The Sun Sentinel’s Dave Hyde continues to be a voice a reason.
I remain a big fan of Dave’s work for two reasons. First, he’s a stellar sportswriter but second, because he chooses his words carefully and doesn’t just write to write. When he chimes in on the Miami Hurricanes, be it a player, the coaching staff or the state of the program, he’s always poignant.
Hyde’s not writing to meet a deadline or to fill space. He writes because he seems something that needs to be addressed. His target this week; offensive coordinator Mark Whipple and Hyde nailed it:
“He [Whipple] has a veteran offensive line. He has four, maybe even five, running backs who could play in the NFL. His regular quarterback (Harris) has shown a penchant for mistakes (28 interceptions in the past 20 games). He brought in two quarterbacks with little to no experience after Harris was hurt Saturday and had them heave the ball all over the field even before the score made it necessary.”
(Editor’s Note: Hyde took it a step further a day later, following with a piece titled “It’s time for coach Randy Shannon to rein in Mark Whipple”.)
No one is questioning Whipple’s offensive mind – just his decision-making at times. Hyde points out specific examples of Whipple abandoning a successful running game, while going back to the pass – often times asking too much of his frail quarterback.
In Miami’s first two losses of the season, Whipple focused on winning with Harris’ arm, as opposed to leaning on the ground game. Jacory Harris had 39 attempts in Columbus (four interceptions) and 47 against Florida State (albeit the Canes were playing from behind all night).
What is Whipple’s offensive philosophy? One and a half seasons in, it’s still hard to tell.
On some levels, there seems to be a bit of ‘mad genius’ beneath the surface. Whipple has a I-AA national championship under his belt, as well as his NFL pedigree and Super Bowl ring. He comes off as the type of playcaller who will push his agenda instead of calling a game that exploits an opponent’s defense, while playing to his offense’s strengths.
Hyde points out Whipple’s playcalling on the first Harris-less drive when Spencer Whipple was under center. Out the gate, a brilliant reverse to Travis Benjamin which went for 36 yards. With a new quarterback in the game and a stable of backs, Virginia absolutely sold on Miami running up the middle. Instead, Whipple was one step ahead and pulled out a game-changing play – which is exactly what you want out of an offensive coordinator.
Graig Cooper and Damien Berry picked up 13 yards on back to back runs, but when faced with a 2nd and 10 from the UVA 15, a pass was called with an inexperienced passer under center (six attempts for the younger Whipple entering last weekend – all in mop-up duty).
Down 14-0, Miami needed points. Even a field goal would’ve been a moral victory – and in the end, a difference-maker. The Canes wound up losing 24-19, leaving a missed two-point conversion and missed extra point on the field. Had UM at least gotten three on that first Harris-less drive, the late Benjamin touchdown would’ve tied things 24-24.
As always, when a team fails to meet expectations and sits at 5-3 (instead of 8-0 or at worst, 7-1) rumors continue flying.
Word out of Coral Gables this past week had to do with the redshirt of quarterback Stephen Morris, a recruit hand-picked by Whipple as someone he felt could run the offense.
For months fans have attempted to break down the body language of Whipple and Randy Shannon, as well as that of Whipple versus Harris. Many feel Harris is Shannon’s pet, but isn’t the guy what Whipple wants under center. Conspiracy theories continue unraveling from there.
How do other players feel about Harris? Some point to the lack of teammates celebrating with him after a score, him sitting solo on the sidelines or the fact that other Canes didn’t rush to his side when knocked out last week.
The only saving grace right now? The fact that much of this is going to come out in the wash. As much as no one wanted to see Harris hurt, Morris is this week’s starting quarterback and some good can come from that.
Does Whipple finally have ‘his guy’ in the game and if so, what will that do for this week’s playcalling?
Will Morris get more out of a group of wideouts that was supposed to be this team’s strong suit entering fall?
Furthermore, when Harris does return, how does he respond to Morris’ footsteps and the fact he finally has some competition for the first time in a year and a half?
Hell, what if Morris becomes the guy and Harris gets fazed out? Crazier things have happened.
There are a million and one reasons for Miami’s erratic play this season, but if there is any truth to Whipple’s issues with Harris or the fact that teammates haven’t seen eye-to-eye with the junior quarterback, could this be addition by subtraction?
Not to mention, a green quarterback making his first start means (1) relying more on a solid running game and (2) a stripped down playbook as Whipple can’t ask too much out of the newbie. Crazy as it sounds, both could actually play into the Canes’ favor if UM executes with four games remaining.
In what’s already been a topsy-turvy season, this final month of football just got that much crazier. Time will tell if that’s good or bad.
