Game Day Blog: The Pattern

If you are reading this article then it is very likely that you have been following the University of Miami football program under head coach Randy Shannon over the last four years. 

You probably know that Coach Shannon has shown steady progress and improved the team's regular season record by two games each and every year at Miami, going from 5-7 in 2007, to 7-5 in 2008 and then 9-3 in 2009. 

Unfortunately for Team Shannon that will not be possible in 2010 with the team already sitting at 5-3 (3-2 ACC) eight games into this season with four games remaining.

Shannon's over all record since taking over the head coaching duties at Miami is 26-20 overall and 14-15 in the ACC. 

During this time there has emerged a confusing if not disturbing trend or pattern in winning and losing games whether at home or on the road. 

 
The pattern, especially over the last two years most often looks something like this: W L WW L WW L WW L W.  Yet, trying to understand why the pattern exists or attempting to solve the problem has been much like solving Rubik's Cube: frustrating, time consuming and full of trials and errors. 

The riddle Miami fans, coaches and players have been trying to figure out is: Why do the Hurricanes play lights out at times and at other times as if the light never even came on?  The next question is how does this team break the negative pattern of following a big win with an even bigger loss?

 
Following that pattern, and after the shocking loss to Virginia last week, the game against Maryland is a lock to go down as a "W" for the Hurricanes this week as is the game against Georgia Tech.

The next loss would be to Virginia Tech at home before a final season ending win against USF also at Sun Life Stadium. 

So Hurricane fans do you believe in "The Pattern"?   Does it exist and if so why?

Do you believe that the pattern will hold true once again and that Miami will finish at 8-4 this season with wins over Maryland, GT and USF and a loss to VT? 

And if the pattern does hold up and the Hurricanes do end up at 8-4 how will you feel about that outcome for the 2010 season?

Comments

[macjones]

Analyst had it right. Miami wasn't prepared with the correct players on the field.

Simply a lack of communication among the Cane coaches and ball players!

[macjones]

DVD was beat, but Maryland's receiver bailed out DVD. lol

[SOUP]

Maryland 17, Miami 12

Under four minutes left in the first half.

Canes need another TD before the half.

[mi@mic@ne]

We need to blitz today.... their qb has a weak arm and their receivers look like ours when the ball comes in slow.

[SOUP]

DVD was beat, but Maryland's receiver bailed out DVD. lol

Posted by: macjones | November 06, 2010 at 01:23 PM

One break for the good guys!

[mi@mic@ne]

why isnt benji back their

[macjones]

Maryland 17, Miami 12

Under four minutes left in the first half.

Canes need another TD before the half.

Posted by: SOUP | November 06, 2010 at 01:23 PM

I'll be content with a Miami FG.

[CapitolCane]

Our D line has ween awful with the pass rush lately.

[SOUP]

This is going to be bad, the terps are going to beat team shannon

Posted by: Caniak aka true cane | November 06, 2010 at 01:21 PM

NOT SO FAST MY FRIEND!

[mi@mic@ne]

franklin LMAO

[SWFLCANE]

Interesting play as defender puts helmet on Morris' chin, of course ok to do that if you are playing against the Hurricanes.

[SOUP]

Our D line has ween awful with the pass rush lately.

Posted by: CapitolCane | November 06, 2010 at 01:26 PM

This is true, there has been a big drop off in sacks and TFL the last three games.

[CapitolCane]

TB!

[macjones]

The YAC attack by the Benji!!!!

[mi@mic@ne]

yac is because of the rope throws

[SWFLCANE]

Morris has an arm!

[SOUP]

Miami 15, Maryland 17.

Bosher 34 yard FG.

40 seconds left in the half...

[mi@mic@ne]

This o is only successful with the big arm qb

[SOUP]

Morris has an arm!

Posted by: SWFLCANE | November 06, 2010 at 01:31 PM

U are correct sir!

Hope is still alive...

[mi@mic@ne]

no drops because the ball is hitting the receiver... the receiver is not doing a jump ball match

[macjones]

This is basically a ' tied ballgame. '

However, there was a time when Miami would be up by at least 10 or 13 points on the Turtle.

Team Shannon is in for a mighty tall hill to climb. Simply because Maryland came into this Sabado game, ' knowing they could win. '

Stay tuned. Will the Turtle have a happy plane ride back home.

[pbcfrcane13]

Wow take away the batted balls may be winning this kid has an arm

[mi@mic@ne]

We need to bring the heat on d in the third q. O needs to score 3 touches. Let Whipple take control of the half time locker room... dont bore the playas

[mi@mic@ne]

Let the bad azzzz Whipple come out... yessssssssssssss

[NativeCane]

When the Canes score I do the same amount of push-ups as the Hurricanes total score
( 6-12-15 ) total: 33

I told Mrs. Native every time they score she should take off an article of clothing, she said,"I would still be fully clothed!
ha

Go Canes!!!

