SB Nation - Jason Fox

apparently you're not allowed to do that

lt.winslow — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:28:03 -0000

2009 Virginia Tech Football: What to Watch vs. Miami

furrer4heisman — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:15:09 -0000

More photos » by Steve Helber - AP

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The Team

The Hurricanes have confidence. They're coming off two wins against two very well thought of opponents and they won in impressive fashion. They came from behind to win on the road against a rival and they dominated a team that dominated them last year. They're riding about as high as they will be all season.
Hokie fans have to hope that the Hurricanes are peaking early and that the Hokies are just now beginning to find their stride. The Hokies are coming off an improbable win and will be playing in front of their home fans. If that doesn't give them confidence to match the Hurricanes, nothing will.

Virginia Tech Offense vs. Miami Defense

There are two things the Hokies have to do to stop Miami's offense. The first thing has nothing to do with their defense. Instead, the onus is on the Hokie offense to sustain drives, get rushing yards and keep the Miami offense on the sidelines. The problem is, the Hokies haven't had many sustained drives this season.
Against Alabama and Nebraska, the Hokies have averaged 2.2 yards per carry and 6.0 yards per pass attempt according to CFBStats.com. The Hokies will need better production from running backs not named Ryan Williams and from Tyrod Taylor.
Williams has averaged over five yards per carry against Alabama and Nebraska. He's the Hokies' home run hitter. But for Virginia Tech to sustain drives, someone other than Williams has to be able to churn yards against the Canes.
The Hokies' offensive line also has to keep Tyrod Taylor upright. They improved at that against Nebraska, but still struggle at pass blocking. If Tyrod is able to find the running room he couldn't in the Hokies' first three games, then Tech will have a chance. Tyrod's running ability has to come through in this game against a young Hurricanes defense that hasn't always been able to stop scrambling QBs this year.
For the third time in four games, the Hokies are facing a very strong defensive line. Even without one of its key cogs, Adewale Ojomo, the Canes have an impressive defensive front. Exit Ojomo, enter freshman Olivier Vernon. Miami has the depth the Hokies have been trying to build for years and don't lose a lot from its first to second team.
The Canes' ends disrupted Georgia Tech's because their ends were able to destroy the Jackets' tackles and force a quick pitch from Nesbitt. They were then able to use their speed at linebacker and in the secondary to track down Georgia Tech's backs. What the Hokies have to do is use the Canes' speed against them.
I didn't see misdirection plays and zone-read options the Hokies used against Marshall against Nebraska. I think these are plays that can take advantage of Miami's overpursuit and lead to big yards.
Miami also has a vulnerable secondary. When Tyrod has time, he's capable of exploiting vulnerable secondaries. It's happened against lesser opponents. It can happen against Miami if the Hokies are able to let him make his reads and make decisions.
Of course, Tyrod's throw has to be accurate to take advantage.

Virginia Tech Defense vs. Miami Offense

Miami is good at exploiting the middle of the field through the air. The Hokies' linebackers and safeties have been giving up big plays through the air this year. This could be a lethal combination if Virginia Tech doesn't remedy it before Saturday.
Miami also has two good running backs in Graig Cooper and Javarris James. The Hokies have allowed three 100-yard rushers in three games. Once again, this could be a lethal combination if it isn't remedied by the defensive coaches before Saturday.
The Miami player I'll be watching is sophomore wide receiver LaRon Byrd. He's a smart player who's tall and could have a big game against Tech this Saturday. But the Hurricanes have four receivers who are all capable of having big games.
Aldarius Johnson missed the Georgia Tech game, but had three catches for 48 yards against Florida State. Travis Benjamin is the fastest players on Miami's offense and will present matchup problems for the Hokies against Dorian Porch and Kam Chancellor. Leonard Hankerson is just tall and experienced and playing with a confidence level he didn't have in his first two seasons.
As I mentioned above, there are two ways to stop Whipple's offense. The other way the Hokies can potentially stop Miami's offense is by getting pressure on Jacory Harris. Harris hasn't faced pressure in his first two games. That pressure is going to have to come from a banged up defensive line. Both Jason Worilds and John Graves have been limited in practice this week due to injuries.
Worilds is the most likely Hokie to get to Harris. Not only is he Tech's best defensive lineman, he'll be matched up against Miami's least experienced offensive tackle in Matt Pipho. Nekos Brown will have a much harder time getting around Jason Fox, who is one of the best offensive linemen in the ACC.
Virginia Tech's ability to avoid big plays from the Miami offense will be its biggest challenge. While is obviously susceptible to big plays in the passing game, if I'm Mark Whipple I'd run the ball until Virginia Tech can prove it can stop me.
This will be the most interesting matchup to watch because it's Whipple's desire for a balanced attack against Bud Foster's desire to make teams one-dimensional.

