Time for O to put up or shut up

Hate to call a team out this early in the season. Hate to call out anyone. Who likes being called out? But if Miami's offense fails to have a good day yet again today against FIU, then maybe there is reason to have plenty of doom and gloom about this season.

FIU, my alma mater, hasn't won a game since... 2005. Yikes! The Golden Panthers have given up 59 points to Penn State and 26 to Maryland. They've given up 185 yards a game on the ground and 224 through the air. They've got a redshirt freshman starting at quarterback. Translation = no excuses for the Canes today to look mystified or to struggle in this game too much.

Kyle Wright, who technically should be counted on as a three-year starter, has to look good. Not just pretty good. But real good. The Hurricanes' offense need this game to establish some sort of momentum heading into next week's Texas A&M game. With that, I've set up my five goals for the Canes today. If the Canes meet all five, then there might be reason to believe this UM team really is better than last year's 7-6 team.

1. MOVE THE FOOTBALL THROUGH THE AIR: Wright needs to make the same 10- to 15-yard completions downfield he did last week -- albeit briefly -- against Oklahoma. Miami's receivers can't continue to drop balls, either. Against FIU, UM's receivers should have plenty of time make, clean crisp plays. If they can't do it against the Golden Panthers and continue to drop easy balls, then the receivers really are as bad as they've looked the past two seasons. Wright should pass for over 200 yards and throw at least two touchdowns. Modest goals. But I'm aiming low considering what we've seen the past several seasons.

2. JAVARRIS JAMES AND GRAIG COOPER SHOULD GO BONKERS!: FIU's run defense is not very good. Miami's offensive line should have no problem pushing the Golden Panthers around and opening up holes for James and Cooper to run through. The goal should be 185 yards on the ground, 2-3 touchdowns. I'm interested to see if James gets the ball this week in goalline situations like he should have against OU.

3. BIG DAY FOR THE SECONDARY: Miami's secondary needs to gain a little confidence back after having skid marks left on its back last week to the Sooners and giving up too many big plays to Marshall. Is Kenny Phillips going to continue to support the run? Or is Tim Walton going to let him stand back in the secondary and make some big hits and plays on receivers? FIU is averaging less than 99 yards passing a game. The Golden Panthers can't have a season-high today. Keep your eyes on whomever starts opposite DeMarcus Van Dyke at corner. My money is Carlos Armour to prove he's the best guy for the job. Goal: Less than 150 yards passing, 1-2 INTs.

4. HOW ABOUT SOME PRESSURE!: Miami's defensive line is a little dinged up right now. But there's still no reason Eric Moncur, Calais Campbell and the crew can't get the kind of pressure on FIU quarterback Wayne Younger, who has been taken to the turn 7 times. Miami's defensive line needs at least three sacks today.

5. DEEP KICKS NEEDED: Daren Daly lost his starting job on kickoffs. Now Francesco Zampogna needs to prove he's better. The Canes may not need to worry too much about field position today. But it would be nice to see Zampogna kick the ball deep enough where FIU isn't getting the ball on the 35 or 40 after every Miami score. Matt Bosher's 39-yard net average is actually pretty good. Even though his punts haven't necessarily looked it. A deep one from him today would be nice.

PREDICTION: Pain for the Golden Panthers. Miami won 35-0 last year. No reason to think the margin shouldn't be a little wider considering FIU is younger and less experienced this year. Plus, UM needs to flext its muscle after last week's national embarrassment. Miami should win easy. I'll say 45-6. Kyle Wright will throw for 250 yards, 3 TDs and Lance Leggett will have a big day. Javarris James will run for 2 scores and over 150 yards. Campbell will have three sacks by himself.

- Don't forget to switch over to our high school coverage after the UM-FIU game. Northwestern and its five Hurricane commitments -- quarterback Jacory Harris, receiver Aldraius Johnson, offensive tackle Brandon Washington, linebacker Sean Spence and defensive tackle Marcus Forston -- will play the nation's No. 1 high school team. I'll be there doing some live blogging. I will not be doing live blogging during today's game since I'm obviously not in Miami. But feel free to pour in your thoughts as today's Canes games progresses. I'll be listening online to WQAM.

