What Role with Jacory Harris Play ?

Most people assume that Robert Marve will be the starting QB for the Hurricanes this year and for years to come. Marve is a pure passer whose High School career is among the best in state history. Marve will be a good QB at Miami erasing the legacy of Kyle Wright whose recruitment to Miami was supposed to erase the blight Brock Berlin left on the Miami QB tradition. However when comparing Berlin and Wright, the chief difference was Berlin's guts and his willingness to sacrifice himself for the team. Robert Marve hopefully will return these qualities for the Hurricanes. Many forget but in his senior season as some fans were calling for Freshman Wright to play, Brock Berlin threw 22 touchdown passes and only 6 interceptions.

Two years ago Rich Olson and Larry Coker claimed to have developed a package of plays for Kirby Freeman to take advantage of Freeman's running ability. However this package never seemed to be implemented until Kyle Wright was playing so badly that Freeman was essentially allowed to audition for the starting job. With Harris playing well in scrimmages and adding a dimension in terms of mobility and flair that Marve lacks, will Pat Nix and Randy Shannon develop a package of plays which gives Harris several snaps a game?

I think working Harris into the offense could be a key this year. Virginia Tech has effectively juggled two different style QBs last season while Florida State struggled. Florida won a national championship working in a package for Tim Tebow while not threatening Chris Leak's starting position. (except by some drunk typical Gator fans at home games who booed Leak). Unlike some College programs Miami has always been reluctant to shuffle QBs. When Dennis Erickson decided in 1991 to start Gino Toretta over Brian Fortay, the later transferred and decided to sue the school. At the very same time many Miami opponents shuffled Quarterbacks effectively.

If done right this partnership can be a four year one for the Hurricanes. The reluctance to flip between QBs at UM owes itself to the pro style offense and the almost NFL like setup at the "U." However as times change and the Canes struggle to rebuild innovation and taking advantage of the talent at our disposal will be key. I like the idea of using Harris in his own package.