Miami at Virginia: Oct. 30
Virginia Tech at Miami: Nov. 20
A 9-4 season in year three of a rebuilding job is good enough at most schools, but Miami isn’t most schools. Meaning the pressure is on UM alum Randy Shannon to produce in year four, or there might not be a year five.
Shannon has recruited well since taking over the program in 2007, re-establishing The U’s dominance in talent-laden South Florida, and the high level of talent in the program is evident.
“When you have depth, you make competition better. You’ve got guys that are working hard every day to keep their position, keep their jobs, and they’re helping each other out, because they know that if somebody gets nicked, somebody else has to go in and take their place. So they’re helping each other out all the time, competing, and also pushing each other to be the best,” Shannon said.
Junior quarterback Jacory Harris is back to lead the high-powered Miami offense (30.3 points, 399.9 yards per game in 2009). Harris threw for 3,352 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2009, but also threw 17 interceptions.
Shannon said the issue with the INTs isn’t just on Harris’ shoulders.
“It may be pressure from the side that Jacory is throwing the ball to. We’ve got to improve on the offensive line. It could be the receiver not running the right depth. It’s supposed to be a 10, but he runs an eight. Or Jacory is trying to force something. It’s a conglomerate of all of those things playing out together,” Shannon said.
Story by Chris Graham. Chris can be reached at [email protected].
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