Random Thoughts On Miami/Maryland 2006

Miami came up short at Maryland last night, 14-13. The Canes defense was solid, but two breakdowns in the secondary cost Miami 161 yards and two touchdowns – the difference in the game.

I’m not going to tear this one apart from all angles. I don’t have it in me. A 5-4 record just slipped to 5-5, in a game where the Canes busted their collective ass and deserved to win. In a season where nothing seems to go write, the loss at Maryland was plagued by yet another game changing play.

Early in the fourth quarter, with the Canes down 14-10, Kirby Freeman dropped a perfect pass into the arms of a wide open Ryan Hill in the end zone. Hill didn’t reel it in and Miami settled for the field goal. It was the last time either team scored.

A few thoughts on this one and then we’ll put it to bed:

>>> Freeman is Miami’s starter the rest of this season. There is zero reason to switch back to Kyle Wright, no matter how healthy he gets. Wright has amassed almost two dozen starts and seems to still lack that ‘it’ factor whereas Freeman showed he possesses that intangible and that’s he’s a playmaker.

If this were 2000-2002, I believe that Wright would be the better pocket passer – but those days are long gone. We’re in an era where the Canes’ ground attack changes week to week, wide receivers don’t always make plays and the offensive line is tattered and torn. All that being the case, Freeman is the better quarterback for Miami circa 2006 and it better be a wide open battle entering spring 2007.

>>> Anyone questioning who should be Miami’s quarterback needs to rewatch a Canes possession late in the first quarter. After picking up a first down, Miami faced a 1st and 10 from the 28-yard line. Freeman dropped back and had a blitzing defender about to take him down for a big loss.

Instead of taking the sack, fumbling the ball or getting hit with a grounding call, Freeman found Greg Olsen open and dumped off for an 8-yard pick up. What was almost a 9-yard loss became a 8-yard gain. That’s a 17-yard difference.

Miami was 13 of 21 on the day regarding first downs and it was because of plays like this. First down sacks have put the Canes in near impossible 3rd and long situations all season. This outing proved that teams have to (1) respect Freeman’s ability to run, (2) respect the deep ball and (3) realize if that if they blitz, they’ll pay a price.

>>> The Canes can’t buy a break on the field. Against Georgia Tech, it was a non interception call regarding Brandon Meriweather pick. A week later, a no call on an obvious Glenn Sharpe interception.

Wright’s interception against the Hokies and Freeman’s against the Terps were both heads up defensive plays, but neither were textbook plays. The interceptions came at critical points of the fourth quarter, when the Canes had a chance to drive and take the lead. Both were off of batted balls that seemed to hang in the sky, defying gravity until an opposing defender reeled them in.

There were some missed calls in this week’s effort, but the play of the game was the Hill drop. Where were the football gods on that one? Hill makes that catch in practice 9 of 10 times, yet can’t haul in what would’ve been the difference maker. A 17-14 win after trailing 14-0 would’ve been storybook. I called for a 16-13 Miami upset in yesterday’s blog and we were one grab away from 17-14. This current team is beyond snake-bit.

>>> Watching Freeman start against Maryland, it had me wondering if Wright would ever see the field again. In 1999 Ken Dorsey came in for the injured Kenny Kelly and started the final three games of the season. A quarterback controversy was brewing until Kelly left The U for baseball, knowing Dorsey was about to seal up the starting gig.

What does this mean for Wright? Freeman will have 1-3 more chances to shine this season and build a case for why he should be ‘the guy’ in 2007. Either way, I flashed back to ’99 when thinking of the quarterback contoversy then versus what we’re about to embark on now.

>>> I’m torn on Maryland and their efforts this week. I thought it was first class to wear #95 decals, offer the moment of silence and was touched that the kids gave their per diem to the Pata family. Very classy. The team was first class, but the fan base proved to be a let down.

Booing the Canes as they ran out of the tunnel and storming the field after their Terps gave up 13 unanswered and rushed the field over a win against a then 5-4 program? Pretty weak. This ain’t your daddy’s bunch of Hurricanes. There’s no reason to pull down goal posts and celebrate when you’re a 3-point favorite at home. Grow up, kiddies. Act like you’ve been there before.

>>> It’s been said, but I’ll repeat it… Bryan Pata would’ve been proud of his teammates. Yeah, Miami gave up the two long balls and dropped a game winning touchdown – but you can’t blame any of these kids this week. The fact they went up there, represented, played hard, busted their asses for #95 and almost upset the Terps, how can you really ask for any more than that right now?

Pata’s murder was front page news for all publications this past week, but that will slow down now. While the rest of the world is latching on to another news story, the Canes are prepping for one of this program’s darkest weeks ever. Pata’s funeral is Tuesday and a memorial service will be held on campus this Wednesday. Last week was a bad dream and the real nightmare begins this week when reality sets in.

On top of that, Miami will prep for a road trip to Virginia – looking to avoid a fourth straight loss. Five days later, Boston College visits on Thanksgiving. These next 11 days are going to be a whirlwind for the Canes. Two more losses are almost expected and would be understandable.

I can’t imagine a more worn down, torn up, battered, bruised, crushed, drained and hurt group of kids in the nation. We’re praying for you, fellas. Hang in there a few more weeks.

>>> Larry Coker did a yeoman’s job getting these kids through a horrendous week and will do the same for the rest of the 2006 season. Coker might not have earned his money on the field with a 5-5 record, but he deserves tremendous kudos for getting these kids through a very trying time.

That said, I pray that Paul Dee and Donna Shalala don’t confuse Coker the ‘good man’ with Coker the ‘sub par coach’ at season’s end. I stated last week that there was no better coach in America to guide these kids through this tragedy. I still stand by that, but also believe that change is in orde come 2007. Miami played their most inspired game of the season last week, but everything else which has taken place since the Peach Bowl has been abysmal.

Miami has now lost 7 of their past 13 games, dating back to the Georgia Tech debacle of 2005 where the Canes were ranked #3 in the land and in the driver’s seat for the ACC title game and BCS berth. The wheels fell off against LSU and Coker never regained control, even after firing the majority of his staff. The Coker Era needs to come to an end on Friday November 24th and I pray the top brass can focus on the task at hand, doing what they need to do for the future of Miami Football.

Keep your heads up.

.:Canes305:.

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