Today at Hard Rock Stadium your Miami Hurricanes face the Michigan State Spartans in a critical early season matchup.
If Miami is to make something special of the 2021 college football season it starts today at noon.
We think they can and they will.
That is all we have to say about that.
Canespace Prediction: Hurricanes 34 - Spartans 13
There was a day not to long ago when former University of Miami football players who previously played on Saturdays ruled the NFL fields on Sundays. First round draft picks from UM were so commonplace they set many records.
It seemed every game you watched there was another Miami Hurricane "Legend of the Fall" running, catching and scoring or intercepting, blocking or tackling the other team. In fact, the league was often referred to as NFLU.
Today there are far fewer former 'Canes in the NFL, but still, there is a solid representation across the league and on TV. This past week these were the leaders in performance, productivity and stats in the NFL (from ProCanes).
We all know that Alabama showed The University of Miami football team what it looks like to play the game we call "football" in Atlanta.
Sure, we all saw that "Roll Tide" demonstrated how to be aggressive and how to execute the fundamentals of the game such as blocking, tackling, running, passing and scoring. Apparently, they call it football.
Miami demonstrated how not to play the game. They played scared, confused and conservative in the game and never competed. They missed tackles, they dropped passes and got worn down like an old tire.
What we saw was Advantage Alabama.
Now, your Miami Hurricanes face off against Appalachian State in a home game at Hard Rock Stadium. So if there is a rebound game for the Bama loss, App State may be the cure for that. Or, maybe not, we do not know.
We say Miami wins 34-13.
Are you ready for some football?
OK, that's a dumb question, of course you are!
Well for your entertainment pleasure we have a great start to the 2021 college football season when your Miami Hurricanes meet the Alabama Crimson Tide in Atlanta on Saturday at 3:30.
Can Miami compete with Alabama? Well, Vegas says no.
They have the Hurricanes as 20 point underdogs. They sat Miami will score less than 21 points. We say bulls#%@!
Miami fans remember times when they were huge underdogs to Nebraska in 1983. How did that turn out?
In our humble opinion, this game will come down to the fact of IF Miami can outscore the very talented "roll tide" crew.
UM QB King will need to rule the game, and the stadium, for the Canes to win.
We think he will and Miami will win easily.
Canespace Prediction: Miami 34 - Bama 13.
It was, for the Miami Hurricanes, one last preseason test of sorts.
With two weeks of practice and one scrimmage already behind them, the Hurricanes took the field Saturday for their final scrimmage of camp – one players know coaches will study closely as Miami shifts gears and begins game preparations for its Sept. 4 opener against Alabama.
As one might expect, several Hurricanes found ways to deliver, whether they made a key play to extend an eventual scoring drive or whether they got behind the line of scrimmage to stop a quarterback in his tracks.
For head coach Manny Diaz, though, one group clearly had the edge.
“I saw improvement from scrimmage one, which is what you would’ve expected,” Diaz said. “[Quarterback] D’Eriq [King] got us going again offensively [with] an explosive play and a touchdown drive to get things going. But the night belonged to the defense. From start to finish, the [No.] 1 defense was pretty dominant tonight.”
Here, some additional notes on how Miami’s defense performed Saturday and other things the Hurricanes can take from their final scrimmage of camp.
1. The defensive line was disruptive
More than a few members of Miami’s defensive line made their presence known Saturday.
For the second straight scrimmage, linebacker-turned-defensive-end Zach McCloud recorded a sack, as did fellow ends Elijah Roberts and Deandre Johnson. Defensive tackle Nesta Jade Silvera notched a sack, too.
The group – and the rest of the defensive front – kept a steady pressure on Miami’s trio of quarterbacks and, in Diaz’s opinion, showed improvement from last week’s scrimmage.
“I thought our defensive line was excellent. Very disruptive,” Diaz said. “Silvera had a sack. McCloud had a sack, Elijah Roberts had a sack. Deandre Johnson had a sack. I thought [linebacker] Corey Flagg had a great scrimmage. [Linebacker] Keontra Smith [had] a PBU and a bunch of tackles. [Linebacker] Waynmon Steed had four tackles. [They] did some really good things. They made themselves hard to run the ball…[and] put the offense in some long yard situations where you could get in some pressure situations.”
2. Miami’s tackling overall was improved
It wasn’t just the defensive front that earned praise from Diaz.
Several of Miami’s strikers and defensive backs recorded multiple tackles on Saturday and that, the coach said, was also key after last week’s scrimmage.
https://miamihurricanes.com/news/2021/08/22/football-takeaways-from-miamis-final-scrimmage-of-camp/
After a little more than a week of workouts on Greentree, Sunday marked one of the first significant tests of preseason camp for the Hurricanes: a scrimmage.
Full pads were donned. Big plays were made. And, Miami head coach Manny Diaz said, his players had an opportunity to compete in an environment a bit more similar to the ones they’ll face on Saturdays this fall.
