Miami needs to come alive at Pitt

The proverbial phrase “must win” game. It’s uttered on a weekly basis by fans nationwide but what does it even mean? What happens if said team doesn’t win? Does time stop? Does the world come crashing down?

Technically speaking, no – but to a fan base it can feel that way at times.

The Miami Hurricanes are clinging to their top 20 ranking (just barely) and are 1-1 like many a good football team. The bitter taste of defeat still lingers as UM knows it let one get away at Ohio State. Randy Shannon laid into his team days later and put the kibosh on social networking, wanting his player to pull together and focus.

The ACC Coastal isn’t the conference the preseason rags made it out to be. Georgia Tech falling at Kansas. Virginia Tech in an 0-2 hole after losing to both Boise State and James Madison. North Carolina also 0-2 after losing a slew of starters to suspension. On the other side, Clemson looked tough in a heartbreaking loss at Auburn while Florida State is still licking its wounds after Oklahoma owned them a few weeks back.

The conference is ripe for the taking, but that journey begins next week. For now, Miami needs to jump in it’s time machine and go Big East-style this Thursday when taking on Pittsburgh at Heinz Field – a team it pretty much owned in the 90s and 00s. This marks the first meeting between the Canes and Panthers since 2003, when a conference title was on the line and Miami rolled, 28-14, earning an Orange Bowl berth against Florida State; the Canes last BCS game to date.

Since then, Pitt has been Pitt, winning the Big East the year after Miami left but stumbling mightily the rest of the decade, until a 10-3 run last year – ending the regular season with back-to-back heartbreakers against West Virginia (19-16) and Cincinnati (45-44).

The Panthers entered 2010 with some hype. Some predicted they’d win the Big East for the first time since 2004, yet like the Canes enter Thursday’s contest 1-1 after an overtime loss at Utah and lackluster win over New Hampshire.

Sophomore running back Dion Lewis has been touted as a Heisman candidate, though his numbers say otherwise (102 yards on 35 carries with a 2.9 y.p.c. average), though there are other offensive playmakers – most notably wideout Jon Baldwin and running back Ray Graham. The inexperienced Tino Sunseri is under center and if Miami can rattle his cage, it could make for a long night. Sunseri only has two interceptions on the year, though his first came in overtime at Utah, which proved disastrous.

Across the board the Panthers have some injuries at key positions which will hurt the depth, but still remains a quality opponent deserving of the preseason love. The Canes will need to rebound quickly and focus if they want to avoid another one of those Thursday night ESPN jinxes we see a few times every year.

No disrespect to Pittsburgh, but this game is less about the opponent and more about how Miami chooses to respond to its most recent loss. On paper, this is a very winnable game if you match the depth charts and level of talent UM more than comes out on top. Outside of the Buckeyes, there really is no one that top to bottom who has any business “out-talenting” the Canes this year and that one is in the rearview.

Shannon flexed his muscle off the field this past week, but when it comes down to game plan is Miami ready? Will Mark Whipple take the pressure off his pick-happy quarterback, leaning more on a ground game due to tremendous depth at running back? Will John Lovett pressure Sunseri into turnovers? Can the Canes shut down the ground game – or will this be another one of those nights where a previously-in-a-funk player finally has his breakout night?

What about special teams? There were breakdowns two weekends ago in Columbus and there’s also that notorious wind factor at Heinz? How will Joe Pannunzio adjust?

Miami has looked good at times last season, but physical and mental breakdowns have kept this team from becoming elite again. You see flashes of brilliance and tremendous talent, proving that this team is close – but great teams need to do it consistently. At this level and with high expectations, week in and week out focus is a must.

Manny Navarro had a recent piece in the Herald which pointed out the early season defensive miscues, as well as the few bright spots.

Miami leads the nation in tackles for loss, averaging 12.5 per game and ranks second nationally in sacks (4.5 for game). In total defense the Canes are 16th overall, having only allowed 262 yards per game. On paper it shows improvement, but it’s the whiffs are doing this team in. Turning the ball over while not creating turnovers (leaving two or three interceptions on the field at Ohio State); not a characteristic of great Miami teams.

The Canes need to grow up on the road tonight. Minimize mistakes, force some by the other guys, get the win and get home uninjured. ACC play kicks off next week and going into Clemson healthy and 2-1 can set the stage for could be a nice October run.

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