Deep In The Heart of Texas (A&M)

On Saturday your University of Miami Hurricanes will travel deep into the heart of Texas and into College Station to take on the Aggies of Texas A&M.

According to all of the stats, recent games and the experts, this is a game the Canes should win. But with the Canes offense seemingly on a respirator (according to some fans), many are saying: "Not so fast my friend".

Can Miami score early?  Can they score often?  Can they score at all?  Well this blog says they can and they will. We are predicting Canes victory: UM 34, TAMU 13.

We expect second year Offensive Coordinator Patrick NIx and his offense to start the new season (the real season starts NOW!) with an explosion of offensive productivity and points. 

Robert Marve starts his second game as a UM QB. 

Aldarius Johnson now starts at WR.

Travis Bejamin will return kicks along with Brandon Harris. 

Thearon Collier will return punts. 

All this adds up to more promise, points, and positive outcomes.  The future for your Miami Hurricanes is now.  Don't blink this Saturday, you might miss it...

THE GAME
• Miami comes off a bye week and takes to the road for the second time this season traveling to College Station, Texas to face Texas A&M in a regionally-televised game. It will be the Hurricanes' first trip to Kyle Field.
• The Hurricanes look to bounce back after falling to then No. 5 Florida, 26-3, on the road in "The Swamp." Miami held Florida to nine points through the first three quarters before the Gators scored 17 points in the final 13 minutes. UM's defense limited UF to just 89 yards rushing.
• Redshirt freshman quarterback Robert Marve will make his second collegiate start on the road against the Aggies. Marve completed 10-of-18 passes for 69 yards in his first start at Florida.
• The Hurricanes and the Aggies both enter the contest 1-1. In two games, Miami has scored 55 total points while the Aggies have put up 42 points. UM will likely be without the services of junior running back Javarris James, who suffered a high ankle sprain against Florida. Sophomore Graig Cooper has gained 53 yards on 19 carries.

THE OPPONENT
• Texas A&M also enjoyed a bye week fresh off a 28-22 win at New Mexico two Saturdays ago. Backup quarterback Jerrod Johnson completed 10-of-19 passes for 124 yards and threw three touchdown passes and the Aggie defense held off a fourth quarter rally in A&M's first win of the season.
• Quarterback Stephen McGee has completed 68.8 percent of his passes going 22-of-32 for 190 yards in the first two games. Mike Goodson is the leading rusher with 133 yards (4.4 yards per rush) on 30 carries and two TD's. RS Freshman receiver Ryan Tannehill has caught eight passes for 116 yards.
• Defensively, the Aggies are led by linebacker Matt Featherston with a team-high 25 tackles and defensive lineman Michael Bennett with 17 tackles.

THE SERIES
• The all-time series between the Hurricanes and the Aggies is tied, 1-1. Texas A&M won the first meeting between the two schools in 1944 with a 70-14 win in the Orange Bowl but the Hurricanes returned the favor last season with a 34-17 win on a Thursday night ESPN game in Miami on Sept. 20.

Comments

[NativeCane]

Kenny and Jason are alot alike.
Go Cowboys!

GO CANES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[The Truth]

Wow 86..you sure have become the blob Nazi on here...ESPECIALLY when it comes to defending your boy, Carlos who only seems to bring as much negativity to this place with constantly beating dead horse after dead horse.

How many times in a 2 week span can you illustrate the fact that you don't the OC...seemingly endless....before you allow the guy the step uip to the plate for the next game.

Maybe Cav and the others are just tired of the ranting on and on about how bad Nix sucks...

It's obvious you aren't but jeeeeeez...why don't you give your homeboy the same Heil hitler you give the rest of the Leigion when things get a little testy?

[The Truth]

Be good Gents and don't piss off Carlos too much....86 is gonna getcha!!!

Go Canes!!!

[OCALACANE]

Angry...

Sarasota...

What cable co. do U have? I have Cox here in Ocala. We have the Miami game... I checked my info guide on my dvr and Miami @ A&M is on here. This tells me it may be your cable co. pulling the switcharooo. That sucks...
I get 2 abc signals on cable. Channel 20 from Swampville has the Miami game. Channel 9 from Orlando? WTF?

GO CANES!!!

[OrlandoCane]

The Orlando Sentinel reported today that the Central Florida region will not be getting the Miami game. Instead we will get the Virginia Tech/North Carolina game. I have called ABC in Orlando, main number is 407-841-9000, and left a message in the programming department. Maybe if we get enough people to call in they will change the game back. How can the entire state of Florida except for the Orlando area get the game and ABC call that regional coverage?

[SOUP]

Truth...Carlos ain't "my boy" any more than you are and I do NOT agree with all of his opinions. The post I was referring to with Cav had NOTHING to do with a response to Carlos, it was another new blogger who posted last night.

I am only trying to allow for diversity of opinion on here where people can post whatever opinions, positive and negative, they want to post without getting beat down.

It would be inaccurate for you call that initiative "blob Nazi". In fact it is the opposite of that. But thanks for weighing in on the issue. All opinions matter, yours too!

NOW...GO CANES, BEAT TAMU!!!

