Speed Kills

When Mike Harley learned his new offensive coordinator spent the last two seasons holding the same job at SMU, the first thing he did, of course, was study the film.
 
What Harley saw as he watched the 2019 Mustangs score touchdown after touchdown was that the receiver wearing his same number – James Proche – had plenty of touches and lots of big plays.
 
Harley was inspired.
 

"I'm looking at it like, 'Okay, he wears No. 3, too. He's catching a lot of balls. Let me study this guy,'" Harley said. "And then I looked up all the [records] for the University of Miami – the career leaders and stat leaders in yards and catches and I realized this offense can put me in the right position to break records and be remembered, from an individual standpoint. … This offense is just great for my skill set, but as a whole, on offense, everyone can eat."
 
Cam'Ron Harris had a similar realization when he, too, watched how some of offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee's former players performed last year.
 
Former SMU running back Xavier Jones totaled more than 1,200 rushing yards, a number that caught Harris' attention, particularly given his efforts to be Miami's lead back this fall after the departure of DeeJay Dallas.
 

But what Harley, Harris and the rest of the Hurricanes are learning is that if they're as to be as dynamic as they want to be in Lashlee's offense, they're going to have to make changes.
 
The biggest? Adjusting to a much faster tempo that doesn't give anyone on either side of the ball much time to catch their breaths between plays.
 
"The past two years, I wasn't in a fast-tempo offense. … It's not easy," Harris said after the Hurricanes wrapped up their second of 15 spring practices on Tuesday. "You have to get ready within eight to 10 seconds every play. We can run 30 yards and we still have to get back, every play. [Lashlee's] been on top of us, every day. If we're loafing, there's punishment. If we do the little things wrong, there's punishment. He's been on our tail, but I think that's what we need as a whole unit."
 

Added receiver Dee Wiggins, "We're going to get tired, but I mean, it's a process thing. You know we have to get used to it. So as the days go by, we've got to get better and better at it. We've got to get better at conditioning. … It's only Day Two, and we're getting the hang of it. We've just got to take it day-by-day and keep working."

Comments

[BigWindyCane1]

Aero,

A lean and mean Donaldson is all world, but a fat Donaldson is not. Hopefully, he returned for his Senior year to increase his potential NFL paycheck.

I have seen Donaldson up close in high school and college, and he is talented and “huge!” You can’t coach that. Donaldson has all the potential in the world, but he has eaten himself out of the NFL draft. IMHO, Feeley and CMD need to set weigh-in goals and metrics for him. They should threaten to suspend him if he doesn’t make his goals. It’s for his own good. They should do that for all the offensive linemen.

I also think Rivers can contribute. He could also stand to lose 15-20 pounds, and hit the weight room, but he also has talent and that is what our OL desperately needs.

Happy to see MacLaughlin committed. The Canes need to recruit tackles, and never allow OTs to leave South Florida like they have been recently

[BigWindyCane1]

Blake Baker says Jaelan Phillips got to Miami last year at 225 lbs and is now up to 264 lbs. That’s 40 pounds of muscle? I know Feeley works miracles, but WTF? Phillips posted a before and after photo on Twitter. Wow!

[roachcane77]

Enjoy spring but enjoy it for what it is
I’m still on the ‘manny needs to prove to me he can win bus before I jump On the bandwagon’
Posted by: AeroCane | March 06, 2020 at 06:18 PM

Agree 💯!

[86Cane]

1. I am hoping Donaldson comes back lean and mean rather than the fat, slow blob he is

2. I’m still on the ‘manny needs to prove to me he can win bus before I jump
On the bandwagon’

Posted by: AeroCane | March 06, 2020 at 06:18 PM

1. Stop stealing my lines.

2. If you will not jump on the "bandwagon" how about REO Speedwagon?

[86Cane]

I have seen Donaldson up close in high school and college, and he is talented and “huge!”

