Out Of Kilter

I have no idea what to make of the University of Miami’s football team, circa 2007. I mean, sure, based on results to date, the team isn’t that good.

There’s no doubt in my mind that the performance would have been better if the weak spots of the team on offense and defense hadn’t been further weakened by injuries. Losing the projected starters at the positions thought to be most important for the defense, Josh Holmes, Glenn Cook, and Glenn Sharpe, was a tough blow to take. On the offensive side of the ball, it’s impossible to know as an outsider whether Kirby won the starting quarterback’s job because Kyle was hurt or because of other reasons, but as it has turned out, no matter the reason, Kyle should’ve been the guy from day one, no matter what I wrote here last year.

I digress. Last year, Miami beat FIU 35-0. This year, the margin ended up being a mere two touchdowns. Have they moved forward, or have we moved back? Having A’Mod Ned gash the run defense was discomforting with A & M coming in. On the other hand, Kyle landed a deep ball with Lance, a connection that hadn’t been made since Wake Forest in 2005. On the first hand, Sam Shields has one (1) catch through three (3) games, for just seven (7) yards! On the other hand, Teraz McCray was able to collapse the pocket against FIU even while being triple-teamed.

I guess my figuring is that we basically stayed the same, and this iteration of UM-FIU was a much more unlucky individual outcome.  Yay?

I realize I’m working with the loosest definition of “later tonight” possible, seeing as how it’s seven full days later, but it took that long for me to work up the courage to rewatch on TiVo. So, was the game as bad as 51-13 would indicate? Pretty much. But, with judicious application of my orange and green glasses, there are some positives to take away, along with the sorts of monumental negatives that are par for the course in a game decided by six touchdowns.

Positives:

• Tavares Gooden has been damned good. He’s an asset when it comes to passing downs, and though he still occasionally overruns the play, is much more frequently bringing ballcarriers down by himself.
• Teraz McCray looks sharp. He struggled at times against OU, but he did a good job of engaging his man and frequently a second, enabling Gooden to flow very well.
• Javarris James ran well, so long as you disregard minor things like his numbers. The long run that was called back due to an unnecessary bad block by a true freshman WR came after the game was out of reach, but it appeared OU still had most of their first-team defense on the field.
• Oklahoma didn’t really do anything surprising, but it was nice to see a Miami offensive line not piddle on itself when playing an upper-echelon defensive line. They provided time for bad throws, and while they got beat pretty bad while Graig Cooper was running the ball, it seemed more that they were in an impossible situation than that they were overmatched.
• Kyle Wright’s first drive, though clunky and out of step by the standards of any other major college program, still resulted in a touchdown, and was epic in scope:18 plays, 6 and a half minutes, converting three first downs and a fourth, though Kyle left the game for that fourth down conversion.

Negatives:

• Kyle Wright’s last drive, which highlighted the reasons OOK wanted to see Kirby last year- throwing short of the marker on third down, scrambling into a one-yard gain when pressure came, despite the blitz being picked up.
• Kirby’s whole game. He was terrible, and to play to his strengths, Coach Nix decided to avoid playing to Javarris and Cooper’s, strengths. This was pretty categorically a mistake, if for no other reason than that he’s lost the ability to throw the deep ball, which was the one asset he has.
• Eventually I just felt bad for Randy Phillips. Watching him get methodically taken advantage of, for four TDs given up, got to be sad. Unfortunately, he’s not quick enough, and since we for some reason weren’t going face to face with their receivers, he wasn’t able to make up for it by jamming people.
• Kenny Phillips had a vintage Greg Threat game, where despite 13 total tackles and a forced fumble, he was unable to either get to the quarterback or break up passing plays, and allowed himself to get into the no mans land where he made tackles following big gains.
• Oh, and about 5 of the 8 players in the defensive line rotation got hurt.

Captain America : July 4, 1917 - March 2007

Update: E! News says movie still “a go.”

With the holidays rolling around, why not take a break from secular video games where you have to kill people, and play some religious-themed video games where you have to kill people?

Christian: Left Behind: Eternal Forces

Jewish: The Shivah

Muslim: Under Siege

Scientologist: Dr. Mario

Kyle Wright and Kenny Phillips are out due to thumb injuries. Darnell Jenkins, Romeo Davis, Ian Symonette, A.J. Trump and Spencer Adkins are out with knee injuries. Jason Fox is out with an dislocated left elbow.

Alex Pou is doubtful, with a reoccurence of a knee injury.

Reggie Youngblood will travel with the team after missing a week due to a knee injury, but will not start and may not play. Tavares Gooden has been cleared to play following missing several weeks with a concussion, but may not get the start.

Rashaun Jones’ suspension for violating team rules has been lifted. Anthony Reddick’s indefinite suspension was lifted last week, but, while he dressed, he did not play.

Kyle Wright is out for the remainder of the season due to thumb surgery. Kenny Phillips is also out following thumb surgery. A.J. Trump is out following left ACL surgery. Darnell Jenkins, Romeo Davis, Ian Symonette and Spencer Adkins are out with knee injuries. Tavares Gooden is out with a concussion.

Reggie Youngblood will travel with the team after missing a week due to a knee injury, but will not start and may not play.

Rashaun Jones has been suspended until next week versus Boston College for violating team rules. Anthony Reddick has had his indefinite suspension stemming from the FIU brawl lifted, but might be restricted to special teams play.

Kenny Phillips is out for the remainder of the season due to thumb surgery. Anthony Reddick is still suspended as a result of actions taken in the FIU fight. Reggie Youngblood, Darnell Jenkins, Romeo Davis, Ian Symonette and Spencer Adkins are out with knee injuries. Tavares Gooden is out with a undisclosed injury.
Kyle Wright is doubtful with a slight fracture on the thumb of his throwing hand.
Colin McCarthy is available after his hamstring injury vs. Duke, but is listed as questionable.
Greg Olsen (sprained knee) and Javarris James (hip pointer) are both probable.
Alex Pou has a sprained knee, but his status for the game is unclear.

All of our deepest condolences go out to the entire Pata family, his friends, his teammates, and his coaches.
(more…)