Outcome

I actually think this one could get ugly. The Hurricanes match up well against the Hokies. What they are good at is what Virginia Tech struggles with and what the Hurricanes struggle against is what the Hokies don't do well. It will take pressure on the quarterback, turnovers and exceptional special teams play for Virginia Tech to win this game.

Watch the Box Score For:

Turnovers
Virginia Tech sacks and QB hurries
Miami yards per carry
Tyrod Taylor's completion percentage

Virginia Tech Players to Watch:

5 - Tyrod Taylor, Jr., QB
25 - Josh Oglesby, So., RB
6 - Jason Worilds, Jr., DE
22 - Stephan Virgil, Sr., CB

Miami Players to Watch:

47 - LaRon Byrd, So., WR
65 - Matt Pipho, Sr., RT
94 - Eric Moncur, Sr., DE
6 - Randy Phillips, Sr., SS

Final Score

Miami 31, Virginia Tech 10

Georgia Tech/Miami NFL Draft-related open thread

Mocking Dan — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:21:32 -0000

More photos » by John Amis - AP

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This is short notice, but stop by tonight as I'll be live blogging during the Georgia Tech/Miami game.

Anytime two ranked teams play each other, it's worth checking out. It also helps that Georgia Tech is fairly stacked with solid NFL Draft prospects.

The most exciting Yellow Jacket to most is junior running back Jonathan Dwyer. He's a big, fast back who has a lot of big runs. It's interesting, though, to see how many of Dwyer's yards come on option pitches and not straight up the gut.

The player I'm most interested to observe, however, is junior defensive end Derrick Morgan. Against Clemson last week, he was dominant registering 10 tackles and three sacks. He's really quick off the line and gets low. He might not have a lot of moves, but the one he has is a stellar.

It will be interesting to see if Miami moves its best offensive lineman, senior left tackle Jason Fox, around tonight to try and neutralize Morgan.

In addition to Dwyer and Morgan, keep an eye on Georgia Tech junior running back Anthony Allen. In only five carries, he was just as impressive as Dwyer last week. At 6-foot-1 and 228 pounds the Louisville transfer has NFL size.

7:50: One thing I forgot to mention: Key an eye on No. 57 on Miami. That's junior defensive tackle Allen Bailey. He's moved from linebacker to end to tackle. He's a good athlete who moves around well. Oh and, in his spare time, he kills alligators.

7:54: If I were an offensive lineman with future aspirations, I wouldn't go to Georgia Tech. On almost every play, you line up low and take out the legs of an opponent or you sweep. Option blockers are good against the run but really struggle versus the pass. That's why, for defenses, first downs are so important.

8:00: Football field with a baseball diamond = lame. Always hated that. We're talking important things here people.

8:03: Derrick Morgan is having some real problems with his foot work on this drive.

8:10: After adjusting for the first five or eight plays, Miami has looked good against the option. The have a lot more speed than to the outside than I expected.

8:17: Morgan is just having a bad game all together. He might be neutralized all night. If he wants to be a top prospect, he'll have to really work on his stamina. Miami's running backs are playing like they should have their whole career.

8:25: If Miami quarterback Jacory Harris was 30 pounds heavier, he'd be a good NFL Draft prospect. He throws and a catchable ball and has good timing. It seems like he can read a defense fairly well also.

8:34: Where is Jonathan Dwyer tonight? Four carries for five yards. He's been a non-factor. Last week he had 18 carries for 66 yards. Not good.

8:42: I like what I'm seeing from Miami wide receiver Laron Byrd (No. 47). He gets good separation down the middle. Great on crossing routes. He's big too. 6'4, 215.

