Miami Does Manhattan

After dispatching of Boston College in the season opener last week in Chestnut Hill, MA your Miami Hurricanes will travel well outside the footprint of the Atlantic Coast Conference and take their road game to Manhattan, Kansas to face the #21 ranked Kansas State Wildcats in the second game of the 2012 season.

Not to be confused with its big brother in New York State, the "Little Apple" is not known for its big business, bright lights and broadway stars but for its small, college town appeal and its consistent, steady and successful brand of football under long time head coach Bill Snyder (160-83-1).

Snyder has been doing Manhattan way before Manhattan was cool.  And, after 20 years at the helm of the Wildcats program there is no doubt that the old, sly, silver fox knows a thing or two about coaching college football. Miami will face a disciplined, well-coached team that executes a solid game plan.

That means that second year Hurricane head coach Al Golden (along with coordinators Jedd Fisch and Mark D'Onofrio) really has his work cut out for him today.  Golden lost last year's head-to-head match-up with Snyder 28-24 in the Orange Bowl in a game the hinged on two big plays.

Late in the fourth quarter Wildcat RB John Hubert busted loose for a 47-yard run on third-and-1, catching UM in a goal-line defense with just about everyone on the line of scrimmage. After that momentum building burst Kansas State went the full 80 yards on eight plays capped by Hubert's score from 2 yards out and putting Miami in need of late game heroics.

Miami did manage to drive the distance of the field with little time left in the game but Kansas State's defense rose up and stopped UM QB Jacory Harris at the goal line on fourth down with :49 seconds left in the game to seal the victory for the Wildcats.

This year Golden and company are hoping for a much different outcome in Kansas.  This year's Hurricane football team, although much younger and less experienced than last year's team, are bigger, stronger and faster thanks to another year of the "UTough" conditioning program instituted by Golden and managed by long-time UM strength and conditioning coach Andreu Swasey.

This UM team is much more dangerous and has more weapons, some of them even top secret, to work with (seen below).  We have reason to believe that the term "Wildcat" does not just refer to a team from Kansas, but of course that is just be wild speculation on our part.

The question still remains: Will that be enough to get the 'Canes across the goal line late in the fourth quarter when needed?  Only time will tell, but we have reason to believe that it will.

This year we expect to see OL Seantrel Henderson lined up at fullback (yeah I said it!) in front of hard-charging RB Mike James carrying the ball and not lanky QB Jacory Harris trying to desperately nose the ball across the goal line.

In a line from a song titled "I Know A Little" performed by legendary Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd there is a line that goes a little something like this:

"The bigger the city well the brighter the lights,

The bigger the dog well the harder it bites."

As everyone knows Miami, FL is by far much bigger and much brighter than Manhattan, KA. So we say: LET THE BIG DOG EAT!

Canespace Prediction: Big Dog Canes 34, Little Kitty Cats 31

Comments

[WWIN]

CoCane,

Maine has more talent on d than us lol

[BEERicane]

I'm sure glad we came away with a FG at the end of that first half. Really changed the outlook of this game.

: )

[Zakkee]

no adjustments on D. No one is shadowing Klein and they refuse to blitz in the red zone.

[CoCane]

It's too easy for Klein. Game over...

[BEERicane]

It's OVA.

[Felipe]

Taking the wife shopping. We'll get em next year. Whoever 'em' is, hopefully some defensive coaching.

[raizecane]

CoCane - you are correct.

Klein can't pull that crap against an LSU or Bama defense. I guess 8 men in the box is not in the playbook.

[WWIN]

OGV

What's really embarrassing is when you don't blitz and drop everybody back in coverage and every wr is still wide open lol. Blitz everybody so at least you'll have a excuse as to why everybody is so open dam lol

[Zakkee]

Brandon McGee and Telemaque are horrible. They deserve criticism at this point in their careers. They should be better, but still play like underclassmen.

