Miami Hurricanes can't tackle so Manny Diaz says team returning to hitting in practice

Miami Hurricanes coach Manny Diaz identified four areas he will emphasize this week as his reeling program prepares to face Central Connecticut State.

And because poor tackling has been one of the major issues that has plagued Miami (1-2) throughout the season, Diaz and his staff are making his players put the gloves back on during the week.

"The video says we've got to hit more and we're going to hit more," Diaz said Monday. 

"It's hard to bring people to the ground during the season especially when you've got depth issues. But you can increase the pop. There are some things we can do to get it hot out there and that will happen (Tuesday). Our physicality can't be in question. It just can't."

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The emphasis after Miami's 38-17 home loss to Michigan State Saturday will be on:

• Physicality, including blocking and tackling.
• Catching the football.
• Protecting the football and creating turnovers.
• Red-zone efficiency on both sides.

And Diaz will dangle playing time over the heads of his players, no matter how seasoned.

"These are things we're going all in on," Diaz said. "Then it has to come down to playing time. If we've invested all these reps if you've been in our program four or five years, and we're still struggling, then you got to go on to another guy."

Junior tight end Will Mallory and senior receiver Mike Harley had crucial drops Saturday, the most glaring by Mallory, who allowed a ball to hit him in the chest and fall to the ground in the end zone. The touchdown would have stretched Miami's lead to 14-3. Instead, Andy Borregales eventually missed a 27-yard field goal attempt and Michigan State scored on its next possession to take a 10-7 lead.

Miami reportedly missed 30 tackles and the Hurricanes have graded out as the worst tackling team in the country through three games, according to Pro Football Focus 

Among those who whiffed on tackles were redshirt junior safety Bubba Bolden and junior safety Gurvan Hall. One play by Hall, who starred at Palm Beach Gardens High, went viral when he veered away from a receiver after the catch to hit a blocker. The play then went for 51 yards plus 15 more after a personal foul.

"If there's a surprise (it's) players who missed tackles are players that have been tackling well for a long time. Players that dropped passes are players who've been dependable, have had good hands," Diaz said.

This is Diaz's sixth year in the program, third as head coach. The drills being used this year when Miami has seven turnovers in three games (only six FBS teams have more) are the same drills used last season when Miami had 12 in 11 games.

Miami had four turnovers against Michigan State - all from quarterback D'Eriq King on two interceptions and two fumbles - and did not force a takeaway.

"Certain teams have certain needs and the job of the coaching staff is to react to what the team is putting out on tape," Diaz said.

"We have a tackling system we believe in. If we're not getting that done with these guys, we turn the notch up to a different level. Catching the football ... the way we drill it will be even more intentional now. Ball security drills we will do at an extreme level this week."

Diaz added this week will be as much about instilling confidence and getting his team back to where it should be mentally as anything.

"It sounds like we're trying to ratchet the heat up to beat them down," he said. "It's really the opposite. We're trying to ratchet the heat up to know they can survive and they can thrive in that type of chaos."