And, if you could be the score of 34-13 please?

[SOUP]

BTW...Did I mention that STARTING WR Aldarius Johnson will score 2 TDs this week against TAMU?

Yeah, I thought I did!

[Blowfly]

19-12 UM

punt return, 2 safeties, TD w 2pt conv.

[Blowfly]

no - 6 safeties and a punt return TD

[Carlos]

lol @ the usual suspects getting their panties in a bunch...too funny.

[Carlos]

and I'm pretty sure i'm not the only one that's had a comment about our OC. Everyone saw that article that Mandingo put out a couple days ago about Jacory checked off on the line....but of course, leave it Cav & Truth to leak all over the place because I commented on it as well. LOL.

[Carlos]

"Cav, look U know I respect you and appreciate your comments and opinions but everybody can't simply be WRONG because they don't agree with you"

I've lost count how many times you've told him this. He's like a kindergarten child.

[Carlos]

"But the bigger point is, if Nix wants to prepare these WRs to be able to make reads on their own, like they do in the NFL, why would Irvin have said in 2006 that Shannon shouldn't hire him?? This is completely illogical."

You are devoid of any political or football acumen so of course his point would escape you. Not surprised at all.

[rebirth]

Nix scares the hell out of me.

I hope Im wrong, but I really feel like hes the last weak link on this staff that needs to go. No holding back this week vs. A&M, We want to see aggression, attack, make them defend the WHOLE field for once. Call plays like you are trying to blow them out, not to just keep it close so you dont get embarrassed.

Go Canes!

[SOUP]

Carlos...Nix is on line three. He needs to talk to you about game planning. LOL

Look dude we get it, U and Nix ain't having dinner anytime soon. Time to let others carry the banner for a while.

Blob on...

[SOUP]

Rebirth...U will see a REAL offense this game against TAMU and then again against UNC and the rest of the season.

I think Nix, even more the PLAYERS, will get 'er done starting NOW!

The REAL season starts NOW, LT#36 looked me in the eye and told me so. :-)

[Carlos]

Posted by: 86Cane | September 18, 2008 at 09:44 AM

:D

[Carlos]

Official Miami/aTm score prediction:

Miami 29
aTm 14

[Gin & Tonic]

Just got off the phone with someone in programming at wftv and he said he is contacting abc to find out why that game was assigned to them. He said they have to put in a request to change from the game assigned and the assignments were put out on monday. I pointed out that his station is the only one in florida not showing miami and his station is the only one not providing regional coverage. He said he will look into it and contact abc.

Give him a call if you like, i'm sure he would love to hear from more canes fans in central florida. 407 841-9000. Ask for programming.

[orange]

Rebirth...U will see a REAL offense this game against TAMU and then again against UNC and the rest of the season.

I think Nix, even more the PLAYERS, will get 'er done starting NOW!

The REAL season starts NOW, LT#36 looked me in the eye and told me so. :-)

Posted by: 86Cane | September 18, 2008 at 09:47 AM

Actually its going to be run heavy once again. TAMU is terrible against the run.

The offense will be opened up a lot more and not conservative but they are going to run a lot more then they are going to pass

[CanesgirlNC]

Hey all - I say we score over 30 against TAMU

[Canez1]

OFFICIAL INJURY REPORT Reply

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Doubtful

DE Eric Moncur - Leg

Out

OL Chris Barney ? Leg

DL Josh Holmes ? Leg

OL Ben Jones ? Leg

RB Javarris James ? Leg

Surgery/Out for Season

WR Tommy Streeter - arm

GO CANEZ!!!!!

[orange]

Wow we go from I HATE NIX/FIRE NIX to POLITICS back to FIRE NIX.

Getting a little annoying i say.

Back to another blog. Hopefully after this weekend the NIX talk will stop

Talking positive about this team will be the main topic.

Till then TA DA

Hate to say it but the last 2 weeks this BLOG has been terrible

[SOUP]

Gin&Tonic...good work there my man! You need a slice of lime with that?

Orange...U are probably correct on the run/pass % against TAMU. I hope McNeal and Chambers get into the act in a BIG way.

[Canez1]

How bout this...

To all the folks that can't get along on this site, try not responding to eachother!!

What a fukkin concept!

You see a post from someone that will lead to 1 million back and forth posts not getting anywhere just ignore it.

It is obvious some of you guys can't get along with othes. Instead of clogging this blog with your insults and nonsense just stfu and ignore it.

Do us all a favor!!!

GO CANEZ!!!!!

[SOUP]

Hate to say it but the last 2 weeks this BLOG has been terrible

Posted by: orange | September 18, 2008 at 10:25 AM

Let's hope NIX gets it done this week and the Canes go BIG against TAMU (34-13) so we can all go positive again.

[orange]

Posted by: CanesgirlNC | September 18, 2008 at 10:18 AM

I say we scor 35 + points

[SOUP]

Canez1...there it is right there!

[orange]

Let's hope NIX gets it done this week and the Canes go BIG against TAMU (34-13) so we can all go positive again.

Posted by: 86Cane | September 18, 2008 at 10:28 AM

I sure hope so. Cause all this negative NIX talk is getting really annoying. Everyone fighting each other.

