Random Thoughts On Miami/North Carolina 2006

Miami got above .500 this weekend, beating ACC rival North Carolina, 27-7. It wasn’t the utter beatdown many fans were calling for, but it was a convincing win nonetheless. As I wrote last week, the Canes need to ‘baby step’ their way back to success. The 1-2 start truly messed with the psyche of this team and has brought some serious criticism on its coaching staff.

Sitting at 3-2, the Canes are treading water right now awaiting the meaty portion of their schedule. Houston, North Carolina, FIU and Duke are nothing more than filler. An opportunity for the Canes to find its offensive identity before heading to Georgia Tech on October 28th. Eight more easy quarters of football before Miami enters a season and program defining five game stretch. If the effort is anything like it was past weekend, these Canes will be in good shape heading to Atlanta in a few weeks.

In regards to this weekend’s 27-7 victory, a few thoughts:

>>> Miami came out energetic. I liked that. I believe this team has really taken on that ‘us against the world’ mentality. That doesn’t just relate to the media and opposing teams in 2006. I think that attitude is aimed at anyone who questions this program, anyone who is anti-Larry Coker and any supposed fan whose ass wasn’t in one of the 40,000+ empty orange seats on Saturday.

I realize (and can appreciate) why many fans are bitter with Coker, but by voicing their opinions against the man in charge, you best believe these players don’t appreciate that. They signed on to play under Coker and they believe in him, right or wrong and through thick and thin. The U is a family and anyone who is against any one member of the family – expect the other family members to be against you.

While so many are busy hating, this team is just focusing on doing all it can to win games and get better. Hopefully that ‘us against the world’ mentality fuels their fire and gets them ready for a late season run. We’ll see.

>>> Javarris James looked good in his second game as a starter. He’s getting yards after contact and he’s making plays. Beyond that, he continues to look like he has ‘it’. Whether he’s creating something out of nothing, or encouraging other players, James looks like a winner. He was the first one checking on Kyle Wright after he got the wind knocked out of him and he was the first to tap Kirby Freeman on the helmet, telling him “you’re in – let’s get this thing going.” You can’t underestimate team chemistry and camaraderie. Especially when an entire program has it’s back to the wall.

You also have to love seeing this kid rattle off big runs in back-to-back weeks. I don’t care who the opponent is. We’re seeing that James has breakaway speed as well as those few extra moves which forces defenders to miss. #5 continues to prove he’s a special one.

>>> I loved the trick play with Lovon Ponder for the first quarter. Some critics have pointed to the ‘trickery’ as a desperate act as it was the first TD scored by a Canes WR or TE this season. What they call trickery, I call innovative. Sometimes you just have to do whatever it takes. Every journey begins with that first step. Sam Shields got his first TD, Miami got on the board and momentum was in the Canes favor. Success breeds success. Plays like this are fun for the kids and they’re the perfect remedy for a squad who is under the microscope right now.

The Canes were flagged for excessive celebration after the Shields touchdown and I have zero issue with that. Let these youngins pile on and enjoy the moment. Especially after all the criticism this offense has taken as of late.

>>> Greg Olsen worked with the wide receivers this past week and it showed in his pass catching. Olsen hauled in some nice passes on Saturday and he is Miami’s best yards-after-catch option by a long shot. He had two huge grabs on the Canes scoring drive just before halftime. The 3rd and 4 play from the 24-yard line was a thing of beauty. Offensive coordinator Rich Olson oft stated that blitzing teams would pay dearly. On this play, he was correct. Wright absorbed the linebacker blitz, released at the final moment and found Olsen across the middle for a 14-yard gain. They found success with this again in the third quarter.

Miami needs to continue burning teams with these kinds of plays. Make opposing defensive coordinators think twice before blitzing the Canes.

>>> Of course not all the playcalling was perfect. Midway through the second quarter we saw a great screen pass to Javarris James on first down, but faced with 2nd and 7, Olson called two straight running plays. JJ didn’t pick up the first down on 3rd and 1, forcing the Canes to punt. James is making a name for himself and is no longer a well-kept secret. Any decent coaching staff is going to key in on James and force Miami to pass, which is obviously the chink in the armor regarding this team. The Canes have earned the reputation of being vanilla on offense these past few seasons. It’s time to sharpen those skills against the likes of North Carolina, FIU and Duke. Bet the house Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech will formulate game plans to shut down Miami’s rushing attack, forcing Wright to pass his way to a Hurricanes victory.

On the occasional 3rd and 1 I’d like to see Olson call some slants or quick passing plays like he did against Florida State in the opener.

>>> Last week’s defining moment was the defensive turnover created by Lovon Ponder and Chavez Grant. The fumble recovery led to a go-ahead score for Miami. This week it was Jon Beason’s interception late in the second quarter. Miami then drove the field, Wright found Olsen a few times and Charlie Jones eventually found the end zone. A 10-7 Miami lead was in jeopardy as North Carolina was finding a rhythm and moving the ball. The defense stepped up and got the ball while the offense closed the deal and got the touchdown. 17-7 at the half kept the momentum in favor of Miami. Especially against an ornery North Carolina team who was playing much better than their winless ACC record.

