After a long weekend out of town and no ESPN U in sight, I finally got a chance to break down the FIU game. Miami got the 23-9 win, which was actually more ‘understandable’ on TV than it was checking GameCast on a cell phone en route to my cousin’s wedding reception in Staten Island, NY. Some thoughts on the game:
Red zone production was pathetic in this one. No excuse for some of the miscues this team is having with the money on the table. The interception by Kyle Wright early in the fourth quarter was one of those unforgivable-type plays. Insult to injury that it wound up leading to FIU’s second touchdown of the season. A defensive breakdown like that is inexcusable against a team of this nature. You have an opportunity to go up 30-3 and moments later it’s 23-9.
A scenario like this isn’t a backbreaker against a squad like FIU’s, but it’ll come back to haunt this squad against a Texas A&M or an ACC opponents. This was supposed to be a game where the Canes built up their confidence for aTm – but proved to be another game where Miami occasionally backslid. This should’ve been upwards of a 41-3 route. Instead, a game where the Canes played as if their hearts weren’t into it. Very disappointing.
Lance Leggett again proved he’s a hot/cold receiver. The lack of effort to fight for the ball on Wright’s first interception was disheartening. As was the fact he let the FIU corner jockey for inside position.
The ball was thrown a bit short, but where was the effort regarding getting after the ball or at least breaking up the play? Of course the minute you’re ready to write off #9 as damaged goods… he hauls in an 80-yard touchdown catch and teases you with his potential.
Deep posts and streak routes seem to be Leggett’s only strength, so it’s time to relegate him to just that role already. Darnell Jenkins is proving to be the top threat and Miami’s most physical receiver. Stick with that and keep working Sam Shields into the mix.
I do like that receivers coach Marquis Mosely called out Leggett in the media, stating he needs big times games against the Oklahomas and Texas A&Ms of the world, not just FIU. Let’s hope that if the lack of production (when it counts) continues, we’ll see guys like Leonard Hankerson getting more reps.
No need to stick with a non-producing senior – at any position. The future is now.
151 yards between Javarris James and Graig Cooper. Some solid runs in there and I liked seeing JJ getting the majority of the carries. Miami seemed to rely on Coop too much against OU when James is the better every down back. I also liked seeing #2 in the slot, as promised. Had Wright hit him in stride, his 21-yard reception could’ve gone to the house, instead of out of bounds, where the pass was directed.
James needs a monster game Thursday night and Coop needs to compliment it with some big time, long distance runs. Time for JJ to start getting to that next level as a sophomore. He and Coop have looked pretty even, which is unacceptable being one is a sophomore and the other a true freshman.
I’m stunned how nicked up we are on the defensive line. You know it’s bad when Joe Joseph is getting significant playing time. Teraz McCray, Dwayne Hendricks and Antonio Dixon have played sporadically due to injury and we’re yet to see the banged up Josh Holmes this short season, after being praised for his pre-season efforts.
Miami needs to get production out of the defensive lineman on the field Thursday night as that position had zero impact against Oklahoma and made for a long night through the air. The Canes must pressure Stephen McGee – something they couldn’t do against Sam Bradford two weeks ago. That’ll be a feat with a banged up defensive line versus a very stout aTm offensive line.
Paging the tight ends. Seriously, I don’t ‘get’ why Patrick Nix is so anti-TE, especially with Miami’s recent success at the position. Sure, DajLeon Farr, Chris Zellner and Richard Gordon are no Greg Olsen, Kellen Winslow II, Jeremy Shockey or Bubba Franks – but they have to be better than 3 receptions for 12 yards on the season.
Miami didn’t have one reception by the TE against Oklahoma and had one last weekend against FIU and is struggling to find full time, go-to receiver. One would think Nix would give Wright that safety valve – especially with the Canes to TE happy the past decade.
Mix in a few more reps for Farr and the boys, coach. Not only do our quarterbacks need it, but we need to send a message to top TE recruits that the position isn’t dead at The U.
The Canes had 7 penalties for 50 yards against Marshall, 6 for 55 yards against Oklahoma but damn near doubled the effort with 12 penalties for 93 yards against FIU. Not exactly a promising stat. Clean it up before Thursday night, fellas. The Aggies won’t allow the mulligans that FIU offered up.
Last but not least… for now. Those who didn’t catch any of the Miami Northwestern match up at Southlake Carroll, you missed the top local sports showdown of the weekend. The four recruits talking Miami – quarterback Jacory Harris, defensive tackle Marcus Forston, linebacker Sean Spence and wide receiver Aldarius Johnson all had profound impacts on the game’s 29-21 outcome.
Harris threw for four touchdowns, Fortson was in the backfield all day disrupting plays, Spence had an interception and Johnson led the Bulls in receptions and hauled in a big time touchdown.
Northwestern had that typical 305 swagger and Harris even threw up the “U” hands after the game’s final go ahead score, at 75-yard touchdown to Tommy Streeter.
Watching this game was a vivid reminder that while this current Miami squad has it’s woes, the future looks bright. Haul in this current class and these Canes will be a force by 2009. Recent recruiting woes will turn on a dime if coach Shannon keeps working his magic.
Hopefully other recruits watching noticed the ESPN U ticker and its constant reminder that four Northwestern ballers are headed to The U next year.
For those cynics questioning the verbal commitments, further conformation came when this fab four attended the Canes practice on Monday, in an effort to show their support for their future university. According to a post on a Canes-themed message board:
“We always talk about going to college, wanting to turn the Miami program around and put it back on top the way it was when we were kids,” Spence said. “Winning that game was beautiful. We wanted to bring back #1 to our community and let them see how it feels.”
Winning breeds winners and these are just the type of kids The U needs in it’s ascension back to the top.
Some parting thoughts… I saw a great Clint Hurtt quote in Bruce Feldman’s latest column on ESPN. Hurtt told Feldman, “This team reminds me of the 1998 and ’99 Miami teams that were so young and really still learning how to win.”
Let’s hope that’s the case. 1998 Miami went 9-3 on the season, highlighted with a home win against #2 UCLA, 49-45 – ruining the Bruins’ season and keeping them out of the National Championship game. The 1999 Canes wound up 9-4, after upsetting Ohio State in the kickoff classic, losing a heartbreaker to #2 Penn State a few weeks later, hanging tough with #1 Florida State and getting whooped at #2 Virginia Tech, when true freshman Ken Dorsey was forced into action after a Kenny Kelly injury.
Hurtt pointed out that the majority of Miami’s current talent lies in its freshman and sophomores, similar to those late 90s squads. The Canes need a signature win in their climb out of the cellar. Once that comes, these kids will gel and hopefully get better week after week…
Check back tomorrow for the allCanesBlog.com Miami vs. Texas A&M prediction.
.:Canes305:.