- Also, great to see former Cane Kevin Everett making some progress following his injury Sunday. I believe he's not only going to walk again, but play again in the NFL. The work his doctor's did right after the injury saved his life. Keep fighting Big E. We're behind you.

Comments

[yeyo2nite]

CANE FANS!!!

I'm a moderator on http://www.d1acollegefootball.com. Come and check out where thousands of college football fans are!

That said, how about we go back to the old school Cane offense and involve the TE a lot more than the last 2 games.

[Hassan]

Hey what is the feel of the NW team? thanks for the blog. I think NW can really beat these guys nothing racial but I do not think the Texas team will have the team speed of NW. I have not heard them talk about about burners on that team.

[Robnyce]

Manny, way to comment on Everett's remarkable progress in the early stages. Let's keep our fingers crossed. But...You're nuts to think he'll play in the NFL again...Wright will be better than the last 2 years. His problem was always protection, and hanging on to the ball to long. He'll have more time this year. Miami still might be pretty good. Defense, especially secondary, always looks bad in the beginning of a season, because of new schemes and assignments...Wanted to give Kirby a chance, sometimes he looks better than Wright, but he was just so impotent in the last 2 games, you HAVE to go back to Wright, the lesser of 2 evils.

[86Cane]

Manny...nice blog, I like your top five things to look for. Right on point as usual. Go Canes and Go Baby Canes!!!

[novacane]

Hey MANNY! CANESPACE WANT TO KNOW?

1.So why can't Kosar be AD again?
2.What about QB coach can he be that?
3.What about OC, next year what about that?
4.Can he stand on the sidelines? What about that?

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manny navarro (sep 15): "I believe he's not only going to walk again, but play again in the NFL." the cart before the horse ...

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KP interception

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JJ 23yd run

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FZ missed fg

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same 0, same 0

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unable to capitalize

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Nix fix?

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old KW interception

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fui personal foul #1

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run run run

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Coop to the 2

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Coop TD 7-0

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FZ touchback

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fui chop block

[Gibby]

anyone know where to get a live video feed of the game online?

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Farr drop

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gibby: ESPN2 ... ut v.ucf delayed

[Gibby]

nice, thanks green

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pet peeve: passing short of the 1st down marker

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FZ fg 10-0

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yellow flag orgy

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field the punt

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Bosher 33yd punt

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Chavez Grant int

[Greg D]

10-0 at half??? Boy oh boy.....here's hoping for a miracle Thursday against the Aggies....

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why are U running from the shotgun with :21?

[Greg D]

Canes are lousy....

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fui personal foul #3

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FZ fg 13-0 half

[Static]

ROFL, ball on the 30, 3 time outs against a zone d, and we dont work the middle of the field or the sideline routes. Just wow. Execution along with play calling is just horrible. All I have read from the players comments is that we have an air attack and can throw effectively. I guess its a saturday thing, where the passing game does not show up.

*sigh

[Greg D]

I'm tracking the game online, do we look as terrible as it seems????

[Greg D]

Nix---->run a post or something!!!!

[dave]

A 33 pt fav? Are you kidding me? Unless we score 20 in the second half. These dudes are embarrassing.
At least UCF is playing Texas close. Good thing we got FIU instead of FAU...
Randy Shannon does not know how to make half time adjustments. Final score, UM 27-10. Nice fellas. I guess we must be looking ahead to A&M. Yeah, that's it...

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Shawnbrey

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too many penalties

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old KW fumble

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facemask ... again

[Greg D]

We may be back to form by 2010

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13-3

[feardaibis]

i sure hope next year will be different with marve at qb

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Lee Chambers

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drive-killing penalties

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Darnell to the 27

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JJ to the 10

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FZ fg 16-3