Not tryin to cause trouble. just stating my opinion

I really hope berry gets like 10 carries so we can what he can really do

[Canez1]

I gotta a good feeling about this game. We are pretty healthy and these kids must be dying to get it on. I know I am.

GO CANEZ!!!!!

[orange]

Posted by: Canez1 | September 18, 2008 at 10:31 AM

Me to, personally i havent felt this confident in a while.

I really do not think this will be a game.

This is going to be totally domination.

The NATION will gain more respect for us.

BRING on UNC!!!

[Canez1]

86 you better make sure you have your daycare license up to date.

Thats what it feels like around here sometimes!! LOL

GO CANEZ!!!!!

[Canez1]

O
My heart tells me this team is ready to turn the corner and start to show improvement every week.

My head pulls that back. Just because I have thought the same thing many times over the past several years.

This team needs to build on what they showed at UF.

Free AB!!!!Free AB!!

GO CANEZ!!!!!

[orange]

This is the game where we turn the corner.

I have felt like we were going to win for the last few season, but i havent felt like we are going to DOMINATE.

I FEEL and I KNOW that we are going to DOMINATE this week.

WE WANT BUTCH!!!

[Canez1]

We need Moncur back out there.

Although I am loving what I see from Ojomo. Kid has a nonstop motor on him.

I hear that this sports hernia is a bytch to heal.

GO CANEZ!!!!!

[orange]

TAMU will be lucky to score a TD, i will be even surprised if they make it in the endzone.

Canes win by 23+ points

[Cane Since 1982]

ESPNs' Heather Dinichs' weekly ACC score predictions.

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/acc/0-2-149/Did-somebody-say-predictions-.html

My Prediction:

The University of MIAMI - 42
Little old Texas A&M - 10

I am not trying to be a hommer on that prediction either. TEXA&M is 84th in the nation vs. the run. Not good for them when facing Miami. TEXA&M doesnt even know who their QB for the game will be yet. TEXA&M has barely limped their way to a 1-1 record against 2 very bad teams. Miamis' offensive strength the run. Miami has hopefuly put some starting receivers in this week (AJ) who will actualy catch the ball when thrown to them. Miamis' D will absolutly crush TEXA&M.

[orange]

Did Moncur have surgery for his sports hernia or has he just rehabbed it?

[SOUP]

Not tryin to cause trouble. just stating my opinion

Posted by: orange | September 18, 2008 at 10:30 AM

Fair enough Orange, good play there.

I hope Berry gets some carries this week too. That will be interesting to see!

[orange]

Miamis' D will absolutly crush TEXA&M.

At least our Defense has gained the RESPECT

[SOUP]

Please check out our partner LINKS in the top left corner of the blog.

The Hampton Inn now has a link for those looking to make a resrvation.

1982...the Palm Beach Canes link is there also.

The www.ProCanes.com link ROCKS!

[SOUP]

Sorry....TOP RIGHT for LINKS!

[Sarasota 'Cane]

Ocala,

I'm getting the game here in Sarasota. I was just pointing out that it seems the "powers that be" were carving The U out of the Orlando market to benefit Gaytor recruiting. It was just paranoid thinking on my part!

We actually have a pretty active fan club here is Sarasota. They meet at the Sarasota Brewing Company on game days, although my dad and I like to watch the games at his house when posssible.

Go 'Canes!!

[UMike]

What confuses me is this... we have a GOOD defence right? We almsot shut down UF..right. Isn't this the same defence that was getting burned by our offence in practice? WTF happened? Maybe the coaches arent trusting the players in REAL games

[Cane Since 1982]

Did Moncur have surgery for his sports hernia or has he just rehabbed it?

Posted by: orange | September 18, 2008 at 10:46 AM

He has an ankle injury

[orange]

Did Moncur have surgery for his sports hernia or has he just rehabbed it?

Posted by: orange | September 18, 2008 at 10:46 AM

He has an ankle injury

Posted by: Cane Since 1982 | September 18, 2008 at 10:56 AM

I know what he has, that was not my question though

[SOUP]

From Dan Stein at The Miami Hurricane blog:

Keys to the game:

Attack the middle of the field with the passing game. It is where mistakes happen, but also where big plays on the edge get set up. It didn't happen against UF last week, and as a result their secondary was able to overplay the sideline and take away the passing game completely. The Aggies are going to be putting 8 in the box at the beginning. Attacking the middle with the pass will allow speedy receivers to find seams and run; it will also back the defense off and help the run game breathe.

More from Dan can be found here:

http://blogs.themiamihurricane.com/index.php?blog=24

[orange]

Posted by: UMike | September 18, 2008 at 10:55 AM

Mike,

You will see that offense this week.

The GAMEPLAN for UF, will never been seen again this year. The offensive gameplan for that game was to keep TEABAG and the UF offense off the field

[Cane Since 1982]

I think I heard surgery but not going to guarantee that.

I originaly thought you were asking why he is missing this game.

[canechic]

Called and left a message for programming at channel 9 to see why they are not airing the game. Hopefully if enough of us call we will get to see the game without buying the package.