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by
Joel Welser
#32 Miami Hurricanes
Atlantic Coast Conference
2006 Record: (7-6, 3-5)
Coach: Randy Shannon (1st year at
Miami, 0-0 overall)
Starters Returning: 16 (9 offense, 7 defense,
0 specialists)
Offensive Starters Lost: TE Greg Olsen, OL
Anthony Wollschlager
Offensive Starters Returning: QB Kyle Wright,
RB Javarris James, FB Chris Zellner, WR Lance Leggett, WR Sam Shields, OL Andrew
Bain, OL Jason Fox, OL Derrick Morse, OL Reggie Youngblood
Defensive Starters Lost: DT Baraka Atkins, DE
Bryan Pata, LB Jon Beason, S Brandon Meriweather
Defensive Starters Returning: DE Calais
Campbell, DT Teraz McCray, LB Glenn Cook, CB Glenn Sharpe, CB Randy Phillips, CB
Lovon Ponder, S Kenny Phillips
Starting Specialists Lost: K Jon Peattie, P
Brian Monroe
Starting Specialists Returning: none
The 2006 season was a difficult one for Miami both
on and off the field. As a result, Coach Larry Coker is out and former defensive
coordinator Randy Shannon is the new head man. However, it is not the defense
that needs help and all eyes will be on what was a pathetic offensive display,
at least by Miami standards.
Offense:
Nine starters return on offense, but nobody is
really sure if that is a good thing or not. The team scored just 19.6 points per
game. Much of the blame is placed on quarterback Kyle Wright, who passed for
eight touchdowns and threw seven interceptions. Kirby Freeman will once again be
looked upon if Wright continues to struggle, but he was not any better than
Wright last season. Besides losing the team’s safety outlet in tight end Greg
Olsen, the receiving corps remains relatively intact. Lance Leggett and Sam
Shields are quality receivers when they have an opportunity to be involved in
the game.
The Hurricanes have a quality running back and a
veteran offensive line returning. Javarris James, cousin of Arizona Cardinals
Edgerrin James, rushed for 802 yards. James can be elusive or run you over and
after a successful freshman campaign should develop into a bigger threat as a
sophomore.
Defense:
Considering the general ineffectiveness of the
offense, the defensive achievements are that much more amazing. The squad only
gave up 67.8 rushing yards per game, ranking the best ever at Miami and fourth
in the nation in 2006. End Calais Campbell sacked the quarterback 10.5 times and
added 20.5 tackles for loss and will once again be the leader of a strong line.
The absence of Jon Beason hurts the linebackers, but
the depth at that position will make the unit very effective. The versatile
Glenn Cook has not received the accolades of some other Hurricane linebackers,
but that may change for his senior season. Tavares Gooden, Darryl Sharpton and
Romeo Davis all earned starts in 2006 and will look for more playing time this
season. Along with Campbell, safety Kenny Phillips is the star of the defense.
Despite missing three games with a broken thumb, the sophomore earned third-team
All-America honors as a sophomore and recorded 71 tackles and four
interceptions.
The Bottom Line:
This is still Miami. All it could take is from fresh
blood in the coaching ranks to turn a 7-5 season into a 10-2 season. The talent
is there and the defense will be dominating enough to keep the Hurricanes in
every game. All the team needs is some consistency at the quarterback position.
And if things get really bad with Wright and Freeman, Coach Shannon could look
to star recruit Robert Marve.
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