8:47: Going into this game, who thought Javarris James would be having a better game than Dwyer? Not me. James might not be a No. 1 or even No. 2 back in the NFL, but he should make a roster if he can cover on special teams.

8:54: Miami definitely has Morgan figured out tonight. What do you do against a speed rusher who gets low on every play? Push him down into the ground. If Morgan wants to make his name solely as a speed rusher, he needs to watch Dwight Freeney. Throw some spins into the arsenal.

8:58: Bad first half for the top upperclassmen NFL Draft prospects so far. All flaws have been exposed for the Tech players. Miami's guys, as usual, have been quiet. I'm going to the store.

9:34: This game is over. Bad night for Georgia Tech. Option teams have a hard time coming from behind.

10:06: Tech just doesn't have the linemen yet to run the option perfectly. That's hurt their running backs tonight. It will be interesting to find out how injured Dwyer is. When a junior misses significant action, they typically return for their senior season.

10:40: Good call by Daniel Jeremiah of MoveTheSticks -- Jacory Harris reminds me of former Oregon QB Dennis Dixon... Flip throwing motion, nice ball, rail thin

Florida State/Miami game lacks past glory

Mocking Dan — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 17:11:56 -0000

by Chuck Burton - AP

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Over the last 10 years, the importance of the Florida State/Miami game has dwindled among talent evaluators.

It was once a treasure trove of prospects. In the 2006 draft, 17 players from the two schools were drafted. There were 14 Canes or 'Noles taken in both the 2005, 2004 and 2003 drafts.

Miami especially had a bounty of players. Consider the 2004 NFL Draft when six Hurricanes were selected in the first round. Or the four first rounders in 2003, or the five in 2002. Stars like Andre Johnson, Vince Wilfork, Bryant McKinnie, Ed Reed, Antrel Rolle and Jonathan Vilma have come from "The U."

Florida State has produced talents like Ernie Sims, Alex Barron, Anquan Boldin and Darnell Dockett.

This year, though, only two players were taken – Spencer Adkins (Miami) and Everette Brown (Florida State). Brown was a solid second-round pick, but Adkins barely made the Falcons' roster.

When the two teams play tonight at 8 p.m. (EST), there will again be few stars to watch. Here's a quick look at some of them.

Florida State:

- Patrick Robinson | CB | 5'11, 194 pounds
I have rated as my 10th best senior cornerback prospect, but a lot of others have him ranked near the top. I'll be watching him the closest.

- Rodney Hudson | G | 6'2, 285 pounds
He's an athletic guard whom I rated second among juniors at his position.

- Dekoda Watson | OLB | 6'2, 226 pounds
Somewhat undersized for his position, Watson didn't crack the top 10 senior outside linebackers. He's a disruptive player who has had some injury problems.

Miami:

- Darryl Sharpton | MLB | 5'11, 235 pounds
An undersized speedy linebacker, Sharpton is fun to watch but not the best prospect. I have rated eighth among senior middle linebackers.

- Jason Fox | OT | 6'6, 314 pounds
Fox has been an underrated offensive tackle, but he's not especially spectacular. He's a workman-like player who will be a solid backup in the NFL.

- Jarvarris James | RB | 5'11, 208 pounds
Somewhat disappointing during his career, James often gets lost in the shuffle of running back the Hurricanes use. He has good size, but the production isn't there.

'Nole Your Enemy: The Miami Hurricanes' Offense

FSUncensored — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 17:51:10 -0000

We continue our " 'Nole Your Enemy" Series with The Miami Hurricanes. Yesterday we looked at Miami's defense. Today, we'll discuss the offense. Previously we looked at South Florida (Offense, Defense) and continued with BYU's Offense and Defense. Last week we previewed BC's Offense and the Boston College Defense, and UNC's Offense, and Defense.

This year, the Hurricanes have a new offensive coordinator after firing Patrick Nix. The new man is Mark Whipple. Tomahawk Nation discussed him previously, here (HS Coach breaks down his film from his last stop at UMass.). Whipple is decidedly pro-style. We can now add to that report, as one cane player recently revealed that Miami has been running a lot of shotgun with 3 or 4 wide receivers. By all accounts,when Miami spreads, they will spread to throw, not spread to run, as their young quarterback isn't spectacularly fast, and he has no capable backup. I also expect to see a lot of Shotgun with 2 backs, as Miami showed in the spring game.

