miami appears to be looking to open up their passing game tonight, so don't know if i'd count on seeing as much rushing as you might think. below is an article from today's miami herald talking about their plans for the game. hurricanes are often nonchalant in these road games against lesser opponents, so i'm not often inclined to lay the heavy chaulk on them in this situation. however, if the cougars can put up dd scoring tonight on their home field, i think you have a good scenario for the over 55 - at least that's where i'll have my money. g/l tonight
Posted on Thu, Sep. 23, 2004
LARRY COKER: 'For us to be the type of offense I'd like to see - and not that you have to have this to win - but I'd really like us to get the ball downfield.' AL DIAZ/HERALD STAFF
UM playing catch-up
BY SUSAN MILLER DEGNAN
sdegnan@herald.com
HOUSTON - Give the coach some excitement. Give him some pizazz.
Dazzle him.
Ryan Moore, Sinorice Moss: Catch a ball or two . . . or five or six.
Roscoe Parrish, Darnell Jenkins, Lance Leggett: Show some moves.
So requests University of Miami football coach Larry Coker, who, like most Hurricanes fans, misses UM's knack for the big catch. Coker would love that part of the game revisited when his fourth-ranked Hurricanes (2-0) meet Houston (1-2) tonight at Reliant Stadium -- home of the NFL's Houston Texans.
Spare him the panic attacks, but show him the grace former Hurricane Andre Johnson once demonstrated with his fluent gait and smooth, fail-safe hands; the wizardry Santana Moss once created with staccato-like steps and time-warped moves.
Make something happen.
''We're happy with some things on offense, but we'd certainly like to be more explosive,'' Coker said. ``I think we've got some explosive players. I'd like to involve the wide receivers more. For us to be the type of offense I'd like to see -- and not that you have to have this to win -- but I'd really like us to get the ball downfield.''
Though Houston surely is no national juggernaut, it does provide a challenge in its pass defense, statistically the strongest part of its game. The Cougars are ranked 15th nationally in that category, having allowed an average of 146 yards per game in a 10-7 loss to Rice, 63-13 loss to Oklahoma and last week's 35-21 victory against Army.
Right about now, Canes fans are probably thinking, ''Why not run the ball into oblivion?'' Houston gave up 158 rushing yards to Rice, 276 to Oklahoma and 234 to Army.
The answer: There's no time like now to get some confidence in a wide receivers corps that is lagging behind the rest of the team. The Hurricanes not only are dropping passes, they aren't making the type of game effort coaches want to see.
''You have to play hard every game, and then it might happen,'' Coker said. ``That was the thing that was impressive about a Michael Irvin or Jerry Rice. They dominated their routes. Not just, `Well, I hope they throw me one.'
``We can't get frustrated, because we're not throwing interceptions -- except for the one where Darnell Jenkins had broken route. . . . [But] everything is not going to be wide, wide open and it hits you right in the heart. I want to see us really step up.''
Against Louisiana Tech, UM wide receivers caught five passes and dropped two. Tight ends caught five and running backs two. Of UM's eight touchdowns, two have been scored by wide receivers.
At least three balls were dropped against Florida State, all by former go-to guy Moore, who was demoted last week but has regained his starting spot after a strong week in practice.
Moss, Santana's younger brother who broke out in the opener with four crucial catches for 112 yards, had only one ball thrown to him Saturday against Louisiana Tech. He will still start tonight instead of Parrish.
Freshman Leggett, who started last week but dropped two passes, will be a backup tonight.
''We have a lot of depth at wide receiver, and you can't complain or pout about it,'' Parrish said. ``You just have to be a man and face the fact and work hard every day.
``C.J. [UM receivers coach Curtis Johnson] talked to us. He said we have to pick it up and try to make all the plays. Even if it's a bad throw, make an attempt. Don't complain.''
JUST AS TALENTED
Johnson said his current receivers are every bit as talented as his group of a few years ago.
''Andre Johnson was the same way his first year,'' the coach said. ``Andre, Ethenic Sands, Kevin Beard, Daryl Jones, Reggie [Wayne] and Santana their first games. It wasn't very good. If you don't make plays, we have enough good players we can win with. Whoever is hot, that's who is going to play.''
UM quarterback Brock Berlin has missed some throws, too, such as last week's play deep from Louisiana Tech territory in which Moore was wide open on the right side of the end zone and Berlin overthrew him.
''You're not going to be perfect,'' Berlin said. ``Those guys are working hard to catch the ball, and yeah, there have been a few drops this year. But that's going to happen. That's football. We'd like to make more big plays and score as many points as we can, but the big thing is to get better each week.''
