Another spring game is officially in the books and you can be sure there are going to be two completely different takes, as always.
For the first time in what feels like forever, Miami’s offense won in blowout fashion, 52-3. For some, it’s welcomed relief. The Hurricanes finally seem to have found an offensive coordinator in Mark Whipple.
Postgame comments from players heralded the new offensive schemes and overall ‘proactive vs. reactive’ game plan. More patterns for receivers. Different formations. Receivers throwing passes. Fullbacks lining up at wideout. Unbalanced offensive line sets. Whipple’s experience and know-how are more than just words on a resume. Everything that the green Patrick Nix wasn’t, Whipple is.
Of course the flip side is defense and you can guarantee the strides made offensively will be trashed by the Canes harshest critics (who ironically enough represent the orange and green.) Is Whipple offense making strides or is this a result of defensive setbacks and new coordinator John Lovett?
Personally, I believe it’s the mind and arsenal of Whipple… but I know this fan base well enough to know a handful of haters will twist and turn the facts to fit their conspiracy theory. Jacory Harris, arguably the player who will benefit most from a veteran coordinator, is a believer.
“Instead of doing plays that go against that defense, we make the defense play against us,” said Harris. “They have to adjust to us instead of us adjusting to them.”
As simple and obvious as that sounds, it’s hasn’t been the case for years. That mindset itself is as important as the actual plays being called. The offensive culture is finally changing at Miami. Finally.
Thanks to modern technology and the ol’ Intraweb, I caught much of the spring game online and it was definitely a breath of fresh air. Miami isn’t “back” yet, if you choose to measure this team up against some Cane greats… but we’re seeing progress. Talent and depth are returning. This team truly looks like it can compete this year. Growing pains and mistakes will be there, but bar none this will be the best team Randy Shannon will field in his tenure.
Again, youth is key. How do the young players fare? Do last year’s super freshman enter a sophomore slump, or do the become the players they’re on target to be? What about the new crop of freshmen? Can they hit the ground running?
What about the stars of spring? Do they show up in fall or fade into obscurity? Anyone who watched the spring game or read the recap saw that cornerback-turned-running-back Damien Berry was Miami’s offensive superstar at Lockhart Stadium on Saturday.
With Javarris James on the bench and Berry splitting carries with veteran Graig Cooper and newbie Mike James, somebody had to shine and in this case it was #20. Exciting as that was, will that be the case come August? On more than one occasion a back up running back has led the pack in spring, only to be a non-factor with the season underway.
Leonard Hankerson, LaRon Byrd and Kendal Thompkins shone at receiver, each with a big play or two, but again the question remains regarding what this means for fall. Hankerson seems to drop more passes than he hauls in and Thompkins is yet to do it for real, redshirting his freshman season. Byrd looks like the next Miami great, but wasn’t consistently relied upon in Nix’s offense. How will he handle his sophomore season and added responsibility?
Harris was a respectable 9 of 16 for 141 yards on Saturday, while Taylor Cook all but solidified the job of back up with an 11 of 14 performance and 103 yards. Cook led the second-team offense on two scoring drives and seems to fit the mold of a Whipple-style quarterback. Cannon Smith went 6 of 8 passing for 31 yards and will most likely slid into the role of third string.
Defensively a lot of talk regarding the secondary. Some new blood in the mix there and a glaring weakness for the Canes last year. A lot of hype regarding Vaughn Telemaque, the highly-touted safety who missed last season, yet is a clear cut favorite to start in 2009. Telemaque has earned Ed Reed-like comparisons from Shannon, but again is another who is yet to see any real game action.
Opposite of Telemaque, a veteran who has seen his fair share of game time but has battled injury, safety Randy Phillips, who fared well in the spring game with an interception — something Miami’s secondary rarely came up with last season. Waiting in the wings, true freshman Ray Ray Armstrong, who fans are already dubbing the next Cane great safety (… or linebacker) before he even sets foot on campus.
Brandon Harris and DeMarcus Van Dyke look to have the corner spots locked up, but from a depth standpoint the Canes must also rely on a hot/cold Chavez Grant and converted receiver Sam Shields. This unit has to go from ‘weakest link’ last year to ‘overachiever’ this fall if Miami’s D is going to continue its turnaround.
After the scrimmage, Shannon focused on improvement. Seeing guys getting “it” and raising their level of play. The even keeled head coach realizes this is spring and that Miami is five months away from game action. Rebuilding is a process and right now it was all about taking another step forward. Get your guys stronger, smarter and better. Build depth. Get your underclassmen up to speed and playing like upperclassmen. Hope everybody stays healthy.
Hype is everything in sports and spring football has become part of the process that is college football. That said, the best approach is to follow that of Miami’s stoic head coach; remain even keel. We’re under half a year away from seeing college football Saturdays in fall… which is a little reminder that a lot can – and will – change between now and Labor Day in Tallahassee. Safest bet for all involved is to keep things in perspective.
Even keel, huh? Not exactly a trait that our fan base knows much about – but you’re definitely right.
