Ready for the Season

Hello All,

Let’s take a moment out of this busy mid-summer day to analyze what is going on with my sports life.

In baseball, the ‘Canes just got eliminated by the Gators for the third straight year and the Orioles are probably not going to win 60 games. Out of 162. That means they will lose at least 70% of the games they played this season, barring a late season winning streak, which probably won’t happen because they are the effing Orioles. EXAMPLE: Their best offensive player is a third baseman who every year sets a new record for most strikeouts and plays such terrible defense that he ruined the confidence of Baltimore’s best young pitcher, Zach Britton, almost singlehandedly.

The Orioles are in year…aw hell, I lost count…of a rebuilding effort centered around a young core of talented players. Here is the problem: even if all of these guys max out, they still have the Red Sox and Yankees in their division. Oh, and the guy running the Rays? He is always the smartest guy at the table. To the point that other teams are afraid to trade with him right now. Oh, and the Blue Jays are building an elite farm system because they are spending money to sign guys over their slot value and bring in top international talent. And they have Jose Bautista, probably the best hitter in baseball not named Albert Pujols, who once upon a time was waived by 4 other teams, including…the Orioles.

In the NBA…let’s just skip that one.

In the NFL, the Dolphins are currently trying to sign the 2003 Pro Bowl roster by bringing in Jason Taylor (I actually like this one), Tiki Barber and Brett Favre. I am petrified that tomorrow I will be hearing that they have reached out to Larry Johnson. Oh wait, they did? Excuse me while I go assault the bum on the corner who asked me for “money for booze and drugs” the other day. Hey, at least he was honest.

Meanwhile, the Dolphins best player on offense last season is sitting in free agency (Ricky Williams) and the Dolphins are thinking about auditioning Terrell Pryor, not only a mortal enemy of Stein on the Sidelines but also a quarterback that can’t play quarterback. Think about that.

This is following an offseason in which the Dolphins were among the first teams to lay off company employees during the lockout (class move by an owner worth literally billions of dollars), saw their owner and GM fly across the country on a private jet to woo a college coach WHILE THE CURRENT COACH WAS STILL UNDER CONTRACT, and continued to try and make themselves a circus act by doing things like building a nightclub in the stadium and brining in minority owners like Gloria Estefan and Marc Antony.

(I assume Selena Gomez is next in line)

In summary: I NEED the ‘Canes back in my life.

The season started Saturday with fall camp.

The big question is who will start at quarterback.

However, if you watched last season (I did…), you already know that sometimes a quarterback is only as good as a receiver that will go up and fight for the ball.

Jacory Harris threw a lot of picks last year, but at least 3 of them could have been prevented by receivers fighting for the ball. When you consider that almost all of the games we lost were close games, then it is extra annoying to know that one play could have made the difference.

Point?

If the guys I am about to break down underperform, whatever improvements the quarterbacks have made could be for naught.

The receivers should be deep, but at this point who the hell knows what we are getting and from who?

Gone from last season is Leonard Hankerson, a guy who put up the finest statistical season at the position in the history of the program. Better than Eddie Brown, Michael Irvin, Brett Perriman, Brian Blades, Lamar Thomas, Randall Hill, Santana Moss, Reggie Wayne or Andre Johnson ever did. With a worse quarterback. Think about that.

(Apparently NFL teams are too smart for their own good, because there were 8 receivers drafted in front of him…including 2 from Boise Effing State.)

At tight end, Miami loses only the immortal Richard Gordon, who I believe was at the school long enough to earn a PhD. He was actually a really good blocking tight end but looked like a monkey humping a garden gnome when it came time to catch the ball.

WR

Travis Benjamin, Sr.

Travis is like the little yellow bird in Angry Birds. He is fast as hell and can be a gamebreaker, but unless you get him aimed in the right direction and at the right soft target it doesn’t matter.

Translation: Travis needs to be used in the right way. Run him on ‘9’ routes and get him the ball in space. Should he be used for jump balls? No. Should he be running routs over the middle in traffic? No. Period.

(Yes I just got an iPhone and am currently obsessed with Angry Birds. To complete this analogy, Sean Spence is the black bird that blows up everything in its area, Marcus Forston is the white one that looks bloated but drops bombs and takes off like a dart when he lays his egg, and Lance Leggett is the little blue one that explodes into a million pieces when you touch him.)

Ceiling: Game changer with the ball in his hands 10-12 times/game.
Floor: Broken in half by an Ohio State linebacker, who then ceremoniously drinks from his blood and eats of his organs.

LaRon Byrd, Sr.

My favorite receiver on the team because he plays with heart, goes up for the ball in traffic and overall just looks like the best trash talker on the team. Probably wins the bar fight. Has been inconsistent but also claims to have been playing with injuries. I choose to blindly put faith in that claim.

Ceiling: Hankerson
Floor: Last season…solid stats but seemed to disappear for long stretches. Kind of like my Blackberry was. Snarl.

Aldarious Johnson, Sr.

If this guy could stay healthy for once I think he has a role. He has not been the superstar everyone wanted but he has made some big plays and some clutch catches, including the one that saved our asses against Wake Forest, which was Winslow-esque in style if not significance to ‘Canes lore. At this point I think he could be the Orende Gadsden (look that one up suckas) type of possession guy that you go to on 3rd down. He has the best chemistry with Jacory of all the receivers and when he gets in a rhythm he is tough to stop.

Ceiling: Go to guy on 3rd down
Floor: Stays fat and hurt

Tommy Streeter, Jr.

Maybe the all time “looks like Tarzan plays like Jane” guy. Also my dad’s favorite. Gotta admit, I have a big soft spot. Maybe because it is hard to hate anyone who goes by “Tommy”. Maybe not. Who knows?

Ceiling: Tecmo Bowl Jerry Rice combined with real life Jerry Rice combined with Cris Carter combined with Andre Johnson combined with Michael Irvin. Catches 150 passes for 3300 yards and 27 touchdowns.
Floor: Lance Leggett (also known as Dante’s 7th Circle of Hell)

Kendall Thompkins, Jr.

Practice squad all star that hasn’t seen the field a lot. I think he will find a niche as the tough little guy who can make a play in space, kind of like the Wes Welker that every NFL team is looking for (and remember, Jedd Fisch is an NFL guy). BOLD PREDICTION: My buddy Justin will say something like this before the season: “BOLD PREDICTION: Kendall Thompkins is a dark horse breakout candidate”.

(SIDENOTE: He says this about Thompkins and about ten other guys every offseason. 98% of the time he is wrong. It’s like me picking a baseball guy. At this point maybe Thompkins should try baseball and Chantz Mack should try football.)

Then when he hasn’t caught a pass in the first two games he’ll say something like this: “@SteinSidelines: Thompkins sux. He’s can’t even see the field, he’s terrible, the sky is falling and I for one happen to believe Thompkins is responsible for the DOW crashing 500 points. #realtalk”.

So I guess you could say my UNBOLD prediction is that Justin will make that BOLD prediction. I will call him a dumb yankee and tell him to stick to the Jets. Harmony will be achieved.

Ceiling: Santana Moss married Marion Jones and had a baby with the speed of Usain Bolt. And he can throw thunder bolts. And will get drafted by the Colts.
Floor: Dark horse candidate to break out

Davon Johnson, Jr.

Everything I just said about Kendall Thompkins? Ditto.

Ceiling: Becomes the number three guy in the pecking order and moves the chains.
Floor: Dark horse candidate to break out

Allen Hurns, So.

This is the guy the coaches seem pumped up about. He is a hard worker and apparently a bit of a badass. He played special teams and in blocking situations last season, so you know he wants on the field. He is light in the ass, but so are plenty of receivers. Seems like the type that could have a sneaky, 2008 LaRon Byrd type of season.

Ceiling: Number 2 receiver and starter
Floor: Special teams and blocking packages, which to the message board is pretty much all the worst parts of the Bible.

Phillip Dorsett, Fr.

Should have some sort of role from day one. He is small but not slight. Has seen some Santana Moss comparisons, which are a lot to live up to. This is surprising, because ‘Canes fans are known for their realistic expectations.

(See what I did there?)

Ceiling: Freshman all America
Floor: Redshirt

Rayshawn Scott, Fr.

