2009 College Football Predictions: Miami Hurricanes

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2009 College Football Predictions

Miami Hurricanes

2008 Record: (7-6, 4-4)
Coach: Randy Shannon, 3rd year (12-13)
Off. Coordinator: Mark Whipple (1st year)
Def. Coordinator: John Lovett (1st year)
Returning Starters: 14 (6 offense, 6 defense, punter, kicker)
Ret. Starting Quarterback: No

Offense: Randy Shannon is getting desperate to find an offense that will click. He fired Patrick Nix and hired Mark Whipple, a former quarterback’s coach with Pittsburgh. He now becomes the fifth Hurricanes’ offensive coordinator in five years. The quarterback job goes to sophomore Jacory Haris with Robert Marve transferring. Harris had respectable numbers (1,195 yds, 12 TDs) and has the size and the arm to be very good. At running back, Graig Cooper, who rushed for 841 yards last season, returns. Miami has some speedy receivers, but no real gamebraker. Soph. Aldarius Johnson is the top returning receiver with 332 yards. The offensive line has three returning starters, including senior LF Jason Fox, but lacks depth.

Defense: The Miami Hurricanes returns six starters on defense, but just one on the defensive line. New coordinator John Lovett has to find a pass rush and more playmakers in the secondary. The Hurricanes recorded just four picks last season, two by the secondary. The line should be solid because Shannon likes to rotate players. At linebacker, sophomore Sean Spence (6-0, 211), who was named the ACC’s Defensive Rookie of the Year, who had 7.5 tackles for loss last year. The secondary needs to step up this year and gets a lift with senior SS Randy Phillips back from a knee injury. At least they have a very strong kicker in Matt Bosher, who made 18 of 20 kicks last season and also averaged 40.3 yards per punt.

Outlook: Shannon is trying to get the Canes back to the days of them being contenders, but it’s not going to happen overnight. Miami opens against Florida State on the road, then hosts Georgia Tech, plays at Virginia Tech and hosts Oklahoma. Unreal opening schedule. To get the next level, they need good players to become great. It starts at quarterback and ends on defense, where they need playmakers.

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