Hello All,
I was on the phone with Papa Stein last night and gave him
the following warning about this year’s ‘Canes: “You’re probably not going to
know who 75% of the guys are.”
His response was something like “no shit, you haven’t
written shit about the team in a while. Get your lazy ass on it so that I have
a cheat sheet during the game.”
Well then.
Consider this the casual fan’s primer to this
year’s Miami Hurricanes.
QB
Guys you should know:
Stephen Morris, Ryan Williams
Morris is QB1 and, while untested, should be solid. In the
limited time he has gotten he has proved to be a competitor with a strong arm
and a feisty attitude. Threat to run as
well as throw, although Michael Vick he is not.
Williams will be the backup. He is accurate, although his throws
to the sidelines and down the field leave a little to be desired. He is best
when on the run, as evidenced by his roots as a shotgun quarterback.
Freshmen Gray Crow and Preston Dewey will serve as the third
string / practice squad guys; hopefully, neither will be needed and both can
redshirt.
Main Question: Can
Morris avoid the big turnover?
Morris has a little
bit of gunslinger in him. This is good, because it means he isn’t afraid to
test the defense and make throws in to tight spots. It is bad because sometimes
gunslingers have a habit of taking undue risks (see: Favre, Brett). Whether
this team succeeds or not will be in large part based on whether they can use
the entire field on offense. There are no superstars on this squad like a Lamar
Miller or Leonard Hankerson. You can win without, but you have to be able to
wage guerilla warfare at times. Jacory
Harris was a very solid QB1 last year
but was unable to exploit certain parts of the field and route trees
because of a limited arm. This is not the issue with Morris; his issue is that
we do not know how his decision making will look against defenses designed
specifically to stop him.
Morris must learn that a check down is not always a bad
thing. His killer instinct will come in handy and ultimately make him an
effective college quarterback. He does have to learn to harness it, however,
and learn that sometimes the best play is the dumpoff to the running back.
RB
Guys you should know:
Mike James, Duke Johnson, Eduardo Clements, Maurice Hagens
 |
| Can Johnson and James carry the 'Canes? |
These three will open the season as the main three ball
carriers. James is a workhorse back capable of great production; at worst he is
reliable. Clements is the jack of all trades who is best used on third down, as
he has great ability to catch out of the backfield. Johnson is the wild card,
the “space player” so en vogue in the NFL these days (think Darren
Sproles). He is the most exciting recruit to enter Miami on offense since Frank Gore.Hagens is the fullback. At
some point this season, youngsters Dallas Crawford and Danny Dillard could see
their numbers called.
Main Question: How do
you replace Lamar Miller?
Miller was, without doubt, a stud. He had homerun ability
and could be counted on to take care of the football. He did, however, have his
limitations. A big percentage of his yards were picked up in huge bursts,
meaning that there were also times he struggled to establish himself. He was an
able receiver, although he was not used much in the passing game (part of this
can be related back to Jacory’s limitations). He was not the goal line back.
This is all a long way of saying that, while the only back
on the roster that can rival Miller’s burst is Johnson, this running game will
be ok anyway.
James is underrated and coming off of an injury plagued year
(turf toe); the last time he was healthy, in 2010, he averaged over 6 yards per
carry. He runs behind his pads and takes on defenders for extra yards. Johnson
will be moved around; he most likely will see time in the backfield, coming out
for screens and swings, returning kicks and punts, and in the slot. It is easy
to imagine James pounding away on defenses and wearing guys down, softening
them up to set up Johnson for homerun plays. If both guys play up to their
potential, they could be used similarly to the way the Cowboys used to use
Marion Barber and Felix Jones.
The X-factor is Clements. A lot of people will knock him as
a jock of all trades, master of none. Instead, I see a player that consistently
made plays on 3rd down last season and keeps the pressure on
defenses.
While none of these guys is likely to crack Miller’s overall
numbers from last season, I think they all can play a role in collectively
replacing his production. They certainly are all talented enough to do so.
WR
Guys you should know:
Allen Hurns, Phillip Dorsett, Rashawn Scott, Kendon Johnkins, Malcolm Lewis
Hurns is the leading returning receiver. He was great in the
early half of last season but wore down with some injuries in the second half.
Dorsett is the most improved player on the roster according to Golden and has
sub 4.4 speed…he is probably the fastest man on the team; Dorsett will also be
a primary return man. Scott was the star of the spring and could emerge as the
go to guy, as he has a great blend of size and speed. However, he is only in
his second year and has little in-game experience. Kendall Thompkins and Davon
Johnson (I combined them above) are both fifth year seniors who have done
little so far. Both apparently had big training camps and are looking for one
last chance at making an impact. Lewis is the true freshman most likely to make
an impact from day one, probably in the slot. True freshmen Robert Lockhart and
Herb Waters both showed flashes of elite ability during training camp, but both
need more time with the playbook. They could pay dividends later in the season.
Jontavious Carter and D’Mauri Jones will both likely redshirt.
