Canes Conquer Cavs

GAME 11: MIAMI (8-3, 4-3) 45, VIRGINIA (2-9, 0-7) 26

SUN LIFE STADIUM • NOV. 23, 2013 • ANNOUNCED ATTENDANCE: 44,732

MISCELLANEOUS AND SERIES NOTES:

• Miami takes a 6-5 lead in the series
• Miami snaps three-game losing streak to Miami.
• In Miami, the Canes take a 3-2 series lead.

TEAM NOTES:

• First time Miami’s first score has been a defensive TD since Oct. 28, 2006 when Glenn Cook had a 19-yard fumble recovery for a TD against Georgia Tech.
• Miami is 5-0 this season when leading at halftime and 16-1 in the Golden era.
• For the 10th time in the last 13 games, Miami has scored first.
• Miami now has 17 interceptions for the season, the most since 2003.
• The senior class finished their careers with a 17-9 record at home.
• Second time this season Miami has 3+ interceptions in a game.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES:

• Tracy Howard's fourth INT of his career on first play of the game scored his first career TD.
• Stephen Morris completed his 9th pass of 50+ yards this season - seven of which have gone for touchdowns.
• Stephen Morris has a touchdown of 50+ yards in three straight game.
• Allen Hurns is now in 10th place on the Miami all-time reception list with 110 career receptions.
• Stacy Coley joins Duke Johnson as the only freshman to score 7 or more touchdowns since 1999.
• Ladarius Gunter had his 3rd interception of the season and 4th of his career.
• Dallas Crawford scored his 13th touchdown of the season - only the 2nd Miami running back to do so since 2002 (the other is Duke Johnson).
• Allen Hurns’ fifth 100+ receiving game this season.
• Allen Hurns at 965 receiving yards this season.
• Season long 71-yard punt by Pat O’Donnell.
• Career-first interception for Kacy Rodgers II.
• Second fumble recovery of the year by David Gilbert - this time, returned it 72 yards for a TD.

Related articles

Miami Hurricanes snap losing streak with rout of Virginia

Miami Snaps Slide, Tops Virginia 45-26

Canes snap losing streak

Ladarius Gunter released from hospital after suffering neck injury

Comments

[j.w.]

Really?

[j.w.]

W00-hoo! Been a while since I get the top spot.

[Terrance Sullivan]

Last season our offense averaged 41 points a game and our historically bad defense gave up 40 a game against a harder schedule. This year our offense is averaging 35 points a game and our defense is giving up 26 points a game. Hmmm and we are like last in Division 1 football in time of possession but we are were where we are only because of D'No. Pure comedy.

[j.w.]

What's your bowl game choice, Canes fans? Chick Fil A, Sun or Russell Sports? Make your choice, for whatever reason you want. I'll go with Chick Fil A. I don't like our chances against any of the potential opponents (maybe we're better off in the Sun), but I'd take my chances with A&M if I had the choice. They can't stop anyone either, and if we do play as poorly as we played against the Jokies or Dook, at least it will be against a respected team.

[SOUP]

Russell Sports Bowl in Orlando so I can go.

That is all.

[SOUP]

Terrance check it out:

UM ranks 4th in points for with 390 in spite of the offense spewing chunks and sucking rocks on a regular basis. Only FSU (605), Clemson (465) and GT (405) have scored more points than UM.

UM ranks 9th in points allowed with 281. Forget FSU, Clemson and VT we all know they have better Defenses than UM but even Wake, Duke, MD, GT and UNC have allowed less.

[Terrance Sullivan]

Great stuff Soup. Yes I would love for us to be in Russell Athletic Bowl in Orlando on December 28th against UCF. Go Canes.

[Account Deleted]

top ten...once again

[SOUP]

Sully...IF we beat Pitt I will be happier than a fat rat in a cheese factory!

