Paul Peck's Bull Session: Miami (OH)
11/17/2013 12:00:00 AM | Football
Each week, Voice of Bulls Football Paul Peck will preview the upcoming game.
Buffalo (7-3, 5-1) vs. Miami (0-10, 0-6)
Patrick Clarke, look what you've done. The Bulls kicker has changed the fortunes of two football teams, all with one kick. It was last season, November 3rd. Clarke's 47-yard field goal at the buzzer gave the Bulls a 27-24 win over the Miami RedHawks. That confidence-building, belief-inducing victory has started a stretch where UB has won 10 of 14 games. This memorable season may not have happened without that kick, and that win.
On the other sideline, that heart-breaking loss has started a downward spiral for the RedHawks. It began a four-game losing streak to end the season, a streak that has not ended. Miami has dropped 13 straight since that game. Their coach at the time, Don Treadwell, has been fired. Now, the RedHawks have to look across the line and see the team that started it all.
Bullseye on: Buffalo Defense
Despite giving up 51 points and 551 yards to Toledo, the Bulls maintain their #2 MAC ranking in total defense, #2 ranking in points allowed and #1 ranking in third down defense…It was the first game in the last seven that the UB defense did not have a sack or a takeaway (Toledo was given a lost fumble on the onside kick recovery)…Okezie Alozie continues to play well in place of Adam Redden. The sophomore safety/linebacker had a career-high eight tackles…With two more tackles for loss, Khalil Mack is now all alone in second place on the NCAA's all-time career list. He is just 5.5 away from tying Jason Babin's record….Missed in the craziness of the game, was Mack tying his career high with 15 tackles. His 14th was the 300th tackle of Mack's career…Miami's Zac Dysert is now in the NFL with the Broncos. While Bulls fans are happy to see him gone, he has been hard to replace in Oxford, OH. Austin Boucher began the season as the new starter. But he struggled, and three games ago, was lost for the season with an injury. For the past two games, the RedHawks have used two players to replace him. Redshirt-freshman Austin Gearing is big, at 6-5 and 220 pounds. He is a runner, who has thrown only 11 passes in his two starts. But he is the Red Hawks leading rusher with 381 yards. The Bulls defense will also see sophomore Drew Kummer, who is more of a passer. Sometimes, the RedHawks have rotated them on a play-to-play basis. But this week, interim head coach Mike Bath said he is going to give Gearing more of an extended chance to run the offense…Also gone off the Miami offense is receiver Nick Harwell. He left the school and transferred to Kansas. Last year, the All-MAC wideout had three TD vs. the Bulls…Gearing is Miami's leading rusher, and receiver Dawan Scott is the second leading rusher. He has carried the ball 26 times on end-arounds and jet sweeps…Jeff Quinn says the MU offense will run Gearing out of a formation featuring no running backs, two tight ends and three receivers…Miami has only three rushing TD's all season, with the longest one just three yards…The Miami offense has struggled mightily in almost every area. They are last in the MAC in points, yards, rushing, passing, third downs, sacks allowed and red zone scoring. They are dead last and ranked 123rd in the NCAA in scoring (9.6 points game), total offense (222 yards) and red zone offense.
Where do I start to describe Joe Licata's second half performance against Toledo? It was record-setting, but more than that, it may have been a glimpse into the future. If next year's offense, minus Oliver & Neutz, relies more on Joe's arm, it should be a lot of fun to watch. Joe's 497 yards are a new UB record, the seventh highest total in MAC history and the sixth most yards in an NCAA game this season…In that second half, Joe hit 24/36 for 382 yards and 4 TD…Licata joins Northern Illinois' Jordan Lynch as the only MAC quarterbacks to threw a TD pass in every game…With 20 TD passes this season, Licata is just 5 away from Drew Willy's single-season record…Joe has thrown just one interception in his last 182 passes…While Licata moves towards more records, Alex Neutz got a big one against Toledo. He now has 30 career TD catches, breaking Naaman Roosevelt's record…With two more catches, Neutz will pass Brett Hamlin for third in career catches behind Roosevelt and Drew Haddad….Alex had two more against Toledo, giving him eight catches of 40 yards or more this season…Let's not forget the other receiver, Fred Lee. He had career-high eight catches and 110 yards against the Rockets. That gives Fred 30 catches and three TDs in MAC play…Good to see Jimmy Gordon put up career-high numbers. I loved his run after the catch…Did you notice the strategic change the Bulls offensive coaches made in the second half running game? Foiled by Toledo's quickness in stopping the outside zone runs, the Bulls went old-school I-formation with Licata under center and fullback Kendall Patterson leading the way. Oliver had 78 yards in the second half…Thanks to a statistical correction, Oliver is up to fifth in the NCAA in rushing yards per game. Remember, he missed one start so his total numbers are a bit lower than the other leaders…The Bulls are outscoring opponents 172-75 in the second half, 100-28 in the third quarter and 72-47 in the final 15 minutes…Miami's defense has struggled, much like its offense. They are 12th in the MAC in yards allowed, 10th in points allowed and 10th in rushing yards allowed…Cornerback Dayonne Nunley is their best defender. First-team All-MAC last year, the senior has had some great battles covering Neutz. I'll be curious to see if the RedHawks match him up on #19 no matter what side they're on…The other Miami cornerback is a true freshman. Heath Harding is very talented and he could replace Nunley as an all-conference performer…Middle linebacker Kent Kern leads MU in tackles, and ranks seventh in the MAC.
Bullseye on: Trap Game?
I've never bought the concept of a trap game, but you can't help but think about it heading into this one. Next up for the Bulls, it's the MAC East championship game against Bowling Green at Ralph Wilson Stadium. But here's why I don't expect there to be any letdown against the RedHawks. The second half effort against Toledo showed me the leadership and determination of the Bulls players and coaches. They did not quit, and nearly fought their way to a magical victory. The team's leaders will not allow the squad to look past Miami. Linebacker Lee Skinner called this "Redemption Week." Lee said "the comeback makes us stronger." That focus will have the Bulls locked in on only one opponent Tuesday: the Miami Red Hawks.
Please join me, color analyst Jim Kubiak, sideline reporter Scott Wilson and host Brad Riter for the broadcast on the Bulls Football Network. Our pregame show starts at 7:00pm. You can hear it in Buffalo on Sportsradio 1270 The Fan (www.sportsradio1270.com), in Rochester on Sports 1280 WHTK (www.whtk.com) or on the I Heart Radio app.
