Thoughts on Barry Jackson’s thoughts…

The Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson always does a good job breaking down the nitty gritty regarding what’s going on at The U. His piece this morning analyzed the ins and outs position-wise as spring ball is underway. His comments below, with our thoughts, as well.

• Defensive line: Only Allen Bailey is set as a starter. Andrew Smith (five sacks in three scrimmages) was the other starting end in Saturday’s spring game, with Adewale Ojomo and Steven Wesley on the second team, and Marcus Robinson, Olivier Vernon and Dyron Dye behind them. How many ends will rotate? “Four for sure, and maybe more,” assistant Rick Petri said. Ojomo could beat out Smith.

At defensive tackle, Micanor Regis was “consistently dominant,” Ojomo said. “He could be an All-American if he keeps this up.” Petri said he also is “very happy” with Curtis Porter. Injured Marcus Forston and Josh Holmes “are critical,” Petri said; those four should be UM’s best tackles. Petri has made a difference; players rave about him.

Great comments about the defensive line and the fact that depth and talent are returning – it means Miami as a program is one step closer to returning. All past great Hurricane teams have had dominant defensive lines – something that’s been missing since the 2003 season. Who is the next Vince Wilfork or Jerome McDougle? Even if there has been the occasional standout, where have the other guys been? One dominant lineman will get doubled-teamed. You need four monsters out there creating havoc, while capable back ups are ready to go at a moment’s notice.

The addition of Rick Petri is huge in so many ways. Starting with Petri’s experience and resume, he’s a great addition and will make this a tougher bunch, while getting more out of the younger guys in a way that past coaches might not have.

Furthermore, another feather in Randy Shannon’s cap regarding the staff he’s building. When you look at 2007, it was an unproven first-year coach taking over a sticky situation. Not exactly an easy sell to assistants who rightfully wanted to see if Shannon was going to be around a few years.

Patrick Nix was Shannon’s fourth choice at offensive coordinator and Tim Walton was given a chance to prove he could run the defense. He couldn’t and was let go after one season. Nix lasted two years before Shannon pulled the plug.

The experienced Bill Young lasted one year before understandably heading back to his dream job at Oklahoma State. He was replaced by veteran John Lovett, while Mark Whipple got on board in the post-Nix era, turning the Miami offense around in one season. For all the new additions – both with player personnel and coaches – the Canes pulled out a 9-4 season (and a huge 3-1 start) with first-year offensive and defensive coordinators on staff, as well as a first-year starting quarterback.

The Whipple addition paid dividends in 2009 and the pick up of Petri should help this defense get to new levels in 2010.

As frustrating as it was to watch the offensive line manhandled against Wisconsin, equally as painful was a front seven that applied zero pressure on the Badgers’ quarterback or running backs.

If you want to help out your linebackers and secondary, it starts with a nasty defensive line. Petri knows that and will change the culture.

• Linebacker: Beyond Sean Spence (sharp all spring) and Colin McCarthy, questions linger. Coach Randy Shannon said improved Kylan Robinson is the third starter for now, but Shannon added he will open the competition in August, when Jordan Futch and Ramon Buchanan are healthy. McCarthy will move to the middle if Futch or Buchanan starts ahead of Robinson. Newcomer Tyrone Cornelius impressed Saturday but was inconsistent earlier; UM was disappointed with backups Shayon Green and C.J. Holton.

Who wants to bet that either Futch or Buchanan is starting at MLB by game two? Props to Robinson for making the most of this opportunity, but a former running back and journeyman seems more like a perennial back up than full time starter at such an important position.

As my cohort The Beast stated a few days back, the Robinson talk sounds like some motivational words from Shannon – something learned from Jimmy Johnson. Create competition. Build up hype.

Another thing that stands out is the depth at linebacker entering year four. The past few years, Miami hung its hopes on every recruit that came in, needing them to ball from day one. That’s no longer the case. When you have depth, you are afforded some recruiting ‘misses’. That’s not to say Green or Holton are ‘busts’ – but these days there are other capable players ready to step in if others take more time to develop. Not the case recently.