[SOUP]

On the defensive side, sophomore Tracy Howard and freshman Artie Burns are listed as co-starters at left cornerback, while Burns, sophomore Antonio Crawford and senior Kacy Rodgers II are tri-starters at right cornerback. Miami will be without junior Ladarius Gunter and freshman Corn Elder who were injured against the Cavaliers.

[Surfercane]

Any bowl game just win it!!!!

[SOUP]

I TOLD U NOT TO RUSH HIM BACK, BUT NO, U WOULD NOT FRIGGING LISTEN NOW WOULD U:

Junior WR Phillip Dorsett, who returned to the depth chart last week at the Hurricanes’ second wideout position, is not on this week’s depth chart. Dorsett has missed the last five games with a lower extremity injury.

[Canezitis]

Russell athletic bowl- don't wanna be embarrassed by any $EC team. Too many bad memories against LSU. That was the beginning of the end of our dominance. Imagine a decent OC with a few weeks to prepare against our D. We're giving up 50 a game now, with that much time they might score 100. The fire Dno tirade must continue until he is gone. As a fan it kills me to say that I don't want us to play an good $EC team, but that's the reality of things right now.

[CaneSawMassacre]

Got to go to Atlanta and end this season with a little self respect

The charge for 10-3 is on!

[Go Canes!]

I already have plenty of respect for this team.

Offense looked pretty bad at times but a nice win.

[WWIN]

Posted by: j.w. | November 24, 2013 at 08:24 PM

The Toilet Bowl against da Turds!!!! Guaranteed W, well maybe

[SOUP]

Offense looked pretty bad at times but a nice win.

Posted by: Go Canes! | November 24, 2013 at 09:39 PM

OK, so for U to say "pretty bad" then the actual translation for that is "horrific"!

[WWIN]

Soup, coaching staff rushed him back trying to make sure they could win, guess they didn't read canespace like they SHOULD had this past week

[Montreal-Cane]

Braxton Berrios ‏@HNYNUT_BERRIOS
Could've went to Oregon, or Ohio State. But I decided to bring MY team back, and that's just a Canes thing. You wouldn't understand.

The real swag is back!

[WWIN]

Now I understand why Coke and OGV don't post as often now, its hard to post when its nothing good to say... SMH

I shook my head so much yesterday during the game people woulda thought I had Tourette's. smh

Alright Soup I'm bout to ease up on the coaching staff, at least on the blog, and I'll try to call them by their government names.

[Go Canes!]

I have something good to say.

We won easily.

We can win 9 games this season and hopefully a bowl game.

We have won more games for three straight years.

We have perhaps the top recruiting class in America on the way.

The NCAA fiasco is over

Stacey Coley, Tracy Howard, Muhammad, McCord and Duke are among a bunch of great young players we have returning.

[WWIN]

Missing those two years of bowl practices has hurt tho.

So Golden was at a disadvantage there, will help for next year

[SOUP]

WWIM...that is very, very true. Miami could have used ALL of the practices they could muster under NCAA rules and regs.

[SOUP]

I have something positive to say too:

The field at Sun Life is in perfect condition.

[SOUP]

FROM BRUCE FELDMAN AND CBS SPORTS:

Earlier this week a source told me that Florida would be getting rid of offensive coordinator Brent Pease after this season and offensive line coach Tim Davis also would be gone. But after the Gators dismal showing in the loss to Georgia Southern on Saturday, UF's first loss to an FCS program, there's even more doubt about whether Will Muschamp also gets canned this winter despite AD Jeremy Foley's "1,000 percent" support comment last week. This wasn't even an FCS program with a winning record in its own conference the Gators lost to.

The Gators, preseason No. 10, are staring at a 4-8 season with FSU looming.

I thought Muschamp was a good hire at UF, but he's learning on a huge stage. Getting to be a first-time head coach at a powerhouse program in the SEC with a big spotlight is really, really hard. Mark Richt succeeded but most don't when they're thrust into such a spot without figuring some things out at a smaller program (See: Nick Saban, Urban Meyer, Kevin Sumlin, Butch Jones and a bunch of others). Guys like Richt and Bob Stoops are in the minority.

