forums

Miami Hurricanes Season Preview

MDOcane

MDOcane

here we go again...
Joined
Jul 1, 2013
Messages
1,513
http://espn.go.com/blog/acc/post/_/id/73015/miami-hurricanes-season-preview

ncf_i_dukejohnson_ms_600x400.webp

Previewing the 2014 season for the Miami Hurricanes:

Key returners: RB Duke Johnson, WR Stacy Coley, TE Clive Walford, LB Denzel Perryman, DE Anthony Chickillo

Key losses: QB Stephen Morris, WR Allen Hurns, P Pat O'Donnell, DE Shayon Green

Most important 2014 games: at Louisville, Sept. 1; at Nebraska, Sept. 20; at Virginia Tech, Oct. 23; Florida State, Nov. 15.

Projected win percentage: 62

Over/under Vegas odds: 7 1/2

[+] EnlargeDuke Johnson
Richard C. Lewis/Icon SMIThe Hurricanes are holding out hope that running back Duke Johnson can stay healthy in 2014.
Instant impact newcomer: QB Jake Heaps. Miami must be thanking the football gods for sending Heaps its way. With starter Ryan Williams out indefinitely while rehabbing a torn ACL and Kevin Olsen reportedly suspended for the opener, Heaps appears to be the man who will take the snaps when the season opens. His game experience gives him a major advantage over Olsen, who has yet to play in a collegiate game. Heaps has had his shares of ups and downs at BYU and Kansas -- he now has his final opportunity to take advantage of what is laid out in front of him.

Best-case scenario for 2014: Miami avenges its embarrassing bowl loss to Louisville in the opener, then upsets Nebraska a few weeks later in Lincoln, setting the stage for a triumphant season. Confidence grows, and Miami goes into Blacksburg, Virginia, on a Thursday night in October and pulls the upset. Duke Johnson runs for over 1,500 yards, and Heaps does a terrific job holding down the fort until Williams returns. Miami finally hits double-digit wins and makes its first appearance in the ACC championship game.

Worst-case scenario for 2014: The messy quarterback situation derails the Miami offense, as teams stack the box to contain Johnson. The defensive line is unable to get push up front or pressure on the quarterback. Despite improvements in the secondary, the defense as a whole makes only modest gains. A tough schedule featuring 10 bowl teams takes its toll and Miami barely reaches bowl eligibility.

Best NFL prospects: Perryman and Johnson. ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. has Perryman listed as the No. 2 senior outside linebacker prospect Insider, and Johnson listed among his top five underclassmen at running back Insider. Perryman could have left school early for the draft but elected to return to improve his stock. He will be playing middle linebacker this year, so he should make even more plays than he did a season ago. The biggest key for Johnson this season is staying healthy. He has yet to play an entire season as the unquestioned starter. If he does that this year, he should be a virtual lock for 1,000 yards; then Miami fans will have to worry about losing him to the NFL.

They said it: "There's a standard of excellence at the University of Miami, and you're held to that standard, which we've all accepted by going to the University of Miami. The one thing I think that's different about this team is that they believe in who they are, so they certainly respect the past, but they want to represent who they are and their identity as a football team. There's been nothing about the 2014 team that even resembles the 2013 team. They wanted to be their own team, have their own leadership and really move forward. So I'm excited about these guys saying, 'OK, let's go out and make our own identity’ as opposed to relying on something that happened quite a while ago." -- coach Al Golden
 
Advertisement
Key returners: RB Duke Johnson, WR Stacy Coley, TE Clive Walford, LB Denzel Perryman, DE Anthony Chickillo

Key losses: QB Stephen Morris, WR Allen Hurns, P Pat O'Donnell, DE Shayon Green

Says a lot about the talent level and it's improvement year over year.
 
CyberCane said:
Key returners: RB Duke Johnson, WR Stacy Coley, TE Clive Walford, LB Denzel Perryman, DE Anthony Chickillo

Key losses: QB Stephen Morris, WR Allen Hurns, P Pat O'Donnell, DE Shayon Green

Says a lot about the talent level and it's improvement year over year.
Click to expand...
Right, considering only two of the four key losses I'd like to have back... and one of those is the punter.
 
These writers are so clueless. They talk about the QB situation and only refer to 3 guys. Whether Kaaya wins it or not, he is still a part of the competition and should be mentioned. These posts annoy me. They know little to nothing about the team and small paragraphs like that show it.

