Answer The Question (Part III)

In this three part series we have been focusing on what Miami needs to do to beat Clemson, win the ACC and compete for a National Championship Title.

Others have tried to copy this great idea (I know you are reading this and you know who you are) with a slight twist because it was, in fact, such a great idea.

In Part I of the series we answered the obvious question: How does Miami stack up talent wise versus teams like Clemson and the other playoff teams like Alabama, Georgia and Oklahoma. Most knowledgeable college football fans already knew the obvious when we told you that Miami trails these teams in recruiting over the last 3-5 years by a significant margin.

Head coach Mark Richt recruited very well last year, is killing it this year with his #Storm18 class and still has a long way to go to make up the talent gap that has been created over the past five years. We wish him luck and success.

The top four teams average 10 five star and 44 four star players per team.

Miami has just 2 five stars and 24 four star players on their current roster. 

In Part II of the series we looked at the most glaring and obvious issues on the current team: Offensive woes that resulted from poor execution, poor QB play, poor play calling and game planning and key injuries that impacted the team during the season. At times it looked like a complete cluster *&%$.

All of these factors created the perfect storm (pun intended) for the 2017 UM offense that at times looked unstoppable (Notre Dame)and at other times could not get out of their own way (Pitt, Clemson, Wisconsin and others).

To be clear Miami trailed Clemson in every offensive category that counts: Scoring  (Clemson #21, Miami #57, Total Offense (#31, #58), Rushing Offense (#33, #73) and Passing Offense (#50, #52).

In Part III of the series we are going to look at a few more statistical categories where the Hurricanes must improve if they are going to win something more than the weak Coastal Division of the ACC and compete with the Big Boys.

These categories are:

Third Down Conversions - Offense: Clemson #10, Miami #123

First Downs - Gained: Clemson #12, Miami #89

First Downs - Allowed: Clemson #11, Miami #68

Time of Possession: Clemson #44, Miami #119

It doesn't take a rocket scientist, an MIT grad, the GEICO Gecko or our own prominent resident statistician TonyCane to do the math and figure out what went wrong with the Miami Hurricanes in 2017.

On offense the Hurricanes could not get a first down to save their lives and had way too many three-and-outs. This usually resulted in poor field position, too many punts (with a poor punter to boot, pun intended) and often times put too much pressure put on the young, aggressive and at times worn out defense.

On defense the Hurricanes could not get off the field on third down, gave up way too many first downs overall and too many conversions on third down even when the defense had other teams in third and long. In fact there were times during the season when fans would use this statement as a punchline: "The other team has us just where they want us, in third and long!"

Solution: Next year the Hurricanes must convert 45% or more on third downs on offense. They also must get off the field on defense on third and 7 yards or more. Or 11 yards or more. Or 17 yards or more. Or, well, you get my drift.

Comments

[His Royal Dudeness]

Michael Barrow for LB/ST would be a good hire also.

[His Royal Dudeness]

Personally I'd like to see KD11 take a job with Butch, Saban, Carroll, Bill B., Reid or Kelly before coming to Miami in as an OC.

[MLAlumni1970]

Would some of you tell the TRUTH about my favorite QB Ken Dorsey.
Fired from Panthers.
Going to be a CANE once again! TRUE OR NOT??????
My heart is pounding.
I am in Florida now, finally away from the snow, ice, and cold of Michigan.
CANES, CANES, CANES.

[His Royal Dudeness]

Posted by: MLAlumni1970 | January 09, 2018 at 02:58 PM

A reliable source, from another site says Miami's staff has a meeting set up with Dorsey at the end of the week.

[His Royal Dudeness]

Dorsey to the Raiders would be good for his career also.

[MLAlumni1970]

Might as well bring back Michael Barrow and any other CANE that would fit. CANE staff would work their asses off.

[Ohio_Cane]

A reliable source, from another site says Miami's staff has a meeting set up with Dorsey at the end of the week.

Posted by: His Royal Dudeness | January 09, 2018 at 03:23 PM
-----------------------------------------

Please don't say Canesport...

[Ohio_Cane]

Also, please don't say Whoopingcane from CIS...

[His Royal Dudeness]

Posted by: Ohio_Cane | January 09, 2018 at 03:39 PM

I meant reliable in a sarcastic way.

