This is getting kind of old: Miami comes out against a seemingly over matched opponent and takes its foot off the gas pedal after a good start. Two weeks ago we outlined all the times this has happened in ACC Play since 2006, but today it happened against a bottom feeder from C-USA. The same team that was trounced two weeks ago in El Paso by UTEP came within a few questionable officials calls of beating Miami. Three blown calls by the officials handed this game to the Canes.
- Early in the 4th quarter Matt Bosher punted out of his endzone. You won't see a more obvious hold by one of the Miami blockers in the endzone. By rule that is a safety but the official missed the call.
- Later Joe Burnett was credited with a fumble and Sam Shields with a recovery. However Burnett very clearly did not handle the ball. The trajectory of the ball never changed. However Sam Shields deserves credit for having such an impact on special teams a week after being blamed by his head coach for losing a game where the defense gave up 41 points. Sheilds was not used on offense this week.
- On the 4th down play where Miami stopped UCF, Daryl Sharpton clearly got to the receiver and touched him early. That is pass interference.
Anyhow, these calls did not go UCF's way and Miami was gifted an undeserved victory. Even more disturbing was the play of UCF's QBs. Michael Greco and Anthony Calabrese both had horrible days. But as we saw last week against SMU and a few weeks ago against a USF team that would probably crush Miami, both these QBs can play very well at times. So basically Miami caught UCF on a day where both of their dual threat QBs had an off day and still needed some luck to win. That is a very bad sign.
The Canes return to ACC play next week in Durham. I can guarantee you Thaddeus Lewis will not miss all the open receivers Greco and Calabrese did today. A similar performance from Miami even on the defensive side of the football against Duke is sure to result in disaster. Virginia crushed East Carolina today and it seems like Al Groh's ability to platoon three solid running backs is the type of thing that will probably result in Miami being bombed in Charlottesville. The Hurricanes have the misfortune of not facing either Clemson, equally inept as Miami, or a weakened Boston College team this year. The schedule is tough from here on out, and it is possible Miami will not win another game.
Offensively, Travis Benjamin's breakout performance seemingly lulled both Pat Nix and Robert Marve into a sense of complacency. Not having any other real game breaking threats they tried every conceivable way to force the ball into Benjamin's hands, and often times Marve didn't even look off the other receivers. Both Robert Marve and Jacory Harris looked like marginal Division One QBs today. Marve was simply having a bad day but Harris is awkward and simply not able to make plays unless blocking schemes are perfect and he has a lot of time to throw the ball. I believe Randy Shannon's continued insistence on playing Harris could result in Shannon's eventual termination: the issues around when Harris plays and how he performs are so obvious to any observer it is getting tougher and tougher to defend the coaches who force him to get several series a game. Even more strange today was the decision on 3rd and long with UCF having one remaining timeouts to throw the football, and Harris took a sack. Pat Nix was unfairly criticized by those know nothings on talk radio two weeks ago when forcing UNC to blow all their timeouts. It was not Pat Nix who allowed North Carolina to go down the field and score a winning TD with :46 seconds remaining. Today Nix showed once again he coaches scared and to satisfy loudmouth critics by calling a passing play with a backup QB in that situation. Harris being sacked may have actually been a lucky break as UCF blew their last timeout.
Even in the best of times Miami struggled with lesser opponents. It was always a question of motivation. I recall needing a late game TD to beat East Carolina in 1983 and stay on track for a shot at the national title. I recall struggling against Toledo at home in 1987 the week before we faced Notre Dame, who we shut out. I recall a struggle against Tulsa in 1988 the week before we went to Baton Rogue and killed the SEC Champion LSU Tigers 44-3. I recall struggles against Troy and Temple in 2001 and against Rutgers in 2002. What makes this different is that this Miami team performs this way week in and week out. It's not simply a lack a temporary of focus or looking ahead. It's a disgraceful pattern of indifference to the game which Miami's players and quite possibly the coaches have developed. And yes, it is unacceptable.
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I don't agree on all those calls but this performance was horrible in every way possible.
Shannon is like this jerk who led Lehman Brothers. He won't accept any blame, throws his plays consistently under the bus and cries a river about the problems. He ought to be fired Mopnday.
Listen. I am not the biggest Nix supporter but I am starting to see why he did not open the offense up at all in the first couple of challenging games. We almost had like five straight pass attempts picked off (and three were). Sure the mind-numbing one yard passes over and over lacked creativity (some 3-5 yarders could have been mixed in) but holy cow it was scary watching almost every ball getting picked off for a while today.
