How wide is the gap between Miami and the Elite?

[ISLANDCANES]

Barry Jackson with an interesting discussion with Herbstreet and Fowler on how far away from Bama, Clemson, etc is Miami:

ESPN analysts and UM official discuss state of Canes football program | Miami Herald

 

[ghost2]

Usually the national talking heads are pretty bland and clueless, but I think Herbie especially is pretty spot-on.

 

[KyCane38]

Solid QB play and OL-DB depth is the gap

 

[simplycanes]

About 35 points

 

[Hurricane23]

I honestly think we're closer than the 35-3 loss to Clemson, we just need a couple ballers in the front 7 and the secondary, we need Oline and a QB and I think we compete with anyone.

 

[BigJoeGrizzly]

What about at least decent special teams? Opposing kickers didn’t miss a single FG all year. Funny to hear people say we need both a cornerbacks and Safeties coach but we don’t need a LBs or dedicated ST coach.

Most underrated part of the game is ST. Ask Georgia when they blocked Okla’s FG.

 

[BoxingRobes]

Depth across the board is definitely important...not filling the back end of our class with *** flyers is going to be important over the course of the next few years. Over the past decade, any time we have even a small batch of injuries to contributors, things go downhill very quickly. Its why for a lot of the Randy/Golden years by the time November hit, we were tanking. This year, the big injuries hurt, but the fact that a lot of our starters and key contributors, especially on defense, play a ton of snaps, led to the grind of the season taking its toll. By the time Miami got the UVA game, it was clear Miami on both sides of the ball was bit with body blow games...the lack of a week off helped them peak at the right time - FSU, VT, ND...but the lack of a week off led to a very poor performance versus UVA and ultimately the loss to Pitt. Then to turn around the next week against Clemson, its not shock Miami looked like absolute **** in those final three weeks.

However, until Miami starts recruiting heavier on the DL...3-4 interior linemen per cycle, we won't catch up.

**** like QB play or skill guys don't matter all that much. Sure, we need some...but line play is what separates the elite from everyone else.

 

[brock]

Main difference between Miami and the playoff teams Is they have a suitable qb and we didn’t. Still was only 1 game away from the playoff with the team riddled by injuries

 

[Texxcane]

Depth across the board is definitely important...not filling the back end of our class with *** flyers is going to be important over the course of the next few years. Over the past decade, any time we have even a small batch of injuries to contributors, things go downhill very quickly. Its why for a lot of the Randy/Golden years by the time November hit, we were tanking. This year, the big injuries hurt, but the fact that a lot of our starters and key contributors, especially on defense, play a ton of snaps, led to the grind of the season taking its toll. By the time Miami got the UVA game, it was clear Miami on both sides of the ball was bit with body blow games...the lack of a week off helped them peak at the right time - FSU, VT, ND...but the lack of a week off led to a very poor performance versus UVA and ultimately the loss to Pitt. Then to turn around the next week against Clemson, its not shock Miami looked like absolute **** in those final three weeks.

However, until Miami starts recruiting heavier on the DL...3-4 interior linemen per cycle, we won't catch up.

**** like QB play or skill guys don't matter all that much. Sure, we need some...but line play is what separates the elite from everyone else.

you nailed it man, and we are thin thin at DL, that was Butch's specialty, here and UNC, dont know how he pulls that off, he must be able to smell a badazz DL 500 miles away

 

[matty1]

What about at least decent special teams? Opposing kickers didn’t miss a single FG all year. Funny to hear people say we need both a cornerbacks and Safeties coach but we don’t need a LBs or dedicated ST coach.

Most underrated part of the game is ST. Ask Georgia when they blocked Okla’s FG.

are you stupid ?? you actually are blaming the other teams field goal kickers success on the special teams.. if we blocked 2 kicks, about average, would you consider the field goal team "special"?

 

[BoxingRobes]

Butch just makes it a top priority. The great coaches often do.

And, as mentioned in another thread...they start EARLY and NATIONALLY. They are talking, recruiting, and offering these big MF'rs as early as possible. Not just the local ones, but national kids, JUCO kids, too. They are already on their radars way before their junior season starts or in the case of JUCOs, they are aware of them the minute they enrolled and keep in constant contact.

Miami over the years has seemed incredibly reactionary to DL recruiting. They have a finite, set board of who they like and then they will handwave some local recruits early in the process for reasons X, Y, and Z that end up going to some sort of Power 5 conference team anyway as a **** type. You won't see them scouring the JUCO ranks until November/December of the cycle. You will see them recruiting lightly, national interior line prospects early, but the interest (from whatever side) fades before the summer and for a few uncommitted recruits, it picks up again when Miami realizes it will be a light year for them (spurned by who they had offered, etc) - and theyll get some visits, but ultimately, none will sign here because its clear to all involved they are a backup plan.

At the end, it leaves Miami with 1 or 2 recruits, and one of them is almost always a lower end recruit that isn't much more then a mild contributor anyway.

This leaves Miami in positions like they will be in this year with guys leaving for the draft (either early or due to graduation) and transferring and no one really available to take their spot in an effective manner.

Just look at the national powers and how many FRONT SEVEN players they recruit every year and then compare it to ours.

Alabama lost a TON of linebackers this year, and yeah, they struggled a little bit, but they ended up getting to the National Title game anyway...because they had the depth to survive the injuries. If we lose say...Shaq and Pinckney...dare I say we would be fvkked? If next year we lose Bethel, Jackson, and Patchan, we are fvkked?

 

[Texxcane]

Butch just makes it a top priority. The great coaches often do.

