Defense Needs to Step Up in 2009 for Miami Hurricanes Football

Analyst Written on June 25, 2009

MIAMI - OCTOBER 25: Head coach Randy Shannon of the Miami Hurricanes paces the sideline as his team takes on the Wake Forest Demon Decons at Dolphin Stadium on October 25, 2008 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)

(Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)

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Harris showed great maturity for a freshman. He completed 61% of his passes in 2008 but, more importantly, only threw seven picks.

The Canes will return running backs Javaris James and Graig Cooper and Harris will have plenty of receivers to throw the ball to, like the speedy Travis Benjamin. This is also the year Canes fans will see the debut of Harris' high school teammate, the 6'5" wide receiver Tommy Streeter.

The offense will move the ball and they'll make big plays. It appears that Phil Steele, one of the nation's leading analysts, sees a huge up-side in this offense and selected the Canes as no. 21 in his pre-season poll.

Most of the other prognosticators have not chosen the Canes as a pre-season top 25 pick. The fact that their first four games are against No. 17 FSU, No. 11 Ga. Tech, No. 6 VA Tech and No. 3 Oklahoma must have something to do with their thinking.

John Lovett's defense will most likely be anchored by linebackers Sean Spense and Darryl Sharpton, who were two of the mainstays last year.

It looks like defensive end Eric Moncur and safety Randy Phillips were granted a sixth year by the NCAA, after season-ending injuries, and Lovett will need these two seniors to provide leadership.

The secondary is inexperienced and only turned in four picks in 2008. There are only 13 career starts on this year's secondary.

Phillips, Jojo Nicolas, Vaugn Telemaque, Jared Campbell and Joe Wylie are just a couple of players competing for starting roles in the secondary. Freshman cornerback Branden McGee, with 4.35 speed, also has a shot at starting.

This defense has to step up, and they won't have a lot of time to get used to Lovett and his system.

The schedule, as mentioned, is what Phil Steele calls the nation's 10th toughest. Besides the first four games, the Canes play at No. 23 North Carolina, at No. 24 USF, Clemson and at Wake Forest.

Four ranked teams on the road: In the last three years the Canes are 5-11 on the road.

There are plenty of obstacles confronting this young team and their young coach. Folks in Coral Gables, and Canes fans everywhere, are hoping the defense will step up in 2009.

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written on June 25, 2009 Preview/Prediction