Posted by: BigWindyCane1 | March 06, 2020 at 07:25 PM

Oh my, is that what...oh never mind.

[86Cane]

Huge is how you win in HS. You fall on people smaller than you. In college, where everybody is big, and strong and fast, that loses it's effectiveness. In the NFL you are TOAST.

Big, fat and slow is no way to go through life.

Big, lean and mean is another story.

Only $100 million is at risk so you should care.

[AeroCane]

Ok
I’ll be positive and put on my orange and green glasses:
• Donaldson comes back lean and mean (as 86 says)
• rivers contributes
• lashee and king are the real deal
• Rousseau and Phillips and roche dominate All OL’s and terrorize the qb
• mccloud is the LB we hoped Shaq would be (in other words, faster and more athletic)
• huff and brooks are faster and more athletic than Pinckney
• bolden comes back strong
• etc etc
• manny grows a set and actually disciplines and strikes fear in these players

[Terrance Sullivan]

Canes Baseball beats Pitt 5-4 in 11 innings!

[HerbieIbis]

Well at least they scored more than 2 runs on Friday, finally!

[58 Straight]

Canes Baseball beats Pitt 5-4 in 11 innings!

Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | March 06, 2020 at 10:14 PM

And how did they win?

[alpine]

jAnd how did they win?

Posted by: 58 Straight | March 07, 2020 at 12:23 AM

back up from a deep meditation with the answer:
"they scored more runs than the other team"

(is there a prize? did i win?)

[solarcane]

been a while since we cracked this list

Athlon Sports recently put together a Top 50 players in the country list with three Hurricanes making the cut.

Sam Howell UNC is the only top 50 player we will face this year

[solarcane]

The company you keep.

Alabama had the most players on the list with six. Miami is tied with Ohio State and Clemson for second most from a team with three players on the list.

[BigWindyCane1]

Thanks Solar. I looked it up. Here are our players. Not sure if I would have ranked them in this order, but they definitely deserve to be on the list:

45. Gregory Rousseau, DL, Miami
Rousseau set the bar high for 2020 after recording 19.5 tackles for a loss, 15.5 sacks, and 54 overall tackles as a freshman last fall. Rousseau notched 12 of his sacks in ACC games, including four versus Florida State and two against Pitt. He should team with Temple transfer Quincy Roche to form one of the nation’s top defensive end combinations in college football for 2020.

3. D’Eriq King, QB, Miami
Miami utilized three quarterbacks last season, but the carousel under center will end with King coming to Coral Gables after transferring from Houston. Dynamic is the best way to sum up King’s career with the Cougars from 2016-19. The Texas native received playing time as a receiver in 2016 before moving back to quarterback in '17. King accounted for 1,639 total yards that year and delivered a monster all-around campaign the following season. Over 11 appearances for Houston, King accounted for 3,656 total yards and 50 overall scores. King took a redshirt season after playing in four games in 2019.

21. Quincy Roche, DE, Miami
Roche earned third-team All-America honors from Athlon Sports after recording 13 sacks and 19 tackles for a loss at Temple in 2019. With a year of eligibility remaining, Roche decided to test his skills at the Power 5 level and transferred to Miami. He should team with Gregory Rousseau (15.5 sacks in 2019) to form one of the nation’s top defensive end duos for 2020.

[BigWindyCane1]

***43. D’Eriq King, QB, Miami***

[BigWindyCane1]

The Canes have 3 top 50 players, and a couple more who could have made this list. The Canes have recruited far better than any other coastal division team over the last four years. The Canes also picked up some great transfers like Phillips, Roche and King. IMHO, the Canes have a better coaching staff this season

If the Canes don’t win 10 games, IMHO this season will be a disappointment

[AeroCane]

Manny - now effing prove you’re the man for the job!

[86Cane]

If the Canes don’t win 10 games, IMHO this season will be a disappointment

Posted by: BigWindyCane1 | March 07, 2020 at 10:39 AM

Seems we say this every year?

