So now that Virginia has notched that first I-A win, the team has set their sights on getting that first ACC win. With more than half the conference schedule left, there are a lot of chances for that to happen. But before we get to the bottom feeders, there is a very good Miami team standing in our way. How good are they? Well let’s take a look at the 2010 version of the Canes.
Coaching Staff
Randy Shannon is a born and bread Miami Hurricane. He went to Miami Norland High School and played for the 1987 National Champion U of M team as an outside linebacker. After a brief stint for the Dallas Cowboys, he returned to Coral Gables as a grad assistant from 1991-1997. He returned to Miami after being the LB coach for the, shocker, Miami Dolphins for 3 years, to coach the defense. In his 6 years as defensive coordinator, they Canes were in the top 10 of total defense in the country 5 times. An easy pick for head coach, he is 26-19 and 14-14 in the ACC and finished 19th in the country last year.
Offense
No more gimmick or trick offenses left on the Hoos schedule, starting here with the Hurricanes. Miami runs a straight forward pro-set offense, utilizing the fullback and tight end. The name everyone knows from this team is Jr. QB Jacory Harris, and as he goes, so does the Miami offense. To put it bluntly, he hasn’t seen a pass he did not like, to the point where he regularly airs out the deep ball down the sidelines. This risk-reward play has amassed 1561 yards, but only a 53.9% completion percentage and 14 TDs to 10 INTs. His biggest targets are Sr WR Leonard Hankerson and Jr. WR Travis Benjamin. While most teams use the tight ends or running backs in the passing game, Miami rarely does, so don’t look for a lot of seem passes to TE Richard Gordon or flicks out to FB Patrick Hill. But they don’t really need to with a running back in Damien Berry in the back field. He has 648 yards on the season and 4 touchdowns and can run either inside off dive plays or outside the tackles. He does have a receiving touchdown, but that was against Florida A&M.
Defense
The Canes run a straight up 4-3, with the DT’s lined up off guard, the same way the Hoos do. And Randy has his boys firing on all cylinders this year. The Miami D has only allowed 3 passing touchdowns, while picking off opponents 14 times. But it all starts with pressure up front, and that starts with all world Sr. LE Allen Bailey. Backing him up are SLB Ramon Buchanan and WLB Sean Spence. Finally, one of the best man-on-man corners in the ACC CB Brandon Harris will be lining up opposite Burd.
Special Teams
Matt Bosher handles the kicking duties and is fairly decent, going 7/10 on FGs and 25/27 on XPs. His identical twin bother Matt Bosher handles the punting duties as well, averaging 44.1 yards/kick. And in an interesting twist of fate, he long lost brother from another mother Matt Bosher is the kickoff specialist, with 8 touchbacks. And you didn’t pick up on the sarcasm, please go back to the top and start over.
How We Lose
This can be answered a lot of different ways. On offense, Miami will try to get behind the secondary for big gains and counter that with the power running game. On defense, they love to pressure the quarterback and pickoff passes, so if Verica gets a little erratic, it could be a short game. Any combination of the above items will get it done for the Canes.
How We Win
I’m not saying it’s impossible, just improbable. First the game needs to be played in the 20s. The games where the Hoos won or were competitive was when is was a defensive battle. Secondly, if Harris gets a little erratic, Virginia needs to capitalize on those opportunities. We will not win this game unless we make at least 3 huge plays on defense. Lastly, we need to establish a productive running game, and use the short passing game, NOT the “swing passes”. Miami is way to fast and talented in the secondary that the east-west passing game is not going to happen. If Virginia can take a tie or lead into half, we could make it a game.
Prediction
Virginia is 2-5 all time against Miami, and while the 52-17 whitewashing the Canes put on us last year, I submit to you that all time that Miami is only +12, or +1.7 points/game. This means that the games are usually competitive, they just don’t go our way. The 15 point line on Saturday’s games seem low to most people, but I will say that the Cavaliers easily cover, but still make too many mistakes to pull off the win. UM 31, UVa 21.
