Most Canes fans are pretty excited about the future of the program. Quarterback is set this year and beyond with Morris, Olsen and Kaaya. The offensive line is loaded to the gills, and the skill positions look like Miami skill positions again. Defensively, the back seven is littered with potential studs like Bush, Jenkins, Figueroa and a rising group of corners.
But the one black cloud hovering over the program is no longer the NCAA. It's the DL. The initial returns on the defensive line class of 2012 are disappointing, and we struck out in 2013. What makes this worse is that team's DL play last year was some of the worst in the country. Many Canes fans are wondering whether this weakness will hold back a program that is on the verge of greatness.
Why is this feeling familiar to long-time Canes fans? Let's go back to this time in 2000. The quarterback position was in great hands with Dorsey. Emerging studs like Moss, Wayne, Portis and Gonzalez were all over the offense. Dan Morgan was on the brink of stardom at linebacker. Even the defensive backfield, which had long been a weakness of the probation-era teams, was brimming with young, experienced talent like Ed Reed and Mike Rumph.
But it always kept going back to the DL. This group was constant disappointment and let Miami down in all of its biggest games. For years, the DL consisted of overachievers like Matt Sweeney, disappointments like Quincy Hipps and Clint Hurtt, and unreliable headcases like Adrian Wilson. Damione Lewis still hadn't made the leap to stardom everybody expected. Butch's 1999 and 2000 classes-- which were otherwise blockbusters-- failed to land any instant impact defensive linemen. The only guys who made it to campus right away from those two classes were Larry Anderson, Cornelius Green and John Square.
At this time in the summer of 2000, just like in the summer of 2013, it looked like the defensive line would continue to hold us back. So what changed? Internally, Damione Lewis made the leap as a senior and William Joseph excelled after moving inside. Guys like Matt Walters and Jamaal Green developed into solid depth guys. Jerome McDougle signed out of nowhere in July and spent his 2000 season dominating on the scout team. Vince Wilfork re-signed after sitting out a year. Andrew Williams arrived in the next year as an instant impact JUCO. And as a cherry on top, Santonio Thomas didn't qualify for Florida and was able to re-submit his LOI to Miami.
What's my point? Trust the tie. He's working. When a little luck meets with an opportunistic and aggressive staff, some great things can come together pretty quickly...
But the one black cloud hovering over the program is no longer the NCAA. It's the DL. The initial returns on the defensive line class of 2012 are disappointing, and we struck out in 2013. What makes this worse is that team's DL play last year was some of the worst in the country. Many Canes fans are wondering whether this weakness will hold back a program that is on the verge of greatness.
Why is this feeling familiar to long-time Canes fans? Let's go back to this time in 2000. The quarterback position was in great hands with Dorsey. Emerging studs like Moss, Wayne, Portis and Gonzalez were all over the offense. Dan Morgan was on the brink of stardom at linebacker. Even the defensive backfield, which had long been a weakness of the probation-era teams, was brimming with young, experienced talent like Ed Reed and Mike Rumph.
But it always kept going back to the DL. This group was constant disappointment and let Miami down in all of its biggest games. For years, the DL consisted of overachievers like Matt Sweeney, disappointments like Quincy Hipps and Clint Hurtt, and unreliable headcases like Adrian Wilson. Damione Lewis still hadn't made the leap to stardom everybody expected. Butch's 1999 and 2000 classes-- which were otherwise blockbusters-- failed to land any instant impact defensive linemen. The only guys who made it to campus right away from those two classes were Larry Anderson, Cornelius Green and John Square.
At this time in the summer of 2000, just like in the summer of 2013, it looked like the defensive line would continue to hold us back. So what changed? Internally, Damione Lewis made the leap as a senior and William Joseph excelled after moving inside. Guys like Matt Walters and Jamaal Green developed into solid depth guys. Jerome McDougle signed out of nowhere in July and spent his 2000 season dominating on the scout team. Vince Wilfork re-signed after sitting out a year. Andrew Williams arrived in the next year as an instant impact JUCO. And as a cherry on top, Santonio Thomas didn't qualify for Florida and was able to re-submit his LOI to Miami.
What's my point? Trust the tie. He's working. When a little luck meets with an opportunistic and aggressive staff, some great things can come together pretty quickly...
