Completely happy Monday, errrrrrrybody.
Hope your June has gone nicely, as we now sit proper at two months from the primary weekend of school soccer. It’ll be right here earlier than we all know it.
Though we’re within the lifeless interval of Miami sports activities outdoors of ‘crootin, I noticed an article not too long ago that acquired my wheels turning about 2025. CBS Sports activities’ Chip Patterson put up a submit evaluating one of the best and worst case situations for every ACC group, and Miami’s had been price discussing. Let’s check out these, and get into my ideas.
1) Patterson sees a ceiling of 11-1 and flooring of 8-4 for the Canes in 2025.
That is what he needed to say:
Finest case 11-1: Carson Beck returns to full well being and assumes the NFL-ready type he displayed earlier than the harm in a quarterback-friendly offense that helped propel Cam Ward to the No. 1 choose within the NFL Draft. New coordinator Corey Heatherman helps Miami’s protection restrict explosive performs and the Hurricanes make their first-ever look within the CFP.
Worst case 8-4: The Hurricanes not solely fail to capitalize on the massive moments in opposition to Notre Dame and SMU, however drop a pair extra video games to go away Miami feeling wholly unhappy given the extent of expertise on this roster. It speaks to the recruiting efforts of this workers that 8-4 is a flooring projection, however for a program that has not hit its ceiling shortly Miami is far more centered on maximizing what it’s acquired in home.
2) I actually assume these marks are truthful and cheap. Principally.
Though I feel 10-2 might be the extra possible ceiling, getting a lot of issues to go their method creates a possible pathway to 11-1. However that includes roster expertise and the schedule. I’ll get into each individually.
3) On the roster, answering a few of these query marks within the affirmative is crucial.
Who’s going to succeed X, Jacolby, Horton, and Arroyo as impactful move catchers on this group? Is Jojo Dealer going to comprehend the immense expertise he has with a wide-open alternative?
I’m actually not nervous about Beck so far as with the ability to step in and carry out. I feel he’s among the many most gifted QBs within the nation and will be capable of function Shannon Dawson’s offense successfully. It’s simply form of a query just like Georgia final yr – can his move catchers not let him down?
Defensively, I feel there’s good younger potential to exchange their losses within the entrance seven, however the again finish will proceed to fret me till it proves to me on the sphere that I can breathe once more when an opposing QB throws the ball deep down the sphere. I’m wounded from final yr – what can I say?
Not less than there’s plenty of expertise and new minds again there this yr, with Corey Hetherman, Zach Etheridge, and Will Harris there to run the present. Transfers Xavier Lucas, Zechariah Poyser, and Jakobe Thomas ought to all be ready to make the beginning group considerably higher this yr.
So, if these roster areas can present some nice surprises and hit the bottom operating to start out the yr, a powerful season isn’t out of the realm of chance.
4) And the schedule goes to supply some substantial challenges.
Notre Dame and Florida at dwelling are huge contests, and Miami must no less than break up them to have a shot at 10-2, and possibly sweep to get to 11-1.
They’ve some tough dwelling video games in opposition to Syracuse and Louisville, groups they’ve struggled with and/or misplaced two during the last two seasons. These video games gained’t be straightforward although they each misplaced QBs to the NFL Draft again in April.
November highway video games in opposition to SMU, Va Tech, and Pittsburgh will not be going to be cakewalks, to place it mildly. The Ponies and their head coach Rhett Lashlee clearly know Miami extraordinarily nicely, and the Hokies and Panthers are the ultimate two video games of the season in what shall be frigid temperatures. Not straightforward.
As such, the schedule goes to have extra potential potholes than final season, and Miami must discover a strategy to navigate it. Getting by means of that half will rely largely on how nicely they reply the questions above in #3.
My feeling is this can be a 10-2/9-3 kind of group. However a recreation a technique or one other wouldn’t be stunning. Ergo, why I feel Patterson has given a good vary.
Go Canes!