Running Through The Smoke Or Playing In A Fog?

Seeing the Hurricanes run through the smoke used to bring fear to their opponents. In recent years, it just seems to make Miami play in a total fog for most of the game. In 2018, the smoke, and fog, seems thicker than ever. Even thicker than in the West End Zone of the OB. And trust me, it was THICK!

Yet the cause of the fog remains unknown while the investigation continues.

What we do know is this: The Miami Hurricanes played well below their talent level, capabilities and potential this season under third year head coach Mark Richt. Why we are still not completely sure, here are the facts as we know:

1. Throwing out the opening game loss to SEC team LSU, Miami lost four games to teams that ended the season with 7-5 records.
2. These four teams were ACC perennial doormats and also rans such as Virginia, Georgia Tech, Duke and Boston College.
3. On paper the Hurricanes had more talent than each of these teams based on the previous 5 years of recruiting rankings.
4. The Pitt team that Miami beat convincingly in their last game also beat three of the four teams that beat the Hurricanes.

Georgia Tech: Lost to Pitt, USF and Duke while they found a way to beat Miami in Atlanta with their 1945 offense.

Duke: Beat Miami at home while losing to Pitt, Virginia and being demolished by Wake Forest 59-7 in the season finale.

Virginia: Lost to Pitt, NC State, Indiana and Virginia Tech (a team Miami beat badly) but beat Miami in Charlottsville.

Boston College: Beat Miami in Chestnut Hill but lost to Purdue, NC State, Syracuse and an FSU team that Miami beat.

So that leaves the following questions to answer:

1. Is "talent" really the problem if Miami beat Pitt but then Pitt beat three of the four teams Miami lost to?
2. Are Duke, Virginia and Boston College really more "talented" teams than Miami?
3. Miami beat Virginia Tech and FSU but how did those teams then beat other teams Miami lost to?
4. Are USF and Indiana really better than Miami since they beat teams Miami lost to?

It seems that the closer you look, the thicker the smoke, and the fog, actually gets. Let us all hope that they clear in time for Miami to beat Wisconsin in the Pin Stripe Bowl game in New York on December 27th.

And, also in time for Mark Richt to save his job.

Comments

[SOUP]

NEW BLOG IS UP!

[KYcane]

To all of you

Have a Merry Christmas
A happy Hanukkah
A healthy and prosperous new year

And a bowl win

[roachcane77]

Merry Christmas CaneSpacers!

Here's hoping people come to their senses!

[mi@mic@ne]

Merry Christmas...hopefully Santa brings the U a new coaching staff with ballers

[solarcane]

MERRY CHISTMAS gang.
Peace be with you and your families.

[His Majesty The Dude on High]

Posted by: Herbieibis | December 25, 2018 at 12:02 AM

If Butch were satified in getting a ring as AD, then we should take it.

HC Mario Cristoball (crooter/tactician)

OC Mike Yirchic (strategist)
QB Mike Yurchich
OL Alex Mirabal (crooter/tactician)
TE Mario Cristobal (crooter/tactician)
WR Ron Dugans (crooter)
RB Thomas Brown (crooter)

DC Corey Raymond (crooter, tactician)
CB Mike Rumph (tactician)
LB Mike Barrow (crooter)
S Corey Raymond (crooter, tactician)
DL Jess Simpson (tactician, crooter)

ST Shane Beamer (strategist)

Thats a team, with a loaded coaching roster, very affordable, and they would have Miami looking nasty in 3 year, but in year 3... Yirchic will be looking at HC jobs, and perhaps Raymond could be looking to go back the LSU as the DC. I think its times like this the staff shuffle could be really good thing. You hire another succesful OC from the big 12 or Pac 10, then you get another SEC 2ndary coach to first time DC, or maybe Rumph is ready? You build the staff, you win a lot at Miami.

[Herbieibis]

If I was a recruiter I would sure spell out to those Flo. Or FSU guys that one you ain't beating Bama anytime soon especially if u play for the Gators and if u are a FSU guru, u ain't beating Clemson no time soon, so what is the point t in going to those schools to be kissing your sister. If I was Richt when it came to recruiting, I would be spreading tharlt message to those kids that lean that way. We got an easier road to winning the coastal and playing for the A CC ship, then playing for on the final 4.

[His Majesty The Dude on High]

Posted by: 58 Straight | December 24, 2018 at 11:54 PM

If she was the one that started the policy of letting coaches hire who ever they want, then yeah.

