UNC Game Preview

Conference play begins tonight vs Carolina at Hard Rock Stadium. Gametime is 8 pm on ESPN.

Nathan Elliott last year up there. 

Carolina's win vs Pitt last week with Antonio Williams having a big game.

Our trip up there last year where we survived a scare from Carolina.

My take on CANES 49-24 win at Toledo

Here's my take on #CANES 49-24 win over Toledo up in Toledo on 9/15/18 with Report Card and Game Balls.

Highlights of the CANES win over Toledo

Guest take from allabouttheu83

Richt Post Game comments after win 9/15/18

Malik Post Game Comments 9/15/18

DeeJay Post Game Comments 9/15/18

Toledo Game Preview

Preview of 9/15/18 game vs Toledo

Which back will fill the role of Walton in this game?

Highlights from Toledo's last game vs VMI

This is the block seen around the Sports World vs VMI back on 9/1/18

More highlights of Toledo's 66-3 vs VMI on 9/1/18

My take on CANES 77-0 win over Savannah State

Here's my take on #CANES 77-0 win over Savannah State on 9/8/18.

Highlights of CANES 77-0 win over Savannah St

Malik Post-Game vs Savannah State 9-8-18

Kosi's debut vs Savannah State

Richt Post-Game vs Savannah State 9-8-18

Savannah State Game Preview

Not going to spend much this week on Savannah State.

Highlights of Savannah State's game vs UAB last week (8/30/18)

UAB vs Savannah State (8/30/18)

My take on CANES 33-17 loss to LSU

Not going to sugarcoat this, last night was simply put, an embarassing performance in all three phases of the game.

This is must read from Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald Post-Game.
Where CANES go from here?

Game highlights, and they are ugly to watch, but necessary.

Great take from allabouttheu83 here. 

Richt Post-Game on the loss to LSU

Malik, Big Cage, and Tyler Post-Game on the loss vs LSU

JJ4 with Richt Post-Game on the loss vs LSU

Shake this off, its only one loss, but it was a bad one vs a very good LSU team. Savannah State in the Home opener is next on Saturday. 

LSU Game Preview

Well another season is upon us and it starts tonight at 7:30 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX vs LSU.

Note: The podcast was recorded back on Thursday, before UM's announcement that N'Kosi Perry would be suspended for this game.

This is from LSU's Game vs Florida last year. Notice at the 2:10 mark White blitzing from the inside while the OLB's drop back. 

From 2015, when Aranda was at Wisconsin, this is how his Peso Defense works. Another version of the Nickel that we'll see on Sunday Night. 

LSU Defense 

Joe Burrow (Ohio State Spring Game 2017)

The CANES D is back in 2018

Malik from 2017

My take on the 2018 Spring Game

Yesterday, the Miami Hurricanes held their Spring Game over at Hard Rock Stadium. After seeing the videos (one from Richt Post-Game and one from College Football Viz) and the comments, I want to give my thoughts here. 

1. Poor OL play - This has been an issue for a while now. We will only go so far as our OL will take us. If you listen to Mark Richt's comments post-game, this is one reason why he couldn't fully evaluate Malik Rosier's performance last night (more on the QB's shortly). The DL was constantly beating the OL and getting to the QB and stopping the run. This to me, we have to got to get fixed before Fall Camp starts and before we leave for Arlington (JerryWorld) vs LSU on 9/2. Searels is on the hot seat this year for sure. 
2. The QB competition - As stated earlier, Richt could not fully evaluate Malik's performance because of the poor OL play. As for Kosi and Jarren, I felt they did very well, especially Kosi, who really needed to step up in this game because he had been sloppy at times throughout Spring camp. This will go a long way toward his progress and build some mo going into Fall Camp. As for Jarren, another solid performance yesterday, granted, he didn't play with the 1s, as he played with the 2s. I'd like to see Jarren work with the 1s, if not in Spring camp, which has a week to go, but for sure in Fall Camp. He has some promise here. Its going to be interesting in Fall Camp how the QBs fare and who starts in Arlington vs LSU. If I had to guess now, based on experience, I still think it'll be Malik, but if he struggles early and our O is struggling in the 1st half, we could see either Kosi or Jarren start the 2nd half of that game. 
3. The WR core - Like what Brian Hightower did yesterday. That kid is explosive and I think will be the next great one here. No TD catch for Mr. Clutch (Langham). Big Cage is going to be a force on the outside with hopefully a healthy ARich. 
4. The running game - Looks promising here given how poor the OL play has been. DeeJay had a solid game, ditto for Travis.
5. The Tight Ends - We won't know the full extent of this until Jordan and Mallory arrive in the Fall. My god, this Spring, its been awful for the most part, though Playmaker Jr. and Polendey have had their moments. 
6. The Defense - Lights out has its been throughout the Spring, except for one bad practice in which they paid the price for it. They have abused the OL this Spring and they've dictated how the games are going to go this year. 