Maybe if we say it LOUDER it will happen!

#12%Crew

#GetOnDaBus

[alpine]

soup: "Maybe if we say it LOUDER it will happen!"

. . . a man with a plan; i like it
. . . what are our instructions
. . . is this like NETWORK, where we have to yell it out the buildings, like "i'm not gonna take it anymore"?
. . . or is typing in caps acceptable?

[alpine]

last season game about to start

c'mon canes

[UMike]

Phillips is going to be a beast, our de' s will be nasty this year.

[nemo2020]

Halftime - We're winning 26 - 24.

Good luck Alpine!

[alpine]

the canes are missing lykes big-time tonight
. . . the syracuse zone-D is keeping our O in check
. . . lykes tends to be able to find lanes sometimes and also makes timely 3's now-n-again
but the canes D looks good
. . . down 3 after a big vasiljevik 3-pointer (his 3rd), we'll see if they can pull this one out

[nemo2020]

7 min, 43 sec remaining in the game.
UM 36, SYR 39

[alpine]

54-52 less than a minute!!!!!!!!!!!!

[alpine]

56-54 with 10 seconds

[nemo2020]

OT
56-56

[nemo2020]

9 seconds left.
UM leading 66 - 63

[86Cane]

And, and, AND???

[alpine]

great game!

and vasiljevik played a huge role in winning this game for the sidtard sockpuppeteers (i'm wondering if annette funicello was one of these sockpuppeteers)

all the canes did really well the last 10 minutes of the game and during OT
. . . a really good win

[nemo2020]

UM wins 69 - 65.
Congratulations Alpine! We scratched, clawed and climbed our way out of the ACC cellar with this thrilling victory over SYR.

[nemo2020]

FSU finishes 1st in the ACC.
But FSU isn't a "basketball school". Right?

[BigWindyCane1]

Canes out rebounded Syracuse 43-41, and actually had 18 assists! Amazing!

[AeroCane]

Lol
I equate this game to my golf game. I suck for 17 holes than I have a par on 18 and think - I can do this, I’m good and I’ll play again soon
Coach L and the b-ball team sucked all year, have 1 good game and now alpine, big windy etc are thinking - coach L still has it and we will be much better next year
Well my next round, I’m still gonna suck and guess what, so will coach L and the b-ball team
Sorry to the b-ball fans

[AeroCane]

Canes up 3-0 in 4th over Pitt

[BigWindyCane1]

Lykes didn’t play, and the Canes have 18 assists (might be a season high or close to it). Hmmm🤔 Coincidence?

[AeroCane]

Big windy
Wasn’t it you that said we need a true point guard and Lykes isn’t the guy?
Hopefully coach L moves lykes to where he will be successful and we can add a good point guard (if not already on the roster)

[AeroCane]

Still 3-0 in the 5th

[AeroCane]

4-0
7th

[AeroCane]

5-0
Nice shutout of Pitt
McMahon with 7 strong and gates finished them out

[VA Cane]

Hello all,
been up in mountains for about 3 wks. No computer readily available at my friends. Got my moms estate done settled glad its done. I am catching up in the reading, but change for us can only be good...high time, eh?

Hope you all are well. Solar, i had a lot going on, but will get package out...my word!

VAC

[BigWindyCane1]

Aero,

You got me! IMHO, Lykes really hasn’t been a true point guard at any time. Lykes is good at getting his shot, but doesn’t excel at assisting others. I agree that coach L should move him so that he and the team are more successful.

The season is over, and the Canes are 14-14. Not good and not bad. Just average. Hopefully, next season will be better

[BigWindyCane1]

Aero, also good win by the baseball team. Just one win at a time, and keep getting better .

[BigWindyCane1]

Men’s basketball team plays Clemson in the ACC tournament on Wednesday at noon.

