BYB Top 25 Countdown - # 15 Miami Hurricanes

Miami running back Duke Johnson

Going into last season it looked like Al Golden had every reason to bail. The Hurricanes were 6-6 in 2011 with five losses in ACC play and a NCAA scandal that would make Pete Carroll and Jim Tressell blush had just been reported. The sanctions facing Miami would surely be harsh and long.

A year later the Hurricanes are coming off a 7-5 season, with five conference wins, and enter the season with a experienced, confident quarterback and a potential All-American at running back. Oh, not to mention, the NCAA made a debacle of the investigation into Miami’s violations and the Hurricanes could very likely escape this situation with only its own, self induced restrictions.

The Hurricanes are the sure favorite to win the Coastal Division and play either Florida State or Clemson in the ACC Championship Game. Stephen Morris returns at quarterback after throwing for 3,345 yards and 21 TDs last season, and Miami has a true game breaker lining up behind him in running back Duke Johnson, who was a Freshman All-American in 2012 with 2,000 + all-purpose yards.  The Canes also return six of its top receivers from a year ago, including wideout Phillip Dorsett, who had 842 yards receiving.

While much optimism exists regarding the Canes entering the season, the defense remains a point of concern. Miami was 82nd nationally in scoring defense in 2012, giving up 31.4 points per game, which is actually not as bad as it could have been, as Miami was 116th nationally in total defense. Surrendering almost 32 points a game was a sign of bending but not breaking.

Defensive coordinator Mark D’Onofrio, who followed Golden to Miami from Temple, will have to improve the defense, beginning with the pass rush. Miami had only 13 sacks in 2012 and will need a group of returning players, including ends Anthony Chickillo and Shayon Green, to join incoming players like Devante Bond, Ufomba Kamula and Al Quadin Muhammad and better get after opposing passers, A better pass rush should help a Cane secondary that snagged only five passes last season but expect to see many new faces in the secondary as well.

Miami has the talent to compete with every team on their schedule and no definite losses exist for the team, despite the fact that it may have to play in a lot of shootouts. With Morris, Johnson and a bevy of talented receivers to rely on the Canes can stay in any game but they will play a lot of close ones. I have the Canes at 8-0-4 with push games against Florida and Virginia at home and on the road at North Carolina and Florida State.