Maryland headed to Sun Life

There’s no real “history” with the Maryland Terrapins, but two games in this fifteen-game series stick out.

In 1984 the Canes blew a 31-0 halftime lead to the Terps, falling 42-40 and four years back, Miami left one on the field when it truly needed it most.

Four days after the murder of Bryan Pata, the Canes fell 14-13 in College Park. The game’s defining play – a dropped would-be touchdown by then-receiver Ryan Hill. Down 14-10 early in the fourth quarter, Hill dropped a pass in the end zone and three plays later the Canes settled for a field goal. Neither team would score again.

The motivation isn’t has high this weekend, but a win might be needed just as much today as it was a few years back.

At 5-3, Miami’s season is slipping away and the only thing that might save Randy Shannon and the Canes is winning the final four regular season match ups and a bowl game. Miami would finish 10-3 and that would be ‘improvement’ after last year’s 9-4 campaign.

From day one I’ve been clear that as long as the Shannon-led Canes were improving annually, he had my support. Backslide, slip up and continue making elementary mistakes that this team should be past and it’d be time to start the search for someone new.

The Canes remain at a crossroad. Jacory Harris is sidelines and Stephen Morris will make his first start at quarterback. Workhorse running back Damien Berry has a quadriceps issues that will hold him out, which means more carries for Lamar Miller and Mike James. Mark Whipple has been inconsistent running offense, but inevitably has to dumb thing down a bit these next few games with a newbie under center.

Will all this equate into addition by subtraction?

Countless times in the game of football we’ve seen a team lose a starter, only to have the back up assume responsibilities and turn things around – both with physical skills, a shift in momentum and sometimes by replacing a player who was a distraction or didn’t jell with teammates.

None of us truly know the inner workings of this Miami Hurricanes football machine, but you don’t have to be part of the inner circle to realize that something has gone awry this season in Coral Gables.

At times, the Canes have lacked motivation, have pulled up limp and have failed at times to simply play fundamental football, each man focused on getting his job done.

Making that even more frustrating, the face that there have been times where Miami went full-throttle and looked like a powerhouse. Whipping a pretty good Pitt team, 31-3 on the road. Forcing turnovers at Clemson and winning a tough one in Death Valley. Schooling Butch Davis and North Carolina, while exuding confidence in the process.

When the Canes have looked good, they’ve teased us into believing. When they’ve looked bad, they’ve made us want to burn our fan card.

Maryland rolls in 6-2, but let’s be honest – this team has beaten nobodies, outside a narrow three-point win at Boston College weeks back. The other five victories came against Navy, Morgan State, Florida International, Duke and Wake Forest. West Virginia beat the Terps, 31-17 while Clemson whipped them, 31-7.

Miami has the athletes to win this game – and the next three. But does it have the coaching, game planning and motivation?

The talk this week has been about a Terrapins squad that is blitz-happy and will bring several defensive looks. That being the case, how will Whipple counteract that? A freshman quarterback is running the show and there’s a stable of six quality running backs.

What will the Miami coordinator do to move the ball, keep the ball in his offense’s hands, protect his quarterback, minimize turnovers and score points? That is a thousand percent on Whipple, not Shannon. He’s the offensive guru and needs to earn his keep.

Defensively what does John Lovett have under his belt? Miami’s run defense has been porous as of late, but Maryland’s strength has been their passing game and the arm of quarterback Danny O’Brien. The freshman signal caller has three interceptions on the season – all coming in the loss at Clemson, where he still passed for 302 yards. O’Brien has 13 touchdowns on the year, as well.

Is Lovett going to allow a freshman to come in and run roughshod over his passing defense? What schemes will Miami bring today in an effort to shut down one of the ACC’s better passers as of late?

Word yesterday is that the Canes had an inspired practice and appear mentally ready – which actually makes sense. The Canes have been a good ‘bounce back’ team this year – playing well at Pitt after losing to Ohio State and building momentum after the Florida State beatdown, surviving Duke and then punking North Carolina.

Odds are after last week’s loss to Virginia, Miami will be ready to play today and should handle Maryland. Home game. No real running back threat to fear. Freshman quarterback that could / should be pressured into mistakes.

Facing a ‘paper champion’ opponent whose 6-2 record is severely inflated. Even with Morris taking snaps, the Miami offense should decimate this Maryland defense, while the Canes D creates opportunities with turnovers.

Honestly, lose today and Shannon should skip the post-game presser, heading straight to his office to draft a resignation letter.

Miami should be 6-3 heading into Georgia Tech next weekend and again, that’s where the Canes’ horrible run defense will be tested. Same for a week later when Virginia Tech and Ryan Williams drop by. Both Techs will define Miami’s season, but today truly is a ‘warm up’ for what’s in store and if the Canes can’t roll, an already frustrating season will turn absolutely disastrous.

Miami 30

Maryland 20

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