Yesterday's shameful loss by Miami to Virginia was a symptom of much larger "systemic" problems for the Hurricanes. Let me explain.
Sure, you could argue that the loss was bad enough to stand alone on its own merits among some of the worst losses in the modern era for Miami. That was if you did not watch the FSU game and the cluster that it unveiled right before your eyes. Even after a miraculous comeback against the Seminoles most of you educated fans knew right then that the Hurricanes were in trouble, now didn't you? Yeah, I thought so.
The loss to Virginia was not one of the worst by the score or style of defeat, but simply by playing well below the weaker competition. Most long-time Hurricane fans have not easily forgotten the 48-0 loss in the last game at the Orange Bowl that UVA laid on UM. But apparently the passage of time, players and coaches have let that fade from their collective memory so we will give that a pass.
Funny how that doesn't happen when Miami plays Notre Dame or Ohio State, now does it? But I digress. What is systemically wrong with your Miami Hurricanes football team can be summed up fairly easily.
- The head coach is also moonlighting as the offensive coordinator.
- The offensive scheme is totally antiquated and has proven to be ineffective.
- The play calling is way too simplistic, redundant and unimaginative.
- The head coach's son is the QB coach and the QBs performance has been horrible.
- There is (in fact) no real special teams coach and one third of the game is being ignored.
Let's break these issues down one at a time:
- The offense has been a failure. There is no arguing or debating this fact. Three years and three quarterbacks later the Canes still can't score early, often, consistently or especially when needed against any sign of competition. Clemson and Wisconsin proved it. FSU almost did this year but leave it to lowly Virginia to pin the tail on the donkey. Virginia stuffed the Canes in their attempt at a futile comeback against an un-ranked, allegedly hopeless and hapless ACC rival.
- Dust collects daily on Mark Richts' 1972-82 offense. He was relieved of OC duties and eventually got fired from being a head coach at Georgia because of the same old, same old rust bucket offense. It didn't work then, it isn't working now and it will not work at all in the current era of college pass happy football. The 1972 Dolphins were perfect with this offense. Unfortunately, Griese, Warfield, Csonka, Kick, Morris and Shula have moved on.
- We apparently have four plays? Canes fans were joking on Facebook today that UM has four basic plays that can be found on the video game football programs that consists of two running plays and two pass plays. While I could not prove this in a court of law I can say that most fans feel the same way. The announcers on TV call the plays we are going to run, the fans in the stadium call the plays and we are absolutely certain that highly paid and trained defensive coordinators can call the same plays as well. It has gone beyond the point of frustration to complete embarrassment.
- Three QBs in three years and nothing to show for it? Simply stated, the QB performance has let down this team. But how are you going to fire your son for poor performance when you hired him out of nepotism in the first place. This IMHO may be the biggest bad mark against "Smart Mark" (OGV reference) that I can site so far. This is so ripe for criticism that it makes it such an obviously bad decision in the first place. This was a dumb move Smart Mark.
- One third of the game is special teams. Miami has (let's be real) no actual special teams coordinator. Miami's special teams' performance has been putrid, no wait that is too generous, it has been a nightmare. Sure TE coach Todd Hartley is allegedly the ST coach but we know that he is still on this staff because he can recruit, not because he is a special teams genius. One third of the game is being lost each and every game before it starts and Manny Diaz must be livid about his defense being put in such a bad position all the time.
Before closing let me say that I believe all Miami Hurricane fans want Mark Richt to succeed. He is a former Hurricane player and came back to his alma mater out of love for the school and a chance to rebuild the once proud program. But, then again, we all wanted Randy Shannon to succeed also and we all know how that turned out.
Richt is a genuinely good man. He has done many good things for the University of Miami and has been generous of his time and money, contributing a cool $1 million to the indoor practice facility. But his job is to win football games. When he does a good job he deserves all the credit in the world. And, when the team plays poorly and loses, he deserves the blame too.
If he is willing to take a serious inventory of what needs to be done to fix things I believe he can be very successful at UM. The only questions that remain are will he, and if so, how soon will he address the issues that everyone can clearly see.
But hey, that's just in my humble opinion.
Breaking: DB Nunn Commits to Miami
ByANDREW IVINS
Mark Richt and the Hurricanes have landed a commitment from one of Miami-Dade County’s top seniors.
Miami Palmetto three-star defensive back Cornelius Nunn gave a verbal pledge to Miami on Wednesday after visiting Coral Gables with mom.