Which begs the question, why does it always seem that lesser teams like this play out of their gourd against Miami? They see that “U” on the Canes’ helmets and the opposition seems to step up and elevate their game to the next level. The Tar Heels are no juggernaut, but they also didn’t play like the 1-4 team they currently are.

>>> There are some very solid young players on The U’s roster right now. Be it true freshmen or first year starters, they’re making plays and are exuding some great energy. James is obviously getting it done on the ground, but a ton of credit needs to go to Shields and converted CB Ryan Hill. Both are getting open and making plays. On defense Calais Campbell is a force to be reckoned with, while Colin McCarthy is blowing people up on special teams. I love looking for the new #44 out there rolling heads on kickoff coverage. I haven’t seen a player that excited since Kellen Winslow and Dan Morgan were on kickoff coverage as freshman.

>>> Conversely, some upperclassmen and older players aren’t getting it done. Baraka Atkins, Brian Pata and Kareem Brown aren’t making half the noise of Campbell or Teraz McCray. I don’t know if it’s “Orien Harris-it is” but these highly-touted players need to step up and make some plays down the stretch. They can’t take any plays off and need to tap into their egos a bit, finding motivation in the fact they’re being shown up by their younger counterparts.

I’m not saying these guys are slacking. Atkins had a pretty decent game against North Carolina and a few weeks backs. I’m just stating that guys like Campbell and McCray are elevating their game to that next level and I want to see the upperclassmen do the same. Forget ‘good’ – it’s time to be ‘great’.

>>> All around, the defense looks ornery and I like that. Campbell. Beason. McCray. Ponder. Phillips. Meriweather. I like to see that bounce in their step and confidence exuded. Make plays, fly all over the field and strut a little bit. I refuse to use a term as cliche as ‘swagger’ – but an ounce of arrogance is a good thing for a team which has questioned itself as of late.

The secondary does need to tighten things up a bit, though. Meriweather was out of place on a few occasions and they’re giving receivers too much of a cushion underneath. They haven’t been beaten deep since Louisville, but they also have played anybody since. Everytime I see Hurricane corners giving up a passing play against the likes of North Carolina, I shudder to think what Georgia Tech’s Calvin Johnson can do. Johnson was taking it to eventual first round draft pick Kelly Jennings in last seasons, 14-10 upset of the Canes. He’ll have a field day if this inexperienced secondary doesn’t close the gap in the coming weeks.

>>> Lance Leggett didn’t silence any critics with his drop on 3rd and 13 in the second quarter. It was a great playcall by Olson, a sure first down and would’ve been a huge confidence builder for #9. Instead, a typical crucial third down drop by another receiver on this team. Instead of a first down and a potential touchdown, the Canes had to settle for a field goal. Thankfully the erratic Jon Peattie nailed the 39-yarder or morale would’ve really gone in the toilet.

Regarding Leggett, he needs to ring up Greg Olsen and mimick #82’s practice regimen from last week. Miami receivers cannot afford to drop easy passes at this point of the season. Every play counts. Every reception is something to build upon.

>>> Dropped balls are a sin, but even worse that those missed opportunities are all the holding calls when a receiver actually DOES haul in a pass. I heard Derrick Morse’s name called too many times last week. Reggie Youngblood once or twice as well. Holding plays and false starts are not acceptable. Coker needs to bring some referees into practice the week before Georgia Tech. Stupid penalties will kill Miami against better teams. Against the Yellow Jackets or Hokies a 3rd and 9 completion called back for a hold can wind up being the difference in a touchdown or field goal. The way Miami’s offense has played as of late, four points can cost the Canes a game.

>>> In closing, I truly hope all the haters can get the piss and vinegar out of their veins and start supporting this team as we’re almost at the halfway point of this season.

We get it. You don’t like Coker, you’re aggravated with Paul Dee and you’re posting your candidate wish list on message boards daily. While you’re wasting your time with that pointless drivel, there are a slew of kids busting their asses in practice every week and trying to turn this thing around. All the trash talking makes you part of the problem, not part of the solution.

For 72 hours after the Louisville loss I was fit to be tied. I could either hold on to the anger or I could change my expectations for this season and focus on the positive. There is a lot of young talent on this squad. The Canes are rebuilding and reloading. Enjoy the ride. There is no National Championship in the cards and while an ACC title is a long shot, the conference doesn’t exactly have a dominant player right now. Miami can still find a way to steal one here if these kid gel and get better every week.

Let go of the bitterness, people. Fine, the 80s were a better era and we all long for the dominance this program boasted earlier this decade. That was then and this was now. Support the product Miami is putting on the field right now. These kids deserve better.

If you believe in them, get behind them and have some faith – they just might surprise you.

.:Canes305:.

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