Since current recruits entered middle school (2006), we have lost 6, 7, 6, 4, 6 and 6 games. Those of you labeling anything other than Bethune and Duke as automatic wins are not paying attention. This is probably the worst Miami team in more than a decade. The losses are enormous and there is minimal experienced talent.
You say these things as if we've only won two games the last 4 years.... you do know that yeah we lost 6 games last year, but we also
won 6 games as well. How can anyone not list Miami vs GaTech,
at the least, an automatic win is beyond me.
How is this the worst Miami team in more than a decade??? IMO the 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 team was worse than this one. Last year Miami had to deal with Shapiro gate, injuries, and Al Golden still trying to get this team on board with his philosophy's as a Head Coach.... Now everybody has bought in to the system, and this team is in better shape, now, than Larry Coker's last two years and Shannon's entire HC career.
You say are losses are "enormous" and there is minimal experienced talent left....
Lets take a look:
1.
Lamar Miller - He was an inconsistent and incomplete Running Back when he left Miami.
-
Eduardo Clements and Mike James are Experienced talent that can make up for the production of Lamar Miller.
2.
Brandon Washington - Although he could've have been one of the best Guards.... He was playing out of position the whole year and really was the weakest link on our O-line.
- Our guards like
Brandon Linder, Feliciano, and Jermaine Johnson, are all experienced and talented enough to make up for his loss.
3.
Jacory Harris - Was very good his last year, but still made poor decisions mainly not choosing to run the ball more often.
-
Stephen Morris - An Experienced QB that has more talent than Jacory, and has two years under the system already. Unlike Jacory, he won't have to deal with learning a new offense every year.
4.
Tommy Streeter - Honestly his loss was more problematic for our team than anybody else who went pro. His natural talent is something we don't have currently but his production can be matched by the WR's that are still here.
-
Allen Hurns and Phillip Dorsett both bring something different to the wide receiver position.... I don't think that either of these two can do what Streeter did last year but they can at least match his production collectively.
- Also I expect
Asante Cleveland and Clive Waliford to help make up for his loss by being a consistent threat at the TE position, which was missing last year.
5.
Olivier Vernon - A freak athlete at the D-end position, but he was really an underachiever. It didn't seem like he was fully invested to the team and he just wanted to hurry up and go the NFL.
-
Shayon can definitely put up the same numbers Vernon did for us last year..... if he can stay healthy I think he can do even better than that.
6.
Sean Spence - The Best for last..... he will be missed. He was a one man show and I just wished he had a chance to really play with Denzel b/c they would've been a special duo together.
- But two things spence never did was bench 400lbs and run a 4.5 forty and that is something that
Denzel Perryman brings to the table. I am ALL IN on the DP bandwagon and I think our linebacker unit will not miss a beat b/c of him on the field.
I see all of this as being more "realistic" than "optimistic." If we expect our freshman class to be the guys that will bring this team back, than I guess you all wont start back watching Miami football until 2016. The older guys are talented enough to get us over the hump to the ACC title, so that the freshman class can take us, from that point, on to the National Title.
