The Yellow Jackets are 1-0 in conference play and already got an early leg up with a late September win over Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. Knock off the Hokies and Canes and the Ramblin’ Wreck could all but punch its ticket to the ACC title game. In theory, at least.
Miami—coming off a spirited win over Duke—is in a situation where it must improve weekly, after getting off to a slow start with early losses to Louisville and Nebraska. The Hurricanes’ margin for error is zero in what will be a tight conference race and a win in Atlanta will help “The U” convince itself that it truly is a team reborn one month into a new season.
While the Hurricanes have struggled at times the past three years under head coach Al Golden, Miami has found a way to shine when Georgia Tech lined up across the field.
The Canes rolled 24-7 at home in Golden’s first season, with the defense and special teams making a statement. In 2012, arguably one of the most exciting games in series’ history—Miami leaping put to an early 19-0 lead, falling behind 36-19, tying it up in the final minute, forcing overtime and pulling out the 42-36 comeback win.
Last year offense stole the show, while thriving during an explosive final fifteen minutes. The Canes netted 551 total yards and scored 21 points over a six-minute, fourth quarter span en route to a, 45-30 victory. Still, the Yellow Jackets rolled for 335 yards on the ground and without some big play offense for Miami and a late pick-six, the outing could’ve spelled disaster.
Georgia Tech boasts another explosive ground attack this season and hopes to exploit Miami’s defense much like Nebraska did weeks back.
Quarterback Justin Thomas is the heart and soul of the Yellow Jackets’ offense—leading the team with 610 rushing yards and seven touchdowns after four games, though the majority of that success came against the likes of Wofford, Tulane and Georgia Southern—the latter of the bunch, who had the Yellow Jackets on the ropes and gave up a late score in a, 42-38 comeback.
Where Thomas is a bit more ineffective—the passing game. A paltry 38.9% completion rate weeks back against the Hokies, though the sophomore stepped up and made some clutch, game-defininig throws when needed, in a 7-of-18, 125-yard outing.
Thomas has another oversized receiver at his disposal—which always seems to be the case for undersized Georgia Tech quarterbacks. DeAndre Smelter stands 6’3″ and averages 24.2 yards per reception, with four touchdowns on the season. For a non-passing team, this duo remains a legitimate threat that could burn a spotty Hurricanes’ secondary easily lulled to sleep by the consistent ground game.
Defensively the Yellow Jackets are a bit of a mystery simply based on (lack of) talent faced. A spotty secondary and shaky defensive line could give Canes’ quarterback Brad Kaaya a lot to work with, while the tandem of Duke Johnson and Joe Yearby on the ground should keep the chains moving.
Miami learned last week against Duke that success on first and second down is the name of the game. Muster up some momentum and create those desirable third-and-short situations.
Even in a win, the Hurricanes were a disturbing 2-of-16 on third down conversions against the Blue Devils—a trend that’s been in effect since week one at Louisville (1-of-13), carried over to lesser foes like Florida A&M (2-of-10) and Arkansas State (5-of-12) and again reared its ugly head at Nebraska (4-of-10).
Establishing a solid ground attack, moving the chains and setting up makable third downs will eventually set the stage for Kaaya to take some deep shots with a Phillip Dorsett or Stacy Coley—but offensive coordinator James Coley needs to find success and stability first before getting too cutesy. Three-and-outs are huge victories for Georgia Tech in a game like this at home.
On the defensive side of the ball, back to assignment football, staying in gaps and avoiding freelancing when tempted to make a play. Nebraska killed Miami on the ground due to a lack of discipline by the Hurricanes and against the likes of a Georgia Tech, it’ll be an absolute disaster if guys don’t do what they’re supposed to do.
Linebacker Denzel Perryman has to be the heart and soul of the Hurricanes’ defense in a game like tonight’s. A senior, team leader, veteran and playmaker, Miami will go as far as Perryman goes—as solid middle linebacker play is needed to thwart the triple option attack.
It will also take another yeoman’s effort from an in-progress Miami defensive line, reshuffling players and relying on youth. The Hurricanes front seven was aggressive and came to play against the Blue Devils last week and will need to bring that same intensity to Atlanta.
Lastly, scheme-wise both Golden and defensive coordinator Mark D’Onofrio will need to bring another tweaked game plan to the table.
While both credited better tackling and execution for last week’s win over Duke, a simple rewatch of the past two games offered up definitive proof that changes were made—especially with bringing safeties up to stop the run and putting more pressure on a quarterback who struggles to pass the ball.
This isn’t a time for egos or being right—it’s about doing all it takes to get the win, so an aggressive game plan akin to what Miami had for Duke last week; it’s a must.
While nothing can be taken for granted with this up-and-down Hurricanes team—consistently inconsistent the past several years—there is a sense that Miami is getting close to turning a corner.
A recent “Raising Canes” segment outlined the Duke week and life after the Nebraska loss. There’s a sense that this team is finally coming together and that with this coaching staff, is finally discovering an identity.
Miami played with purpose last week and even showed some legitimate spunk in Lincoln two weeks back—most-notably when offensive lineman came to the aid of their quarterback and weren’t afraid to mix it up with the enemy. Every since that moment, the Hurricanes appear to have grown up a bit.
