252cane
All-ACC
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2013
- Messages
- 17,278
### Eight years after an ugly football brawl created a rift between UM and FIU, the schools have struck a deal to resume their cross-town rivalry. Look for UM and FIU to announce that they have scheduled football games in 2018 at Sun Life Stadium and 2019 at a site-to-be-determined.
The 2019 meeting is technically an FIU home game, but the game will not be at FIU Stadium because it’s too small; it figures to be played at Marlins Park (the Marlins would be interested) or Sun Life. The schools also will resume playing in other sports.
Emotions have thawed since 13 players were ejected and 31 assessed one-game suspensions after a bench-clearing brawl in their 2006 game. After that incident, UM said it would not schedule any more football or basketball games with FIU, beyond the 2007 football game already scheduled.
### I asked several UM players and officials for tangible reasons why this defense will be better after finishing 89th last season.
Among their answers: better defensive line depth with the additions of Chad Thomas, Trent Harris and Demetrius Jackson; the instincts and physicality that Dallas Crawford will bring to safety; talent and depth at cornerback; and the belief that Calvin Heurtelou, Courtel Jenkins and eventually Michael Wyche will be slightly better at defensive tackle than Curtis Porter (out of football), Justin Renfrow (cut by Arizona last week) and Luther Robinson (cut today by Green Bay).
Anthony Chickillo cited another reason: “Our defense is an NFL system and you have to put in the work. Guys are taking the initiative to learn it more” than past years.
Cornerback Tracy Howard said one reason for that increased player diligence is “we got a lot of distractions out of the program,” declining to elaborate.
Still, one UM person voiced concern about how UM will defend runs to the perimeter.
In general, “how they play defense is just crazy,” Fox analyst and former UM assistant and ex-Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt said. “I’m pulling for them but they have some issues.”
### Some former UM players are restless with the state of the program.
“It’s a short leash this year,” Brett Romberg said this offseason. “Excuses are over. You’ve getting good athletes. No excuses any more! You’re seeing the same mistakes, and that’s coaching.
“They aren’t capable of running a 3-4 defense [which they will play sometimes]. Their linebackers aren’t capable of holding the gap in a 3-4. Bill Belichick was able to get the most even when he didn’t have great talent on his lines.”
Clinton Portis likes Al Golden --- "he's the right man for the job" --- but said: “For what we’re used to in a defensive coordinator, it’s not up to our standards. But we also don’t have the defensive linemen, linebackers and secondary we’re used to, don’t have playmakers who command double teams, don’t have linebackers who wreak havoc. But you have to give Mark D’Onofrio something to work with.”
And Randal Hill said: “Fans are spoiled because it’s Miami. And rightfully so. Butch Davis went through sanctions and won games. You can’t just win against only teams with losing records. A lot of former players want to see better defense and a better team. Are they going in the right direction? My jury is out.”
### Offensive coordinator James Coley*insists UM has no intention of playing conservatively because Brad Kaaya is a freshman. “But you wouldn’t know he’s a freshman,” receiver Malcolm Lewis said, noting his poise and*sound decision-making.
Provided Kaaya fulfills expectations, the future --– regardless of whether suspended*Kevin Olsen sticks around --- looks promising at quarterback with Kaaya, Malik Rosier, 2015 Tampa-based oral commitment Dwayne Lawson (rivals.com’s 23rd-ranked dual threat quarterback who also has offers from UF, FSU and Ohio State) and 2016 four-star UM oral commitment Jack Allison, the 6-5 Miami Palmetto High junior whom analyst Charles Fishbein calls “elite” and comparable in ability to Kyle Wright.
### Running backs coach Tim Harris predicts freshman Joseph Yearby “is going to be very special this season and the future, one of the great ones that comes through here. He reminds me of Clinton Portis. He has that type of ability to make guys miss in space and accelerate for a long run.”
The 2019 meeting is technically an FIU home game, but the game will not be at FIU Stadium because it’s too small; it figures to be played at Marlins Park (the Marlins would be interested) or Sun Life. The schools also will resume playing in other sports.
Emotions have thawed since 13 players were ejected and 31 assessed one-game suspensions after a bench-clearing brawl in their 2006 game. After that incident, UM said it would not schedule any more football or basketball games with FIU, beyond the 2007 football game already scheduled.
### I asked several UM players and officials for tangible reasons why this defense will be better after finishing 89th last season.
Among their answers: better defensive line depth with the additions of Chad Thomas, Trent Harris and Demetrius Jackson; the instincts and physicality that Dallas Crawford will bring to safety; talent and depth at cornerback; and the belief that Calvin Heurtelou, Courtel Jenkins and eventually Michael Wyche will be slightly better at defensive tackle than Curtis Porter (out of football), Justin Renfrow (cut by Arizona last week) and Luther Robinson (cut today by Green Bay).
Anthony Chickillo cited another reason: “Our defense is an NFL system and you have to put in the work. Guys are taking the initiative to learn it more” than past years.
Cornerback Tracy Howard said one reason for that increased player diligence is “we got a lot of distractions out of the program,” declining to elaborate.
Still, one UM person voiced concern about how UM will defend runs to the perimeter.
In general, “how they play defense is just crazy,” Fox analyst and former UM assistant and ex-Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt said. “I’m pulling for them but they have some issues.”
### Some former UM players are restless with the state of the program.
“It’s a short leash this year,” Brett Romberg said this offseason. “Excuses are over. You’ve getting good athletes. No excuses any more! You’re seeing the same mistakes, and that’s coaching.
“They aren’t capable of running a 3-4 defense [which they will play sometimes]. Their linebackers aren’t capable of holding the gap in a 3-4. Bill Belichick was able to get the most even when he didn’t have great talent on his lines.”
Clinton Portis likes Al Golden --- "he's the right man for the job" --- but said: “For what we’re used to in a defensive coordinator, it’s not up to our standards. But we also don’t have the defensive linemen, linebackers and secondary we’re used to, don’t have playmakers who command double teams, don’t have linebackers who wreak havoc. But you have to give Mark D’Onofrio something to work with.”
And Randal Hill said: “Fans are spoiled because it’s Miami. And rightfully so. Butch Davis went through sanctions and won games. You can’t just win against only teams with losing records. A lot of former players want to see better defense and a better team. Are they going in the right direction? My jury is out.”
### Offensive coordinator James Coley*insists UM has no intention of playing conservatively because Brad Kaaya is a freshman. “But you wouldn’t know he’s a freshman,” receiver Malcolm Lewis said, noting his poise and*sound decision-making.
Provided Kaaya fulfills expectations, the future --– regardless of whether suspended*Kevin Olsen sticks around --- looks promising at quarterback with Kaaya, Malik Rosier, 2015 Tampa-based oral commitment Dwayne Lawson (rivals.com’s 23rd-ranked dual threat quarterback who also has offers from UF, FSU and Ohio State) and 2016 four-star UM oral commitment Jack Allison, the 6-5 Miami Palmetto High junior whom analyst Charles Fishbein calls “elite” and comparable in ability to Kyle Wright.
### Running backs coach Tim Harris predicts freshman Joseph Yearby “is going to be very special this season and the future, one of the great ones that comes through here. He reminds me of Clinton Portis. He has that type of ability to make guys miss in space and accelerate for a long run.”