[CoCane]

Golden did a good job making us think the players have gotten better ('o')

[UMike]

Getting beat by the same two plays is sad

[dacanes]

No pass rush bottom line. The guy has not been knocked down all day.

[solarcane]

storm johnson tearing it up
arthur brown killing it

"let those cowardly guys transfer if they are afraid to compete at the u" and all that sort of foolishness we had to sit through to realize they knew what the hell was up

[j.w.]

Our Lb play couldn't possibly be worse. Damn do I miss some of the great ones

Posted by: j.w. | September 08, 2012 at 12:53 PM

Some of that has to be on Barrow, yes?

Posted by: 86Cane | September 08, 2012 at 01:41 PM
I think it's more about having to play Tyrone Cornelius on anything other than special teams. I don't think Barrow is a grat coach, but I don't think he's the problem.

[j.w.]

Duke, showing his youth.

[WWIN]

Klein can't pull that crap against an LSU or Bama defense. I guess 8 men in the box is not in the playbook.

Posted by: raizecane | September 08, 2012 at 02:02 PM

There's a actual playbook for this crap???????

[j.w.]

Walford showing some fight, and ability.

[Jiggafras]

People are knocking the pass rush. Quick question...is all our guys coach to crunch inside on passing situations?! We wll get no pass rush like that.

[360Cane]

I saw a linebacker play patty cake with the QB, get faked to the pitch and the QB score. It is the LBs job to just tackle the QB and not worry about pitch. These youngins just aren't comfortable with each other.

But hey, you know. Everyone has a right to their opinion. And all we need is just another coach. Same song...

[j.w.]

Agreed 360.

[360Cane]

Yea, our dl cannot push through. We are missing some guys up front for sure.

[dacanes]

Has there punter even seen the field?

[360Cane]

What we need is stability.

[Jiggafras]

We need another coach. Over 2 season 14 games, opposing QBs have completed 68% of their passes. There is no fucking way we are that bad on D. Why the hell is our DEs rushing inside on passing situations? Big fucking question. The could have scored a TD on every single drive...everyone. And only didnt socre on the drive they fumble and miss the FG.

[nemo2002]

I guess the U is the new Temple. OUCH!

[86Cane]

they haven't scored on us in about twenty minutes

Posted by: solarcane | September 08, 2012 at 01:50 PM

Solar...is that your BEST effort to HELP things around here?

C'mon MAN!

[360Cane]

Maybe Klein is that good?

[360Cane]

Here we go!!!

[86Cane]

McGee is the MAN!

[dacanes]

About fing time

[Laquinton]

god brandon ! nice pic !!!

[orange 'n green in the vein]

McGee plays press coverage and . . . holy f'ing sh!t.

[360Cane]

Maybe not?

Lmao!

[raizecane]

why do they keep showng the flutie hail mary??? Do they want me to break my 52" LCD??

[Laquinton]

go for the gusto next play..travis with the streak !

wait....that was whipple and jacory

[CGNC]

Ok not going to use UPS anymore - hate that flutie play

[86Cane]

OK READ THIS SLOWLY:

1. This is a non-confernece game so it's impact on our LONG term goal is really insignificant.

2. The goal from here on out during THIS game should not be to win the game but to get BETTER every play.

3. Just work on EXECUTION and forget about the score. Dividens will pay off later.

4. That what I would tell the players.

[orange 'n green in the vein]

Where's the ball Q? Because football 101 says you go to the endzone on the next play, especially at this score.

[360Cane]

Better late than never, huh OGV?

[tjl3909]

is this a big 12 crew?

[solarcane]

soup i agree, but our LONG term view has been many seasons too long

[360Cane]

That post is money. We need to keep doing that.

[8th Man in the Box]

2 weeks 2 clutch catches for DJ

[86Cane]

Yo Mama, Al, Jerry... your day here is done.

[j.w.]

Morris is quietly having a very good day. He has no running game, dealing with spotty OL play and Duke has the drops, but he is doing really well. Loving the young WR.