As for the choice of QB, it is very clear to me that Jacory knows how to distribute the ball to his playmakers and his height and cool head enable him to see his options better. He also throws a more catchable ball with touch on it (as opposed to firing bullets every time). Jacory also eludes the rush effectively and can run effectively. Plus he wins. You may say he didn't do much but you have to admit the margin of victory increased significantly while he was in (ignore the kick return by UCF for a TD). Jacory is a winner and will consistently get the job done. I like Marve but he has: (1) been struggling and (2) a 1-3 record. We need wins to build some momentum and assist our recruiting. Jacory should start at least the next couple of games.
Yeah it just slipped between his hands and his body without touching anything. For all the wise things you say you can say some pretty idiotic things too. That was a fumble 99.9% of the time. Why would this be any different?
Shannon is the problem. Not Coker. Not Nix. Not Young. Not Marve. Not Harris. Not the refs.
It's Shannon and the sooner you realize that the better.
I guess a win is a win. I think I would have loved to see a more complete game. Marve is pressing. They should stick with him a little longer. See if he works it out. A lot of very poor throws. Forced in triple coverage on a couple of occasions but he is trying to make a play.
Kartik, simple question.
ARE YOU GOING TO WRITE ANOTHER STUPID POST ABOUT SUPPORTING RANDY SHANNON AGAIN THIS WEEK?
Nix is coaching scared. Scared of the media and scared of being fired as the scapegoat for the incompetent boss he has: Randy Shannon.
UCF took Texas to the brink last season and won their conference. Two years ago we had a similar close call against Houston from C-USA, and they ended up winning nine games. You said yourself that UCF almost beat USF. USF is the best team in the state IMHO, so get off your high horse. It's not like UCF is FIU or even Toledo.
I've come to accept that this is not a very good team. I didn't even get that upset while watching that pathetic display on Offense. Clearly this team has lost its confidence. I expected Miami to struggle at times because they are a young team, but I never expected this level of ineptitude. UCF is really bad so what does it say about Miami to nearly lose this game?
Obviously, both the players and coaches bear responsibility for this season going south. However, I just can't help but think this coaching staff just isn't very good. On Offense, Nix repeatedly calls the same screens and 5 yard routes over and over again. There is no imagination with the passing game and teams are sitting on the short stuff. Defenses watch film and know exactly what Miami is going to do. In the 2nd half, UCF was all over every screen play because they knew what was coming. The O-line was also really bad for the 2nd straight game. Pathetic.
The Defense played well yesterday, but that had more to do with UCF's awful QBs. Our D-line isn't very good and our secondary really stinks.
I'm willing to give Shannon a chance to win with his players, but I'm beginning to doubt whether he and this staff are capable of fielding a championship team. Doesn't look good right now.
I love how Nix gets the blame for our QBs throwing Benjamin's way. Except for that one play where Benjamin was the only receiver out there and we threw that bomb to him, there were other guys on the field. I guarantee the plays aren't called "throw to Benjamin"...the QBs have a progression of reads and they throw to who is open (or think is open). Benjamin was open and getting separation from the defenders...that's why he was getting targets and getting the ball. Benjamin is stupid fast and was burning his defenders on 90% of the plays. You can't fault our OC for AJ not getting open or separation. Nix deserves plenty of blame, but this isn't one of them. AJ, TC, LB, DJ, JM and all the other stud freshmen WRs are simply not getting the job done. Right now we have one playmaker. Kartik wants to blame both Nix and Marve but it is more on Marve and Harris than the OC.
Good job surviving UCF
Demps and Rainey would be the best players on Miami.
Not a single Miami player would even get a scholarship at florida.
The fact FSU gave up 39 points to U tells me how weak they are also.
Suck being U doesn't it?
The Gators have the most talent in the nation and right now are the best team in the nation hands down. Nobody can play with us when we are on.
I think the officials actually favored UCF. A win is a win and we'll take it. Would you rather be 2-4?
Too bad we don't play Michigan.
RM = KW
JH = KF
In other words we suck!
Jacory is a winner and will consistently get the job done. I like Marve but he has: (1) been struggling and (2) a 1-3 record. We need wins to build some momentum and assist our recruiting. Jacory should start at least the next couple of games.