As usual, we will look at last year's team, discuss personnel changes, and then try to give you the best idea of what MIami will run Monday night. How good was Miami's offense last season? Let's use advanced measures which disregard performance after a game is already a blowout, and adjusts for opponent!

So Miami had an offense in the bottom half of the middle group of ACC offenses. But we can go much more in-depth than this- and we will.

Miami has about the 45th best offense in the country last year, in terms of efficiency on a drive-by-drive basis. That's not impressive, but it isn't anywhere near as horrible as their defense. For whatever reason, that isn't getting much press, but I digress. It is of course reputation, not performance, that carries the day.

Let's have a look at their play-by-play basis, using the Varsity Numbers S&P+ system, developed by Bill Connelley:

By this measure, Miami again had an offense in the middle of the conference, 58th nationally.

But what about in conference play? The ACC plays the best defense in the country (most defensive minded head coaches, most defenses in the top 10, 15, and 25, and most NFL 1st round defensive draft picks over the last 3 years).

So once they got into ACC play, the Canes were better. They went from the bottom of the middle group to the top of the middle group! Their overall numbers were dampened down by their UCF performance (20 points).

So we're looking at a group that rounded into form by the mid-season mark. But what were their strengths and weaknesses?

Again, Miami's passing offense was at the top of the middle group, in conference play. I try to use conference play because the opponent adjustments are less severe. If their passing offense was slightly above average, and their total offense was slightly above average, what do you think their rushing offense was?

Miami had the 4th best rushing game in conference, which is consistent with everything else we have seen.

I have to ask the question... if Miami wants to continually spew the "youth" moniker, why fire the guy who led that "youth" to an above average offense in a conference that sent 10 teams to bowl games?

So this year the Canes return most of their offense.

Quarterback

Under Center, the canes have Jacory Harris. He was a highly touted QB out of Miami Northwestern and played well at times last season. The 6'4" 188lb Sophomore is now the unquestioned leader of the team because Robert Marve and two other scholarship quarterbacks transferred this off-season. Miami has no depth at quarterback, which could lead to a more conservative scheme from Whipple than he'd prefer (as the linked article at the beginning of this story notes, Whipple wants to run 5 guys out in routes- now he might have to keep a back or a tight end in to block). Let's look at Harris' numbers from a season ago:

Opponent Result Att Comp Pct. Yards Yards/Att TD Int Rating Charleston So. W 52-7 26 16 62 190 7.3 1 0 136 @ 1 Florida L 3-26 4 2 50 10 2.5 0 0 71 @ Texas A&M W 41-23 7 4 57 27 3.9 0 0 90 North Carolina L 24-28 6 4 67 39 6.5 0 0 121 21 Florida St. L 39-41 7 3 43 32 4.6 0 1 53 UCF W 20-14 6 4 67 14 2.3 0 0 86 @ Duke W 49-31 28 18 64 185 6.6 4 2 153 Wake Forest W 16-10 8 4 50 41 5.1 0 0 93 @ Virginia W 24-17 21 12 57 160 7.6 2 0 153 15 Virginia Tech W 16-14 2 1 50 3 1.5 0 0 63 @ 22 Georgia Tech L 23-41 18 13 72 162 9 2 1 173 @ North Carolina St. L 28-38 20 12 60 138 6.9 1 2 114 + California L 17-24 41 25 61 194 4.7 2 1 112 Totals 194 118 61 1195 6.2 12 7 126

Okay, some of those look pretty good, but let's have a closer look. My conclusion is that we should call Jacory Harris the "garbage man."

