Five Questions : A Cane And A Nole

Another Miami / Florida State showdown means another request from Seminoles enthusiast Rich Halten in the form of a Q&A regarding Saturday’s game.

Rich is involved with ChantRant.com and knows his stuff regarding his squad. He thankfully brings a lot of logic and common sense to this rivalry, unlike many of his Florida State brethren. Always appreciate the back-and-forth with him this time of year.

Below, five questions between a Nole and a Cane and five more between a Cane and a Nole regarding this weekend’s epic match up at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee:

Why has Miami been so up and down through the season? Is it more about looming penalties or is the team slow to adapt to Golden’s system?

Penalties and the adaptation process are part of it, but when you really look at this year’s squad it really is a tale of two teams — the offense and the defense. There simply hasn’t been defensive consistency and that’s not going to change over the next three games.

Lack of defensive talent, lack of depth and lack of experience is the real issue overall. Guys not sticking to their assignments, mental mistakes, a lack of playmakers (outside of Sean Spence, obviously).

Offensively there’s been improvement each week as there’s some talent on that side of the ball. Jacory Harris has turned it around, Tommy Streeter has emerged, Lamar Miller has become one of the better backs in the game and while the offensive line hasn’t been flawless, they’ve gotten the job done.

Defensively there’s just not as much to work with. A corner who couldn’t crack the depth chart at Wake Forest (Mike Williams) is starting. A JUCO transfer defensive lineman (Darius Smith) and true freshman (Anthony Chickillo) are seeing more playing time than veteran upperclassmen (Adewale Ojomo), which doesn’t say much for some of the players defensive coordinator Mark D’Onofrio inherited.

Injuries and suspensions have really taken their toll defensively, as well. Defensive lineman Marcus Forston was a team leader and was lost for the season weeks back, as was Curtis Porter and senior linebacker Ramon Buchanon. Season-ending injuries sidelined all three, while guys like Jalen Grimble, Shayon Green and Luther Robinson have missed significant playing time and aren’t playing this weekend.

Suspension-wise, Olivier Vernon missed six games and hasn’t resumed game form yet while Ray-Ray Armstrong was out the first four weeks and is again suspended this weekend for comments made via Twitter.

Miami is a mess on the defensive side of the ball for a slew of reasons, which is the reason this squad is 5-4. Offensively the Canes have improved every week as there’s talent there and kids are picking it up. Defensively there have been too many looks and too many injuries to gain any traction.

Look at losses to Kansas State, Virginia Tech and Virginia. After slow starts the Miami offense resumed the lead late, or narrowed the gap, only to have the defense let it slip away. A few defensive stops and Miami could legitimately be 8-1 despite the injuries, suspensions and depth issues.

Offense is carrying this team and games where Miami has taken an early lead, the Canes prevailed. Ohio State. North Carolina, Georgia Tech. Games where UM got off to a slow start — Kansas State, Virginia Tech and Virginia — it proved too little, too late as the defense remains the weak link.

If you were Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher, how would you attack the Canes defense?

I’d look at the Kansas State, Virginia Tech and Virginia game plans. Short passes underneath, confusing the linebackers. Misdirection.

Miami has struggled with two- or three-dimensioal offenses all season. Ohio State and Georgia Tech couldn’t pass, so Miami shut both down, selling out and defending the run. When you look at Kansas State and Virginia Tech — mobile quarterbacks who could pass or run, combined with a good ground game — Miami always seemed to guess wrong, giving up big play after big play and always finding a way to break down

Miami also has been its own worst enemy this season. Look at the Virginia game. Late hit on the quarterback on a third and long. Roughing the kicking on a fourth down.

Florida State coaches need to stress smart football, letting Miami make the mistakes as there always seem to be a handful of big ones every game.

How is UM’s offense different under first-year offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch than Mark Whipple?

It’s much more balanced and inventive. If you want to see Whipple at his worst, look back the North Carolina loss in 2009 where Harris had four interceptions. Whipple continued forcing Harris to throw deep, abandoning a ground game that was working, living and dying with the big play. That loss was a microcosm of all that was wrong with Whipple at the helm.

There’s a reason Harris had 14 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in 2010 and has 18 touchdowns to 4 interceptions this season under Fisch. Fisch is working with and building an offense around the quarterback he has, whereas Whipple was trying to turn Harris into the quarterback he wanted.

Look at the opening drive against North Carolina a few weeks back. Fast, crisp and balanced. Runs with Miller and James. Passes to Benjamin, Dorsett and Streeter. WIldcat with Benjamin. Passing on a 4th and 1 instead of running up the middle.

