Man(ny) Overboard

Note: This blog was written for Canespace by blogger Alpine...

You all know "Alpine" as the incorrigible and oft-irritating optimist on the blog.

That's just who I am and I don't like following a team and moping the whole time. But I'm not gonna try to sell you a Brooklyn Bridge full of unicorns.

Last Saturday as I sat there watching the game as time and again our offense kept trying to cross what seemed like 10-yard stretches of quicksand, and doing so while wearing ENOrmouS concrete shoes, I also witnessed a mostly strong defense again give up un-timely big plays at inopportune moments.

At least the special teams were finally an overall plus. The Hedley run being an instant classic!

I was lucky to have my daughter and 15-month old grandson visiting for the first time in a while, so I had the benefit of family to ground me. Or maybe, like many of you, the decades-long groundhog'ishness gave me a healthy dose of The Miami Numb ("TMN" instead of "TNM", in case you're too numb or angry to follow even un-subtle jesting).

So, that leads me to ask my first question: Is Manny the man?

Most of you have strong opinions as to the need to dump him and all associated with him overboard, hoping that will put out the dumpster fire. This is very understandable...and not gonna happen,which everyone also knows.

I am still not wavering from my position that Manny will someday be a good head coach. And as I said earlier in the season, he might need 2 - 5 years for it to happen and it might not be with Miami. But hear me out here:

1. I remember how it felt during the D'No era of defence'lessness, and how when Manny arrived, things changed rapidly on that side of the ball, despite his earlier DC-Texas-sized problems.
2. I assume Manny learned from that experience, because as the DC in Miami he quickly had our players playing with passion and aggression. Finally, there was edge and a badass attitude on that side of the ball! his D were Manny-believers.
3. As a head coach, I was sure that someone like Manny would both keep the defense humming (particularly after Shaq and Pinckney chose, mostly because of Manny, to return) as well as make our offense much better by bringing the same passion and aggression to that side of the ball. This seemed borne out by Manny being able to hire Enos away from Alabama, who gave him value by valuing him.

So, what happened? I truly do not know, and it's why I can't argue with any pessimists. I am in deep smh-mode that Manny allowed Enos to put together such an un-aggressive, keep the D on the balls of their feet instead of their heels offense, even if it is Manny's first season.

So, now we have to ask the next big question: What does the future hold?

• Possibility 1: Like several of our previous head coaches, Canespace has amply pointed out that Manny seems to suffer from two syndromes: "smartest man in the room" and "not gonna fire my buddy, not his fault". If these syndromes run deep enough, he might refuse to make deep structural changes (the ones he knew needed to be made while he was the DC). This will lead to (1a) another crash and burn season, after which he will be fired, or (1b) he will do slightly better, for whatever reason/s such as QB's and OL plays better, he finds a true kicker or maybe a package of fairy dust is sent his way. He will be given one or two more years to swim in mediocrity and possibly see the light, or get fired together with Blake James in 2022.
• Possibility 2: Because of his own passion and football awareness, together with his desire to have the Miami offense playing the way they should be playing, he will get some excellent advice this off-season (hopefully even before the bowl game), and will begin making the larger changes that we all see are necessary. And yes (kick the ant-pile moment) I am still optimistic about Manny taking this road. Strangely enough, after some reflection-time, I'm thinking the Duke disaster following FIU might help open his eyes to something he might otherwise have optioned to syndrome away.

The top two changes obviously involve (1) putting in a different offense, with or without Enos, though it's hard to imagine the change being structural enough, if Enos is still in charge. The one positive Enos would bring, is consistency to the QB-room, which for me alone is not enough), and (2) getting a knowledgeable, kick-ass special teams coach . He need look no further than the Miami Dolphins to find the best example of how "special" the special teams can be if valued and coached up.

I would also agree with those, who think our DC needs to wear bigger pants. Blake seems to be Manny's boy, instead of his own man. Having him coaching somewhere on the defense is fine. Being in charge of the defense, not so much.

