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

[SOUP]

FSU 11, UM 2

Game 2 at noon today.

Bad weather expected later...

[Ohio_Cane]

Buckeyes sold 60,000 $7 tickets to their Spring Game...

How many showed up to Canes game and how much did they pay again....?

[hassan]

FYI Dwight is no the defensive player of the year. Lebron James should be and it is not even close. He is the only person that can and has legitimately guarded every position on the court. If and when the Heat need him to, he can essentially guard any position and even guarded Howard in moments against Orlando. And only does Lebron do all of this defensively but he shoulders a much larger offensive load than Dwight has to even consider, making the effort he puts forth on the defensive end every night ridiculously unprecedented in recent years.

Posted by: HurricaneMan' | April 20, 2012 at 05:18 PM-----------------------------------

Ewing was dominated by both Shaq and Olajuwon because they were stronger Dwight is also stronger Ewing played at 240 lbs compared to Dwights 275-280. And the difference between Dwight and the other two is not that far, Dwight has never been dominated since he came into the league and he would have more then held his own against those two great big men.

As far as Defense, I am not sure what game you are looking at but Dwight has been named by the vast majority as the best defensive player in the league for years, so for you to say it is not close then you are arguing with that vast majority of experts. Dwight is the magic's only low post threat and takes the most free throws in the nba year in and year out, playing down low on O and D takes way more energy and punishment then being 6'8 shooting over the top of guys on the perimeter. As far as Dwight playing down low all the time....duh that is what the other guys you named did too lol that is why they was post players. You really knock Dwight and he is not just some normal player his ability to show on pick and roll and get back and rebound and defend is amazing easily the best the nba has seen in 20 years maybe ever. He is great and would be much better if the Magic has better players around him that could play a lil D.

[Ohio_Cane]

Canes are LinebackerU for Rivals "Position U" series.

Hard to believe. LOL

http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1357491&PT=4&PR=2

[SinisterCane]

I would like to nominate Herb Waters as the newest Cane "Twidiot" lol

Posted by: UMike | April 20, 2012 at 09:45 PM

Nothing new. Has been for a WHILE.

Posted by: SOUP | April 20, 2012 at 11:58 PM

UMike you should write to the President and the coaches at UM like i just did...You should read what Hagens just wrote on twitter...Not very smart.

dshalala@miami.edu

coachd@miami.edu

Posted by: Montreal-Cane | April 21, 2012 at 01:23 AM

What did he say?

[UMike]

Hey..Micheal Deeb re-tweeted me lol..."@MichaelDeeb42 You got to come on down to the U!!! You will look good with that Orange & Green!"

[IraqiCane]

Is the game on yet? Score and or updates?

[canesteeler]

Soup send me some insider stuff! Football season cannot get here soon enough. I am going to miss the FSU game this season because I will be in a wedding in Pittsburgh.

[Sebastian]

Its not going good for the baseball `Canes today either

3 errors only 2 hits

4-0 FSU after 3 innings

[CaneAddict]

What did Hagens say?

Unless it was a possible NCAA violation or something possibly illegal, then what's the deal?

Was it something crude, vulgar, or just something that offended your morality? If it was, that's how some of these guys talk. They're not boy scouts. Unless its hate speech I wouldn't get too worked up about it.

[The Dude]

Posted by: CaneAddict | April 21, 2012 at 01:32 PM

Hagens said something to the regards of being a player. About his old GF next to his current GF next to his future GF. It was pretty vulgar. Also every player on this team is a representation of The "U"niversity. It matters what they say on twitter.

[Sebastian]

`Canes baseball

Going into the bottom of the 6th the `Canes have made 4 errors

FSU 4-1

[CaneAddict]

Getting worked up over that is useless. If that's the worst they're saying I'm fine with it. You can't control every aspect of their life.

You know they cuss on the field too, right?

Unless its a ncaa violation, breaking the law, or hate speech, or just over excessive (like that recruit a few months ago) then you're sticking your nose where it doesn't belong in an immature teenagers life.

He's not your relative, his tweets are monitored by the university (I know this for sure), so chill out.

[SOUP]

Just back to the CCC in Central FL.

Wicked weather this way comes...

[SOUP]

1. Soup send me some insider stuff! Football season cannot get here soon enough.

2. I am going to miss the FSU game this season because I will be in a wedding in Pittsburgh.

Posted by: canesteeler | April 21, 2012 at 12:59 PM

1. I hadn't heard from U lately and forgot to put U on the list. I'll see what I still have saved and send U something soon.

2. Nobody who is a friend, and I mean NOBODY, schedules a wedding during the week of the FSU game. LOL

[SOUP]

Also every player on this team is a representation of The "U"niversity. It matters what they say on twitter.

Posted by: The Dude | April 21, 2012 at 01:52 PM

I agree with this 100%.

