TSR: Your 2009 Miami Hurricanes: Offense

The 2009 season represents a critical year in the future of the Miami program. A coach that may or may not be on the hot seat, a host of tremendous talent that may yet be too young, and a fan base hungry for the success of the past all highlight the Hurricanes' next campaign.

With so much young talent, it's hard to pick out the players that are going to contribute the most this coming season. Will the players that made strides last year continue their progress? Will players step up out of nowhere? Will the old vets lead the way for the young guns?

These are your Miami Hurricanes. We'll start off with the Offense, then switch over to the other side of the ball in the next installment.

QB Jacory Harris, Soph.

Harris has the physical tools and mental makeup to be a star and lead the Canes back to the promised land, but is it too soon? Losing his first game as a starter since his junior high days in the Emerald Bowl against California, Harris has a history of success as well as a stable of quality weapons to fall back on. People also forget that young QBs have been good for the Canes in the past. Bernie Kosar was a redshirt freshman for his title in 1983, and Steve Walsh was a sophomore in 1987. Not to mention, two first time starters in Craig Erickson and Gino Torretta for the titles in '89 and '91.

Obviously, it almost goes without saying that Harris' health is a major key to the season, with his backups being the unproven Taylor Cook and Cannon Smith. Either one of them starting, despite Cook's solid play during the spring, means bad news for the '09 Hurricanes.

RB Graig Cooper, Jr.

Just a few weeks before the start of the season, Graig Cooper represents the best chance at a few things once taken for granted by Canes fans; a 1,000 yard rushing season, and potentially dominant threat in the backfield. Cooper is a gamebreaker, no question, but lacks the all around game of the old Miami greats. Cooper is just as valuable an asset as a receiver as he is a runner, which gives new Offensive Coordinator Mark Whipple a number of options when he's on the field. If Cooper can add some strength to his speed and learn to break tackles, he's got first round potential.

RB Javarris James, Sr.

While Miami fans would love to see the cousin of a former Canes great be successful, hope is starting to run out in Coral Gables. Injuries have turned what was once a promising rookie season into a distant memory, as he'll need to fend off a handful of younger players to keep what opportunities he still has coming to him. While no one would confuse him with Edgerrin, he still has a decent enough skill set, it's just hard to believe he can stay healthy enough to hold off a set of talented freshmen. James' best case scenario is to spell Cooper enough to push his backfield mate to stardom.

Expect to see a lot of James in the backfield with Cooper, with the potential of the latter sliding out to the slot. Also, fullback Patrick Hill returns in his regular role of thumper, using his big body to open holes for all the Miami backs.

RB Mike James and Lamar Miller, Fr.

Even with a dynamic group of running backs set for 2010, Miami picked up two blue chip guys set to start play in '09. Mike James and Lamar Miller will enter the season with a shot to make a big impact on the new offense. Miller was ranked as a top ten running back in the class and is a hometown guy, but will be hard pressed to bypass his fellow freshman on the depth chart. James was an early arrival and came up big in spring practice, if he can carry that momentum into the season, he will get a chance to shine.

Photos from canspace.typepad.com and miamiherald.com.

WR Aldarius Johnson, Soph.

Aldarius emerged last season as the 'Canes top receiving threat in only his freshman season. Despite the name, Aldarius lacks the top end speed of another Johnson that passed through Coral Gables, instead playing much more like a young Michael Irvin. Johnson had a few freshman drops, but for the most part has terrific hands (nicknamed "Glue Hands") to go with tremendous body control. Word is Aldarius is cutting a little weight to pick up some speed for '09, too.

You can expect a lot from Aldarius in the coming seasons, as he seems to have the maturity and skills to be a serious player. The fact that he already has three seasons with Harris as his quarterback doesn't hurt.

WR LaRon Byrd, Soph.

Byrd has the size and athleticism to be a big time playmaker for the Hurricanes. He and Johnson make a starting WR tandem with both standing over 6'3, though Byrd is the more dynamic, but less developed of the two. Byrd led the team a year ago with four touchdown receptions, including one of the highlights of the season, capping off a terrific, game tying, last second drive against Virginia. Plus, that no. 47 jersey is always a welcome sight standing in the end zone. He's got a lot of competition for receptions with the deep Hurricanes receiving corps, but his size/speed can't be ignored.

WR Travis Benjamin and Thearon Collier, Soph.

One of these two will emerge this season as the third receiver in Mark Whipple's new offense. Randy Shannon already came out and declared the wide receiver position will be streamlined, and that means the revolving door of freshman wideouts from '08 is gone. Both Collier and Benjamin possess similar skill sets, and either would be a great compliment to the starting pair of Johnson and Byrd. Collier was third on the team in receptions last year and appeared to be a natural in the slot, but Benjamin led the way in yards per catch and times out as one of the fastest players on the squad.

