Miami Hurricanes Football: 4 Keys to Success This Season

The Miami Hurricanes are 1-1 after two games, which included a dismantling of the previously ranked Ohio State Buckeyes, 24-6.

In both games, the Hurricanes have been competitive. Considering all the distractions with the Shapiro scandal, the 'Canes have played as well as anybody could have imagined through two tough games.

In the game at Maryland, the 'Canes came up a bit short.

Had Stephen Morris been able to lead the 'Canes down field before the interception returned for a touchdown sealed the deal, we may be talking about the 'Canes as a Top-25 team at the moment.

The most credit has to go to coach Al Golden. No 'Canes coach has gone through the situation that Golden has in his first year coaching Miami.

Golden came in and already had a tough task facing him.

He had to rebuild one of the most prestigious programs in the country. A school who hasn't won a bowl game since 2006. A school that hasn't even played in their own conference championship game since their debut in the ACC in 2004.

Al Golden has coached the team better than anybody thought.

Here are five reasons why the Hurricanes will have a successful season for the remainder of 2011.

The 'Canes Will Have a "Successful Season"

What do I mean when I say that the Hurricanes will have a "successful season?"

When I say they will have a successful season, I'm talking about eight or nine wins on the season, plus the much-wanted bowl win at the end.

Am I saying the 'Canes will play in the ACC Championship game, win the ACC Championship, then go on to play in one of the BCS Bowl games? No.

I simply don't believe that the 'Canes have the experience or the talent to compete with Virginia Tech and/or FSU for dominance in the ACC.

However, the 'Canes have not won a bowl game in five years. The last time they won a bowl game was two head coaches ago, under the watch of Larry Coker. The 'Canes defeated Nevada in the MPC Computers Bowl in Coker's last game with Miami.

That will change this year.

Al Golden has the potential to be Miami's best coach since Butch Davis. Golden should lead the Hurricanes in the right direction, amidst a season full of scandal. A bowl win is progress in the right direction.

Baby steps are needed before the Hurricanes are to truly contend for the ACC Championship and a national championship.

The Reliance Upon the Running Game

Yes, we're only two games into the season, but something I love about the direction of this program is the newfound emphasis upon on the running game.

Yes, the 'Canes have been somewhat of a running team over the past couple of years, but none more so than this season.

It's clear that Al Golden knows that the 'Canes don't have a good QB. It's clear Golden knows Miami has one of the best running back duos in the country.

Lamar Miller and Mike James carried the 'Canes to victory on offense against Ohio State. There is simply no argument.

In a game in which the 'Canes dominated Ohio State's putrid offense, Jacory Harris still managed to throw two interceptions in an extremely conservative gameplan.

All you need to know is that Lamar Miller carried the ball 26 times for 184 yards, when it was clear the 'Canes were going to run the ball almost every down.

Harris threw for 123 yards.

Expect this to be the way the 'Canes operate their offense for the rest of the season. In order for the 'Canes to maximize the potential on their 2011 season, they're going to have to operate their offense this way.

Minimize Harris' penchant for mistakes as much as possible.

The Hurricanes Will Be a Disciplined Team

Something the 'Canes have been unfortunately known for over the last several years has been their lack of discipline.

Whether it was the fight against FIU a few years ago, or being ranked fourth for the most penalties committed by a bowl subdivision team, many losses can be attributed to Miami's lack of discipline.

After the game against Maryland, in which Miami committed 10 penalties for 65 yards, it looked as if things wouldn't change.

Everything takes time and this situation is no different.

The 'Canes committed only five penalties for 31 yards against the Buckeyes. Under Golden's short tenure at the school, Miami looks like a much more disciplined team.

With the team under investigation for the Shapiro scandal, look for Miami to overcompensate as much as possible.

The 'Canes won't only stay out of trouble off of the field, but they'll stay out of trouble on it. It's all a part of the "re-building" plan that Golden has set forth.

The Stout Defense

The Hurricanes aren't a great defensive team. They may have looked like it against the Ohio State Buckeyes, when they held the team to 35 yards passing.

That was more so a case of the Buckeyes being so offensively-inept, rather than the 'Canes being a great defensive team.

However, the talent is there.

The 'Canes have numerous defensive prospects in Ray-Ray Armstrong, Vaughn Telemaque, Adewale Ojomo, Olivier Vernon, Sean Spence, etc.

The Hurricanes have always been a talented team. The records may change in Miami, but the talent never does.

The main reason for Al Golden being such a hot commodity before he signed with Miami was his ability to maximize talent at Temple.

Before Temple went on to play as an independent, they were the laughingstock of not only the Big East, but the entire country.

If Temple won one game in a season, that was considered a successful season for the Owls.

Al Golden made the team into a bowl-contending team. He led the Owls to a conference division title in 2009, including an appearance in the Eaglebank Bowl.

Golden has the ability to maximize the talent at whatever school he coaches. Expect him to do so with one of the most talented programs in the nation.

Motivation

The 'Canes have not played together as a team in maybe a decade.

While the Hurricanes were getting their arses handed to them by Notre Dame in the Sun Bowl last season, nobody stepped up to "lead the team."

Every player on the sidelines were either standing or sitting without any emotion.

Do you really think this would have been the case if this was Blades/Irvin-led 'Canes? Even the Ray Lewis-led Canes? The Dorsey-led 'Canes?

That "leadership" has been missing from the program since the Hurricanes lost to Ohio State in the national championship.

The Hurricanes continue to churn out first round draft picks. The Hurricanes continue to have one of the top-rated recruiting classes in the nation. The Hurricanes continue having the best pipeline state for football talent in the world.

But there's always been one thing missing...leadership.

With Al Golden as head coach and the team facing the biggest current scandal in college sports as of the moment, it will bond the team together.

The Hurricanes became a national powerhouse with the "me against the world" mentality branded by guys such as Michael Irvin and Bennie Blades.

The Hurricanes aren't going to be a national powerhouse any time soon, but this "me against the world" mentality will bring out the absolute best in today's Miami Hurricanes.

With one of the top young head coaches in NCAA football and a new attitude, Miami should surprise many with an above average season in a year of scandal.