Hearing that Spence and McCarthy are ready is a blessing, too. 2/3 of the linebacking corps are set. Need to fill in one missing piece as opposed to three missing pieces, which was the case the past few years. More depth is huge, too… obviously.

• Defensive backs: Ray Ray Armstrong, who started Saturday and picked off two passes, “was up and down, not where we need him to be” this spring, Shannon said. He’s in a tight battle with Jamal Reid — not as good a tackler as Armstrong — for the safety job opposite Vaughn Telemaque. Armstrong must improve in “being disciplined with the eyes, being in the right spot,” defensive backs coach Wesley McGriff said. Telemaque, who’s studying tapes of Kenny Phillips, “really elevated his play,” McGriff said.

Starting cornerbacks Brandon Harris and DeMarcus Van Dyke are set, but Brandon McGee was beaten repeatedly Saturday; McGriff said “he’s got to learn to finish the play.” Injured Ryan Hill could be the nickel back.

Again I agree with Beast that Randy is trying to motivate, in this case, Armstrong. Reid is making strides, but I still have a hard time believing Ray Ray won’t be starting opposite Telemaque come fall. He got the experience last year and should take a huge step forward this season.

It’s old school Miami for coaches to motivate this way and Armstrong has the character Shannon believes he does (and recruited him for), he should answer the bell and work even harder this off-season.

Harris, VanDyke, Telemaque and Armstrong with capable back ups… Call me crazy, but is sounds like the Canes finally have a secondary again.

• Quarterback: A.J. Highsmith emerged as the front-runner to back up Jacory Harris. Spencer Whipple could be No. 3, allowing Stephen Morris to redshirt.

The quarterback position still needs to come along, but compared to where the Canes were at this time last year, there’s not as much of a “Jacory or Bust” mentality.

Some were critical last year when Taylor Cook and Cannon Smith left the program. While many blamed Shannon, again the onus is on Larry Coker (yup, still blaming the man) and the empty cupboard he left. Shannon never should’ve been in a position where he had four underclassmen quarterbacks on his roster.

Coker dropped the ball for years. Derek Shaw. Pat Devlin. Daniel Stegall. Nick Fanuzzi. Not only did all spurn UM, but none have proven much since – meaning there was some poor evaluation from the get go.

Harris has the ‘it’ factor and entering his junior season – year two as a starter – huge strides are expected. We saw it with Ken Dorsey, going next level in 2001 after a solid inaugural campaign in 2000. Dorsey obviously had more surrounding talent out the gate, but Harris should benefit from another year in Whipple’s system, new talent on the offensive line, experienced receivers and depth at running back.

Regarding a stable of back ups, it should also be noted that Dorsey never had much depth behind him – with Derrick Crudup and Troy Prasek holding it down. Had Dorsey gone down between 2000-2002, Miami would’ve been in hot water, just has the 2010 Canes will be if Harris goes down. (Look no further than Oklahoma without Sam Bradford last year or Texas in the title game after Colt McCoy was injured.)

Depth is a welcomed site, but you need your starting quarterback healthy if you’re going to make a run.

• Tailback: Damien Berry is the likely starter, but if three backs share carries, UM must decide whom to exclude from the group of Berry, Lamar Miller (recovering from a separated shoulder), Mike James, Storm Johnson and, perhaps, Graig Cooper. Cooper’s knee rehabilitation is ahead of schedule, running backs coach Mike Cassano said. Lee Chambers is a long shot. Does Miller need to play? “Yes,” Cassano said. “He’s a rocket ship. Defensive coordinators will hold their breath when he has the ball.”

Miami sports serious depth at running back – the most since 2001 when Clinton Portis, Frank Gore, Willis McGahee and Najeh Davenport were in the backfield.

Damien Berry, Mike James, Lamar Miller, Storm Johnson, Eduardo Clements, Lee Chambers and if healthy, Graig Cooper. Not a boatload of experience, but a ton of potential and upside. Berry proved his mettle last season while both James and Miller turned heads this spring.

The Canes’ ground game hasn’t packed a serious punch since Gore left town after the ’04 season. Harris will have the run support lacked last year and Miami should be an even bigger offensive threat this season than last.