The few times Fisch has been predictable this season, Miami has paid. Most notably a run on 4th-and-1 against Virginia two weeks back. That said, the playcalling has been exciting, inventive and has played to players’ strengths. The Miami offense has gotten better weekly under Fisch and that hasn’t been the case at UM in almost a decade. Fisch is far and away Miami’s best offensive coordinator since Rob Chudzinski was running the show in 2003.

In what aspect has Miami improved most under Golden, and what area is the biggest disappointment?

I’d say overall attitude and belief. Even in losses, Miami has never given up — which wasn’t the case under Randy Shannon.

Down 14-3 at the half to Kansas State, fought back. Down 21-7 at the half against Virginia Tech, fought back. Down 17-7 at the half against Virginia, fought back.

The killer for Miami is the fact that it still fell short in all three games. Had the Canes gotten that extra yard against Kansas State or made that fourth down stop at Virginia Tech, those two comeback wins would’ve truly helped this team’s growth process. Those comeback wins would’ve been legit proof that Golden’s “process” works. To come close and fall mildly short — the kids are definitely getting “it”, but they’re not yet fully reaping the rewards of their hard work and you have to believe that causes some doubt and second guessing.

As for the biggest disappointment this year, it’s not on Golden. It’s the fact that so many kids from the past regime are too far gone to be saved. One one hand you have the rebirth of Harris, the long-waited emergence of Streeter and a vintage Miami back in Miller, while defensively you have true freshmen beating out veterans, displaying a better work ethic, real heart and true desire. You’d think that some of these upperclassmen would make the most of their second chance or final season, but instead have flat-out face-planted.

Wideout LaRon Byrd had 41 receptions for 441 yards as a junior last season and only 5 for 50 yards this year.

Junior safety Ray-Ray Armstrong misses the first four games of the year because of ties to Nevin Shapiro and with Florida State on the schedule this week, dude is firing out tweets from the high-end Prime 112 on South Beach .

Weeks back senior defensive end Micanor Regis had to sit against Georgia Tech for dirty play the previous week at North Carolina.

For some kids, a light switch went off, they bought in and you’re seeing great results. For others, same old story and the underachieving continues.

Golden and staff have proven what they can do with their kids — true freshman and the old schoolers who have bought into the process — but those who still aren’t buying in and putting team first, that’s the most disappointing aspect to the season .

Will Al Golden leave for Penn State, especially if there’s something in his contract that allows him to exit?

I really don’t see Al Golden leaving for Penn State. Ever. I think the media has played it up as his dream job, but I believe if Happy Valley was his true destination he’d never have come to Miami.

Joe Paterno is eighty-four years old and even before the scandal broke, probably only had a year or so before he eventually stepped down. If Golden truly wanted to be Paterno’s successor, he’d have ridden it out at Temple and waited for the job to open.

Golden’s last two squads at Temple went 9-4 and 8-4 and turned a pretty good team over to Steve Addazio this year. Why take on a Miami rebuilding project if Penn State was the goal? Would’ve been much easier to keep doing what he’d been doing with a Temple squad he’d invested five years in.

Golden is a savvy guy and seems to be more Jim Harbaugh than Jimbo Fisher — meaning he seems like a guy putting in time to build a NFL-friendly resume, as opposed to a guy in for the long haul with a big time program.

Miami has always been a high risk, high reward job. Private school in a metropolitan city and fn support only when fielding a winner, but a pipeline to the most fertile recruiting ground in the nation.

Golden didn’t trek south to Coral Gables to be a UM “lifer”. He came to go balls out rebuilding the next few years, to put The U back on the map, to build is resume and to open NFL doors. It worked for Howard Schnellenberger, Jimmy Johnson, Dennis Erickson and Butch Davis and for a guy who considers Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick his mentors, it should work for Golden, as well.

Aside from getting better talent in Miami than he’d ever get at Penn State, there’s also the ACC versus the new-look Big Ten. A good-never-great Virginia Tech program has won the ACC Coastal five of the past seven seasons and Miami has never been great during that era, never posting a better record than 9-3 in 2004 and 2005.

If / when Golden turns this thing around, winning the ACC and reaching the BCS with Miami will be a much easier feat than attempting to do with Penn State and all the Big Ten competition — Ohio State, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Michigan, Michigan State, et al.

They’re just scratching the surface with the scandal in Happy Valley and things will get worse there before they get better. Golden has spent the past ten months planting roots in South Florida, mending fences with local high school coaches and becoming a fixture in the community. Why leave that now for a huge mess at Penn State?

