From 2-3 to 7-3 to 7-5.
It’s been a tale of three seasons for the Miami Hurricanes this year. Some good, some bad and some just plain ugly. Welcome to ‘rebuilding mode’.
A promising defensive showing in an early season loss at Florida. An offensive showcase a week later at Texas A&M. Heartbreaking, back-to-back losses against North Carolina and Florida State, by a combined six points.
From there, a five-game win streak. Not always pretty, but effective and character-building. After a seven-loss campaign in 2007, Miami found ways to rebound against legit conference foes; Wake Forest, Virginia and Virginia Tech. Regardless of how the season would end, this alone was a sign of improvement.
A week later, with a potential ACC title game berth in the wings, Miami folded in Atlanta. A week after that – playing for pride, a season-ending win and a shot at a higher-tier bowl game – the Canes again choked in Raleigh-Durham.
A five-game win streak feels like a million years ago after going 0-2 in the span of nine days, the glaring weaknesses covered up by a nice mid-season run are that much more apparent.
The Canes gave up 472 yards in last week’s loss at Georgia Tech and 219 today at NC State. Redshirt freshman quarterback Russell Wilson picked Miami apart with both his arms and legs. 220 yards through the air, 58 on the ground and three total touchdowns. Wilson played error-free on a day when the Canes quarterbacks combined for two turnovers each.
Be it Robert Marve or Jacory Harris, neither proved to be the answer these past two weeks. Supporters of both each have crow to eat. Twelve games into the season, both Marve and Harris still look, act and play like freshman. There have been glimpses of greatness, but the overall body of work took a hit after a few sub par outings. Backsliding has been part of the process.
As much as Miami still hasn’t grown on offense, the defense again no-showed. NC State rang up 439 total yards in the 38-28 victory. A balanced attack that left the Canes confused, it’s now two straight weeks that opposing offensive coordinators went for the jugular, exploiting Hurricanes weaknesses.
The tenacious D that kept a potent Florida offense in check for three plus quarters in Gainesville has been exposed as the year rolled on. Miami’s secondary and it’s linebackers were picked on consistently and once Georgia Tech proved the Canes couldn’t stop the run, NC State coaches simply needed to follow the blueprint.
Up next, the bowl game. Right now that either means the Emerald, Music City or the Meineke Car Care Bowl, with the Champs Sports still a slim possibility.
On paper, it’s a 7-5 season with a post-season game pending, but those who live and breathe Miami Football know there’s more to the story. Randy Shannon is at a severe crossroads two years into his rebuilding project. Decisions he makes this off-season could very well determine how his head coaching career plays out. This season may be in the books, but it’s officially ‘roll up the sleeves’ time as Shannon needs to get back to this rebuilding project.
There’s no love lost with the Canes’ fan base and offensive coordinator Patrick Nix. As if the product on the field isn’t evidence enough, look at the numbers. 88th in overall offense. 78th in passing offense. Ranked 112th in the land regarding interceptions given up (19 between Marve and Harris) and 80th in passing efficiency.
Even more frustrating than five losses and paltry statistics, the fact that Miami still lacks an offensive identity and that both freshman quarterbacks seem to have regressed over the course of a season. Where’s the leadership? Where’s the development? Where are all those things that were supposed to be fixed in this new regime? What happened to addition by subtraction?
One could argue that Nix deserves more time. Let the talent jell. Give the quarterbacks and young receivers time to grow. Part of me wants to agree with that, but the other side keeps going with my gut.
I believe the writing is on the wall. Nix is unimaginative and coaches scared. He’s reactive instead of proactive and seems content to milk a lead or bleed out a clock, as opposed to putting a foot on an opponent’s throat and piling on. He officially lost me the fourth game of the season.
Months back, Miami jumps out to a 14-0 lead against North Carolina, abandons the run, loses any offensive identity, attempts to bleed the clock, can’t pick up crucial first downs late in the game and falls behind 28-24 with under a minute to play.
After being stagnant on offense the majority of the second half, Nix opens it up on the final drive and Miami is a fingertip grab away from a game-winning touchdown and 69-yard drive in half a minute, leaving everyone wondering where was that fire the last two quarters.
Everything that worked early on was ditched once the Canes played with a lead. From there, an assortment of offense plays and no rhyme or reason regarding what Nix wanted to do.
