ACC Blogger Football Preview Countdown – Coastal #3: Miami

Posted by Brandon Rink on July 5, 2010 under ACC Football | Comments are off for this article

With expectations high, the pressure is on in Coral Gables…can Miami perform?

Projected Record: 8-4 (5-3 ACC)
Returning Starters: 16 (6 on offense and 8 on defense; 2 on special teams)
Schedule Difficulty in ACC: First.
Offense Rides On… Jacory Harris’ hand. Miami’s in trouble if the hand Harris had off-season surgery on doesn’t fully heal (or he reinjures it).
Defensive Deficiency: Middle linebacker. Canes will be breaking in a new MLB with senior Kylan Robinson.
Keyword: Protection – Miami was 100^th in the nation in sacks allowed, and for better or worse, are losing 3 starters from that offensive line. As defenses started to catch on to Whipple’s scheme, Harris had to force balls into tight spots with how little protection he had.

Position by Position Grades (2009 Stats)

QB: B+
MVP: Jacory Harris (3,352 yards/24 TDs/17 INTs)
Gotta Step-Up: Jacory Harris

RB: B+
MVP: Damien Berry (616 rushing yards and 8 TDs)
Gotta Step-Up: Mike James (46 yards and a TD)

WR/TE: A
MVP: Leonard Hankerson (801 yards and 6 TDs)
Gotta Step-Up: LaRon Byrd (460 receiving yards and a TD)

OL: C
MVP: LT Orlando Franklin
Gotta Step-Up: C Tyler Horn

DL: B+
MVP: DE Allen Bailey (7 sacks and 11 tackles for loss)
Gotta Step-Up: DT Josh Holmes (22 tackles and 1 sack)

LB: B-
MVP: Colin McCarthy (95 tackles and 9 for loss)
Gotta Step-Up: Sean Spence (36 tackles and 5 for loss)

Sec: B
MVP: DB DeMarcus Van Dyke (30 tackles and 1 INT)
Gotta Step-Up: Vaughn Telemaque (48 tackles)

K/P: A
MVP: Matt Bosher (14/16 on FGs – 9/10 from 30+)
Gotta Step-Up: Matt Bosher

Schedule Analysis + W/Ls

DATE	OPPONENT	W/L
9/02	Florida A&M	W 49-13
9/11	@ Ohio State	L 28-16
9/23	@ Pittsburgh	W 27-24
10/02	@ Clemson	L 28-20
10/09	Florida State	W 38-31
10/16	@ Duke	W 27-17
10/23	North Carolina	W 21-17
10/30	@ Virginia	L 23-21
11/06	Maryland	W 42-24
11/13	@ Georgia Tech	L 35-27
11/20	Virginia Tech	W 24-20
11/27	South Florida	W 38-21

Bye Week: Before Clemson, October 2.
Toughest Game: at Ohio State, September 11.
Key Conference Game: Florida State, October 9.
Season Hinges on… at Georgia Tech, November 11

The Why…

Why Third?: I’m skeptical about the Miami run for the ACC this season – I see talent  all over the place, but can the Canes use the talent effectively? The Hurricanes appeared to turn a corner by jumping out to 5-1 start with games at Florida State and Virginia Tech – the Sooners and Jackets coming to them, but later in the year, Harris began throwing as many INTs as TDs en route to a solid 9-4 season that could have been so much more. In short, last year appears to be Miami’s ceiling to my eyes, and with a beefed-up schedule, that means a few more games go the other way.

Could be higher if… The Hurricanes defense becomes dominant. A good defense can take a team places – a great defense can win an ACC Championship. If Miami’s D comes to play game in-game out, cue the evacuation warnings for offenses across the ACC.

Could be lower if… Bad Jacory Harris shows up with arm-punts for INTs and loads of sacks, the Miami running game has trouble getting going, and the ‘Canes defense can’t hold what leads they do get throughout the season.

Will Miami finish in the middle again – or is this the year “the U” takes the ACC crown finally? Discuss in the comments…

Previews So far…

Atlantic #3: Clemson
Coastal #4: UNC