Machine Plays: 3-1
How will the suspensions affect Miami's offense? Unaffected, if not better. If you take QB Stephen Moriss's stats from last year and project them over a full season (he only played 5 1/2 games LY) he throws for 3,000 yards and is a top tier QB. In the bowl game vs Notre Dame he completed 22-33 for 285 yards. Jacory Harris did not play in Miami's win vs Maryland last year. Miami's running game is going to take a step up this year; the duo of Miller and James (neither are suspended) are both back and they throttled Maryland last year on the ground for 218 yards. UM'a O-line is a veteran, mammoth group and none are suspended.
How will the suspensions affect Miami's defense? This is where the hammer will fall. Miami loses its entire 2-deep at one DT spot and one DE spot, and loses its backups at the other two spots. Stud linebacker Spence (2nd-leading tackler) is out, and so is potential all-ACC SS Ray-Ray Armstrong.
In last year's matchup Miami killed Maryland in every statistical category and the scoreboard should have reflected a blow-out, except that Morris was picked twice by Maryland's Wujciak (gone this year). Has the performance gap closed with these suspensions? Normally I would say yes, except that Maryland loses 70% of its offensive receptions with the loss of WR's Smith and Cannon. They do get back RB Meggett, and he averaged 5.7 ypc.
What will happen this year? Both teams will be able to run the ball, and both coaches are pre-disposed to that based on what they did at their last schools. Expect alot of rushing. Maryland's QB does not make mistakes, but he also does not air it out, throwing underneath constantly. With the loss of his top 2 receivers, don't expect that to change. Miami's Morris will use the run to set up some bombs, one of which could be a game-changer.
X-Factor: Randy Shannon was the problem at Miami, and his departure immediately makes Miami better. Al Golden will bring out the best in the blue-chip athletes and will have Miami in a BCS bowl within three years. The transition begins tonight in a sloppy slugfest. Expect Miami to play with a chip on its shoulder in front of a sell-out crowd.
MIAMI +4
How will the suspensions affect Miami's offense? Unaffected, if not better. If you take QB Stephen Moriss's stats from last year and project them over a full season (he only played 5 1/2 games LY) he throws for 3,000 yards and is a top tier QB. In the bowl game vs Notre Dame he completed 22-33 for 285 yards. Jacory Harris did not play in Miami's win vs Maryland last year. Miami's running game is going to take a step up this year; the duo of Miller and James (neither are suspended) are both back and they throttled Maryland last year on the ground for 218 yards. UM'a O-line is a veteran, mammoth group and none are suspended.
How will the suspensions affect Miami's defense? This is where the hammer will fall. Miami loses its entire 2-deep at one DT spot and one DE spot, and loses its backups at the other two spots. Stud linebacker Spence (2nd-leading tackler) is out, and so is potential all-ACC SS Ray-Ray Armstrong.
In last year's matchup Miami killed Maryland in every statistical category and the scoreboard should have reflected a blow-out, except that Morris was picked twice by Maryland's Wujciak (gone this year). Has the performance gap closed with these suspensions? Normally I would say yes, except that Maryland loses 70% of its offensive receptions with the loss of WR's Smith and Cannon. They do get back RB Meggett, and he averaged 5.7 ypc.
What will happen this year? Both teams will be able to run the ball, and both coaches are pre-disposed to that based on what they did at their last schools. Expect alot of rushing. Maryland's QB does not make mistakes, but he also does not air it out, throwing underneath constantly. With the loss of his top 2 receivers, don't expect that to change. Miami's Morris will use the run to set up some bombs, one of which could be a game-changer.
X-Factor: Randy Shannon was the problem at Miami, and his departure immediately makes Miami better. Al Golden will bring out the best in the blue-chip athletes and will have Miami in a BCS bowl within three years. The transition begins tonight in a sloppy slugfest. Expect Miami to play with a chip on its shoulder in front of a sell-out crowd.
MIAMI +4