Statically, Harris' most impressive game came against Georgia Tech. I was surprised by this because I didn't remember him having a great game against the Yellow-Jackets. So I dialed up that game on my DVR and watched. Guess what? All of Harris' rushing yards and 131 of his 162 passing yards came in the 4th quarter. Big deal? Well, the Canes were down 41-10 at the start of the 4th quarter. It was garbage time. Georgia Tech had shut it down. Stats are a great tool as a record of performance, but here again we see why you have to look at them in context, and remove garbage time possessions. Real-Time Jacory: 4-7, 31 yards, 0 Touchdowns, 1 Interception. Garbage Time Jacory: 9-11, 131 yards, 2 Touchdowns, No interceptions.
Against North Carolina State, he again pumped his stats when the game was already over. With 2:35 left in the game, the Wolfpack went up 38-21 and the game was over.. Then Jacory "Garbage Time" Harris took over. He rushed twice for 20 yards, and went 4-6 for 51 yards and his only touchdown. If only he could play that well in real time (8-14, 87 yards, 1 TD, 1, INT- far less impressive).
Not as big of a deal here, but against Duke, the game was over at 41-24, with 7:48 left, and Harris went 3-4 for 36 yards.
This isn't specifically garbage time, but Duke had by far the ACC's worst pass defense last year, and it wasn't even close. Still, I will not classify the entire Duke game as garbage time, though I am tempted.

While it is admirable and smart for Miami to get some work in for their young quarterback, a lot of Harris' good efforts came when the defense was no longer trying and the outcome of the game was no longer in question. This is pretty remarkable.

Jacory Harris in ACC Play	ATT	COMP	YARDS	%	YARDS/ ATTEMPT	TD	INT	Rating
Real Time	89	51	542	57%	6.1	6	6	117
Garbage Time	21	16	218	76%	10.4	3	0	210

So in his garbage time performances, Jacory Harris was the best quarterback in the history of college football. Literally. 210 is just insane.

In watching Harris' tapes, he seems to have average arm strength, but is pretty accurate. Harris is good at lofting balls over the head of opposing defenders, particularly over linebackers. It's important to take good drops against Harris.

Here are two you-tube clips if you are so inclined.

Jacory Harris (via pimpflex88)

Jacory Harris leads Miami to a game tying TD vs. UVA (via rusty98um11)

Harris is a decent runner, but he isn't great. He isn't afraid to scramble out of the pocket, if necessary, and throws well on the run, so maintaining contain will be paramount. But it's doubtful he will be utilized on any designed runs, due to the aforementioned lack of quarterback depth. He does have a really smooth delivery and a calm demeanor, however, which has to be encouraging for Canes fans.

The question of how much Harris has improved is yet to be answered. Has he grasped the new offense under Whipple? Does he have the arm to throw all the things Whipple wants to throw. Can he fit the ball into tight windows? Will he have the patience for some slower-developing routes to come open if Whipple decided to keep extra blockers in for pass protection? I'll speculate about this tomorrow in the official TomahawkNation preview, and we'll find out Monday Night.

Running Backs

Miami has a stable of talented backs. It starts with he electric 6'0" 200lb Greg Cooper. Cooper had a good game going against the 'Noles last year, before the Canes abandoned the run. He can take any run to the house, though needs to be more consistent on a down-to-down basis. He also has great hands, and Miami will throw him the ball a lot this year. It's not unreasonable to think he could average 4 catches per game. Complimenting Cooper is Javarris James. Like Cooper, the 6'0" 215lb Senior, gets hurt quite often. When healthy though, he is Miami's best back and excels at keeping the chains moving. James isn't the best home-run threat, but he is difficult for DB's to tackle when he runs with momentum. Also in the mix are 5'10" 180lb scatback Lee Chambers, who will catch some balls for the Canes this year. The Canes use a fullback he is 5'9" 255lb Patrick Hill. Hill is a very good blocker, but he doesn't run or catch the ball often. He's an excellent candidate to stay in and block when the Canes throw the ball. And there's one more name you should know- Mike James. The 5'10" 220lb Sophomore has dazzled Cane fans throughout practice and on some days he looks like Miami's best back. Not listed in the two-deep, it's uncertain how much playing time he will get.

Miami has preached staying true to the run and pounding the rock this year. With their full compliment of backs healthy (unlike last year), Miami will look to run the ball right at Florida State, and do it often, particularly if the weather is poor.

