Click Here to See the Archive of all 2012 MPI Reviewed Miami Dolphins and Miami Hurricanes Games
Canesport Magazine 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.
The beat goes on and Miami earned a solid 38-10 victory over a very poor Bethune-Cookman team. What does that mean? Not much, but we’ll start on a positive note. It means that this growing Al Golden enterprise earned another victory and is now 2-1 in a season in which few give the Hurricanes a chance at more than 5 or 6 wins. It means that this team avoided a major upset and came to work with their game faces on and made it happen.
Looking closer at MPI data and traditional statistics, there are both positives to report and also strong reasons to be concerned. First of all, below is the MPI data from this game: Miami Bethune-Cookman Offense .535 Offense .430 Defense .556 Defense .446 Special Teams .625 Special Teams .382 Pressure Offense .295 Pressure Offense .342 Pressure Defense .688 Pressure Defense .675 Total Pressure .528 Total Pressure .457
Total MPI Score .552 Total MPI Score .430
This game was not played at a high level of performance. Combined MPI total scores were below 1.0 (.982) as each team turned the ball over twice and Miami had 7 penalties versus 9 for Bethune Cookman. Penalties and turnovers often reflect poor focus, and Miami’s slow start in this game was ugly at best. Thank goodness again for Mr. Duke Johnson, who electrified his Canes with a kickoff return touchdown right on the heels of the Bethune touchdown to go up 7-0. Eventually the better team prevailed and Miami gained momentum as the game progressed, but it took a player like Duke to wake his team up and keep them up, and we should all be glad we have him on our side. His 6.7 average per run with 94 yards on 14 carries and 2 touchdowns shined. While it’s way too early, I see NFL all over him.
Miami ultimately dominated this game in terms of overall performance (MPI-T .552 to .430) and they should have. They were far better in all three phases of the game (offense, defense and special teams) and special teams were again the most special unit for Miami (.625 to .382 advantage). I think teams at all levels of football are realizing that special teams are far more important than they might have previously acknowledged. It really makes a difference when you win the field position battle, convert on extra points, make field goals, achieve touchbacks, tackle well on returns, and return well on punts and kickoffs. It comes first and sets the stage for what is to come. It limits or expands what the offense and defense is able to do. Kickers, punters, long-snappers and kamikaze blockers and tacklers are undervalued commodities whose stock seems to keep rising.
In this game, pressure situations favored both defenses greatly. In other words, in key third and fourth down situations both offenses faltered whereas the defenses dominated. Miami did have a better overall pressure score which is some consolation, but the offense better make plays when it counts against Georgia Tech or it is going to be a long day.
The biggest concern as Georgia Tech looms is that Miami gave up 233 yards rushing to Bethune-Cookman. Georgia Tech has gained 1,122 yards in three games, which places them No. 1 in the country in rushing! Are you kidding me? This is almost unheard of power!
At that rate, Georgia Tech is going to amass 1,000 yards of rushing (kidding, but you get the point) and Miami’s defense is in for the test of their lives! They better learn to clog the middle, stop the option, hold off the outside blocks and swarm to the ball, prevent outside runs, guard against the option, and all the same cover well enough when the defense moves into the box to stop the run. Whew, thank goodness I am not a player or coach, but as a sports psychologist I see danger when it comes at me like a runaway train. Defense is psychological. Get ready for war! Get mad. Get dirty (not unsportsmanlike … just tough!)
I believe that Miami is going to have to gain a two turnover advantage at least to win this coming game. The defense needs to force turnovers, hit harder than ever, and get to the quarterback. Don’t forget the intimidation factor. You are the U. You are faster and you hit harder. OK, I’ll get off my Vince Lombardi soapbox and return to the analysis.
Another more basic need starts up front with solid blocking and tackling. In terms of offense, I was very pleased to talk with Miami offensive line coach Art Kehoe a couple weeks ago about the progress of his line and all the work they have done in the off season. I sent Art a copy of “The Mental Performance Index” and he sent me a nice handwritten note back. Class guy!
Art emphasized the characteristic “us against them mentality,” where nobody expects anything but us, and that is all that matters. It was the old fashioned grind in the trenches, and the work ethic advantage that I loved to hear in Art’s voice. I believe these values have made Hurricane teams of the past great. In fact, this is what makes any team or unit great. You have to win the trenches before your Duke Johnson’s of the world can shine. Despite all his career brilliance, Dan Marino never won a Super Bowl because he never had the proper gritty trench warfare fighters on the line to go along with all his amazing artistry.
So let’s look way beyond Bethune-Cookman. That was a high school team compared with what is coming. It was an evening breeze compared with a tornado. Georgia Tech is nipping at the heels of a Top 25 ranking. But we are the Hurricanes. Look back to Kansas State to get a taste of the challenges that faces this team in this running, rambling and roaring Georgia Tech, but go knock their heads off!
I am pleased that Miami answered my call last week for a high MPI-T and .552 is nothing to shrug about. But that was then and against inferior warriors. This is now and it will require much improvement over last week to have a chance against those stinging Yellow Jackets.
Get better in key offensive situations. Get physical. Get excited. Pound them into submission. Bring home a 3-1 record. This could be the turning point of the Al Golden machine.
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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