The Sky Has Officially Fallen

Go ahead, I dare you to listen to all of the reports from the main stream South Florida media about your Miami Hurricanes. Don't try to cover your ears, just open wide and soak in all of the negativity they have to offer, and then if it makes you feel better, embrace it as your own.

It's not so much that the media wants to say the sky is falling on your team, it is that they have gladly and willingly accepted it as a fact that it has already fallen on our collective heads. If you don't believe me then go listen to their podcasts after the Spring Game last Saturday.

One reporter was so negative in his regular Monday podcast that you would think the Canes may not win any games in 2012. He basically said we have no play-makers and not a single player who could start on a top 5 team. And he said it with such ease and confidence that you could hear it in his voice.

I certainly hope he feels better now that he got that off of his chest.

Not to be outdone another reporter went right past ballistic and straight to nuclear on Miami right after the Spring Game. In his digitally recorded report he said that IF the Canes win 6 games Golden should be extended to a LIFETIME contract because it would basically be a miracle.

You would think that any seasoned, experienced, veteran reporter who has access to UM coaches and players would know a thing or two about Spring Football and the purpose that it serves. You might also think that they would reserve their opinions until the Fall practice when the entire 85 man roster is intact and all the players are healthy.

You would be wrong. No, these hard core "reporters" want to go all Tony Montana on Hurricane fans with their guns blasting away as they spray your brains onto the scoreboard at Sun Life Stadium and then walk away and smile while saying: "Look at U now!"

Well I am here to tell you that all is NOT lost my fellow Hurricane fans. There is hope and optimism to be found for THIS season and I am here to tell you why. So lets get started, shall we?

Defense: Tell me how you want it: Do you want to good news or the really good news first?

Here's the good news: The defense was clearly the stronger side of the UM team this Spring, which I might add, is exactly the way things are supposed to be. The tackling was consistently and significantly better than last year. The defensive line controlled the line of scrimmage and played well against the run and the pass. The linebackers looked excellent and even had some new found depth with several players showing that they will contribute in 2012.

The move of Denzel Perryman to the middle, a move I was initially openly skeptical about, proved to be without a doubt the best position switch among many made by Defensive Coordinator Mark D'Onofrio this Spring. No fewer than five defenders found new positions this Spring and each one of them made the team better according to what we saw on the field and heard in recent interviews with both Golden and D'Onofrio.

Yet it was the defensive backs that were the surprise of the Spring with solid coverage and a new "attack the ball" mentality that led to them collecting more interceptions and forcing fumbles. Brandon McGee, Thomas Finnie and newcomer Ladarius Gunter all had impressive Springs at CB.  Highsmith and Rodgers are clearly pushing Armstrong and Telemaque to become better players at Safety.

Maybe the best news of all is that they will soon be joined by the top rated CB in the Nation in 2012, my new friend Tracy Howard, and a top rated Safety in Deon Bush.

What you didn't know is that Bush has already been spending 3 to 4 days a week on the UM campus learning the defense and working out. Golden said recently that Bush is "An amazing young man" that "studies the game". After some of our recent experiences with former players of the 2008 class and others that sounds very refreshing wouldn't you agree?

Howard, who is still a student at Miramar high school, was quizzed by Golden at the Spring game to see if he was learning his new UM playbook.  Howard proved once again that he is an elite talent in all aspects of the game. The exchange at Sun Life Stadium went something like this:

Golden: "What do you do in Tiger 9 defense?"

Howard: "Is it single X or are there two WRs to one side?"

Golden: "Two to one side."

Howard: "Alert double seam."

Golden: "That is exactly what we are looking for.  Smart players who intellectually understand and can talk about the game of football."

Is there a single fan or reporter out there who doesn't think these two players, along with LB Raphael Kirby, LB Gabe Terry, DE Jelani Hamilton and DE Tyriq McCord (who are also very likely to play in 2012 for UM) are going to make the Hurricanes a better team this year?

Here is more good news: There are 18 players that did not play this Spring that will play in the Fall. Five who are were injured in the Spring and 13 fresh bodies that will arrive in the Fall and were recruited to play multiple positions specifically for the style of defense run by UM Defensive Coordinator Mark D'Onofrio. Let that soak in and marinate for a while.

That's right I said: EIGHTEEN players! That is seven more players than actually start the game. That is most of your depth and several players who will likely be on the 2-deep roster right there.

