As Miami gets further and further away from its glory days, a question dawned on me: What is the common thread among national champions? In other words, what is keeping Miami from the top?
One theory is that it's quarterback play. But AJ McCarron just won a title, and Matt Mauck and Greg McElroy have rings. Is it coaching? Coker disproves that theory by himself, and Gene Chizik and Les Miles were punchlines until they won it.
So what is the one thing that all college football champions had? It's defensive line. Let's look at the champions since Miami's last title and the talent they had up front (NFL draft round in parenthesis):
2001- William Joseph (1), Vince Wilfork (1), Jerome McDougle (1), Andrew Williams (3)
2002- Will Smith (1), Kenny Peterson (3), Tim Anderson (3), Darrion Scott (3)
2003- Keneche Udeze (1), Mike Patterson (1), Shaun Cody (2), Frostee Rucker (3)
2003- Marcus Spears, (1) Kyle Williams, (5- All Pro), Marquise Hill (2)
2004 - Mike Patterson (1), Shaun Cody (2), Frostee Rucker (3)
2005- Brian Orapko(1), Tim Crowder (2), Brian Robison (4)
2006- Derrick Harvey (1), Jarvis Moss (1), Ray McDonald (3)
2007- Tyson Jackson (1), Glenn Dorsey (1)
2008- Carlos Dunlap (2), Jermaine Cunningham (2)
2009- Marcell Dareus (1), Terrance Cody (2)
2010- Nick Fairley (1)
2011- Courtney Upshaw (2), Jesse Williams (2013 prospect), Damion Square (2013 prospect)
If you look at the 2000 Miami team and the 2001 Miami team, they were very, very close in talent. The only real difference is that the 2001 team had far superior defensive ends, due in large part to Jerome McDougle and Andrew Williams coming in from JUCO. The defensive line took the 2001 team to a whole new level.
Anthony Chickillo looks like a keeper. Guys like Tyriq McCord and Jelani Hamilton will make us or break us.
One theory is that it's quarterback play. But AJ McCarron just won a title, and Matt Mauck and Greg McElroy have rings. Is it coaching? Coker disproves that theory by himself, and Gene Chizik and Les Miles were punchlines until they won it.
So what is the one thing that all college football champions had? It's defensive line. Let's look at the champions since Miami's last title and the talent they had up front (NFL draft round in parenthesis):
2001- William Joseph (1), Vince Wilfork (1), Jerome McDougle (1), Andrew Williams (3)
2002- Will Smith (1), Kenny Peterson (3), Tim Anderson (3), Darrion Scott (3)
2003- Keneche Udeze (1), Mike Patterson (1), Shaun Cody (2), Frostee Rucker (3)
2003- Marcus Spears, (1) Kyle Williams, (5- All Pro), Marquise Hill (2)
2004 - Mike Patterson (1), Shaun Cody (2), Frostee Rucker (3)
2005- Brian Orapko(1), Tim Crowder (2), Brian Robison (4)
2006- Derrick Harvey (1), Jarvis Moss (1), Ray McDonald (3)
2007- Tyson Jackson (1), Glenn Dorsey (1)
2008- Carlos Dunlap (2), Jermaine Cunningham (2)
2009- Marcell Dareus (1), Terrance Cody (2)
2010- Nick Fairley (1)
2011- Courtney Upshaw (2), Jesse Williams (2013 prospect), Damion Square (2013 prospect)
If you look at the 2000 Miami team and the 2001 Miami team, they were very, very close in talent. The only real difference is that the 2001 team had far superior defensive ends, due in large part to Jerome McDougle and Andrew Williams coming in from JUCO. The defensive line took the 2001 team to a whole new level.
Anthony Chickillo looks like a keeper. Guys like Tyriq McCord and Jelani Hamilton will make us or break us.