Part of that maturation process—winning games like the one directly in front of them. Georgia Tech is one-dimensional, far from a juggernaut (despite an undefeated record) and Miami knows what’s on the line conference-wise with a showdown line this.
The Hurricanes have a chance to prove tonight in Atlanta that there’s truly been an early-season renewal and if Miami plays it’s game, will take a huge, necessary step towards a Coastal Division title.
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PLEASE, please, please fire Al Golden and bring back Butch Davis. There has been ZERO improvement in 4 years under Golden. Davis knows how to build a dynasty, he has done it at UM before. I miss the U being good, I really do.
So we fired Randy Shannon because of his poor choice Offensive Coordinators. Mark Whipple turned Jecory into a turnover machine. But on the other hand Golden's right hand man has let Miami's defense become a stat machine for opposing teams. FIRE GOLDEN. We fired Randy and he never lost to DUKE and beat FSU twice in 4 years.
... don't buy the analogy here. Randy Shannon was fired as he wasn't a head coach—proven by his career path since 2010—and he completely backslid year four. If Golden does the same with the final seven games this year, there'd be a strong case to fire him. That said, he just guided Miami through an NCAA mess—much of which happened on Shannon's watch—so he arguably bought himself at least through 2015 ... which also makes sense with the changing of the guard at president. You can't have Shalala bring in a new head coach on the heels of a new president coming in. That'll never happen.
As for Shannon beating Florida State twice, c'mon now. Florida State went 7-6 both in 2007 and 2009. Those were terrible Bowden-led football teams and no comparison to the Seminoles squads Golden has faced the past three years with Fisher at the helm.
By your rationale, Randy lost to South Florida, who Golden has beat a few times since he's been here—so let's lose that whole, "he lost to Duke" argument. Blue Devils were 10-4 last year and put 600+ yards and 48 points on Texas A&M's defense in the Peach Bowl.
Miami fans denying Duke's football prowess last year is like Blue Devils' basketball fans saying the Canes are a football school and crapping on UM's stellar season with Larkin, Gamble, Kadji, Scott, Jones and Johnson. Both deserve their due for good seasons despite overall bodies of work as a program.
YAWNING I COULD KILL ALL THAT ADMIN....BUT YOUR STUCK....LIKE EVERYONE IS SAYING....FIRE AL GOLDEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
... you can't fire Al Golden this season with Donna Shalala stepping down spring 2015 and a new president taking over. No way this legendary presidents wants her last act in office to be canning a good-guy head coach with five years left on his contract, nor would an outgoing president saddle an incoming one with a brand new coach. That's for the new president to do.
At best, Golden is forced to make some defensive decisions going into next season and if that doesn't change things, the new president puts him on a win-or-go clock in August 2015 when the season kicks off, prompting change for the 2016 season.
Golden could lose every game down the stretch, but there will be no firing due to the changing of the guard at president. No chance.
I perform trend analysis (among other things) for a living and I do not like what I see in Golden, after having HUGE hopes. I do not see improvement, especially on defense and in trying to have explosive offensive plays. How can we have Dorsett and Cooley and virtually never get them the ball in open space so they can run like the wind? I see other teams do it all the time. With Butch Davis available, I say we bring him home (along with Greg Schiano as DC) and re-build the dynasty, like before.
... the Butch Davis stuff has to stop. He came to Miami as a fiery 43-year old who just won a few Super Bowl rings under JJ in Dallas as the defensive coordinator and seven years prior was a national champion at The U, still under Johnson. He's now 62 years old ... left the program like a thief in the night in January 2001, got into trouble at North Carolina (in some way, shape or form, having hired John Blake and having players funneled to agents and academic fraud) and also having battled cancer. Davis is on the downside of his career arc and with Miami coming off of NCAA drama, he is in no way a fit for the future.
Folks also forget what a shitty game day coach he was. Go look at history. Hell, people wanted Davis fired after the Washington loss in his sixth year at Miami. He loaded the cupboard recruiting—which certainly wouldn't be the same 15 years later—due to more competition, a different type of kids and academic standards at UM that would keep a lot of kids from that era from being a part of the program. Let that ship sail.
Not saying there aren't other options, but this retread mentality of bringing back a guy who started his head coaching career here two decades ago ... it's over.
There will never be a dynasty again. Too much money and parity in the game. Just look around. Mississippi State and Ole Miss dominating the SEC while Florida and LSU are battling each other unranked? Baylor and West Virginia balling and Oklahoma and Texas struggling in the Big XII. Best two teams in Texas are the Bears and Horned Frogs while the Longhorns are a laughing stock?
Fans need to start seeing things for what they are. That's not to say Miami shouldn't be better and can't be something—but Florida (with their monster athletic budget) sucks and Florida State was still choking away a few key games a year until Jarapist Winscrab showed up. Without him, the Noles are VERY mortal. Even Ohio State looks like a shell of itself without Braxton Miller.
Fact is, Golden is a good CEO, recruiter and face of the program. He simply needs to get un-stubborn, ditch his lame-ass bend-don't-break defensive philosophy, dump his buddy D'Onofrio, bring in a solid defensive coordinator (like Davis canning Miller and hiring Schiano after year four) and build this thing out proper—his own way, as should be done in 2014 ... not in a fan-boy when-we-were-kings type of way, clamoring for an era that's long gone.