Of the five that were injured two were potential starters in Ramon Buchanan and Shayon Green along with young but promising backups LB Josh Witt and DT Corey King.

Those 18 players will obviously add to the always desired depth and competition for starting spots. We all know that competition is what drives performance among the older, more established players who do not want to get passed by the young talent arriving on campus.

Offense: How do you try to run an offense with basically two healthy WRs and a couple of green Freshman QBs? How do you try to evaluate an offense that is running less than 50% of their playbook and intentionally trying to be as vanilla as possible?  Well that is basically what you saw this Spring from the Hurricanes and Offensive Coordinator Jedd Fisch.

Yes, yes I know we all wanted to see big plays and lots of scores and maybe most of all we wanted Ryan Williams to be the second coming of Ken Dorsey in his first real action as a Miami Hurricane. But as a wise old rocker named Mick Jagger once sang:" U can't always get what U want."

Williams, a Sophomore who played as a Freshman at Memphis before transferring to UM last year, was a bit of a disappointment to those Miami fans who had already projected him as the starter in the Fall over the returning, strong-armed Stephen Morris.

What all three quarterbacks that were available this Spring proved was that the guys named Williams, Dewey and Crow are not ready for prime time - not yet. What they also proved is that none of them looked out of place or appeared to lack the skills and talent to play at this level. That is encouraging and bodes well for the Fall when Morris returns from his minor back injury to compete with the other QBs after a Summer of learning and growth for the younger QBs on the roster.

With WR Allen Hurns banged up and still recovering from injury, the Hurricanes were left to play most of the Spring with two just healthy wide receivers in Phillip Dorsett and Rashawn Scott. Scott simply turned out to be the biggest surprise and the most sensational player on the offensive side of the ball. Not too shabby if you ask me.

This Fall there will be as much of infusion of talent at the wide receiver position as there will be at defensive back which is saying quite a lot. The Fab Five arriving on campus this Summer are: Malcolm Lewis, Jontavious Carter, D'Mauri Jones, Herb Waters, Robert Lockhart.

Yes, I know they are all Freshman, and yes not all of them will be All-Americans in their first season in Coral Gables. But any fan or reporter has to admit that adding that much size, speed and talent will be a huge boost to the currently depeleted UM receiving core in the Fall of 2012.

At running back Miami is searching for the replacement for the departed lamar Miller who opted for the NFL draft. To be fair, the Spring did not produce any player who stood out as the answer at this position. There is the dependable team leader in Mike James, the tough but only moderately productive Eduardo Clements and the speedy and elusive Dallas Crawford.

What most Miami fans do not know is that during the public scrimmages Crawford was not used as he is in the private practices on Greentree Field. There are several surprises involving Crawford, and even possibly another player (who shall go unmentioned), that await opposing teams and UM fans come this Fall when the games actually matter.

Trust me on this.

Arriving in Coral Gables this Fall at the running back position is the highly under-rated and often over looked Danny Dillard. Dillard is nothing less than my sleeper recruit of the 2012 class. Write this down: This man-child is big, strong and fast and will turn heads come this Fall.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot, there is some kid, what's his name, yeah some young stud that goes by the name of Randy "Duke" Johnson who might also have something to say about the RB position this Fall.

So cheer up Hurricane fans and stop with the negativity.  Do not bury your head in your hands but instead hold your head up high and have a little hope and faith in Al Golden. 

Now please do not misunderstand me. I am not saying that this team is going to add another trophy to the already crowded case that holds Miami's other five but I am saying that this coach, these players and this 2012 team as a whole will be just fine.

And don't forget that much more talent and depth (albeit young and inexperienced) are on the way. Ten members of the large and highly regarded 2012 class have already enrolled at "The U".  Seven more are expected on May 17th and the rest are scheduled to be on campus on June 28.

That is when it gets real and the men will get separated from the boys.

There are no excuses being made in Coral Gables.

And neither should there be.

Comments

[TJL]

FIRST

[Shark]

We're beating Boston College!!

[TheWhat]

Reading that article got me excited. I still say 7-6 or 8-5 but it will be similar to last season where we were in every single game. I think we need one more year for this team to be where it really needs to be in terms of depth, talent, strength and conditioning. We are getting there, and I believe faster than other people believe but not quite there. Almost though and its exciting.

