SB Nation User Blog: wvilla

TIME FOR NEW PLAN ON DEFENSE

wvilla — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 01:06:54 -0000

With Bill Young leaving his post as the Canes' defensive coordinator after just one season, it is time The U brings in a guy who can incorporate some elements of the 3-4.

Of the final four teams in the NFL playoffs, all four of them used the 3-4, a defense which keeps offenses guessing as to which linebackers are coming on the pass rush.

Once upon a time, the Canes could win on pure talent. Now they need to do what most teams do - disguise their coverages, their defenses and their intentions.

I also think they need to put their best and fastest playmakers at free safety so they can create more turnovers. Brandon Harris projects as that guy.

At the same time, they need to put bigger and more physical players at cornerback, guys who will knock receivers off their routes and then turn and run with them.

Ryan Hill can be that guy on one side, and Chavez Grant will be the leader on the other side. Both should expect heavy competition.

At linebacker, they need to build their entire system around Sean Spence and - to a slightly lesser degree - Colin McCarthy. Both have NFL potential.

On the line, you put Marcus Forston in the middle. He is a force already after just one year on campus.

This alignment would give the Canes tremendous strength up the middle in Forston, Spence, McCarthy and Brandon Harris.

At LDE, Allen Bailey is a first-round NFL pick waiting to happen. His speed, strength and agility numbers are off the charts. Eric Moncur, if granted a sixth year of eligibility, will battle Adewale Ojomo on the other side.

It has the makings of a strong defense if the right guy is brought in to mix and match the pieces.

LDE

Allen Bailey - 6-4 285 jr. 9 TFL, 5 sacks, tops on team (4.83 speed, 38.5i vert)

Steve Wesley - jr. - 6-3, 260, 4.92; 3 TFL

Courtney Harris - 6-3, 255 sr. ( 4.87 speed)

Marcus Forston - 6-2 300 soph. (5.03 speed) 4.5 TFL, 3 sacks

Micanor Regis - 6-2 320 soph.

*Curtis Porter - 6-2 335 fr.

Joe Joseph. - 6-3 300 sr. 4.5 TFL

Josh Holmes - 6-0 280 jr. 1.5 TFL

*Jeremy Lewis - 6-3 271 fr.

*Luther Robinson - 6-3 280 fr.

RDE

Adewale Ojomo - 6-3, 240 soph. 5 TFL, 3 sacks

Eric Moncur - 6-2 250 sr. 2.5 TFL in 4 games

Gavin Hardin - 6-5, 240 fr.

*Olivier Vernon - 6-3 240 fr. claims 4.8 speed

OLB

Marcus Robinson - 6-1 230 soph. 9 TFL

Arthur Brown - soph. 6-2 225 (4.75 speed)

*Ray Ray Armstrong - 6-4 220 fr.

ILB

Colin McCarthy - sr. 6-3 235 (4.58 speed, 38 i vert)

*Antonio Harper - fr. 6-4 230 reputed 4.7

Andrew Smith - 6-2, 240 soph.

ILB

Sean Spence - 6-0 200 soph. #1 in TFL with 9.5; (4.76 speed, 36i vert)

Jordan Futch - 6-2 215 soph.

Kylan Robinson - 6-1 235 jr.

OLB

Darryl Sharpton - 5-11 235 sr. 6 TFL

Ramon Buchanon - 6-1 200 soph.

*Dyron Dyre - 6-4 215 fr. reputed 4.6 speed

Chavez Grant - sr. 5-11 180; 4.65; 7 pass def. tops on team

*Brandon McGee - 5-11 185 fr. reputed 4.35

*A.J. Highsmith - 6-0 185 fr.

*Kayvon Webster - 5-11 180 fr. reputed 4.4

Ryan Hill - sr. 6-0 205 (4.43 speed)

Vaughn Telemaque - fr. 6-1 185

*Prince Kent - 6-3 195 fr. reputed 4.4

*Jamal Reid - 6-1 175 fr.

