, showing proof of concept for coach Mario Cristobal — a former offensive lineman himself — and offensive line coach Alex Mirabal’s philosophy of building successful teams from the trenches out.
“That group is probably the biggest reason, offensively, that we’re 6-2, right?” offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson said. “We’ve leaned on that group. The luxury here is I have a lot of different areas to go to try to move the ball. If we need to rely on them, we can rely on them, and that’s been awesome. Those guys have been extremely solid, week-to-week, and the pass protection was excellent. Everything they do is really on point.”
Miami’s offensive line had perhaps its finest performance of the season in a win over Virginia. The Cavaliers, who are tied for last in the nation with seven sacks, did not touch quarterback Tyler Van Dyke. Not only did they not sack the UM quarterback, they did not even get one quarterback pressure, according to Pro Football Focus.
Deen knows the struggles those Virginia defensive linemen were dealing with all day, having seen it in practice.
“I think … (the offensive line is) one of the best groups, and you can see it on film, of working together and working on a string, man,” Deen said.
“Truly frustrating when you’ve got a three-technique that’s trying to work through the B-gap, and the tackle’s got his hand sitting there for the guard, blocking off your gap while also kicking out to the edge and being able to cut off his path. It’s really frustrating, but they work on a string, man, and they’re really good. … It’s going to be tough around those guys and get to the quarterback. I think people are realizing it now.”
The Hurricanes have allowed only eight sacks this season, which is tied for the 10th-best mark in the nation. Pro Football Focus gives Miami an 84.9 pass-blocking grade, which is tied for the fourth-best mark. UM has a 73.0 run-blocking grade, which is tied for 14th.
“They’ve got a lot of pride. They work really hard. They’re talented, they’re tough,” Cristobal said. “Coach Mirabal grinds them. They believe in him. He believes in them. It’s a great room. It’s a great, great room. Those guys are a lot of fun to be around, and they are pushed really, really hard, and there’s no sensitivity in there. None of them are going to, in any way, shape or form, be taken aback when we get after them.”
Left guard Javion Cohen, who paced Miami’s linemen with an 86.6 pass-blocking grade against Virginia, and center Matt Lee both attributed a lot of the line’s success to coaching from Cristobal and Mirabal.
Cohen also credited the line’s attitude.
“I think it starts with our process of preparation,” Cohen said. “We attack every day with enthusiasm, with the will and the want to be 1-0 at the end of the week. And with that process and how we approach it, it shows that taking that mindset allows you to improve yourself. We’ve all taken this challenge of being the culture and soul of this team and trying to move everything forward together.”
Lee cited another strong point in favor of UM’s offensive line. So far, the Hurricanes’ five starting linemen — Lee, Cohen, left tackle Jalen Rivers, right guard Anez Cooper and right tackle Francis Mauigoa — have been lining up with each other since the spring with little interruption. The five linemen have all played over 500 snaps, and none of the players have suffered any serious injuries.
“Once you’re playing real football games and you’re in the season, your chemistry and whatnot continues to grow every game, every week in practice, on the field on Saturday,” Lee said.
Miami will have a difficult task ahead of it on Saturday. After facing one of the worst pass-rushing teams in the nation last week, they will now go against one of the best. The N.C. State Wolfpack are 20th nationally with 24 sacks this season.
“They’re good,” Lee said. “They’ve got good players. They’ve got a good scheme. They’re well-coached. They run that 3-3-5, the 3-5 stack. They’ll drop down more … and bring one of the safeties in as another linebacker so they’ve got seven guys in the box sometimes. … Not a lot of teams do run the 3-3-5, but the teams that run it well, like N.C. State … it’s a hard defense to play against.”