[nemo2020]

The season is over, and the Canes are 14-14. Not good and not bad. Just average. Hopefully, next season will be better

Posted by: BigWindyCane1 | March 07, 2020 at 11:21 PM

Don't sugar coat the season. We finished with 7 wins and 13 losses in ACC play, near the bottom of the conference. This is not good; it's bad! Last year's season was bad too.
Laranaga has been head coach at UM for nine seasons and overall his winning record against other ACC teams is only about 50 percent - mediocre at best.
We ought to have a more competitive, and consistently better, men's basketball team - like so-called "football" schools ND and FSU. But that won't happen until UM "retires" Old Coach L and hires instead someone who can consistently recruit better players.

[alpine]

FSU finishes 1st in the ACC.
But FSU isn't a "basketball school". Right?
Posted by: nemo2020 | March 07, 2020 at 06:55 PM

been there, done that (2013? '14?); even stayed on top after the brutal ACC tourny
. . . back in the time when the ACC was even more potent than now

the coach: larranaga

[AeroCane]

Alpine = related to old man larranga
Lol

[nemo2020]

alpine
FSU finishes 1st in the ACC.
But FSU isn't a "basketball school". Right?
Posted by: nemo2020 | March 07, 2020 at 06:55 PM

been there, done that (2013? '14?); even stayed on top after the brutal ACC tourny
. . . back in the time when the ACC was even more potent than now

the coach: larranaga

Posted by: alpine | March 08, 2020 at 05:19 AM

Yeah, early in his tenure at UM a Laranaga coached team won the ACC championship. However, he did it with a team stocked with veteran players that he inherited from the prior coach (and not mainly with his own recruits).
TODAY, FSU clearly has a better men's basketball program than UM. Why? The reason is obvious. FSU gets better recruits BECAUSE FSU has a head coach who can successfully recruit better players. And what has Coach L done for us lately? UM has become a veritable bottom feeder in the ACC. Not good!
There are only a handful of ACC coaches (like Coach L) who have held their position for nine years of more. And among these coaches Laranaga has BY FAR the lowest winning percentage against other ACC teams - only about 50 percent. He has had more than enough time to build a better program. But he hasn't!
Old Coach L needs to heed the CDC warnings. At his age he should avoid crowds and stay home! In other words, he ought to retire NOW lest UM make that decision for him (hopefully) SOON.

[roachcane77]

I made the 4 hour drive across the state to Coral Gables to watch the basketball game last night. (A friend, and Syracuse fan, got some free tickets.) The campus looks great! (Although some of the new buildings under construction out front, the Lakeside Village, don't seem to "fit" archictecturallywise... ) Maybe when they're completed it will "work."

ANYWAY, a few observations from a non-basketball fan about the game:
LACKLUSTER, FLATFOOTED, SEEMINGLY WITHOUT A PLAN.

We had NUMEROUS opportunities to blow the game open, or put it away late, but just managed to stumble all over ourselves, chuck up meaningless bricks, let the shot-clock expire, or just turn it over, to keep the Orangemen in it.

The first half was like watching a girls middle-school game... just two teams moving up and down the floor with seemingly no gameplan, and very little skill. BORING! The media time-outs were FAR more interesting than the product on the floor from either Miami or Syracuse.

My wife even commented.... "Why are there so many coaches on Miami's sideline?... These guys all seem clueless."

My friend, (a Hall of Fame High School Basketball coach, who has the gym named after him on our campus), was also dumbfounded... It's difficult to believe that these players are playing D1 ball.

Neither team made any aggressive moves to the basket until the last minute of the game, and then a little bit in over-time. Up to that point, both teams were just "going through the motions."

Injuries or not, I don't see much future for our U BB program if last night's game was any example.

Congrats on the win, and to our Seniors, (it was Senior Night), but wow... didn't see ANY FIRE, or evidence of a game plan, or "plays." Uninspiring to say the least... JMHO.

[nemo2020]

Alpine = related to old man larranga

Posted by: AeroCane | March 08, 2020 at 06:47 AM

Alpine = old man larranga