Jacory starting on the road for the first time next week would likely force us to narrow our playbook down much like Nix did in the Swamp. No Duke is not Florida, but its still a league game on the raod against a team who has the parts to beat us. I wouldn't risk it yet. If we lose the next two games and are 0-4 in the ACC, I consider giving Harris the rest of the season
Nix is coaching scared. Scared of the media and scared of being fired as the scapegoat for the incompetent boss he has: Randy Shannon.
Nix's inconsistency as a coordinator bothers me. One week we are a power running team, the next week we are flinging the ball deep the first three plays. That having been said he doesn't exactly have tons of talent to work with.
The fact FSU gave up 39 points to U tells me how weak they are also.
FSU had 34 points after 3 quarters AT MIAMI. Florida has 9 on Miami at home after 3 quarters.
I think FSU is better than Florida from a talent standpoint this year. It is the coaching that gets in the way. LSU this year is weak- they barely beat an Auburn team that is going to struggle to get to 6-6.
Suck being U doesn't it?
I'll take our 5 titles and play anyone anywhere attitude over 2 titles and never leave the state for a non league attitude anyday.
The Gators have the most talent in the nation and right now are the best team in the nation hands down. Nobody can play with us when we are on.
Well you certainly weren't on against Ole Miss, who is 1-11 in their last 12 SEC games.
I think believe it or not FSU has the most talent in the country right now. Some of it is very young like their O-line and they still suffer from having a dysfunctional coaching staff. Give the Noles till 2010. I think they'll win the ACC and be back in the national title hunt by then.
Too bad we don't play Michigan.
They'd beat us. All the misdirection in Rich Rod's offense caused us trouble from 2001-2003 when we were at our height and WVU was still building up. We just don't match up well with teams that don't run a typical pro style attack.
Kartik you have no business covering this team.
Did you play for Miami? I did. How about all these posters. Did they play for Miami? No they did not but I did.
This team is getting close.
It is scary how much talent we have right now.
What a gut check last night to hold on to that win.
We have so many great players and a great staff to boot.
Randy Shannon is one of the great coaches in America plain and simple.
He is able to make players reach for the stars and realize their full potential not only as football players but as men.
These are great times at the U. We have a sick amount of talent and as we proved yesterday we are back!
Really amazes me that folks cannot see that we are rapidly re-loading with some very high quality talent. You can already see that last year's class is and will be amazing -- last year's class is far, far from being loaded with overhyped players. If you are following recruiting this year, you will see that we are going to bring in a lot more explosive players.
Coaching is important but if we continue to recruit this way, we will be out-athleting other teams in short order (1-2 years).
Yes the play design on offense and execution needs to be enhanced so that every play called has a better chance to succeed and yes Randy needs to have someone make him a chart showing when to go for 2, but please quit knocking Randy as he is probably one of our best shots ever to have a coach that will consistently dominate and stick around for a long time.
I am very excited about the direction of our program. In Randy I trust....
Let's face it. You need a solid QB to make the offense look good. Without Tom Brady the Patriots lost to Miami. Did the whole team and OC just not develop since he left? Sorry, but Marve had three TOs yesterday. Most teams lose from that. I think Nix has to go back to the game plan he had against UF. Forget about the 40 yard bombs. Focus on the 7-10 yard plays. Play low risk passing. Don't let Marve or Harris lose the game for us. Then occasionally go for the big plays. Nix's ball control first plan kept us in a game against Florida. His going for the jugular had us blown out against FSU and almost beaten by UCF. Time to go back to the safe stuff.
Is Travis the only WR who can get open? I hope not b/c he cant do everything KR
PR and be the go to guy at WR. I think streeter gives you another play maker on the
field who can run. Aldarius is a possession WR i don't expect him to run 9 routes for
80 yards. I want to see him over the middle get hit and hold on to the ball. That
what i expected out of him not saying he's slow just not great speed. Route running
can get you separation as well. He's a fresh a doubt he's learn everything there is to
know about route running just yet. So its gonna be hard for him to get separation
with average speed at this level. But what he can do is use his body against smaller
DB'S.
Is Travis the only WR who can get open? I hope not b/c he cant do everything KR
He's the only legitimate play maker on the team on either side of the ball, so yeah. We are a bad team with one really outstanding player who will likely eventually wear down from all the work and the season injured.