A week later, down 24-3 at the half against Florida State after a slow start, Miami puts up 36 points in the second-half, using an assortment of gimmicky and grab bag-style plays. The Canes moved the ball and played with a purpose later in the game, but was lost the first thirty minutes. This was also the game where Nix ‘answered his critics’ by attempting three straight deep balls on the first offensive possession of the game.
The rest of the season didn’t fare much better. Another poor offensive showing against UCF was followed by a breakout performance by Harris at Duke, in a 49-31 win. A week later, Miami can’t move the ball against Virginia and is down 17-10 late in the fourth, yet the playbook is opened up and the Canes roll the length of the field for a game-tying score.
The offense backslid further against Virginia Tech, where Miami mustered up 247 yards and relied on stout defense (and a few lucky bounces) to escape with a 16-14 win, but again lacked an offensive identity, relying on broken plays and quarterbacks’ legs to pick up first downs.
While the defense was to blame in losses against Georgia Tech and NC State, Nix’s offense never set the tone, picked up first downs or kept drives alive. The playcalling was confusing and spotty, which kept a run down defense on the field much longer than it could afford to be. I can’t remember a time when the Canes offense set the tone and truly seized some momentum.
All preseason the talk was of Miami’s offensive line and the running game being the backbone of this offense, yet Nix never had this team establishing the run. The few times the run worked (UNC, for example), it was abandoned for no reason.
Times when teams absolutely rely on the ground game (4th and inches against GT comes to mind.. ), Nix inexplicably called a passing play with his quarterback in the shotgun. Later in a 3rd and long, with an obvious passing down, Nix chose to call a draw and failed.
Stop routes. Out routes. Curls. The same bubble or jailbreak screen run several times again, never fooling an opposing defensive coordinator. How long can one really blame the inexperience of offensive players and start laying that at the feet of an offensive coordinator who appears in over his head?
Could Nix turn things around? Will an influx of talent allow him to open up the playbook in time? That’s a question only Shannon can answer. If there’s ever a time to make this change, it’s this off-season. You don’t want this young squad to get that much more comfortable under this current OC, only to rip the rug out a year later, taking two steps backwards after one step forward.
Aside from Nix, Shannon will also have to evaluate Wesley McGriff (secondary), Tommie Robinson (running backs), Jeff Stoutland (offensive line) and Andreu Swasey (strength & conditioning) as all areas suffered big time the past two seasons.
As this team’s CEO, the second year head coach has to take a hard look at every area of this program where a deficiency has occurred. If not, Shannon will risk eventually losing his ‘dream job’, effectively proving the doubters wrong.
While there are some glaring weaknesses, it should be noted that 7-5 is a vast improvement from 5-7. It’s more than just a two game swing. Miami is one step closer to being ‘Miami’ again. The culture is changing, slowly but surely and while the critics are sick of so much being put on Larry Coker, you can’t underestimate how far this once mighty program has fallen.
Coker was the first Miami coach to be fired since Carl Selmer was canned after a 3-8 campaign in 1976. Howard, Jimmy, Dennis and Butch all left for supposedly greener pastures and all left the program in tact. While Miami may have been headed towards probation when Erickson headed to Seattle, Davis inherited a team that went 10-2 and finished #3 in the land, losing the Orange Bowl to #1 Nebraska.
Even beyond the fact that Shannon inherited a dog of a program, how about the fact he was the only guy to raise his hand and sign on for the task of cleaning house? Butch Davis. Greg Schiano. Dave Wannstedt. Even the ol’ ball coach, Steve Spurrier.
No one want to straighten up Coker’s mess. Not even for a few million per year. The only folks who think coaching The U is a plum gig are fans still living in yesteryear, in denial about the state of the program as well as the parity in the college game and the big money other state-funded athletic departments can dole out.
Talent-wise, this Canes bunch is sorely lacking. I traded emails with a fan earlier this week who said a 7-6 season was unacceptable (barring Miami loses their bowl game) because this team is ‘so much more talented’ than the 7-6 squad of 2006. A squad that I quickly pointed out fielded four first round draft picks and few other NFLers.
While Miami’s underclassmen are showing promise, lest not forget that no upperclassmen are expected to be drafted next spring – something the Canes haven’t seen in over three decades.