This isn't about Kaaya and him winning it. It's about the credibility of these articles and how these writers have no clue what is going on.
 
that looks about right to me. its actually a little more optimistic than it could be. worst case scenario is a Kirby Freemanesque QB combined with one of the worst defenses in D1 adding up to 4 or 5 wins
 
Advertisement
This team will win 10 games, make it to the ACCCG. The only losses I see are FSU and VT (just b/c Thursday games are just not favorable for us...they always derail our plans.) I'm not scared of UL...it's not even the same team and they are still Louisville!!! FSU will take a step back...I DON'T think people really realize how big of a difference FSU's D was from 2012 to 2013. It was night and day and the main reason for this was b/c of Jeremy Pruitt bringing that SEC D into the ACC conference. He's no longer there and FSU's D will not be as good as it was in 2013. Also, no more f'n KELVIN BENJAMIN. That freggin 6'5 freak bailing Winston out w/ his wobbly over thrown balls. But I still think they beat us this year, but marginally. I'm not afraid of Nebraska; for God's sake, they were trying to fire Bo Pelini just last year now all of sudden they're good??? This D we possess looks way better than last year's thus far. We missed Duke last year at the end of the season and Morris was unhealthy all year. UM would've beat Duke and VT w/ Duke Johnson.
 
Rellyrell said:
This team will win 10 games, make it to the ACCCG. The only losses I see are FSU and VT (just b/c Thursday games are just not favorable for us...they always derail our plans.) I'm not scared of UL...it's not even the same team and they are still Louisville!!! FSU will take a step back...I DON'T think people really realize how big of a difference FSU's D was from 2012 to 2013. It was night and day and the main reason for this was b/c of Jeremy Pruitt bringing that SEC D into the ACC conference. He's no longer there and FSU's D will not be as good as it was in 2013. Also, no more f'n KELVIN BENJAMIN. That freggin 6'5 freak bailing Winston out w/ his wobbly over thrown balls. But I still think they beat us this year, but marginally. I'm not afraid of Nebraska; for God's sake, they were trying to fire Bo Pelini just last year now all of sudden they're good??? This D we possess looks way better than last year's thus far. We missed Duke last year at the end of the season and Morris was unhealthy all year. UM would've beat Duke and VT w/ Duke Johnson.
Click to expand...

Couldn't agree more, except for us losing to VT and FSU.
The strength of our team will be playmakers, and we only need a qb to get the ball into their hands.
Every pass attempt better be play action. I don't care if it's 4th and 10, play action.
Nobody will stack the box against us with Dorsett, Coley, Waters, Lewis and Scott as our interchangeable wr's.
If they do leave our wr's man up with no safety help, chuck it deep and trust your talent to make a play.
I also think 1500 yards for a season long, healthy Duke is being very conservative.
If he is healthy for 15 games he should break 2K.
That's right, 15 games counting the ACCCG, national semifinal and final.
The defense has athletes and talent throughout the 2 deep, and if out DT's stand their ground then the game is won.
If our DT's get penetration or command a double team, then opposing qb's and running backs are going to get hurt.
 
CyberCane said:
Key returners: RB Duke Johnson, WR Stacy Coley, TE Clive Walford, LB Denzel Perryman, DE Anthony Chickillo

Key losses: QB Stephen Morris, WR Allen Hurns, P Pat O'Donnell, DE Shayon Green

Says a lot about the talent level and it's improvement year over year.
Click to expand...

True, but I would have added Brandon Linder to our list of key losses.
 
Rellyrell said:
This team will win 10 games, make it to the ACCCG. The only losses I see are FSU and VT (just b/c Thursday games are just not favorable for us...they always derail our plans.) I'm not scared of UL...it's not even the same team and they are still Louisville!!! FSU will take a step back...I DON'T think people really realize how big of a difference FSU's D was from 2012 to 2013. It was night and day and the main reason for this was b/c of Jeremy Pruitt bringing that SEC D into the ACC conference. He's no longer there and FSU's D will not be as good as it was in 2013. Also, no more f'n KELVIN BENJAMIN. That freggin 6'5 freak bailing Winston out w/ his wobbly over thrown balls. But I still think they beat us this year, but marginally. I'm not afraid of Nebraska; for God's sake, they were trying to fire Bo Pelini just last year now all of sudden they're good??? This D we possess looks way better than last year's thus far. We missed Duke last year at the end of the season and Morris was unhealthy all year. UM would've beat Duke and VT w/ Duke Johnson.
Click to expand...

read this very slowly:

you are delusional
 
If we lose to Virginia Tech and FSU, there is a very good chance we don't win the division. Virginia Tech would have to lose three conference games. If we don't beat them who are the three teams that will? Their cross over games are against Boston College and Wake Forest. Not a lot of help there.
 