Don Bailey Jr. is a funny guy. but not as funny as the real Don Bailey Jr. I hear on WQAM.
Joe Z is amazing. He is so much less critical of UM Football on the broadcasts than Basketball. I think that is because the UM coaches like Haith are simply more honest about the situation with certain players and team and as the broadcaster Joe Z reflects that honesty in his in game calls.
In Basketball this year we are trying to win the ACC, while in Football this year we are trying to win a single game in the ACC. Maybe that is why Joe Z approaches the two sports differently.
I think we know Duke is going to be tough. Very tough. But look at it this way: Young is going up against the best offensive mind he'll face all year in Cutcliffe. If the Defense plays well it likely will be a confidence boost for the rest of the year. This is a huge game. A win and we can sniff a bowl. A loss and our season is basically done. Can you believe Duke is a huge game? We have to just accept it and be ready.
While I am totally disgusted by what we have seen, a simple road win in the league this week at Duke who crushed UVA in their previous ACC home game can solve a lot.
I tend to agree on Nix. I think our QBs are so inept and clueless down the field that he has fallen in love with bubble screens and other ways to get the ball to TB and other so called playmakers.
With Baby J back I believe we will revert to power running mentality and that should help the team.
I think there is a coaching problem here. You look at some of the coaches who took over programs over the last few years. Butch up at USC, Satan at Bama, fill in the blank at Minnesota, Houston Nutt at Ole Miss, even David Cutcliff at Duke. All these guys have at least shown SOME improvement over the last few games/season and a half. After watching our guys the last few weeks, it almost seems like the team is taking a step BACKWARDS. Trust me I am all about giving the coaching staff the benefit of the doubt when it comes to a young team and loosing to better competition. But to watch a team that can't convert on 3rd downs. GIVE UP A OFFSIDE PLAY AND THEN GIVE UP A TD ON A KICKOFF!!! This team seems to grab the lead and loose the killer instinct; And I believe part of that is due to coaching. Im talking the X's and O's. Dialing up plays both offensively and defensively that make the other team adjust to you not you adjust to them.
Up until we had Coker and Shannon the coaches we brought in here were had previous head coaching exp. The other part to it was they were up and comers. I know Butch Davis was a coordinator but he is the exception. I will support the team no matter what but I would hate to see the team little by little drift into obscurity because of some bad coaching. These guys need to start putting the team into positions to win and then win; not take the lead, loose and say "we are young" "so and so blew his assignment" etc...
Both sides of the ball dont have any identity. Where is the "zone blitzing" I have been hearing so much about. What would you call the offense; Pro-style, spread, and for christ sakes STOP RUNNING THAT BS WR SCREEN, especially on 3rd down!!! Hopefully we will see some improvement as the year goes on, that is all we can hope for.
PS can anybody else confirm that after the game yesterday they had 17 guys now injured and missing playing time? I think that is what the announcer said during the broadcast on ESPNU.
We are one 1st Choice coach away from having a winning regular season.
I wish we would have never left the Big Easy, life was so much more simple back then.
No conference title games, no competition, and our QBs were actually in the Top 100 in the country........ any other reasons?
This is the low point.
It does not get any lower than this.
This is disconcerting. People calling for Jacory Harris because of one bad performance by Robert Marve?
Is he pressing? Yes. Should he be? Yes.
He understands that mediocrity is not going to tame the alums, the fans, the writers or the booster clubs. He has the knowledge that "Win now, and we are in good shape later."
That's what the other players, and this coaching staff, don't seem to understand.
Offensive coordinator Patrick Nix needs to pick a path with the offense and stick with it. Like Kartik implied, the Hurricanes cannot be a power-running team one week and a spread-offense team the next. I think the West-Coast Offense would work well here, even if the tight ends aren't what they used to be.
Has Nix forgotten that you have to establish the run to set up the pass? You establish the run with Graig Cooper, Baby J or Derron Thomas, and there's a ton of other things you can do from there.
However, and I can't believe I'm saying this, Nix was right in trying to spread the ball around in the air to start the game. You don't want to be too predictable. You want to keep defenses and coaches on the opposing sideline guessing as much as possible.
Sam Shields deserved to be benched Saturday from the offense. The message from Randy Shannon: "Wake up, kid, or you won't play another snap on offense." Much needed to show him that just because he's on scholarship doesn't necessarily mean that you will be treated like a God. And guess what? It worked, with Shields standing out on special teams.
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