[Sarasota 'cane]

I would love for Ken Dorsey to come back to Miami as our OC. His experience working with Cam will be invaluable with the two new QB's that are "on-deck" for spring practice. I'm not sure Shula would consider UM but he would be an improvement as well. I'm sure Jon Gruden will take a look at both for the Raiders, but IMO it's time for Ken to move up to OC, and I think a college team is the best place to make that jump.

Go 'canes!!

[CaneRock]

Harris, Thomas, Norton, & McIntosh...we gotta lotta production to make up for next year...LBs have their work cut out for em'.

[Sarasota 'cane]

Harris, Thomas, Norton, & McIntosh...we gotta lotta production to make up for next year...LBs have their work cut out for em'.

Posted by: CaneRock | January 09, 2018 at 04:44 PM

And a likely freshmen QB. I'm feelin' "one step back" before 2019's "two steps forward"! LOL!!

Go 'canes!!

[His Royal Dudeness]

Posted by: Sarasota 'cane | January 09, 2018 at 04:33 PM

Has anyone ever seen him actually coach enough to know if he's any good though? Is a professional that is committed to perfecting his craft or is he just a dude hanging out and collecting a paycheck? I'd kind of like to see him go coach under another big time coach for a season, then go OC somewhere, then join us... of course having Dorsey around would be pretty damn cool.

[Sarasota 'cane]

Posted by: His Royal Dudeness | January 09, 2018 at 04:53 PM

I've only heard about Ken at the H.S. level when he was coaching QB's and receivers at Lakewood Ranch H.S. My old boss' kid was a receiver at Lakewood and the "football dad's" loved him. It wasn't long before he was gone to the NFL. I don't think Ken is gonna break anything at Miami. He's been working with a dual-threat headache for years!! LOL!!

Go 'canes!!

[CaneRock]

And speaking of McIntosh & Norton, why is the deadline for underclassmen to declare before Pro Day, and not after?

Seems to me a lot of the info these kids are getting are guesses, instead of real feedback from NFL personnel.

[His Royal Dudeness]

Posted by: CaneRock | January 09, 2018 at 05:35 PM

Well said.

[His Royal Dudeness]

Posted by: Sarasota 'cane | January 09, 2018 at 05:23 PM

You may be right, I'm just thinking for his career and for Miami, youd like to see him get more exposure to outstanding coaches first. Still, if the last thing you heard was HS, thats not exactly a bunch to go off of.

[RCCF]

Most Important News of the Day....

Carolina Panthers Part Ways w/ The Ken Dorsey!!!!

Hello Mark Richt

ADD HIM NOW!!

[WWIN]

Still haven't heard anybody talk about this today...

#48 for bama punched a player... didn't get ejected... went to the sideline and tried to fight a coach and hit him... and he's back in the game later???

I have ZERO respect for Nick Satan!

[TonyCane]

Yes, I saw that fight. Shocked my wife. I wondered out loud, “Imagine if the coach that he tried to hit was Saban!”

As for Dorsey, can we petition for an extra year of eligiblility?

[RCCF]

Posted by: WWIN | January 09, 2018 at 06:19 PM

Don't forget went back in the game and was celebrated for a Close Line Tackle...

[RCCF]

Let Us NOT forget #30 Mashing the QB's helmet back down after the tackle as well....

[TonyCane]

Still haven't heard anybody talk about this today...

#48 for bama punched a player... didn't get ejected... went to the sideline and tried to fight a coach and hit him... and he's back in the game later???

I have ZERO respect for Nick Satan!

Posted by: WWIN | January 09, 2018 at 06:19 PM

All that matters is winning the game. Honestly, if he was a difference maker, he probably coild have swung at SABAN and all that would happen is that he would forced to sit out a series until he cooled down.

That said, now that the championship is won I would not be surprised to see this guy announce that he is "transferring".

[roachcane77]

Yeah... The Refs didn't do UGA any favors...
1) The bad Offside call on the punt block.
2) The missed facemask call against Bama which would have resulted in a 1st down when UGA was backed up in their own end.
3) The "lack of a call" on the "extra" mashing of the helmet to the turf which also would have been an automatic 1st down.

Any, and especially ALL 3 of those calls made properly, and the game has a far different outcome IMHO.

