Miami Hurricanes Football Won't Get Easier in 2009

(Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)

Things just don't get easier for Coach Randy Shannon and the Miami Hurricanes in 2009.

The Hurricanes finished 2008 by losing their last three games, and after looking at this year's first four, there's a good chance that streak might reach seven.

It seemed like last year's Hurricanes were headed in the right direction when they pulled off a 16-14 upset over Virginia Tech. Their record was 7-3 but they went on to lose their last two regular season games (Georgia Tech & North Carolina St) and a bowl game to the California Bears.

In the late season collapse the defense gave up 34 points a game.  This team seemed to have faded and has entered 2009 with a lot of questions.

Shannon, 12-13 in his two years as Hurricanes head coach, knew he had to make some changes and fired Offensive Coordinator Partrick Nix and replaced him with Mark Whipple.  John Lovett was added as the new Defensive Coordinator when Bill Young left Miami to return to his alma mater, Oklahoma State.

With the additions of Whipple and Lovett, one has to be wondering how long will it take everyone to get used to new systems on both sides of the ball. 

The situation may be shaky but there are plenty of good reasons to feel that this program will show solid improvement in 2009.

The reason to be optimistic about the Hurricanes has to do with the youth movement that took place when Shannon became coach.  This team is still very young and most of the players he recruited are heading into their sophomore and junior years with a lot of game experience under their belts.

One of those players is their quarterback Jacory Harris.  A local south Florida product, Harris has tons of talent, but talent alone won't get the job done.  Harris will have to become the field general of this team and it better be five star if they want to win some of these early games.

The Canes return Graig Cooper, a pretty good running back, and wide receiver Travis Benjamin.  Benjamin is super quick and it's no coincidence that he's drawn comparisons to ex Hurricane Santana Moss.

The defense is led up by hard-hitting linebacker Sean Spence, who they're expecting to lead them out of last year's late season funk.

The Canes are hoping the young offensive line matures and will become the mainstay of the balanced offense that Randy Shannon wants to develope.

Although the improvement of this young team is crucial, it appears the schedule will be the biggest factor in determining their success or failure.

In 2009 Miami opens with four games that remind one of last year's Texas Longhorns when they played successive games against Missouri, Oklahoma, Oklahoma St and Texas Tech.

The Canes open at no.16 Florida State, home against no.10 Georgina Tech, at no.5 Virginia Tech and home against no. 3 Oklahoma before they host Florida A&M.

These four games are going to be so tough that it wouldn't be a shock to see an 0-4 start.  If the Canes can go 2-2 in their first four games, their likely to have a good year.

Florida St is coming off a 9-4 season and go into 2009 with the quarterback position settled.  Christian Ponder was just average in 2008 but the job is his.

Last year's young offensive line will be experienced and the defense will be solid.  It's hard to tell if the NCAA sanct

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