Miami Football 2011: 10 Reasons to Be Optimistic and Pessimistic

For the last six or seven years, Hurricane fans have been optimistic that the team would turn it around and get back to winning.

They have been winning, but not nearly like they did earlier this decade and like they did in the 80's.

While many fans and alumni believe this year is the year that the Hurricanes bring back that swagger, a lot of people still want proof since we have all been hearing that for over six years now.

Here are 10 reasons to be optimistic and pessimistic for the upcoming season.

Fall Practice Started and Still No Answer at Quarterback

Ever since Jacory Harris got hurt and Stephen Morris filled his spot nicely, there has been questions on who was going to start this year.

Both played and had a pretty decent spring, but when the spring game came, they both threw two interceptions a piece.

Without a real summer practice session, that leaves just one month for either quarterback to take the starting position away.

Coach Golden has already stated that the competition is too close to call.

If Miami has to go to a two quarterback system like they did in 2008, you might as well look forward to the 2012 season.

Cornerbacks Are a Serious Problem

When you lose two starting cornerbacks and the primary backup, you really have to question what you are going to do.

Miami has that problem right now as Brandon McGee is the only college experienced cornerback on the team.

What is even more troublesome is that he isn't even listed as the starter.

The two listed starters as of now are a converted running back, Lee Chambers, and a converted safety, JoJo Nicolas.

The only thing that could possibly save them is the fact that there are two monster safeties in the backfield in Ray Ray Armstrong and Vaughn Telamaque.

True freshman Thomas Finnie has also looked very good and should see ample playing time.

Loss of Matt Basher Could Haunt the Hurricanes

Kicker/punter Matt Bosher took his talents to the NFL last year and left a gaping hole on the special teams.

The only returning kicker or punter is fourth year junior Jake Wieclaw, whose only experience was a kickoff in the Florida A&M game last year.

So far through fall practice he has been the primary kicker and punter, but there are a couple other people fighting for position.

Sophomore transfer Dalton Botts is heavily competing with Wieclaw for the starting punter position, while true freshman Matt Goudis is competing for the kicking job.

Regardless of who is kicking, Miami needs to find a good one to replace the legendary Bosher.

In college football, how many times do missed field goals or extra points cause a team to lose?

Lacking a Big Time Receiving Threat

Last year the Hurricanes lost one of the best receivers to play for Miami, Leonard Hankerson.

This year, they are returning two players, Travis Benjamin and LaRon Byrd, that got significant playing time last year.

Problem with them is neither are consistent.

Both Byrd and Benjamin were a part of a receiving corp that was responsible for 67 dropped passes last year.

Hankerson, on the other hand, was the go-to guy. Now Miami needs a receiver to become the same player Hankerson was.

Unfortunately, there really hasn't been anyone that really has stepped up to take on that star role, and from what I have seen thus far, no one will.

Every Year It's the Same Talk of Being Back to National Contention

Every fall I hear about how all the players have gotten stronger, faster and bigger.

Every fall I hear that this isn't last years Hurricanes, and this team is better.

Every fall I hear about a swagger that is back reminiscent of past Hurricane players.

The Hurricanes have been in the ACC since 2004 and have yet to win a conference championship, but each year we hear, "this is the year."

All that talk is a great motivator for the Hurricane players and their fans, but now it's time for Miami to prove it on the field.

Possibly the Next Howard Schnellenburger?

New head coach Al Golden is getting a lot of praise from the alumni, current players and die hard Hurricane fans.

The problem is everyone across the country are still seeing Golden as a questionable hire.

Golden came from a historically bad Temple football program. In fact, when Golden arrived at Temple, they were riding a 12-game losing streak.

What Golden did though, was turn around one of the worst college football programs in the country and into a bowl team, and in just three years.

Now he is a head coach of one of the best college football programs in the last 40 years, and many believe he doesn't have what it takes at this level.

Many people also believed Howard Schnellenberger wouldn't be able to turn around a horrific Miami Hurricane team back in 1979 either.

We know how that turned out.

Best Group of Athletes They Have Had Since 2002

Everyone knows about the vast amount of Hurricanes that have been drafted by NFL teams over the last decade or so.

Even last year Miami had the second most players drafted by any college.

This year, the Hurricanes have their most talented athletes since 2003, a team that consisted of Frank Gore, Vernon Carey, Kelly Jennings, Antrel Rolle, Roscoe Parrish, etc.

Miami already has eight players on nine different preseason award watch lists.

Brandon Washington, Ray Ray Armstrong and Marcus Forston are all listed as potential first round 2012 NFL draft picks.

With all the talent on this team, there should be no excuses for another poor season, unless the quarterback situation cannot get worked out again.

The Starting Five Offensive Linemen May Be the Best in the Country

There is one guarantee that I can make this year, and that is the offensive line will be the Hurricanes strength on offense.

Miami has four returning offensive linemen from last years team, Brandon Washington, Harland Gunn, Tyler Horn, and Seantrel Henderson.

Three out of those four are on award watch lists—Henderson, Washington and Horn.

Although Henderson is hurt and may miss the entire season, Miami has a back up in Malcolm Bunche that was playing better than Henderson at the left tackle position earlier this spring.

The holes that this offensive line has created this spring and fall is already impressing the coaches.

Barring injuries, this may be the best offensive line we have seen at Miami since 2003.

The Running Game Will Be Great

Lamar Miller was just a red-shirt freshman last year and played back up for most of the season behind veteran Damien Berry.

When he got the ball, though, he did some damage, averaging over six yards per carry.

In his only start of the year, against Maryland, he rushed 22 times for 125 yards and a touchdown.

The most impressive game for Miller, though, came against a good Virginia Tech team, in which he torched the Hokies for 163 yards on just 15 carries.

This showed everyone what Miller was capable of doing when getting his hands on the ball.

The backup, Mike James, also had a good back up role for the Hurricanes last year gaining 398 yards on just 70 carries.

Miller and James, along with an outstanding offensive line, could mean a lot of good things for the Hurricanes.

Can't Be Any Worse Than Last Year

The Hurricanes had one of their worse seasons last year, as they ended it with three straight losses, including a bowl game to the hated Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

This year with a combination of a good coach and seasoned veterans, there should be no excuses to why the Hurricanes can't be in the ACC championship game.

The only real questions are at cornerback and quarterback, but I believe they will turn out OK.

The quarterback situation should be better because Miami won't have to rely on the passing game so much, as they did in the previous years.

The running game should be able to dominate, and when the opposing teams start stacking the line with eight defenders, Jacory Harris or Stephen Morris are good enough to do work on the one-on-one coverages.

With all the new changes on the coaching staff and a totally revamped attitude, Miami should have a very good season.