[WWIN]

Posted by: TonyCane | January 09, 2018 at 06:27 PM

Yeah he would have been escorted to the locker room and kicked off the team if it was Satan!

[WWIN]

Don't forget went back in the game and was celebrated for a Close Line Tackle...

Posted by: RCCF | January 09, 2018 at 06:45 PM

That was disgusting! He shouldn't have been allowed on the team anymore let alone the field! How do you put a guy back on the field after that???

[TonyCane]

Posted by: RCCF | January 09, 2018 at 06:45 PM

That was disgusting! He shouldn't have been allowed on the team anymore let alone the field! How do you put a guy back on the field after that???

Posted by: WWIN | January 09, 2018 at 07:42 PM

Because ethics go out the window for some when trying to win a title. Now that the title is won, I wouldn't be surprised if Mekhi Brown is kicked off of the team. Saban has an entire offseason to replace him.

[WWIN]

RCCF and Roach... I forgot about that play... that was a blatant personal foul right in front of the refs and a no-call... and this happened after #48 went crazy!

#IHateBama

[WWIN]

Posted by: TonyCane | January 09, 2018 at 07:46 PM

Right! Satan and Creyer have no ethics

[Go Canes!!]

Thought a huge percentage of the guys out there played hard and by the rules.

But that kid just lost it.

[TonyCane]

Thought a huge percentage of the guys out there played hard and by the rules.

But that kid just lost it.

Posted by: Go Canes!! | January 09, 2018 at 08:06 PM

Maybe someone threatened to take away his car lease.

[86Cane]

No way Miami is a #5 team going into next year. I would put them at 10-15.

Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | January 09, 2018 at 11:37 AM

I agree 100%.

[86Cane]

Michael Barrow for LB/ST would be a good hire also.

Posted by: His Royal Dudeness | January 09, 2018 at 02:47 PM

Barrow or Vilma.

[86Cane]

And a likely freshmen QB. I'm feelin' "one step back" before 2019's "two steps forward"! LOL!!

Posted by: Sarasota 'cane | January 09, 2018 at 04:47 PM

I'll take 2018 off then.

Georgia started a TRUE freshman last night.

Bama started a Soph and replaced him with a true Freshman.

BTW...What year was UCF's QB?

#WWFD

#MRWNDT

[Go Canes!!]

Posted by: 86Cane | January 09, 2018 at 08:26 PM

Fromm, the sophomore or the true freshman aren't the reason both those teams were where they were last night.

Perry will have to do much more than they were asked to for us to succeed.

[His Royal Dudeness]

Barrow or Vilma.

Posted by: 86Cane | January 09, 2018 at 08:24 PM

Vilma needs to cut his teeth with Butch 1st and then with someone outside of the program like Carroll or Gruden. Thats the recipe for being able to hang with the big dog programs on staff. We need a future coaches program at The U; if we cant afford the top teachers then we need to groom them. Barrow is the man I think, LB coach under Carroll, Miami pedigree... We could give him LBs/STs & assistant DC. Also having a CBs coach & a S coach really isnt using numbers wisely. Need 1 of those guys to move.

[His Royal Dudeness]

Posted by: 86Cane | January 09, 2018 at 08:26 PM

Realistic expectation is repeat Coastal Champions. We have too many holes that still have questions... QB, OT, TE & DT. So much talent is so young ot not even on the roster yet. We have to stay calm that the meat is seasoning before the cooking. Richt is not the best chef in the world, we all know that he needs all of the best ingredients to succeed, so expecting him to do anything more at this point wouldnt be realistic. It is realistic though to expect him to make smart hires at this point. 10th coach can be hired tomorrow... All of the really organized coaches that win a bunch have someone ready to go, Richt does not so far as we know. Thats worrisome.

[TonyCane]

And a likely freshmen QB. I'm feelin' "one step back" before 2019's "two steps forward"! LOL!!

Posted by: Sarasota 'cane | January 09, 2018 at 04:47 PM

I'll take 2018 off then.

Georgia started a TRUE freshman last night.

Bama started a Soph and replaced him with a true Freshman.

BTW...What year was UCF's QB?

#WWFD

#MRWNDT

Posted by: 86Cane | January 09, 2018 at 08:26 PM

I think Perry will be just fine, and will be turning heads by the end of the season.

