My expectations:
-- Very minimal self-inflicted mistakes. Meaning no jumping offsides on crucial 3rd downs, no roughing their kicker giving them a free first down after they miss a FG, no muffed punts, no heinous dropped passes. I'm not going to EXPECT an A+ performance, but I do think it's fair to expect us to play close to our best. And that would include not doing much of anything to beat ourselves. Every team makes mistakes, but how bout we have one big game where we don't have an avalanche of them?
-- Our OL doesn't get completely mauled. We have literally the most returning starts of any program in the history of the sport. Yes, you read that correctly. The numbers are inflated across the country due to the Covid super seniors, but I will say it again. In the history of the sport, The 2021 Miami Hurricanes are returning more kids with more combined starts on the offensive line than any program has in the history of college football. Now, that doesn't mean that we're magically great. If a kid stinks (and I'm not saying anyone on the OL does, just making a point), just him having experience doesn't make him great. But if we're *that* experienced, you would think we shouldn't get absolutely crushed across the offensive front. Sure, I expect Alabama to control that aspect of the game, but we should be able to put up a fight. I expect us to hold our own across the full 60 minutes, although I'm sure Alabama will certainly have some stretches where they control our OL with their front 7. If it's just even close to a wash though, I think we can have success on offense.
-- We don't get flattened in the run game. Alabama loses 4 starting OL, including multiple NFL picks, the best Center in the country, a first-round tackle, etc. They lose Najee Harris. Yes, they have talented kids to fill those spots. But they HAVE to have a little bit of a drop-off. It's literally impossible the new kids in the first game are as good and efficient as the kids they're replacing. So, let's not get obliterated in the run game. We know we have question marks at edge and at backer. So, IMO, this is the most important aspect of the entire game. If Alabama just has their way running the football, and the game is easy and relaxed for Bryce Young, we're going to get killed. I expect Manny to make Young beat him. He's surely capable of doing it, IMO he is the best QB prospect they've ever had, but it's his first start. If I'm Manny, and I'm going to lose, it's going to be because a freshman QB making his first start beat me, not because I let them run the ball down my throat. So it's imperative that the front 7 at least hold their own. Again, I don't expect the Steel Curtain out there. But don't get embarrassed.
-- I expect us to make the game competitive in the 2nd half. I'm being realistic here, I don't expect a win. I sure as **** hope for one, I will be there in full throat in Section 107, and walking into that building I'm gonna be thinking we're gonna shock the world. But when the dust settles, if we lose, I'm not going to throw myself off the roof. The line is Alabama -18 or -19, and if we play them 10 times in a row they probably win 9. But I expect the kids to fight. The whole **** team is back. We have more experience than any P5 team in America. We have the entire offensive staff back. Go play like it. Get up for the moment, fight your *** off, execute you gameplan, and let's see what happens. I don't *EXPECT* to win, but I sure as **** expect to compete. I do not think that's too much to ask for. This is a huge game for Manny, obviously, but IMO a legit P5 staff puts a scare into Bama with this roster. At least for a half. If it's 31-10 at halftime, I'm obviously going to be incredibly disappointed. I expect this team to come out and fight a lot more than that. We have the talent to make them sweat. Let's execute at a level that makes that happen.
