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WINSTON-SALEM — Where, oh, where, has all the offense gone?

Two weeks ago, Wake Forest (4-4, 2-2 ACC) was on top of the world and — more importantly — on top of the Atlantic Division standings. The Demon Deacons were averaging 426 yards per game and had just played a near-perfect first half in a convincing victory over Maryland.

Since then? Well, it hasn't been pretty.

Wake has lost back-to-back games, scored just two touchdowns in the last 10 quarters and seen its average yardage plummet by nearly 46 per game.

"The bottom line is scoring points," coach Jim Grobe said Tuesday. "If you're not scoring points, you can't think that your offense is doing well."

It's an offense that has really struggled on the road. The Deacons are 0-3 away from BB&T Field. An overtime fumble 3 yards short of the end zone cost them a game at Boston College. They were manhandled 38-3 at Clemson. And they lost 13-10 in a monsoon at Navy.

Grobe called the weather conditions in Annapolis, Md., the worst he'd seen in his nine seasons at Wake Forest. Navy's option offense didn't attempt a single pass in the game, but that wasn't an option for the Deacons, who are built around senior quarterback Riley Skinner's strong right throwing arm.

"When Skinner turns down some longer throws, you know it's bad conditions," Grobe said. "When he doesn't think his arm can get it there, then you've got issues. ... It totally eliminated the deep throw from the game plan. Even the short throws with that wet, heavy ball were a concern, just being able to throw it and catch it."

Wake's struggling offense returns home this week to take on No. 18 Miami on Saturday. It's the start of a make-or-break, four-game gauntlet to close the Deacons' season. They need two wins in the stretch against Miami, Georgia Tech, Florida State and Duke to get to a bowl game. Three wins could get them back in the division title chase.

"It sounds absurd the way we played down at Clemson, but ... the key is there're still four games to go, and if you play well down the stretch good things can happen to you," Grobe said. "Down the stretch we're really going to get tested. I think the best is yet to come in terms of the offenses we're going to see."

INJURY REPORT: Defensive end Kyle Wilber, the team's best pass rusher, could return and play a limited role against Miami.

Wilber broke his leg against Stanford in the second week of the season and has missed the last six games. He started running last week and returned to practice Monday.

"A couple of times (Monday) night, he turned and took off and looked like the old Kyle Wilber," Grobe said. "We might be able to get him out there for 10 or 15 plays Saturday. The thing you don't want to do is get him tired, because he's not going to be in shape or be as strong as he needs to be."

Even a limited Wilber would help Wake's defense. Without him, the Deacons' front four has done well against the run, but Wake has needed to blitz more to put pressure on quarterbacks.

Three other injured starters — linebacker Hunter Haynes (shoulder), tight end Andrew Parker (ankle) and tailback Kevin Harris (leg) — are not listed on the depth chart, but could return this week.

"Three out of the four might get back this week," Grobe said, referring to Wilber, Haynes, Parker and Harris. "We'll see."

POWER OR SPEED? Much has been said about the speed of Miami's team, but it's the Hurricanes' underrated power that concerns Grobe.

"I really like their fronts," Grobe said. "Their offensive and defensive lines are physical. The defensive guys can all run, and the offensive line is huge. They're really big and physical, and ... they've got a couple of really special running backs. So they're getting in the I (formation) some and knocking you down and handing the ball off."

Muscle up to meet that threat and sophomore quarterback Jacory Harris will beat you, Grobe said.

"I've not seen many quarterbacks who have the touch this guy's got," Grobe said. "He's got the reputation of having a big arm, but he's got great touch. He very rarely throws a ball that's not a catchable ball."

Contact Jeff Mills at 373-7024 or jeff.mills@news-record.com