Miami Football: Grading Each Positional Unit at Halfway Point of the Season

The Miami Hurricanes are in the midst of their first bye, which provides an excellent opportunity to review how each positional unit has performed during the opening seven weeks.

Breakout stars have emerged at a couple of positions, helping boost already solid groups or shoring up spots once expected to be weaknesses.

However, struggles from two players who were among the team's most productive assets last season brought down their respective positions' grades so far.

Agree or disagree? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

Quarterback

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The 6'4" gunslinger's debut was admittedly shaky, but that wasn't really a shocking development. Brad Kaaya has been plagued by freshman mistakes—none more apparent than the game-sealing interception at Nebraska.

However, he is clearly the best quarterback on the roster, so Al Golden and Co. made the right decision to start the true freshman.

According to Christopher Stock of 247Sports (subscription required), Golden said, "I've been around first-year starters in my career that couldn't do what [Kaaya is] doing right now even though they maybe were starting later in their career."

Along with holding a pair of single-game freshman school passing records, Kaaya currently leads the Atlantic Coast Conference with 1,806 yards and 16 touchdowns, while his 63.0 completion percentage ranks third.

Miami might be 4-3 this year, but the future is bright as long as Kaaya sticks around.

Grade: B

Running Back

He's not an elite NFL prospect, but Duke Johnson is one heck of a collegiate back. The junior has twisted, spun, stiff-armed and outrun defenses en route to 787 yards—7.2 per carry—and six touchdowns.

After a quiet start, Joe Yearby began to show the one-cut prowess that made him so highly regarded last recruiting cycle. The freshman has tallied 7.4 per attempt as the backup, but his 47-yard receiving touchdown helped seal a critical win over Duke.

Despite Gus Edwards' 6'2", 230-pound frame, he too often has insisted on running like a finesse back during his limited carries. Though the sophomore has scored a pair of long touchdowns, his impact as a short-yardage runner has been virtually nonexistent.

Trayone Gray took his first collegiate carry 10 yards to paydirt, but opponents ran his most recent carry into the other end zone. Highs and lows, youngblood—they happen.

Grade: B+

Wide Receiver and Tight End

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The Miami pass-catchers are essentially a mixed bag.

Resident speedster Phillip Dorsett leads the nation with a 34.4 yard-per-catch average, nearly six yards greater than the No. 2 receiver. Sustainable? No. Impressive? Most definitely.

Freshman Braxton Berrios emerged as the breakout player and a preferred target of Kaaya, whereas Stacy Coley has surprisingly proved to be the disappointment. Tight end Clive Walford paces the team with 23 receptions, while Herb Waters and Malcolm Lewis have contributed with 19 and 17, respectively.

However, there's no easy way around this one, so here goes: Walford has been a terrible blocker, and the wideouts haven't been much better.

A favorite play call from offensive coordinator James Coley has intended to quickly get the football into the hands of the offense's dynamic weapons, but the blocking hasn't helped his forgettable year.

While their primary job is obviously to catch passes, that's not the receivers' only responsibility.

Grade: C+

Offensive Line

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Season expectations varied for the Miami offensive line, since the left side was supposed to be strong and two new starters would occupy the right.

However, left tackle Ereck Flowers is the most penalized player on the team, and left guard Jon Feliciano moved outside after right tackle Taylor Gadbois suffered a leg injury.

The unit has battled through dings to Gadbois and backups Kc McDermott and Alex Gall as well as a suspension to Hunter Wells. As a result, true freshman Nick Linder has been forced into the starting lineup twice.

Overall, the 'Canes O-line has helped Miami slowly rise to the country's No. 58 total offense, though the major blemish is allowing 13 sacks to date. Nevertheless, the unit is trending upward after a sluggish and injury-riddled opening to 2014.

Grade: B-

Defensive Line

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Similar to 2013, the defensive line had a wonderful start before its effectiveness gradually waned.

Senior end Anthony Chickillo has performed quite well, even if the stats only show one sack. He's taken on double-teams and opened gaps for teammates while tallying five quarterback hits too.

With that being said, Miami needs more consistent production from Ufomba Kamalu, Olsen Pierre and Calvin Heurtelou, as first-year rotation players like Chad Thomas, Courtel Jenkins and Michael Wyche continue to adjust.

Credit is appropriate for the unit's early-season successes, but it must rebound from recent shortcomings and step up against solid ACC competition.

Grade: C-

Linebacker

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

Four of the Hurricanes' five leading tacklers are linebackers, which is a pleasant situation given the uncertainty following the offseason dismissal of a projected starter.

Unsurprisingly, middle linebacker Denzel Perryman leads the way with 51 total tackles, but he's only a decent year. The senior hasn't been consistently physical, often receiving blocks instead of being the aggressor by attacking and shedding.

But Perryman's second-rate campaign has largely been offset by the trio of Thurston Armbrister, Raphael Kirby and Jermaine Grace. Combined, the three have logged nearly 100 stops, including 10.5 tackles for loss and 6.0 sacks.

For all the promising tackle stats, though, wrapping and finishing has been a notable shortcoming that does look to be moderately improving.

Grade: B

Secondary

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

The secondary was already playing without safety Rayshawn Jenkins, but 2013 headliner Tracy Howard hasn't been around much, either.

Ladarius Gunter and Artie Burns have been the top cornerbacks, while sophomore Corn Elder has earned playing time over junior Antonio Crawford.

Deon Bush claimed a starting safety job and has refused to relinquish it, accounting for 36 tackles, two forced fumbles and two pass breakups and defenses. Behind him, Jamal Carter has been a little more active in pass coverage, but Bush is the clear No. 1.

Opposite the junior, however, is the vacated spot that has featured a season-long battle between Nantambu-Akil Fentress and Dallas Crawford, which isn't necessarily a good thing.

Miami has given up just 175.9 yards per game through the air—12th in the Football Bowl Subdivision—but upcoming meetings with the pass-happy Virginia Tech offense and FSU's Jameis Winston provide the biggest tests.

Grade: B

Specialists

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Michael Badgley replaced Matt Goudis, whose recovery from back surgery was clearly an issue when a 45-yard attempt barely reached the end zone. Badgley has converted on five of six field goals, with his only miss coming from 52 though it had plenty of distance.

Punter Justin Vogel, an offseason walk-on transfer from Florida, has averaged 44.5 yards per punt, which ranks 21st in the nation, third in the ACC and second in program history.

Matt Porter of The Palm Beach Post notes Golden said Goudis and long snapper Ronald Regula are done for the season.

The kick coverage unit rates 19th-worst in the nation, ceding a 23.8-yard return average. Conversely, their punt team is 11th-best, surrendering a mere 3.0 yards per punt.

Grade: B+

Note: Stats courtesy of CFBStats.com and HurricaneSports.com.

Follow Bleacher Report college football writer David Kenyon on Twitter: @Kenyon19_BR.