The other freshman who was a TOTAL BAWLA ASS (to quote that one guy they have call ACC Games on Raycom sometimes) in high school but is most likely a redshirt candidate. Should be a nice possession guy with time.

Ceiling: Allen Hurns last season
Floor: Redshirt

TE

Blake Ayles, Sr.

Ayles transferred in this offseason and is a big dude from out of town with flowing golden locks and a reputation as a party animal. Looks like he wants to hurt people.

Ceiling: Poor man’s Shockey (the last big dude from out of town with flowing golden locks and a reputation as a party animal)
Floor: Bangs every DG on campus, drinks ALL of the beer and then gets an NFL tryout on reputation alone (this is what we call a win-win scenario for Mr. Ayles)

Chase Ford, Sr.

Had a major case of the yips last season, which is bad when you’re a tight end. If he doesn’t hold on to the ball he will not see the field.

Ceiling: Viable third down receiving threat
Floor: Last season

John Calhoun, Jr.

Seems to me to be too small to be a true tight end and too slow to be a fullback…maybe an H-Back. He’s a solid special teams guy and the coaches seem to like him. Will have a role.

Ceiling: Honestly have no clue…homeless man’s Frank Wycheck?
Floor: Special Teams

Corey White, So.

Big dude moving back to tight end after a couple of years at tackle. Will see the field a lot as a blocker if he can stay healthy.

Ceiling: Functions like a third tackle/
Floor: Hurt

Asante Cleveland, So.

Was hurt in spring but was our best tight end last season. Can open things up over the middle as a mismatch against linebackers and safeties alike.

Ceiling: Kevin Everett
Floor: Hurt

Clive Walford, Fr.

High school basketball player who tore it up in the spring game, which might just be a function of our defense being completely incapable of stopping tight ends. Or it might not be. Guess we will find out soon.

Ceiling: Jimmy Graham
Floor: Special Teams


Always guard the inbound passer.

Bringin' the Noise

Hello All,

Well, let's not say The U is back.

Let's not book a trip to the ACC Title Game just yet.

Let's not look ahead to the two Techs.

We have been down that road too many times.

Instead, let's just talk about the ASS WHUPPING that Miami put on North Carolina the other night.

I know, 'Canes fans, UNC was playing without some studs. Blah blah blah. Before this game, everyone and their mother said that if Miami lost than Randy Shannon should be gone. So what happens? Miami puts an old school beat down on a team that has had their number for years, and they do it with style.

And in typical 'Canes fan fashion, North Carolina goes from an opponent to be feared to an overrated tomato can.

I don't buy it at all.

UNC was a scrappy team that won 4 games in a row, and was a few plays from being undefeated, for a reason. They came out and hit Miami in the mouth early, which prompted everyone in the stadium to pucker their butt cheeks and get ready for the inevitable 17-3 halftime deficit followed by a long-shot comeback attempt in the 4th quarter.

Instead, Miami stepped up and made a huge play to keep themselves out of the pothole. They played three quarters of highlight reel football and turned in a complete, even performance.

Playmakers stepped up and made plays.

More importantly, leadership emerged.

I texted my friend Francis on Monday and said: "How great would it be to read a report that Damien Berry called a players only meeting?"

Turns out, it happened. The players got together and decided they were done with the lacksadaisical play. They decided they were no longer going to walk on eggshells.

There were several moments that stood out to me from the game. Spence and Vaughn Telemaque combining on the big turnover in the 1st quarter. Spence and Brandon Harris dancing their way off the field after Harris' pick. Jacory running down the field to celebrate another touchdown throw. Allen Bailey standing over a limp T.J. Yates. Travis Benjamin's highlight reel catch. Tyrone Cornelius going Robert Bailey on the UNC kick returner. Asante Cleveland's huge catch on 4th and short.

None is more important than Vaughn Telemaque and his offensive teammates scuffling on the sideline, however.

It showed accountability throughout the roster. It showed fight. It showed maturity. It showed a willingness to do whatever it takes to win.

Some guys are stoic leaders. Randy Shannon and Jacory would rather lead by example than by words. That's fine. You do need some people that are willing to ruffle someone's feathers, however.

From the time of the sideline incident on, Miami loosened up and began to play like sharks that smelled blood in the water.

Randy Shannon realized his team was finally taking charge of itself and let his guard down a little.

This is what happens for good teams. It looks like the light might have come on for this group of young men on the field on Saturday night. They finally took the game by the balls and bent it to their will.

While all this was going on in Miami, my roommate Graham and I were freaking out in Los Angeles. The noise was not limited to the 'Canes woofing on the field; after the game, Graham and I found out that our property manager had gotten three calls complainging about our noise level during the game. On a Saturday night. Before the sun even set.

Even the fans had swag on Saturday night. It was a sight for sore eyes.

Always guard the inbound passer.

Wide Receivers are Like Actresses

Hello All,

The comparisons between receivers and actresses (or divas) is always easy to make. They are usually high profile, tightly wound and eager to bitch. Having been out here for about a month now...and still not being rained on once...I am beginning to see a lot of the quirks of actresses.

For one, most of them are in plain, utter denial...this doesn't have so much to do with the receivers, but I figured I should put it out there. Second, they all think that they are AWESOME at karaoke. Which I guess goes for the whole town. Third, they go everywhere in packs of 5 girls or more (or with their boyfriends, which is another story) and then bitch that guys don't come up and talk to them (always thinking their open, even when they're not...c'mon, that was a GREAT comparison!). Fourth, every out of work actress is a "model". Fifth, they worry waaaaayyyy too much about style and not enough about substance.

Receivers are a lot like actresses in the following ways: There are a ton of them and they go everywhere together (4 and 5 receiver sets!), and 4 out of the 5 bitch when they don't get the ball on a given play (which, by the way, I like...to an extent); they all think that they are the number one receiver (again, good thing to an extent, but usually is just false); they sometimes worry too much about making the highlight catch and forget to grab hold of the easy ones (kind of like forgetting that you can't sing but choosing Carrie Underwood for karaoke); and finally, every receiver who is out of work (Terrell Owens anyone?) defaults to touting themself as the finest physical specimen in the game (like an actress calling herself a model even when they aren't).

And that, my friends, is how we do a transition into talking about receivers here in Los Angeles. Plus, now I have an excuse to look through hundreds of pictures of Carrie Underwood until I find the perfect one. She is, after all, a "Future Former Mrs. Stein on the Sidelines".

Wide Receivers

The Season That Was: Well, we learned once again that there is only one football, and no matter what that video game you’re playing says, not everyone can be the number one wideout. Leonard Hankerson emerged as the number one wide receiver, while Travis Benjamin, LaRon Byrd and Thearon Collier all had their moments. Aldarious Johnson couldn’t seem to get healthy consistently, but still managed to make perhaps the play of the year in the Wake Forest game. Kendall Thompkins and Tommy Streeter got fans excited in limited playing time, and Davon Johnson reshirted.

What Was Lost: A big ball of nothing. Getting Hank back was a big win for this program. You can never have enough experienced playmakers.

Roll Call

Leonard Hankerson (Sr.) – Goes in to the season as the best receiver Miami has had since Roscoe Parrish and the most physically imposing since Andre Johnson. Will be working with Mark Duper for the second summer in a row, which is a great thing; despite the jump he made, Hank still showed flashes of the inconsistent hands that plagues his freshman and sophomore campaigns. He has good rapport with Jacory Harris and is the total package: he can run by people after the catch, go up high and get the ball, break tackles, etc. If Hank can put up another big season he is a possible first round pick.

LaRon Byrd (Jr.) – Stein on the Sidelines’ favorite receiver is a physical monster who opponents respect. A lot of the credit for Hankerson’s big year should be given to Byrd for drawing double teams. He has high expectations for himself and is a hard worker, but at the end of the day all he wants is the win. True ‘Cane that could end up a high round draft pick in a couple of years.

Travis Benjamin (Jr.) – The most exciting player on the roster that can take any play to the barn. Is dangerous running deep routes because no player can single cover him in a foot race, meaning the safety has to come over the top; if he doesn’t, Benjamin will walk in to the end zone (Exhibit A: Florida State). He also is a threat on returns, although he does a little bit too much stutter stepping on punt returns to be a true gamebreaker. The staff raves about his work ethic, and he is the fastest guy on the team. He keeps getting bigger, which will help his slight frame absorb punishment. Another possible high round draft pick.