The main thing is, you might be able to change the "culture" by eventually changing the players. However, the quicker solution is to change the "culture" by changing the system, like Manny did on defense under CMR when he arrived with a new D blueprint. Do that with the offense and the special teams, while fortifying the defense and you'll have your turn-around in year two or three.

So, during the bowl and off-season, I'll still be checking the 'Canes out more than I should, and I will easily be drinking from the half-full glass again, especially if I see some meaningful changes happening. It's who I am.

But at this stage of the game, if you are a total 'Canes pessimist, well, enjoy it, because you've earned it!

Comments

[CGNC]

Oh Louisiana Tech. Blah. I have been watching twitter with Al Golden v. UM and his checks for $0.24. First, he is worth $0.24. Second, the business about unsafe fields...I guess we didn't clear the land mines?

But maybe he will be worth it and get rid of Blake James in the process. Fingers crossed.

[CGNC]

Good find on the Orgeron Dwayne Johnson article Solar. He has a machine there in LSU right now.

[HerbieIbis]

A machine for this year. 9-3 at best next year.

[orange 'n green in the vein]

27. Independence Bowl -- Louisiana Tech vs. Miami (FL) -- Dec. 26, 4 p.m.: There's a more than decent chance Miami shows up and blows the Bulldogs out here, and because of that, it's hard to rank this game higher than this. That said, there's also a good chance Louisiana Tech pulls off an upset against a disinterested Miami team, and there's nothing college football fans love more than seeing once-powerful programs losing to Group of Five teams in Shreveport, Louisiana.

https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/ranking-all-2019-college-football-bowl-games-39-1-fiesta-bowl-rematch-intriguing-sun-bowl/

Below average bowl for a below average season.

[Terrance M Sullivan]

OGV There Is a 95% Chance That Louisiana Tech Beats Our Arse Like They Beat FIU Arse earlier this year. I expect LT 45 Miami 24.

[DallasTX Cane]

there's nothing college football fans love more than seeing once-powerful programs losing to Group of Five teams in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Agree except that assumes any college football fans will bother paying attention or watching, which is a major assumption....

[Schnelly]

Otherwise, NFL bodies might show you in a painful way that there are athletes which hit even harder than the ones playing for FIU or Central Michigan.

Posted by: VfB_Cane | December 08, 2019 at 12:13 PM

Shirley, U can't be serious?

Posted by: 58 Straight | December 08, 2019 at 08:29 PM

Disappointed Vfb_Cane whiffed on this great setup.

[solarcane]

Agree except that assumes any college football fans will bother paying attention or watching, which is a major assumption....

Posted by: DallasTX Cane | December 09, 2019 at 04:44 PM

I can not fathom 19 to 21 year old males that live in Coral Gables Florida wanting to spend Christmas Day in Shreveport Louisiana.

I can barely believe 19 to 21 year old males that live in Shreveport Louisiana wanting to spend Christmas day there.

Why are we going to this bowl game for real?
The ACC must be holding a gun to our heads to collect their bowl money is all I can think of to justify this crap.

[VfB_Cane]

Disappointed Vfb_Cane whiffed on this great setup.

Posted by: Schnelly | December 09, 2019 at 04:56 PM

No longer disappointed, but way too late to the party. And don't call me ... well, never mind.

[solarcane]

looking at Joe Burrows senior high school stats

4,500 yds passing 63 tds 2 ints.
hs career he threw for 157 tds ran for 27

Then he sits on the bench for three years at Ohio State.
I got a feeling Joe would like to play Ohio State.

[solarcane]

Diaz says quarterback competition opens at bowl game....
I thought the Williams guy was "our guy going forward and gave us the best chance to win," this must be The Newer Miami.