JoJo Nicholas - jr. 6-1 195

Randy Phillips - sr. 6-0 208 (if 6th-year) (4.5 speed)

C.J. Holton - fr. 6-0 215

Brandon Harris - soph. 5-10 185

DeMarcus Van Dyke - jr. 6-1, 175 (4.3 speed)

Jared Campbell - so. 6-0 197

*Joe Wylie - 6-2 170 fr.

(*expected to arrive this year)

LET MARVE GO

wvilla — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 19:04:34 -0000

Good to see Canes Coach Randy Shannon loosen a bit the restrictions he set on quarterback Robert Marve's transfer.

I'm OK with banning Marve from an ACC school, where Marve would compete with UM. Or banning Marve from a rival school within the state of Florida.

But banning him from the entire SEC was too much. Today Shannon narrowed that SEC ban to just Florida, Tennessee and LSU, three schools that the coach believes the Marve camp contacted during the 2008 season.

I hope Marve can have a good career somewhere else. I thought he was going to be a star here, but it just didn't work out, in part because of some of Marve's off the field issues and immaturity and in part because of Jacory Harris.

Jacory was every bit the QB prep star that Marve was, and as a Miami kid, Harris wasn't going anywhere. And since both players were freshmen, there was no way to redshirt one and get enough separation so that the older kid could play now and the younger one could take over later.

No, this eventually was going to be an either/or situation. And Marve made it easy for Shannon by transferring. This way, Shannon did not have to decide between the two.

For Canes fans, all that matters now is Jacory Harris, who has proven to be a phenomenal leader for someone so young.

The big concern for Harris is his arm strength and his strength overall. He is a tall, skinny kid. The hope is that he fills out as most young athletes with his frame do, and that his arm gets stronger right along with the rest of his body.

Becasue, right now, I don't see the arm strength there for Harris to run the dynamic offense Canes fans want to see.

But that's not to say that Jacory couldn't win in college even without a big arm. He could be a Chad Pennington type - smart, consistent, a leader, a winner.

But it would be nice if his arm strength improves this offseason with more weight training. And it would be great if the Canes replace fired offensive coordinator Patrick Nix with a creative, innovative coach.

ONE LAST CHANCE IN 2008

wvilla — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 22:27:00 -0000

The Canes' conclude a disappointing 2008 season tonight in a mediocre bowl game - don't even ask me the name - in San Francisco.

A win would give the Canes an 8-5 record, which would mark at least some progress from the 5-7 disaster of 2007.

Yes, the standards at Miami are high. If the Canes lose and fall to 7-6, that would be disgraceful as far as I am concerned. With all the talent in Florida, it is hard to fathom how the program has been allowed to slip so badly.

So yes, a win is needed. The Canes enter with zero swagger. Cal is 8-4 and lost 35-27 to ACC also-ran Maryland, so the Bears shouldn't have much to brag about either.

But to hear people talk, you would think the Canes are playing Southern Cal instead of Cal. If the Canes play up to their pedigree, they win this game. But that is a big if.

It is long past time for the Canes' defense to step up. They entered the season with high expectations with veteran coordinator Bill Young coming to the program off a great year at Kansas. But after an impressive early-season game in which they shut down Tim Tebow and Florida (and would have won with any offensive help at all), the defense has slipped.

The Canes' defense has been blitzed on the ground, most notably by Georgia Tech. And now comes Cal with two very good backs, Jahvid Best and Shane Vereen. Best averages a whopping 8 yards per cary and has rushed for 1394 yards this season. But he got a lot of it against horrible defenses, including 300 vs. winless Washington.

When Best faced Maryland, he was shut down (25 yards). When he faced Southern Cal, he was shut down (30). So let's not annoint him the next Adrian Peterson just yet.

Best is a 5=-10, 195-pound sophomore. Vereen is the same size and just a freshman. Vereen's average per rush of 5.1 is better than what the two Canes RBs had, so that is a pretty good 1-2 punch.

So it is up to the Canes' defense. Was the Florida effort a fluke? It appears so the way they have played lately.

