The Morning of My Discontent

Hello All,


Alright team, I am too damn nervous about this Nevin Shapiro thing (detailed here) to have a long prologue this week.

Yes, I am beside myself because the guy who ran a $930 million dollar Ponzi scheme seems to be throwing accusations out at random against our program.

Why would I pay any mind to these accusations from a convicted felon whose crime was one of dishonesty and deceit? Because now the NCAA is involved. And they do not operate as a rational body. They are not a court of law. They listen to accusations made by people like Shapiro and then start digging around until they find something. Unless you are one of the good ol’ boys (like Ohio State), you get pummeled. They have done it to Miami once already and seem to have a perpetual axe to grind.

Will the fact that the university cut ties to this guy make an impact? Will the fact that he seemingly has no real evidence to back it up get this whole thing thrown out? Will the fact that Paul Dee, now head of the NCAA Infraction Committee, was our Athletic Director at the time in question be enough to dispel these rumors? Who knows? The NCAA just caught the Buckeyes red-handed and essentially did nothing. Sound like the type of people you would trust to make the right decision here?

Let’s be honest. Some money probably changed hands. Some meals may have been paid for. It happens everywhere. I am not naïve. Miami does it cleaner than 99% of the programs out there, but they are not perfect. The athletic department took money from him, but Miami’s AD would take money from anyone, including a pimp, as Omar Kelly tweeted. Call it the downside of being a private school with a big time football team.

There is a 4 year statute of limitations on NCAA invesitgations. There seems to be no real evidence to corroborate these claims.

And yet, I have this sinking feeling in my gut. The NCAA is not a fair organization. It has no consistent reason to its rhyme. These things take years to play out sometimes, but I fear that Miami is about to be made an example of. Again.







Hopefully Shapiro ends up in the same jail cell as Tolbert Bain. That oughta straighten some things out.

Anyway, on to the blog about offensive linemen.

(How’s that for a segue?)

Last season, the ‘Canes got markedly better line play and early contributions from freshmen Seantrel Henderson and Brandon Linder. The run game was underused, but that should change this year. Gone is Orlando Franklin, the rock of the group who was out of place at tackle last season. Everyone else is back.

Joel Figueroa, Super Duper Senior

Joey Figs (I like my linemen to sound like hitmen and wiseguys when possible) is back for year 6. He has played guard (good!) and tackle (bad!!!!!) during his career and is taking one last crack at staying healthy.

Ceiling: Starting guard
Floor: Situation run blocker or hurt again

Harland Gunn, Senior

Still my favorite name on the team. If all else fails has a future career in rodeo. Is explosive off the ball but seems to struggle in pass protection (otherwise he probably would be approaching the record for most career starts at Miami).

Ceiling: All ACC guard
Floor: Figueroa’s platoon partner

Tyler Horn, Senior

The leader of the line and one of the leaders of the team. Underrated performance last season as the center and will contend for All ACC honors this season.

Ceiling: All ACC center
Floor: Solid but not spectacular center who struggles to move nose tackles off the ball and possibly gets pulled for a young pup as the season goes.

Brandon Washington, Junior

The best lineman on the team last season, he is seeing some time at right tackle with the injury to Seantrel Henderson as the staff does its best to get the five best linemen on the field.

Ceiling: All American
Floor: Overmatched at right tackle and gets his confidence shaken; unable to match the past two seasons.

Ben Jones, Junior

Jones came in as a project and has flashed but still is not doing it consistently enough. Trying to get into the rotation but it looks once again like he will not see much of the field, at least early on in the season.

Ceiling: Emerges late in camp as the right tackle, allowing Washington to move back inside
Floor: Backup

Jeremy Lewis, Junior

Moved over from defensive tackle this fall and will try to add some depth on the interior. Kid has all the talent in the world but seems to lack the fire to do it on every play so far.

Ceiling: Puts himself in the rotation late in the season and gets a leg up in next season’s derby to replace Washington and Gunn.
Floor: Another wasted year

Jermaine Johnson, Junior

Jermaine is a very athletic tackle but another example of “needs to do it every down”. Started a bunch of games at right tackle last season (yes, a bunch) but hasn’t been mentioned much in camp.

Ceiling: Starting tackle
Floor: Bench

Seantrel Henderson, Sophomore

Will be an All American when he gets healthy. Also, I am going to give him the nickname “Seantrel the Hotel”. And I am keeping it going. So there, suck it.

Ceiling: Starting left tackle when he makes his way back from injury on his way to fulfilling Jonathan Ogden potential
Floor: Redshirt and hurt and then next season fulfills his Jonathan Ogden potential…either way the kid is a first rounder next year

Brandon Linder, Sophomore

Second best player in what could become one of the most epic o-line classes in history (thank you Randy Shannon). Can play all five positions and most likely will see most of his time at the guard spots. I am not sure he will be listed as a starter but might end up as one of the five guys used the most.

Ceiling: All ACC First Team and spends time everywhere on the line
Floor: utility lineman who earns a starting spot next season

Malcolm Bunche, Freshman (RS)

The guy who will be replacing Henderson at left tackle and who I have to imagine will end up at right tackle or left guard in the future. Came on strong in spring camp and is apparently the strongest man on the team.

