Miami Football: Surprises, Disappointments so Far for 2014 Hurricanes

Through the opening third of the 2014 regular season, the Miami Hurricanes have a few surprises and disappointments on both sides of the football.

The 'Canes are returning to conference action this weekend, and any underperforming players must start to contribute regularly while the unexpected bright spots cannot stop producing. 

Miami is still seeking its first ACC Championship Game berth, and that goal would take a serious hit with a loss to Duke on Saturday.

If that were to happen, it will be another frustrating year in Coral Gables, and it will partly be a result of the early-season shortcomings. But if the 'Canes eventually earn the division crown, they'll point directly to an encouraging signs that emerged in September.

Surprises

The True Freshmen Trio

Simply watching quarterback Brad Kaaya's high school tape, it was apparent he was immensely talented and had potential. But developing on a weekly basis like he has as a true freshman?

Special.

Having had to endure the Kyle Wright, Kirby Freeman, Jacory Harris and Stephen Morris eras, Miami and its fans haven't seen this kind of decision-making under center seen since the days of Ken Dorsey and Brock Berlin.

The gunslinger Kaaya set a freshman record with 342 passing yards against Arkansas State and proceeded to rack up 359 the following weekend at Nebraska. He'll likely raise that mark by the end of the season, but that's not even his most noteworthy feat.

Kaaya is on pace to top the program's 26-year-old single-season record of 29 passing touchdowns.

Two of his current 10 scores have gone to Braxton Berrios, another member of the 2014 class, who leads all wide receivers with 14 catches. The shifty slot receiver has tallied 149 yards, and he's already become a fixture in the 'Canes offense.

Many hoped Chad Thomas would immediately take over on the defensive line, but Courtel Jenkins has provided the biggest impact by a freshman in the trenches, tallying 10 stops to date. The tackle has established himself in the rotation behind senior Olsen Pierre and junior Calvin Heurtelou.

Thurston Armbrister's Emergence

He was once a barely recruited, zero-star safety out of Hollywood Hills, Florida, but Thurston Armbrister has become the best outside linebacker for the Hurricanes.

The senior has registered 24 tackles, including four sacks. Additionally, he has forced two fumbles, recovered another and broke up a pass.

According to Christy Cabrera Chirinos of the Sun Sentinel, Armbrister has made an impression as a leader, too. He's also been a mentor to younger teammates like freshman outside linebacker Darrion Owens, who should take Armbrister's role next year.

"He's really made me catch on really fast my first game…everything he knows, I know," Owens said. "If I mess up, he'll be right on me...He's helped me a lot."

Ultimately, there's no question Armbrister has proven to be the team's breakout star in 2014.

Pat O'Donnell's Replacement

"You can forget about trying to replace Pat," head coach Al Golden told InsideTheU (subscription required) in May, and there was absolutely zero reason to disagree. The now-Chicago Bears punter shattered school records, leaving a massive void to be filled.

"He was obviously a great punter," new Miami punter Justin Vogel said in mid-August, per Susan Miller Degnan of The Miami Herald. "I'm just going to do whatever I can do, and we'll see what happens. I'm not going to try and worry about beating him. I'm just going to worry about being the best I can for this team."

However, the Florida transfer is providing most of what the Cincinnati transfer brought to the Hurricanes and is indeed replacing him quite admirably. Vogel has averaged 44.8 yards per kick over 13 punts, which currently ranks second in program history.

While Miami certainly wishes it didn't need to use Vogel much, not being able to flip field position could prove detrimental during ACC play. Nevertheless, when the offense stumbles, it's reassuring to know the punter hasn't caused more problems.

Disappointments

Stacy Coley's Slow Start

Eric Francis/Getty Images

Stacy Coley finished 2013 with six touchdowns in his final five games, scoring in three different ways—rushing, receiving and a punt return. He accomplished all this in Phillip Dorsett's absence, so pairing them up was an exciting thought.

However, after catching only three screen passes at Louisville, Coley left the Florida A&M game early and then missed the matchup against Arkansas State. But a shoulder injury is not what makes the talented sophomore a disappointment through four games.

Considering he has just six receptions for just 31 yards and his longest kick return is 29 yards, Coley is still looking for his first explosive play.

He's too talented for the cold streak to continue for an entire season, but the speedster has been underwhelming so far.

Tackling Relapse

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"Defensive deficiencies resurface in Hurricanes' loss to Nebraska," Fox Sports Florida's Christina De Nicola wrote.

The Cornhuskers rushing attack simply overpowered Miami, totaling 343 yards on 6.4 per attempt. Ameer Abdullah was hardly challenged, picking up an extra yard or two on practically every carry and shaking off tacklers like Taylor Swift does haters.

Gap control was barely a thought, and the Nebraska duo of Abdullah and Tommy Armstrong Jr. absolutely punished the 'Canes.

After Miami players and coaches spent the spring and summer sessions preaching how the defense's tackling has improved, one poor showing returned a truthful voice to the critics.

Struggles at Cornerback

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Originally thought to be the defense's strongest unit, the secondary has ceded a 62.7 completion percentage to opposing Football Bowl Subdivision passers, which ranks 91st in the nation.

Though Tracy Howard has the team's lone interception of a quarterback, the junior has not been the dynamic shutdown corner he was expected to be.

What's more, Howard's unwillingness to take on Abdullah on a tackle attempt near the end of the first quarter of the Nebraska game was so blatantly obvious that it's no wonder Ladarius Gunter and Artie Burns have been starting ahead of him.

However, both players haven't been much better. Nebraska receiver Kenny Bell picked on the cornerbacks, reeling in a 40-yard touchdown as Gunter chased him down and picking up 17 yards on 3rd-and-11 against Burns.

The Hurricanes have yet to face the ACC's best wideouts—namely Duke's Jamison Crowder, Florida State's Rashad Greene and Pittsburgh's Tyler Boyd—so the defensive backfield needs to start locking down receivers, or else those three receivers are poised to have career days.

Note: National rankings from CFB stats, and individual numbers from hurricanesports.com.

Follow Bleacher Report college football writer David Kenyon on Twitter: @Kenyon19_BR.