Jacory Harris must flip the script

I want to go on record saying that I am a fan of Jacory Harris. I dig the bravado and overall aura. I appreciate that he’s a hometown kid who wants to do good by the hometown program. I like that he’s a winner from a winning program and I think the laid back attitude and sense of humor are positives. He can be the real-deal if he can get it together.

The clock is ticking and it’s a fine line between being the next Ken Dorsey or the next Kyle Wright.

What I’m not a fan of are interceptions, big talk not backed up and high expectations crashing down when on the main stage. For all the talk, Harris is yet to truly rise to the occasion and until he does, the chatter needs to stop.

Twitter accounts are now banned for all Miami football players, but Harris’ whole “J12” alter ego needs to go on hiatus, as well. At least until we see him working his magic on the field and not just for the media.

Legends are made, not born. Harris’ pre-Cane legacy started at Miami Northwestern, where the quarterback never lost a game. Closest he came was the 6A state semifinal back in 2007 against Deerfield Beach. In the final minute, Harris led the Bulls on a 99-yard drive that culminated in the winning touchdown.

Harris was eventually named Florida’s Mr. Football, a title previously held by Florida quarterback Tim Tebow. The Miami product held a then state-record 49 touchdown passes.

Upon his arrival in Coral Gables, Harris battled then first-year starter Robert Marve for playing time. Marve was under center for the better part of 2008, but Harris had glimpses of greatness when given the opportunity to shine.

Down 17-7 at Duke in 2008, Harris led Miami on an 8 play, 68-yard drive in under ninety seconds, pulling within three at halftime. True to form, Harris’ first pass of the third quarter was an interception but on the ensuing possession he’d put the mistake behind him and rushed for a 15-yard score – a play after Travis Benjamin threw to Harris on a 17-yard reception. Harris threw two more third quarter touchdowns and finished with five total on the day.

Two weeks later, J12 surfaced again – this time at Virginia, where Miami spent just about all of the second half in a 17-7 hole.

It took a Harris-led, 95-yard, 15-play march – including a 3rd and 13 and 3rd and 15 pick up along the way. In overtime, Harris found former Northwestern teammate Aldarius Johnson for the eventual game-winner on 3rd and 5.

A season later, the troubled Marve took his talents to the Midwest, transferring to Purdue. Harris was now “the guy”, though the former starter and eventual Boilermaker wasn’t the only Miami quarterback to shuffle along. Back up Cannon Smith transferred to Memphis while Taylor Cook left for Rice. Both wanted immediate playing time and didn’t like the notion of playing behind a true sophomore, who many expected to lock down the starting the next three seasons.

Depth at quarterback became and immediate issue due to the three transfers, but the problem started long before Shannon’s inaugural season, which is why the first-time head coach was forced to sign four quarterbacks in two seasons, leaving him with four underclassmen on the roster at once.

Entering 2011, Harris will be a senior, Spencer Whipple a senior A.J. Highsmith a junior, Stephen Morris a sophomore and should he sign in February, Teddy Bridgewater, a true freshmen. The depth will finally be staggered, though that doesn’t bode well for competition this season as none of the quarterbacks can give the talented Harris a true run for his money.

Competition is what always set the University of Miami apart from the other guys. Tales from the ‘Decade of Dominance’ era are still told, where seniors were afraid to get hurt (or played through injury) because they didn’t want a younger guy to take their job, for fear of not getting it back.

When veteran George Mira Jr. was suspended for the 1988 Orange Bowl, his back up was true freshman Bernard “Tiger” Clark … who wound up being the game’s MVP.

Harris shone as a true freshman, usually when coming off the bench and relieving Marve. There was less pressure as he didn’t need to be ‘the guy’ and he was oft called upon when the starter was flailing. Much easier to slide into the role of ‘hero’ when flying under the radar and little is expected.

The post-Marve era kicked off in Tallahassee last September for Harris. The result; 21 completions, 386 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. Masked in that victory, the fact that Mark Whipple was calling his first game at Miami and Florida State coaches had no film on the new offensive coordinator.

Once opposing defense coordinators caught on a bit, Harris no longer made things look so easy. One more easy go against Georgia Tech, as the Hurricane defense dominated the game, providing smooth sailing for the offense. (20 of 25, 270 yards, three touchdowns, no pics for Harris against the Yellow Jackets.) Nine days later, the buzzsaw at Virginia Tech, where Bud Foster’s defense came at Harris all day, holding him to nine completions for 150 yards and an interception.

Harris made some clutch plays against Oklahoma and finished the day with three touchdowns, but two interceptions put Miami in a hole that required climbing out of. The Canes rallied, down 10-7 at the half, but a mistake-free day it wasn’t. Harris had two more picks a week later against lowly Florida A&M.