• Fullback: Shannon has raved about Pat Hill’s blocking and said it was missed in the running game after an ankle injury ended his season after three games last year. John Calhoun has made strides as the backup.

Hill was missed last season and Calhoun is still an unknown. The fullback was an integral part of the offense years back. Quadtrine Hill and Talib Humphrey, most recently. Blocking aside, would love to see a pass-catching fullback as an extra weapon out there… but for now would settle for Hill’s blocking efforts, a la the 2008 season.

• Receiver: Tommy Streeter showed flashes early but faded late in his attempt to challenge starters Leonard Hankerson and LaRon Byrd and top backups Travis Benjamin and Aldarius Johnson. Slot receiver Kendal Thompkins impressed and is pushing Thearon Collier. “Kendal should be on the field. I can’t figure out for the life of me why he’s not,” departing cornerback Chavez Grant said.

Hankerson, Byrd, Benjamin and Johnson will be downright scary with another year under their belts. Capable back ups make this Miami’s deepest position by far.

Only knock here are the comments from Grant regarding Thompkins needing to be on the field. KT will get his chance, but is he any more deserving than Benjamin or Collier, two similar slot receiver types? If so, it hasn’t been proven yet. Making a push in spring is great, but will he be ready come fall?

Whipple has made some comments about Thompkins blocking not being up to speed, which is a logical reason he’d remain behind others on the depth chart.

Either way, for current or former players to voice their opinions on who deserves to play – it undermines the coaching staff. Wideouts need to be the complete package. It takes more than speed. Route running is key, as is blocking. Get the best four in the two-deep rotation and let the back ups work their way up the ladder.

• Tight end: Starter Richard Gordon (just four career receptions) had a solid spring and will be “a really good tight end,” assistant Joe Pannunzio said. Unsettled is whether Billy Sanders or junior college transfer Chase Ford, a summer arrival, will be the top backup; both are skilled receivers.

Hopefully Sanders or Ford can step up as the season progresses. Gordon has had a few years to make his presence felt and hasn’t done so.

In 2000 Ivan Mercer was “the guy” until mid-October when Jeremy Shockey rose up and caught the game-winner against Florida State. Ford is a JUCO transfer, so hopefully he picks it the playbook and climbs the depth chart or tight end could be a weak link for the ’10 Canes.

• Offensive line: Assistant Jeff Stoutland said Orlando Franklin is set at left tackle and Tyler Horn emerged at center, but three other jobs are open. Jermaine Johnson, who came on strong, must hold off Ben Jones at right tackle. Two starting guards should come from Joel Figueroa, Harland Gunn and Brandon Washington; Stoutland said Jared Wheeler also “put himself in the mix.”

The linchpin for the upcoming season; offensive line. Will it be addition by subtraction? Depth and experience are lost with Jason Fox, A.J. Trump and Matt Pipho moving on – but the position has been recruited well the past two seasons. Johnson, Jones, Gunn, Figueroa, Washington and Wheeler were all mentioned above, but the line goes deep. Orlando Franklin, Tyler Horn, Corey White and the mammoth Malcolm Bunche give Miami depth at a position that has been hurting since getting manhandled in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl.

A few years back Florida State found success with a freshman-heavy offensive line. Can Miami tap into that same magic? It better if this season is going to be a full-on success.

• FYI: Matt Bosher, who missed spring practice because of a shoulder injury reportedly sustained in a car accident, will return as punter/kicker. Jake Wieclaw improved his own previously shaky accuracy on field goals while filling in for Bosher this spring.

Bosher is Miami’s all everything… but it’s mindboggling that the Canes have struggled to find someone else to step up in the Shannon era. Always blows my mind when you see world class kickers at lesser programs, while big time teams sometimes struggle. Wieclaw needs to get up to speed so Bosher isn’t pulling double duty again.

Poor kicking will cost you – as the Canes saw last season when back up Alex Uribe sent one deep to C.J. Spiller before halftime, Miami giving up the 90-yard return to Clemson and eventually losing in overtime.

Time for the Canes to elevate their special teams as it’s cost them at least 1-2 games per year each of the past few seasons.

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