In the Airport

Hello All,

I don't have much time, but saying as I am in the Phoenix airport on my way back home from the coast, I figured I would throw up the rest of my player breakdowns.

Some quick observations from the Coast, Larry King style:

-Overall, I loved it.

-Why do they refuse to dress like human beings? IT IS SUNNY ALL THE TIME! There was so much black clothing I could not believe it.

-Why do all the men wear their hair longer than their girlfriend does?

-Driving is intense, moreso than I imagined. The roads are just too broken down to handle the sheer volume of humanity held in that city. Also, I spent the entire trip trying to figure out which way was North.

-Santa Monica Promenade and The Village District of Downtown Burbank were my two favorite

spots.

-I got a personal tour of the Warner Bros. lot, and that was one of the most impressive, fascinating things I have ever seen.

-Could not find a grocery store. How could I not find a grocery store?!?!?

-Do not stay at the Burbank Airport Ramada. Awful service, ants in the room, not close to anything, literally located ON AN ON RAMP!

Here are the breakdowns:

SECONDARY

Last Season

There is no other way to say it: the Miami secondary was awful last season. As a group, they generated only two interceptions. Bruce Johnson was supposed to be the best corner and he did not perform. DeMarcus Van Dyke and Brandon Harris experienced growing pains but were better at the end of the season. Chavez Grant proved what we already knew: he is solid, nothing better or worse. Carlos Armour was awful at corner. Jo Jo Nicolas looked lost at safety, and Ryan Hill was learning on the job in place of the injured Randy Phillips, the leader of the secondary. Lovon Ponder should have been a linebacker, and it showed when he was paired with Nicolas. Vaughn Telemaque might have contributed, but he missed most of the season injured. Armour, Ponder and Johnson graduated. Joe Wylie transferred, and Ramon Buchanon and C.J. Holton were moved to linebacker.

Roll Call

Randy Phillips, Senior

Phillips is back after missing last season injured and should be the group’s glue. He will play strong safety and be relied on to boost the turnover numbers for the secondary. When on the field, he is always around the ball. I consider him one of the team’s most underrated players. He should not be guilty of the same bad angles and breaks in coverage that plagues the safety position last year.

Chavez Grant, Senior

Grant is a fine nickel back. He possessed neither the speed nor the strength to be left on an island with a receiver on the outside for extended periods; however, in the slot he does a good job of executing his assignment. The nickel back job should be his if the projected depth chart holds true, and he is also going to play some safety in the fall.

Ryan Hill, Senior

Hill has played just about everywhere for the ‘Canes in his career, and now he is back to where he started: corner. He did a pretty good job at safety most of the time, and I think he will play a utility role in the secondary and challenge for the nickel and dime back roles. He is no doubt a great athlete but has never been able to truly settle in to one position, spending time at kick returner, receiver, safety and corner during his career.

Sam Shields, Senior

Shields had a promising freshman season at receiver but attitude problems derailed his career at the position. He made a few plays last season but was mostly buried on the depth chart. However, he starred as a gunner on special teams, making several big plays. His physicality in that role prompted coaches to move him to corner, where he could see a lot of playing time if he learns the scheme quickly. He is a natural athlete, but his primary role will most likely be special teams.

DeMarcus Van Dyke, Junior

Van Dyke is very athletic, but his tall and skinny frame precludes him from being as physical as most would like. He has poor tackling technique, but he is a good pure coverage corner. He is working to get more physical and is being counted on to hold down one of the starting corner jobs.

Brandon Harris, Sophomore

Harris is expected to start at the other corner spot. He is physical but must work on his tackling technique. He should be much improved this season from last. He did have a series of strong efforts in the second half after his inexperience cost the team in the first half. Harris also should be a factor in the kick return game.

Jo Jo Nicolas, Sophomore

Nicolas had a rough season. He was usually out of position, which cost the team dearly in games against Georgia Tech and Cal. Nicolas is at best a second stringer this year unless his football intelligence greatly improves. The skills are there, but they are not being used properly.

