Mark Richt has lost control of Miami’s QB situation

Miami lost 27-14 on the road against Boston College on Friday night, and although the score doesn’t seem that bad, this was a second straight poor showing from the Canes, and it pretty much starts and ends with Miami’s quarterback play.

Although Richt went with redshirt freshman N’Kosi Perry as the starter two weeks ago against Virginia, Richt went back to longtime starter Malik Rosier after Perry threw back-to-back interceptions in that game.

“Right this minute, I think Malik’s just better equipped from his abilities and his experiences to lead this team right now,” Richt said. “But Kosi is certainly a guy that obviously we think very highly of and we want him to continue to grow as a quarterback and as a person. So, that’s why we want to make sure we get him in the game.”

Friday night, Rosier finished 19 of 36 with 150 yards, just one touchdown, and two interceptions on ... back-to-back possessions. One came on a long tip drill, to be fair.

After his second interception, there was still 6:31 left in the third quarter in what was about to become a two-score game. Richt kept Rosier in, the Canes punted, and then three consecutive turnovers on downs closed out the game.

Miami lost the game and dropped to 5-3 on the season, along with a 2-2 ACC record. BC is a decent team but not really elite at much of anything, and Friday’s box score doesn’t show the Eagles doing anything particularly amazing, other than allowing only 3.8 yards per throw, Miami’s new season low.

When Perry has played this season, he’s often been quite impressive:

The Canes’ offense has been up and down under both QBs. Perry’s thrown both more touchdowns and more interceptions, despite throwing seven fewer passes. Rosier’s gotten 1 yard more per attempt if you include sacks.

Miami’s best offensive performance of the year by S&P+ percentile, against FIU in Week 4, included Perry replacing Rosier on the third series and putting up 224 yards and three TDs.

While the decision to keep Rosier in doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, there could be something Richt was withholding regarding Perry’s status. That speculation stemmed from a video that Perry posted to his Snapchat last weekend that apparently showed Perry holding a bunch of cash. However, when asked about it, Richt insisted Perry was “in good standing,” and made no indication of Perry being suspended. Here’s State of the U on the conundrum:

Richt said earlier in the week the plan was to play Perry. When Rosier went cold (and oh buddy, did he ever go cold), Perry should have come in. After the game, when asked by the assembled media, Richt said he never thought about nor ever had any intention to play Perry. If Perry was suspended — which, for all intents and purposes, he was — for the video of him holding money on social media, then say that. But to be intentionally misleading, and sacrifice another game for the sake of continuing to play Malik Rosier is unacceptable from Richt. Period.

Richt led the Canes to 10 wins last season, and he’s got Miami in a much better place than it’s been in years (how this very similar Miami team won 10 games, I can’t tell ya — other than to again note relying on turnovers isn’t the most statistically sustainable path to victory).

For Miami to win any of its four remaining regular season games and have any hope of staying in the Coastal race, Richt’s gotta get this quarterback situation figured out moving forward, and it’s obvious that something’s gotta change.