The Miami Hurricanes anemic rushing attack should be reinvigorated this weekend if/when junior tailback Javarris James is back in the line up. Out since early in the Florida game with a high ankle sprain, James has effectively been sidelined about 4.75 games this season.
Injuries have been the name of the game for #5 since arriving on campus prior to the 2006 season. James had a solid freshman campaign with 175 attempts for 802 yards and 7 touchdowns, though a hip pointer against Virginia Tech (11/7) slowed him down the stretch.
A sophomore slump ensued as JJ spent most of 2007 fighting nagging ankle and neck injuries. James wrapped up year two with 159 rushes for 582 and 4 touchdowns during Miami’s 5-7 run.
James also proved to be a threat out of the backfield as a receiver, hauling in 31 receptions for 300 yards and 1 touchdown his first two years.
Miami’s two-headed rushing attack was supposed to take some heat off of the freshman quarterbacks, but with James out, Graig Cooper has been forced to carry the load. “Lightning” to James’ “Thunder”, Coop has struggled running inside the tackles and Miami has been hurt by the lack of the traditional power back.
Many hoped Shawnbrey McNeal, Derron Thomas or Lee Chambers would step up and fill the void, but over the past five games the trio has combined for 45 carries, 215 yards and two touchdowns. Cooper has racked up 412 yards and four touchdowns on 83 carries thus far, though #2 only broke the 100-yard mark twice in six games. Cooper’s best outing this season is a 128 yard day Texas A&M, where a 51-yard scamper proved to be his longest run this fall.
Should James find the field Saturday, it couldn’t come at a better time. Duke is susceptible to the run, giving up 224 yard on the ground two weeks ago against Georgia Tech. RB Jonathan Dwyer put up 159 yards on 23 carries. A few weeks prior, Navy rushed for 207 yards in a 41-31 loss.
Duke’s most impressive win of the year (er, ever?) was a recent 31-3 beatdown of Virginia, where the Blue Devils capitalized on five second-half turnovers. For a Miami team that threw three interceptions against Central Florida, this will be an area to watch come Saturday.
IN OTHER NEWS: Reggie Youngblood is expected to suit up for the Canes in Durham. Though Randy Shannon mentioned after the North Carolina loss that the senior offensive lineman was most likely lost for the season, he’s back two weeks after going down with an undisclosed leg injury.
“He responded, feels pretty good,” Shannon said. “He wants to give it a shot, so I said, ‘Go for it.'”
File that one under, “Huh?”
OL Chris Barney is expected back, as well.