Under second-year head coach Mike Haywood, the Miami RedHawks continue
to
make strides.

The RedHawks enter Saturday's Mid-American Conference game at 2-2 overall
and 1-0 in the MAC. Miami is 2-0 in games against non-BCS conference opponents,
which includes home victories over Eastern Michigan (28-21) and Colorado State
(31-10).

Prior to becoming the head coach at Miami, Haywood spent four years as Charlie
Weis' offensive coordinator at Notre Dame. It's clear Haywood has
implemented at Miami many of the offensive strategies he used at Notre Dame.

The game plan employs multiple running backs, wide receivers and tight ends
and has helped the RedHawks to average 21.0 points per game, up from 15.6 last
season.

The RedHawks are very effective in the red zone, where they have converted
11-of-13 scoring opportunities (4 touchdowns, 7 field goals).

Miami also has been successful in sustaining drives. The RedHawks own a 33:13
to 26:47 advantage in time of possession over their opponents.

Here's a look at the RedHawks' offense:

Sophomore quarterback Zac Dysert has started all four games for Miami.
He has completed 79-of-118 passes for 764 yards (191/game) and four touchdowns
to six interceptions. He has rushed 30 times for just 28 yards, a deceiving
stat since he's been sacked 12 times.

Over the last nine quarters, Dysert has completed 45 of his last 67 passes
(78.9-percent).

In just 15 career games Dysert already has thrown for 3,375 yards and averages
254 yards per game when he starts under center.

Last year against Kent State, a 29-19 Golden Flashes win, Dysert completed
31-of-53 passes for 337 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in his
first career start. He also rushed for 107 yards on 17 carries. His rushing
yards and pass attempts were season highs for the RedHawks.

Dysert's primary receiver has been senior Armand Robinson,
a 6-foot-1, 199-pounder. Robinson leads the team with 32 catches for 382 yards
and two touchdowns. Last year against Kent State, Robinson torched the Golden
Flashes defense for nine catches for 115 yards.

Robinson caught 10 passes for 99 yards last week in a loss to Missouri. He
ranks seventh in the nation in receptions per game with 8.0 and 17th nationally
with 95.5 receiving yards per contest. He caught 10 passes on Saturday at Missouri;
the fourth time in his career he has reached double figures for catches.

His 148 career receptions ranks No. 4 on Miami's all-time list and he
is No. 5 with 1,820 career receiving yards.

Senior Jamal Rogers, listed second on the depth chart at X-Receiver,
is second on the team with 10 catches for 79 yards and a touchdown. Against
Kent State in 2009 he had five catches for 39 yards and one touchdown.

Rogers scored Miami's only touchdown in last week's loss to Missouri.
In his career, he has averaged nearly 10 yards per reception.

Back-up running back Tracy Woods, a 5-foot-10, 214-pound freshman,
is third on the team with eight catches for 51 yards.

In four games, Chris Givens, a 6-foot-2, 209-pound junior, has just
five catches for 46 yards after sitting out most of 2009 with a shoulder injury.
In 2008 he led the RedHawks with 513 receiving yards.

Miami looked for its tight ends more frequently last week at Missouri. Junior
Kendrick Bruton caught three passes for 32 yards and freshman Dustin White had three receptions for 23 yards.

On the season Bruton has seven receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown.

As a team, Miami averages just 80.8 yards rushing per game.

Woods gets the bulk of the carries as he leads the team with 44 rushes and
182 yards. He has yet to score a touchdown. Merriweather has 32 carries for
136 yards and has scored three times. Woods averages 4.1 yards per carry while
Merriweather is at 4.2 yards per run.

Dysert continues to be productive with the football in his hands. He has carried
30 times for 94 yards, but his net rushing total is just 28 yards thanks to
a loss of 65 yards on 12 sacks. Dysert is big and physical, which provides
a challenge for the Golden Flashes defensive front. Many of his 107 yards against
Kent State last season came after initial contact was made. Kent State can't
afford to miss on Dysert this Saturday.

Sophomore Danny Green has just eight carries for 36 yards, but averages
4.5 yards per attempt.

Woods has the RedHawks' longest run from scrimmage, a 27-yarder. Merriweather's
long attempt was 23 yards and Dysert has a 16-yard scramble to his credit.

At left tackle, sophomore Matt Kennedy, a 6-foot-5, 271-pounder, will
start his 17th consecutive game.

The RedHawks could be a bit greener at left guard where redshirt freshman
JoJo Williams, a 6-foot-2, 280-pounder, made his first career start
last week in place of Bob Gulley and Brandon Brooks, both
of whom sat out last week with an injury. Brooks and Gulley both should be
back for the Kent State game

Center Brad Bednar, a 6-foot-4, 282-pound sophomore, has started
16 straight games, which includes all 12 games of his true freshman season.

On the right side, it's Nate Williams at guard and Josh Harvey at tackle.

Williams, a 6-foot-5, 290-pound senior, will make his 17th consecutive start
on Saturday. He has started 20 games over the past three seasons.

Harvey, a
6-foot-5, 322-pound redshirt freshman, redshirted the 2009 season before
becoming the starter at right tackle in 2010.

The RedHawks average over 6-foot-4 and 289 pounds per offensive lineman. That
could change if Gulley or Brooks gets the nod at left guard.

Much like Kent State's offensive line, the RedHawks are young, but experienced.
They'll start two sophomores, two redshirt freshman and a senior. But,
that group has accounted for 53 career starts.

Behind its offensive line, the Miami offense averages 293 yards per game (212.2
passing and 80.8 rushing). The RedHawks average 21.0 points and 18.7 first
downs per contest.

Miami's offense has converted 39-percent (20-of-51) of its third down
opportunities and just 20-percent (6-of-28) of its fourth down chances.

The offensive line has allowed 12 quarterback sacks for a loss of 65 yards.