Another sophomore, Davon Johnson, is in the discussion too, but isn't quite at the level with these two just yet.

Photos from Getty Images and flickr.com.

WR Kendal Thompkins and Tommy Streeter, RS Fr.

More receivers? Yep, there's still more, but these are two that Miami fans may not yet be too familiar with wearing orange and green. Both redshirted as freshmen, Thompkins getting hurt after just two games and Streeter missing the entire season with a wrist injury. The two former Northwestern High stars made a big impact during the spring, getting mentioned ahead of their classmates who have a year of college ball under their belt.

Streeter is a smooth 6-5 speedster that many analysts thought was a slight notch below his teammate Aldarius Johnson while with the Bulls. Thompkins was the third man in that corps, and a late riser on the recruiting scene. Thompkins and Streeter will play in '09, what roles they fill though will depend on how quickly they pick things up.

Photo from SI.com.

TE Dedrick Epps, Sr.

The good, Dedrick Epps has the size, strength, and athletic ability to keep the tradition of great Hurricane tight ends moving right along. The bad, he may not be 100% for the opening stretch from hell. Epps tore his ACL before the Emerald Bowl and missed Spring and Summer practices because of it.

If he's ready, he'll provide a huge spark to an offense already very deep on the WR corps. If he's not, then the team will have to rely on Richard Gordon, who has changed positions with Miami more times than any player in history, and Jimmy Graham, a former Hurricanes basketball player who just recently switched to the gridiron.

OT Jason Fox, Sr.

Fox enters 2009 with 36 starts over his first three seasons with the Hurricanes, missing just one game in his entire career. He was a team captain last year, and returns as a leader of the offensive line and the best player on the team. Fox was a high school tight end like former Hurricane Eric Winston and possesses many of the same traits as his fellow Texan. A great pass blocker with a bit of a mean streak (see left), Fox represents the consistency that the rest of this young team needs.

OG Orlando Franklin, Jr.

Orlando Franklin has worked hard to turn himself into one of the rocks of a rejuvenated offensive line. Franklin started playing football when he moved to Florida as a junior in high school, committed to the Canes, but missed a year with academic problems. Over his first two years with Miami, he started 14 games, including eleven last year. In preparation for 2009, he dropped weight to get his 6'7 frame leaned up a bit.

He and Fox on the left side is one of the biggest reasons to be confidant about the Canes' offense this season. Though, don't be surprised if there are whispers about him moving to right tackle if Matt Pipho struggles.

C A.J. Trump, Sr.

With a team of so many young players, A.J. Trump's name might make some Miami fans do a double take. Trump was one of the top offensive line recruits in the nation back in 2005, but his career started slowly, redshirting in '06 and playing in just seven games over the next two years. Last season he started eight games at the two guard positions, and played a little bit at center backing up Xavier Shannon. How he adjust to a full time starting job and his chemistry with Jacory Harris will be a key story line for the early season.

OG Joel Figueroa, Jr.

Figueroa will more likely than not emerge from the summer as the best starting option at right guard. He has to compete with a handful of younger players, headlined by sophomore guard and spring football star Harland Gunn, but Figueroa is physically imposing and appears to be a favorite among the coaching staff. In addition, his limited starting experience is still an advantage worth mentioning.

OT Matt Pipho, Sr.

All you need to know about Matt Pipho is that what sits to the left is the best photo of Pipho taken through his first four years in the program. Pipho has played in 26 games in his career, though the great majority was on special teams. He has ideal size, but will be hard pressed to keep a few of the young tackles on the roster at bay.

Jermaine Johnson will get looks, but don't count out the Northwestern boys, Ben Jones and Brandon Washington. As good as the other four players on the line could be, this could be a major problem for the Canes as the year goes on.

Photo from SBnation.com.

K/P Matt Bosher, Jr.

If you want to talk about getting the most from an investment, here's your guy. Matt Bosher punts, kicks field goals, and handles the kick-offs for the Hurricanes, and does it all at a very high level. He was the team MVP a season ago, and is at the top of the list for the Lou Groza and Ray Guy awards in 2009. Bosher finished the year 2nd in the ACC in punting, and is the nation's leading returner in field goal accuracy, missing just two kicks last year, both above 40 yards. Bosher's value to this team in enormous, because amidst a sea of inconsistency, he is about as solid as they get.

Mark Whipple, Offensive Coordinator

What exactly we'll see from the Mark Whipple offense will be known a few weeks from now, but how the season turns out will be dependent on a number of things. Jacory Harris needs to continue his progress, how he develops so do the young wideouts. Graig Cooper and Javarris James need to be a force, if not then the freshmen backs have to get significant chances. The line has to play up to potential, but if it doesn't, changes have to happen quick (ie Pipho replaced, Franklin/youngster to RT). Most importantly, this team needs to score points, because they'll be playing some big time offenses early on.

That's it for the offense, the defense will be next. Hope you enjoyed the read.