[SOUP]

Monty...good work off the blog!

We will keep the details confidential but just let people here know that UM is watching and listening and is VERY responsive to any concerns that arise.

[Texascane]

Watching the Washington State Spring Game online...Leach's offense looks like he has been there for years...simply amazing.

[SOUP]

INSIDERS...CHECK EMAIL.

[WindyCane-Forecast1]

Although the Canes will likely have more players drafted than wins past year, the Canes that went to the NFL early will be disappointed. If those Canes stayed, they could have been a part of a special run under Golden, but they missed a great opportunity. On the other hand, I think Ray Ray will reap the benefits of staying. His draft stock will rise (and so will the Canes D) as a result.

As for Duke, he will not carry the ball 30 times, but I see Golden trying to get him 10-15 touches a game through kick returns, screens, and carries. He is just too good. I saw him play in high school, and I have also seen the current running backs. I like James as a solid, all-around back, but his is not the playmaker that Duke is.

Duke just has a knack for making plays. Duke is small, but he is quick, evasive, fast, tough and really hates to loose. He will bring a special element to the Canes that they have been missing. Golden really has recruited the kind of Canes that will bring us back to the top of c ollege football. This incoming class is really good.

The Canes will be better than a lot of people think this season.

[SlingBlade]

guillermo diaz

[Montreal-Cane]

The Sky Has Officially Fallen

On the Canes baseball team.

Sad.

[roachcane77]

SOUP :(

[TheWhat]

No way Howard is better than Ewing, olajuwan, shaq, etc. 80s and 90s MBA was more physical and the players had better fundamentals. Basically nba quality was much better. Teams that are winning the championships today wouldn't have made it out of the first round of the playoffs in the 80s or 90s. The mavericks or lakers before them in the last two years would have been eliminated in the first round. I do have a bias as I fondly remember the nba of the late 80s and 90s. The current nba isn't close to that product. The days of the Miami heat with hardway, mourning, pj brown, and the battles against the Knicks were classics. Knicks vs bulls, lakers vs celtics, the pistons, indiana. Good ole days of the nba. Sorry had a reminiscing moment lol.

In terms of twitter and players tweeting inappropriate stuff. I say imagine if there was a twitter when we were in college (for those of us that are older). Can you imagine the silliness and stupid stuff we would have said. These guys represent the university of Miami. But they are kids. 18 to 22 year old kids. They are gonna say stuff we disagree with whether morally or personally. They are kids. Let's give them that leeway with twitter or Facebook or any other social media outlet unless they go overboard with hate speech or something of that sort. Otherwise I really believe its a non story.

[CGNC]

Crappy play by the baseball team it seems. Soup is that Florida weather headed up this way?

[Montreal-Cane]

Washinghton 4 Boston 3 final

[Montreal-Cane]

Also every player on this team is a representation of The "U"niversity. It matters what they say on twitter.

Posted by: The Dude | April 21, 2012 at 01:52 PM

I agree with this 100%.

The coaching staff agrees 1000%
Enough said!

Posted by: SOUP | April 21, 2012 at 03:53 PM

[Montreal-Cane]

Sorry SOUP TypePad once again.

The coaching staff agrees 1000%
Enough said!

[Montreal-Cane]

Soup you didn't say much about the game on friday and the way Morris managed his team.
Do you think this team will finish the season in the top 15?

Win the regional?
Win the super regional?
Go to Omaha?

[4-Real]

WHY IS EVERYBODY HOPING THAT THE HURRICANE PLAYERS THAT DECIDED 2 LEAVE EARLY FAIL ??? :(

[Ucane]

Its not that anyone wants them to fail.Its is what if they had stayed,how good would the canes be.By leaving early they let the team down and as fans we feel that too.Kinda like torn between two lovers.Its not that we want them to fail,its we feel let down too.All the reports are saying they should have stayed,how much better they're skills would have been and how much higher in the draft they would have gone.The canes move on but it does have its questions(what if).
The real question now is are they better with them or better without them.They are grown adults,you give them a choice,they make a decision you may not agree with,but its they're responsibility,they deal with the consequences.Heck,tie up and drop the renegade agent that probably promised them the world.
THE"U"

[Ohio_Cane]

I'll wait until the draft happens and see where our Canes get picked before I pass too much judgement. U never know what's going on in 32 team's war rooms. No one REALLY knows where and how early/late our future Canes will go.

It's true that fans (myself included to a point) feel slighted by the guys leaving, but that's selfish and everyone should remember they all have families to take are of. Most of whom don't have much or anything at all.

[CanesFanStuckInCali]

RE: player tweeting:

We should email the coaching staff if we notice a player going reasonably out of line, but no need to get Shalala involved unless the coaching staff initiates it. That's too far + Shalala has MUCH bigger problems to deal with.