Wide Receivers

This is by far Miami's most impressive unit. They have 7 targets rated 4* or better. Almost every team in the country would trade their lot for Miami's. The most physically impressive is 6'2" 205lb Sophomore Aldarious Johnson. Physically, he reminds me of Andre Johnson (former Cane great now with the Houston Texans), though he is nowhere near as good yet. He went to high school with Harris, and they have a great rapport. Up next is 6'4" 215lb Sophomore Laron Byrd. He is a serious big-play threat and should remind FSU fans of Jarmon Fortson, or NFL fans of Braylon Edwards. Byrd is also a serious threat in the red-zone. He needs to work on his consistency, but the tools are there. 6'3" 215lb Junior Leonard Hankerson has been named a starter as well, and he's the elder statesman of this group. Not the freak athlete that Byrd is, he is a big body with good hands who can consistently move the chains. Profiled last week was 5'10" 165lb Sophomore Travis Benjamin. He killed FSU last year, running a reverse for a score, catching a pass for a score, and amassing an insane performance on kickoffs. At Tight End, the Canes feature 6'3" 250lb Senior Dedrick Epps. Epps isn't special, but he is solid and can hurt the Noles if they don't cover the tight end, like many Cane tight ends have not. Career underachiever Richard Gordon has been in and out of Shannon's doghouse, but the 6'4" 270lb Senior might be a threat in multiple tight end sets. With his size, he is a good blocker and an excellent red-zone threat. Don't sleep on 6'8" Tight End (and Cane basketball player) Jimmy Graham. He's impressed with his hands, and while not a blocker, is a very raw but very scary receiving threat.

I'll discuss this more tomorrow, but Miami's receiving corps looks to have a personnel advantage over the Noles.

Offensive Line

The most important group on the field gave Miami some trouble last year. On the whole, their linemen were big, but not particularly strong or flexible, and obviously out of shape. This year they return 3 starters and have 6 players who have game experience. This unit sould be considerably better. At Left Tackle is 6'7" 310lb former tight end Jason Fox. Fox is the rock of this group, an excellent pass protector and average run blocker. He allows the canes to focus their protections on blitzers and weaker areas of the line. At Right Tackle is 6'7" 305lb Matt Piphi, who can best be described as average. He could impress this season but isn't particularly talented and has shown nothing to warrant praise to this point. He is a new starter. At left guard will be 6'7" 334lb Orlando Franklin. Franklin is huge and was highly touted coming out of high school. He is a Junior and started 11 games last year. Very inconsistent, he also resembles an alien. If he can put it all together, he will be very good for the Canes. In a somewhat surprising move, 6'2" 320lb Sophomore Harland Gunn beat out Joel Figueroa for the starting right guard position. Gunn is the better athlete than Figueroa, though 30lbs smaller, and Cane fans look to have a good one in him. He's obviously going to be mistake prone in his first ever Canes game. Moving from Guard to Center 6'3" 310lb A.J. Trump. He's a smart Senior with good feet, and has over 15 starts at various line positions.

I'll discuss this more tomorrow, but Miami's offensive line was wildly inconsistent last season. They lacked effort and at times Cane fans had to be embarrassed with their performance. They are more experience dthis year, and under a new offensive staff, they almost have to be better.

I expect Miami's offense to make the jump from the Mid 40's to the high 20's or lower 30's this year. Everything points to them being better. Tomorrow, I'll discuss why they might not be better in the game 'Nole fans care about- the Labor Day Showdown.

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The Connect: 03/06/09

The Great Barstoolio — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 15:10:38 -0000

Do not picture Nancy Reagan wearing only this jersey Oh yeah? I'll see your this and raise you this. Get on our level.

When you say "inflatables," do you mean cheerleaders? This morning's Connect brings you Actual News Items Intended To Inform You. Hurricanesports.com released a schedule of events open to the public between now and opening kickoff AGAINST FLORIDA STATE WOOOOOO!:

Open Practice/Scrimmage: Mar. 12 at 6:30 p.m. at Traz Powell Stadium
BankUnited CanesFest: Saturday, Mar. 28 at Lockhart Stadium - CanesFest will feature a spring game at 10:30 a.m. as well as an autograph session prior to the game. Gates will open at 8:30 a.m. Parking and admission are free.
Summer BankUnited CanesFest: Saturday, July 25 at Dolphin Stadium. UM players will be on hand to sign autographs. UM players will also be featured in a dunk tank. Sebastian and the UM cheerleaders will also be on hand while fans will be treated to several inflatables in the fan zone.
Season ticket holder exclusive practice: August 8 at Greentree.

Go forth, minions, and e-mail us pics of Allen Bailey. Riches will await you in the afterlife, which will suck, because there will be no place to spend them.

