Canes

"Thoughts on UM's season & the bowl game against Wisconsin"

Dec 22, 2009

I think the prospect of Jacory Harris running the offense for the next two years is very exciting. Harris has a lot of room to grow when you consider he has 36 different drop backs and decisions to make. There are a lot of variations from that and considering he threw for over 3,000 yards, I think he’s got a great future. The key for him against Wisconsin and next year is to avoid being mistake prone.

I love when fans say a team needs to make halftime adjustments, as if the rest of the game nothing happens. One of the reasons the Hurricanes had success this year with their offense was because of the in-game often play to play adjustments of offensive coordinator Mark Whipple. Whipple pushes the right buttons and forces a defense to lose its focus.

I think Miami goes into the Champs Bowl looking like a well groomed, well executing football team. Miami scored 30 or more points in 3 of the final 4 games and allowed 2 rushing touchdowns over the last 7 games. Getting a team to play best last is often a sign of good coaching.

Speaking of well coached, the Miami defense coached by John Lovett knew their drop lanes, read routes and covered well. The defense went from 56th in the nation last year to 40th this year and from 75th in rushing to 25th.

Congratulations to cornerback Brandon Harris named a 3rd team All American. Harris is smart, always around the ball and won’t be fooled.

Don’t be fooled by stereotyping Wisconsin. The Badgers have a good football team. Playing them is like facing the Miami Dolphins. Like the Fins, their formula for winning is to run the ball and prevent the opponent from rushing. Led by punishing running back John Clay, the Badgers run for 206 yards a game, and averaged 4.6 yards per carry.

The Wisconsin defense allows only 90 yards a game on the ground and has held 9 straight opponents to under 100 yards rushing. Miami must block defensive ends O’Brien Schofield and
JJ Watt who combined for 36 tackles for losses to lead the country.

The Keys to the game are.

Offense
Get into rhythm
Protect Harris
Big plays by wide receivers

Defense
Force Clay to run sideways
Don’t get beat off play action
3rd downs. Take away the tight ends

I am wondering why Randy Shannon hasn’t been given a contract extension. He deserves it when you consider the program is clearly bouncing back. He has done what those who hired him knew he could do which is run a disciplined program and recruit players. What they wanted to know is could he win. 9 wins and victories over Oklahoma, FSU and Georgia Tech proved he can be victorious.

Florida State ran off a legend and the Gators get away with a slap on the wrist after 29 players have been arrested. Shannon gets blamed for the weather changing. The truth is, under Shannon the Canes are graduating players, winning games, participating in the community, staying out of trouble and generally are rebuilding a program to be proud of.

I don’t think it will be wise to send Shannon into the recruiting season without some kind of extension. The University of Miami is a good job, but I don’t think it’s a position for a coach that has had it all. It’s for a person who is hungry and that is Randy Shannon. Like Frank Haith in basketball, the only thing Shannon thinks about is how to make Miami a winner