Miami Hurricanes 2012 Preview At CFN.com

Summertime is just about here, which means all the college rags will roll out their previews for the 2012 football season. Most of the magazines are yet to hit shelves, but some of the websites are slowing rolling out their takes, starting with CFN.com, which gives a pretty solid breakdown, courtesy of their long-time columnist, Richard Cirminiello.

Some quality points made by CFN:

– Acknowledgement that Miami went through hell year one due to the timing of the scandal. First-year head coach Al Golden walked into a nightmare and the more impact he has on this program over time, the better off UM will be.

Cirminiello also credited Golden for doubling-down his commitment to ‘The U’, when he could’ve justifiably bolted after the debacle that was the 2011 season.

– Miami’s hard work this off-season was noted, as were all the departures, courtesy of graduation or NFL money. Cirminiello also pointed out that Golden is looking for and is promoting competition at every position.

Though he didn’t point out that this is a page straight out of The Book of Jimmy Johnson, he did realize that Golden is the type of coach who will use the depth disadvantage to his advantage regarding getting the right kids on the field.

– CFN.com doesn’t believe Miami will compete for a Coastal Division crown this season, due to the question marks at quarterback. Cirminiello talks about the battle between Ryan Williams and Stephen Morris under center, as well as Morris’ injury that kept him out of spring ball … but no talk about the job Morris did as a true freshman in 2010, giving him a leg up on the Memphis transfer.

– Regarding the job Golden is doing, Cirminiello wrote: “The shoe has yet to finish dropping, as Miami awaits the final verdict from the NCAA infractions committee. In the meantime, Golden is gradually changing the culture in South Florida, one player at a time. The coach has the blueprint and the determination to turn things around for the Hurricanes. Patience, though, is going to be a must for a fan base that is still at least a year away from backing a champion, a goal shared by everyone associated with this once-powerhouse program.”

– Cirminiello is spot-on when saying the departure of linebacker Sean Spence opens the doors for new playmakers and leaders and the two he mentioned – Anthony Chickillo and Denzel Perryman – are bar-none the guys UM needs to step up to get something done on that side of the ball.

– Cirminiello states that to be “far better” the Canes need to win the turnover battle. In 2010 Miami had more interceptions than any other program in the FBS and last year UM was a respectable 32nd in turnovers but only created a measly fifteen takeaways, finishing at 105th in the country.

– The early road schedule is again brutal, playing away for three of four weeks in September, going to Boston College (9/1) and Kansas State (9/8) in back-to-back weeks and the road trips to Georgia Tech (9/22) and Notre Dame (10/6) with a home game against NC State (9/29) sandwiched between.

– Regarding key players, Cirminiello lists guard Brandon Linder as Miami’s most important offensive player, safety Ray-Ray Armstrong as the guy on defense and calls running back Mike James the key player to a successful season. (No mention of running back Eduardo Clements, who coaches have praised this off-season for work ethic, or true freshman Randy ‘Duke’ Johnson, who will definitely get his reps as the year rolls on.)

– Cirminiello says this season will be a success for ‘The U’ if Miami can return to a bowl this season (barring there is no NCAA-imposed bowl ban). He states that the extra December practice and longer season as a year-two goal to prep this squad for 2013.

– The key game of the year is listed as the road trip to that “neutral” site at Soldier Field to take on Notre Dame early October. While it has no bearing on the ACC race, it’s a nationally-televised NBC primetime showdown and all eyes will be watching – a great chance to showcase Golden’s Canes to the world and something that could jump start the second half of the season, which is an impossible point to argue.

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2 thoughts on “Miami Hurricanes 2012 Preview At CFN.com

  1. well glad there are no bias points as to who you guys at all canes want playing. i say let the coaches decide and be happy with the decision. whoever wins the qb battle whether its williams or morris our team will be in good capable handles. coach fisch proved last year he will not just as the guys to do things they can’t. our running game should be two strong between james as the bell cow and clements spelling him with duke getting his here and there. i would like to see miami use the backs like the 2001 national champs where we had one main guy but others got there carries. i know this team wont be close to being that team but i’m saying scheme wise. the season is long away lets just relax and enjoy things because honestly its looking better for UM football now the basketball or baseball team who knows but UM football is in good hands have faith that all will be ok in the end.

    1. DSCOTT – Let’s not start that shit again. Seriously.

      Both Beast and I want the best kid under center. Period. It’s about winning games. I didn’t give a frog’s fat ass if it was Harris or Morris last year and certainly don’t care of it’s Morris, Williams, Dewey, Crow or Thompson this year. After a 41-35 run since late 2005, I just want this team to start winning some f’n games again and want solid, heads up, mistake-free quarterback play. End of story.

      That said, do you REALLY think that Ryan Williams is going to come in and beat out Stephen Morris for the job? Honestly? Didn’t see anything in the spring game out of No. 11 that overly-wowed, whereas Morris had some great in-game moments in 2010, showed his arm strength, some good (and bad) decision-making and absolutely has a leg up on all the new guys.

      Let’s not try to turn this into something it’s not. There is no bias. It’s simple logic that the guy entering his third year with the program, and a kid who started some games and succeeded as a freshman, has every reason to be ahead of a Memphis transfer who sat out the 2011 season.

      I would love nothing more than Morris and Williams to battle it out all fall with the best man winning the job as that’s best for the Canes – and best for the program. Competition is everything and a huge reason J12 struggled was due to not having someone breathing down his neck all four years here. I hope Williams, Dewey, Crow and Thompson all ball and that Golden / Fisch have a crew to choose from.

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