Thearon Collier (Jr.) – A jitterbug that housed two punts last season and always seems to make the clutch reception. He has had weight problems, however, and is going to be pushed by Kendall Thompkins for playing time this season. How he responds will be one of the most interesting storylines of the season. On a personal note, his son died this offseason, and every ‘Cane fan should say a prayer for the young man.

Aldarious Johnson (Jr.) – Didn’t put up big stats last season and seemed a little slow all year. However, he is clearly still Jacory’s go-to guy in the clutch and should be more productive this season. Good route runner and blocker that will always have a place on the field for Randy Shannon because he does the little things.

Tommy Streeter (So.) – My dad’s personal favorite receiver, he is a 6’6” burner (4.4 Forty) who opens up the vertical passing game. He is at this point a bit player, however, because he hasn’t gotten physical enough to be an everydown receiver. Probably the most talented receiver on the roster and should have a package of plays that he is used in this season. This is the closest thing on the roster to my run-in with one of the female dancers from Dancing With the Stars. Great body (met her at a pool party), can tell she has a lot of potential...BUT, she just had a nose job and was rockin' two black eyes and a big floppy sun hat. Three months from now, she could be great or she could be like the chick from that episode of Seinfeld. You just never know.

Kendall Thompkins (So.) – Thompkins is a burner in the slot who has torn it up two springs in a row. He has plenty of guys in front of him to beat out, but the question now is can they keep Thompkins on the bench. There were rumors he might transfer or switch to defensive back, but I think they were put to rest by his big spring. Will factor in to the return game at minimum.

Davon Johnson (So.) – Made the decision to redshirt last season and create some separation in classes while he became a better player. Probably smart, as he has a great skill set and can fly. Will figure in to the return game and could get into the rotation at receiver. As a freshman, caught everything thrown his way.

Allen Hurns (Fr.) – Hurns draws comparisons to a young Hankerson and is now working out with Duper as well. Is 99% certain to redshirt. If he doesn’t, something really bad happened.

Tight End

The Season That Was: Mark Whipple’s new offense made the tight end prominent again, and as a result Miami got great production out of a basketball player and a guy coming back in record time from an ACL tear.

What Was Lost: Dedrick Epps was the best all around tight end on the roster and was drafted by the Chargers. Jimmy Graham was the fan favorite and a freak athlete that was drafted by the Saints in the 3^rd round after one season of college football. Aside from that, nothing.

Roll Call

Richard Gordon (Sr.) – Seems like he has been around forever. Remember when he returned kicks? Anyway, he is a great blocker and a very unproven receiver, with 4 total receptions in his career. The talent is there, but the question is whether or not he will use it.

Chase Ford (Jr.) – JuCo transfer that should play right away and will probably be the team’s best receiving option at the position. Matter of how quickly he will pick up the playbook and whether he can block.

Billy Sanders (R-Fr.) – Redshirted last season and will see playing time this year. One player called him the toughest guy on the roster. Good to hear, and now we will see if he can make an impact or not.

Asante Jabari- Cleveland (Fr.) – Most likely of the freshmen to play at this position. Very projectable and has a big frame. If he can block and learn the playbook he might make an impact. Still a likely redshirt candidate, however.

Andrew Tallman (Fr.) – Big time athlete who is very raw. Will most likely redshirt, and could be moved to tackle or defensive end.

Clive Walford (Fr.) – Very good athlete, will redshirt if he qualifies academically. Was predominantly a basketball player in high school.

Always guard the inbound passer.

Play Highsmith!...And Other Assorted Non-Sense

Hello All,

Well, I don’t know about you, but I am psyched for the roughly 323 “trick or treat” references the are sure to come during a game matching teams whose primary colors are orange and black AND after anything close to a trick play.

Speaking of excited, let’s take it down a notch on the message boards 'Cane fans. After the loss to Clemson, I learned that Randy Shannon will never be anything more than an 8 win coach, Sean Spence is too small and too slow to play linebacker, every assistant coach needs to be fired, Shannon is really just using the ‘Canes as part of his plan to become a highly paid defensive coordinator at a big-money school, Jacory Harris is the 5th best quarterback in the ACC and the ‘Canes are going to lose out. All of these taken directly from fan message boards…and these are the better boards that I read.

I think everyone is losing sight of the fact that Miami, while it did make a lot of mistakes, was beaten by three in overtime by a talented team, despite committing 4 turnovers and being without several key players. It was a bad loss, but it was not as terrible as it felt. It was the type of game that had the ‘Canes won those same message boarders would be writing about the virtues of Jacory’s calm under pressure and the development of Shannon as a head coach. Those three points, in the eyes of many fans, now serve as the difference between a young, promising program going nowhere but up and a program stuck in the mud.

The reality is that Miami has to put that gut punch loss behind it. The energy around the program turned sour very quickly thanks to the loss, and that is yet another problem to overcome. It is, after all, hard to win when even your biggest fans are telling you how much you suck.

Wake Forest is a tough, well coached team. This will not be a walkover for the ‘Canes, especially when you couple the discipline of the Deacons with their anger coming off two consecutive losses.

So here is the breakdown of what will be a tougher game then most people like to see, message board style.

Quarterback: A message boarder would say that Jacory is an overrated beneficiary of the U on his helmet and that Riley Skinner is by far a better decision maker and therefore quarterback. The reality is that Jacory has been outstanding. He has some turnover issues, but these are created by hanging on to the ball too long while he tries to get the ball downfield. It is a problem, but it is a better problem to have than, say, a quarterback with happy feet. Skinner is definitely solid, boasting a 16-9 touchdown to interception ratio and a ranking inside the Top 20 in national passer rating. EDGE: Miami

Running Back: A message boarder would say that Damien Berry is good and the rest of the backs suck. Bring on Lamar Miller! The reality is that Berry has been the homerun hitter, but both Coop and Baby J have been solid every down workhorses who have the ability to break off a long run. Coop will be the workhorse, as Baby J is out this week, but all three have played well and deserve the carries they will get. Berry , Mike James and Lee Chamber swill have to step up to fill the void. Wake Forest has a steady run game lead by Josh Adams and Kevin Pendergrass; Pendergrass can go the distance. EDGE: Miami

Receivers: A message boarder would say that the crew is underperforming. Why can’t LaRon Byrd who up every game? Why is Aldarious so fragile? Why is Hankerson so slow? Benjamin runs awful routes? This is called “not seeing the forest for the trees”. At least one receiver has been a stud in each game, and the fact that one has not been the clear cut go to guy is more a product of injuries and matchups than anything else. Strength in numbers is the takeaway lesson here. Wake’s Marshall Williams is their biggest homerun threat, and he will make some big plays. EDGE: Miami

Offensive Line: Message boarders would say that the whole group is terrible. In reality, there aren’t any individual studs, but the unit has played very well against teams like Oklahoma and Clemson, so it isn’t all bad even though it isn’t pretty. The problem is that they played down to the level of UCF. I have no idea what they will do this week, but I do know that Wake’s o-line is giving up 2.5 sacks per game and and their scoring offense ranks 83rd in the nation. EDGE: Even

Defensive Line: Message boarders would say that they are all too weak, get no push and should be replaced by true freshmen next year (great logic, right?). Reality is that while Bailey and Marcus Robinson have played well consistently, the line is not at a point yet where it can generate pass rush on its own on every play. It just isn’t. Wake, on the other hand, features John Russell on their line and that’s about it. EDGE: Even

Linebackers: Message boarders would say that Arthur Brown is a bust already (after just over 1.5 seasons) and the already overrated linebackers are screwed without Spence, who is the most overrated. Reality is that the ‘Canes are definitely hurt without Spence (a missile) and Jordan Futch (a crazy person) but will be alright if Ramon Buchanan and Brown can combine to be nothing more than effective taking Spence’s snaps. Wake is lead by Dominique Midgett, but Miami still has McCarthy and Sharpton to bang in the run game. EDGE: Miami

Secondary: Message boarders would say that this is the worst secondary in Miami history and that none of these guys have any business starting because they are not Ed Reed. Well, it is true they are not Ed Reed. It is ridiculous to expect that. Lost in the confusion last week is that the secondary played pretty well, and that it was the linebackers that got shredded in pass coverage. Brandon Harris is a stud, but the safeties have yet to be tested much in coverage (meaning we know NOTHING about their skills). Wake is lead by Kenny Okoro at corner and Cyhl Quarles back deep. They will, as always, be well coached and disciplined in their schemes. EDGE: Even

Special Teams: Message boarders would say we have no kicker and no coverage. True, the coverage sucks. But the kicker thing is ridiculous. Bosher is the best in the coneference if not the country when it comes to field goals, and he has been great punting as well. Not his fault he’s the best cover guy. BIG EDGE: Miami

Coaching: Grobe is a better gameday coach than Shannon at this point. EDGE: Wake

GUEST PICKER: Last week, Trent nailed it to give the guest two in a row. One more, that’s called a winning streak. It has happened before.