It takes more than just strapping on that helmet and running out the smoke Saturdays in fall. It takes Miami-caliber players and a cupboard full of future NFL talent; something which has lacked severely the past few seasons.
Catch SportsCenter any Sunday night during football season and listen to the laundry list of NFL U superstars making plays and securing wins week in and week out. Today’s heroes were Jon Beason and Philip Buchanon. Next week, a different crop of successful Canes getting it done at the next level. Wherever you look, there’s a Miami alum somewhere taking care of business.
Way too many upperclassmen are making freshman-like mistakes and haven’t grown in 4-5 years in this program. Until they’re all replaced by better talent, the losses will keep rolling in a handful of times per year. Unfortunately, that won’t happen overnight. It took a few years to fall off the radar and it’ll take as much time, if not more, to right so many wrongs.
If you’re in any way, shape or form affiliate with Miami Football, you have your work cut out for you. That goes for coaches, players and fans alike. Everybody needs to deal with something.
This staff needs to hit the road and recruit away, while the head honcho decides which coaches will be invited back to do it all again next year. The players? Get in the weight room, man up and get stronger for next season. Too many Canes have been pushed around the past few seasons.
What happened to the mantra, ‘stronger, faster and better’? Not lately, at least.
Regarding the fans, it’s time to take inventory. Quit living in the past and start dealing with reality. Miami has slipped big time and rebuilding projects don’t just ‘happen’. There’s a science and it’s a slow process. It will take several classes to right this ship and as exciting as five-game win streaks can be, don’t delude yourselves into thinking it means the Canes are ‘back’.
The ACC may have been ‘in reach’, but a title game berth or BCS game was never a reality. Not right now. Not with 31 freshman. Not when you’re ekeing out last minute wins and end a season with two brutal road games. Miami was more lucky than good this year, which is fine as it resulted in a few important program-building wins. In time, the Canes won’t need to rely on luck as they’ll again begin ‘outtalenting’ the competition.
Until then, see things for what they are. 7-5 is a step forward after 5-7. A bowl game berth is big time after last season ended Thanksgiving weekend. Some freshman made a big impact and should make a bigger one at sophomores.
Wins over Wake Forest, Virginia and Virginia Tech were important, as it gave these kids the feeling that goes along with winning. They couldn’t do it consistently in 2008, but they showed that if they put together a good enough game on both sides of the ball they can get the job done.
This team is close, but unfortunately is only as strong as its weakest link. As seen these past two game, a few too many weak links resulted in some ugly losses.
Ride it out. Enjoy the bowl game. Set your sights on another top-flight recruiting class.
Miami will be back. Maybe not on your timetable, but this thing is on the right track and it’s a matter of time before the Canes are significant again. 7-5 was a step forward and hopefully we see a bigger one in 2009.
I think Shannon should go after an offensive-minded, adaptable, established OC if there is one out there. Nix shows no kind of offensive flow and doesn’t have the killer instinct. When you’re up, you keep on your opponent and bury them, you don’t change and play not to lose. I also agree with you and think both QB’s also regressed as the year went on. No excuse for that. So I say cut your losses after Year 2, get someone who can call good plays, has some kind of philosophy and can work with the QB’s in their development.
I also think Shannon shoyuld look at McGriff. The secondary was attrocious this year. 3 Int’s the whole year and one was by Moncour. That’s awful. I hope the D studies hard this year and learns Yound’s system much better because there were too many times the back 7 were lost in coverage and WR’s were wide open for 20 yard gains.
So yes 7-5 was a step in the right direction, but the team needs to get some more players in here. Get some more young players and work on depth. Send all coaches out across the country to recruit as well as also pick some other successful coaches’ brains as to why they are successful with what they do. I’m not letting Young off the hook either, but this is Year 1 for him and I hope that next year the players will be more comfortable with his schemes.
-Columbus Cane
I whole heartedly agree with your assesment.
I truly beleive that Nix coached scared, and that he showed signs of being a good OC, but he would come back out the next series and go back into his shell. That is the same way his players played. In order to change this, Shannon has to go ahead & pull the trigger on Nix. Everything starts with an attitude, & this offense has the attitude of it's OC!
Go CANES!!!
Look at the Dolphins. Look what a new attitude can do. Less talent, but more heart!
