Miami To Not Overlook Florida A&M

The No. 11 Miami Hurricanes set their eyes on in-state opponent the Florida A&M Rattlers at Land Shark Stadium on Saturday.

This weekend’s game marks the first time this season where Miami (3-1, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) is not playing a Top 25 team.  For the Hurricanes this game has the definition of a letdown.

Miami comes off of a thrilling one-point upset over No. 8 Oklahoma 21-20 last Saturday at Land Shark.  For head coach Randy Shannon he reminded his players Sunday about previous upsets that have happened in the college football landscape.

“This week, we have Florida A&M and they’re a good football team that we cannot take
lightly,” Shannon said at the team press conference on Tuesday.  “We must remember Appalachian State and Michigan, Middle Tennessee [State] and Maryland.

“We can’t take anyone for granted. We need to stay focused and keep
getting better as a football team.”

Miami should have no trouble against FAMU but that team is making strides to not overlook their next game.  Florida A&M is 4-0 for the first team in 12 years.  Miami is trying to win their seventh consecutive game against the Rattlers. 

The Hurricanes offense looks to continue to build on their running game.  The team rushed for 140 yards but included is Jacory Harris’ four carries for -30 yards.  Running back Javarris James had the game of his career, 150 yards on 15 carries against the vaunted Oklahoma defense ranked first in the nation.

James stands at No. 8 on the career rushing yardage leaders at Miami.  He trails Edgerrin, 2nd place, by 997 yards.

Shannon said that the running game would allow the passing game to develop more and be effective.

“If our running game is on, it makes the passing game a lot easier,” Shannon said.  “That was a big difference in the second quarter and rest of the game.

“With Javarris running like he was, it makes the linebackers come up and then the safeties as well. They were doing a lot of blitzing, but the protection was still there.”

Miami’s other running back Graig Cooper is questionable for Saturday night’s game with a lower leg injury.  The team said it is nothing serious.

Harris shook off some of the rust he had against Virginia Tech two weeks ago.  He passed for 202 yards on 19 of 28 with three touchdowns.  Miami looks to continue to spread the ball to the receiving corps.  Harris threw to 11-different offensive players against Oklahoma.

Offensive coordinator Mark Whipple, who spoke to the media for the first time season, said he is lacking in the play-calling department.  He was not pleased with his first-quarter calls and wants to do a better job.

"The play calling hasn't been great," Whipple said in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "We have to get better, there's no question. I made a lot mistakes the other night."

On defense, many people are fascinated by Ray Ray Armstrong and the presence he possesses.  His big hit in the first quarter against the Sooners caused an eruption from the home crowd during the replay.  Armstrong recorded seven tackles in last Saturday’s game.

"It's been very hard coming from high school," Armstrong said in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "You're playing every down. I just had to come here and get used to it and wait on my turn. Then I finally got my opportunity."

The Miami team has been outscored through four games this season but they expect to change that stat on Saturday.  Linebackers Colin McCarthy and Sean Spence have made progress this season that has lifted the Miami defense.  McCarthy leads the team with 32-tackles while Spence matched his career-high with 10 tackles against Oklahoma and has 23 tackles this year.

For the Hurricanes to keep the Rattlers off the scoreboard they need to be on the lookout for LeRoy Vann. 

"I expect to score two to three touchdowns a game," Vann said in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Vann has 10 career returns for touchdowns and he’s earned national player honors twice this season.

The Miami secondary has been skeptical throughout the season but corner Brandon Harris said playing against the receivers in practice everyday only makes them improve. 

"Going up against the receivers everyday, they work us so hard," Harris said in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "They don't cut any slack. We really have to be on it or be embarrassed every day."

Since that Florida State game where they almost allowed 300 yards to Ponder that has been nearly cut in half.  Against Georgia Tech Miami allowed 137 yards, against Virginia Tech they gave up 150 and against Oklahoma they allowed 188. The Miami secondary is ranked 29th in the nation allowing 179 yards per game.

Defensive coordinator John Lovett said he was worried about how the defense would adjust to the fast pace offense the Sooners run.  Defensive back Vaughn Telemaque was huge last weekend with nine tackles.

"I was scared to death going into the game that we wouldn't get lined up for that fast tempo," Lovett said in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "(Telemaque) did a really good job fixing some mistakes that were out there by adjusting the coverages."