This week, I’m stayin’ in the family and giving my little brother Billy (who is in a frat) another shot at picking the game. Take it away Billy!

"We, the readership, have eagerly waited; actually that may just have been me, but finally Stein on the Sidelines comes back to it roots. Its very simple big brother, when I put a prediction in the universe, it comes into fruition (like when he picked Ole Miss to steam roll South Carolina).

Auburn, Alabama: A border town of nice boutiques, Atlanta’s finest co-eds who are incapable of garnering acceptance into UGA (naturally creating a jealous hatred of the black and red), and a football program that ranks second in Alabama in everything.

Auburn is steeped in culture nonetheless. They are so close to Ole Miss in off field tradition, in fact, they even stole a back stabbing, c#$% sucking coach from us . They do it right there, from the barbecue to frocketed t-shirts.

Now let’s get down to the facts. The two are coming into this game on opposite ends of the “We need to win this game to prove something” spectrum. Auburn is riding a three game losing streak after starting out 5-0. Ole Miss, on the other hand, has won their last two .

A month ago I would have realistically given Gene Chizik’s squad the upper hand over the Rebs. However, these are both completely different teams from a month ago.

Last weekend The Tigers were incapable of running the football against the Tigers. Chris Todd was intercepted twice, and the Tiger defense was incapable of stopping Jarrett Lee from taking their last drive to the house.

Bayou Cajuns pucker your butt hole: I’m sorry, but Jarrett Lee? I thought he was run out of Red Stick permanently after the "Magnolia Bowl Blunder" last season (I am not even sure what he means by that, but whatever blows his little skirt up).

The Rebels are back on the road for the first time since the Vanderbilt game. I’m sorry to say I can’t recap that one; I hid the TV clicker so no one could interrupt me watching Miami beat Oklahoma (BOOM). But the Rebels have looked sharp the last two games after suffering an embarrassing loss to Alabama at home.

I anticipated an offensive outpouring against Alabama-Birmingham, which is exactly what I got. Note to Heisman voters: UAB’s quarterback has mine, that guy is impossible to take down.

Everybody finished chuckling? I figured that would be nicer to them than saying the token UAB fans in Oxford were very possibly ugliest couple I have ever seen.

In real games, the Ole Miss offensive line finally gave Snead time to throw the ball, and when he has time, he can make things happen. Coach Nutt finally used Dexter McCluster in his proper all-purpose role, gaining about half of our 550 offensive yards himself.

The Hungry Landshark D is the X-factor for the Rebels. They’re too fast and too stout for The Auburn offense. In order for Auburn to win the War Eagle better clip Greg Hardy during its flight; he’ll most assuredly hurt something enough not to play. Since I don’t reckon that’ll happen, the boys from Dixie are coming into town and there is blood in the water.

Ole Miss 27- Auburn 20

Side note: There was never a need to rename the rivalry game between Ole Miss and LSU the “Magnolia Bowl.” The most important game of our season now makes us sound like a floral company. I know the guy who headed the committee to change it; I can only guess by now he’s been killed in action by his own troops (well constructed reference, Billy, well constructed). Hotty Toddy."

MY PICKS: Last week I went 6-5 to up the record to 23-28. I also missed my sixth straight upset special. I think we showed signs of progress. We just have to keep practicing hard and build from week to week.

Virginia Tech over UNC: Well, the Heels couldn’t hold a three score lead at home vs. Florida State in primetime. Do I think they will beat the Hokies on the road in primetime? No.

West Virginia over USF: Screw your USF. Two weeks in a row. Screw you.

Georgia Tech over Vanderbilt: Do I think that they are the best team in the ACC? No. Am I pumped to watch them destroy and SEC team? Hell yes.

Tennessee over South Carolina: Tennessee by a field goal. Also, I am smirking to myself as I write this.

Duke over UVA: Don’t laugh, Duke is playing good football and Virginia is beat up after that game against Tech.

USC over Oregon: Too much hype around the Ducks. Let's not forget what happened to the Ducks when they played a fast, talented, physical Boise State team. If I were the Trojans, I'd stay away from the postgame handshake. Sorry Tim.

Oklahoma State over Texas: Upset special number one; call it Upset Special Lite. Oklahoma State will do just enough to knock off a Texas team that is begging for it on the road at night.

And here it is…the UPSET SPECIAL: Georgia over Florida

Wishful thinking? Definitely. Unlikely? Well, it wouldn’t be the upset special if it weren’t. But Florida is not playing well on offense, and Georgia ain’t Arkansas or Mississippi State. If Georgia can score a few touchdowns, watch out. Sports Illustrated cover: TRICKED!


Guard the inbound passer.

Kicked in the Nuts

Hello All,

Let’s just get right in to it. Back in the Sports Den for the first time since the Oklahoma game, here comes the running diary for the Clemson game. As always, this is taken from notes I made as the game went along, and unless otherwise noted I have recopied them as they were taken.

PRE GAME• Well, at Noon all three pickers on College Gameday picked us to win. Not a great start to the day. Really, that’s always a no-win situation. If they pick against us, I get mad that we get no respect. If they pick us, I get mad and think that they jinxed us. It really is a terrible way to go through life.
• From my friend who knows things: “Coop says he is feeling 100%.” We shall see…
• And on the call today, Dave Lamont and Brian Griese. Wait, Brian Griese?!?!? When did this happen. Also, he literally sounds exactly like his dad. If they did the Pepsi Challenge with those two voices, I honestly would not be able to tell them apart at all. It is almost creepy.

1st QTR• Miami manages to avoid disaster on the kickoff, where Jacoby Ford and C.J. Spiller, the final two legs of Clemson’s 4x100 relay team, await. Exhales all around.
• And Clemson marches right on down the field, aided by Miami’s refusal to blitz. Again. This is getting to the point of being ridiculous. Let’s go through this logically. John Lovett and Randy Shannon probably think that it is too risky to blitz because our corners cannot be trusted to cover on an island. Ok, fine. That means that you believe your front four can get pressure on its own. In fact, for this to work, the front four HAS to get pressure on their own. Otherwise, the quarterback sits back for as long as he wants and the corners, who are not on an island, have to cover a receiver for 4-8 seconds. Without drawing a pass interference call. The problem: OUR FRONT FOUR DOESN’T GENERATE PRESSURE. EVER. Both coaches should have to write this on the blackboard 100 times before every game. It is the most inherently flawed defensive strategy I have ever seen. One of the basic tenets of football is that in order to win defensively, you have to pressure the quarterback. Look at the FSU game, where Christian Ponder dissected us for 59 minutes, until we sent three straight blitzes on the goal line and he couldn’t complete the game winning pass. Or the UCF game, where every time we sent a blitz we got a sack or forced an incompletion (with one exception). Kyle Parker is a good quarterback, but he is a freakin’ first year starter. Remember how lost Marve and Jacory looked last year against the blitz? Well, I don’t think that this kid is too much better than either of those guys. And yet, he looks like John Bleepin’ Elway with five seconds to sit in the pocket on every play. This is going to bite us in the ass. Big time.
• Clemson finishes the drive with a missed field goal. My excitement over this is immediately quelled when ABC announces Daryl Sharpton as an impact player for Miami. Really? This guy is too slow to do anything but play up in the box against the run. He can’t cover. He doesn’t go sideline to sideline well. And yet, he is an impact player? I am so confused it hurts. That’s not to say he isn’t very good in his role. But I just can’t fathom choosing him as an impact player over Allen Bailey, Colin Mccarthy, Sean Spence or even Joe Joseph.
• Miami starts with the ball and Leonard Hankerson makes a spectacular one handed catch. That is three highlight reel catches for him so far this season. Who’d have thunk it? Hankerson then makes a big catch to convert a third down. Jacory goes back to Hank on another third down, only the pass is off target, Hank tips it, and Clemson picks it off. Well, so much for all that momentum.
• Miami goes offside twice on the same drive, and probably three times (Olivier Vernon got away with one at one point). However, they rebound, and a series of penalties and bad plays puts Clemson in to 3rd and 49.
• Miami gets the ball back and Thearon Collier sets up a Bosher field goal. (3-0 UM)