[Zakkee]

Coaches have chosen the slow death today. The more I think about it it becomes clear that the old U is gone and its gone because of the success of the old U. Our coaches and players first covert (sometimes overt--many examples over the years) priority is money.

Our coaches are coaching to look good enough for opportunities in the league and the players--the same. If we win games during the journey then thats even sweeter.

University of Miami football is solely a business to EVERYONE involved but...the diehard fan.

All of the motivational speeches by old players are designed to rekindle that pure intent that used to exist at the university.

The $ and notoriety are here now, so the struggle and passion is gone. Money makes everything fake.

[TonyCane]

Unidentified offensive lineman (after the game) - "We didn't show up today. K-State wanted it more. We will just have to get back up and improve."

Same garbage quote (insert team name) year after year. I forgot the name of the now departed offensive lineman who was the go-to man after defeats and gave out the same generic quote.

[orange 'n green in the vein]

Two short crossing routes underneath please.

[j.w.]

Duke nearly goit the corner on that one. This offense is going to put up huge numbers this year, just got to see some progress from the young DB and LB. Patience, folks, patience.

[elliott]

Miami sucks point blank period... Look I am not going to sit here and give the sky is falling speech. Lets just say that everyone is clowning our team not just defense (media, relatives, friends, etc...). Offense looks horrible and Duke is suspect. Way too much youth and DNofrio has no idea what to do. Truth is we suck and will for some time....5-7 here we come is it too late in the year to switch prediction? Go canes? I guess....

[Zakkee]

Tyler Horn and Jason Fox before him.

[orange 'n green in the vein]

AJ Trump? Doesn't he hold the career record starts through the late Coker years TC?

[Panamacitycane]

We will be good in 2013 golden needs to focus on getting this d line fixed with recruiting..

[solarcane]

zakkee with post of the year

[orange 'n green in the vein]

Fox is the career start holder, those average linemen run together after a while, even the ones with no weaknesses.

[BEERicane]

Nice block, mike james

[orange 'n green in the vein]

That should calm down the specious, "Morris would get in on 4th last year," argument I keep hearing about.

[Zakkee]

What the hell was that play call!?!? Fisch is horrible in the red zone.

[BEERicane]

James is the nicest kid ever, terrific person who deserves nothing but the best out of life, but he is not a great football player.

[UpNorthCane27]

Stephen morris has a very low iq as a qb guys im sorry but he does

[j.w.]

31. Again. And he's the best we have for backup LB. Think about that for a minute.

[360Cane]

We haven't done anything on the edge so why do that? Slants man. The middle of the field has been soft all day. Dang man.

[TonyCane]

Zakkee...LOL...that's exactly who I was talking about. I'm glad that someone else noticed that. Someone could make a hillarious (if sad) Youtube video of Horn making the same quotes year after year.

[j.w.]

That ocmmercial for The League was f'ing hysterical.

[raizecane]

if morris cuts left instead of right, we score....

[SJMPARMAN]

This team may be getting creamed but there does not appear to be any quit in these players.

[UpNorthCane27]

A qb that runs out of the pocket 3 straight times and in completes two throws and doesnt get into the endzone is pathetic!!!

[BEERicane]

This is where UTough takes over. Too bad it does no good the first 3 quarters

[solarcane]

we are going to be a 7-6 8-4 team as long as our guys play 2 seasons and bolt to the nfl
this is exactly how we are going to look playing freshmen and sophmorers over the next decade get used to it and enjoy the great moments or just become an Alabama fan

[dj moonbat]

James is the nicest kid ever, terrific person who deserves nothing but the best out of life, but he is not a great football player.

Posted by: BEERicane | September 08, 2012 at 02:32 PM

He just shouldn't be the primary tailback. If he's in there on other than goal line or other short yardage situations, it should be in the role of a multi-purpose fullback, a la Najeh Davenport (who was, of course, much faster than Mike James, but otherwise pretty similar).