[NativeCane]

Great article SOUP, there is much reason to be optimistic and it will be awesome to watch the naysayers eat their words.

Go Canes!!!

[Terrance Sullivan]

Great article. I predict our Canes will go 8-4 regular season with a chance to win up to 10 games, I am including a ACC championship game and bowl game apperance so I say either 9-5 or 10-4.

[Willie Will in Nashville]

I say it'll be a tough 12-0 this year, then next year we'll be back to going 12-0 easy like back in da day. That is all!!!!

[TheWhat]

Antonio Cromartie has 12 kids??? 8 with 7 different women??? 4 with his wife.

Advice for Antonio. Keep it in the pants or just use protection. Is it that hard?

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/new-york-jets-antonio-cromartie-wife-expecting-twins-total-of-12-kids-8-different-women-041712

[Ohio_Cane]

TRACY HOWARD!

[Ohio_Cane]

Is it that hard?

Posted by: TheWhat | April 17, 2012 at 04:41 PM
--------------------------------------

That's what she said!

[herbieibis]

Again I'll say 7-5. We are 2 young and there are 2 many question marks that surround our offense, Like who ends up being a go to receiver, will there be consistancy at the RB position, can the O-Line, stop the dumb penalties. There is plenty of help on the way but carrot raw. I think the Defense will be improved but until I actually see a consistant pass rush, we will get abused through the air. I only say this because of three names McGee, Telemaque & Armstrong, who up until now haven't done much. Here's hoping they prove me wrong!

[Ohio_Cane]

"The move of Denzel Perryman to the middle, a move I was initially openly skeptical about, proved to be without a doubt the best position switch among many made by Defensive Coordinator Mark D'Onofrio this Spring."

Gonna say this AGAIN... I called this move before the coaching staff pulled the trigger!

Last year he was a small Sean Spence. Lacked the size, but great tackler, very smart and instinctive player.

This year, he's BIGGER than Sean Spence as a Senior!

[Hassan]

Really good article. We are a year away, but the horses are in the stable now we just got to ride them

[SOUP]

Great article SOUP, there is much reason to be optimistic and it will be awesome to watch the naysayers eat their words.

Posted by: NativeCane | April 17, 2012 at 04:27 PM

Hey there old buddy, old pal! We went to Edward Medard Park over in your neck of the woods recently. Do U know where that is at and is it close to you? We are going back again soon, they have a frisbee disc golf course there that is awesome.

[SOUP]

Gonna say this AGAIN... I called this move before the coaching staff pulled the trigger!

Posted by: Ohio_Cane | April 17, 2012 at 04:54 PM

U did, U did! I didn't give U the credit U deserved but hey at least I was honest about my thoughts on it right? LOL

[SOUP]

I predict our Canes will go 8-4 regular season with a chance to win up to 10 games.

Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | April 17, 2012 at 04:34 PM

Terrance...sorry I missed U at the Spring Game. My plans got all screwed up because I had the wifey with me and we did not stay at the Hampton Inn as originally planned and stayed in Holloywood instead

Hope to catch up wioth you during the season when I will be at the Hampton and at Duffys.

[orange 'n green in the vein]

Golden already finagled a BS extension for a horrible year and a sub-par coaching job at Miami last year. 6-6 = lifetime extension at Temple (in the old Big East mind you, not the, "we'll take anybody with a football program," modern Big East), not in Coral Gables. If he doesn't win big this year, the clock starts ticking as soon as the college roommate gets the can in the off-season.

Honestly, I'm not sweating anything until after game one, plenty of time to iron it all out and get it right on the field, amongst the roster, and in the coaching offices. Cheerleaders = championship week form and that's still all that matters this time of year.

[Gin & Tonic]

Fantastic article. One of the best yet. Inspired me to make a comment. Great work, keep it up!

[CaneRock]

Cheerleaders = championship week form and that's still all that matters this time of year.

Posted by: orange 'n green in the vein | April 17, 2012 at 05:55 PM

LOL...

[Ohio_Cane]

U did, U did! I didn't give U the credit U deserved but hey at least I was honest about my thoughts on it right? LOL

Posted by: SOUP | April 17, 2012 at 05:24 PM
-------------------------------------------

Absolutely!! That's all A blogger can ask for is honesty. Otherwise we'd all always agree and it wouldn't be as much fun to be right, like I happened to be about Perryman to MLB!!