I don't understand why the coaching staff isn't taking a harder line on this. Golden preaches about character all day but totally misses the ball on player involvement in social media. The players need to understand how poorly their tweets can reflect on the football team and on the university as a whole. This would be a good lesson in life, for unless you represent yourself and only yourself--and who really does anymore unless you're absolutely rich--you need to be more cautious about your tweets, which are like mini press releases (ESPECIALLY as a football player at a program with as much scrutiny as The []_[]).

I know Golden doesn't have the time to monitor 85 players' twitter and FB accounts, but he should (if he doesn't already) have a policy that if something inappropriate gets reported back to him, there may be consequences, including but not limited to loss of gametime.

My 2 cents.

GO CANES!!!

[Ucane]

Oh, by the way,
THANKS to all those that contribute to this site.
It helps idiots like me stay informed.
Soup,lousy weekend.Baseball sucks right now,especially the Canes.I hate losing to that gater team(insulting).THANKS for THE"SPACE".For what it does and how it informs:CANE CUDO'S to all those that make it happen.
THE"U"

[4-Real]

WANTED ...MORE TRUE CANE FANS LIKE OHIO

[Ucane]

Ohio,I agree with you but...
What if the player and family decide to hang in there 1 more year,get better,raise they're draft stock.Instead of a contract at $500,000 because they're drafted 3rd-6th round,they stay a year,go in the 1st to 3rd round and get $2mill.Then there is the issue of injury if they stay and risk losing it all or dropping in the draft anyway.
I would hate to be in they're shoes to have to make a decision based on family needs,but that is reality.DO I stay or do I go.My agent tells me I will go in such and such round and make such and such money.My coach is telling me to stay and double the money.My family is telling me now because we don't have anything.WHAT a TOUGH decision to have to deal with.Triple edge sword.Not fair-but reality.
THE"U"

[UMike]

Ucane...obviously from a fans standpoint we want them back (most of them any way lol)...these kids are from some of the rougher areas in Miami and im sure a $500,000 contract would do wonders for their lives, I would be hard pressed to pass that up. It may have been a "bad" move if they could of got more next year, but their family may be struggling NOW, and in a lot of cases these players are the ONLY way their families will get help.

[Ucane]

UMIKE,you are absolutely right.
That why I said it had to be a very tough decision.I know they may need it now and I understand the conditions some of these guys had to go thru.I just wish it wasn't that way that these kids are forced to make a decision now because they don't have what they and they're family need,I say NEED,not want to survive.Makes me appreciate what my family provided for me, not my wants but my needs.
P.S.lived in Miami 18 years back in the day.During the riots and the Shnellenberger revival.Tough then even tougher now.
THE"U"

[Jack]

We got some Canes over here!

[billb]

Isn't it obvious that Jim Morris has lost his touch with Canes' baseball. UF and FSU are so much better than UM anymore it is sickening. Time for a new coach.

[CaneAddict]

In terms of twitter and players tweeting inappropriate stuff. I say imagine if there was a twitter when we were in college (for those of us that are older). Can you imagine the silliness and stupid stuff we would have said. These guys represent the university of Miami. But they are kids. 18 to 22 year old kids. They are gonna say stuff we disagree with whether morally or personally. They are kids. Let's give them that leeway with twitter or Facebook or any other social media outlet unless they go overboard with hate speech or something of that sort. Otherwise I really believe its a non story.

Posted by: TheWhat | April 21, 2012 at 06:01 PM

Good point

Also, for the coaches, there!s a fine line between solid discipline nd nitpicking players to death. If you cross that line too often you lose the team. I'm no interested in choirboys anyhow I want football p,ayers.

The guys from the past we hold in such high esteem from the U, did a lot worse than tweet some vulgar language, and if anybody thinks the administration is really going to do anything about the occasional vulgar tweet, they're just humoring you.

[TheWhat]

Go Capitals. Love seeing upsets

[CanesFanStuckInCali]

I respectfully disagree with you guys... 18-22 years olds are ADULTS... they should know to be judicious about what they post online and what they don't post... ESPECIALLY as student athletes, at THE U (where too much scrutiny is never enough), in Al Golden's supposedly high character program.

Now I'm not saying they should be thrown under the bus, and I don't really care if they curse... but you gotta draw the line somewhere, and there need to be some consequences for over the top inappropriate online behavior... it would be hypocritical not to enforce such a policy and detrimental to the players in terms of career development and maturity.

FWIW I'm a third year law student... went to college and law school during the social media era... never would I post something over the line on the Internet... and I'm not even a student athlete! Nonetheless, I'm fully aware that what I say online can reflect poorly on the institutions I represent.

GO CANES!

[SOUP]

NEW BLOG IS UP!

[SOUP]

NEW BLOG IS UP!

[SOUP]

LAST

[CGNC]

347