The "U" will be fine. I've said time & time again, it will not come overnight. Shannon has shown he can get them(players) in here, now he needs a few more dollars to bring an OC worthy of calling plays for the "U", but it will take MONEY to get a top notch guy.
Overall we displayed growth & I know it will continue. We are headed in the right direction. Let's enjoy the Bowl game, hit the recruiting trail hard & often, and open up our wallet for a GOOD OC>
305 – A friend just turned me on to this blog and let me say I wish I’d found you years ago. Great site and great ability to eloquently say what so many of us are thinking.
If there’s one thing you preach that people need to hear, it’s the state of the program. Amen to all that. Miami has fallen so far over the past few years and to get them back on track it will take time.
Randy Shannon can only recruit and coach up so many kids per season. This last class was a great start. Now he has to do it again in 2009 and this team has to take a few more steps forward.
Another great class in 2010 and the Canes will start to look like the team we knew and loved from 2000-2003.
Like you, I’m still not sold on some of these coordinators, but they’re still not as a big a piece in this puzzle as the talent is. Until the talent fully returns, it’s hard to judge the Canes.
You’re right, people were fooled by the five game winning streak. It was nice to get those wins, but you can’t polish a turd. Miami didn’t look good (let alone DOMINANT) against anybody this year. The Canes stole some wins this year like the opposition stole some last year.
People need to give this thing time and need to have faith in Shannon. Whether they like him or not, he’s the guy in charge and like you said, he took the job that no one else wanted and he’s pouring heart and soul into rebuilding the Canes.
Keep fighting the good fight, bro.
Paul Mayer
Ormond Beach, FL
Excellent article as usual. You hit on many key points. Before I rant, I just want to say it’s been a pleasure reading your blog entries. This season has nearly cost me a few heart attacks. But your blog seems to level me out, whether I’m riding high or low.
“Nix is unimaginative and coaches scared. He’s reactive instead of proactive and seems content to milk a lead or bleed out a clock, as opposed to putting a foot on an opponent’s throat and piling on.”
To me that sums it up right there. As Epps, for example, is a damn (potentially) great TE. I heard somewhere he only has like 18 (or so) catches for the season.
I mean what more does Nix want. We’ve got talent, granted not typical UM top tier talent. But enough talent is there not to be such a Pu$$y with the play calling.
Also, the QB rotation has to end. I thought Marve was doing okay. I agree both had no experience so you had to do something like this in case one went down. But damn it Shannon, you don’t have to do it the ENTIRE season. Let one play an entire game through the good and the bad. Let them learn to comeback after a mistake.
The too young excuse is just bull$hit. Sam Bradford is the perfect example. Granted he does have NFL caliber linemen on his team. Which brings me to my next point. 18 year old freshmen aside, why when I watch UM games does it seem like men against boys? I mean did someone lose the key to the weight room. Get these damn kids in there ASAP for ’09 from now. Our O-line is one of the largest (all over 300lbs). But fat and slow is not cutting it.
We need O-line recruits and big time. I think the LBs will be okay next season. All the trash will graduate and the young LBs will be experienced and McCarthy healthy. If we get some DB recruits as well, great.
But we have to start making better use of what we have. As in the NCstate game, Marve/Epps/James looked good. I saw power running from James and was like YES! Then pooffff, Nix makes him magically disappear. Madness!!!
Bottom line Randy ’09 is huge. No one wants to hear about another rebuilding year. ’09 has to be ‘build’ time. Build a winner, not a team coached to hope they can be winners (i.e. hold onto a lead/victory). If you keep Nix, you seal your fate. I hope he improves, but doubt it.
The sad part is, the worse thing about having talent is wasting it. I hope Nix learns that. Shannon, Nix is your problem. But you are Hocutt’s. Hocutt, it will be your time to do what you have to do at the end of ’09 if things don’t improve.
the problem is not the oc, it’s the qb….PICK ONE AND STICK TO HIM DAMMIT!!!!!!
I not a Nix Supporter, But all the banging on Nix has to stop. This is the same guy while at GT have Coach Shannon all he could handle while the DC. I saw way too many time’s when recievers dropped the ball, when the pass was a little off. This team is young, give it one more season and then evaluate. There was only one game all season we were out of and clearly out manned. The GT game and you saw what they did to UGA. We are one season closer to being back, next year 10-2? We will have to see. I’m very excited about the future.
