2009 Miami NCAA Football Predictions
Written June 26, 2009 by InfoPlays
Hurricane fans are wondering who made this schedule? Miami opens against four Top 25 teams in Florida State, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech and Oklahoma. Head coach Randy Shannon says it’s a chance for his players to show they’re a Top 10 team. I guess we’ll see. With a strong core of young players, Miami is headed in the right direction. The Hurricanes may not begin to show it in the win column until the second month of the season, though. NCAA football odds show the Hurricanes listed at +6000 to win the 2010 BCS National Title.
Offense: Patrick Nix is history after serving as Miami’s fourth coordinator in four years last season. New offensive coordinator Mark Whipple, who is best known for molding Ben Roethlisberger as quarterbacks coach with the Pittsburgh Steelers, becomes the fifth coordinator in five years. His offense impressed players and coaches in the spring. He brings more sets to the table and unpredictable play-calling. The QB job falls squarely on sophomore Jacory Harris after the transfer of Robert Marve. He was respectable last season with 118 completions for 1,195 yards and 12 touchdowns, to just 7 interceptions. He clearly has a lot to learn, but his confidence and presence on the field will help him through it.
Miami has built depth at tailback and wide receiver. Junior running back Craig Cooper is ready for a breakout year. LaRon Byrd has a personality about him, and he wears No. 47, so this guys’ physical style and big-play ability is starting to resemble Michael Irvin. Fellow sophomore Aldarius Johnson has slimmed down and is now quicker and stronger. Kendal Thompkins and Tommy Streeter each had solid springs after redshirting last season. They’ll push Travis Benjamin and Thearon Collier. Javarris James, who has been injury prone the last two seasons, ran for just 868 yards in his sophomore and junior campaigns after rushing for 802 yards as a freshman. He’ll need to stay healthy, or Mike James and Lee Chambers will pass him up. The line has five solid starters, led by left tackle Jason Fox, but the Hurricanes still need to improve their depth here.
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Defense: New coordinator John Lovett’s biggest concern is forcing more turnovers this season. The Miami Hurricanes recorded just four interceptions last year, two by the secondary. Because of this lack of productions, secondary recruits like Prince Kent, Ray Ray Armstrong, Brandon McGee and Jamal Reid could play right away. The secondary is helped by a deep line up front, which includes sixth-year senior end Eric Moncur. He was coming around last season before re-injuring his hernia.
Moncur and safety Randy Phillips, who was also granted a sixth year of eligibility, each need to provide leadership and playmaking to this young group. The linebacking corps includes sophomore Sean Spence, named the ACC’s Defensive Rookie of the Year, and Arthur Brown, who was all-everything in high school. Junior Colin McCarthy need to stay healthy for this group to flourish.
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One Response to “2009 Miami NCAA Football Predictions”
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Hi, my name is Accuracy.
Obviously you’ve never heard of me. Why you ask? Read the 3rd sentence in the first paragraph of this article.
“Head coach Mike Shannon” … did something happen at University of Miami that basically no one knew about? Including: President Donna Shalala, AD Kirby Hocutt, the entire Miami Hurricanes football staff, the entire Miami Hurricanes football team, the entire University of Miami, the Miami Hurricanes booster club, every single alum of University of Miami, ESPN, Fox Sports, Yahoo Sports, The Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Rivals, Scout and every single other print/electronic media?
You guys must have the ultimate inside scoop to know that Miami hired a new head coach – b/c no one else on the entire planet knew.
Is this “Mike Shannon” a good hire? Is he related in any way to Randy Shannon? You know, the same Randy Shannon that played LB at University of Miami, was a graduate assistant at University of Miami, was the defensive line and linebackers coach at University of Miami, was the Defensive Coordinator and won the Broyles Award at University of Miami and then was promoted to Head Coach at University of Miami?
Fact check the article for my name, Accuracy, before posting it anyone?