Talking Canes, Dolphins and Marlins:
### UM has lost four oral commitments since Al Golden's dismissal --- Ahmmon Richards, Izon Pulley, Joshua Uche and Zack Moss --- but that’s not particular cause for concern because it’s typical when there’s a coaching change. (See David Furones' high school blog for more on Moss: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/hssports/2015/11/moss-discusses-um-decommitment-other-options.html.)
All might revisit the idea of coming to UM if they like the new coach.
"Just like anything else, if you make it a huge deal, like the sky is falling, then that's what it is," Larry Scott said today. "Recruiting is a process; you have to go through it and it's long. There's going to be several kids changing their minds two or three times before you get to Feb. 1. Take it all in stride, keep recruiting them."
The current UM staff continues to recruit and offer scholarships, even without a permanent head coach in place.
### UF transfer Gerald Willis, a defensive tackle and d-end who is ineligible to play this season, has been impressive on the Hurricanes' scout team.
“Sometimes, I have to send him to the sideline so we can get a play off,” James Coley said. “The guy’s one of the best I’ve been around. Really good player.”
### UM basketball opens its regular season Friday against UT Rio Grand Valley, and expectations are high after Miami’s run to the NIT Finals last season.
“I expect them to be an NCAA Tournament team and in the Top 25 all season,” ESPN’s Fran Fraschilla told me.
“I think they have enough veterans back -- Kamari Murphy will give them a really good defensive anchor to go with Tonye Jekiri. I really like their team. Jim Larranaga is one of best coaches in the country.
"Jekiri has improved every year. The biggest thing with Sheldon McClellan is he has to become a knockdown three-point shooter [even more so to help his NBA chances]. His ball skills have to improve some. He became Miami’s late shot clock guy….
“Angel Rodriguez is an above average college point guard who is going to play pro basketball somewhere. Ivan Cruz Uceda, Ja’Quan Newton are going to be solid. Newton is a scoring, fearless Phily point guard. I love his toughness and moxie; I was impressed with him in the NIT.”
### On the first day of the early signing period, UM announced the expected addition of 6-10 Virginia-based center Rodney Miller, rated by rivals.com as the 93rd best player in this recruiting class.
UM has at least three more scholarships to offer and remains in the mix for Norland power forward Dewan Huell, considered a top-30 talent. FSU has always been considered the favorite but UM remains in the mix.
### Even with the loss of Cam Wake, Dolphins defensive end Terrence Fede’s role decreased last week; he had only four snaps, compared with eight from Chris McCain, who had been inactive four of the first seven games.
“I just feel like a lot of it was that you’ve got (Derek) Shelby and you’ve got (Olivier Vernon) and those are two guys that to this point have been able to take a lot of snaps and we feel comfortable with those guys,” Dan Campbell said. “That doesn’t mean that Fede isn’t going to get more reps. It’s just that those are the two guys that we are the most comfortable with right now.”
McCain didn’t get a sack “but I made my presence felt a little bit.”
### Pro Football Focus gave Jason Fox the worst grade of any offensive tackle in football last week.
But Campbell indicated he’s not worried about him. “Fox, the more he plays, the better he gets,” Campbell said.
### Though Bill Lazor came to Miami from Philadelphia, and had Dolphins players watch Eagles tape, Ryan Tannehill told Eagles writer today that only 25 percent of Miami’s offense is similar to Philadelphia’s.
### From the glass-half full portion of the blog: The Dolphins rank in the top 10 in the league in four categories: yards per rush (second), punting average (second), yards per play (eighth) and punt return average (eighth).
### With the Dolphins losing two in a row, CBS decided to send Browns-Steelers to substantially more of the country (42 percent) than Dolphins-Eagles (27 percent) in its 1 p.m. window Sunday.
The Dolphins’ game --- called by Kevin Harlan and Rich Gannon --- will be seen in South Florida, much of the Northeast, Texas, Oklahoma and Hawaii. See 506sports.com for a map.
### When I asked Marlins executive Michael Hill yesterday whether he plans to consult with agent Scott Boras – as well as doctors --- about a possible innings limit for Jose Fernandez, Hill said no, that only doctors would be consulted.
Boras, who likes to have input on his clients who are returning from Tommy John surgery, today criticized the Marlins for demoting Marcell Ozuna to the minors and keeping him there nearly six weeks, which resulted in his arbitration eligibility being delayed a year, until after 2016.
“My strong suggestion to Mr. Boras is that instead of resting on his 5 percent that he collects from his stable of players, he write a check and buy a team," Marlins president David Samson told AP. "Then he would have the opportunity to run a team that he claims to be so able to do. Until that time, he is in no position to comment how any Major League Baseball team is operated."
But Samson told me tonight that the team will continue to deal with Boras on contract negotiations. Samson said Fernandez turned down a multiyear offer from the team during his rehab from the surgery.
Twitter: @flasportsbuzz
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