[Herbieibis]

Well Dude last I looked Butch was coaching FIU. Listen and get you're thick noggings Butch was then, this is now. He couldn't save us anymore than Richt. We need a H.C. that is linked to the spread a d some dam good recruiters that won't let So. Flo. Talent roll to Flo., Bama, Georgia and Clemson. They seem to be the ones pillaging the state.

[His Majesty The Dude on High]

Where ever you guys are, Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year CaneSpace.

[58 Straight]

Wait, I thought ALL of this was Donna Shalala's fault?

[His Majesty The Dude on High]

Posted by: AeroCane | December 24, 2018 at 10:41 PM

I want Butch auditing practices & time management as well as helping with staff hires.

[mi@mic@ne]

Rosier has been taking the first string snaps in practice...this is a never ending cycle of terrible offense because Richt will not move on....same old same old..I will not accept losing ..period

[AeroCane]

Dude
Maybe butch as AD and Mario as HC
With butch helping with all assistant coaches!

[His Majesty The Dude on High]

I wont lie, I'd take Butch or Mario for 2019, wouldnt even feel bad about it. MR made this season happen when he didnt hire Helfrich and next year will be bad for over-promoting Banda & Patke. If I were AD, MR wouldnt get year 4. But then, I wouldnt give him staff control like he has.

[AeroCane]

As I said earlier: if he’s suspended and richt plays rosier more than 2 series (yes I’m being kind saying 2 vs 1), he should be fired on the spot! This is Williams and Weldon’s time to shine!
Play Pope and Hightower and cam - playing homer, rosier, dee jay, cager, langham does nothing to help us heading into next year (we know what we have with those)

[Herbieibis]

Say it ain't so Perry to be suspended. Raise your hands all of u on the blog that said Perry should be the man. Saw him in high school and he was the shyt.
There were a lot of u. I think the best thing to happen to us is we get beat down in the bowl game and hope someone has the cod's to make a decision on this teams future.

[Herbieibis]

Yeah if it we're 20 years ago. College football has gotten to be like the NBA. One team stays loaded and they stay on top but unlike the pro's, if u recruit like BAMA u can stay on top. Ain't no salary cap in college football.

[roachcane77]

Key word... SHOULD

We "SHOULD" have Bama HOPING to be like US! (Not vice versa... )
Posted by: roachcane77 | December 24, 2018 at 06:43 PM

[Herbieibis]

Now Roach, we got along way to go to get in Bama's realm but it would be nice to face them after we figure out that we are the best team in the A C and start playing like it. We got to get another 30 to 40 4 stars on our roster to get close to them and not be flipping players from App St. And Cinn. Feel me dog!

[roachcane77]

It's true. Expectations with CMR at the helm are VERY low. Which is NOT the CANE WAY!

We should be undefeated and NCs. We should have Bama HOPING to be like US! (Not vice versa... )

[SOUP]

I ain't wishing for no 10 wins. It's all or nothing. If u ain't playing for ships get off the dam boat. That's the bottom line because THE HERB said so!

Posted by: Herbieibis | December 24, 2018 at 04:52 PM

There he goes again!

[Herbieibis]

I'm going with my last 2 games and say the same thing 24-23 Day in a sluggish slug fest.
N.D. gets blanked 23-0
Bama 41-31.
And for the next 2 years BaMa will roll the field.
To think we have some on wishing for 10 wins. With our schedule and includes another NoFence team like LSU, in the Gators, once again we should not get beat. I ain't wishing for no 10 wins. It's all or nothing. If u ain't playing for ships get off the dam boat. That's the bottom line because THE HERB said so!

[AeroCane]

Tony
Can we move your timeline up to 2019! Lol

[TonyCane]

FIU assistant AD Ken Dorsey will be named offensive coordinator at Appalachian State, source told @WatchStadium. Dorsey, a former NFL & University of Miami QB, was QBs coach w/Carolina Panthers from 2013-17
Posted by: BigWindyCane1 | December 24, 2018 at 11:24 AM

2021 Coaching Lineup, Miami Hurricanes:

Head Coach: Manny Diaz
Offensive Coordinator: Ken Dorsey

[AeroCane]

I’m thinking Oklahoma and Clemson

[orange 'n green in the vein]

Is "talent" really the problem if Miami beat Pitt but then Pitt beat three of the four teams Miami lost to?