[Montreal-Cane]

The reason why the Gators are so bad...Zoom on the picture.

pic.twitter.com/9NB2OhVUbd”

[Montreal-Cane]

pic.twitter.com/9NB2OhVUbd

[SOUP]

MORE FROM FELDMAN:

I know Virginia brass has been strong in its support of fourth-year coach Mike London, but this program just doesn't seem to be getting better and don't rule out a change this winter there. Virginia is 0-7 in ACC play and six of those seven losses were by double-digits. And only one opponent was ranked (Clemson, 59-10).

[WWIN]

More silver linings....

Stacey Coley, Stacey Coley, Stacey Coley....

Will be a force to be reckoned wit the next two years

[Montreal-Cane]

Police handling of FSU player's case under fire

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/police-handling-winston-case-under-172059989--ncaaf.html

[WWIN]

Soup, those practices will really help Williams and Olsen for next year, and I wouldn't be surprised if Golden gives the keys to Olsen next year to start building on the future.

[CGNC]

Sully...IF we beat Pitt I will be happier than a fat rat in a cheese factory!

Posted by: SOUP | November 24, 2013 at 08:53 PM

and we will have our 9-3. Finally.

[CaneXYZ]

We were 9-3 in Shannon's third year, before the bowl game, or does that not count?

[herbieibis]

Does anybody think an extra month of practice is really going to help this defense? The offense can't convert third downs and in The Herbs opinion this staff is utterly clueless. They just can't figure anything out. They had a year to get things organized and figure out our best course of action and they flopped. If they couldn't figure it out in a year what makes you think they can figure it out in 25 days?

[Ohio_Cane]

CGNC, didn't U and SOUP finally abandon that 9-3 prediction this year? LOL

[SOUP]

If they couldn't figure it out in a year what makes you think they can figure it out in 25 days?

Posted by: herbieibis | November 24, 2013 at 11:36 PM

Our Father, who art in heaven...

[SOUP]

Ohio...I did, she didn't.

[WWIN]

If they couldn't figure it out in a year what makes you think they can figure it out in 25 days?

Posted by: herbieibis | November 24, 2013 at 11:36 PM

The herb, will you stop I'm trying to be positive here damn. You ain't adding right, the "Process" takes 5yrs not 4. So it woulda actually been 75 days going into next season not 25, and it shoulda been 100 extra days of practice before the "Process" takes place

[Terrance Sullivan]

Soup U got me in tears laughing.

[Ohio_Cane]

This Canes team has pushed SOUP to the religious edge. Lol

[Terrance Sullivan]

What would make me happy is beat Pittsburgh and beat whoever our bowl opponent is and accomplish two goals ending the bowl drought 2006 and 10 wins 2003. Let's do this Canes.

[The Dude]

I would like to play Texas A&M and watch Johnny Football get the record for most yards accounted for. He'd probably get close to 800 yards himself on Marky D & Al's defense. Maybe then we'd see some changes. They'd definately put 50 points on us. This year is over to me anyways, its all bonus football now, its just a shame we play like losers and will probably lose both games. At least with A&M we could see what an actual Heisman trophy winner could do against a D that makes everyone look like a Heisman trophy winner. F*ck the scheme!

[Rand Stevens]

So Floridas OC at Boise was genius; Peterson, the HC at Boise was a genius until he lost his genius OC to Florida and went into the tank.

Have I got this right?

Scheme or talent?

[Montreal-Cane]

Jimbo Fisher had to replace almost his entire coaching staff early in 2013 and what is he about to win in the same year...The NC.

Picking the right coaches is one of the best quality required for a Head Coach to have success.

[WWIN]

^^^^^^^^^^^
Monty, you got that right!!!!!!!!!!