And the Canes' secondary has made almost no plays this year, totaling just 4 interceptions. That is embarrassing. Cal, by contrast, has 23.

The other thing I will be curious to see is how Canes freshman QB Jacory Harris plays tonight. With normal starter Robert Marve suspended, Jacory gets his second start this season.

Jacory is a winner. He has never lost a start, in fact. But he has never played a team anywhere near as good as Cal since his only other college start was a walkover.

Tonight is proving time for Jacory. I have faith in him, but the Canes have to respond to leadership and the coaches have to play to win instead of being tentative and afraid to make mistakes. Let's open up the offense and play Canes Football.

DEEPLY DISAPPOINTING

wvilla — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 05:47:35 -0000

A five-game winning streak that put the Canes in position to win the ACC gave fans hope. But two straight losses ended Miami's regular season on Saturday night with a thoroughly mediocre 7-5 record.

There is a bowl game, so there is still a chance the Canes can improve by three wins over last season's horrible 5-7 mark.

But in Coral Gables, 7-6 or even 8-5 is nowhere good enough.

Yes, the Canes are young, and the freshman class appears to be great. But I am not convinced that head coach Randy Shannon has any clue how to run a winning system on offense.

And the great defenses that he once played on and coordinated is now a long way from championship caliber and was downright embarrassed several times this season.

Before the season, Canes fans asked themselves a simple question:

What is the team good at?

We didn't know the answer at the start of the season - and we don't know the answer now.

Running game? UM never established dominance.

Passing game? It showed flashes but was super inconsistent.

Stopping the run? Ask Georgia Tech.

Stopping the pass? There wasn't a single all-star candidate in the secondary this season.

Special teams? Kicker Matt Bosher had a good year but Travis Benjamin was unable to live up to his promise returning kicks - he's only a freshman, so there is time with him - and the unit is a long ways from the glory days, when the Canes used to block kicks with regularity.

Coaching? Please. Offensive coordinator Pat Nix is on the hot seat and may be dismissed. Veteran defensive coordinator Bill Young was brought in after he had a great year at Kansas but did not live up to the hype after a good showing against Florida.

The Canes have run a basic 4-3 defense forever. They use to beat people on sheer talent. Isn't it time they switch to a 4-3 and try to disguise their defensive looks like they do in the pros?

And isn't it time they pick a quarterback? Freshmen Robert Marve and Jacory Harris showed potential, but the fear is that neither can be all he can be if he has to share time.

There is some talent at Miami. Either Marve or Harris can be a star if there is the proper coaching - a big if.

Receivers Aldarius Johnson is the prototypical big target and Benjamin is the quick guy - they can compare to past Canes Andre Johnson and Santana Moss. Tight end Dedric Epps is another impressive specimen ... if, all together now, developed right.

Potential defensive playmakers are already on campus in cornerbacks Brandon Harris and DeMarcus Van Dyke, linebackers Sean Spence, Colin McCarthy and Darryl Sharpton, defensive tackle Marcus Forston and ends Allen Bailley, Adewale Ojomo and Marcus Robinson.

But are there coaches on campus who can put in place the systems - offense, defense and specials - to win?

Ah, that is the huge question. The answer right now appears to be no. They don't have an offensive genius such as Leach at Texas Tech (who would have made a great hire after the Canes fired Coker) or Johnson at Georgia Tech.

The defense needs to disguise coverages. And the special teams needs to intimidate and win games like the Canes in the glory days.

N.C. STATE WON'T BE EASY

wvilla — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 20:21:13 -0000

Miami's final regular-season game of the year is Saturday at noon at North Carolina State.

The Wolfpack is only 5-6, but they have won three in a row, including the past two against teams that were nationally ranked at the time - Wake Forest at No. 24 and North Carolina at No. 22.

The Pack was especially impressive in its most recent game, knocking off the Tar Heels, 41-10.