In summary, I believe this year, we're going to win games with our Defense, and the O not going to need much for the D to make it stand up. The OL has GOT to come together before we leave for Arlington. 

The Spring game for LSU is Saturday Night at 6 pm on SEC Network. Believe me, that's going to be a game where we need to pay very close attention there as they will be our opponent on 9/2 in Arlington at 7:30 pm ET on ABC. 

A couple of takes the last few days

I've been off this the last few days, but I wanted to give my take on a few subjects here.

1. CANES Baseball winning a rain shortened game back on Sunday vs Carolina. Needed this win, given that we were struggling over the last week. Hopefully going into the UCF midweek game  tonight to end the homestand, we can build on the momentum from Sunday's win and complete the Home and Home sweep over the Golden Knights this evening and continue that mo going into Clemson this weekend. 
2. On the First Scrimmage this past Saturday, Malik and Kosi worked with the 1s and Jarren mostly with the 2s/3s. From all reports, Jarren did the best out of the three. Malik did ok for the most part, but Kosi really struggling this spring is an issue, big time. To be fair, the QBs weren't live in this first scrimmage. Hopefully in Saturday Night's Spring game at Hard Rock, they will be Live and then we'll hopefully start to get a better idea on where the QB competition still lies. Right now, it's still Malik's job to lose here. 
3. My expectations for the Spring Game on Saturday Night are that I want to see the QBs go Live and hopefully that will be the case. I want to see the TEs (Irvin, Polendey) really step their games up, but especially Polendey, who from all reports out there has had an awful Spring. I like that Irvin Jr is improving his game and working hard out there, which I like, but I need to see more and hopefully on Saturday Evening, we see that. 
4. The Defense to me has to continue the momentum from the First Scrimmage. It seems to me that Greg Rousseau is going to be in the rotation this season. It would not shock me if he starts in Arlington vs LSU at one of the DE spots. Going to real tough to keep him off the field. That guy is going to be a monster for OL to have to deal with. 
5. With ARich still recovering, I like that Big Cage is stepping his game up and ditto for Mr Clutch (Langham), and Dayall. When Richt first came here, I remember him challenging Big Cage to be the next AJ Green (whom Richt coached at UGa). 
6. The OL has been inconsistent and bordering on awful this spring. Look I realize losing Trevor and KC would be tough, but I didn't think it'd be this bad. In the first scrimmage, that OL was getting beat consistently. Saturday Night in the Spring Game, that OL MUST step up and produce a lot better than it did in that First scrimmage. 
7. Finally, Coach L got a two-year extension which runs through 2024. He's currently 68 and by the end of his deal, he'll be 75. Blake's statement reads on L's extension: "Coach Larranaga is an integral part of our athletics department's success, and he continues to demonstrate year after year that he is one of the best basketball coaches in the nation." If you read between the lines here, you have to believe that L is going to have a big say on who his successor will be when he hangs it up for good. With the Feds announcement yesterday on the investigation with Adidas, L said that he did nothing wrong and I have to believe in the end, he will be proven correct here. 

Interesting take on QB situation 4/5/18

Today, I had an interesting back and forth on Twitter with a poster named @Canes305Native.

Danny, I'm telling you right now, Perry will be named the starter before the LSU game. There's not even gonna be any speculation about Rosier struggling and being pulled. Listen closely, ROSIER WILL NEVER EVER START ANOTHER GAME FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI! Got it?