[UMike]

### UM fans justifiably expected Miami’s eighth win to come sooner, but if it’s any consolation, the Canes (8-3) now have won (at least) eight games for the first time since 2009 and for only the second time since 2005. UM’s win total has risen from 6 to 7 to now 8 (and counting) in Al Golden’s first three seasons.

And after allowing 41, 42 and 48 points the past three weeks, UM allowed 27, albeit against a dreadful Virginia team. (Hardly a reason for a parade, obviously.)

The season will still be a disappointment because Miami likely won’t win the Coastal (barring a UM win, Duke loss and Virginia Tech loss next week). But a 10-win season --- combined with recent resolution of the NCAA case and a top-five recruiting class --- would at least end the year on an uplifting note.

### Al Golden, afterward on WQAM and during his postgame news conference: “I’m thrilled for the seniors. They’ve been through a lot of adversity. They decided they would come out and fight and not take the easy way out….We had more energy. Our tackling was really good in the third quarter. [But] we gave up a big punt return again. Our time of possession wasn’t very good (22:11)."

Virginia ran 91 plays and had 483 yards of offense.

"On offense, we have to do a better job. Nobody can be out there that long defensively," Golden said. "We're just not that deep.”

### UM’s defensive backfield was very good for 3 ½ quarters, including Tracy Howard’s interception return for a touchdown to start the game (Howard admitted he knew the play was coming and “he did the same thing in practice,” defensive coordinator Mark D’Onofrio said); Ladarius Gunter's pick and long return to set up a UM TD before halftime; and decent coverage that helped limit Virginia starting quarterback Larry Watford to putrid numbers: 10 for 25 for 106 yards and three picks.

But UM ended the game depleted at cornerback –-- a major concern with UM scheduled to play Friday at Pittsburgh. Miami, already without Artie Burns, lost Ladarius Gunter, Corn Elder and Nate Dortch.

Gunter sustained a neck injury late, left on a stretcher, and was taken by helicopter to Jackson Hospital for observation. [UPDATE: UM announced after 8 p.m. that he has been released from the hospital and will be able to play football again this season.]

Golden said the injuries to Elder and Dortch are "significant." Elder has been planning to join the basketball team as a point guard after football season.

Those injuries left Howard and Antonio Crawford as the only experienced cornerbacks. Larry Hope, who has played mostly on special teams, also is available. UM wants to redshirt cornerback Ray Lewis III.

### UM’s run defense was again bludgeoned in the first half, allowing 208 yards and more than six per carry. But with Virginia forced to throw a lot in the second half, the Cavaliers had just 35 yards on the ground after intermission, closing at 5.3 per carry. Virginia's rushing yardage total was its highest against an FBS opponent.

Virginia quarterback Greyson Lambert put up good numbers (12 for 15, 117 yards) in garbage time late in the game.

### Safety Rayshawn Jenkins, who was told very clearly by coaches that he needed to be more of a physical presence across the middle, made two big hits, including one that nearly got him ejected before the officials correctly changed their mind and merely called it a 15-yard penalty.

### UM’s running game mustered just 90 yards, on 3.6 per carry. In the games Duke Johnson played, UM averaged 192 yards rushing. In the three games since, it’s just 101. Dallas Crawford closed with 55 yards on 16 carries --- including his 13th touchdown --– but his highlight was a terrific block on Stacy Coley’s 62-yard TD.

### The run blocking hasn’t been nearly as dominant as one would expect considering the supposed depth and talent of this offensive line. Aside from splendid work from Ereck Flowers and Brandon Linder, the line has had too many lapses. Seantrel Henderson remains one of this season’s biggest disappointments.

### Of UM's 14 possessions, six ended with either three-and-outs or a turnover before a first down was made. That has been a problem all season.

### Virginia outgained UM, 483-304, but Miami’s four takeaways were huge. “That’s something we were lacking, and part of what the problem had been,” D’Onofrio said on WQAM. “We had sudden change stops, red zone stops.”