[WWIN]

Maybe someone threatened to take away his car lease.

Posted by: TonyCane | January 09, 2018 at 08:11 PM

😂😂😂

[His Royal Dudeness]

Something tells me the 2018 season comes down to on the road at VT. We are no where good enough to expect to be better than them. Hopefully they have Clemson because we have to play FSU every damn year. 2018 is another massive trial for us to assert ourselves. Again, Richt is no Jim Harbaugh or Urban Meyer. He's gonna need a bunch of top classes before he can be really competitive.

[BigWindyCane1]

Atholon has the Canes ranked at #5, while ESPN has the Canes at #7. Other sites have the Canes ranked at #9. Any time you think of dropping the Canes lower, just look at the teams ranked higher and ask if they are better. Better QB play and the added offensive weapons will make a huge difference

[86Cane]

We have to stay calm that the meat is seasoning before the cooking.

Posted by: His Royal Dudeness | January 09, 2018 at 08:44 PM

Oh, I get it:

#LetItMarinate

[Go Canes!!]

Again, Richt is no Jim Harbaugh or Urban Meyer. He's gonna need a bunch of top classes before he can be really competitive.

Posted by: His Royal Dudeness | January 09, 2018 at 09:02 PM

Neither of those guys has won anything without overwhelming talent. Harbaugh has actually done far less than Richt has done. Michigan was awful.

And for all the accolades we throw on Saban, he's a play or two away from being 0 for his last three title shots with BY FAR the most talent of any team in the country.

[His Royal Dudeness]

Posted by: Go Canes!! | January 09, 2018 at 09:12 PM

Harbaugh made Stanford a Pac 12 powerhouse and the 49ers a SB contender. Urban Meyer turned Utah into a respectable school and won 2 titles at Florida, 1 of which came in his 2nd year with a sophmore loaded defense. As for Saban, his system is the perfect example of what can be done with resources. This is a terrible line of argument.

[His Royal Dudeness]

Posted by: 86Cane | January 09, 2018 at 09:05 PM

All we got was a taste of the marinade this year. We need much, much more than a QB to right our wrongs.

[BigWindyCane1]

Posted by: 86Cane | January 09, 2018 at 09:05 PM

All we got was a taste of the marinade this year. We need much, much more than a QB to right our wrongs.

Posted by: His Royal Dudeness | January 09, 2018 at 09:18 PM

QB is a good place to start. Plus, a healthy Richards, Pope, Lingard, Jordan, Davis, Mallory and the development of Thomas and Perry will give the Canes an explosive offense

[Go Canes!!]

TD Richt turned a terrible, terrible Georgia program into a powerhouse for 15 years and won us the Coastal for the first time ever in his second year.

That's more than Harbaugh has done at the college level. Don't think his Michigan teams, despite excellent recruiting, have won a big game his entire tenure.

And we all know how loaded the UF and OSU teams were Meyer took over.

Meyer is one of the greats, but he hasnt won a NC without complete, super talented teams.

[His Royal Dudeness]

Posted by: BigWindyCane1 | January 09, 2018 at 09:03 PM

We still have massive question marks...

OT, QB, DT, TE

some we have on the roster, others likely wont come in #Storm18

We are getting close to the finish line and still need

1 DT, 1 OT, 1 LB, 1 DE & 1 CB minimum. We could still use another OT & DT after that. Im just talking playable bodies to throw at depth right now.

We may be the 10th ranked team in the country, but not much seperates us from 20.

[His Royal Dudeness]

Posted by: BigWindyCane1 | January 09, 2018 at 09:24 PM

If that OL isnt setting the edge, Lingard as good as he is wont be able to break loose. Perry is a RSFR, we will see if he has what it takes when the lights are on, dude hasnt taken a single snap and has no legit run game to lean on, and he needs another OT to step up. God forbid there are any injuries. There will be weapons, but without an effective OL, you get 3 and out.

[His Royal Dudeness]

Posted by: Go Canes!! | January 09, 2018 at 09:24 PM

I respect what Richt has done in his career, but Harbaugh or Meyer he is not. Meyer went undefeated at Utah for Christs sake and Harbaugh turned Stanford into a Pac 12 power. Seriously... not even a debate, those guys are a notch above. Im not even knock8ng Richt, many coaches have titles that arent as good as Richt.