Nunn, who clocked a blazing 4.54 in the 40-yard dash at The Opening Miami and is ranked by 247Sports as the nation's No. 32 safety prospect, decommitted from Syracuse last week. He emerged as a major target for the Hurricanes safeties coach Ephraim Banda following the spring evaluation period.
"All of us Miami commits are going to help make Miami great again," Nunn recently told InsideTheU.
Nunn also held offers from Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Baylor, Kentucky, N.C. State, Nebraska and Tennessee. He has gone both ways this season for Palmetto and made plays all over the field.
Posted by: Go Canes!! | October 17, 2018 at 10:13 PM
Recruit better players. Imo he will fix this part. He’s got a top LT committed and HAS to get Neal.
Posted by: Go Canes!! | October 17, 2018 at 07:26 PM
No, not even close. You have to be delusional to try to believe this and stupid to actually WRITE IT DOWN on a blog!
#TheEvidenceIsBlinding
Posted by: SOUP | October 17, 2018 at 10:37 PM
More passes to the RB's, quick slants to the WR, and more seam and drag routes for the TE's is the ticket for success! And please please let's have guy in motion to at least let the defense think a little bit!
Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | October 17, 2018 at 09:02 PM
OK...for the LAST time: STOP COACHING!
Your job is to be a FAN.
His job is to coach.
#GetItStraightJunior
Posted by: SOUP | October 17, 2018 at 10:38 PM
RiazeCane...you can have my Duke tickets. I will mail them to you. Text me a mailing address. I may still go but if I do I will get a ticket from Rob or Kenny. They always have an extra. I am SURE others will as well if I decide to go.
Posted by: SOUP | October 17, 2018 at 10:47 PM
Rosier will start but Kosi will be in and out for a couple different series before halftime I believe.
Maybe Richt is letting BC
prepare for Rosiers deceptive deep game?
I also think we are going to see plays from the 21st century to start the game.
Maybe a few extra days of self reflection will pay off.
Posted by: solarcane | October 17, 2018 at 11:01 PM
Rosier will start but Kosi will be in and out for a couple different series before halftime I believe.
Maybe Richt is letting BC
prepare for Rosiers deceptive deep game?
I also think we are going to see plays from the 21st century to start the game.
Maybe a few extra days of self reflection will pay off.
Posted by: solarcane
I used to think you had good judgement. Don’t do this to yourself. Only disappointment awaits.
Posted by: BEERicane | October 17, 2018 at 11:05 PM
BEERI
I just polished off a half a box of those mini eclairs, maybe my sugar has spiked through the roof lol
Posted by: solarcane | October 17, 2018 at 11:20 PM
Do the guys singing on the Bounce dryer sheet commercial sing better than The Outfield or is it just me?
Posted by: solarcane | October 17, 2018 at 11:25 PM
Posted by: Go Canes!! | October 17, 2018 at 10:13 PM
Can he play awfensive tackle???
Posted by: WWIN | October 17, 2018 at 11:59 PM
Ok, 4.3 is blazing, 4.4 is fast 4.5 is ok, especially for a DB. I did say earlier I thought Nunn would be a flip, if we didn't get Stephens but if we got both it would be icing on the cake. Got the cake, now we need the icing.
Posted by: Herbieibis | October 18, 2018 at 12:05 AM
Nunn committing is a good pick up. This team (fanbase) needs a win bad, and a fairly good win at that. On a related note, pride before the fall Mark, pride before the fall. Hire an OC.
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | October 18, 2018 at 12:10 AM
10 years ago this month
or you don't know what you've got til it's gone
Bosher Named Finalist for Groza Awar
Bosher University of Miami sophomore kicker/punter Matt Bosher has been named a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award given to the nation's top kicker. Bosher is one of 20 semifinalists in contention for the award.
Bosher, who won the local Lou Groza high school Place-Kicker of the Year Award in Palm Beach County in 2004 and 2005, is 12-of-13 in field goal attempts with a career-long of 52 yards already this season for the Hurricanes. He leads the team in scoring with 64 points and has connected on two field goals of 50-plus yards.
The Lou Groza Award is sponsored by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission.
