Miami may be getting alot of publicity where you live, but I have heard absolutely nothing about this team on ESPN or otherwise this preseason. So I don't know about the hype part. From everything that I've seen of him, Jacory Harris has more upside than most of the other young QB's in the ACC. And they got rid of OC Nix, who was inexperienced an awful, and brought in Mark Whipple, who is known for for his innovative uptempo offenses and being very good with QB's. As for the lines, last season they had a sophomore and a true freshman on the D-Line that had zero starting experience. And on the other side the O-Line has 2 starters who had a total of 3 starts between them. So expectations shouldn't have been high for this team last year.. Yet they still made a bowl. Despite having Shannon, who I have the same opinion of as you, I think they have a chance to be a moneymaker on the spread. But none of these teams on this list are a for sure until the fall. I may heed your advice and drop them off the list if I see they aren't making progress in the fall practices. Right now, with who they have returning compared to the rest of the ACC, they look like they'll be very competetive in conference.
College Gridiron 365 has them sitting at 6th as a preseason prediction in the ACC this year. Here is their take on them:
ACC Spring Prospectus: No. 6 Miami
posted by Andrew Carter on May 12, 2009 9:26:07 AM
We're getting into the nitty-gritty now, folks ... Here's our look at No. 6 Miami:
MIAMI HURRICANES
2008 record: 7-6 (4-4); tied for 3rd in the Coastal Divsion
Head coach: Randy Shannon
Record at school: 12-13
Seasons at school: 2
Lettermen returning: 58
Lettermen lost: 22
Offensive starters returning: 8
Defensive starters returning: 8
Biggest loss:
Miami didn’t lose much from 2008 and, in fact, the Hurricanes return the second-most starters in the ACC. Among those gone, though, are two starting offensive linemen (T Chris Rutledge and C Xavier Shannon), as well as QB Robert Marve, who decided to transfer from the program at the end of the season after he split time with Jacory Harris throughout the season.
Most important returnee:
The Hurricanes return pretty much all of their important skill players from a season ago, including Harris, who completed better than 60 percent of his passes for 1,195 yards and 12 touchdowns. But the most important guy coming back is probably RB Graig Cooper, who finished 7th in the ACC with 841 rushing yards. On an offense that at times struggled to find consistency a season ago, Cooper was probably the team’s best option.
Spring standout:
The stars of Miami’s spring weren’t players but instead the two leaders of the Hurricanes’ revamped coaching staff. Shannon during the off-season hired a new offensive coordinator, Mark Whipple, and a new defensive coordinator, John Lovett. As a result, this was a spring, then, in which the new staff spent the bulk of its time implementing new systems and learning what it has to work with. Shannon also singled out Harris as one who particularly came a long ways during spring workouts.
Others to know:
OT Jason Fox, Sr. – With 37 career starts, he’s among the most experienced linemen in the conference.
WR Travis Benjamin, Soph. – Electrifying playmaker is a scoring threat every time he touches the ball.
LB Sean Spence, Soph. – One of four players who was named a freshmen All-American a season ago.
Spring storylines:
The arrival of Whipple and Lovett was by far the biggest storyline of the spring for the Hurricanes who, like Florida State, are attempting to return to national prominence. Whipple was an assistant with the Philadelphia Eagles before joining the Canes’ staff, and Lovett came to Miami from North Carolina. Shannon has described both as high-energy, enthusiastic guys who easily motivate those they coach to play hard for them. Getting accustomed quickly to a new offensive and defensive system was especially important this spring for Miami because there will be no time to waste once the season begins. Miami’s first four games – at Florida State, against Georgia Tech, at Virginia Tech and against Oklahoma – are probably the most difficult in the nation.
Miami Coach Randy Shannon:
“John brings a lot of experience in … but also he brings a lot of excitement in. And I think that’s one thing you look at from any coordinator, offensively and defensively. You bring some excitement to the table and players really respond to your excitement and enthusiasm. They’re going to play for you.”
Schedule:
Sept 7: at Florida State
Sept. 17: Georgia Tech
Sept. 26: at Virginia Tech
Oct. 3: Oklahoma
Oct. 17: at UCF
Oct. 24: Clemson
Oct. 31: at Wake Forest
Nov. 7: Virginia
Nov. 14: at North Carolina
Nov. 21: Duke
Nov. 28: at South Florida
Key games:
No, FSU-Miami ain’t what it used to be, but the season-opener for both teams on Sept. 7 is huge for both programs. If Miami loses here, the Hurricanes could easily start the season 0-4 – and how would they respond from that? Conversely, a win against the Seminoles could vault UM back into the national spotlight, depending how it does in its next three games.
Way too early 2009 prediction:
7-5 (4-4)
The Hurricanes are more talented than a typical 7-win team but it’s difficult to predict what kind of toll that brutal opening four-game stretch will take. If the Hurricanes can win two or three of those, they could have a 9- or 10-win season. But it’s just as likely, perhaps more so, that Miami wins just one – or none – of its first four.