Like manna from heaven...are the practice tidbits. Shannon has continued to let media observe practices beyond the four originally allowed. Nugget time!

Ed Reed again attended practice on Wednesday. "There's just something about it," he said. "I feel like I want to put something in after getting so much. These young guys are great. It does something for you."

Jason Fox projected into the third round of the NFL draft after this pass season, and decided to return for his senior year. "I'd rather win a championship and deal with the NFL later," Fox said after Wednesday's spring workout at the Greentree Practice Field. "I'm more concerned about winning this season than trying to improve my draft status. I felt like it was a smart decision to stay, and I'm very happy with it."

The Connect: 03/04/09

The Great Barstoolio — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 15:31:31 -0000

Fighting Noobs to be coached by goob According to local news outlets, UT-San Antonio will name former Hurricane program-runner-into-the-grounder Larry Coker as the first head coach of their fledgling football program. Approval from university President [and former porn star, obviously - Ed] Ricardo Romo is expected this week and then the winning can begin. In all seriousness, good for Larry: He desperately wanted to coach again, and the UTSA program will likely be a great fit as he has the required amounts of enthusiasm for program-building and absolutely no expectations of competing to fulfill.

Fat baby was fat MNW commit Todd Chandler weighed 167 pounds as a 7-year-old. We mention this because TODD CHANDLER WEIGHED 167 POUNDS AS A 7-YEAR-OLD.

My what baggy shorts you have I forgot to post these images from Friday's practice; it's tough to imagine how I forgot such gems as "team stretches 1," "team stretches 2," and "team stretches 3." That said, there is football being played somewhere, and that makes these art. Jason Fox: Dr. Evil?

Happy child makes me feel feeling, must be destroyed Tommy Streeter can't hep but grin like a madman while talking about how good it is to be back on the field this Spring after red-shirting. Awww! This Halloween, I'm making a street-o'-lantern.

(Also new at cbs4's video library: Edgerrin James and Sinorice Moss at the NFL Dare to Dream event last week. Good on ya, boys.)

The Connect: 02/16/09

The Great Barstoolio — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 15:20:13 -0000

This fall we're gonna party like it's 1968 Bruce Feldman touches on the recruitment of He Who Shall No Be Named and Clint Hurtt's one-hour airport rule, then tackles the question, "Is the Hurricanes' 4 game stretch against #23 FSU, #13 Georgia Tech, #5 Virginia Tech and #2 OU the toughest 4 game opening stretch ever?"

Going as far back as 2002, Feldman didn't find a team who played more than three ranked teams in their first four games. But ESPN's Brad Edwards pulled up Northwestern's 1968 schedule, in which the Cats opened up with five games against top-20 competition: #19 Miami, #3 USC, #1 Purdue, #5 Notre Dame, and then #2 Ohio State. Northwestern lost all five and by a combined score of 167-48.

Um, great. We're Northwestern? Excuse me while I strangle myself in some annoying undergrad's woolen commie socks.

Sometime we'll pass, other times we'll run Public Frenemy No. 1 Heather Dinich interviews senior offensive tackle Jason Fox, and in the midst of their candid talk is this informative nugget about what fans can expect on offense next season:

HD: Do you sense the offense is going to change a lot?

JF: It's definitely going to be different. It's not going to be completely different. We're still going to do a lot of the basic concepts. We're just going to change a few things to help benefit us. We're going to keep things that have been working for us, but we're going to do a lot of things to help us that we haven't done in the past. It's definitely exciting.

Is it? Because I have NO IDEA what you just said, Foxy. But he also mentions that the entire team prays toward Jacory Harris five times a day, and the squad feels like the tough opening weeks provide a chance to be in the lead for the ACC Championship and might even position them for a national title, which is what they all came to Miami to do. I love it when you talk sexy, boys.

Book the Eclipse Nightclub TWWL's JC Shurbutt (oh, honey, no) offers this Recruiting! 2010 tidbit:

Word is that two-way lineman Tavadis Glenn (Jacksonville/Terry Parker) is an early lean to Miami. The Canes already have a commitment from another Jacksonville lineman, defensive tackle Louis Nix (Terry Parker).

In my fantasies, every time Randy Shannon makes inroads with a kid from Jax, Urban Meyer flogs Tim Tebow in a rage and an angel gets its wings.