Posted by: solarcane | October 18, 2018 at 12:58 AM
10 years ago this week
( Or one more from a decade of poor coaching decisions)
Duke Game
Marve gets benched, Harris comes in throws 5 tds in second half, Marve starts the next game
Harris led UM to touchdowns on five of eight possessions in the second half before taking a knee to run out the clock. He looked like a good fit for the no-huddle, shotgun attack UM used extensively in the second half, showing a knack for sifting through defenders on draw plays.
Shannon said Marve would start when the Hurricanes host Wake Forest next Saturday. Marve and Harris each said they were content to share the duties
Posted by: solarcane | October 18, 2018 at 01:22 AM
https://247sports.com/college/miami/Article/South-Dade-2020-offensive-lineman-Jonathan-Denis-decommits-from-Miami-123438494/
We are already in trouble with recruits. That Top 2020 class is starting to crumble just like 2019 has and some classes before that which had great hype.
Posted by: John | October 18, 2018 at 01:23 AM
That should have been led not throws 5 td, its late
Posted by: solarcane | October 18, 2018 at 01:25 AM
Ugh... I hate to give any of the rumors steam, but a couple of different people are saying Perry was pulled for undermining the play calls with his own audibles. After the 2nd INT Richt had enough, hence the "maturity" comment. Dont know if its true, but it seems like it could be?
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | October 18, 2018 at 01:33 AM
Dude
Man I hope there is something else to it.Kosi already serving a suspension, then second guessing Richt will have him on the pine
Posted by: solarcane | October 18, 2018 at 01:39 AM
Posted by: Herbieibis | October 18, 2018 at 12:05 AM
Smith, Stevenson are the cake, Nunn is the icing. If we can redshirt Nunn, we are going to be looking really good at safetey for a while. Carter & Hall already look really good, and Finley too. At CB we got Couch & Brownlee who are both studs, plus Good an interesting project. Just looking at 2 really big fish left, we need 1 of Dent and Stevenson.
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | October 18, 2018 at 01:40 AM
Posted by: solarcane | October 18, 2018 at 01:39 AM
Richt is working with him, says Perry will play against BC... man bro... a 38-17 win for our Canes sure would help this team right now.
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | October 18, 2018 at 01:41 AM
I used to think you had good judgement. Don’t do this to yourself. Only disappointment awaits.
Posted by: BEERicane | October 17, 2018 at 11:05 PM
That no shit made me LOL!!!
Posted by: IraqiCane | October 18, 2018 at 02:00 AM
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | October 18, 2018 at 01:33 AM
Read the same kind of thing TD. Said yesterday this move is inexplicable unless there’s a discipline or comprehension issue.
Could it be both?
Posted by: Go Canes!! | October 18, 2018 at 04:15 AM
Posted by: SOUP | October 17, 2018 at 10:47 PM
*************************************
addy sent :-)
Posted by: raizecane | October 18, 2018 at 07:14 AM
Perry was pulled for undermining the play calls with his own audibles. After the 2nd INT Richt had enough, hence the "maturity" comment. Dont know if its true, but it seems like it could be?
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | October 18, 2018 at 01:33 AM
******************************************
In other words - "coach, your play calling sucks ass".
Posted by: raizecane | October 18, 2018 at 07:17 AM
In other words - "coach, your play calling sucks ass".
Posted by: raizecane | October 18, 2018 at 07:17 AM
Just a little suggestion for Perry. If you're going to audible out to protest suck ass play calling, don't get picked off.
Posted by: Go Canes!! | October 18, 2018 at 07:52 AM
Go Canes...nailed it.
Posted by: SOUP | October 18, 2018 at 08:37 AM
Ugh... I hate to give any of the rumors steam, but a couple of different people are saying Perry was pulled for undermining the play calls with his own audibles. After the 2nd INT Richt had enough, hence the "maturity" comment. Dont know if its true, but it seems like it could be?
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | October 18, 2018 at 01:33 AM
Makes sense. Go Canes has a point. If Perry audibles out of a play called by CMR and gets an INT, that would have justifiably angered CMR enough to pull Perry. That could also lead to other trust issues down the line.
I think UVA had a delayed blitz on that INT, and they clearly fooled him. I don't know what play CMR called, but Perry threw right into coverage and it made Perry look like a HS QB, not a major college QB.
Perry totally failed QB 101 in that he didn't recognize the safety and coverage. I am not saying the INT was entirely Perry's fault, but changing the play and throwing an INT is enough to cause a coach to lose faith in his QB. That would be the ONLY reason that could justify the benching of Perry.
