Offensive Analysis
Miami's offense was a shadow of its old self last year only averaging 27.8 points per game ruining a national championship-level season from the defense. The line will be fantastic and the receiving corps will be fine in time, so the key will be the backfield. QB Brock Berlin has to play far better than he did last year or he'll quickly be replaced. RB Frank Gore will try and come back from his second knee injury to give the running game some more pop.
Star of the offense: Junior OT Eric Winston
Player that has to step up and become a star: Senior QB Brock Berlin
Unsung star on the rise: Senior OG Chris Myers
Best pro prospect: Winston
Top three all-star candidates: 1) Winston, 2) RB Frank Gore if healthy,
3) Myers
Strength of the offense: Offensive line
Weakness of the offense: Quarterback production
Quarterbacks
Projected Starter
- Brock Berlin, Sr. - Berlin had as up-and-down season as one could have generally struggling to get the offense moving, but with moments of greatness highlighted by late performances in wins over Florida and West Virginia. He threw for 2,419 yards with only 12 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. While he has worked his way through the difficult first year and has the starting job, that could quickly change if he starts to play like he did over the second half of last year.
Top Backups
- Derrick Crudup, Sr. - Crudup adds more mobility and a big arm to the mix in his battle to take over the number one spot from Brock Berlin. He had a chance to take the job by the horns last year starting against Syracuse and seeing time in six other games, but he wasn't impressive enough to take over the starting role.
- Kyle Wright, R Fr. - Welcome to the future of Miami football. Many Cane fans are ready for the 2003 super-recruit to take over the reins right now. It'll be hard to start a player with so little experience over veterans like Brock Berlin and Derrick Crudup, but has has more talent than the other two and has gotten bigger and stronger over the last year.
The Skinny: This will be one of the most scrutinized positions in college
football this year. Brock Berlin was good this spring taking hold of the number
one job, but that isn't set in stone. He needs to shine right away against
Florida State or the future might be now for Kyle Wright. Derrick Crudup,
at worst, is the best number three quarterback in America.
Player to keep an eye on: Kyle Wright ... Quarterback Rating: 7.5
Running Backs
Projected Starter
- Tyrone Moss, Soph. - The 221-pound Moss is quick and productive stepping in when Frank Gore went down adding a speed burst behind Jarrett Payton. He ran for 511 yards and five touchdowns last year in a limited role, but he isn't the talent that a healthy Gore is.
- Fullback Talib Humphrey, Sr. - The former starting fullback split time at the job last year. He's a more than solid runner and receiver with great hands and good speed on a 250-pound frame, but he'll mostly be used be the main blocking back this year with Quadtrine Hill moving to more of a tailback role.
Top Backups
- Frank Gore, Jr. - Gore has had a hard luck career tearing his knee up twice costing him two seasons. When he's healthy, he's among the most dynamic players in college football rushing for 468 yards and four games last season while also able to block and catch. He looks like he'll be back to 100%, but the concern is over how long he'll be able to last and his conditioning.
- Quadtrine Hill, Jr. - Hill has mostly been a fullback so far in his career, and now he'll be more of a tailback as more of a north-south runner compared to the quick and shifty Tyrone Moss and Frank Gore. He had a few issues with a shoulder injury used mostly as a receiver catching 12 passes for 71 yards.
- Fullback Kyle Cobia, Sr. - A good all-around fullback, the 235-pound Cobia is a good receiver and a great blocker. He has had injury problems throughout his career finally getting some starts at the end of last year.
The Skinny: It's all up to the health of Frank Gore. If he's back to
being Frank Gore, this is one of the most dangerous groups of running backs
in America. Tyrone Moss and Quadtrine Hill aren't bad, but they aren't as
good as Gore. True freshmen Bobby Washington and Charlie Jones could make
an instant impact. This ranking is based on a healthy Gore.
Player to keep an eye on: Quadtrine Hill ... Running Back Rating: 8.5
Receivers
Projected Starters
- Roscoe Parrish, Jr. - Parrish is a strong possession receiver and top punt returner with great quickness and and outstanding vision. He had work done on his knee, and there's some concern that it will still be a problem. He needs to become a top deep threat after catching 24 passes for 322 yards and two touchdowns last year.