Later from the 540, VT sucks!!!
I not a Nix Supporter, But all the banging on Nix has to stop. This is the same guy while at GT have Coach Shannon all he could handle while the DC.
Let’s be honest here… all he could handle? Nix coached against Shannon twice and got two wins, but let’s not act like it was Norm Chow up in the booth calling plays.
Miami lost 14-10 in 2005, where it was Jon Tenuta’s defense that made the real different in that game. The O mustered up 14 points, which isn’t earthshattering.
Shannon’s defense wasn’t to blame that night – Miami’s offense was. 1-of-14 on third down conversions and 0-of-2 on fourth downs? 30 rushing yards? Lost the time of possession battle? That had nada to do with Nix.
A year later, Miami loses 30-23 at GT in a sloppy game. The Canes put up 317 yards to the Jackets’ 282 and GT rushed for a mere 87 yards. Miami turned the ball over FOUR times that day to GT’s one, again, making Tenuta the reason the Canes lost, not Nix.
Since Nix came to Miami, he’s not 0-2 against his old school and his offense has been very, very weak.
Canes 305 , I read & check on your blogs daily and respect and agree with most of your opinions . I do think Coach Shannon has created a mess at the QB position with Robert and Jacory . Insted of allowing one to grow into his potential this year and deal with the ups & downs that come with starting a freshman QB , we now have two that are not where they should be after there freshman seasons . Jacory should only have been used if Robert got hurt . I know the Jacory supporters will say he needed to be on the field , but where are we now ? I believe one WILL transfer , and from what I hear it will probably be Marve . Jacory does have the " it " factor , like former Cane Ken Dorsey , but Marve has a lot of potential . He made his mistakes this year , many of which came by trying to make things happen because Jacory was waitng in the wings . Marve has a great arm , can run and should develope into a great college QB . Unfortunatly for the U , I think it will be for another school . I also scratch my head about Patrick Nix . We had no identity on offense at all this year . Who were we on offense ? Again , I believe some of this goes back to the shuffling of the QB's . If you look back at the games that UM won , only one QB took the majority of the snaps ( 75% or more ) Charleston So. , Duke , Wake , UVa , VT . Even in the loses to UNC & FSU this was the case . I believe in these games ,that the QB either Robert or Jacory , was allowed to get into a groove and really lead the team . Even former Cane QB's Jim Kelley and Gino Torreta have made comments about the mishandling of our QB's this year . One more case in point , just look what NCST QB Russel Wilson has done this year ! Did anyone know about this RS freshman at the begining of the season ? Even after missing three games due to injury , there is a lot of talk that he is now the best QB in the ACC !!! I really hope that we go with Marve next year , and hope Jacory agrees to redshirt . In my opinion , that is the best solution for this program . I WANT Coach Shannon to be succesful , but you do have to wonder about some things after the jobs that Saben is doing at Alabama and Kelley is doing at Cincinatti . As always , injuries did play a part this year . Losing Colin McCarthy & Eric Moncur for the year really hurt the defense , as did not having Javarris James for the full season on offense . In all , things are better than last year . I , along with many other Canes fans , started to believe that the " Baby Canes " were a little ahead of schedule than they really were . That said , anything less than a 9-3 record and an appearance in the ACC Championsip Game next year would be a big disapointment . Go Canes !!! Gar3337
Gar3337 – Some strome points. The only thing I don’t fully agree with is the take on Marve and Harris. I have no issue with how they were both used this year.
Neither separated himself from the other and if you’re starting one, benching the other and you’re going 7-5, people will clamor for the other guy.
Both were freshman and both needed playing time. As for the transfer talk, if neither could secure the job at Miami right now – where do either think they’ll go next year? You don’t go from second string at The U to starting for Florida anytime soon.
I blame Nix for the lack of development regarding Marve and Harris. Neither really got better as the year went on and the playbook looked as bland last Saturday as it did at Florida back in September. If Nix isn’t growing his offense, his players won’t grow.
There were some setbacks this year (J. James… Moncur… McCarty…) but those had nothing to do with some of the glaring weaknesses on this team and with certain members of the coaching staff.
