Miami Football 2015 – Better, worse or about the same?

Will the Miami offense be better, worse or about the same?

Miami’s offense will be slightly better, for one reason and one reason only. Quarterback Brad Kaaya is no longer a freshman. And as well as he played as a true frosh last year, a natural evolution of improvement is to be expected.

He should be more comfortable as a passer but more importantly as a leader. Now he loses a lot of weapons around him, but UM has talented players who can succeed them.

Duke Johnson is the all time leader in rushing and yards from scrimmage in UM history. Impossible to replace. But Joe Yearby and incoming freshman Mark Walton are no slouches, and they should combine with Gus Edwards and maybe even Trayone Gray to give Miami close to the same production Johnson did.

Wide receiver Phillip Dorsett and his 4.2 speed is also gone. But a big bounce back season from Stacy Coley, the development of Braxton Berrios, and the return to health of Rayshawn Scott should make up for the loss. Tght end Clive Walford is off to the NFL as well. But I like Stan Dobard and highly touted JUCO transfer Jerome Washington to take over.

Losing Ereck Flowers (arguably the best O lineman in the Draft this year), Shane McDermott, and Jon Feliciano up front hurts. But Nick Linder, Kc McDermott, and Jahair Jones among others, are talented players who can fill in.

Between Kaaya’s expected development, and the players set to step up for those who departed, I do not think the Hurricanes offense will drop off much in 2015.

Will the Miami defense be better worse or about the same?

The defense on the other hand is another story. Last season while they struggled in big games (see Georgia Tech and Nebraska in particular) the D was much better than the previous year statistically.

But they lose linebacker Denzel Perryman, and they don’t have anyone near as good as DP52 coming back this year. Raphael Kirby will move over from the outside, and Juwon Young will get a long look at MLB as well, but neither can duplicate what Perryman brought in play making as well as intangibles.

Up front, Al-Quadin Muhammad returns from suspension, and he is a big time talent. Chad Thomas is now a sophomore and he is also to be watched. Tyriq McCord has moved from DE to OLB but he is also best as a pass rusher. Between Muhammad, Thomas, and McCord, Miami needs at least one player to become a consistent disruptive force.

The DBs were easily the most improved group during the spring. Jamal Carter was all over the place, making plays as a Safety. Deon Bush also returns at safety for his senior season and is an ALL-ACC Candidate. Corn Elder and Artie Burns also had spectacular springs and combine with Tracy Howard to give Miami 3 good corners.

The depth at CB as well as LB is scary thin though. And the interior defensive line has yet to produce anyone in the mold of a Cortez Kennedy, Warren Sapp, type or anything close for that matter. For those reasons a drop from the D is to be expected this coming year. And the Hurricanes absolutely have to have this unit stay healthy.

You buying or selling this team in 2015? (How many games they winning this year?)

This depends on how you define buying and selling. The schedule has 8 maybe 9 imminently winnable games. Is that the definition of success in Coral Gables, 8 or 9 wins? Certainly it is an improvement, and winning the Coastal Division of the ACC would be a step forward for this once proud program.

But in order to achieve what would have once been considered modest goals, they have to also stop losing to teams on the schedule that have no business beating them.

Losing the Lousiville game was explainable by Kaaya’s greenness. The FSU game was right in their clutches, and they were arguably a play or two away from pulling the upset. But there is no way this team should have lost to Pitt or UVA. And they seemed to beat themselves Vs Georgia Tech and Nebraska with soft schemes.

Will Al Golden and staff maximize the talent and get this team to 9 maybe 10 wins this year? I will have to see it to believe it. I see them going 8-4 and heading to another muddling bowl.

Jerry Steinberg of State of the U provided the information for our Miami Football 2015 Spring recap. For more Miami football information, commentary and analysis, you can follow Jerry on Twitter @Category6UM & State of the U @TheStateOfTheU.