— CanesLife (@Canes305Native) April 5, 2018

I don't doubt what he's saying. However, in his tweet yesterday to Susan Miller Degnan of the Miami Herald, this is what he said on the QB situation, which prompted my response here:

An observer at practice;

Perry's mechanics are flawless. Plays out fakes with maximum intensity, puts the ball where the receivers are the only ones to make the play. And he’s a specimen. It’s not close. Coaching staff may say it is to try to save face, but it’s not even close!

— CanesLife (@Canes305Native) April 5, 2018

One would summarize that he was an observer, when I got the word from that poster this morning that he was NOT, and I repeat, was NOT an observer at practice, nor has he ever been an observer at practice. That's on me and I stand corrected on that. 

That said, the above tweet to Degnan might suggest that its a foregone conclusion for Kosi being the guy, and this is totally incorrect right now. Yes, he might be the guy (the three upcoming scrimmages {including the Spring Game on 4/14 in the 2nd scrimmage and only public one} will determine that). My issue here was that he thinks its a foregone conclusion that Kosi will be guy that goes in Arlington. I don't see it that way right now and the staff doesn't either, but maybe again, after the Spring scrimmages are over, I might have a different take on it. 

As of right now, I still believe Malik likely starts in Arlington vs LSU. 

Now, from InsideTheU and Christopher Stock, this in his news and notes. Its understood that they get the first 15 minutes of observations in practice, but here goes. 

Per Stock's piece:

• QB Malik Rosier continues to be the top quarterback on the team and has been receiving a majority of the snaps with the first team. 
• Redshirt freshman QB N'Kosi Perry has shown flashes at times, but has also struggled with his decision-making in addition to his accuracy on short passes. 

The above tweet on Kosi is correct here, but from Stock's piece, the Kosi inconsistency so far in the short game should be a concern, so he's not flawless here, there are some things he needs to work on going forward here. 

On Malik, I need to see the accuracy go up and more importantly, I need to see the consistency of solid play continue. No more of this one week good and next week terrible. He knows his job is on the line. 

Another piece this evening from Barry Jackson on the QB situation:

This one really disputes what the poster was saying earlier on the QB battle being a foregone conclusion for Kosi, which it is clearly not, but the gap is slowly closing:

"We’re told that Malik Rosier was the best quarterback in practice Thursday."

"There’s no question N’Kosi Perry has improved — he had a very good practice Tuesday — but Rosier is making the fewest mental mistakes, which will be heavily factored into the starting decision."

"Offensive coordinator Thomas Brown told WQAM this week that Rosier remains ahead in the competition but not by a large margin."

That last part in Jackson's piece is very important. Not by a large margin.  Yes, Kosi had a good practice on Tuesday, but it seems to me that this is still Malik's job to lose because of the fact he's not making the big costly mistakes here. 

That said, again, the scrimmages the next three Saturdays will really start to separate the QBs here and who goes into Fall Camp as the leader. 

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/barry-jackson/article208022639.html#storylink=cpy

My take on Richt's comments on QB situation

In the video, he says that Kosi and Cade are getting better. Jarren is getting better. What's telling is about Malik, he says that Malik is the one to beat. "He gets it the most." That tells me that he's the one to beat here and understands what Richt wants in a QB.

As for Kosi and Cade, they're both getting better, but Cade is a tad behind Kosi, but not by much. Malik knows that he has to better and I have to believe this competition is pushing Malik to get better. What was really telling to me was when you hear Richt near the end of the video when he says none of the other QBs are being redshirted this year, that to me is a clear message to Malik, either you fix the accuracy and consistency issues, or you sit.

That said, I still have to believe that if the season started tomorrow in Arlington vs LSU, Malik would be the guy that starts. However, make no mistake about this, that leash on Malik, as I've said for a while now, is very short. If he struggles early in the game (i.e., with the consistency and the accuracy still off), Kosi will be in the game very quickly, it won't be like the Pitt game last year when got pulled in the 4th quarter in favor of Evan, it will be done much faster.