I enjoy taking in the spring game, but over the years I have learned not to put much weight into it. It’s a scrimmage. It’s practice. Guys are running plays and are going through the motions, but the missing ingredient is the energy that comes from in game experience. You can’t simulate that. It’s like a boxer sparring versus being in a prize fight. All these kids will react differently when football season is finally here.
Glad to see our fans turn out for the game. Great to see the little kids out there getting autographs. Picked up some new gear from Harry and the All Canes crew.
Let’s get these kids back in the gym and let’s hope that come fall they’re all ready to go.
Go Canes!!!!
I can say Damien Berry def. stood out on the running game. Mike James didn’t look half bad either.
It seemed like Taylor Cook did way better than Jacory Harris. I don’t fault Jacory because his receivers also seemed to drop more passes that they should have had.
I am optimistic about the Fall though. I think are team might finally have the talent and the heart to get back in to the spot light.
You can’t even consider the fact that it might be bad defense? why am I not surprised.
You can’t even consider the fact that it might be bad defense? why am I not surprised.
…. and your response tells me all I need to know about you and what side of the fence you’re on.
I’m not saying it “couldn’t be” the defense. I’m saying that in a spring game where points are awarded as they are here, it gives a potent offense many chances to score. Miami’s O moved the ball in the spring game, which was something they couldn’t do in the past with a Patrick Nix calling plays.
Furthermore, defensively Miami had about 6-8 impact players on the bench. Safe to say it’d have been a different result with Colin McCarthy, Eric Moncur, Adawale Ojomo, Allen Bailey, Ramon Buchanan and Brandon McGee in. They were held out of action and Marcus Forston was playing with the second team.
That’s as big a reason for the lopsided 52-3 score as the new look offense.
But hey, let’s not let facts get in the way. Let’s just post under “anonymous” and attempt to stir the pot.
anonymous..i know we had impact players on the bench…but give this O some credit…they looked good…i enjoyed watching them live in practice form…they looked real good…i can tell you this…from being around big time d1 practices as a player…and NBA practices as a player…you have to take these types of events with a grain of salt…but the one thing i always look for is energy and that the kids take it serious…they absolutely did…there was plenty of energy and the kids took this serious…they were not out there just going through the motions…they were out there competing…all that spills over into the fall..and that spills over into the games…that is what made miami so great…and that is where randy is taking these kids…you can here it when they speak…these kids believe…they believe they can win…compete…move the ball…you cannot teach that…that is only something that comes from a true motivator…these kids believe that they can go out and play anyone anyday now…i am excited for these guys…you know the mindset of these kids will be instrumental in their losses…it will allow them to bounce back quicker and learn instead of pouting and letting a loss carry into a 2-3 game skid…i really enjoyed what i saw…they are not back …but they are on their way…the D did not look that bad…they were out there on their coverages…still have players learning new positions…ex: shields..some newbies moved inside on the line…some moved from O line to D line…so lets see…i can bet you the D will be fine when the seasons comes…but i can bet you this…whipples O will make some teams look bad this year…real bad…and then maybe you will believe…i will say this though…jacory needs another 10-15 lbs on that frame…even though he looks stronger…and we have got to get ray ray on the field during the year…have to …kid is special and will make some big plays for us…and dont forget lamar miller is still not on campus….watch out for him…all this running back talk of berry could change quick…kid is nice…had a great time at the game…great blog as usual all canes
hey all canes…you think randy took some speach and motivation advice from ART?…hahaha..just kidding
va cane
PLEASE CORY EAT!
AllCanes..Great read as always..I dont put much stock in these spring games..they are more for show..though I must say I do like what ive seen from the O so far..I wanted to ask your opinion of the guys we have coming in now..Miller,RayRay,Jamal,A.J.etc how far behind does missing this spring mean and do you think RayRay or Jamal will see quality time on D this year..We are so deep at RB will someone redshirt or switch positions this year?? THANX for the great site my friend keep up the solid work..we all appreciate it
i never said it was bad defense (i honestly was just happy to see DB’s near the receivers on most pass plays), just that’s it’s ludicrous to not even consider the possibility that it could be bad D and you post this nonsense ..
“but I know this fan base well enough to know a handful of haters will twist and turn the facts to fit their conspiracy theory.”
haters? how does questioning the “quality” of the D equate to hating? at the very least it’s a valid point to question.
our fans have a problem with objectivity, and that’s unfortunate.
haters? how does questioning the “quality” of the D equate to hating? at the very least it’s a valid point to question.
I’m obviously not talking about people questioning the quality of the D. I’m talking about the people who are going to completely dismiss with the offense did, chalking it up to bad defense or John Lovett not being a good DC, him being Randy’s puppet, Randy pulling all the defensive strings and being in over his head, etc.
C’mon now. Tell me with a straight face that there isn’t a percentage of this fan base saying that…
our fans have a problem with objectivity, and that’s unfortunate.
That could be said for every fan base in sports. There are your bleeding hearts, your haters and some logical folk who fall somewhere in between.