Is the Curse Lifting?

Hello All,

The other day I was talking to my dad about our favorite baseball team, the Baltimore Orioles. It was one of the few Oriole-centric conversations we have had in the past decade that was upbeat. In came on the heels of Adam Jones, the O's centerfielder, contributing the game-winning RBI in the all star game.

You see, my first great memory as an Orioles fan is watching my favorite team get robbed in game one of the 1996 ALCS (against the hated Yankees, no less) by a 12 year old. When this kid named Jeffery Maier caught a Derek Jeter pop up (I maintain to this day that the ball would have been caught by O's right field Tony Tavares) and stole Game 1, the momentum and eventually the series for the Yankees, it set off a course of events which left this franchise the worst in baseball. This 12 year old did not realize the damage that he had just done to a 9 yeard old living in Tennessee.

The Orioles signed Albert Belle to a long term contract instead of Bernie Williams. They signed David Segui long term. They passed on Aaron Sele (a surefire bet to win 15 games EVERY year in the early part of the decade). They passed on Tim Lincecum in the draft. They did everything in their power to make me give up hope.

And it hasn't only been the Orioles. I enjoyed banner year in 2001, watching the Hurricanes win titles in baseball and football and The Duke Blue Devils win in basketball. The Dolphins made a run in to the playoffs. Things were great, except of course the Orioles. Since then, it has been all downhill; even good teams like the 2002 Hurricane football squad, the 2005 Blue Devils and the 2008 Hurricane baseball team have ultimately fallen short when it counts the most (perhaps the most devastating moment for a sports fan is tasting a championship and then being denied; I feel bad for the teams that lose the Super Bowl). Let's take a look at what has transpired since that glorious year, a year that spoiled me and was perhaps wasted on a 14 year old:

PRO FOOTBALL: I root on the Miami Dolphins. I have followed them through ups and downs, mostly downs. I watched them waste the prime of Dan Marino's career by failing to establish a competent running game. I watched them go 1-15 (with the 1 win coming while I was in Israel, unable to watch the game). They finally made the playoffs for the first time in the better part of a decade, only to get trounced by the Ravens. It has been rough, and will probably get worse this season, when they have the inevitable "fall back to Earth" season.

PRO BASKETBALL: I have been an NBA free agent since the first sports team that I ever fell in love with, the Charlotte Hornets, skipped town. In a sport that I love I do not even have a team to root on.

COLLEGE BASEBALL: The 'Canes have always been good but not great since winning their last national title in 2001. Most other program's would envy our success, but this is the same program that expects championships and nothing less. They continually knock on the door, but fall just short. In 2008 they punctuated the season of perhaps the most talented team in college history by going 1-2 in Omaha.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: I am born in North Carolina, where college basketball is a religion. I have always rooted on Duke (so shoot me). Since 2001, they have been unable to capitalize when they have more talent than the other team (2003); more often, they have just been overrated, getting dominated by UNC and failing to advance to a Final Four since 2005. The other team I follow closely, Miami, is always too flawed to be considered a serious contender in the ACC.

All in all, it has been a rough stretch.

However, the Orioles, for the first time in recent memory, have a young core to build around. Matt Wieters is billed as the Next Big Thing at catcher, Adam Jones and Nick Markakis are bone fide studs in the outfield and the minor league system has perhaps the best pitching depth in the major leagues.

What's more, my other teams are starting to come around as well.

The Dolphins have a good set of football people running the team. Miami baseball is always a

threat, as is Duke as long as Coach K is around. The Orioles have their young core of talent.

What's left? That's right, the Miami Hurricanes football team.

I have written often about my optimism for this team. Perhaps no unit showed more promise and made me believe more than the receiver group. Dedrick Epps and Laron Byrd are two roughnecks on the field, and Travis Benjamin and Aldarious "Glue Hands" Johnson remind me of Old School 'Canes. Today, we break down this unit.

RECEIVER

Last Season

The Hurricanes made strides from years past, as the likes of Lance Leggett and Khalil Jones were replaced with young stars like Aldarious Johnson, Laron Byrd and Travis Benjamin. However, the unit as a whole was unable to reach its potential as a solid rotation never emerged and players did not settle in to roles. Additionally, dropped passes and poor play calling hindered the young unit. Jones and Kayne Farquaharson graduated, along with tight end Chris Zellner. Jermaine McKenzie transferred, and Sam Shields was moved to corner.

Roll Call

Leonard Hankerson, Junior

Hankerson is a favorite of the coaching staff and a potential mismatch for opposing defenses as a physical receiver with respectable speed. However, he has never been consistent catching the

ball. If Hankerson wants playing time, he will have to make not only the tough catches but the easy ones as well, or he will plummet down the depth chart.

Aldarious Johnson, Sophomore

Johnson is a physical presence that can box defenders out effectively and run well after the catch to gain tough yards. He has a great rapport with longtime friend and teammate Jacory Harris, and will look to progress in his route running and separation ability this season.