### D’Onofrio dialed up some timely blitzes, including one from Antonio Crawford that forced a third down incompletion. The hope is that the secondary, which will be more experienced next year, will be good enough in coverage to allow a more aggressive defensive approach next season.

### Stephen Morris’ numbers were again bloated because of yards after catch. In fact, all of Coley’s 62 yards on his TD catch were YAC. Morris closed 13 for 26 for 214 yards with two touchdowns and a pick.

“I had a couple of tears in my eyes, was watering up,” Morris said about running through the smoke for the final time at Sun Life Stadium. “Coming here, you never see yourself leaving.”

### One of the best developments of the season: Coley has becoming an electrifying playmaker. He has seven TDs on the season and has plays of 81, 79 and 62 yards the past three games.

### Aside from Johnson, Allen Hurns clearly has been UM’s most consistent offensive skill position player this season. He had six catches for 126 yards on Saturday, including a 26-yard touchdown, and now has 965 receiving yards for the season. He also moved into 10th place on UM's all-time receptions list (110).

"He's a testament to what we want in our program," Golden said. "He's self-made. He is a leader."

### Aside from blocking, UM got nothing in the passing game from tight ends Saturday, with Clive Walford, Asante Cleveland and Beau Sandland all finishing without a catch. In fact, only three UM players had receptions: Hurns, Coley (5 for 81) and Crawford (2 for 7).

### Good to see some of the young players get more work, especially on defense. Tyriq McCord and Al-Quadin Muhammad, who could become everydown players at outside linebacker, got some work on first and second downs, with mixed results.

McCord should have made a stop for a loss on a third and three, but couldn’t make the tackle, and Virginia got a first down. But give McCord credit for forcing the quarterback fumble that David Gilbert scooped up and sprinted 73 yards for a touchdown.

UM hoped Gilbert, a senior transfer from Wisconsin, would have been a bigger factor this season. “Happy for him,” Golden said.

### Junior defensive end Ufomba Kamalu played a lot, and pretty well, and he factors in significantly into UM’s plans next season. Kamalu gives UM terrific size at end: He’s 289 pounds and UM expects him to be top 300 pounds by next fall. Tackle Earl Moore also got some work.

### UM's 17 INTs are its most since 2003... UM snapped a three-game losing streak against Virginia... The senior class finished 17-9 at Sun Life Stadium.

### Four-star California-based quarterback Brad Kaaya, one of UM’s key commitments, is visiting UCLA this weekend. But he remains orally committed to UM and was asking people on Twitter for a UM score update on Saturday.

Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/2013/11/postscripts-reaction-from-ums-win-against-virginia.html#storylink=cpy

[UMike]

Injuries in the secondary and players returning from injury prompted changes in the latest Hurricanes depth chart released Sunday night by head coach Al Golden. Miami (8-3, 4-3 ACC) closes its regular-season slate Friday at Pitt (6-5, 3-4 ACC). Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. on ABC.

On offense, redshirt freshman Danny Isidora is listed as the backup at right guard. Isidora made his Hurricanes debut during Saturday’s 45-26 Senior Day win over Virginia after missing the first 10 games of the season with a lower extremity injury.

Junior WR Phillip Dorsett, who returned to the depth chart last week at the Hurricanes’ second wideout position, is not on this week’s depth chart. Dorsett has missed the last five games with a lower extremity injury.

On the defensive side, sophomore Tracy Howard and freshman Artie Burns are listed as co-starters at left cornerback, while Burns, sophomore Antonio Crawford and senior Kacy Rodgers II are tri-starters at right cornerback. Miami will be without junior Ladarius Gunter and freshman Corn Elder who were injured against the Cavaliers.

Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/umiami/2013/11/changes-in-the-secondary-highlight-latest-canes-depth-chart.html#storylink=cpy

[UMike]

Tito working...

