UM offense hoping to fix mistakes

Their pass offense ranks second-to-last in the former Division I-A, ahead of wishbone-oriented Navy and no one else.

But the Hurricanes' offensive struggles during Saturday's blowout loss to Oklahoma -- which saw just seven University of Miami first downs and 139 total yards -- weren't limited to the air.

After rushing for 260 yards against Marshall, UM gained just 52 yards on 35 carries. Sophomore Javarris James ran for 28 yards. Freshman Graig Cooper had 26.

James, who ran for 99 yards on 14 carries against Marshall, also fumbled at Oklahoma's 35-yard line early in the second quarter. The fumble was returned for a touchdown, turning a potentially one-score deficit into a 21-3 Sooners lead.

All of these problems must change, players said.

FINDING SOLUTIONS

''When you get the running game going,'' James said, ``it's easy for the passing game to get going.''

It might not be that simple, with oft-maligned senior Kyle Wright replacing struggling junior Kirby Freeman under center Saturday against Florida International. But it certainly wouldn't hurt for the Hurricanes to run all over the Golden Panthers this weekend.

First, though, UM must fix its problems from the previous week. And what happened against OU?

Mistakes, mistakes, mistakes, coach Randy Shannon said, which were exposed during Sunday's film sessions.

''It's just one guy,'' Shannon said. ``The offensive line is doing a great job. We have opportunities. But one guy [makes a mistake] here. [The] next play, we run the same exact play, that one guy will fix it, [another] guy won't.

``You can't afford those types of things.''

This, offensive tackle Jason Fox said, drove players crazy.

''When you watch the film, you just want to pull all your hair out,'' Fox said. ``I mean, Javarris the last two games probably had 100 yards called back off of penalties, and one on a big gain. And [Graig Cooper is] running the ball real well. So I think any of them can run the ball on anybody.''

This week's anybody is an FIU team that is averaging 185.5 rushing yards allowed in its two losses this season. That includes the 111 yards and two touchdowns it relinquished last week to Maryland running back -- and brother of former UM linebacker Ray Lewis -- Keon Lattimore.

LOOKING AHEAD

So, this week should be much easier, right? Especially after facing an Oklahoma team that ''is good and disciplined'' and ''came to play,'' in Graig Cooper's words?

Not quite, both running backs said Tuesday.

''I don't too much dwell on what everybody else did [against FIU],'' Graig Cooper said. ``I'm just looking at the scheme that we've got to put together against these guys. I'm not looking at the running yards and all that.''

Added James: ``We just need to go out there and execute -- go out there and just do our assignments, communicate.''