Posted by: BigWindyCane1 | October 18, 2018 at 10:27 AM
hot route play works every time......
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OULR0tTupeg
Posted by: raizecane | October 18, 2018 at 10:29 AM
I think if we are going to stick to the ol gameplan we should start teaching our receivers to tackle
Posted by: solarcane | October 18, 2018 at 10:31 AM
That would be the ONLY reason that could justify the benching of Perry.
Posted by: BigWindyCane1 | October 18, 2018 at 10:27 AM
Benching him for a couple series or the rest of the first half? YES
Correct it at halftime and send him back out there? YES
Posted by: SOUP | October 18, 2018 at 10:39 AM
Perry hasn't taken advantage of the opportunity given to him. Look at his stats.
First Three Games:
SSU 9/14 93 Yards 3 Td 1 Int 35.3 QBR
FIU 17/25 224 Yards 3 Td 1 Int 92.9 QBR
UNC 8/12 125 Yards 1 Td 1 Int 68.8 QBR
Last Two Games:
FSU 13/32 204 Yards 4 Td 0 Int 49.1 QBR
UVA 3/6 20 Yards 0 Td 2 Int 0.1 QBR
Last 2 Games completing 42% of his passes.
He opened the door for his ass to get yanked audibles or no audibles.
Posted by: Gin & Tonic | October 18, 2018 at 10:45 AM
Am NOT turning this into a Kaaya thing, it could be any decent QB..Same OC, same HC, same QB coach, play calling more or less the same. But an accurate QB and better o-line play.
Is CMR dumbing down the O, to the point of massive overreacting, because he didn’t trust any qb and his o-line?
Honestly have no idea what’s going on in Coral gables.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uGR-_KIjiSg
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CSCUGKrlEqM
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_A5EK-actsk
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Yx5DFRttlaM
Posted by: Go Canes!! | October 18, 2018 at 11:06 AM
Exceptional Blogging Family. Keep up the great work.
Posted by: Tsully76 | October 18, 2018 at 11:20 AM
Danny Kannell: I must say I’m a little perplexed that CMR is going back to Rosier. There must be more to the story with Perry. Maybe he’s not practicing/preparing up to the level of a starter???
Posted by: Go Canes!! | October 18, 2018 at 11:27 AM
Change the play at the line of scrimmage, then u better make dam sure u call the right play and not over throw into double coverage. Dude had good stats against chump comp. Did okay against FSU throwing g
The TD passes but 13 for 32 is pitiful. Both QB's have problems against elevated comp.
Posted by: Herbieibis | October 18, 2018 at 11:50 AM
Back in the day our olines were really good...they attributed it to pushing around a Volkswagen in the parking lot...just saying
Posted by: mi@mic@ne | October 18, 2018 at 12:13 PM
Am NOT turning this into a Kaaya thing, it could be any decent QB..Same OC, same HC, same QB coach, play calling more or less the same. But an accurate QB and better o-line play.
Is CMR dumbing down the O, to the point of massive overreacting, because he didn’t trust any qb and his o-line?
Honestly have no idea what’s going on in Coral gables.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uGR-_KIjiSg
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CSCUGKrlEqM
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_A5EK-actsk
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Yx5DFRttlaM
Posted by: Go Canes!! | October 18, 2018 at 11:06 AM
After the putrid play of the offense during the four game skid, we finally started getting the ball out of Brad’s hands quicker.
All of a sudden, we were able to sustain drives, score points, and pull our weight with the vastly improved defense.
This just proves the point.
The plays are there.
I hope you checked out that Syracuse game from last year I posted yesterday.
Malik looked like a actual playable qb that could move the ball reasonably. They mixed up the formations and got the ball out of his hand quick and he looked decent.
Then Richt went back to the garbage ass play rhythm that got us the 2016 and 2017 losing streaks.
It is obvious to everyone but Richt what works for us and what does not. I think he really despises momentum because whenever we get some, he kills it with HIS philosophy.
He is killing the team because he wants things HIS way. But he doesn’t appear to have the “it” factor and fortitude to enforce it.
JUST WATCH HIS DEMEANOR AND ACTIONS. The way he looks on the sideline. The way he does interviews. He has perpetrating beta written all over him. The team sees it everyday and have no confidence in him or themselves.
