WTF was THAT. One step forward, two steps back. Just when you think this team has turned a corner and is making progress they go and do that and remind everyone that it is going to take a while to right this ship. In a season filled with heartbreaking losses, last night’s 28-21 debacle against Virginia might top them all. You had mental breakdowns, unnecessary gambles, bizarre turnovers, and incomprehensible penalties. As always, we take a look at the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly:
The Good:
Streeter. Wow. After dropping a sure first down to kill the first drive, Tommy had a career day with 7 catches for 176 yards and 2 scores. A couple of his catches looked like he intercepted balls that were intended for Virginia DBs. His size and speed pose a mismatch every time he steps on the field and we’re scratching our heads as to how he wasn’t utilized more the past few years. We think last night’s performance cements him as a 2012 Preseason All-ACC pick and made NFL scouts turn their heads. Couldn’t be prouder that this kid is realizing his potential.
TB3. Travis caught four balls – one being a whirlwind circus catch setting up the first touchdown – and averaged over 32 yards per kickoff return. The return game is key and lately he is constantly giving the offense great field position. He often takes angles that allow him to utilize his speed advantage and has turned into a real asset for both offense and special teams.
The Bad:
Defensive formations. I’m not one to second guess play calling in hindsight, but I kid you not – I was in the middle of sending a tweet that said ‘Watch out for the fa – when I heard the announcer say, “It’s a fake!” C’mon. It was a 46 yard field goal attempt (46!). You gotta at least expect the possibility of a fake. And why did we have nearly 11 people in the box on the 3rd and 2 where Virginia had no RBs in the backfield? The running back was off to the side and I screamed out ‘They’re gonna pass!’ Next thing you know, Perry Jones is scampering in the open field for a 78 yard touchdown.
The penalties. Ah, the penalties. We thought we were in the clear based on the past few weeks, but apparently not. None were more costly than the unfathomable roughing the kicker penalty midway through the 3rd quarter. The coaches have to convey that you only lay out if you are 99.99% sure you’re going to block the kick. That penalty killed momentum and ate precious time off the clock.
Offensive and Defensive Lines. Simply put, they got dominated. All game long. Even the tight ends were taking terrible blocking angles and getting beat. Virginia reeled off 207 rushing yards on 4.9 yards per carry. Miami rushed for 85 yards on 3 yards per carry. Virginia totaled 470 yards and executed their plays. Miami did not. The UM offensive line was supposed to be one of, if not the strongest unit on the team and they are playing far from it.
The Ugly:
ESPN.com coverage. How the mighty have fallen. I went to the ESPN.com homepage this morning and a link to the Miami-Virginia recap is nowhere to be found. Granted, there was an epic Game 6 in the World Series (thankfully) to take the spotlight off our horrendous loss, but not even a link in the upper right? Moreover, if you click on the NCAA Scoreboard up top, the only score from last night is the Houston-Rice game (Houston is ranked 17th in the country). This is embarrassing. Have we sunk this low?
In some ways I kind of welcome a loss, as it slows down the Golden Love Fest in the media. We want more than anything for this guy to stick around for the near future. Maybe this helps that. I just hope the NCAA decides to impose its postseason bowl ban effective 2011, cuz it will save us from having to watch the Poinsettia Bowl in December.
Last night’s game was beyond frustrating. The missed field goal. The fake field goal. The untouched fumble. The halfback pass. The roughing the kicker penalty. The run up the middle. The tackle at the 9 yard line. The only break Miami got was when the refs blew the call on what should have been Jacory’s second fumble. This team has talent – that’s undeniable – but like the announcers said, all the talent in the world means nothing if you don’t execute.
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Why has the offense been stepping up and the defense not? People should also support Jacory Harris more. Our running game and D has not been up to par. I know that Miller isn’t a 100%, but our D is hurting me. Why can’t we play like we did vs GaTech or OhioSt? All I’m looking for this season is a win over FSWho! I don’t care how ugly the game gets and if we only win with a final score of 2-0 due to a safety, I’ll take the win over the gnomes any day!
That was hard to watch. I supose the silver lining was that there were not many in attendance to watch it.
Miller is a great RB, no doubt, but he has a knack for limping off the field with 1 yrad left to go … and James just can’t get it done. That last 4ht down reminded me of the KSU gane where we went 4 and out on the 1 freakin yard line.
Gotta start questioning the Oline, and the lack of performance. If the box was stacked against them, then why can’t we exploit the middle or RB match ups with LBs with the passing game. Just a weak performance and shows we still have a ways to go with consistency and performance.
First, Lamar Miller is either hurt or a sissy. I cant figure out which one it is. He cowers down when he could just run though guys. He is a sprinter, but lay the wood sometime man. Second, Ray Ray has to move to LB or get off the field. I coach Middle School football in Forsyth Ga and MY SAFTIES wouldnt have bit on a 3rd and 12 pass by the halfback, the tunnel screen he ran to the sidelines for ?????what reason i have no idea. Streeter adds muscle and bulks up he will be a top 10 pick. 4.3 speed at 6ft5 is Mossish. Please sign Golden to a long term deal, He produced FIRST ROUNDERS AT TEMPLE….TEMPLE. So he has the goods, lets make his buyout like 3 million
First. MY bloody BAD, because I was wrong on moi’s OUTLANDISH tout that Miami would handily defeat an AVERAGE Va. squad.
Second. BIG SMOOTH is just another TYPICAL bandwagon, negative, FAIRWEATHER Cane rUffian. U’ all sincere, loyal Hurricane ruffians know, the type whom comes around when Miami is Top 10 material. In other words, a typical HALEY’S COMET sort of fan of the So.Fla enclave. LMAO
Third. If that b.s. ( bull chit should be his monicker because that’s all he’s about! ) had any football acumen, he’d absolutely know that lamar Miller is injured. Matter of fact, I’d say Lamar is at 85%.
