Miami enters this week’s matchup against Alabama as the decided underdog of more than 18 points. To pull an upset though in Atlanta, the Hurricanes have focused on an approach that comes from coach Manny Diaz.

Offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee joined “McElroy and Cubelic In the Morning” on WJOX in Birmingham, Alabama on Monday morning to discuss the game, and how to face a perennial power like Alabama.

“Our whole mantra and our whole goal with Coach Diaz this year is we’re just trying to be the best version of ourselves,” he said.  “… We gotta worry about our opponent. We’re playing one of the best teams in the history of college football, and for the last 10 years, they’ve been the gold standard of college football. Our opponent, they matter a lot, but the only chance you have is to go out and play your best game, and to be the best version of yourself.”

For Lashlee, it comes down to depth, something the Crimson Tide have already established under Nick Saban. Lashlee is entering his second season as the Miami Hurricanes’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. In his first season, the Hurricanes jumped to No. 32 in FBS in total offense (from No. 98

“We hope we can create that by great competition in practice and that’s the goal that every program’s trying to get to,” he said. “That’s where Alabama is. Every day in practice really are they going to go against guys on game day that are better than they go against in practice? That’s where we’re trying to get our program to on a competition level. Hopefully our offense and defense we’ve been able to prepare each other in that same way.”