Absolutely.

Are Duke, Virginia and Boston College really more "talented" teams than Miami?

No, no, and pretty much equal.

Miami beat Virginia Tech and FSU but how did those teams then beat other teams Miami lost to?

Who cares except chokies and semenholes.

Are USF and Indiana really better than Miami since they beat teams Miami lost to?

No and no, Smart Mark would put a hurting on them both with the talent still on hand right now.

These blobs are way better written than under the fatso era, great Christmas present imo!

[SOUP]

And of course, my usual prediction:

UM 34 - UW 13

[58 Straight]

I am going with Oklahoma over Bama and ND over Clemson for the UPSET wins! Now don't get it twisted, I am NOT rooting for ND to win (could never do that) I just think that the underdogs pull off the unexpected upsets. Got that feeling.

[VA Cane]

Good point about Bama....I think it will be them and Clemson in the game for it all

I also think that even if a great QB comes here.......(and we have not had a good QB since KD11....whom I thought was good.....but hell I could be good at 60 with that talent).....though we have had some good ones....I do not think we ever had a transendent QB JK over his entire career, Bernie, Vinny, Walsh, Erickson, Gino, KD all good....but only JK was a HOFer...Vinny Bernie good......the rest never made it to be considered elite!
Look at all the bad ones we have had and will continue to rely on.....no great QB coming here with MR offense....and even if they did.....still could not win with it....its always restricted his QBs....he had some good ones at GA....but the O is plodding pedestrian....couple SEC titles was his best....and that is not good enough whn you are Miami....even 15 years later....7-5 pedestrian average at best....

[SOUP]

Solar...thanks for the blog title.

[Go Canes!!]

Posted by: SOUP | December 24, 2018 at 11:25 AM

That's another story.

I don't think there is anyway, absent of a transendent talent coming to play QB at the U, that we ever win a national championship with Richt's offense.

Then again, that can be said about any other program outside of Tuscaloosa.

[VA Cane]

If all four get better, we can easily win 10 games.

Posted by: Go Cames!! | December 24, 2018 at 07:36 AM

Winning 10 games sounds nice.

Beating FSPoo every year sounds nice too.

But the goal is winning national championships. Try again?

Go I respect your outlook you are a loyal fan for sure!
However, as we say in the country, If a bullfrog had wings, he wouldn't whomp his ass every time he jumps....

[SOUP]

1. However, I do not understand being open to being average, nor can I support it.

2. Soup hope you and the Mrs. have a great one; you both are the best my friend!!!

Posted by: VA Cane | December 24, 2018 at 10:36 AM

There IT is right there.

2. Thank U and right back at U!

[SOUP]

If all four get better, we can easily win 10 games.

Posted by: Go Cames!! | December 24, 2018 at 07:36 AM

Winning 10 games sounds nice.

Beating FSPoo every year sounds nice too.

But the goal is winning national championships. Try again?

[BigWindyCane1]

FIU assistant AD Ken Dorsey will be named offensive coordinator at Appalachian State, source told @WatchStadium. Dorsey, a former NFL & University of Miami QB, was QBs coach w/Carolina Panthers from 2013-17

[SOUP]

Ahh the sound of decisiveness. Recognizing there's a problem and acting on it. What a concept!

Posted by: Old Skool | December 24, 2018 at 09:17 AM

And exactly what is needed in Miami.

[SOUP]

You cant ask these kids to be serious if you are not, SoFL kids will be the first to smell the stink because they are so close to the sh*t pile.

Posted by: His Majesty The Dude on High | December 24, 2018 at 12:53 AM

There IT is right there.

[WWIN]

It's the CORCHING!

Posted by: roachcane77 | December 24, 2018 at 07:02 AM

FIFY... and ditto for me!

[VA Cane]

Losing to these teams is an abomination....and it is unacceptable.
I was skeptical of CMR hire, but got to give a person a chance. I loved BD in his day, but still felt he was not the answer either. He was never in the running, cause BOT would never have let AD hire him. As soon as CMR was available, that was the answer....but I think the wrong answer.

Looking at 2019...cannot see winning vs FL...but thee rest of the schedule are cupcakes for a really good team. Somehow CMR will lose a handful due to his backward, apathetical, nepotism brand of football. The HC is a shadow of himself....which was average+ at best.....his son cannot coach...Mars Hill University alma mater? QC person at GA? Damn he aint played a down and does not know the game at all! it shows! The rest of the O and ST coaches are not coaches....bodies and are hurting the program.