2nd QTR• Clemson starts marching again, except Colin McCarthy (the defensive MVP of the first half) rips through the line, destroys Spiller and seperates him from the ball, which Andrew Smith recovers. First down ‘Canes!
• Miami goes 3 and out, and Clemson responds by marching down the field and scoring a touchdown on a pass to their tight end. (7-3 Clemson)
• Miami then gets the ball back and drives down the field, highlighted by a big Hankerson catch on 3rd down which then sets the ‘Canes up to score moments later on a Damien Berry run. (10-7 UM)
• Two notes on this. First, I love that they are recognizing Berry’s talents and making him the short yardage go-to back. He has a burst unlike that of Cooper and James, and he has a nose for the end zone. Second, this is when I should have gotten the feeling that this was going to be a bumpy, roller coaster ride. But I didn’t. It took me until after the following play…
• C.J. Spiller returns the kickoff, which was supposed to be squibbed, for a touchdown. (14-10 Clemson) That makes every game this season that Spiller has had a play of at least 55 yards. And that’s who we let beat us. The one guy that we couldn’t let beat us. And the frustrating part. After the game, we learned that Shannon had actually called the squib and Alex Uribe just forgot to squib it. YOU FORGOT?!?! Excuse me? Your one job is KICKOFF specialist. How do you forget to squib it??????
• Inside of a minute in the half, Coop rips off a long run and puts Miami in field goal range. Now, Miami can spike the ball, take a couple shots at the touchdown and still kick the field goal if worst comes to worst, all because they have a timeout left…
• Which Whipple promptly takes. This was a bad enough timeout call that Shannon, king of the bad timeout, has words with him on the sideline. Yikes.
• Jacory misses Jimmy Graham in the end zone, then, on the last shot before the field goal try, does the unthinkable and throws a terrible interception. Snarl.

HALFTIME
• Up to this point, the offense has been very blah. I have to imagine that this is Whipple lulling everyone to sleep so that he can hit ‘em hard in the second half. I hope.
• The defense, as I have said, is fine except for the lack of blitz. It is ridiculous how much better this d is when we send one extra guy. It goes from 0% effective to about 90% effective with one blitzer. ONE.
• Special teams…well…not very special.

3rd QTR• Miami gets the ball to start the second half and begins driving. Two big plays by Epps set up a Hankerson TD! (17-14 UM) Now that’s more like it. Miami looks like they are going to come out and stomp on Clemson’s throat early. Bring it on.
• Sharpton makes a big play on D (just to make me look dumb). Miami then gets the ball back and punts. On Clemson’s drive, the refs miss a terrible block in the back on a reverse before Parker finds Spiller WIDE OPEN down the sideline for a 60 yard touchdown. (21-17 Clemson) Spiller beat Sean Spence on the play, who was injured early in the game and limping on this play. Well, that’s twice their stud has beaten us for long scores. And Spence looks like he’s hurt pretty good. What a Shit Burger of a play that was.
• Miami gets the ball back, and Thearon Collier makes another nice play before trying to do too much and fumbling it back to Clemson. Fantastic stuff.
• Clemson is driving when Allen Bailey busts through the line for something like the 147th time this game and forces a fumble…which Marcus Robinson scoops up…and returns for a TOUCHDOWN! (24-21 UM)
• That was the play of the game. It had to be. There is no way Clemson bounces back from that. Oh, and this is interesting. Randy Phillips got flagged for taking his helmet off. Fifty yards behind the play. As he walked on to the sideline. Think that would happen to Major Wright? I say nay.
• Clemson then marches right back down the field and nearly goes back ahead, only a wide open running back drops a pass near the goal line. Clemson kicks a field goal after a big pass breakup by Brandon Harris. (24-24)

4th QTR• Miami starts with the ball and converts a 3rd and 14 on a great route by Laron Byrd for 15 yards. He is easily Miami’s best receiver. Easily. And yet that is his only catch of the day. I have given up on figuring this team out.
• Baby J then rips off a 45 yard run. However, the drive fizzles and Bosher kicks a field goal from 51 yards out. (27-24 UM)
• I officially am ready to be done with this game. I have had more ups and downs than the Lohan family up to this point. Seriously. Stop the ride, I want off.
• Arthur Brown makes a great play in kick coverage to pin Clemson at about the 15 yard line.
• Clemson hits a screen to their tight end, who then gets crushed on the play. Seriously, Sharpton hit him so hard while he was airborne that his body went completely rigid mid air. This is the type of hit that makes you forget how good a game it is and just pray the kid is able to function the next day. Also, it is a mark of just how good the game is that his teammates, huddled around him on the ground, are watching the JumboTron to make sure that he was down before the ball popped out (which he was).
• Miami gets called for their 4th offside penalty of the game before making a big stand and forcing the punt.
• Jacory decides it would be too easy to actually put some distance between the two teams and throws a Pick 6. (31-27 Clemson)
• My stomach is angry with me for picking this team to root on. Very angry.
• Jacory comes back out for the next drive and immediately hits Travis Benjamin for a 69 YARD TOUCHDOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (34-31 UM) And this is why we love this kid… it’s like he thrives on this. Also, this is something like the 34th lead change of the game.
• Spiller rips off a 48 yard run. Stein on the Sidelines sees his house of cards crumbling.
• DVD makes a big hit (what?!) and then Randy Phillips does the unthinkable and picks off Parker in the end zone!!!
• Clemson only has one timeout left. All Miami has to do is pick up one first down and this thing is essentially over. So what does Miami do? Obviously, they pull Patrick Nix out of the unemployment line for this drive and run up the gut to minimal effect three straight times. Great. Almost no time off the clock, no first down, and punting back too an offense that has moved the ball at will. Where was Berry on this drive? If you’re going to run, don’t you think you should be running with the most explosive guy on your roster this late?
• Clemson predictably marches down the field, converts a 4th and 1 and kicks the field goal to send it in to overtime. I am actually relieved that they didn’t score a touchdown. (34-34)

OVERTIME
• Clemson wins the toss and elects to go on defense. Literal reaction in the Sports Den: “F#################KKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!”
• Coop rips off a 19 yard run on the first play of overtime. First and Goal on the 6. This is exactly what we wanted. Whipple is made for this.
• Two terrible run plays and a dangerous, “what was Jacory thinking” pass later, Bosher kicks a field goal. (37-34 UM)
• The defense valiantly puts Clemson in 3rd and 11…before Parker finds Ford (from Belle Glade) for the winning touchdown on a slant route into the gaping hole in the middle of the field. Marcus Robinson is held on the play, but it isn’t called. Clemson wins, 40-37