Out of the gate, this has a real chance to be a special season, and you can bet the last thing Richt wants is an inconsistent and inaccurate Malik in there. Malik knows it and he says that in this camp, he has a chip on his shoulder and with something to prove. He knows his job is on the line in this camp.

Interesting take on QB situation after the 1st week and other key observations and my takes on them

An interesting take coming from Barry Jackson after the 1st week of Spring Camp.

I agree with Jackson that Jarren Williams won't be a factor this Spring, but interestingly, Richt believes he might in the fall. Something to watch there. As for Kosi, the deep ball isn't as good as Malik's is, but that arm is really second to none here. The scary part is that he's getting better with each passing day. Jackson says that Kosi does turn his back on plays (i.e., going into our own backfield), but that's easily correctable.

On Malik, according to Jackson's piece, he's had a solid camp so far, and for him, this is an important camp. On one play, he gets out of trouble, avoids the blitz and ran 40 yards for a TD.

As for Cade, you know I really like this kid, but I'm not totally sure he's out of Richt's doghouse after the off the field incident near the end of last season. The key with Cade, according to Jackson's piece is that he's gotten better and he's bigger and stronger than he was last year. Most importantly, he knows the offense and what Richt wants here.

A couple of other takes I have here on other positions.

At WR, we're solid here. Liking the fact that the early enrollees are making an impact this spring.

As for Playmaker II, he needs to improve at making tough catches and bail out our QBs. He needs to make an impression this spring because once Mallory and Jordan arrive in the fall, his time probably will be limited drastically.

As for the D, after Manny chewing them out yesterday and punishing them after a poor performance, I believe they're getting the message loud and clear. We're seeing that from a few players here.

One of which is Greg Rousseau, another one who's here early for Spring Ball. This guy is the real deal. Manny, CMR, and Simpson are raving about this kid.

Another is Jon Garvin, especially, since we won't have DJax back until Fall camp and he's making the most of his opportunity to make an impact this spring.

In the secondary, JD (Dean) has some work to do here. He's working on the 1st team, which is good for us here. I like the thought of having MJax, Bandy, and JD as the three players there. I'm liking that Gilbert Frierson, and D.J. Ivey as well as Gurvan are having solid Springs so far.

Liking what Big Mike is saying about Mike Smith stepping up in Zach's absence. Hopefully, we'll have Zach back in time for Fall camp.

Overall, like what I'm seeing so far, and hopefully, week 2 will be just as productive as Week 1 was.

My take on the QB Competition at UM

Here's the way I look at this battle.

I've been a big Malik Rosier supporter for a while now. However, my confidence eroded in him after last year's finish to the season with 3 straight losses.

That said, I still have confidence in Malik that he will ultimately keep his job as the starter, unless he has a very poor Spring camp, then at that point, all bets are off the table.

Something that caught my eye here. Something from Matt Porter of the Palm Beach Post in reference to Rosier and his grade. When Richt declined to give a grade for Malik, that told me something right there. That says to me that Malik is in serious trouble of losing his job.

According to Porter's piece and I'll put it here: Kosi leading candidate to win UM job, he says there are Cane insiders that believe N'Kosi Perry is going to win the job. I don't see it that way right now. As I said earlier, I still think Malik will hang on to his job in the end, but make no mistake, by Richt not saying Malik's grade, definitely confirms what I've been saying for a while now, Malik's leash will be very short. If Malik struggles in Arlington early vs LSU, Richt will not wait too long to pull him in favor of Kosi. I'll want to see in the Spring game how Malik, Kosi and the other two QBs fare. The Spring game to me, is going to be really Malik's final shot to keep his job. If he struggles in that game, then you'd have to make the move to go to Kosi here.

In Richt's interview with WQAM, Richt's comments on 3/26/18 to Joe Rose on UM and QB situation Very enlightening and on Jarren Williams, it's clear to me, he's the future. The 80-90% completion numbers on the deep balls, tells me also that Malik, as much as I want to see him hang on to his job, might not be the answer there in that regard. The question is in that regard, is Kosi the answer here or Jarren?

A lot of moving parts taking place between now and April 14th Spring Game at Hard Rock Stadium. A lot more questions will be answered after that game, especially with the QBs.