Manny Diaz has had a catastrophic run as the Head Coach of the Miami Hurricanes. Since Diaz took over for Mark Richt (26-13), Manny is sitting at 18 Wins and 14 Losses a little over halfway through his third season. Following the horrendous 2-4 start, Canes fans around the nation were clamoring for Manny’s head. With major programs like USC and LSU making mid-season coaching decisions, many wondered what Miami was waiting for. I was one of them. As all hope was lost in Diaz’s tenure, the Hurricanes upset two ranked teams in consecutive weeks. The seat is still hot for Manny, but there is upside to CMD keeping the reins for one more season.
Significant Improvement
The 2-4 Miami Hurricanes were a joke. The team played with little discipline, horrible offense, and non-existent defense. After two full seasons, the Canes looked to be regressing rather than developing. This is a major factor for the heat surrounding Manny Diaz. But following the Bye Week, a new team took the field. Here are some numbers to compare.
First 6 (2-4 Start), First 5 FBS (Coastal Connecticut stats removed), Last 2 (NC State and Pitt)
Per Game Averages
The numbers speak for themselves. Since Tyler Van Dyke took over the offense, the Miami offense has been night and day from the first 6 games. Despite a significant dip in the rushing averages, the Canes are averaging nearly 85 more total yards per game against FBS opponents. The defense is still a major concern for this team. The ability to slow the passing game has been nearly impossible for this team. But the numbers do not show that the defense stepped up late to seal the win against Pittsburgh, with a Heisman caliber Quarterback. Overall the team is finally showing signs of development.
Manny made the adjustments in the depth chart allowing the young talent to see the field, and they are excelling. A major change needed to be made, and Manny made the correct one. The veterans were not getting the job done, and the young talent stepped up early. The promise of the young talent producing under the current regime is hard to ignore. There are still games to be played, but if the Canes continue to look like “The New Miami” then Manny has earned a full season with the team.
Recruiting
One thing that can’t be taken away from Manny Diaz is the offseason. The Canes have arguably won every offseason since CMD took over the program. Manny has had major success in the transfer portal as well as beating out Florida and Florida State for local talent. Not only are top recruits signing letters, they are playing well early. To name a few, Tyler Van Dyke, James Williams, Kameron Kitchens, Charleston Rambo, and Tyrique Stevenson were all brought in by Diaz and have been incredible this season. The talent is showing up and showing out. There has been no question as to his ability to bring in great pieces, he has to prove he can develop them and put them in the correct positions to succeed. The last two games have shown he is capable of winning big games and turning recruiting stars into wins on the field, consistency is the biggest question moving forward. If the Canes move on from Diaz it will be hard to replace his eye for talent and ability to land them.
Locker Room Presence
After one of the worst starts in Miami Hurricanes history, it would be easy for the team to break down. Commonly after disastrous starts, players no longer buy in, players hit the transfer portal, and the on field effort goes down the drain. The opposite happened. The Canes rallied from the roars of disappointment from the fanbase and local media, and played harder than ever to change the trajectory of the season. A lot of credit has to be given for a roster of highly talented players not giving up on the program and looking elsewhere to develop their talents. These last two games show how much respect the players have for Manny. The schematics and preparation couldn’t have looked worse during the first six games, but the leadership in the locker room never shook. The team is playing their best football with nothing but pride to play for. It is clear the entire Miami staff needs to step up in getting this team to the program’s standards, but the current state of the locker room is nearly unheard of for a 4-4 team with championship aspirations and All-American talent.
Everyone who follows College Football knows that the 2021 Miami Hurricanes have been a disappointment and an outright bad football team. Poor coaching, poor playing, and very little to be proud of. But Manny has shown glaring bright spots for the development of the program. Rome was not built in one day, and neither were the Hurricanes that dominated college football for decades. Manny has not done enough to lock in his job security, but if the Canes continue to play high level football, Manny should be given one more chance with the roster and culture that he has built.
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