[macjones]

Miami has a steep, steep, steep mountain to climb.

Somebody on Team Shannon's D-unit has to bloody ' step up. ' mIami has no turnovers, yet.

Seeing that this is a ?? road game ?? for Maryland, they've held their own.

Now, do U'all Cane rowdies Understand WHY I said, the ' drop of - 11 to -8 ' point spread was a bery, bery, bery bad omen for Team Shannon.

The HIGH ROLLER ' smart money ' all went with the Turtle. See halftime scoreboard. These Wise Guys know a thing or two about a ' de-evolving ' Hurricane squad. No.

[SOUP]

Clemson 0, NCST 7 at halftime.

Duke 24, UVA 14 at halftime.

[mi@mic@ne]

Their qb is average at best.. not a strong arm.. everything is out on the side lines.. we need to break to the ball .. we dropped two interceptions early... guys need to step up .. this a major college football game not a golfing match. wake the fu%%##$ up!!!!!

[solarcane]

Morris looks between very good and great.

Miller is tougher inside than I thought , he looks fantastic.

Our redzone offense needs to be completely overhauled
Its getting like Nix where we fans are calling the plays before the snap.

Maryland gave away a TD on the fumble at the goal line .

Brandon Harris hates to lose more thann anyone on the field including the coaches.

We could keep the L WW L WW sequence going easily if our special tesms don't end up costing us the game

These commemtators are good for an ESNPNU noon game.

[SOUP]

I told Mrs. Native every time they score she should take off an article of clothing, she said,"I would still be fully clothed!

Posted by: NativeCane | November 06, 2010 at 01:43 PM

Video at 11!

[mi@mic@ne]

Can i get a tape of the Randy Shannon bed time stories?.. having a hard time sleeping.

[SOUP]

We could keep the L WW L WW sequence going easily if our special tesms don't end up costing us the game

These commemtators are good for an ESNPNU noon game.

Posted by: solarcane | November 06, 2010 at 01:47 PM

Agree 100% on both.

[CGNC]

Native that is hilarous! What's up party people? I came in late - saw the Terps throw to the receivers in the endzone - both receivers had Harris and DVD beat but decided not to catch their passes. Lucky!

[mi@mic@ne]

Canes are sleep walking out their.. look at the LB pick the Maryland lb ran like he had something up his butt... he stumbled into the endzone... wake up Miami!!!

[macjones]

The Whipple Factor's play calling has been conservative, to obviously protect S.M.

However, Miami has to open up the offense in the second-half. Simply because Team Shannon is running out of time.

Fortunately the Hurricanes receive the kick-off in the second-half.

By the way, whatever happened to the kid from Cali. Yous know, the TE with the ' glue hands. '

Surely No. 82 would have made the catch Gordon dropped. Albeit that was a rocket Stevie gunned to Gordon.

[mi@mic@ne]

put benji on kick return... let the freshman go tackle on the st d.

[mi@mic@ne]

give ball to Miller with plays that bounce him outside...

[CGNC]

Posted by: mi@mic@ne | November 06, 2010 at 01:53 PM

we tried that couple of games ago with Tommy Streeter - he got penalized each time. What does our special teams coach actually DO?

[macjones]

Canes are sleep walking out their.. look at the LB pick the Maryland lb ran like he had something up his butt... he stumbled into the endzone... wake up Miami!!!

Posted by: mi@mic@ne | November 06, 2010 at 01:50 PM

I give yous mega-credit for being the bloody KING OF EXCUSES in this here forum. lmao

Give some respect to the Turtle.

Chit, they are winning at halftime. And are a dropped pass from being up by ' six points. ' Capice.

[mi@mic@ne]

Give Morris some deep crossing patterns ... open the 30 yd mark by spreading the receivers.

[SWFLCANE]

Gordon has missed 4 of the last 5 balls thrown to him. They need to either use another tight end or use him to pass block/play decoy only.

[mi@mic@ne]

I have a lot of game time fan observing... so i know they are not playing fast... we have no energy out there... maryland is slow.. the qb has a weak arm. we are not playin cane speed.

[IraqiCane]

what do the stands look like?

[mi@mic@ne]

The refs need someone in their face...

[SWFLCANE]

Stands are empty

[IraqiCane]

Hey look another 1st down drop awesome

[mi@mic@ne]

The stands have always been empty ... when we played teams we could beatdown.. it didnt matter ... all you saw was a beatdown worse than if the fans were their.. ask JJ

[mi@mic@ne]

this aint no beauty contest.. its football war

[macjones]

Miami's D-unit needs to get a takeaway!

[mi@mic@ne]

The refs are ruining our o production .. that first holding call was bogus