I keep telling y’all. You can look in a coach’s eyes and see all you need to know. What eye see in Richt’s eyes disturbs me. Others see it too. But they want to say we need better players or we need to learn our assignments or some other nonsense to not face the truth.
The truth is scary. It means we have problems that could be fixed by better recruits, but not necessarily. If the recruits are not the solution, then WOE.
I did the same thing with NoD and Golden’s defense.I wanted to believe the personel and execution excuses because they are easier to solve. You can tell yourself we are just a year away from competent football.
But when I saw them repeatedly run two deep safeties on goal line, I knew in my heart we were a 5 alarm dumpster fire. We were YEARS and a different coaching staff away from contention.
That is a BITTER pill to swallow.
Diaz waltzed in and took No D’s guys with some true freshmen and went from historically bad to a decent, hard hitting defense. He tried to piss it away with ridiculous blitz calls but he seems to be learning his lesson and adjusting.
The same thing can be done with the offense with the guys on the current roster.
We won’t be a 600 yard, 50 point per game unit, but we got what it takes to get 27-30 in acc play.
With THE PILLAGE, that is all you need to be a program the big time recruits want to play for.
Posted by: TruCane81 | October 18, 2018 at 12:41 PM
I COULD SEE TERANCE DOING BACKFLIPS WHEN COACH NAMED ROSIER THE START VS BC
Posted by: canezilla | October 18, 2018 at 12:56 PM
LOL Zilla haha I am at peace with it. It's on Coach Richt either he gets this crap fixed or he will suffer the same fate as Shannon and Golden. It's pretty simple lol.
Posted by: Tsully76 | October 18, 2018 at 01:14 PM
Name the four gospels in the new testament in the order that they appear in the bible. No Google searches are allowed. Ready...GO!
Posted by: SOUP | October 18, 2018 at 01:17 PM
Matt. Mark. Luke. John
Posted by: mi@mic@ne | October 18, 2018 at 01:32 PM
The only way I could consider this season a success is 1) a switch flips, the OL looks outstanding and the O starts playing much better, Miami wins out and goes to the ACC CG, where the either a) play Clemson tough, or b) actually beat them. 2) Close hard in recruiting, landing 5* Neal, 4* Richards, 4* Zipperer, 4*s Bogle, Weaver & Summerall, 4* Ingraham and 4* Stevenson. 3) Winning a bowl against a good team. No less than 10-3 with a bowl will do and an elite rectuiting class.
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | October 18, 2018 at 01:44 PM
Berlin comeback beating Florida
When you get a chance check out the offensive line blocking, the play calling,the velocity on the ball and the accuracy, and most of all the refuse to lose attitude.
After watching how hard we used to play you will vomit in your mouth when
you picture Rosier and our ofensive
line meandering about next game
Ihttps://youtu.be/Qc5erbhNYao
Posted by: solarcane | October 18, 2018 at 02:04 PM
Posted by: TruCane81 | October 18, 2018 at 12:41 PM
Can’t it be countered that when he opened it up a little with Malik the result was completion, completion...fluttering duck picked off and returned into Virginia territory?
Not disagreeing with you, just curious.
Posted by: Go Canes!! | October 18, 2018 at 02:04 PM
Back in the day our olines were really good...they attributed it to pushing around a Volkswagen in the parking lot...just saying
Posted by: mi@mic@ne | October 18, 2018 at 12:13 PM
Been there seen that back in 1981-86. Bldg 36 parking lot right in front of Eaton Hall.
Posted by: SOUP | October 18, 2018 at 02:13 PM
Matt. Mark. Luke. John
Posted by: mi@mic@ne | October 18, 2018 at 01:32 PM
Well done!
#BonusRound
Posted by: SOUP | October 18, 2018 at 02:14 PM
DAILY DOUBLE: Name the first five books in the Old Testament of the bible?
Posted by: SOUP | October 18, 2018 at 02:15 PM
Pentateuch
Posted by: solarcane | October 18, 2018 at 02:22 PM
Sigh:
https://www.canesinsight.com/threads/what-going-on-here.138803/
Posted by: Go Canes!! | October 18, 2018 at 03:32 PM
Bible talk on canespace? Yeah, I'll just save everyone the time and take self imposed a ban now.
Posted by: Go Canes!! | October 18, 2018 at 03:32 PM
we back
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | October 18, 2018 at 03:49 PM
400 some serious blogging going on
Posted by: Old Skool | October 18, 2018 at 03:52 PM