When we first started the Canespace blog back in June of 2006, blogging was all the rage. It was then a relatively new format by which people of common interests could connect from anywhere in the world over the Internet and share their thoughts, idea and opinions about any subject imaginable.
The Canespace blog exploded onto the scene six years ago this Summer and its reputation and blogging crowd grew quickly even during some of the most challenging and difficult years to be a Miami Hurricanes fan. Since then many coaches, players, bloggers, tailgate parties and wins and losses have come and gone but the blog remains the same.
Over 6.3 million 'Canes fans (and a few trolls) have visited Canespace over the past six years and have posted over 358,000 comments.
But with technology comes change. And especially in today's world that change comes quickly; so quickly in fact that sometimes it is hard just to keep up with the changing times and technology. Twitter in some ways has replaced blogging as the thing to do or the place to be in regards to the current Internet applications in today's environment.
Twitter is kind of like a dozen blogs all on steroids.
For Miami Hurricane fans who are currently on Twitter there is no better or more reliable source for news than PapaCane (aka SaveUMFootball). PapaCane is without a doubt the reigning heavyweight champ of the orange and green Twitter world. Tonight here on Canespace we are lucky to have him give his perspective on the Miami Hurricanes 2012 football season.
Here are our Five Questions with Papa Cane:
Canespace: The Legends of the Fall selection process is an annual ritual at Canespace. The bloggers select one player on offense and one on defense that they think will have a spectacular, break-out or legendary season each year. This year the most selected players were of course QB Stephen Morris and LB Denzel Perryman. Apart from those two obvious selections which two players do you think will show up and show out this season? In addition please also select ONE Freshman player and ONE assistant or position coach who you think will be difference makers for
the 2012 UM football team?
Papa Cane: On offense, I believe that WR Phillip Dorsett will have a breakout year and surprise a lot of people with his quickness, good hands and route running. His athletic ability and on-the-field smarts are complimented by QB Stephen Morris’ arm strength and quick reactions. On defense I can see someone like DE Anthony Chikillo terrorizing QBs throughout the game; I think that he will have more time to get to the QBs this year because our secondary will be superior than last year’s. I’m confident that Chickillo can reach the 10-12 sack mark by game 12.
The one freshman that I strongly believe will be a difference maker is RB Duke Johnson. I think that he is going to get plenty of touches – more than what people think. By Game 3, if healthy, it would not surprise me if he is averaging 10 carries, 3 catches, 3 punt returns and 1 kick-off return.
Mark D’Onofrio is my pick for a position coach that will be a difference maker, again, based on what he has to work with (youth, inexperience, depth issues). A lot of fans don’t realize how good he was at calling plays last year and rallying the troops, and to be honest, he did not have much to work with due to many internal and external factors.
Canespace: Which position(s) on the field worries you the most about this team going into the 2012 season in terms of talent, production and depth? What position do you consider to be the strength of the team?
Papa Cane: The position that worries me the most is defensive line due to the lack of depth, experience and size. That problem will not be fully addressed until National Signing Day 2013 when folks like Keith Bryant and other will join UM and strengthen that side of the ball.
Miami’s offensive line is the strength of this team, even though true freshman Ereck Flowers is currently starting. They are strong, polished, mean and quick on their feet. They will need to stay healthy and be consistent in order to provide QB Stephen Morris the ability to score, and score plenty, because I think there are going to be several shoot-outs this year due to our youth on the defensive side of the ball.
Canespace: Score prediction for the Boston College game? Does Mike James go over 100 yards against BC? Can Morris avoid throwing an INT over the middle against the Eagles? Which Freshman will be the first to score a TD this season?
Papa Cane: Miami 31, Boston College 23. RB Mike James runs for 85-90 yards but the team as a whole runs for 150 yards or more. I’m not that concerned about QB Stephen Morris throwing interceptions over the middle; I believe that his weakness lies in throwing INTs to the sides or on quick outs. The first freshman to score a touchdown will be RB Duke Johnson.
Canespace: Golden has indicated and the depth chart shows that as many at 12-15 Freshmen are likely to play at least some during this season and a few could possibly even start a game or two be season's end. Apart from likely candidates RB Duke Johnson and CB Tracy Howard who do you see as the most likely Freshmen to get some serious playing time in 2012?
Papa Cane: Some of the freshmen that will get plenty of playing time will include safeties Rayshawn Jenkins and Deon Bush, WRs Malcolm Lewis and Robert Lockhart, CB Antonio Crawford, DLs Dequan Ivery and Earl Moore and redshirt freshman LB Eddie Johnson who I expect to make a significant impact and possibly start by Game 5.
Canespace: OK, time to get real and get down to business. I need your season record projection for the 2012 Miami Hurricanes football team? Give it to us straight!
Papa Cane: 7 wins, 5 losses. It’s a transition year fueled by newly developed strength and youth. Next year, we’re winning big. I’m confident.