The Day After• Yep, it still hurt when I woke up. This was the ultimate “kicked in the balls” loss. I can’t even begin to describe how spent I am, mostly emotionally. so many times this game should have been won, and yet Clemson kept sticking around. And just when it looked like Miami might claw their way out of this thing...boom, right in the nuts.
• This game was lost by the coaches, and I rarely say that. They played not to lose, as opposed to playing for the win. The lack of blitzing is the reason Clemson stuck around, as they were able to continually march on the defense. Listen, the D showed a lot of heart and made some huge stops. But they were on the field for entirely too long, and they were forced to sit back and react to what was happening as opposed to forcing the issue, which is what this defense really excels at.
• The specific point where Miami lost was after the Phillips interception, when Whipple called a run play on 3rd and short that got stuffed. No play action? No roll out? No misdirection? No anything? That was the point where you put the ball in the hands of your best player, Jacory, and tell him to go win. And Whipple choked.
• The players actually seemed like they could have done more if the staff had let them; they played with a lot of heart. McCarthy was everywhere, yet we rarely blitzed him. Jacory had time to throw all day, mostly because the o-line was great. And yet, we chose to run both late in regulation and in overtime. Again, this one goes on the coaching staff.
• This was especially tough because it was the first game of its kind all season: Miami expected to win against a good team. It’s the type of game that elite teams find a way to win. At the beginning of the season, I thought Miami was a 3 or 4 loss team. But I guess I got sucked in by the early success and raised my expectations. This is both a good and bad thing. It’s good because Miami should be expected to contend for titles every year. It is bad because it makes you lose sight of the fact that this is still a young, thing, injury-ridden team. There were a lot of positives in this game, but it is hard to recognize that when you should have won the game and didn’t. Miami now has two options. Win out, play in a decent bowl game against a decent opponent and prepare for a big run next season. Or, they can do what most ACC teams do and play mediocre football, play in a mediocre bowl and have mediocre expectations for next season. Honestly, I am not sure what will happen. The overreaction is that this team is terrible and Randy Shannon should be fired. There will be plenty of that. The under reaction is that everything is just fine and Clemson just got the better of us. There will be plenty of this as well. Personally, I think that this is still a good team with good coaches who have some adjustments to make. Winning out is totally doable, with some tough road tests left along the way that will test the young team’s mettle. There is a lot of talent here, and eventually the coaches will figure out how to best use it game in and game out. However, the players cannot lose sight of the fact that every week is a test, and they have no time to stay down about this loss because next week Wake Forest is going to be ready for a dogfight. As Shannon said today, it is up to the coaches to pick the team back up from the aftermath of this game and get them re-focused on the task at hand.

Other Games I Watched- UTEP vs. Tulsa: This just made Boise look pretty bad. Not as bad as UTEP’s uniforms, however.
- UNC vs. FSU: Great finish for FSU, let’s hope they can build on it, save Bowden’s job and beat Florida.
- Rutgers vs. Army: Army has a 6’10”, 285 lb receiver. Let me repeat: Army has a 6’10”, 285 lb receiver. Is it any wonder the lose?
- Ohio State vs. Minnesota: I feel like I have watched every Minnesota game this season. Thanks ESPN!
- Ole Miss vs. Arkansas: To reiterate a previous point: Arkansas blows. They are terrible. Their receivers suck. Their quarterback sucks. Their coach sucks. They just suck. Also, reverse jinx accomplished.
- Virginia vs. Georgia Tech: Well, at least Tech keeps making us look good for beating them.
Best Game: Miami vs. Clemson

Best Uniform: LSU white on yellow.

Game Ball Goes To: C.J. Spiller.

Worst Uniform: Mississippi State. All maroon. Yikes.On a related note, I saw "Milk" for the first time this weekend. Brilliant movie about a brilliant man. And Anita Bryant? Scary. That was only thirty years ago. REALLY scary.

Trojan Enz © Boner of the Week Award: Mark Whipple

Brian Rolle “Should’ve Been a ‘Cane” Award: Jacoby Ford. Need I say more?

Non-BCS Name You Should Know: The 6’10”, 285 lb. ARMY RECEIVER! If only I could remember his name…

And, as always, remember to guard the inbound passer.

Forced In to the Open

Hello All,

Well, after a week off, it is time to return to the tried and true running diary, taken from notes I made during the game.

PRE-GAME

Comin’ to you live from Beef O’Brady’s in Gainesville, Florida!

This should be fun. Because the combination of UCF and Conference USA brilliantly sold the TV rights to UCF’s only high profile home game of the season to a channel only carried on the premiere sports tier of certain satellite providers, the Stein men and Steph have been forced out of the Man Room and out in to the open.

We arrive at the bar as Florida’s kicker lines up to kick the game winner against Arkansas. The bar is filled to the brim with people wearing the tried and true combination of royal blue over denim. You stay classy Gainesville.

Anyway, the sight of the three of us went over about as well as a fart in church (which I think would be hilarious, but apparently is frowned upon). Of course, the kicker makes it, and we have to put up with the Shanty-folk praising each other to no end after a thrilling, home-field, Homecoming victory over the mighty Razorbacks, who of course are underrated according to every person in that bar. And yet I digress. The point is, UF barely beat Arkansas and we had to deal with the people who stuck around the bar after that just to watch the Miami game and try to get a rise out of us. More on this later.

We convince the waitress to put the Miami game on the big screen in our section. By convince, I mean we asked and she said they were already planning on showing it on the big screen and then walked away as quickly as possible so as to not give the impression she was in league with us when the lynching ropes eventually come out.

Final thoughts before kickoff: “Oh f*&k, we are wearing the green pants.”

1st QTR

• Miami comes out swingin’, as Jacory finds LaRon Byrd for a first down on the first play and shuts the crowd up (by the way, Jacory is now on a first name only basis, like Bono or Elvis). However, the drive stalls on a bad sack and the ‘Canes punt.
• Jared Campbell makes a big play. I cannot believe I just typed that.
• The guy at the table next to us just made a joke about me taking notes during the game just loud enough that I could hear it but quietly enough that he could try and claim it was part of a private conversation. You stay classy Gainesville.
• Travis Benjamin runs a great route, and Jacory throws a bomb down the field later in the drive caught by Leonard Hankerson in the back of the end zone. One of the best catches I have seen, all things considered. He was running at full speed, tracked down a floater from Jacory in to the back of the end zone and lunged, caught the ball, and got his front foot down within a split second of each other. He didn’t think it was a touchdown. We didn’t think it was a touchdown. The ref saw it though, and replay confirmed it. I can’t decide if I am more impressed with Hankerson’s body control or the ref’s vision. (7-0 Miami)
• Miami finally blitzes for the first time and Sean Spence picks up a sack. Every time we blitz, something good happens. Every. Time. And yet, we blitz only a handful of times a game. Highly annoying. It’s not like our front four is getting consistent pressure. The last two weeks, FAMU and UCF have both stood up to our pass rush remarkably well. Not good.
• Jacory’s stat line for the quarter: 7-7, 97 yards and a touchdown. Wow.

2nd QTR• The teams exchange bad drives for a while and then Matt Bosher hits a field goal. (10-0 Miami).
• It was a pretty boring quarter, save for the people at the table next to me having a legitimate conversation about Arkansas being able to give just about anybody in the country a run for their money. I am speechless. Totally and utterly speechless.
• Corey Nelms and Damien Berry, two of my favorites, make plays just before the half. And hey, Georgia Tech continues to lead Virginia Tech. Life is good.
HALFTIME
• Overall, the ‘Canes were very workmanlike. The Knights defensive front created a lot of pressure, which surprised me. The question is whether the ‘Canes will continue to play down to the level of their competition or not. The brightest spot has been the defense, which has been a wrecking ball.