A serviceable outing against Central Florida the following week was followed by the season’s first true disaster; a three-interception effort in a loss to Clemson, one of which was returned for a touchdown in what was eventually an overtime loss.

Deja vu all over again weeks later when Harris had a four-interception outing at North Carolina, two returned for scores in a nine-point loss. Harris posted 319 yards against a top-five Tar Heels defense, but one touchdown to four turnovers doesn’t put you in a position to win, which brings us back to last week’s loss at Ohio State.

This past off-season fans heard that Harris was studying film, bulking up and expected more year two in Whipple’s offense. Harris was a year older, wiser and ‘rookie’ mistakes were supposed to be a thing of the past.

Four interceptions when on the road against No. 2 in the land is unforgivable in its own right, but the nature of the turnovers is even more frustrating. Throwing to a wideout who wasn’t looking for the ball. Off the mark on a crucial third down when trailing by nine and looking to narrow the gap. True, Harris’ receivers didn’t help him out and he’s not fully to blame – but as the quarterback he onus is on you. Harris knows this as he assumed all responsibility after the game. He had a chance to shine and didn’t. That’s on him.

Great quarterback are supposed to rise to the occasion and at times Harris has. But in Miami’s biggest moments the past as of late, he’s fallen short. The loss to North Carolina last season arguably cost the Canes an at-large BCS bid while a missed opportunity in Columbus keeps Miami a middle-of-the-pack team early in the year, instead of a top five front-runner and in the nation spotlight.

Last weekend’s loss, while disheartening, simply proved that Miami is talented and almost there … but not quite. ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit echoed that sentiment on a recent radio show.

“I looked at Miami and I looked at a team that was physical, I looked at a team that was athletic,” Herbstreit said. “I looked at a team that, if Ohio State’s number two in the country, then how can Miami be a team that’s not considered a top 10 team? Because, if you eliminate those mistakes, Miami’s playing right there with Ohio State. Athletically, maybe more gifted than Ohio State. There’s no reason that this team should not have a chance to win every single game they play the rest of the season.”

Many felt the same last year after a 3-1 start for Miami, but Harris never channeled his inner Kenny D and helped his team rise above. For every two steps forward, a huge step back. Clemson was a winnable game, as was North Carolina. Eliminate those seven interceptions (still leaving Harris with eleven on the year) and you’d have been looking at an 11-1 regular season and an ACC title-game berth (as Miami would’ve won the tiebreaker with Georgia Tech).

Some, including Herbstreit, might feel the same about last weekend’s loss at Ohio State, but alas you can’t just erase turnovers. Only Harris can do that moving forward.

As much as Harris and some wideouts are to blame, the onus is on Coach Whipple to nip this in the bud immediately.

A huge selling point when Whipple was brought on board; the fact that his tutelage helped make both Ben Roethlisberger and Donovan McNabb better quarterbacks. Miami pays Whipple to run the offense, but he’s also on board to help groom quarterbacks, turning boys into men.

Harris threw 18 interceptions last season and over the course of three quarters last Saturday threw four more. Year two of the Whipple/Harris partnership, that is absolutely unacceptable and must be corrected immediately.

Harris has big play ability and it’s been notice that he doesn’t get rattled – even after a mistake. An interception one drive could be followed with a long touchdown the next possession. That said, when you average the good with the bad it still puts you in the middle of the road. Mistakes must be eliminated if Miami is going to make that jump from ‘good’ to ‘great’ this season.

Pittsburgh is on the docket and for Harris’ sake, here’s hoping Whipple employs some baby steps for his junior quarterback. Strong emphasis on the run game, letting a stable of running backs wear down defenses and keeping them honest, while building Harris’ confidence possession-by-possession.

Miami doesn’t need Harris to put this entire team on his shoulders. Not yet, at least. The offense line hung very tough – tougher than expected – last week at Ohio State; arguably the biggest challenge the Canes will face all season. Focus on the running game, give Harris some high-percentage passes to complete and break him down so he can be built back up.

It’s time for J12 to hit the ‘reset’ button. Go back to square one. Clean slate and fresh start. Reprioritize. Shannon is spot on regarding putting the kibosh on Twitter. Especially when Harris was letting it go to his head.

“I have fun with it,” Harris said weeks back. “It’s something fun for me. Twitter, I think it’s a new way to build your brand.”

Build your ‘brand’ with on the field success, not 140 characters at a time online. Social networking is now in the rear view and some humility is needed. Yes sir, no sir, eyes forward and all business. No more joking with reporters. No more alter ego. No more funky haircuts or Spongebob references.

If Jacory wants to be ‘the guy’ in South Florida, he doesn’t have to say a word. He just has to remain interception-free.

Win ball games and you’ll be revered in Coral Gables. It really is that simple.

Comments

comments