Nonetheless, other than that bandwagon HENCHboy taking a CHEAP SHOT at Miller, he seems to know football.
Fourth. Golden and D’Onofrio and their respective staffs were ABSOLUTELY outcoached last night! No if’s, but’s or may be’s.
Fifth. Miami’s coaching staff and suspect PLAYER’s took Va. for granted and probably thought they’d get the W last night. Not so fast my good ol’ boy rUffains.
For instance, on Miami’s initial drive and the Cav’s initial drive I IMMEDIATELY knew the Canes were in trouble and I knew they wouldn’t come close to covering the double-digit point spread. Yet, I still absolutely believed the Hurricanes would get the win. Ouch! WHAT A FOOL BELIEVES. hee hee ha ha.
Sixth. I said in a different Miami football blog that D’Onofrio should absolutely be CHIT CANNED at the conclusion of the season. However, I tempered my crazy notion after the Ga. Tech. game.
Well, D’Onofrio is simply OUT OF HIS LEAGUE at the B.C.S level of coaching!!! And fUc! his resume at temple because the Owls were playing in the Mid-Am. Apples and Oranges.
Yeah, yeah both Golden and D’Onofrio are TIED AT THE HIP. But So WHAT!! Because with the exception of GA. Tech and Ohio St., D’Onofrio and staff have been SIMPLY OUTCOACHED!
By the way, Virginia’s QB looked All-Conference last nite. How many times has Miami’s Defense-LESS unit made oposing QB’s look All-Conference. Eh.
Tidbit. I don’t know who Va. plays next week. But I guarantee their QB will return to his BELOW-AVERAGE ability.
Does Va. even AVERAGE over 400 total yards of offense. I thought so.
I could go on and on but it’s futile.
Bottom line is U’all Miami fans are looking at a possible 7-5 season. Because AIN’T NO WAY the Canes defeat F.S.U in Tally!!!!! And the South Florida game will be a struggle…. another dual threat QB anyone and the Bulls SENIOR DAY/NIGHT.
What do U’s say.
GWINNET CANE, my bad for calling U’s out. However, AIN’T NO WAY the Canes defeat the Seminoles in Tally!!!
Heck, South Florida will be a very, very, very difficult road game for the Hurricanes.
And Duke’s QB is a relatively better skilled QB than Va’s ALL-CONFERENCE signal caller. SERIOUSLY!! So don’t be surpised that the Duke game is a struggle. MORAL ANYONE.
Yes, after last night’s disappointing, embarrassing lost. Golden and the staff will have to do their best PSYCHE motivation job on the entire squad. Because I believe the team moral has hit bottom!
In other words, the starting de and off. are HURTING PYSCHOLOGICALLY and physically.
Again, this is a 6-6 or LONGSHOT 7-5 team.
What a bunch of cry babies,,,before the game you all even called UVA lowly,,,Well we beat you in this game,,beat you last year and spanked you in your last game at the Orange Bowl. You should not run your mouth before a game or even bash another team as you did. I will say the best thing you have is a coach from UVA…WAHOOOWAAAA
In what world do we have “bandwagon” fans LOL we are 4-4, anyone rooting for the canes LOVES the canes. Bandwagoners are with boise,bama, and lsu this year hahaha
It is really sad to see the canes like this. I almost shed a tear thursday b/c when u think U, u think swagger and kick ass not a mother Fu*king lost to Virginia. ( who the hell is Virginia, a 500 squad with not even half the talent of Miami)
P.S I know this may sound stupid, but I really think it starts with the satadium. They need a stadium closer to the campus, that the canes can call theirs. Miami has 5 national championships and u are telling me they can’t get their own stadium. BULL, new stadium can help recuriting, morral.
We could have a stadium like GT, its not a dome, huge,etc. But its in a city and gets fans close. Landshark sucks! Even against oh st. Your so far away its better to watch on TV. I was at GT last year sitting wallside next to sebas and the cheerleaders and it was a great atmosphere
Too bad b.Ull C.hit’s ” love ” for the Hurricanes is of the EXTREME negative sort. LOL
By the way, MIGHTY Dukie Vitale gave Beamer Ball all his squad wanted and more. However, the Blue Devils fell…
Hokies 14
Dukie Vitale 10
FWIW… the Duke D-unit bloody well forced FOUR turnovers. Say it ain’t so, BOZO’s.
Again, U’all Miami rUffians shouldn’t be the least bit surprise to witness a relatively difficult struggle for The Golden One’s squad this Saturday in SunLife. Because Al and his staff will have to play SIGMUND with the squad, in order to get their collective MORAL up.
But then again, I wouldn’t be shock to see Miami rout dUkie Vitale. Seeing that this team is so freakin’ Up and Down.
Macjones is a punk b#tch. Talkin trash on the net is so tough, go back to gainsville BUM
” The Cavaliers had a season-low 245 yards in total offense against the Wolfpack. Against Miami, Virginia had 250 yards in the first half. ” RoanokeTimes.com
FAIRWEATHER Cane rUffians akin to b.ull c.hit above. That’s in the FIRST-HALF!!!
Miami tidbit. This basically says it all about Miami’s D-coordinator. Eh.
By the way, the Cav’s game against N.C.ST. was a HOME GAME played in Charlottesville-sp.
Now, IF Dukie Vitale happens to garner 400 total yards of offense this Saturday, it’s behooves Albert to consider CHIT CANNING his Penn. St. bUddy. Get outta’ here.
First time on the website and overall great job. Must add though that macjones sounds like your typical internet moron whos opinion isnt heard by anybody in the real world so he vents pn here. Just my opinion GO CANES!!