Main Question: Is
there a go-to guy here?
For the last three seasons, Miami has had a receiver step up
as the primary threat (Leonard Hankerson, Tommy Streeter). These guys provided
security blankets for the quarterback.
Much like at running back, it remains to be seen whether any
of these guys are up to the task this season. Hurns seems the most likely, but
Scott and Dorsett will be heard from.
I think the group as a whole will see a lot of ups and
downs. This is a very inexperienced group, and therefore there will be
inconsistencies on a week to week basis. The hope is that when one guy is down,
another will step up, and thus the emergence of one primary guy will not be
necessary.
Personally, I would prefer one guy assert his claim to Alpha
Dog status. It would make Morris’ job a hell of a lot easier.
TE
Guys you should know:
Asante Cleveland, Clive Walford, Dyron Dye
Cleveland showed flashes as a freshman in 2010 but largely
disappeared last year. Walford was the primary starting tight end last year and
has a ton of potential. Dye is a defensive line convert who will most likely be
used primarily as a blocker. David Perry and Corey White seem like longshots to
contribute much this season.
Main Question: Who is
going to break out?
My bet is that Cleveland and Walford will both have big
games this year. Cleveland is certainly the more physically imposing (6’5”, 265
lbs) of the two and has improved his blocking. Walford is smaller (6’4”, 250
lbs.) but more athletic. Both are natural athletes and can be weapons in the
seam. Jedd Fisch has been adamant that he will use the tight ends more; unless
one emerges as clearly superior, I see that production being spread around
fairly equally. We all know a tight end is a young quarterback’s best friend,
so if one or both emerge as legitimate options this offense could really take
off.
For fans of Miami who are used to Franks, Shockey, Winslow
and Olsen, it is about time we found another tight end that can consistently
make other teams pay.
OL
Guys you should know:
Brandon Linder, Jon Feliciano, Shane McDermott, Malcolm Bunche, Ereck Flowers,
Jermaine Johnson, Seantrel Henderson*
The first five will be the opening day starters. Linder is
the best, but true freshman Flowers might be the most talented. Actually,
Henderson is probably the most talented, but also the one who seems to
constantly have a distraction surrounding him (whether his fault or not). He
missed most of training camp so will start with the practice squad and
hopefully work his way back up as the season goes. He is allegedly in fantastic
shape from the summer, so to get him back going would be a nice boost. Bunche
is the new left tackle, and a monster at that (6’7”, 320 lbs); in fact, that
smallest offensive lineman will be McDermott, the new center, who comes in at a
mere 6’4”, 290 lbs.
Main Question: Are
they tough enough?
Last season, the o-line buckled when it was needed most.
Instances of failing to get one pivotal yard against Kansas State and Virginia
jump to mind. Last season’s squad lost 6 games by a combined 31 points; it is likely
that a stronger o-line could have swung half of those games. This year’s
edition certainly looks the part, but that has never been the problem at Miami.
Generally, elite college o-lines have a combined 80-100
combined starts among the starters. This o-line will have 18. To overcome this
lack of experience, they will just have to be meaner than the guys across the li
ne of scrimmage. That was where last year’s more experienced squad failed; the
hope is that this generation learned from the mistakes of another.
DE
Guys you should know:
Anthony Chickillo, Shayon Green, Kelvin Cain, Dwayne Hoilett, Tyriq McCord,
Jelani Hamilton
This is a thin group, and that is scary. This is a position
that will always suffer injuries; Hoilett,
Hamilton and McCord are true freshmen that could use a redshirt but
might be forced in to major minutes.
Chickillo is the star and a possible future All American.
His motor revs high and he gets to the quarterback through sheer will. Green is
a coaching staff favorite and a workout warrior that can’t seem to stay
healthy. Cain is a converted linebacker who could contribute as a flex rusher.
Main Question: Will
they be able to generate pass rush?
A lot of that will depend on the defensive tackle
production. If Chickillo and crew see a lot of one-on-one matchups, then the answer
is probably yes. Green will never stop
coming when he is in the game, and Cain could be a sleeper. The freshman most
likely to make noise this year is Hamilton…he is bigger than the others and
very talented. And as we saw last year with Chickillo, this is a position
freshmen can play.
DT
Guys you should know:
Darius Smith, Curtis Porter, Luther Robinson, Olsen Pierre
This group is either really deep or has nobody at all. The
coaches have made the point time and again that nobody has separated from the
pack, and that either means everyone is at a high level or they all suck. I am
on the record a million times over saying that this is the most important
position on the defense and, therefore, perhaps the most important on the team.
The only guy here who has shown so far they have the ability
to be a disruptive player is Porter, who seems to always be hurt (he will miss
the beginning of this season after an appendectomy). Smith is known as “the
plug” and is in much better shape for his junior year. Robinson is surging up
the depth chart and could be a starter. Pierre is the wild card; he has beefed
up from defensive end weight and has impressed in camp. Freshmen Earl Moore and
Dequan Ivery could have roles in the goal line and will be heard from later in
the season.