Laron Byrd, Sophomore

Byrd is perhaps the receiver with the highest ceiling on the roster. He is tall, very strong and has great jump-ball ability. He became a favorite of Jacory Harris in the Red Zone. Byrd made highlight reel plays in several games, including the Emerald Bowl. His best play of the season was to force overtime against Virginia, a broken play in which he fought through two different pass interference penalties and snared a forty yard lob from Jacory Harris into the end zone as he fell down. And any who doubt his ability to work after the catch did not see Byrd run through Aaron Curry on a pass into the flat against Wake Forest; Byrd went for a first down and Curry later became the first round pick of the Seattle Seahawks.

Travis Benjamin, Sophomore

Benjamin earned the nickname “The Blur from Belle Glade” last season for his explosive big play ability. Whether running streak patterns down the sideline, taking end around for big gains or making opponents look foolish on punt and kick returns, Benjamin is a weapon to be sure. He is, however, very skinny and will have to learn to withstand the grind if he hopes to become anything more than a return specialist.

Thearon Collier, Sophomore

Collier showed great hands last season and an ability to separate from defensive backs. He is short and stout, but can make people miss and was on the receiving end of the clutch third down conversion in the waning minutes of the victory against Wake Forest. He is an ideal slot receiver that can stretch defenses in the middle of the field and make plays on screen passes.

Davon Johnson, Sophomore

Johnson was a bit contributor who looked good at times, including a touchdown against Duke. However, he needs to use his speed better in order to crack the rotation. Otherwise, he will see the bench.

Kendall Thompkins, Freshman (Redshirt)

Thompkins looked great in the spring game. He was largely unheralded out of Northwestern High, but was very productive while there. He gets compared to former ‘Cane Roscoe Parrish quite often, and has quickly drawn praise from Coach Shannon and staff. He could be a very nice weapon in four and five receiver sets.

Tommy Streeter, Freshman (Redshirt)

Streeter is a 6’6” speed demon who should make an immediate impact on jump balls and fly patterns. He, like Thompkins, has an existing relationship with Jacory Harris from their days at Northwestern.

Dedrick Epps, Senior

Epps might miss part or all of the season injured, but reports have him ahead of schedule in his recovery from a knee injury. Epps is an NFL-type of tight end, big enough to outmuscle safeties and fast enough to run by linebackers. The best example was last season’s North Carolina State game, when Epps ran straight down the seam for a touchdown on a pass play. He is also a beat with the ball in his hands, reminding me of players like Jeremy Shockey and Marion Barber. However, he has been underused in the past and needs to play a bigger role for this offense to be effective.

Richard Gordon, Senior

Gordon suffered from position changes. He came in as a defensive end, and probably should have been left there. However, he shuffled between the defensive line and tight end, even being tried as a kick returner for a few games his sophomore year. He is a physical specimen, but struggles running routes and catching the ball. He has a lot of strides to make.

Jimmy Graham, Senior

Graham is making his football debut this season after four seasons as the basketball team’s resident tough guy. He certainly has the size and physicality to play tight end. The question is whether or not he can block AND run routes. If he can, he will make two tight end sets featuring Epps and Graham very formidable. Jacory Harris was quoted in a recent article saying that he expects Graham to contribute immediately.

Tervarris Johnson, Junior

Johnson, a converted defensive back, will try and earn some playing time at tight end, but the ship has most likely left port for him. He will contribute on special teams. Johnson should have been made a linebacker four years ago.

Daniel Adderley, Sophomore

Adderley almost transferred in the offseason but decided to stay. He is a ‘tweener wide receiver and tight end. The ‘Canes should not count on much of a contribution from Adderley.

Billy Sanders, Freshman

Sanders will have a chance to play right away given the depth concerns. He, like Graham, has to prove that he is multi-dimensional in order to see the field, but might see a lot of burn if he can.

PREDICTION

In order for the unit to be effective, they will have to settle in to a five man rotation at wide receiver. That way, players who are hot can stay hot and everyone can establish their role. The only two locks for this rotation seem to be Johnson and Byrd, and Benjamin should be prominent if healthy. At tight end, Epps has to be one hundred percent. Sanders and Graham cannot be counted on at this point, and Gordon and Adderley are ineffective. Otherwise, the coaches would be wise to use a freshman lineman such as Stephen Plein or Cory White as a sixth lineman that would also be an eligible receiver if needed. The beauty of Mark Whipple’s new system is his supposed ability to adapt to his personnel, meaning that if the tight ends are not getting the job done than the responsibilities can be shifted elsewhere. The talent of this unit is probably tops of any unit on the team, and the combination of Whipple and receivers coach Aubrey Hill should help the unit maximize its potential as the young players begin to mature and add understanding to their speed and strength.

The receivers ae young and unproven, but for the first time since the middle of the decade, they are giving us hope. Gone are the days of using the punter as a receiver. No more Lance Leggett or Aikeem Jolla. No more forgetting to sign receivers in our recruiting classes. We are starting to stockpile weapons again, and it seems like we have the coaching staff in place to use them.

Maybe Dan Stein's sporting curse really is lifting, one team at a time.

Always guard the inbound passer.