And, as mentioned in another thread...they start EARLY and NATIONALLY. They are talking, recruiting, and offering these big MF'rs as early as possible. Not just the local ones, but national kids, JUCO kids, too. They are already on their radars way before their junior season starts or in the case of JUCOs, they are aware of them the minute they enrolled and keep in constant contact.

Miami over the years has seemed incredibly reactionary to DL recruiting. They have a finite, set board of who they like and then they will handwave some local recruits early in the process for reasons X, Y, and Z that end up going to some sort of Power 5 conference team anyway as a **** type. You won't see them scouring the JUCO ranks until November/December of the cycle. You will see them recruiting lightly, national interior line prospects early, but the interest (from whatever side) fades before the summer and for a few uncommitted recruits, it picks up again when Miami realizes it will be a light year for them (spurned by who they had offered, etc) - and theyll get some visits, but ultimately, none will sign here because its clear to all involved they are a backup plan.

At the end, it leaves Miami with 1 or 2 recruits, and one of them is almost always a lower end recruit that isn't much more then a mild contributor anyway.

This leaves Miami in positions like they will be in this year with guys leaving for the draft (either early or due to graduation) and transferring and no one really available to take their spot in an effective manner.

Just look at the national powers and how many FRONT SEVEN players they recruit every year and then compare it to ours.

Alabama lost a TON of linebackers this year, and yeah, they struggled a little bit, but they ended up getting to the National Title game anyway...because they had the depth to survive the injuries. If we lose say...Shaq and Pinckney...dare I say we would be fvkked? If next year we lose Bethel, Jackson, and Patchan, we are fvkked?

agree with all that

 

[Gatorhater]

The good news is we have tons of room to improve and we were only one game away from playoffs. How many players and how much better coaching do we need to stand toe to toe with Clemson? Probably more than we would like to think, but less than it seems. My Lord, we have a baseball player at QB. Top qb and we are OU with a defense.

 

[ThomasM]

About 35 points

Not really. Remember, we won a national title in 1983 after losing a game by 32 points.

What really got on my nerves this year was watching every QB we faced, outside of VT and ND, look better than Rosier. THAT is the biggest difference, in my opinion. Solid QB play and we're in the playoffs. At the very least we beat Pitt and Wisconsin, and finish 12-1. That's pretty **** close to elite if you ask me.

Yeah, we need more bodies at HB, TE, QB, and DB, but that is on the way. Every team needs retooling every year, so if Richt hits on his recruits, we will be where we want to be very soon.

 

[BigJoeGrizzly]

What about at least decent special teams? Opposing kickers didn’t miss a single FG all year. Funny to hear people say we need both a cornerbacks and Safeties coach but we don’t need a LBs or dedicated ST coach.

Most underrated part of the game is ST. Ask Georgia when they blocked Okla’s FG.

are you stupid ?? you actually are blaming the other teams field goal kickers success on the special teams.. if we blocked 2 kicks, about average, would you consider the field goal team "special"?

Are you stupid? Find me another team which opposing kickers had a 100% success rate. I’ll wait.. You can disrupt a FG and not block it you realize this?

No not saying this is all ST has to do. However it is a disturbing stat nonetheless.

 

[ISLANDCANES]

The good news is we have tons of room to improve and we were only one game away from playoffs. How many players and how much better coaching do we need to stand toe to toe with Clemson? Probably more than we would like to think, but less than it seems. My Lord, we have a baseball player at QB. Top qb and we are OU with a defense.

Don't kow about OU with a D. Losing our top three offensive guys without equal depth behind them is a bigger deal than most want to admit. And of course I'm talking about a Freshman year Richards when I say that. Our O-Line is maybe 1-2 years away from where we need to be. Not that we don't have talent here already, just not enough and without the needed experience on the Oline. The championship teams are mostly Senior or redshirt Juniors on their O-Lines. Of course if you have a great QB, you can overcome some O-Line issues. So I'm pretty much in agreement with most of whats been posted so far, give or take. It's never just one thing. Next year I believe we compete on a much more level playing field for the ACC-Ship. Take it down to the wire and flip a coin as to who wins. I believe we are that close as a team. If some of our younger O-Linemen progress and someone beats out Rosier, we can be in the chase.

 

[tcgrad1014]

What about at least decent special teams? Opposing kickers didn’t miss a single FG all year. Funny to hear people say we need both a cornerbacks and Safeties coach but we don’t need a LBs or dedicated ST coach.

Most underrated part of the game is ST. Ask Georgia when they blocked Okla’s FG.

are you stupid ?? you actually are blaming the other teams field goal kickers success on the special teams.. if we blocked 2 kicks, about average, would you consider the field goal team "special"?

Are you stupid? Find me another team which opposing kickers had a 100% success rate. I’ll wait.. You can disrupt a FG and not block it you realize this?

No not saying this is all ST has to do. However it is a disturbing stat nonetheless.

I'm still wondering if a CFB team has ever gone an entire season with opposing kickers not missing a single FG or XP. I'm not sure if it's a ST issue or not, but the stat blows my mind.

 

[skyman]

I honestly think we're closer than the 35-3 loss to Clemson, we just need a couple ballers in the front 7 and the secondary, we need Oline and a QB and I think we compete with anyone.

Cotdam, basically a whole new defense, and dam near half a offense.. lol

 

[ISLANDCANES]

I honestly think we're closer than the 35-3 loss to Clemson, we just need a couple ballers in the front 7 and the secondary, we need Oline and a QB and I think we compete with anyone.

Cotdam, basically a whole new defense, and dam near half a offense.. lol

Yeap I had to chuckle myself. The other thing most don't understand is that usually you just can't plug n play a kid into the lineup as a Freshman and expect elite performance.

 

[Saviorcane]