For those who do not understand the frustration, I am sorry. You have that right and I respect it without insulting you. However, I do not understand being open to being average, nor can I support it. We are stuck with CMR for now, lets hope 2019 changes because this year has been very disappointing.
Merry Christmas to each of you and your families,
Soup hope you and the Mrs. have a great one; you both are the best my friend!!!

[VA Cane]

Nice points in article...its just hard to fathom the whys regarding losing.

I have no issues with the D. They were on the field a lot and did a great job.
The O and ST kids grew despondent....cause they are not being coached.....the staff starting at the top, does not have what it takes to coach...or they dont give a damn.
Ignorance and apathy are a bad mix, and it trickles down to your players....they see it!!!

[mi@mic@ne]

The decisions that have been made when we fired goldilox have come to roost. The bot hires a coach who has proven that he cannot compete with the top ten teams and the bot gives him full reign on the program...the corch hires his own son to be the qb coach...we now have three qbs who should be the leaders of the team but are always in trouble. The corch is an average recruiter at best and has never recruited a good oline...the corch fails to hire one of the best o coordinators who wanted the job knowing his history in Georgia as being forced to step down as the coordinator...and finally we have heard from the former fans a Georgia that he wont change even if he is the reason that the team cannot get to the next level...nothing surprising about the conditions in the U program... this is the reason that we lose the lesser talented teams...

[Old Skool]

Are USF and Indiana really better than Miami since they beat teams Miami lost to?
YES... and their coaching talent is better too!

BTW Strong is acting that way. He's dismissing four assistants after their lost to Marshall

"I'm telling you right now, we're going to clean up this whole program," Strong said. "A lot of guys will be leaving. We need a good washing."

Ahh the sound of decisiveness. Recognizing there's a problem and acting on it. What a concept!

[Go Cames!!]

Sorry accidentally hit enter.

With a good, accurate, smart QB and an above average offensive line, solid RB play and recievers that can catch CMRs offense would have worked more than well enough to beat Pitt, Duke,Virginia and Boston College this year. This year he only had one of those-running back.

Herein lies the problem.

When Richt doesn't have ALL FOUR of those things, he doesn't have the creativity or diversity in his game calls or design to manufacture points, even against bad teams like those.

Imo in 2019 we will be better at RB, O-line and even WR (history has shown with maturity and experience go the drops) but we still have the ultimate question at QB.

Again, if any of the four aren't good, we will fail and continue to lose to teams we shouldnt because of CMR's poor offense.

If all four get better, we can easily win 10 games.

[Go Canes!!]

My thoughts on the article:

[roachcane77]

So that leaves the following questions to answer:
Is "talent" really the problem if Miami beat Pitt but then Pitt beat three of the four teams Miami lost to?
YES... Coaching talent is the problem.

Are Duke, Virginia and Boston College really more "talented" teams than Miami?
YES... Their coaching talent is more talented than ours.

Miami beat Virginia Tech and FSU but how did those teams then beat other teams Miami lost to?
Their coaching talent is better than ours.

Are USF and Indiana really better than Miami since they beat teams Miami lost to?
YES... and their coaching talent is better too!

LOL! These are some REAL softball questions SOUP!

It's the COACHING!

[Old Skool]

The fog is mediocrity and a coach who thinks tweaks are needed. If he was a blackjack player, Richt would stand on a 15.

[thirstybuzzardcane]

Please comment on the article.

All other comments will be deleted.

Posted by: 58 Straight | December 23, 2018 at 10:04 PM

Who reads the articles?

Just saying!

[solarcane]

Not sure Dude, I trust you know your stuff though.
I think Joe Gibb was on a show about coaching without playing experience a long long time ago

[His Majesty The Dude on High]

Posted by: solarcane | December 24, 2018 at 12:29 AM

Wasnt Mike Holmgren a HS history teacher?

[His Majesty The Dude on High]

Last point of the night...

It isnt as complicated as we make it seem at Miami, the right AD or HC will win here. The key to the whole thing is the staff, knowing when you need to make a splash hire, knowing where you need your tacticians, knowing where you need you strategists and knowing where you need your crooters.

If Mario came in tomorrow, assembled a staff of...