Randy has some SERIOUS decisions to make these coming weeks. Curious to see what he does. Keeping Nix around could end up being detremental to his overall career as a head coach. He better make sure he thinks this thing all the way through.
There has been WAY, WAY, WAY too much stock put into the coaches and NOT the players. Simple fact of the matter, the players arent making plays. Period. It doesnt matter who you have as OC,DC etc when receivers drop balls, lineman miss blocks, DB’s dont wrap up and QB’s over/under throw targets, chances are you are not gonna win many ballgames. We straight up dont have the talent that FSU, UNC, GT, UF, and even tho we beat them VT has. Its really that simple, you dont have to look that far. UF isnt the team they are because they have the best coaches in the game, theyre the team they are because they make plays. Stop making things complicated, the players arent making plays. Are Nix and Co. perfect? Not even close but can they be successful? If they have talent they sure as hell can, they dont have that talent right now. Stronger, Faster, Better? Try WEAKER, SLOWER, WORSE. Thats the state of these players. Im not trying to say this team is doomed and we have 0 talent, because clearly we do, wev all seen flashes of it, but until it starts showing up EVERY game, it doesnt matter who we have at OC or DC or (insert pos here), 7-5 will be as good as it gets.
I just hope fans and school dont give up on Shannon for now. Yet Shannon has to give up on Nix. Plain and simple Nix DIDNT GET IT DONE!!!!!! Miami also needs a power back. Cooper is quick but you can tackle him with a kiss. Miami blew every big game they had, Fla., North Carolina, FSU, and the GT game. Only thing left is to blow the bowl game!! lets pray that doesnt happen. This trend will truly turn off recruits!! On a good note we did improve!! I like our chances next yr. We should at least go 9-3, if not Shannon shouldnt get no pardon from the govenor.
Great article as usual and I agree with Gamal your blog entries have helped to mellow and add insight and a justifiable explanation to the current state of the program . I think I can speak for most people here that its frustrating to see this program flounder like it has. Its frustrating to see some of our in state rivals make such progress over the years and becoming such a dominant force while the U seems to be stuck in neutral.But what we are seeing is a cleansing a washing away of the old regime. Most of my friends are Gator fans and alumni (all of a sudden) and it sucks to see them laugh at the current state of the Canes program
but then i realize all dynasty’s come to an end and i don’t even consider them a Dynasty. Tebow, Harvin those guys eventually have to move on leaving them to reestablish there identity however they definetley got the athletes now. But look at teams like Bama, and Penn State. These were powerhouses of yesteryear and have risen again they paid there dues.They wallowed in obscurity and brought in players that had character and passion. Something is broken with this program but only time can fix it. But these kids are so young I mean most of them last year they were taking a beat up school bus to their high school football games so it kind of hard to critize them for missed oppourtunites. They will grow, they will learn, and they learn to battle like the U of old. Sometimes patience is hard but in this case its the only hope we can hold on to. I agree with everyone we need 1 quarterback and a reprogrammed Patrick Nix or some who can reach down and come up big. Later Canes fans its been a crazy season..
Two questions:
#1) Why is Cooper starting over Baby J.? (#1a) – Why did Thomas start @ NC State?
#2) What ever happened to Jermaine Mckenzie? Wasn’t he supposed to become Marve’s goto guy?
The article is right on.
The Canes are going to be just fine. They are young and with a few more players, coach Shannon will have them competing again.
As for Nix, he’s sorting out the playbook. Give him time.
I really hope that more recruiting focus is put on getting the best lineman possible for whatever system both coordinators are going with. If you look at the tops team, they all have great offensive and defensive lines. We are in dire need of skill and depth there. It seems like we’ve been thin on both lines for years for whatever reason. I see that we have 2 DL for 2010 so far.
-Columbus Cane
You can hear it straight from the horses mouth. Here's a link to both Randy Shannon interviews from this morning and evening on a local sports talk radio station in South FL
http://www.wqam.com/index.php?page=347&sid=o1o9706v4e4b1h0eccr9mqjt8t5ucua9
Miami’s way of returning is by start using I-formation;not abonding it after 1 or 2 plays, run the ball, kill time, use the tight end and then kill the opposite with the long ball! Alabama is doing find; miami needs to go back to old school football and not be a copy cat team like florida or usc! We need chud back! maybe he be open after the season!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!