3rd QTR• Sean Spence registers his second sack on his second blitz. Hmmmmmmm…might we be on to something here?
• LaRon Byrd makes a great catch on a jump ball down the sideline, setting up a Jacory pass to Byrd for a first down at the five and a Javarris James touchdown run. (17-0 Miami)
• UCF scores a touchdown by beating the blitz (DOH!). Wait, ROCKY ROSS caught it? The coolest white guy on planet Earth? With the best name?? I’m not even mad. Stein on the Sidelines is a Rocky Ross fan. (17-7 UCF)
• Miami follows the score by putting together a bad drive and then snapping the punt over Bosher’s head on the punt. Bosher kicks it out the back of the end zone; however, because he contacted it within the field of play and not in the end zone, UCF gets the ball on the 1. Uh-oh.
• UCF runs a play out wide for their running back, which DeMarcus Van Dyke blows up for a loss of about 5. Again, I cannot believe I just typed that sentence.
• Jared Campbell comes on the safety blitz and whacks the quarterback..the ball pops in to the air and Colin McCarthy picks it off. Threat averted, big turnover created, throat stepped on. To add injury to insult, Campbell knocked the quarterback out of the game. His backup completed a whopping 39.4% of his passes last season as a starter (worse than JaMarcus Russell). Sean Spence is licking his chops as I write this.
• Bosher hits another field goal, set up by a big play from Jacory to Thearon Collier. (20-7 UM)
4th QTR• At this critical juncture, the table next to us decided to loudly make fun of the Hurricanes for playing UCF. Seriously? UF fans making fun of Miami’s non-conference schedule? I told him that we really tried to get Troy or Charleston Southern to toughen up our schedule, but they were previously engaged. Which lead to the inevitable “SEC is really tough” crack. Which lead to the “Yep, I don’t know what we would do if we had to play ARKANSAS! I mean, Virginia Tech is tough and all, but ARKANSAS?!? That’s a football team!” retort. Which lead to my dad telling me to shut up (which was probably smart, because there were 5 of them). Which lead to me staring a hole in the television the rest of the game as they closed up their tab and left. I consider it a victory, which could have been bigger if dad had taken the parking brake off…kind of like this game!
• To sum up the quarter, the defense didn’t let them sniff another score, the offense stopped throwing and Damien Berry beasted out. Final score: 27-7 ‘Canes, a blowout which could have been way bigger if Randy Shannon kept his foot on the gas and Matt Pipho hadn’t missed the bus to Orlando. A solid, workmanlike (yep, twice) win for a team that just needed to get the win and get back on the bus as they head in to a pivotal matchup with Clemson.
Other Games I Watched
- Arkansas State vs. Louisiana-Monroe: “No. Absolutely not.”- Richard Stein as he takes the remote from Stein on the Sidelines and changes it to Die Hard on Tuesday night.
- Boise State vs. Tulsa: I know this is unpopular, but I think Boise might be the second best team in the country, behind Alabama. They are fast, and their defense is aggressive and physical. Tulsa’s offense is no joke, and Boise held them down. They have playmakers. I think they are better than both Florida and Texas at this point.
- Cincinnati vs. South Florida: I think USF lost this one only because I picked them to win. Sorry guys, my bad.
- Oklahoma vs. Texas: I was feeling bad for Oklahoma when Bradford went down again, because I like the kid. But then I remembered how dirty the rest of the Sooners team was when they played in Miami, and how obnoxious Bob Stoops is on the sideline. And then, as if to validate my point, a Sooner defensive end tried to rip Colt McCoy’s head off after he slid on the final play from scrimmage. AFTER he slid. And it wasn’t called. Go figure.
- Iowa vs. Wisconsin: And Wisconsin figures to wrap up its 57th straight trip to the Champs Sports Bowl sometime next week.
- Georgia vs. Vanderbilt: This, folks, is why the SEC is the greatest God damn football conference there is.
- Arkansas vs. Florida: Alright, let’s put it out there: if Florida was playing anyone half decent, they lose this game by 2 scores. Bobby Petrino has no idea how win unless he is playing Conference USA competition at Louisville. He called run plays when he should have thrown. He threw when his running backs were runnin’ hot. His quarterback completed something like 25% of his passes. And still, the Razorbacks win this game if their kicker doesn’t miss 2 4th quarter field goals. Oh, and if the refs don’t gift wrap Florida its fourth quarter touchdown. At their place. During their homecoming game. On national television. Hmmmmmmmmm…
- Notre Dame vs. USC: As much as it pains me, I have to give it to the Irish: they have a lot of fight in them. I am glad they lost, and I know there is no such thing as a moral victory, but when USC got up a couple scores, I figured it wasn’t worth watching anymore. I was very impressed with their resolve and now consider Jimmy Clausen the Heisman front runner. Wow, that sucks.
- Virginia Tech vs. Georgia Tech: The curse is broken! Rachel Russo is Stein on the Sideline’s lucky charm.

Best Game: Notre Dame vs. USC

Best Uniform: Texas. Best uniforms in college football.

Game Ball Goes To: Georgia Tech’s defense.

Worst Uniform: Miami, white over green. And it always will be when they make the mistake of wearing it.

Trojan Enz © Boner of the Week Award: The Arkansas-Florida refereeing crew. I am still waiting for them to apologize publicly.

Brian Rolle “Should’ve Been a ‘Cane” Award: Sam Young, Notre Dame. Think the ‘Canes couldn’t use a great right tackle after that game? Ridiculous. And this kid is not only huge and talented, but he is from St. Thomas Aquinas. Snarl.

Non-BCS Name You Should Know: Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati. Oh wait, the Big East is in the BCS? Shoot…well this is embarassing...

Don’t forget to recommend this to friends and keep my drive for the Nobel going!

And, as always, remember to guard the inbound passer.

A Statement, One Way or the Other

Hello All,

Time to preview week 5 of the college football season.

Last week was a tough one, on many levels, for the ‘Canes.

This week is their chance to bounce back against another ranked opponent, at home, in primetime. Oklahoma is a very good team that borders on great when Sam Bradford is playing. They are not invincible, however, as BYU proved early in the season. Really, BYU won because they caught Oklahoma off guard with they physicality.

If Oklahoma watched tape of the Virginia Tech game, Miami should be able to do the same (really, Oklahoma has got to be licking their chops). Whether they do or not is really a matter of which defense shows up: the one that shut down Georgia Tech or the one that got mauled by Virginia Tech.

Here is the breakdown:

Quarterback: Jacory Harris is a very good quarterback, no doubt about it. However, he is still young and is prone to the mistakes that young quarterbacks make. He will make some this week against a wrecking crew defense that will bring the noise.While Harris has gotten a lot of publicity, Oklahoma’s Landry Jones has been playing very well for the Sooners, who have an explosive system that feeds off of its running game and puts up points in bunches. The x-factor here is Bradford. I will not believe he is out until I see it. If Bradford plays, the Sooners will probably win (as they did 2 years ago). If it is Jones, than Miami will not be at a disadvantage; the edge may be with the ‘Canes in this case, as this will be his first prime time test on the road against a fast defense. EDGE: EVEN (if Jones starts)/ OKLAHOMA (if Bradford starts)

Running Back: Graig Cooper and Javarris James are solid but proved last week that they are not game changers on their own. They need a good passing game to take pressure off. They also need better play calling, as both are better with a lead blocker and cannot beat the blitz to the edge, as they were being asked to do. As for Oklahoma, the 1-2 punch of Demarco Murray and Chris Brown is sure to give the Miami defense fits, particularly after Ryan Williams and Tyrod Taylor shredded them. EDGE: Oklahoma

Wide Receiver: Laron Byrd and Leonard Hankerson have emerged as go-to guys for Harris, and Travis Benjamin will have a better game on a dry track. I also think that Jimmy Graham will come up with a big play somewhere to atone for last week’s drops. Oklahoma is replacing their top 2 receivers and has not yet found a go-to guy. Jermaine Gresham will be sorely missed, as Miami has not been able to cover elite tight ends for years. EDGE: Miami

Offensive Line: If the talent is equal, which it probably is, then the edge goes to the team that will face less pressure. Miami was unable to create pressure with their front four last week. EDGE: Oklahoma

Defensive Line: Oklahoma is nasty on the front four, lead by Gerald McCoy (who I think is the best defensive player in college football), Jeremy Beal and Auston English. Miami is talented but banged up right now. Marcus Forston, Andrew Smith and Olivier Vernon have got to contribute this week or the Sooners will march up and down the field at will. Allen Bailey has been great but cannot do it all, and the depth issues last week really showed down the stretch. EDGE: Oklahoma

Linebacker: Miami’s unit, aside from Colin McCarthy, was unable to do anything last week. Sean Spence has got to hold the edge better against the run, and Daryl Sharpton really can only be relied upon in short yardage situations, where his lack of lateral speed can be hidden. Oklahoma is lead by Ryan Reynolds and is tough as always. It is quite impressive the job this team did in shutting out Tulsa’s juggernaut offense and a lot of that goes to the linebacking corps. EDGE: Oklahoma

Secondary: It doesn’t matter how good Oklahoma is here, because Miami has been terrible so far. EDGE: Oklahoma

Special Teams: Miami’s return game is not bad, but they cannot cover kicks and gave up a blocked punt last week. EDGE: Oklahoma

Coaching: This is a tricky one. While Bob Stoops has a great reputation, he has fallen short repeatedly in recent years against fast, talented teams (USC, Boise State, West Virginia, Florida, Texas, etc.). Randy Shannon and crew must adapt this week, because if they stick dogmatically to their gameplan as they did against Virginia Tech than it will be another blowout. Whipple and Lovett both must show more willingness to take what is given. That means creative offensive play calling (like the first two games) and more blitzing on defense. This is a tentative pick, but Oklahoma has the advantage until the Miami staff proves it is back to where it was against Georgia Tech. EDGE: Oklahoma

Now, that looks like a blowout. However, I think this will be a close game. Miami is not nearly as bad as they played last week, but this was always going to be the toughest of the first 4 games. Can Miami win? Yes. Will they? No clue.

