There’s no doubt that the defense is playing horribly right now. The Canes are ranked 97th against the run and 82nd in total defense and unfortunately that shouldn’t be a surprise.
For starters Miami is playing with a brand new scheme. D’Onofrio’s defense uses multiple fronts and multiple coverages, so it’s not a shock that guys – especially the upperclassmen – are having problems picking up the new defense. When you’re talking about guys playing in old system for three to four years, it’s going to take time to break old habits.
Head coach Al Golden is always preaching his mantra, “bring your training to the game” and right now the defense isn’t doing that. Guys are getting it done in practice – staying in their assignments and playing the right coverage – but come game time, in the heat of battle, they’re resorting back to old schemes, old techniques and are “freelancing”.
On top of transitional difficulties this team hasn’t had the same defensive line-up since the season kicked off. Continuity is king and five games in Miami hasn’t had that.
Ray-Ray Armstrong returned against Virginia Tech and and by all accounts played a sub-par game, which makes sense in his first game of the season and in a new system. Armstrong practiced with his teammates while suspended, but in football at this level there truly is no simulation for in-game speed.
Beyond the line up changes there have also been a slew of injuries. Losing Marcus Forston, Curtis Porter and Ramon Buchanan was a huge blow. Luther Robinson and Jalen Grimble have also been nicked up, which has coaches at the point of pulling the redshirt off Corey King.
If there was any kid that appeared to be a gimmie for redshirting it was King, who arrived late due to Clearninghouse issues. Now he’s on the two-deep due to injuries. Shayon Green, who moved from linebacker to defensive line, got forty-plus reps last week after not playing a down the previous two years, while JoJo Nicolas looks like he’ll finally get some time back at corner this week – after spending the offseason at corner, but moving to safety due to depth woes.
Coach Golden talks about symmetry a lot and what he means by symmetry is proper depth by class. In other words, Miami currently has seniors, juniors, sophomores, freshmen and redshirts all out of position. The Canes aren’t close to having symmetry right now and that too is killing this team defensively.
Miami isn’t blitzing a lot right now, nor are they playing a ton of bump and run – but again, can you really take chances if your guys are unable to keep plays in front of them when they’re in base? Coach D’Onofrio isn’t and it’s hard to disagree.
The defensive coordinator isn’t the issue here. Coach D’Onofrio had his Temple defense ranked sixteenth nationally in Total Defense and Scoring Defense last season, so again, the man knows how to coach kids up. What it comes down to is the simple fact that change takes time and Coach D’Onofrio needs the right personnel in there to accomplish what he’s trying to do.
Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither are championship football teams. Time for everyone to take a step back, starting with any “Fire D’Onofrio” nonsense. Seriously.
IN OTHER NEWS : Join us tomorrow night for another edition of allCanes Radio at the Titanic Brewery, next door to allCanes. As of now we’re aiming to have head baseball coach Jim Morris in the house around 7:30pm and we’re working on another old school Cane, but won’t have that confirmed until tomorrow so stay tuned via allCanesBlog.com or follow us on Facebook or Twitter for any breaking news.
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O.K., I was one of the " fire D'Onofrio " henchmen. But my notion was he had to go at the conclusion of the season.
And yes D'Onofrio and staff are playing with a short deck and injuries have take their toil and D players are playing out of position and trUe freshmen are playing significant minutes and what not. However, Miami has become absolutely WORST on defense since the start of the season. Even MIGHTY Bethune- Cookman went off on the Hurricane defense. By the way, MIGHTY B-C currently has a losing record.
Now, IF the Cane defense CONTINUES to be the Achilles Heel that they currently are, then The Golden One seriously needs to evaluate his college buddy. No if's, and's or but's. In other words, all I'm looking for is SOME BLOODY IMPROVEMENT from the D-unit. That's all.
Playing the see-R card. IF, and only IF, A.C.C. squads such as Duke or Virginia or lowly Boston College GO OFF on Miami's defense later this season. Then what Mr. Beast!?
Because it seems, with the exception of AN AVERAGE Ohio St team, every O-unit the Hurricanes has faced so far, has had absolutely spectacular offensive numbers.
Again, all I want is to see SOME IMPROVEMENT from D' Onofrio's unit. It's the middle of the season for freakin' sake.
Is that being to selfish and asking too much from Miami's defense. Just asking. That's all.
Nonetheless, I still see Miami coming away with a win this Saturday in Chapel Hill.
firing someone after 1 season?
why are people so unwilling to wait these days?
If you look at how his Temple teams played against teams that implemented a read-option offenses with passes into the flat..
Things look awfully similar.
Dude seems to have an issue with defending it or scheming against it. Just literally look at some of the games he had at Temple.
Firing the D-Coord will do nothing. The problem is that the quality of UM athlete is so mediocre that a defensive genius like Buddy Ryan couldn't do much. Until UM gets much better athletes to "coach up" to UM standards, there won't be much production.
Coach Golden and staff will turn this around!!!!
Lets go Canes!
Lack of football intelligence, age, or intelligence in general are the answers to your question Joven. Same people who boo collegiate players and dont show up to any games but the large, primetime games. PATHETIC! I really wish those people would find a new team to root for. Guess what? If D'Onofrio goes then so does Golden. I just ask one favor, in several years when his D is implemented along with HIS players and we dominate like we used to that you "fans" go back in your cave. Thank you, that is all...........
I disagree that firing the coach isn't the answer. At least for the Dolphins. Ash canning that entire staff would be damn fine way to start fixing that disaster. But at The U? No. Considering the pressure from thin talent, suspensions, injuries, NCAA bullying, new staff and schemes no one should be saying "Fire The Coach!" for a considerable time yet.
I'm patient ,usually. BUT IF COACH 'D' were working a regular private job he would have to do something in a hurry to get the job done right(make improvements) or else. I mean that if NC A&T held Bethune-Cookman to a total of 108 yards and most other teams aver. 400 plus,then i say we have a real problem.By the way,i am by no means looking past VIRGINIA either.GO CANES!!!!
... understood, but this isn't a regular private job. By that rationale a lot of coaches and players would be out of work.
Nice article! I agree with the new scheme and shuffling players due to suspension and injurycausing most of our problems. Coach D got it done at Temple, he surely can get it done in Miami! Give it time, and the selfish players will be moving on soon enough.
GO CANES!!!
I'm not one of the fans who have called for Coach D to be fired, however, everyone has the absolute right to put the heat on his ass, because he is not getting it done right now. Opposing QB's have all day in the pocket, with no pressure whatsoever. The DLine can't get off blacks at all and the DBs are giving guys 10 yards and then giving up uncontested completions. LBs are shooting wrong gaps leaving wide open running lanes for some huge gains. It's just ugly all the way around. It's about want-to. Do your job and get off the field. It has to get better and everyone has a right to demand more. That being said, the staff needs time to implement their system with their guys, but it should not be this bad with the current guys.