2014 Miami Central (Fla.) running back Dalvin Cook had two rushing touchdowns in his teams 59-14 win over Dillard, but also contributed on the defensive side of the ball with an interception return for a touchdown. He spoke about being able to help the team out on both ends of the game.

“I knew coming into the season I had to work for it and I had to get my body in shape and I just know it’s paying off right now.”

Cook added to the rushing attack for Central with 2 of his own to go along with 3 from Joe Yearby and talked about both of their performances.

“It means a lot to us that even with the ref’s throwing all the flags we can do what we do and it shows that the work we’re putting in off the field is showing up on the field.”

The next matchup for the Rockets is American Heritage from Delray Beach and the mindset going forward and the focus cannot change according to the Florida commit.

“We just have to go into practice with the mindset that we can’t be beaten and we have to give it 110% at practice. We go into the locker room every day and we put a quote up on the board like we gotta stay humble and we know we have a bunch of seniors on the team, but we play like we’re freshmen.”

Cook committed to the Gators back in the spring of last year and has been keeping in contact with other schools since then. Now the heat has turned up on Cook as he is nearing the time for enrolling early.

One school that made news with the 5’11 200 pound running back was Miami, when he recently announced that he would be visiting on the 6th of December.

“I’m just looking to spend more time with the whole coaching staff, I haven’t been able to do that yet. Just to be around them for 48 hours and I just want to be around them and get to know them more.”

Two of Cook’s teammates including Joseph Yearby and offensive tackle Trevor Darling are committed to the Hurricanes and he is aware they will be pushing him.

“Right now at this point they aren’t really talking to me about it like that because we are really focused on trying to win this state title for our last year, but once this season is over with those last couple of weeks, since we are all early enrollee’s, they are going to be on my chest.”

Florida State is another school that has made a strong push for the electric running back and he talked about his draw to Tallahassee.

“FSU is a great program, they’re back on the rise. I feel like I’m the type of back, I can get anywhere on the field and they’re offense they can put you anywhere on the field to make a play.”

While it’s not for certain where Cook will end up, he is sure on what state he will land in.

“I’m planning on staying in state.”

As far as when the decision will be made, Cook has somewhat of an Idea of when it will happen.

“It’s going to be at the Under Armour game or after the State game.”

http://www.canesinsight.com/content/2157-Cook-Wants-to-Stay-in-State

[UMike]

^^^^ BTW..there is a lot of talk that if Cook flips it will be to FSU, not UM.

[UMike]

More Tito...

2014 Miami Central (Fla.) running back Joseph Yearby is trying to end his senior year in the same fashion his junior year did with a state championship. Yearby definitely made his case tonight as he racked up 3 touchdowns in the first half.

“Me and Dalvin came in to the game prepared that if we want to go back to win states we have to do what we have to do and comeback for the win.”

Yearby and Dalvin Cook are both senior leaders of the team and both helped power the way for the Rockets 59-14 victory over Dillard on Friday.

“It feels good knowing the team looks up to us because we are leaders of the team. The actions that we do, they will do the same thing.”

The 5’10 195 pound running back is committed to Miami and talked about where he stands with that commitment.

“Everything is going good, I’ve got a couple visit set up for West Virginia, Hawaii and USF.”

The Hurricane commitment found out word like other ‘Cane fans that his teammate Dalvin Cook will be taking a visit to Miami on December 6th and it looks like he will join him.

“I’m gonna visit Miami, just to see what’s up with him. Try to flip him (laughs).”

The Miami central product has been watching the Hurricanes play as of late and shared his thoughts on how they can start playing well again.

“They just gotta bounce back, they just came back from a couple players getting injured and they just gotta bounce back.”

Yearby, like Cook and offensive tackle Trevor Darling, is planning on enrolling early and is excited to get to Miami.

“I’m very excited, I can’t wait.”

http://www.canesinsight.com/content/2156-Yearby-Talks-Canes