Beyond that, the old adage rings true; in sports you never want to follow a legend. Penn State will find their version of a Ron Zook. Someone to go balls out rebuilding and recruiting, but someone who will ultimately fail. Once said coach helps rebuild and once the drama blows over, that’s when a bigger name will finally head to Happy Valley.

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Three losses in a season when Florida State fans, and some media folk, were talking ACC title and possible national title darkhorse. How is Tomahawk Nation dealing with the disappointment?

It wasn’t easy for Nole fans to revise our expectations, but we’re dealing with it. A four game win streak helps, even if the wins were against the weakest quartet in the ACC. What’s helped is the team getting back on track during the streak. E.J. Manuel is 100% — or close to it — again. A patchwork offensive line is beginning to jell, which makes the running game go. Meanwhile, the defense is pitching shutouts as a new spark plug emerges in the form of true freshman NT Timmy Jernigan. All of which gives FSU faithful hope for the remainder of the season, and especially for the 2012 season, when almost all of this year’s starters return.

Did you feel the preseason ranking was a bit high based on the inexperience of E.J. Manuel and the huge loss of the experienced Christian Ponder?

Yes. The media was obviously wearing garnet and gold glasses during the pre-season. I’d rather be underrated and a little off the radar going into a season, giving the team a chance sneak up on opponents early. But going into this season, most FSU fans knew — even if they weren’t willing to admit — that there were clearly a few questions marks. In particular, the offensive line, where two major performers graduated and lingering injuries dogged some returning veterans. Of course, nobody counted on another big factor that would effect FSU’s early season ranking: An injury to E.J. Manuel at a crucial point in the Oklahoma game, a blow that would also keep him out of the Clemson game just when the Tigers were hitting their stride.

Florida State railroaded Miami last season, 45-17 at Sun Life. A lot of Seminoles have talked some smack since – and deservedly so. This is a rivalry that usually decided by a close margin. Some FSU fans are calling for another blowout. What do you see happening? Any prediction you care to give?

Every fan base has its over-the-top contingent with unrealistic expectations. But the ones I know are cautiously optimistic. Realistically, I see it as a toss-up. I’m concerned that this year Miami just wants it more. With the school considering a self-imposed bowl ban, Saturday’s game could be not only the biggest on the Canes schedule, but their de facto bowl for the season. Not only that, UM most certainly will be fired up for revenge for last year’s uncharacteristic loss. Then there’s Jacory Harris’ motivation to go out a winner in the last big game of his collegiate career. I hope the Noles can match all of that intensity.

The best thing about this game, though, from a fan standpoint is that both teams appear to be finally hitting a peak at the same time — the makings of another great game in a historic series.

Defense has been Miami’s weakness while the offense has come alive as of late. Where will Florida State hurt Miami the most defensive and how do you feel the Noles’ defense will do against Jacory Harris and the Canes’ offense?

UM’s secondary looks to be the more vulnerable part of the Canes defense, especially if Ray Ray Armstrong is suspended for the game. That would play to the Noles’ strength, as FSU has moved the ball more through the air than on the ground this season. Still, Miami’s pass defense isn’t exactly swiss cheese as the Canes are ranked a respectable 39th nationally in passing D (allowing 205.67 yards per game).

As for the Noles defense, it will have its hands full. Jacory Harris has become far more steady and virtually mistake free, as well as in-sync with receivers like Tommy Streeter. And Lamar Miller can be downright scary running the ball when he’s in the groove. With this genuine dual threat, O.C. Jedd Fisch will keep FSU’s defense guessing. Fisch is an obvious improvement over his predecessor in getting the most out of Jacory, making smart play calls and putting the ball in the hands of Canes playmakers. The chess match between Fisch and Nole defensive coordinator Mark Stoops should be an exciting game within the game.

Lastly, Florida State welcomed a new head coach last season in Jimbo Fisher and this season Miami brought on Al Golden. How do Florida State folk feel about the newest Miami coach? After lame ducks like Larry Coker and Randy Shannon, it appears the Canes finally have a good one again. At least that’s what we think. Where to the Noles stand on Golden?

It’s hard for FSU fans not to have respect for Golden. Most of us grudgingly saw that Miami made a shrewd hire after Coker and Shannon, as well as a good value given the school’s athletic budget (i.e., Miami got the best bang for its buck). Golden appears to have many of the strengths that made Urban Meyer successful, but with none of the hang-ups. We all have to wonder if Golden will be at the top of Penn State’s list at the end of the season. But at the moment — and ironically, after my comment above — Meyer’s name is the one being mentioned more as the new coach at Happy Valley.

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