Ceiling: Keeps the seat warm for Henderson on the blindside and makes it hard for The Hotel to get his job back.
Floor: Abused on the blindside by the speed rushers of the ACC, as you would expect from a freshman.

Shane McDermott, Freshman (RS)

This kid is a pit bull who is in a battle with Horn for the center job but can also play guard. Technique, technique, technique. Would have to have an amazing camp to win the job this year (it is Horn’s to lose) but he will be in the interior rotation and is set up as a leader of the line for years to come.
Ceiling: Wins the starting center job and immediately becomes the next Brett Romberg.
Floor: Rotation guy who entrenches himself as the long term answer at center next season

Jared Wheeler, Freshman (RS)

Big guy who is playing guard and is smart enough to have chosen Miami over Vanderbilt. Will most likely be a practice squad guy this year.

Ceiling: Becomes the third guard
Floor: Practice squad

Jermaine Barton, Freshman (RS)

Tall, athletic lineman that used to play basketball and will most likely be a right tackle down the line.

Ceiling: Fourth Tackle
Floor: Practice squad

Jon Feliciano, Freshman (RS)

I like this kid and think he is big and mean. That said, he has some work to do and a lot of people in front of him to beat out.

Ceiling: 4th guard
Floor: Practice squad

Long Time Due

Hello All,

Finally found some time to sit down and write something useful, so here we go.

Last week's Maryland win was the most aggravated I have ever been after a loss.

First, there is the obvious. Miami got jobbed by the refs the whole game, arguably turning a game they should have won by at least a couple scores against a decent team into a game they had to steal in the final minute.

The team once again showed a lack of discipline, getting called for multiple false starts; this was particularly frustrating when taking into account that the guys getting called were upperclassmen like Orlando Franklin (the unit's leader) and Harlan Gunn (still love the name though).

What really had me hot and bothered was the holding calls, however. I have discussed this before, but let's get real. Holding is a subjective call. It happens on every play. It is only called on a few (or if you are Miami, quite a few...ba dum cha!). That means the referee decides when to throw it and when not to subjectively. Which also means that in order for it to be fair, there should be some semblance of balance in how many each side gets called for. I refuse to believe that Miami's highly talented offensive line can't stop other teams less talented defensive lines without holding 5 times a game and yet other teams have less talented offensive lines that just magically stonewall the Miami defensive front, one of the top ten units in the nation, game in and game out. Call me crazy. This has been going on for years, but reached a bit of a tipping point against the Terps. And if you need an example, watch Marcus Robinson every game. There are five times a game he gets held. There are zero times a game it gets called.

We don't need to really go into the phantom facemask called on Sean Spence that almost gave the game to Maryland. However, if you can explain to me how a guy getting runover on a play by a tight end while the quarterback could not even finish his three step drop before getting strip sacked (meaning it took maybe a full second) gets called for a facemask I will buy you a beer.

However, there were positives for the game. The team fought the whole game and din't have any moments where it seemed to check out. Stephen Morris and Lamar Miller showed they have a little old school 'Cane in 'em, making good on opportunities to play due to injuries. It used to be said that the 'Canes feared getting hurt, not because of the pain but because of the near guarantee that someone would Wally Pipp them. Jacory has not lost his job yet, but nothing bad can come of having a very talented backup to compete with every week.

I liked the power run game, and it should serve the 'Canes well this week against a Georgia Tech team that cannot stop the run. People fail to realize that Maryland sends an exotic blitz on 80% of its defensive plays and was #1 in the ACC against the run going into the game, and yet Miami piled up 500+ yards of total offense. If not for penalties, both legitimate and illegitimate, Miami should have won that game by 21.

And that brings us to the Jackets. I am not doing a position breakdown, there is no point. Miami has the edge everywhere. Tech is playing without their starting, all conference QB in Josh Nesbitt and their star receiver (which is a relative term this year for Tech) is also hurt. Their defense is in the midst of a changeover from a 4-3 to a 3-4. Last year's Miami D, which was nowhere close to as good as this year's, shut down this very same rushing attack when it was equipped with better personnel. The game is going to be at noon, so unless it is raining there is now way the 'Canes can complaing about the conditions. Really, the table is set for a blowout.

That is not this team's problem, however. The problem is that it is never the same team from quarter to quarter, much less game to game. I predict this one to be close, but not for any reason other than I need to see the 'Canes come out with some killer instinct just one time before I will pronounce them any sort of favorite at this point. Miami is still alive in the ACC race, but fans are forgetting that in order to stay alive they have to take care of business. I love this team to death and think that they mean well. But until I see them put together a few quarters, stretched over a few games, of consistent good football I will feel uneasy.

And here are my other picks for the week:

Last Week: 6-4 (40-25 on the season, 2-6 in upset specials)

FSU over Clemson

UiF over The Real USC

Ole Miss over Tennessee

Northwestern over Iowa (Not an upset)

K State over Mizzou (Not an upset)

Utah over Notre Dame (Chuckles)

Ohio State over Penn State (In this week's "Threw Up a Little In My Mouth" Game)

'Bama over Miss State

Baylor over TAMU

Texas over Okie State (They just always...how should I say this...blow it)

Georgia over Auburn (Upset Special!!!!!)