The Pack has found a small but very effective redshirt freshman at quarterback. His name is Russell Wilson. He is only 5-11 but he has passed for 1,549 yards, 14 TDs and just 1 interception.

His top receiver is 6-3, 180-pound sophomore Owen Spencer, who is averaging a whopping 21 yards per catch for a total of 27-567 and 3 TDs.

The running game won't rival Georgia Tech, but 6-0, 230-pound senior Andre Brown has 635 yards and a 4.2 average to lead the team.

Watch for 5-10, 195-pound junior Jamelle Eugene, who is equally dangerous running or catching. He has 366 yards and a 5.0 average running and 24 catches for 193 yards.

Stop those four players, and the Canes should win to go 8-4.

HUMILIATING DEFEAT

wvilla — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 03:45:15 -0000

The Canes' brutal loss to georgia tech tonight spotlights the fact that Miami does not have an effective offensive system - and its defense has a long way to go, too.

Tech's triple option looked deadly vs. Miami's young defense. The Canes allowed 471 rushing yards - the second most in school history. The record was set by Auburn in 1944. Georgia Tech could have had more yards had their star fullback not been injured fairly early in the game. Tech pretty much took it easy on the Canes in the fourth quarter.

The Canes often looked confused as to who had the ball - the fullback, quarterback or one of the two guys in the slot.

Miami's offense, in contrast, does not run the ball as efficiently as Georgia Tech or throw it like a Texas Tech. Miami strives to be balanced. In the glory days, that plan worked as Miami was tough to stop on the ground or in the air. Now they look impotent both ways.

So even though Miami's defense was blitzed tonight, the thought here is that is a bit of an aberration due to the fact that Georgia Tech runs such a unique offense that is tough to see when you face it only once a year.

The offense, though, needs examination. After last season, head coach Randy Shannon fired defensive coordinator Tim Walton.

I won't be surprised if the same fait awaits offensive coordinator Pat Nix.

Another interesting thing to watch is whether quarterback Robert Marve is benched. True freshman Jacory Harris looks more comfortable than Marve, who too often looked to run instead of finding a receiver down field.

BIG SIGNING FOR CANES

wvilla — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 01:46:28 -0000

Canes Coach Frank Haith continues to build an impressive basketball program, signing 6-4 shooting guard Durand Scott out of New York city.

Scott turned down U-Conn and Pitt, two of the top five programs in the country at the moment. Impressive.

Scott is ranked among the top 45 players in the country, according to scout.com, rivals.com and espn. Scout has him the highest at No. 27.

Scott is known as more of a slasher than a pure shooter. He can defend and is a good enough ballhandler to help with those duties. Mostly, though, he is a winner from a city loaded with hoops talent.

GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS

wvilla — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 06:04:25 -0000

The Good news is that Canes defensive end Marcus Robinson and kicker Matt Bosher were named ACC Player of the Week at their positions. Robinson had 3 sacks and Bosher had 3 field goals vs. Virginia Tech last week.

The bad news was that the baseball team lost their No. 2 starting pitcher, Eric Erickson, to a season-ending injury. That's a big blow.

But football is the big deal right now. The Canes play at Georgia Tech on Thursday night on Big East with the ACC Coastal Division title at stake.

The Canes will face two things they are not used to:

1 - Cold weather. (It will be in the 30s, according to the forecasts.)

2 - Tech's triple option. (Tech spends all year perfecting their unusual offense and Miami sees this type of attack just once a year.

CANES SET FOR TECH TEST

wvilla — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 06:55:27 -0000

It's time to focus on the Canes' game Thursday night at Georgia Tech (7-3 overall, 4-3 ACC). Tech is led by coach Paul Johnson, who is in his first year at the school.

Johnson ran the triple option at Georgia Southern and then at Navy before arriving at Tech. Johnson's last three teams at Navy led the nation in rushing, so the Canes know what to expect.

Sure enough, sophomore fullback Jonathan Dwyer (6-0, 230 pounds) leads Tech with 1,056 yards, an impressive 6.6 average and 8 TDs.

