Notable playing time developments, grades, nuggets, thoughts on UM’s defense

University of Miami admin September 5, 2026 0 Comments

Notable playing time developments, grades, nuggets, thoughts on UM’s defense

A six-pack of nuggets, data and thoughts on UM’s defense (and special teams) in the wake of Friday’s 45-6 win at Stanford:

▪ The bottom line results were plenty good enough: Stanford mustered just two field goals on 11 possessions, amassed less than 300 yards (299) and went 5 for 16 on third and fourth downs.

But pass coverage was surprisingly leaky at times, both in man coverage and zone. That was partly a byproduct of OJ Frederique’s early departure with a shoulder injury.

But there was more to it than that.

Safety Zachariah Poyser allowed four completions in five targets for 34 yards, per PFF.

Linebacker Mo Toure permitted both passes in his coverage area to be caught for 21 yards.

Edge player Marquise Lightfoot dropped into coverage a few times, was targeted twice and allowed both passes to be caught for 21 yards.

Chase Smith wasn’t in good position on another passing play where he dropped into coverage.

Compounding the issue was UM’s failure to get to the quarterback. Armondo Blount had Miami’s only sack, and PFF credited UM with only seven quarterback hurries (three by Blount, and one apiece by Omar Thornton, Chase Smith, Lightfoot and Justin Scott).

Ballyhooed addition Damon Wilson II, the Missouri transfer, didn’t have a pressure on 26 pass rushing chances.

All of this – lack of pass rush, coverage breakdowns – weren’t especially costly against a weak opponent missing multiple starters. But more is needed against better competition.

“Credit to their coaching style; credit to their players being smart, finding open holes in zone and stuff,” Poyser said. “But that stuff, you’ve got to get back to the drawing board and fix that. So I think we’ll do that.”

▪ Frederique was limited to two snaps because of the injury; Mario Cristobal had no update after the game.

Damari Brown started opposite Frederique, played 55 snaps and allowed only two of seven targets to be caught, but for 34 yards. It’s vital he stay healthy, with Frederique and Ja’boree Antoine sidelined.

Xavier Lucas played 39 snaps and permitted three completions in six targets for 52 yards.

Ethan O’Connor logged 26 snaps and his only target was an incomplete pass.

UM gave cornerback snaps late in the game to Chris Ewald (9) and freshman Camdin Portis (9).

Thornton, the Boston College transfer, played in the nickel role – as he has all offseason – and permitted two receptions in six targets for 19 yards in his 40 defensive snaps.

At safety, Poyser and Bryce Fitzgerald each played a team-high 61 snaps, and JJ Dunnigan played 33 in his college debut and wasn’t targeted. Isaiah Taylor and Ryan Mack logged nine defensive snaps apiece and freshman Cortez Redding played four. Dylan Day was sidelined due to injury.

▪ At inside linebacker, Chase Smith played 44 snaps, Toure 36, Kamal Bonner 18, Kellen Wiley 15 and Cam Pruitt 13.

PFF rated Wiley, Bonner and Pruitt fifth, sixth and seventh among all UM defenders on Friday, with Toure 10th and Smith 21st. Smith easily won the starting role opposite Toure, but this wasn’t his best night.

▪ At defensive tackle, Moten played 45 snaps, Justin Scott 44, Keona Davis 21, Jarquez Carter 11 and Mykah Newton 4. Davis, the Nebraska transfer, came on strong in August to beat out Carter for the No. 3 role.

On Friday, PFF rated Scott 8th and Moten just 25th. Carter was rated Miami’s worst defender on Friday.

▪ At edge/defensive end, Lightfoot played 47 snaps and made a couple of crushing tackles for minimal gains on rushing plays. He’s looking like he has grown into a complete end.

Wilson played 44 snaps and had no tackles (beyond no quarterback pressures).

Blount played 28 snaps, Herbert Scroggins 22, Booker Pickett 9, Ezekiel Marcellin 8 and freshman Asharri Charles 4.

Scroggins looks like the No. 4 end at the moment, but this will be a fluid – and weekly – competition.

PFF rated Lightfoot as Miami’s second best player on defense Friday, behind only Frederique, who played two snaps. Wilson was 22nd.

▪ Special teams: As we noted last week, FSU transfer Jake Weinberg had a very impressive August (he was perfect with field goals in two scrimmages) and beat out Northwestern transfer Jack Olsen.

Weinberg hit all six extra points and nailed his only field goal, from 46 yards.

At FSU, 56 of his 61 kickoffs were touchbacks. But Stanford returned three of his kickoffs on Friday, for 54 yards.

Here’s my Saturday morning with 10 nuggets and notes on UM’s offense.

This story was originally published September 5, 2026 at 3:05 PM.