And for one player in particular, the scrimmage was especially significant.
“Guys played hard, but the story is it’s great to see D’Eriq King,” Diaz said of Miami’s veteran quarterback, who continues working his way back from a knee injury suffered in last season’s finale. “I thought he was phenomenal running the offense…Guy’s a tough guy to defend.”
Here, some additional notes on King’s performance, along with some of what the Hurricanes can take from their first scrimmage of the 2021 season as they move into the second week of camp.
1. King takes another step forward
Since tearing his ACL last December, King – Miami’s unquestioned leader on and off the field – has made it clear he had every intention of being ready to play in the Hurricanes’ season opener against Alabama on Sept. 4.
After seven months of intense rehabilitative work, King led the Hurricanes through offensive drills when Miami opened camp earlier this month. Sunday, he took another step forward in his recovery, participating in his first scrimmage since getting hurt
It was a performance that, of course, energized teammates and coaches – and had the quarterback himself smiling.
“It was a good feeling to get back out there in like a real-game situation,” King said. “I felt pretty good…I was so happy driving here today to do the scrimmage, first time we were really live, guys were taken to the ground. We had referees out here. It was a real-game situation. Everything felt good and I felt comfortable again. It’s a really good feeling.”
2. The receivers stepped up
King and the rest of Miami’s quarterbacks had plenty of help Sunday from more than a few of their playmakers, including some of the newest faces in the Hurricanes receivers room.
Freshman Jacolby George had a big night, catching seven passes for 127 yards with a touchdown, while fellow freshman Romello Brinson had four catches for 73 yards.
Charleston Rambo, a transfer from Oklahoma, had one of the biggest plays of the night, a one-handed 27-yard touchdown grab that elicited plenty of cheering from the offense. He finished with 60 receiving yards on the night.
“It was spread out throughout a lot of numbers,” Diaz said of the receivers’ productivity. “Charleston Rambo had a touchdown catch, 60 yards receiving, a beautiful catch in the end zone. Jacolby George, [one of] the young guys, seven [catches] for 127 [yards] with a touchdown on a slant. Romello Brinson four [catches] for 73 [yards]. Good to see Pope, three [catches] for 56 [yards]. Brashard [Smith] had a couple catches for 30 [yards] as well and it wouldn’t be a scrimmage without [Xavier] Restrepo making five catches. The guy does it every time we scrimmage.”
Added King of the receivers, “I love those guys. They make plays every day in practice. To come out here in a real-game setting and see them make plays, it’s really encouraging. I’m proud of them. I’m happy for them.”
Read More Here: https://miamihurricanes.com/news/2021/08/16/football-takeaways-from-miamis-first-scrimmage-of-camp/
There were moments, rare though they may have been, when D’Eriq King couldn’t help but wonder if he’d really, truly be ready for the start of Miami’s new season.
When the MRI revealed he’d torn his ACL in late December. When he was unable to walk after surgery. When he relied on crutches to help him move. When doctors and physical therapists told him it wasn’t time for him to run just yet.
But anytime the questions and doubt crept in, King did his best to refocus.
He’d gather his thoughts, put his head down and find a way to hit the next benchmark in his rehabilitation process. Now, less than eight months removed from a knee injury that left him devastated, the quarterback is ready to get back on Greentree.
He’ll have his opportunity Friday evening when the Hurricanes finally open preseason camp.
“I’ve been working my butt off all summer. I didn’t really have any weeks off. I’ve just been trying to rehab and do the best I can,” King said Wednesday. “I’m still taking it day-by-day. A lot of people don’t understand the rehab process isn’t going to end before camp starts. It’s literally going to be all year…It’s going to be a long process, but I feel awesome right now. I’m ready to go.”
That’s news teammates, coaches and Miami’s fans are, understandably, excited to hear.
“I want to see him get back to what he loves, but we’ve also seen, inside the program, the work he’s put in since his surgery and what he’s done in his rehab. You can’t forget that,” said Hurricanes head coach Manny Diaz. “When our fans get to watch him play, you’ll get to see the end product, but every step along the way, all he’s done to get back on the field, he’s been relentless. I couldn’t be more proud of him.”
Last fall, King – a transfer from Houston – wasted little time in emerging as one of Miami’s leaders on and off the field.
He helped engineer comeback wins against both North Carolina State and Virginia Tech. He dazzled in both Miami’s 52-10 win over rival Florida State and the Hurricanes’ top-20 road win at Louisville.
King finished the year completing 64 percent of his passes, throwing for 2,686 yards and 23 touchdowns, while rushing for another 538 yards and four more scores.
He announced just before Miami’s Cheez-it Bowl matchup against Oklahoma State that he would take advantage of the extra year of eligibility granted to student-athletes because of the COVID-19 pandemic and excitement for the 2021 season began brewing quickly.
But with 4:06 left in the first half of that game, everything changed.