POINT, COUNTERPOINT: Can Miami Score Enough to Win?

This week, I start a new segment with my buddy Justin Antweil of WVUM radio. We will both be answering the same question, touching on what I perceive to be the biggest questions facing the ‘Canes. I think it is a given that the Sooners are going to score, so Miami’s best chance to win is to go blow for blow with them and hold on at the end. So, the question is, can Miami’s offense bounce back?

Justin:
Miami Can Score! Sure, the Oklahoma Sooners defense has been stout. Coming off back to back shutouts after the stunning loss to BYU, this team is really motivated. The defense is playing with a chip on its shoulder, as it is getting overlooked because fans and analysts are more obsessed with the right shoulder of an injured player.
Come Saturday night at 8, No. 8 OU battles No, 17 Miami. The ‘Canes offense can exploit the OU defense, which has forced 4 picks and 2 fumbles. The key for the offense is to be aggressive. Mark Whipple strayed from his traditional game plan last weekend in soggy Blacksburg. Whipple must continue to implement the crossing routes and create constant movement that will cause confusion for the crimson and cream.
Whipple must utilize his weapons. Junior receiver Leonard Hankerson continues to thrive and haul in difficult catches every week. LaRon Byrd is proving he is worthy of wearing an orange and green 47. Dedrick Epps looks healthy after tearing his ACL in December. Sure, Jimmy Graham is a fan favorite, but let him catch balls in low pressure situations to get his confidence up. Don’t throw him in to the fire just yet.
Be aggressive and good things will happen.

Stein on the Sidelines:
I agree with Justin that the ‘Canes offense can score on this team. The question is which offense will show up.
Justin mentioned crossing routes and being aggressive. I agree with both. However, he doesn’t mention WHY we were able to be aggressive in the first two games: Jacory was standing in the pocket unpressured on almost every play. Whipple was using max protect schemes, using only 2 receivers as route runners on first down. Sure, there was a lot of motion and shifting, but in the end, at most 3 receivers were running routes while everyone else helped the o-line. The receivers ran intermediate and deep crossing routes and Jacory has a lot of time to find them open.
Last weekend, Whipple went away from the max protect and the o-line was exposed, most specifically Matt Pipho. The Miami o-line is solid but has some weaknesses. Virginia Tech found these weaknesses and Whipple never adjusted.
Justin is underselling the Sooner defensive front. As I said, the Sooner front 7 is big and fast and will be coming hard until Miami proves they can stop them.
Whipple needs to go back to the max protect, because if Jacory has time to throw, Byrd, Hankerson, Epps, Travis Benjamin, Thearon Collier and even Jimmy Graham can make big plays at any point in time.
The solution is not in the passing schemes, but the blocking schemes. Keep Jacory upright and Miami can score in bunches. The early pass will set up the run, which will set up play action, which will lead to touchdowns. However, if Oklahoma blitzes successfully early on, Miami will be in a hole and a repeat of Virginia Tech is very possible.
Max protect for max points.

Week 4 Picks in Review

I have been avoiding writing this section like I would avoid sharing a drink with George Christopher in “Bored to Death”.

My upset special barely missed, but I was off pretty much everywhere else. While it was a guest picker that picked Ole Miss, I was responsible for predicting Cal in “a close one” and Penn State “in a blowout”. Alas, I went 6-3, which is respectable. That brings me to 6-4 on the season. Guest pickers are 0-1.

This Week’s Guest

This week’s guest is close friend of Stein on the Sidelines, Steph. She is a native of Northern Virginia, so I asked for her opinion of the North Carolina- Virginia matchup in Chapel Hill. Take it away Steph:

"When Dan asked me to guest write for this blog my first reaction was to laugh in his face. Anybody who knows me at all will tell you that I have absolutely no business writing for a football blog. I don't really have any business even reading a football blog, considering most of the time I have no idea what is going on when it comes to sports.

However, since it's apparently my responsibility to make a prediction for the UNC v. UVA game, I'm going to go ahead and go with UNC. Mostly due to my intense dislike for the entire institution of UVA and anything associated with it. There are a variety of reasons I have problems with UVA.

First of all...southern Virginia. Enough said.

They also have the idea that twelve kids sitting around in a basement playing beer pong is a "really raging party."

But the worst part is the general student body. If you ever find yourself in a conversation with a kid from UVA it will probably go a little something like this:

"So, what school do you go to?"

"Why, I go to the *dramatic pause* University of Virginia," They will then wait expectantly for you to drop to your knees before them and/or begin to cross yourself. "Where do you go?" I

n my particular case, with the response "The University of Miami," this tends to be the reaction:"Oh. Mmm," they respond in what can only be described as a sympathetic tone.

They might even accompany this with an understanding nod, as if you had just admitted that you were partially mentally retarded. I think you all get the point. I've met kids from Yale, Stanford, and Princeton. I have a very close friend who goes to USC for film, one of the best schools in the country for his major. And NONE of them carry themselves they way that kids from UVA do. I really fail to understand how this mindset came to be. Yes, UVA is a good school. Yes, it is difficult to get into. But it's not Ivy League. It's not MIT.

I guess you could say I'm not the biggest fan. So yeah. Go Tarheels. Or is it Tar Heels? Whatever."

Admirable for her brevity and absolute willingness to allow personal prejudices to cloud football predictions, folks.

My Picks

West Virginia over Colorado: After watching Colorado get smacked by both Colorado State and Toledo, I have no hope that they will be able to stop Noel Devine. None. Zilch. Nada. If I were a gambler, this would be my stone cold lock of the week. It won’t even be close.

Michigan over Michigan State: I’m going to go out on a limb here and say Sparty will keep it close, maybe even lead in to the 4th quarter, and then blow it. The only question is how. My prediction: they will try a fake field goal when up 6 and throw an interception on the play. Michigan will score 14 unanswered and run away with it.

Georgia over LSU: I don’t even really consider this an upset. LSU has not been very impressive, and they have to travel Between the Hedges for a big game with the Bulldogs, who have quietly been piling up points. I see this being a good game, but Georgia gets back in the national discussion with a win. This will also make it 5 straight weeks a top 5 team loses.

Georgia Tech over Mississippi State: After the Bulldogs almost knocked off LSU, they will be too drained to take on Tech’s physical offense. Tech by two scores.

Ole Miss over Vanderbilt: This was actually a tough call (sorry Bill). Jevan Snead needs to get going and should this week. But Vanderbilt has become a sneaky tough place to win on the road, and Snead will have his hands full. I think Ole Miss has too much talent, but keep an eye on this game.

USC over Cal: I was going to pick Cal here in a bounce back game, but then we all heard about the tragic accident involving Stafon Johnson. I think USC wins this one for their teammate, and I wish him a very speedy recovery.

FSU over Boston College: FSU needs the win, and typically when a team this talented needs a win they find a way to get it. It will be tough on the road, but the FSU speed will juuuust pull one out. Also, this is one of the strangest choices for a College Gameday site yet.

NC St. over Wake Forest: This Wolfpack team is quietly playing well, and Wake just lost to BC.

Clemson over Maryland: Clemson bounces back, but Kirk Herbstreit is right: they don’t play well when it isn’t a TV game. Ralph Friedgen would love to catch them napping, but his team just isn’t there yet.

Tennessee over Auburn: I wanted to go with Auburn on the road, but my dad talked me out of it. Lane Kiffin needs an SEC win, and his defense just stopped Florida’s spread for most of their game. Auburn is good on offense, but Tennessee ain’t Ball State, and Auburn ain’t Florida.

UPSET SPECIAL: Indiana over Ohio State

My dad thinks I am an idiot for making this pick. I am more afraid about the ramifications of this pick backfiring than E was when he was waiting to hear if he has Drama’s STD. However, I am sticking by it. I think that Ohio State is playing too conservatively even by their standards, and I think that Indiana got a taste of upset in last week’s near-win against Michigan. Call me crazy, but never call me a coward. You could also call me 0-2 in upset special picks so far.

Always guard the inbound passer.

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.