Lol, ok that's seriously the last time I say it.

[Montreal-Cane]

SOUP the Herald should make you an offer...
Your articles are excellent and informative.
But now this:

"There are several surprises involving Crawford, and even possibly another player (who shall go unmentioned), that await opposing teams and UM fans come this Fall when the games actually matter.

Trust me on this."

SOUP it's unfair for the faithful canespacers to be left in the dark with this tease. I don't think i will be able to live until the fall without knowing what you know...lol....

[Ohio_Cane]

Monty, honestly, U can probably guess once and be right.

[SOUP]

We are a year away, but the horses are in the stable now we just got to ride them.

Posted by: Hassan | April 17, 2012 at 04:55 PM

There IT is right there.

[Canezitis]

Is crow our version of tebow soup?

[SOUP]

Monty...here IT is: There are three very distinct possibilities in addition to Crawford for the Wildcat-like package.

One is a WR that has already been tried and worked pretty well and one that will be tried by a recruit not yet on campus.

In addition there is a current QB that may also run some other package like Canezitis mentioned above.

Now let's see how long it takes ITU or CS to run with that? LOL

[SOUP]

WURD UP!

1. Yo CEO, I get hit with somethin about 1 of your boiz sayin Howard bout to be startin in game 1. Now thats reachin out with a bigtime shot call lol. Come on bruh, that boi gotz to make a better shot call then that lol. Dont go all Hassan(?) by claimin that country azz boi Taylor will be a 4 time all american and 1st pick in NFLU draft lol but at least that boi took a legit shot call. I guess boi aint livin in Florida accordin to the email so pimp does get a free pass huh lol.

2. Since its a D thing someone could always take a rip with Nate, not as a starter but a boi with serious skillz that should contribute.

3. No focus on them O boiz slidin to Miami???? I know who we gotz but holla at them Spacers so I can hear from Newt who they got. I aint talkin startin but I want some hits bout some O boiz bein factors. I done instructed Newt to blast me any Duke or "beast" comments lol.

4. Could that boi Danny D. be the next 1,100 + RB. Thats just insane or is it lol.

5. Will D'Mauri be the next RaShawn? I know I heard that somewhere lol

[roachcane77]

Really nice article... I too believe the naysayers and band wagon "experts" will be eating some crow when we go full bore in the Fall.

It's also true, we don't look very "physically" imposing right now, (my own observations from the Ft. Myers scrimmage), but with SO much great talent waiting to come in, we'll get there sooner rather than later.

I must say though, I'm getting real tired of hearing how we're only using half of our offensive playbook... REAL TIRED of hearing that. (It's been literally YEARS now that I've been hearing that!) Get the correct personnel in here, train & educate them, and OPEN UP THE PLAYBOOK ALREADY!

Let's Go CANES!

[NativeCane]

Hey there old buddy, old pal! We went to Edward Medard Park over in your neck of the woods recently. Do U know where that is at and is it close to you? We are going back again soon, they have a frisbee disc golf course there that is awesome.

Posted by: SOUP | April 17, 2012 at 05:23 PM
5 minutes from my house, Dude bring your kayak and we'll do some up close gator watching. I have been eyeballing that frisbee golf course, I'd like to try that out. LOL

Go Canes!!!

Go Canes!!!

[TonyCane]

I mean this in a positive way...how is our talent situation different now than in 2008? Four years ago the bulk of our most talented players were incoming freshmen. As it is now.

The only difference is that we have a quarterback who has starting experience (Morris), while in 2008 we had two freshmen quarterbacks.

Canes go 7-5 to 9-4.

[SOUP]

Native... I got U buddy. I will email you next time in the area. Re-send me your phone number to:

[email protected]

[SOUP]

SKREETZ WALKIN...

1. Got that comment about lack of playbook bein used. Preach it from the mountains bruh cause this boi agrees Fisch and Al needed to let the boiz somewhat loose. I get why they did it but I didnt like it.

2. As for during the season it was at maybe, maybe 40% for Morris vs the Terps cause he didnt have the rest straight.

2. The playbook was wide open the rest of the year but when teams figure out the play as soon as Miamis O does then theres issues. Again I believe them Spacers can figure that out.

[SOUP]

Canes go 7-5 to 9-4.

