Game of the Year, Part I

Welcome to the rest of this season. Four games. In the driver’s seat.

Destination Jacksonville.

I have no idea how all this will play out, but I’m taking the higher road here and employing a more optimistic approach to the final four match ups of 2007. I’m not saying the Canes will win out – but I’m saying that with the right attitude and style of play, it’s not crazy to believe Miami could make a magical run.

The phrase “game of the year” is played out and I definitely use it tongue in cheek here. But it’s pertinent. This is Part I of a four-part series. Each of the next four weekends will feature a ‘game of the year’ by Canes’ standards. They’re all ‘must win’ situations, each is bigger than the next and it all starts this Saturday.

There are a few schools of thought regarding Miami right now. Log on to any message board and you’ll see the fan base is absolutely all over the map. Pessimism. Blind optimism. Sheer stupidity. You name it, you’ll find it.

I’ve had some folks share with me they feel the Florida State win was the turning point. That was the game. This team ‘gets it’ now regarding Randy Shannon and his message about starting games fast, playing smart and finishing with a bang. The win over the Noles followed that blueprint to a ‘T’.

I don’t have issue with those sentiments, but I need to see it proven on the field. I thought Miami turned the corner against Texas A&M, outside of a sloppy fourth quarter (i.e. – not finishing a game) but the Canes have lost twice since then. Corner obviously not turned.

There’s some merit to the belief that Miami’s win over Florida State can be that shot in the arm this squad needed to finish this season. A bye week to get healthy, two home games in a row – including the Orange Bowl finale next weekend – and then two difficult road challenges to close things out.

Players again are saying all the right thing. Dedrick Epps was quoted this week as saying Miami needs to play every game like its last. He’s right – but will they? There’s been a lot of lip service this year and not all of it has been backed up. I’m over calling people out individually, but I’ll remind people of the quote, “it’s not if we beat Oklahoma, it’s when” days before the 51-13 ass kicking handed to The U.

This is do or die time. Put up or shut up. Money where your mouth is or whatever other trite, played out cliche you can muster up. The time for talking is done. It’s time to “do” for the remaining sixteen quarters of football this season.

Another loss and I truly believe the wheels fall off for the remainder of the regular season. Miami isn’t going to lose to an NC State or Virginia and then go out to beat Virginia Tech or Boston College. It’s a head game right now similar to the mindtrip the Colorado Rockies had the final month or so of the MLB season. Once they were tagged in the mouth by Boston, the Cinderella story became a nightmare and the Rockies lost four straight to the Red Sox.

A drastic analogy, but I believe it works here. Miami needs to go on a four game tear and play some clutch football. Each win being a building block for the next week. One game at a time (cliche alert).

Word is Kirby Freeman will be the go to guy on Saturday, with Kyle Wright still hobbled. Again, whatever it takes. Freeman on his best day is still less than a pretty good Wright, but it needs to be good enough to beat the Wolfpack. NC State is a turnover-prone 3-5 bunch headed to the OB. Even with a Freeman behind center, there needs to be enough in the tank to run over this team offensively and defensively.

A year or so ago, Miami’s defense boasted that 17 points per game was enough to guarantee victory. The Canes have lost 51-13, 33-27 and 17-14 this year and failed to reach that 17-point plateau one of three occasions. The mighty D has given up 101 total points in the three losses. That’s unacceptable.

To win out, the Canes have to get back to basics and become a defensive-minded football team. Continue pressing for turnovers. Blitz quarterbacks who can’t handle the pressure. Sounds simple, but Miami failed to do that against Taylor Bennett in the loss to the Yellow Jackets, yet when Virgina Tech rattled Bennett last night, he looked lost in the 27-3 beat down.

Miami needs to come up with the correct defensive formula these final four games and simply needs to minimize offensive mistakes. This Canes offense is no juggernaut, but it looks infinitely better than the product on the field 2005-2006.

There are enough playmakers. Darnell Jenkins proved he’s the top go to receiver. Graig Cooper, Javarris James and Shawnbrey McNeal can more than carry the load on the ground. Epps and DajLeon Farr have come on at the tight end position, which offensive coordinator Patrick Nix completely ignored earlier in the season.

If Miami’s defense can make that same pledge that 17+ points is all they need on offense to guarantee victory, the Canes have a great shot going 4-0 down the stretch. The D simply needs to tighten up. No more broken plays like we’ve seen against Oklahoma, Texas A&M, North Carolina and even lowly FIU.

Buckle down. Play like a unit. Every man has to do his job. There can’t be any chinks in the armor like we’ve seen occasionally this season.

NC State in less than 24 hours. Be ready Canes. Part I of IV. Get it done out there tomorrow and we’ll talk about Virginia come Monday.

Even with Freeman most likely in the mix, I believe we see some Wright and that the defense comes to play. Turnovers are the difference and the Canes pull out the win.

.:Canes305:.

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