[pompanocane]

we need a lot of work asap

[j.w.]

Cut my legs off and call me shorty! 31 made a tackle!

[BEERicane]

Completely agree, moonbat

[solarcane]

sjm
i was thinking the same thing, they have their heads up and are trying

[j.w.]

59 and 31. Again.

[BEERicane]

Apparently UTough doesn't work in the 4th qtr either

[TonyCane]

Utough?! We're going to need the Iraqi Minister of Propaganda to spin this after the game is over.

[UpNorthCane27]

Freshmen deon bush showing heart and causing a fumble... Tooo bad they just scored on us again

[j.w.]

Pretty much every play is a big play when those two are out htere together.

[Tsully76]

Great post 86. I thought our Canes would lose but not be embarrassed. Oh well it's not a conference game. On to the next game.

[86Cane]

College players vs High School players.

No way to win that match-up.

[UpNorthCane27]

Freaking K STATE MASK guy was right, and i can only
Imagine his next video

[orange 'n green in the vein]

KSU took those yardsticks and treated Golden and company today like their prison trick with them.

Special K finally found a way to get his alma matter past Miami in the football pecking order. A special f you to him.

[360Cane]

Wow. We really are not getting any push up front. Looks like the lack of DT recruiting is killing us.

[Montreal-Cane]

The saddest part will be the attendance at Sunlife Stadium for the opener...

This team needs to grow up fast....

Just for some more humiliation they show the UPS commercial all over with Doug Flutecake throwing his lucky pass against UM.

[hassan]

McGee is playing pretty well.

Does Fisch forget we have 6"4 rec TE in the redzone?

[j.w.]

College players vs High School players.

No way to win that match-up.

Posted by: 86Cane | September 08, 2012 at 02:40 PM
The sad part is that the kids who look like college players on our D just can't play at this level. No amount of coaching is going to turn some of these kids into productive players, they just don't have the talent. Effort is there, conditioning is good, just not enough talent.

[solarcane]

College players vs High School players.

No way to win that match-up.

Posted by: 86Cane | September 08, 2012 at 02:40 PM

yea soup thats what i meant about duke, he will be spectacular , but hes playing guys with four years of college ball then he will be in the nfl as a junior and we start over again

[j.w.]

henderson's guy gets the fumble when he breaks free. Guess practice does matter.

[Montreal-Cane]

Now play Williams.

[orange 'n green in the vein]

Time to get the backup QB a look Jedd.

[BEERicane]

UTough must have actually been UFumble.

[solarcane]

hope the recruits were at the beach today

[4-Real]

Love ur post Zakkee. My thoughts excactly. Our coaches are trying 2 build their resumes by trying 2 develop no name kids into decent / good players cuz they did ok @ temple. This ain't temple where u play bowling green & western michigan on the regular. Time 2 get off their flat azzez & start recruiting sum reel ballerz. But look on tha bright side, our academics are off da chain!!! Thru watching. Watching Clint Eastwood Western

[TonyCane]

Too many 2-star projects on our team. These idiots better get it together or K-State will hang 40 on them in Q4.

Where is Tyler Horn when you need him?

[orange 'n green in the vein]

A game like this put Larry Coker on the hot-seat. Al Golden is no Larry Coker by the way.

[nemo2002]

Don't blame the game ENTIRELY on the defense.
The offense hasn't done nearly enough to win the game, even if the D was playing better.
In truth, our running game is weak; Morris is an average QB (at best); and our wide receivers are . . . .?

Of course, that being said . . . even if the offense was better, we still wouldn't be able to win the game - because of our purported "defense".

[Yo mama]

Time for the coaches to get their ass kicked.

[raizecane]

guess i'll go hang with the wife seeing it's our 22 year anniversary today....just need to get in a better mood.

[Montreal-Cane]

Do we have a full back...lol...