[solarcane]

“We are going to see what happens in practice,” Diaz said. “It will be [based on] a performance of everything in the month of December—academic performance, dependability of doing the right things off the field, and all those type of things. We will get a sense of that as we get through this week and get a sense of that with the guys practicing in Miami and then put a plan to go forward in Shreveport.”

Williams will be competing with N'Kosi Perry, who has completed 54.8 percent of his passes for 993 yards with eight touchdowns and two interceptions this season.

[solarcane]

"When we begin to realize the opponent is always ourselves, that’s a big step forward in this program.” Diaz

So it really doesn't matter if you lose to Florida or FIU because they are both just the same because you were really only playing yourself.

FU Manny Diaz.
If CGNC and MaryLou didnt read this blog I would really tell you guys how I am feeling after reading that.

[solarcane]

RB Thad Franklin the fourth underclassman to decommit from Miami since the FIU loss. He ran for 333 yards and 5 scores in the 3A state title game last week.

[HerbieIbis]

Say it ain't so, a other QB competition. If u ain't figured this out after 12 games, what's a couple more weeks going to show. U can't make the OH line any better and I guess this means one more game of painfully watching this boring Pro Style trying to put points on the board. I guess trying to run more recruits off And I guess Martel is not in the equation unless he is still in long term critical care.

[solarcane]

Herb,
La Tech has 15 interceptions this year one guy has 5 by himself another one has 3

they mix up their overages you can count on a couple of our drives ending up in disaster with either the streak or the freak tossing up ducks.

We have to score on a first or second down every series cause 3ed down doesn't exist and we already used up our special teams trick play for this season.

[58 Straight]

Nothing good is going to come from going to this bowl.

Posted by: solarcane | December 08, 2019 at 04:27 PM

Unless they play after midnight?

[58 Straight]

The Day after X-Mas in dreary, dank, wet, cold Shreveport ? No thanks.

Posted by: 2020 ? ... 2028 ? | December 08, 2019 at 05:50 PM

That's my birtday (12/26). Why they gotta go a ruin my birthday like that? Seriously?

[58 Straight]

If we can't beat LA Tech with our second and third strings, there's a deep problem with the program. Besides, what have most of the first stringers done to deserve to start?

Posted by: Old Skool | December 09, 2019 at 10:41 AM

I like it, I like it.

[58 Straight]

9-3 at best next year.

Posted by: HerbieIbis | December 09, 2019 at 02:45 PM

Man would I settle for 9-3 right now.

[58 Straight]

I expect LT 45 Miami 24.

Posted by: Terrance M Sullivan | December 09, 2019 at 03:38 PM

Sully my man, U disappoint me. Haven't we been over this time and time again? I expect better.

LT 34 - UM 13

[58 Straight]

"When we begin to realize the opponent is always ourselves, that’s a big step forward in this program.” Diaz

FU Manny Diaz.

Posted by: solarcane | December 09, 2019 at 07:08 PM

And therein lies the problem.

He is of the FALSE belief that if his guys just play the way he thinks they should or need to they can beat anybody regardless of their talent, the scheme or the play calling.

Momentum does not exist.

Execution is all that matters.

If they execute properly they will always win.

This explains why they do NOT game plan. What's the need to identify weaknesses and strengths of your opponent and attack them when the only thing that can beat you is yourself?

[solarcane]

This explains why they do NOT game plan. What's the need to identify weaknesses and strengths of your opponent and attack them when the only thing that can beat you is yourself?

Posted by: 58 Straight | December 09, 2019 at 08:40 PM

He really has me shaking my head Soup.
He acts like hes running the Patriots.
I think we have another Walter Mitty on our hands pal.

[Gin and Tonic]

Posted by: solarcane | December 09, 2019 at 07:08 PM

Maybe that’s his way of saying that the team kept beating itself.

The turnovers and poor 3rd down conversions, It didn’t matter who they played against, they were gonna lose. Be it g-tech, v-tech or fiu.

[86Cane]

NEW BLOG IS UP!