Jared Campbell, Sophomore

Campbell is a step slow for safety. He is too small for linebacker or fullback. His best bet to make a name is on special teams; if not, he will forever be known as “Calais’s little brother”.

Vaughn Telemaque, Freshman (Redshirt)

Telemaque has seemingly locked down a starting safety spot and has drawn rave reviews from everyone who has seen him play. He has a nose for the ball and should be the type of centerfielder the ‘Canes have lacked recently.

Ray Ray Armstrong, Freshman

Armstrong is the most hyped of any Miami freshman and is expected to make an instant impact. He played safety and quarterback for his high school team, and along with Andre Debose and Dyron Dye led that team to a state title in a massive comeback victory against Miami Northwestern. Armstrong has superstar potential. Many compare him to Sean Taylor. That is a bit ridiculous. However, I think he could be what Kenny Phillips was supposed to be: a big, athletic, intelligent safety that can play the run and the pass equally well. He will push Phillips and Telemaque as soon as he exhibits knowledge of the system.

Brandon McGee, Freshman

McGee enrolled early and performed well at corner. He will push for major playing time. He might be the fastest player on the team and will also have a shot to return punts and kicks. He is a great athlete, and showed toughness in the spring by playing through injury. He also has football intelligence, having played quarterback in high school.

Jamal Reid, Freshman

Reid is another superior athlete being placed in the secondary, much like Armstrong and McGee. He will be tried at both corner and safety in the fall. He put on a show at the Under Armor All American Game as a receiver, and could be a returner as well. Reid has also spoken about a desire to play baseball in the spring.

PREDICTION

The secondary will certainly make more plays this season, if for no other reason than it is hard to make less than they did last season. The return of Phillips and the additions of Telemaque and the three freshman will raise the quality of talent and ensure that every starting spot has competition throughout the season. The numbers are low at the position, but the players that are here are at least talented. This infusion of talent coupled with an improved pass rusher should create more turnovers, and it would surprise no one if Telemaque lead the team in interceptions. The starters will be Telemaque, Phillips, DVD and Harris, with Grant/Hill, McGee and Armstrong all factoring in. That is much better than last season’s starters (DVD/Harris, Johnson, Nicolas, Ponder). This might not be the team’s best unit, but it might be the most improved.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Last Season

The kicking game was very reliable, as Matt Bosher had a borderline All- America campaign, missing only one field goal (even the one miss was excusable, as it was off the dirt infield at Dolphin…I mean Landshark…I mean Joe Robbie Stadium). He also handled punting duties and consistently pinned the opponent deep. Bosher’s kickoffs left something to be desired, but he still was named Team MVP at the end of the season (kind of sad really). Travis Benjamin returned excitement to the team’s return game, and Graig Cooper got into the act as well, returning a punt for a touchdown in the opener. Sam Shields was the team’s best player in coverage, although Arthur Brown had his moments. Colin McCarthy made the special teams play of the year in the UNC game, and Richard Gordon blocked a punt.

PREDICTION

Bosher will continue to hold down punting and field goal duties. The hope is that either Jake Wieclaw, a redshirt freshman, or Taylor Cook will be able to handle kickoff duties in order to ease Bosher’s burden.

Benjamin will figure into the return game again, as he is the most electrifying player on the team. Cooper, Thearon Collier, Lamar Miller, Brandon McGee, Jamal Reid, Kendall Thompkins, Davon Johnson, Brandon Harris and Ryan Hill will also figure into the return game as they are all fast and will get auditioned at some point.

The coverage units will be anchored by McCarthy, the young linebackers and Damien Berry.

Special Teams used to be where Miami broke the game open. Not since 2004 has the been the case. Success in this phase of the game usually is generated by depth in the second half of the roster. Miami is beginning to build this depth back up, and I expect 2 or 3 game turning plays from this unit this season.

Always guard the inbound passer.