Cam Ward leads the nation’s best passing attack in Louisville

Cam Ward He leads the nation with 369.8 yards per game and is on pace to break several Miami school records.

The No. 6 Hurricanes (6-0, 2-0 ACC) also lead the nation in total offense with 583.8 yards per game and a score of 47.7 per game.

Still, Ward believes they can still get better and will try to stay undefeated at Louisville (4-2, 2-1) on Saturday (noon, ABC).

“I don’t think we’re close to our potential yet because we’re just leaving a lot of plays on the field,” Ward said. “I think the biggest thing for us is trying to tell the guys that we have to play together every game. We can’t play together one game and not play together the next game. We have to keep playing.’ I think the more we can do that, especially now in the second half of the season, the more our offense should take another step.

Ward’s efficiency has dipped a bit in the two conference games, as Miami ranks seventh in conference play in pass efficiency with a rating of 152.0, but with 390.0 pass yards per game, at least 300 in all six games this season yards thrown is still the leader to put him on pace for a 5,600-yard season, which would break Bernie Kosar’s single-season school record of 3,642, set in 1984. Steve Walsh’s record of 29 touchdown passes, set in 1988, is also in jeopardy.

Ward threw for 2,219 yards and 20 touchdowns with five interceptions while completing a pass rate of 69 percent. He also scored three touchdowns.

“I would probably say it’s halfway through,” Ward said of his first half. “I missed a lot of plays. There are a lot of plays that I would like to have again. This is something that I’m starting to realize, every play I get, I’m given an opportunity that I have to take advantage of. We just need to stop leaving games out as a whole team. I think the sooner we can do that, hopefully on Saturday, the more we can end up playing our best football this year.”

Louisville enters the game ranked 71st nationally in passing yards allowed per game (216.5) and 75th in pass efficiency defense (132.4).

The numbers are down in conference play, allowing 301.3 passing yards per game, which is 16th among the 17 teams, with a pass efficiency defensive rating of 143.9, which is 12th. However, they have only allowed two passing touchdowns in the three games, leading the conference.

“They’re a very good defense,” Ward said. “They are one of the best defenses in the ACC and one of the best defenses in the country. So we just have to come in and make plays and take what they give us and at the end of the day, play our football.”

The Hurricanes have three receivers who are top 25 receiving yards in the ACC and lead the conference Xavier Restrepo585 on 32 catches and five touchdowns. Isaiah Horton ranks 11th with 395 yards on 31 catches with three touchdowns and Jacob George ranked 25th with 290 yards on 21 catches and also had three scores. Elijah Arroyo ranks fifth among ACC tight ends with 286 yards, and his four touchdowns are tied for sixth among all players.

Because Ward has multiple throwing options, he has a lot of options to create plays in different ways, which he has done very well by extending plays or adjusting arm angles for completions.

“I’ve just always played like that, with the way I can see the field, the way I can see the space on the field,” Ward said. “I think that’s one thing that sets me apart from a lot of other people. But when you play with one of the best offensive lines in the country, one of the best receiving corps in the country, you have a good OK. “A good defense makes the job easier.

Christopher Stock has covered the Miami Hurricanes since 2003 and can be reached by email at [email protected] and on Twitter @InsideTheU.