Read more here:
https://miamihurricanes.com/news/2021/08/04/football-king-ready-to-start/
On one field, Michael Irvin and Lamar Thomas demonstrated how to run routes. On another, Joaquin Gonzalez and Brett Romberg led offensive linemen through drills. Clearly, these current and former UM players were in paradise.
And at one point in the evening, as young football players milled about, Calais Campbell pulled Greg Rousseau to the side and showed him some of the moves that helped him earn the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year award in 2017. Soon after, Jaelan Phillips joined the conversation.
On Saturday night, nearly two dozen former Hurricanes football stars returned to the Carol Soffer Indoor Practice Facility and the Greentree Practice Fields to participate in one of the more well-known events hosted by the Miami program: Paradise Camp.
For many of them, whether they are an NFL Hall of Famer or a alum still playing in the league, the opportunity to be part of Paradise Camp was a no-brainer, their chance to give back to the program they believe changed their lives.
“You come to The U and you’ll always have support. It’s a deep thing. You will always have support,” Irvin said. “All of us showing up all the time, it’s important to show whatever kid is thinking about coming here…we want them to know, right here, buddy, you will always have that support and I think that’s very important…It’s not like a family. We are a family.”
Added Gonzalez, “Any excuse to come back to Coral Gables, even though I live in Miami, is always welcome. It’s always awesome. To do it under these circumstances, such a beautiful backdrop, all about football and talk to the younger generations, to me, I thoroughly enjoy it, maybe more than the kids do. It’s an opportunity.”
Irvin, the Hall of Fame receiver who has been at several past Paradise Camps, helped kick off the evening’s festivities by addressing a large crowd that included approximately 300 campers, their families and high school coaches.
Behind him, Miami head coach Manny Diaz smiled and an awe-inspiring group of Hurricanes nodded along as Irvin spoke. Among them were Edgerrin James, Lamar Thomas, David Njoku, Calais Campbell, Trent Harris, Ufomba Kamalu, Jon Beason, Sean Spence, Antrel Rolle, Duane Starks, Deon Bush, Kenny Phillips, Sheldrick Redwine, Brian Monroe, Javarris James, Lamar Miller and K.J. Osborn.
Also there were the three newest members of the Hurricanes’ NFL fraternity, Jaelan Phillips and Greg Rousseau, who were both first-round picks in this year’s draft and kicker Jose Borregales, who signed a free agent contract with the Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
While past Paradise Camp events have primarily featured Miami greats who have already completed their careers, Diaz felt it was important to make sure Hurricanes currently still playing in the NFL could share their perspective with the campers in attendance.
“It’s really neat. It’s fun to have them share the stories of their first minicamps and things like that,” Diaz said. “The alumni that were here in the 80s, 90s and early 2000s are awesome. But I do think it’s important that our recent alumni feel that you don’t have to be 20 years removed to have the pride of the program. To see guys like K.J. Osborn, [Sheldrick] Redwine, Trent Harris here…the more we can do that, the better we all are.”
During my time running this crazy blog I have met some pretty interesting and serious people. And one of those people is my friend Harry Miller.
He recently visited Central Florida where we reunited to celebrate our Canespace friendship. Needless to say a good time was had by all.
Of all the bloggers I have met, and there are many, few are more impressive, experienced or well traveled as my good friend Harry Miller. This guy has been there and done that many, many times. He is the Clint Eastwood of Canespace.
If you could spend four hours with Miller he could spin you some stories that would impress. From growing strawberries in South Florida to supervising crews laying tons of iron to building new homes this all around guy has got it done.
We had lunch on the lake in Clermont and he told me some stories that would make your head spin. Tales of fist fights, flame outs and the success of the american dream come to life. All true and an amazing history to experience.
Harry Miller, I appreciate your friendship and our shared moments together.
You are an American icon, a patriot and a Canespace Legend to the end.
For all of those men and women who have served in the U.S armed forces and who have literally put their lives on the line to protect and defend the United States of America this blog is for U.
For all of the courageous men and women who recognized that freedom isn't free and found it necessary to put themselves in harms way we thank U.
For all of those Army soldiers who have fearlessly risked their lives to defend our Country in World Wars, regional conflicts and in battles against the war on terrorism, we honor U.
For all of those Navy sailors, who save the free world on the open seas, without concern for their own safety to defend the world's oceans we recognize U.
For all of those highly skilled Air Force pilots and their support crews who defend our airspace with their incredible talent and ability we salute U.
And for all of those who served as a Marine like my father who faught in Korea and served as a Staff Sargent in Camp LeJune, NC may God bless you and keep you safe and well. It's not easy being first in and last out.
We wish all American defense personnel and all U.S. citizens across our great Nation the peace, freedom and security that all sovereign Nations deserve.
We would like to take this opporuntity to recognize all who served and all who paid the ultimate sacrifice to defend our freedom. And we wish all of our bloggers, their families and friends a safe and happy Memorial Day.
Miami Hurricane fans salute the armed forces and ask that God Bless America!