Miami Hurricanes Football: 9 Items on the Summer "To-Do" List

The 90-plus degree temperatures you see in Miami these days can only mean one thing: summer football.

Now is the time when most of the incoming freshmen come in and start to get into the mix of what college life is like.

More importantly to football fans, the hot weather means it's closer and closer to a real football game.

Here is what should be on Miami's "to-do" list for the summer.

Jake Wieclaw Needs More Work

Wieclaw will be entering the fall session as both the kicker and punter, replacing a Hurricane legend in Matt Bosher.

Over the spring, he missed a couple field goals, and the ones he did make weren't all that impressive.

The kicking game is so important in football, and Wieclaw needs to do everything this summer to improve before the fall.

Wieclaw is the only experienced kicker/punter on the team and only played in one game in college, and that was against Florida A&M last year.

Keep Everyone in the Best Shape Possible

All positions are wide open, no matter what depth chart is out right now. 

It doesn't matter how they started; it only matters how they finish, and that is exactly what the summer sessions mean: stay in shape.

Hurricane offensive linemen have a tradition of pushing and pulling cars in empty parking lots during the offseason to keep in shape.

Past Hurricanes tend to come back to Miami during the offseason to work out with current players and the conditioning coaches.

This year, since there is no NFL season as of now, will probably yield a whole lot of ex-Canes to the Miami campus for private workouts.

This will only help the players when it matters the most: fall practice.

Quarterbacks Need to Work Harder Than Everyone

Joel Auerbach/Getty Images

MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 9: Jacory Harris #12 of the Miami Hurricanes warms up prior to the game against the Florida State Seminoles on October 9, 2010 at Sun Life Stadium in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)

The entire season rests on the shoulders of the quarterback.

It is the same reason the Hurricanes haven't won any type of championship since 2002: lack of a good quarterback.

The spring game showed everyone that the quarterbacks aren't in tune yet, as both Jacory Harris and Stephen Morris threw two interceptions a piece.

They need to work their tails off in the offseason and go into fall practice with some confidence.

I know everyone is tired about hearing the problems at quarterbacks, but no one is understanding how valuable this position is.

No college wins a championship with just an "OK" quarterback, and the way Harris and Morris have been playing, that is all the Hurricanes have.

They can change that, and it begins this summer.

Do More Outside of the Summer Workouts

I know that college players already have a lot on their plates such as drills, workouts and school, but they need to put more time in than they are asked to.

Hurricanes of the past ate, slept and bled orange and green, and they were successful in what they did on and off the field.

The last few years, Miami turned soft and showed little preparation for the long season ahead of them.

The players need to take it upon themselves and do just as much work outside of practice as they do in practice.

That is, if they want to become the best college football team in the country.

As many players have stated before, there are no days off when you are a Hurricane.

Cornerbacks Need Extra Work

With the departure of Demarcus Van Dyke and Brandon Harris, the cornerback position in Miami is very shallow.

In fact, the two listed starters from the spring depth chart haven't played one down at cornerback.

Lee Chambers is a converted running back, and JoJo Nichols is a converted safety.

In fact, the only experienced cornerback is junior Brandon McGee, who played in 11 games last year for the Hurricanes.

Freshman Thomas Finnie is who I am really excited to see out on the field, as he has shown he has what it takes to be the next great cornerback at Miami.

All the cornerbacks need to work on their coverage drills this summer, as the fight for the starting lineups come September is still up for grabs.

Get the Early Signees Ready for Fall

During the spring, there were already early graduates that suited up for the Hurricanes.

A couple days ago, six more freshmen signed up for summer classes and got on to the practice field for football practice.

Classes started May 18.

Most of the remaining recruiting class will be coming in for the second summer session, which begins at the end of June.

What this means is that the young students will not only get some early conditioning in, but also get a leg up on school.

Stay out of Trouble

So far this offseason, there has already been some turmoil.

Five players have transferred, the starting linebacker got arrested and another was arrested for sexual battery.

It's now summer time in South Florida, which only means more temptations will be lurking.

The coaching staff needs to keep a tight leash on these kids, as Miami can not afford any set backs if they are truly trying to bring back that swagger.

The players, on the other hand, have to understand what their responsibilities are and who they are representing.

This is no longer Thug U, unless it's on the field.

Find Another Receiver.

With Leonard Hankerson gone in Miami, the Hurricanes need someone to step up.

Travis Benjamin and LaRon Byrd are pretty solid starters, but Miami needs more than just them.

The spring session gave us a glimpse at possible receivers that can step up: Tommy Streeter, Kendal Thompkins and Allen Hurns.

All three had some good outings during the spring, but they just aren't consistent enough.

This summer, Phillip Dorsett will add to the depth at receiver and may be an unsung hero.

Dorsett has excellent hands and speed, running a 4.4/40 earlier this year.

No matter who it is, they all need to put in the extra time this summer to fight for that number three spot this fall.

Keep the Players' Eyes on the Prize

Everyone by now has seen the emotional speech given by Hurricane legend, Michael Irvin already, and if you haven't, check out the video.

It's all about dedication.

If you are a Hurricane scholarship football player, nothing else should matter but grades and football.

The coaches need to keep the players, especially the younger players, in tact and focused on what is needed to be done this summer so it carries with them this fall.

There should be no excuses when it comes to what is being set as the new standard in Miami.

Golden and the coaches have outstanding athletes, and this summer, they will see who bleeds orange and green.

It isn't about having a good season anymore; it's about giving 110 percent and winning the whole damn thing. If that isn't the Hurricanes mentality now, then what is the point?

The players better understand that and keep that eye on the prize this summer.