Main Question: Can
they occupy all three interior linemen?
If this group is able to consistently chew up the middle
three offensive linemen, it will open everything up for the rest of the
defense. If both tackles are able to be single blocked, the defense will have a
tough go of things. It is no miracle that every great Miami linebacker (with
the exception of Sean Spence, which should make Spence even better in your
mind) has had a great defensive tackle in front of him. If this group doesn’t
get the job done, the impact of the improved linebacking corps will be minimal.
LB
Guys you should know:
Denzel Perryman, Ramon Buchanan, Jimmy Gaines, Eddie Johnson, Thurston
Armbrister
Perryman is a stud who coaches are saying is further along
than Spence was at the same stage. He will be the anchor. Buchanan is back from
injury and provides veteran presence. Gaines is versatile and will see time at
all three spots. Johnson and Armbrister are battling for the staring SAM spot;
both will play, but Johnson is the better physical specimen. Armbrister is an
interesting story having come out of nowhere (only other offer: Northern
Colorado) and converted from safety.
(Also, close your eyes and guess if a guy
named Thurston Armbrister is black or white…you guessed white, right? YOU WERE
WRONG)
Freshman Raphael Kirby was a threat to start but got knocked out with an
injury; if he can get healthy by midseason look for him to play a lot. Tyrone
Cornelius and Gionni Paul will be big for the special teams.
Main Question: Can
they cover an effing tight end?! How about a mobile quarterback?!
You know the scene in “Taken” when Liam Neesen says “I have
a very particular set of skills that makes me a nightmare for people like you”?
If you were a quarterback with wheels or a tight end with a
pulse for the last ten years, you could have said that to the Miami defense and
been right.
(John Phillips just
caught a pass in the flat thrown by a scrambling Reggie Ball)
Aside from the fact that the whole team has to tackle
better, the linebackers in particular have to be disciplined and not let stiff
white guys run through the middle of the field unchecked. And if they could
maybe keep an eye on the quarterback-that-should-be-a-slot-receiver, that would
be a plus too.
CB
Guys you should know:
Brandon McGee, Thomas Finnie, Tracey Howard, LaDarius Gunter, Antonio Crawford
McGee has apparently risen to the challenge of the coaches
and gotten more physical. The book on him has always been that he has all the
talent in the world but hasn’t translated it on to the field. Gunter came in
from JUCO this spring and locked down the other job, but look for the highly
touted Howard to make a run at both guys throughout the season. Howard is very
physical and a pure football player….the coaches say their biggest problem
right now is getting him to be less handsy with receivers.
(A thousand ‘Canes
fans just smiled, because a corner being TOO physical is a welcome problem to
have)
Finnie, a sophomore, will be the fourth corner, and Crawford, another
true freshman, has impressed this fall. Look for both to contribute on special
teams and make a bid for playing time.
Main Question: Can
all these new faces produce right away?
Of the 5 guys I listed above, only McGee has legitimate
playing time at a high college level. While they are all talented, even the
Mike Rumphs and Ed Reeds of the world took their lumps early in their careers
(see Fields, Chafie). The reality is that, while the secondary is much more
talented this year than last, there will be mistakes made. The hope is that
those mistakes are not crippling and the exception rather than the rule.
S
Guys you should know:
Vaughn Telemaque, Kacy Rodgers, A.J. Highsmith, Deon Bush, Reyshawn Jenkins
Telemaque enters his 17th season as a starter at
safety with more competition than ever. Rodgers has locked down the other
starting spot, for now, but Highsmith and the two freshmen, Bush and Jenkins,
are going to play a lot as well. Highsmith is limited physically but is a smart
football player; Bush and Jenkins bring unlimited upside along with their
inexperience. Having Ray Ray Armstrong
would have made this position a strength instead of a question mark.
Main Question: Will
they be smarter?
Let's dispel a myth held by too many 'Canes fans: Safeties do not have to be freaks like Sean Taylor to be
good. You can win with guys who simply know where to be and the right way to
get there. Witness JoJo Nicolas last year: he stopped taking bad routes,
learned how to get in position, and as a result had a very solid final season.
Jenkins and Bush are ballhawks, but as with the young
corners above, this can lead to bad gambles. Telemaque is a veteran but was
TERRIBLE last season; he needs to get back to the form of two years ago. He has
the potential to be a Top 100 pick in the next draft if he can. Rodgers and
Highsmith have been in the program for a few years now; it is put up or shut up
time.
They don’t have to be all world, but if they are going to make mental
mistakes, the coaches might as well play Jenkins and Bush, who will make the
same mistakes but have brighter futures.
K/P
Guys you should know:
Dalton Botts, Jake Wieclaw
Wieclaw has extended his range out to 50+ yards. Botts is
the preseason All – ACC punter. This is the strongest position group on the
roster.
-- --
Alright Dad, consider yourself primed. Hopefully a few
others learned something too.