If the Canes' defensive tackles don't have a big game, this will likely be a loss. So Marcus Forston, Antonio Dixon, Joe Joseph and Dwayne Hendricks are the guys who must step up.

Tech's sophomore QB Josh Nebitt (6-1, 215) is not much of a thrower - he has completed only 48.3 percent of his passes for 615 yards. But he has run for 498 yards and is another key player to stop.

Freshman Roddy Jones (5-9, 195 pounds) is the most dangerous slotback on the team. He averages 6.7 yards per carry (347 yards).

As previously stated, the Tech passing game is not very potent. But because teams focus so much on stopping the Tech run, they will hit you with long pass plays every now and again.

Sophomore Demarius Thomas (6-3, 230) is the team's leading receiver with 33 catches for 559 yards and 3 TDs. That's more than twice as many yards as any Canes receiver.

Then again, Miami's two QBs have passed for more than 1,700 yards, which puts Tech's passing numbers to shame. The difference is really that Tech is more predictable - they are going to run most downs.

And when they pass, it's usually going to Thomas.

With Miami, you really have no clue which QB they will use or which receiver they will throw to. Graig Cooper is the leading rusher, but now that Javarris James is healthy, he will help keep defenses guessing in the backfield, too.

Another thing about Tech. Did you notice how young their team is? Kind of like the Canes. Both these teams should be getting better and better the next couple of years.

Tech is also big with players such as Dwyer and Thomas and an excellent defensive line.

Where are they vulnerable? They lack experience in their secondary, and their kicker has yet to make a kick this season of more than 39 yards.

Miami has an edge in special teams with kicker Matt Bosher. And the way the Canes' defense is playing lately, I feel fairly confident they can handle Tech's running game and force them into uncomfortable third-and-longs.

Tech lost to a pair of teams Miami beat - Virginia and Virginia Tech. But Tech beat Florida State, a team that defeated the Canes.

Tech has been idle since Nov. 8, when it suffered its only decisive loss of the season, 28-7 to North Carolina.

Tech's only score came in the fourth quarter, when it already trailed 21-0. The TD came on an 85-yard run by Dwyer. But other than that run, he was held in check - just 3.4 yards per carry.

The Canes will certainly use the Tar Heels' blueprint for success.

But here is another interesting fact: Tech is 5-1 at home this season. They have played - by far - their best ball at home, crushing Mississippi State, 38-7, blanking Duke, 27-0, and edging FSU, 31-28,

But get this: The Canes are 3-1 on the road with their only loss coming against the third-ranked Florida Gators, who many consider the best team in the nation. And the Canes shut down Florida for three quarters in that game.

In their road wins, they blasted Texas A&M 41-23, hammered Duke 49-31 and defeated a red-hot Virginia team 24-17.

Tech won at Miami last season, 17-14. But it's payback time now, especially with the Canes getting their best player back in the lineup - Jason Fox. The left tackle missed last week's game with an ankle injury.

CANES EARN NO. 23 RANKING

wvilla — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 05:37:10 -0000

For the first time in more than two years, the Canes' football team is ranked among the nation's top 25.

The 7-3 Canes, who have won five straight, are ranked No. 23 by the Associated Press.

It seems like a lifetime ago, but the Canes went 21 straight weeks at No. 1 from 2001-02, winning the '01 national title -- its fifth overall -- and losing the championship game after the '02 season to Ohio State in a still-disputed overtime.

But the Canes hit hard times since, which resulted in the firing of coach Larry Coker and the hiring of Randy Shannon for 2007.

The Canes are now in position to potentially win their first ACC title. They will get to the title game if they win at Georgia Tech on Thursday and at NC State to close their regular season.

Maryland, which has won six in a row vs. ranked teams, is the front-runner to emerge from the other ACC division.

"The only thing that matters to us is that we've got an opponent on the road that's playing very well in Georgia Tech," Shannon said at his Sunday press conference. "They play very good at home, they can run the football, and they've got great defensive players. That's the only thing that can matter to us right now."