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2008 CFN Miami Preview |
2008 Miami Offense Preview
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2008 Miami Defense Preview
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2008 Miami Depth Chart
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2007 CFN Miami Preview |
2006 CFN Miami
Preview
Head coach: Randy Shannon
2nd year: 5-7
Returning Lettermen:
Off. 19, Def. 28, ST 1
Lettermen Lost: 21 |
Ten
Best Miami Players
1. RB Javarris James, Jr.
2. RB Graig Cooper, Soph.
3. LB Colin McCarthy, Jr.
4. DE Eric Moncur, Sr.
5. OT Jason Fox, Jr.
6. OT Reggie Youngblood, Sr.
7. DT Antonio Dixon, Sr.
8. LB Darryl Sharpton, Jr.
9. S Anthony Reddick, Sr.
10. WR Sam Shields, Jr. |
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2008 Schedule
CFN Prediction: COMING Aug. 28
Charleston Southern
Sept. 6 at Florida
Sept. 13 OPEN DATE
Sept. 20 at Texas A&M
Sept. 27 North Carolina
Oct. 4 Florida State
Oct. 11 UCF
Oct. 18 at Duke
Oct. 25 Wake Forest
Nov. 1 at Virginia
Nov. 8 OPEN DATE
Nov. 13 Virginia Tech
Nov. 20 at Georgia Tech
Nov. 29 at NC State
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2007 Schedule
CFN Prediction: 8-4
CFN Record: 5-7
Sept. 1
Marshall
W 31-3
Sept. 8 at
Oklahoma L 51-13
Sept. 15
FIU
W 23-9
Sept. 20
Texas A&M
W 34-17
Sept. 29
Duke
W 24-14
Oct.
6
at North Carolina
L 33-27
Oct.
13
Georgia Tech
L 17-14
Oct.
20 at
Florida State W 37-29
Nov.
3
NC State
L 19-16 OT
Nov.
10
Virginia
L 48-0
Nov.
17 at
Virginia Tech L 44-14
Nov. 24 at Boston Coll L 28-14 |
Head coach Randy Shannon got a mulligan for going 5-7 in his first
season, but the honeymoon is already over as he turns the corner and
begins heading into Year 2.
The Hurricanes need to develop a consistent playmaker at quarterback and
revamp the defense, two areas that never let the program down during the
glory days. Very few positions won’t be open to competition this
summer, as Miami begins to infuse parts of its last two recruiting
classes into the depth chart. Shannon built a fortress around Dade
County this past February, assembling one of the nation’s best hauls of
young talent, but now he and his staff need to prove they can coach as
well as they recruit.
Although this latest recruiting class has brought a spark and some rare
positive national pub back to the Miami program, it’s not likely to have
a profound impact on the Hurricanes’ win total in 2008. Shannon is
likely to get the ‘Canes back to the postseason, but with so much
uncertainty on both sides of the ball and a minefield of a schedule,
they’ll fall a little short of a Coastal Division
crown.
What to watch for on offense: The last time Miami started a
freshman under center, Bernie Kosar was a teenager on campus in the
1980s. It’ll happen again this year, as Robert Marve tries to reverse a
recent trend of inconsistency at quarterback and a last place ACC finish
in passing. He’ll be surrounded by 10 players with something to prove,
particularly RB Javarris James and WR Sam Shields. James is looking to
bounce back from an injury-riddled sophomore season and a drop in
production. Shields has a world-class blend of speed, burst, and
leaping ability, but needs to put it all together to finally reach his
enormous potential.
What to watch for on defense: The Cane defense will be looking to
rebound from a November collapse that saw it sink to an un-Miami-like 10th
place ACC finish in scoring D. While LB Colin McCarthy and DE Eric
Moncur will be the catalysts, new coordinator Bill Young will also be
weaving in a handful of younger players, including blue-chip true
freshmen Marcus Forston, Arthur Brown, and Sean Spence. Keep an eye on
sophomore DE Allen Bailey, a converted linebacker who has torn it up in
the offseason and possesses a ridiculous combination of size, speed, and
strength.
The team will be far better if… Marve doesn’t play like a
freshman. Heck, this is Quarterback U., and it’s about time Miami
starts playing like it. The defense will be better and the running game
is in good hands, but the Canes can’t afford another season averaging
just 169 yards a game through the air. The
burden falls on the rookie quarterback and a group of receivers that’s
been better in shorts than in pads.
The
Schedule:
The Canes will know just how much better they've gotten this off-season
in a big hurry. After a warm-up
against Charleston Southern, road dates at Florida and Texas A&M could
either set the tone for the season or show just how far the program
still has to go. On the flip side, the big Coastal showdown against
Virginia Tech is at home, missing Clemson and Boston College from the
Atlantic, and getting Florida State in Miami are all tremendous breaks.
Closing up with three road dates (Virginia, Georgia Tech and NC State)
in the final four, with the home game against the Hokies, isn't a plus.
Best
offensive player:
RB Javarris James. Although James had an off-year as a sophomore, some
of the blame goes to a nagging neck injury and suspect blocking up
front. Completely healthy again, he’s poised to return to his freshman
form, pounding between the tackles with ferocity and overpowering
defensive backs once he gets past the second line of defense. James
spent the past few months working on his speed, delivering the program’s
sixth fastest time in off-season testing.
Best defensive player: LB Colin McCarthy. In just his first season
as the starter at strongside, McCarthy established himself as the new
star of the Hurricane defense. The fastest of the linebackers, he
cranked out 74 tackles, a dozen tackles for loss, and two sacks, laying
the foundation for what’s going to be a breakthrough junior year.
Key player to a successful season: Marve. While he doesn’t have
to be Jim Kelly right out of the chute, the rookie does need to light a
spark under an offense that’s been slipping for years. If he gives
opponents a reason to respect his arm and legs, the backfield
combination of James and Graig Cooper will obliterate most ACC defenses.
The season will be a success if
... Miami returns to the postseason with no worse than an 8-4 record.
After going 5-7 with a talented team, moral victories will fall on deaf
ears this season. Even with a rookie quarterback, the ‘Canes have
enough talent to make last year look like an aberration. And the
schedule is going to cooperate. After brutal back-to-back road games at
Florida and Texas A&M, there isn’t a remaining game that’s not winnable.
Key game: Nov. 13 vs. Virginia Tech. In a drastically
watered-down Coastal Division, this meeting in Miami could decide who
plays in the ACC Championship game a few weeks later. The Hurricanes
got hammered by the Hokies last November, but that game was in
Blacksburg, and the programs were headed in different directions. A win
here could send a message that Miami is on its way to becoming one of
the league powerbrokers.
2007 Fun Stats
- Fourth quarter
scoring: Opponents 112 - Miami 61
- Third down conversions: Opponents 67 of 174 (39%) - Miami 61 of 167
(31%)
- Orange Bowl capacity: 72,319 - Miami average home attendance 43,576
(60% capacity)