Posted by: TonyCane | April 17, 2012 at 09:02 PM

Tony...U don't get a range, U gotta pick a number and stick to it.

I got 9-3. What U got?

[Ohio_Cane]

At least my Tracy Howard pick got me a mention from Da Skreetz!! Lol

Come on now, gimme some credit, I called... Oh wait, I said I wouldn't say that any more!! Haha!

I'm stickin to it, Skreetz! Love it or hate it, that's my guess.

[SOUP]

Denzel Perryman!

[TonyCane]

Realistically, I'm going to say 8-4. Golden is the real deal, and by next year the foundation will be set.

Of course, I want 12-0 but that's for 2013...

[SOUP]

Of course, I want 12-0 but that's for 2013.

Posted by: TonyCane | April 17, 2012 at 10:06 PM

Tony...I like your style!

[TonyCane]

Thanks!

On a separate note, I wonder if Nick Saban is busy gluing his crystal football back together, like the dad in Christmas Story?

[TheWhat]

I think I just realized why everyone myself included were freaking out after the spring game. Penalties by the O-line and dropped passes and INTs. Basically it was looking at the last 4 years all over again. We as a fan base are traumatized from the last 4 years. We can't take anymore dropped passes or false starts or INTs. We are scarred and once those things occur we over react. Although it was only a spring game and we should keep it in perspective, we can't help but be sensitive to the aforementioned mistakes. I believe those mistakes will for the most part be gone come this fall.

Soup you've made me a believer and so I am going with a solid 8 win season. Final prediction.

Go Canes

[SOUP]

TheWhat...U made a wise decision to get on the train NOW because it is leaving the station and it ain't coming back to pick up the LATE arrivals.

[TheWhat]

Oh and it's been more than 4 years that has traumatized us. I just like to forget the Coker era after the two NC games. Can you imagine how many NCs we would have if butch Davis stayed.

[Montreal-Cane]

I hope Duke is in the weight room every day because we will need him right away and you better hold on to the football Randy.The running game needs you now!

Panthers lead their series 2-1...Hey hockey fans in Miami you will have to buy some more plastic rats for the playoffs.

Let's go Panthers!

[SOUP]

I wonder if Nick Saban is busy gluing his crystal football back together, like the dad in Christmas Story?

Posted by: TonyCane | April 17, 2012 at 10:21 PM

Saban ain't gluing shyte, he is busy counting his $$$.

[SOUP]

Monty...I still got some of my RATS from the last time when I still lived in SoFl.

I never got the chance to throw them ALL.

The Year of the Rat lives on...GO PANTHERS!

[SOUP]

We MAY have a live chat tomorrow night with Susan Miller Degnan from the MH and Brandon Odoi from Canesinsider...details to follow.

[TonyCane]

Somehow, I picture Saban has a huge vault with his various LSU, Dolphins, and Alabama earnings stacked in a huge pyramid, like the Joker did in the hold of that ship in The Dark Knight.

Kudos to putting the trophy on an easily accesible mount where anyone can knock it over. It's like Washington DC taking out the Declaration of Independence and tacking it up with tape to some light post.

[orange 'n green in the vein]

You know, I hate to be, "that guy," who complains that the refs stole games from teams I cheer for, but when there's eight goals scored and the refs decide to only count seven of them in a one goal final margin game, one team got hosed by the guys in the stripes. As soon as the NHL's best regular season penalty kill in history shows up off the team bus for the Devils this thing is over any way and I'll be there for game five when New Jersey puts themselves in a position to clinch the series with a win regardless.

[SOUP]

Susan from the Miami Herald is confirmed for tomorrow night's LIVE chat between 8 PM and 9:30 PM.

[SOUP]

OGV...Please, do NOT be "that guy". LOL

Panthers all the way baby!

[Q]

Howard is my LOF .. KIDS A STUD !

[TheWhat]

Just read the gave terry story. WOW. What a phenomenal and powerful story. God bless you Gabe. I remember when I saw his tape after he committed to the U and I honestly felt and sensed that he was going to be special (I know nothing about evaluating players, it was just a strong feeling) and after reading his story I have no doubt that not only will gave terry be special he is going to be a leader and future NFLer. May he continue to find great success on and off the field.

His story is proof that under privileged kids when given the opportunity can and will succeed.

[TheWhat]

Damn auto correct. I meant Gabe Terry not gave terry