Click Here to See the Archive of all 2012 MPI Reviewed Miami Dolphins and Miami Hurricanes Games
Canesport.com Publisher’s Note: “Mind Games” is a column written for CaneSport each week by John Murray, a noted sports psychologist and author who has developed an index for evaluating the mental performance of players and coaches in games. We think it will provide all of us with a unique viewpoint as the Hurricanes navigate through the season.
My heart still thumps to the Miami fight song from last Saturday. It had to be one of the most entertaining games I’ve enjoyed in years. Nineteen straight points for the U. 36 for Georgia Tech. Then 23 more for Miami.
Not only was this game odd in terms of scoring, the two styles of play could not have been more contrasting. This game resembled the collision of a modern airborne unit against ancient hordes of running barbarians. Whereas Stephen Morris heaved 52 lasers, connecting on 31 for 436 yards (99th percentile), the Jackets completed only three passes but had 287 yards rushing (also 99th percentile). This is what happens when playmakers like Stephen Morris, Mike James, Phillip Dorsett and Duke Johnson led by Al Golden go up against Paul Johnson’s triple option. The bottom line: Miami is 3-1!
Let’s take a look at the MPI chart to see what really went on:
Georgia Tech Miami Hurricanes Offense .451 Offense .524 Defense .407 Defense .489 Special Teams .594 Special Teams .518 Pressure Offense .397 Pressure Offense .597 Pressure Defense .344 Pressure Defense .528 Total Pressure .371 Total Pressure .563
Total MPI Score .444 Total MPI Score .509
Miami clearly outperformed Georgia Tech (.509 to .444) and they did it on offense, defense and in pressure situations. Georgia Tech was better on special teams. The most impressive statistic of all was Miami’s 609 total yards, which is about the 99.9th percentile, so it is way off the charts impressive.
In this kind of seesaw battle, it’s often hard to know which team was really better and this game could have gone either way in the end. Miami was fortunate to make an impressive comeback and pull it out thanks to a great defensive stop followed by Mike James’ run, but the numbers over four quarters and overtime tell us that Miami really was the better team and deserved to win. Georgia Tech dominated in one quarter.
Georgia Tech played a cleaner game with fewer penalties (five versus eight for Miami) and had no turnovers (versus 2 for Miami) but it was still not enough to stop Mike James and company. James had four touchdowns (three rushing) while rambling for 89 yards on 15 carries.
Al Golden showed his humanity and his care for his players after that horrible dislocated ankle suffered by Malcolm Lewis. If Golden stays in Miami a long time, I have a feeling this program is on its way back to national prominence very soon.
There are still problems and Miami’s defense continues to under perform in comparison to its offense, but you do have to love the way the defensive line came through when they had to against Tech.
North Carolina State comes to town this Saturday for a key ACC matchup. I do like Miami’s chances, but NC State is not going to be easy by any stretch. The U is still very young, they are making too many mistakes, and the defense is very suspect at times. I am also leery about any team following that kind of euphoric victory. The best coaches in history – and I am sure Al Golden knows this – will keep the team hungry and striving for improvement rather than thinking even one thought about the big win. That was then, and it was a potential season changer, but once you think you have it made is when you’re ready to get smacked.
Let’s get all of South Florida out to the stadium this weekend and cheer loud and long. Go Canes! Go 4-1 now.
Dr. John F. Murray, described as “The Freud of Football” by the Washington Post, is a South Florida native and licensed clinical and sports psychologist in Palm Beach. He provides mental coaching and sports psychology services, counseling, speeches and seminars. He recently authored his second book, “The Mental Performance Index: Ranking the Best Teams in Super Bowl History,” destroying stigmas about the mental game in sports and showing football teams how to perform better and win more games by enhancing team performance assessments and training. For further information call Dr. Murray at 561-596-9898, visit johnfmurray.com or email johnfmurray@mindspring.com.
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