k9cane
Senior
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2011
- Messages
- 8,994
I know they had that magical 2017 run, where they were #2 in the country, but that was smoke and mirror to a certain degree. But somehow this video came up on my Youtube feed last night and I watched it. ( I remember actually ordering this game on the ESPN Game Plan PPV, lol, remember that?). This was a week after wrecking a highly ranked VAtech team in Blacksburg on prime time. I remember thinking, 'Wow, maybe Coker isn't this feckless, ineffective leader, after all, maybe I was wrong about him."
At this point, while USC and Texas were the two top ranked teams, I thought Miami, on paper, at least, could compete
But to put this game into context, after a disappointing opening night loss to FSU, Miami went on this long winning streak and the defense really came together and the offense led by Kyle Wright seemed to be improving. And on this day, he looked like the goods, throwing 5 touchdowns and making some eye opening tosses (the one to Olsen was a laser shot, I remember thinking, "this kid is real, we got a QB!!!'') People forget, Wright up to this point had looked promising, and was getting better.
Watch these clips and you'll see that UM still had elite talent all over, the defensive backfield had three #1 picks in Merriweather, Jenning and Phillips -- and Marcus Maxey got drafted. Jon Beason was a future first rounder, and I thought Rocky McIntosh was playing as well as any LB in the country that year. Upfront, guys like Kareem Brown, and Baraka Atkins were solid enough to be drafted. While a young Calais Campbell played a role.
Offensively, Olsen was a stud, Sinorice Moss was drafted high, as was Eric Winston. But the overall talent upfront on the Oline was lacking. BTW, Darnell Jenkins in todays spread offenses would be unreal, always thought he was mis-under utilized at Miami. Also Devin Hester was on this squad, playing various roles.
Anyways the next week they lose at home to Gatech, and really, that signaled the end. It was a soul crushing loss (and honestly, the rest of the season our guys packed it in and then got embarassed by LSU in the Peach Bowl. Coker scapegoated assistants that Monday, and really, you just kinda knew things had come to a head.)
At this point, while USC and Texas were the two top ranked teams, I thought Miami, on paper, at least, could compete
But to put this game into context, after a disappointing opening night loss to FSU, Miami went on this long winning streak and the defense really came together and the offense led by Kyle Wright seemed to be improving. And on this day, he looked like the goods, throwing 5 touchdowns and making some eye opening tosses (the one to Olsen was a laser shot, I remember thinking, "this kid is real, we got a QB!!!'') People forget, Wright up to this point had looked promising, and was getting better.
Watch these clips and you'll see that UM still had elite talent all over, the defensive backfield had three #1 picks in Merriweather, Jenning and Phillips -- and Marcus Maxey got drafted. Jon Beason was a future first rounder, and I thought Rocky McIntosh was playing as well as any LB in the country that year. Upfront, guys like Kareem Brown, and Baraka Atkins were solid enough to be drafted. While a young Calais Campbell played a role.
Offensively, Olsen was a stud, Sinorice Moss was drafted high, as was Eric Winston. But the overall talent upfront on the Oline was lacking. BTW, Darnell Jenkins in todays spread offenses would be unreal, always thought he was mis-under utilized at Miami. Also Devin Hester was on this squad, playing various roles.
Anyways the next week they lose at home to Gatech, and really, that signaled the end. It was a soul crushing loss (and honestly, the rest of the season our guys packed it in and then got embarassed by LSU in the Peach Bowl. Coker scapegoated assistants that Monday, and really, you just kinda knew things had come to a head.)
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