DC: Alex Grinch
DB: Mike Rumph
LB: Mike Barrow
DL: Jess Simpson

ST: Mike Barrow

OC: Mike Yurcich
QB: Mike Yurcich
RB: Brown
WR: Dugans
TE: Hartley
OL: Mirabel

Thats a staff thats gonna croot and win. If he holds those guys accountable and makes necessary changes before its too late... (MR should have hired Helfrich last year, and Grinch or Raymond this year) the staff will win. These kids down here are looking to go 3 and flee, because many of them know they have the ability, they arent coming to play for a rinky-dink staff. You cant ask these kids to be serious if you are not, SoFL kids will be the first to smell the stink because they are so close to the sh*t pile.

Its all about hiring a good staff. Good staffs croot, they coach good fundamentals, they strategize well in games (attack weaknesses, enforce strengths). I really dont think its super complicated, we ran out of steam when the gig was up. The writing is on the wall and MR will not get a 6th year, unless he makes changes and Miami is willing to let him give it another go. I dont think they will be willing after 2 years of around 6-6 football.

[solarcane]

, you dont need to have played to be an expert commentator, or even a HC for that matter.

Posted by: His Majesty The Dude on High | December 24, 2018 at 12:14 AM

Yea
Mike Leach is an attorney, he seems to be doing ok

[His Majesty The Dude on High]

Please comment on the article.

All other comments will be deleted.

Posted by: 58 Straight | December 23, 2018 at 10:04 PM

I missed that, my bad.

I think its pretty clear what's going on. We have a coach, who's more concerned with his ego, than winning football games. I think its fair to say we have a team with QB issues. Rosier isnt good enough, Perry & Weldon are walking talking suspensions and Williams probably isnt working hard enough either, but the real culprit is the the QB coach, and the HC that enables him. You have a guy coaching and managing only 4 players, if thats the case, we should be at the very least solid AF at that position. Anyways, I could go on, but it just seems to me Richt wants this to be his no accountability retirement job, and he's gonna take advantage of that setup until they give him a nice fat golden parachute.

[His Majesty The Dude on High]

Posted by: WWIN | December 23, 2018 at 05:09 PM

I think women are allowed to play in the NFL, they just havent found a 6'5" 230 pounder with a rifle arm. Furthermore, I could give 2 sh*ts what a lot of ex-players have to say about the game, you dont need to have played to be an expert commentator, or even a HC for that matter.

[58 Straight]

The Herb says this, since we've been in this basketball conference we have consistently lost 2 teams that have no business being on the field with us.

Posted by: Herbieibis | December 23, 2018 at 10:36 PM

There IT is right there.

[58 Straight]

There is rumor they are going to add mirrors to the smoke we run out through

Posted by: solarcane | December 23, 2018 at 10:18 PM

I always love some smoke with my mirrors.

Just sayin

[mi@mic@ne]

Good points in the article Soup...the offense was so inept that our defense did not get noticed since we lost those games. In making a comparison that we could all understand there was more action on the Perry video...what does it take like three minutes? than the entire season of the cane offense...

[Herbieibis]

The Herb says this, since we've been in this basketball conference we have consistently lost 2 teams that have no business being on the field with us. Different coaches same results. The coaches are the biggest culprits and the biggest problem has been their inability to consistently recruit a whole class and what I mean by that is they have left a couple of positions hanging in the breeze. With Cooker it was Qb'S and WR's, with Shannon he had one good class and to me was a lazy recruiter, with Golden he handed out ships to anyone who had 2 legs. Way to many reaches and now Richt is the same way with certain positions of need not getting them filled.
The last two things I will mention is our OC and DC, aside from Manny I have not been very good, especially our OC'S. Finally we are not strong finishers in getting too recruits. We are constantly left at the altar with the big name talent and that Spacers is the bottom line because The Herb said so!

[solarcane]

Good research in the article, it didn't go unnoticed.

[solarcane]

I think it's consistency soup.
We never have a qb throwing darts, receivers having good day catching the ball and an offensive line blocking together, in the same game.

If we were doing all those things consistently every play, enough of boneheads plays would be successful.

The defense played consistently every game , we saw the results of everybody doing what they were recruited to do

There is rumor they are going to add mirrors to the smoke we run out through

[58 Straight]

Please comment on the article.

All other comments will be deleted.

[TJL]

Uno