Miami Hurricanes Football: 8 Worst-Case Scenarios for 2011

To every football team, there is a worst and best-case scenario on how the season may go.

As of late, the Hurricanes have high expectations in the offseason, yet fail to back in up during the actual season.

I have already posted an article with the best case scenarios for 2011, so here are the worst case scenarios.

No. 8: Lose 2012 Recruits That Have Verbally Committed

Every year high school kids verbally commit to a school that is recruiting them and every year player's change their minds at the last minute.

This year the Hurricanes are off to one of the best recruiting seasons they have had in awhile, with 17 verbally committing to Miami already.

In order for Miami to turn things around for the future, they need to keep up on recruiting.

The way to do that is to win.

Miami has always proven to be a gateway to the NFL, now they need to win to keep that gateway open.

The worse case scenario for Miami this year is to fail on the field and lose a lot of potentially great players that have already verbally committed.

No. 7: Injuries

There is always a threat to injuries—it happens to every team—every year.

What Miami can not afford is the loss of a wide receiver, linebacker, or cornerback, as they already have depleted depth at those positions.

The Hurricanes need to stay in the best shape possible and keep their minds in the game to avoid silly injuries that could ruin a very successful season.

Miami has plenty holes that can not afford to get bigger.

No. 6: Same Story at Quarterback

This one is obvious.

It is extremely hard to win football games with a quarterback that throws more interceptions than touchdowns, but that is what happened with both quarterbacks last year.

Stephen Morris threw nine interceptions to his seven touchdowns and Jacory Harris threw 15 interceptions to his 14 touchdowns.

If both quarterbacks are not able to improve those numbers, Miami will once again be in a lot of trouble.

No. 5: The Running Game Doesn't Produce

With the new coaching staff down in Miami, Lamar Miller has an amazing chance at breaking the Hurricanes season rushing record of 1,753 yards.

The run first, pass second attitude has proven to be effective in the spring game as Miller ran the ball 10 times for 166 yards and three touchdowns, while the two quarterbacks threw four interceptions between them.

The offensive line looks better than it has in years, opening holes for both Miller and Mike James.

That doesn't mean its a lock that they will produce the numbers many people expect and if they aren't able to run that well, the Hurricanes will have to rely on the quarterbacks.

Which would be a huge issue, knowing the play at quarterback has been less than stellar.

No. 4: Off-the-Field Problems Come Back to Haunt Them

The Hurricanes—compared to the Gators and Seminoles—have been staying out of trouble the last few years.

This offseason though, question marks loomed over marijuana, the transfer of five players, and Ramon Buchanan's arrest.

There has also been speculation that there will be suspensions due to the above, or other matters, when Miami opens the season of September 5th against Maryland.

Let's hope that coach Al Golden nipped this in the bud before anything else happens down in Coral Gables.

No. 3: No One Steps Up at Wide Receiver

The Hurricanes lost Leonard Hankerson last year to the draft and that really puts Miami in a bind, considering how good of a season Hankerson had.

As the go to guy, there was no stopping him, now they have to rely on Travis Benjamin as the number one receiver.

It's not that bad, Benjamin is very fast and quick, but he is not consistent at catching the ball like Hankerson was.

LaRon Byrd is most likely the second receiver, but he too hasn't blossomed into a threat at receiver yet.

The rest of the receiving core has little to no catches in their careers, which means big problems for the Hurricanes if none of them step up.

No. 2: Miami Loses to Ohio State

The Hurricanes need a big win this year against a big time opponent.

Ohio State, with all the offseason problems they are dealing with, would still help fill that bill.

Granted it wouldn't do as much as it would if their players weren't suspended, or their starting quarterback and head coach was on the field, but it will still help.

The Hurricanes haven't had a great record against top 25 teams as of late, going 3-6 the last three years.

Even with the suspension the Buckeyes are rated as high as nine in the country by a few publications.

Beating them would not only boost their ranking, but their confidence as well.

No. 1: Hurricanes Don't Improve on Last Years 7-6 Record

The Miami Hurricanes went backwards last year only winning seven games, then losing the bowl game to Notre Dame.

In fact the Hurricanes haven't won a bowl game since the 2005-2006 season when they beat Nevada, 21-20, in the MPC Computers Bowl.

The Hurricanes have twice the team they had last year and there should be no reason why Miami doesn't improve on the 7-6 record.

If the coaching staff can not improve the play of this Hurricanes team, it will be a long season.