I haven't heard anything before re the relationship between Whipple and Harris. I suspect Whipple has a philosophy of pass happy and lots of long ball. Morris has a big arm and won't float the long ball. I thought Whipple's experience would adapt more to players than pushing a specicific scheme. To me, the current offensive philosophy is pass happy. Even when run works we seem to abandon it. This team is so secretive who knows how anyone gets along. It will be interesting to see how long Whipple stays as none of us really know what he thinks of current situation. My guess is he has got to be frustrated as well. I certainly hope the repoire is good between the coaches. I know everyone is expressing frustration with the season. I hope Jacory is ok. He's had all kinds of interception problems especially with long passes. The play he got hurt on was thrown into double coverage.When he comes back why not stick to play action with all short and intermediate routes. He will be less prone to a big hit and hopefully can avoid all the interceptions. Having Morris in the mix will push Harris in a positive way. At some point if the interceptions continue you've got to move on. Hopefully it doesn't ever come to that. Speedy recovery Jacory and Go Canes!
where the #s @? 293 runs/287 passes.
I dare you to post my comment this time.
Well the VA Tech win tonight pretty much does it for the Canes' title hopes, barring an upset from the Heels or Hoos. This season could go from bad to disastrous considering these guys are playing for next to nothing in the last 4 games.
After all of the highs and lows of the season, I would be quite impressed if the Canes could reel off 4 straight – which is very possible if the A squad shows up.
I think I speak with the rest of the canes nation when I say that I really hated to see Jacory go down. But right now, maybe that's what they need. When Morris started to calm down, he made some great plays, no thanks to Whipple's play calling.
I do think Whipple's play calling is quite unconventional, but Jacory does have to make better decisions with the ball. I was hoping that after Brock Berlin left that the multiple interception games were over. To be honest, I say keep Morris in the rest of the year. What do they have to lose? If anything, there should be quite the QB battle in spring ball.
Also, it would have been nice to see VA Tech go down last night, but then that would have made the canes in charge of their own destiny again. And we all know how they handle the season when everything is in their own hands.
Hyde made a statement the the Canes have an experienced offensive line…When is having three true freshman starting "an experienced line"? He right on about the playcalling.
where the #s @? 293 runs/287 passes.
I dare you to post my comment this time.
I don't care about those numbers.
I care about the fact that there are times Whipple should've stuck with the run, abandoned it and went back to the pass.
Second quarter with his inexperienced son under center.
Early third quarter at Ohio State before Harris threw his fourth pick.
The issue are deep balls thrown into double coverage when you have a weak-armed quarterback, tossing it up for grabs to a 5'9" receiver — instead of committing to the run and relying on a half dozen VERY capable running backs.
Whip has 'balance' but the timing is always off. 3rd and 10 draws against Florida State's defense? That's flat out idiotic.
Well, looks like Jacory will be out for the next 2 games (per an AP report). Let's hope that Whipple has a successful enough gameplan for those opponents.
Well, looks like Jacory will be out for the next 2 games (per an AP report). Let's hope that Whipple has a successful enough gameplan for those opponents.
AP reports that Harris will be out two games.
Shannon spent this week saying there was a 10-15% chance that Harris played this week.
Gotta love the ongoing misleading.
Facts do not cease to exist
because they are ignored.
Aldous Huxley (1894–1963)
I think this guy must have had visions of Whipples offensive philosophy.
All bs aside, We Will Win Tomorrow. Remember, this team is great at rebound games. They have had a lot of practice at trying to get up after a humiliating loss
GO CANES!!!
No more lofty expectations, just win one for an angry Cane Nation
I'd like someone to go in and figure out how many of those runs were when the Canes where running clock in the 4th quarter. In actual game situations with close scores or trailing, Whipple throws a whole lot more than he runs. So the stats are certainly misleading. Look at what your eyes tell you and not what some stupid out of context stat says. Sometimes stats are misleading. And that's the case here.
Turn the page go with Morris even when Harris is ready and let's end the 60 yard bombs on 4 and 5.
Its pretty sad that we don't have a back-up QB that we can trust to throw a pass on 2nd and 10. Good job by Randy recruiting the QB position.
I mean, the guy called a short pass in 2nd and 10 that went throught the RBs hands. What should he have done, not called a pass play the rest of the game until we were losing?
I find it funny how people who can't bring themselves to criticize Randy have no issued throwing Whipple under the bus.
And an experienced OL? Franklin is starting his first year at left tackle, Gunn and Washington are in their first full years starting at guard and our center is a new starter also. Throw in that Figs never played tackle before this year and that Sentreal is a Freshman. Real experienced OL!
Its pretty sad that we don't have a back-up QB that we can trust to throw a pass on 2nd and 10. Good job by Randy recruiting the QB position.
I've been pretty critical of Randy lately, but I don't blame him for the quarterback position.
Look at what he was left with when taking over in 2007. Because of that, he ran out and got Robert Marve, Taylor Cook, Cannon Smith and Jacory Harris his first two years.
Three of those guys left because all four were underclassmen and there was logjam at the position. There were no upperclassmen on the roster those early years.
Entering next year you have Harris (senior), Highsmith (junior – though slated to change positions), Morris (sophomore) and Bridgewater (freshman – if he gets on board).
I agree that Shannon needs to do MORE with the position – but despite the transfers, he'll have signed a half dozen guys over a few years and will have done a much better job than a predecessor who left the cupboard bare.
Can't blame much on Larry anymore, but the quarterback issues he left absolutely set this program back big time.
I hope J12 takes the recovery time to realize you need to have fun to play this game. Bad play calling aside, he just dosent look like he's having ANY fun, that's a shame.