- Ryan Moore, Soph. - Expected to be the team's new go-to receiver, the 6-3, 215-pound Moore was the team's second leading receiver catching 44 passes for 637 yards and three touchdowns. He has everything you could want in a receiver and needs to become the next Andre Johnson, and needs to get over a shoulder problem, for the Cane offense to shine.
- Tight end Kevin Everett, Sr. - The former JUCO star has to follow a scary good line of tight ends after Kellen Winslow and Jeremy Shockey held the job over the last few years. Everett isn't as good as those two, but he's a big target with good speed and nice hands catching nine passes for 90 yards and three touchdowns last year. Winslow only made one scoring grab.
Top Backups
- Akieem Jolla, Soph. - Jolla is the speed burner in the corps. He sat out last year after taking a medical redshirt, and now he'll push for time at split end behind Ryan Moore.
- Darnell Jenkins, Soph. - Jenkins was one of Miami's big-time recruits a few years ago and has as much potential as any Hurricane receiver. He has great hands and good speed catching three passes for 20 yards and a touchdown in a limited role.
- Sinorice Moss, Jr. - The younger brother of New York Jet star Santana, Sinorice was a top special teams performer last year while trying to carve a niche in the receiving corps. He caught eight passes for 111 yards last year, and now needs to overcome a knee problem to be a factor.
- Devin Hester, Soph. - Out of all the great young Miami receiver prospects, Hester has the most upside; he just hasn't shown it yet. He's fast, even among his fellow Canes, with a great extra gear and the deep play ability that demands a place on the field. He only caught four passes last year, but they went for 116 yards.
- Tight end Buck Ortega, Jr. - Ortega came to Miami to play quarterback, but he has been most useful on the special teams. He hasn't done much on offense yet looking to be more than just a blocking tight end.
The Skinny: The Miami receiving corps has as many speedy and talented
options as any group in the country, but there isn't much in the way of proven
star commodities. They all have superstar potential with Ryan Moore leading
the way. While overall experience is still an issue, they will be good enough
to make the passing game fly.
Player to keep an eye on: Darnell Jenkins ... Receiver Rating: 8
Offensive Line
Projected Starters
- Tackle Rashad Butler, Jr. - Butler bulked up a bit getting to 286 pounds to fill out his 6-5 frame a bit more, but he didn't really need the extra size. His strength and athleticism more than make up any other deficiencies and has a little experience starting five games.
- Guard Chris Myers, Sr. - One of college football's unknown superstars, the 6-5, 300-pound senior has quietly become one of the nation's best guards. He has the versatility to play center if needed, like he had to at the end of last year, but he is more suited for guard.
- Center Joel Rodriguez, Sr. - Rodriguez is a steady, athletic player in the middle coming off a solid season. He broke his leg late in the year, but will be ready to take back his starting job.
- Guard Tony Tella, Jr. - Tella was a solid backup last year and should be a force this season. He's an athletic guard who can maul with the best of them. He has room on his 6-5 body to get bigger and better.
- Tackle Eric Winston, Jr. - The 6-7, 310-pound junior is in a salary drive. He came to Miami as an athletic tight end and beefed up into a dominant tackle last year. He's the new leader of the line and should be a top draft pick if/when he comes out in 2005
Top Backups
- C Anthony Wollschlager, Soph. - Injuries have kept the talented sophomore from doing too much so far, but he's a strong player who will be groomed for the starting center job for next year.
- G Alex Pou, Soph. - Pou got a little bit of time last year at guard earning one start. While he has the strength to become a spot starter, he still needs time to get bigger and better. He'll play behind Chris Myers on the right side.
- T Tyler McMeans, Jr. - McMeans is a Marine who is working hard on getting into prime playing shape. He comes over from the JUCO ranks getting from 305 to 337 in a few months, but he doesn't appear to have lost any of his run blocking dominance. He went to the same junior college, Lackawanna in Pennsylvania, that produced Bryant McKinnie.
The Skinny: The line might be the best part of the offense led by all-stars
Eric Winston and Chris Myers. The newcomers to the starting mix, Tony Tella
at left guard and Rashad Butler and right tackle, are more than capable of
filling in the gaps. What the backups lack in experience, they make up for
in size with three of the top reserves tipping the scales at over 325 pounds.
Player to keep an eye on: Chris Myers ... Offensive Line Rating: 8.5