Advertisement
rudebuddha said:
Rellyrell said:
This team will win 10 games, make it to the ACCCG. The only losses I see are FSU and VT (just b/c Thursday games are just not favorable for us...they always derail our plans.) I'm not scared of UL...it's not even the same team and they are still Louisville!!! FSU will take a step back...I DON'T think people really realize how big of a difference FSU's D was from 2012 to 2013. It was night and day and the main reason for this was b/c of Jeremy Pruitt bringing that SEC D into the ACC conference. He's no longer there and FSU's D will not be as good as it was in 2013. Also, no more f'n KELVIN BENJAMIN. That freggin 6'5 freak bailing Winston out w/ his wobbly over thrown balls. But I still think they beat us this year, but marginally. I'm not afraid of Nebraska; for God's sake, they were trying to fire Bo Pelini just last year now all of sudden they're good??? This D we possess looks way better than last year's thus far. We missed Duke last year at the end of the season and Morris was unhealthy all year. UM would've beat Duke and VT w/ Duke Johnson.
Click to expand...

Couldn't agree more, except for us losing to VT and FSU.
The strength of our team will be playmakers, and we only need a qb to get the ball into their hands.
Every pass attempt better be play action. I don't care if it's 4th and 10, play action.
Nobody will stack the box against us with Dorsett, Coley, Waters, Lewis and Scott as our interchangeable wr's.
If they do leave our wr's man up with no safety help, chuck it deep and trust your talent to make a play.
I also think 1500 yards for a season long, healthy Duke is being very conservative.
If he is healthy for 15 games he should break 2K.
That's right, 15 games counting the ACCCG, national semifinal and final.
The defense has athletes and talent throughout the 2 deep, and if out DT's stand their ground then the game is won.
If our DT's get penetration or command a double team, then opposing qb's and running backs are going to get hurt.
Click to expand...


Ok Bro...I see where you're coming from. I think we are getting shafted w/ these predictions, though. I think everyone forgets that we were missing 2.5 playmakers last year. We were missing Duke, Dorsett, and Morris. Dorsett was a having a great year until that UNC game. He was uncoverable w/ that elite speed. Morris wasn't healthy. If you can't plant, you can't have accuracy. Our D was definitely bad, but the O didn't sustain any drives either and they were gassed by the 3rd and 4th quarters w/ no depth. This year, all has changed. The only variable is the QB position....If Heaps plays to his HS hype, we win big time this year. If not, Kaaya is next man up and true freshman's generally struggle against the speed of the game. Either way, this team is going to win double digits this yr....I'm convinced. Each year we've improved and we will see more of that this year as well. Legho Canes!!!
 
Bigtip said:
Rellyrell said:
This team will win 10 games, make it to the ACCCG. The only losses I see are FSU and VT (just b/c Thursday games are just not favorable for us...they always derail our plans.) I'm not scared of UL...it's not even the same team and they are still Louisville!!! FSU will take a step back...I DON'T think people really realize how big of a difference FSU's D was from 2012 to 2013. It was night and day and the main reason for this was b/c of Jeremy Pruitt bringing that SEC D into the ACC conference. He's no longer there and FSU's D will not be as good as it was in 2013. Also, no more f'n KELVIN BENJAMIN. That freggin 6'5 freak bailing Winston out w/ his wobbly over thrown balls. But I still think they beat us this year, but marginally. I'm not afraid of Nebraska; for God's sake, they were trying to fire Bo Pelini just last year now all of sudden they're good??? This D we possess looks way better than last year's thus far. We missed Duke last year at the end of the season and Morris was unhealthy all year. UM would've beat Duke and VT w/ Duke Johnson.
Click to expand...

read this very slowly:

you are delusional
Click to expand...


Not a real Cane fan, I see. Let's just not see you on this board talk about "See, I told you so" when we make it to the ACCCG. It's a lot of those on this board.
 
Back
Top