How good are the Miami of Florida Hurricanes these days?

What is wrong down in Coral Gables? Because the well fabled “U” is not supposed to average 6.3 wins over any three year period –as they have since 2005. On top of that they have not beaten arch rival Florida State in as many years as well.

Miami has fallen; but the real question to me is can embattled Head Coach Randy Shannon get them up? It sure looks like Miami has the talent (on paper) to win at least 8-9 game every single year. So what gives and what caliber of a ‘Cane football team should you expect to roll into Lane Stadium to close out our 2009 September run of 3 very good teams out of the first 4 we play???

o9.26 Miami of Florida
Offense=8 back, Defense=8 back, ST’s=2 back

Miami Pros:

1. Defensive Line: Thanks to major 2008 injuries upfront the Cane defensive line has a whopping 7 guys returning with starting experience in 2009. Can you say deepest DLine in the whole darn ACC? And of course they are all studs. None of the 2009 Cane frontline starters was ranked lower than seventeenth out of High School. On average they were ranked ninth when taken as a whole. Eric Moncur could be the best De in the Atlantic Coast Conference; and he did tie for the lead in INT’s for the Canes last year.
2. Running Backs: Greg Cooper and Javarris James #5,  both return as ball-carries for the Canes at Rb; in my book this gives Miami one of the Top-2 one-two punches at Rb in the whole ACC. On top of that Coop’ was number-two in catches for the Canes last year. So our rookie Linebackers need to be aware of him in passing down and distance situations this year. That said; James strikes me as the more elusive pure ball-carrier; albeit an often injured (ankles) one. The third and forth Rb’s off the Cane bench were both ranked fifteenth out of H.S. themselves. I call that no less than Top-2 Rb depth in the ACC folks.
3. Special Teams: Miami enjoys the luxury of all-conference contenders at not one but both kick positions in one Matt Bosher who mans both P and K for the ‘Canes. Matt Bosher was only 90% on FGA’s with a long of 52, and all the 2008 Hurricane Punter did was manage to be named second-team all-ACC. Ditto the same second-team all-ACC post-season award level for the Miami Kicker; who also happens to be named Matt Bosher. Miami also has redundancy at KO Returner and Punt Returner; and he only has 4.26 speed in the 40 yard dash. Travis Benjamin is his name; that is a name you should remember when we/VT have to kick. This guy can take it to the house on any given return.

Miami fringe: Quarterback=Addition via subtraction? Hard to say either way; as neither guy was totally dominate last year. But Robert Marve is gonzo; Jacory Harris is back. Is that a good thing or a bad thing is TBD (to be determined). Last year Harris was good enough to be beaten out by Marve who had a suspect 9:13 passing ratio on a year that culminated in a suspension at seasons end; which has now lead to a transfer out of Miami. Harris then was good enough to amass a 12:7 passing ratio the right way on 61% passing. But 3-4 games and mop-up duty in several others does not a season make. Harris is wiry and that raises some durability concerns over 13  games to me;though he does appear to be the best ‘Cane Qb in 3-4 years.

Miami Cons:

1. Coaching. Though I am fond of my first-school upbringing in a military family; I’m still not sure that Randy Shannon’s (see pic) high-octane discipline approach is the best fit down in Coral Gables? Further, I am sure that having a new Defensive Coordinator for the third year in a row is not exactly easy on the Canes defensive mind(s). On top of that Miami has its third Offensive Coordinator in five years. O-Cord Whipple may be a Brown Bear; so as an Ivy Leaguer it is difficult to say he is unsmart. But this much of a turnover based coaching carousel for the Hurricanes tells me that the right time to play Miami will be early on in 2009. Hello game number three for the Canes.
2. Linebacking depth. Two Defensive-backs playing Linebacker does not strike me as a good thing; much less a physical at the point of attack thing. But that is exactly what the Hurricane back-up Lb’s look like heading into 2009.  Sean Spence is a star in the making at WLb for the Canes, and the other two starters are aggressive and physically imposing. But just one or two critical injuries here could prove disagreeable for 2009 in a hurry.
3. Offensive Line: The Cane Offensive Line has departed 2 starters from 2008; but has shuffled the deck via placing no less than 3 guys in different positions for 2009 compared to where they lined up last year. Position change(s) is always a hot-topic red-flag for me. I find it very difficult to view that as encouraging. I have not been impressed by the Miami OLine for several years; in particular their Yards Per Carry mark is underwhelming; as Miami has not topped 3.9 YPC in a stunning seven years. Ergo, the Canes have struggled to get the tough yards when they have needed them for the last several seasons. Some pundits are saying that Miami will be better at this this year. I grew up in Pittsburgh PA; but I’m from Missouri on this one. The Canes will have to show me.

• Point Spread: Miami+6
• Odds on VT winning=59%
• Prediction Virginia Tech 26 Miami 16

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“The U” has talent, and this just in … water is rumored to be wet. Their last several recruiting classes; no matter where you look them up; sure reads like a team that should have won more than 7 then  5 then  7 games last year to me folks.

The Canes are good, possibly very good on paper. But something is missing. Gestalt Theory in reverse if you will as Miami has been less than the sum of it’s very highly touted parts since 2005, and that was not quite a great year in and of itself. On top of that here are the Hurricanes first 4 games next year:

• @ FSU
• Gah.Tech
• @ Virginia Tech
• Oklahoma

Going just 2-2 over that stretch would be no bad thing. But 1-3, and possibly even getting swept at a lowly o-4 are not beyond the realm of possibility. I do expect Miami will be back, but I expect that that is code for a return in 2011 or thereabouts when Harris will be a well polished upperclassman and very likely one of the best Qb’s in the ACC at that time.

“LETS GO!”

“HOKIES!”

b’street.

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