Miami Preview
October 01, 2003 10:18 AM | General
October 1, 2003
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia will be a significant underdog when it faces No. 2-ranked Miami Thursday night in the Orange Bowl.
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| Running back Quincy Wilson is looking to get back on track after running for just 110 yards in losses to Cincinnati and Maryland. (All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks) |
That much we know.
But can West Virginia stay in the game and keep things interesting against the Hurricanes, rated 27 ½-point favorites? That’s what Mountaineer coach Rich Rodriguez is hoping for.
“Our best hope is obviously we’ve got to play well and take care of ourselves,” said Rodriguez. “If Miami gives us a few breaks and we get a little lucky then we can get into the ball game. Playing our best game may not give us the win but at least we’re going to try and control that part of it.”
The last time WVU was such a big underdog was in 2001 when a 2-4 West Virginia team traveled to No. 1-ranked Miami. The two teams were tied 3-3 after the first quarter before Miami got things going in the rain and took a 17-0 lead into the locker room at halftime. By the end of the game, West Virginia had third team quarterback Derek Jones running the offense.
This year, though by and large still an inexperienced team, Rodriguez hopes his squad will be healthier and wiser when it takes on the powerful Hurricanes Thursday night.
After playing respectably against nationally ranked Wisconsin in the season opener and blowing out East Carolina on the road, West Virginia has stumbled badly in its last two games against Cincinnati and Maryland.
WVU’s no-huddle spread offense ground to a halt at Maryland on Sept. 20, producing just 156 yards of which only 36 came through the air. That has prompted personnel changes along the offensive line and in the wide receiver corps in an effort to try and get some first downs and put some points on the board.
“We’ve experimented with a few personnel moves and we’ve experimented with a few things offensively and defensively just to try and get our guys to make plays,” said Rodriguez. “Sometimes I think people want to panic and overhaul the entire offense, defense, special teams or what have you and I think that’s a bad message to send. We can tweak things and try and see if we can create an advantage somewhere and that’s what we’ve tried to do.”
Meanwhile, Miami (4-0) looks like it hasn’t missed a beat despite breaking in a new quarterback in Florida transfer Brock Berlin (6-1, 211, Jr.) and replacing two key starters along the offensive line.
Berlin has completed 73 of 123 passes for 884 yards and five touchdowns in wins over Louisiana Tech, Florida, East Carolina and Boston College. His best game came in a come-from-behind win against Florida when he threw for 278 of his 340 passing yards in the second half to help the Hurricanes pull out a 38-33 victory and extend their regular season winning streak that now spans 24 games.
“Berlin gets more comfortable each week,” said Rodriguez. “He’s probably going to reach his peak against us … lucky us. He is as talented as (former Miami quarterback Ken) Dorsey and maybe more so.”
Like all Miami quarterbacks, Berlin has a great group of targets to throw to. Kevin Beard (6-2, 176, Sr.) and Ryan Moore (6-3, 205, Fr.) each average more than 12 yards per catch and have combined to haul in three touchdown passes so far this season.
But perhaps Miami’s most lethal weapon in the passing game is junior tight end Kellen Winslow, Jr., (6-5, 252, Jr.) who leads the team with 15 catches for 138 yards and a touchdown. Most experts consider Winslow to be the nation’s best tight end.
“In crunch time they’re going to look for Kellen Winslow,” said Rodriguez. “I’m hoping our guys will understand that.”
Another key component is backup wide receiver Roscoe Parrish (5-9, 170, So.), who in addition to catching nine passes for 158 yards and a touchdown, has also returned seven punts for 141 yards and a touchdown.
In the backfield, sophomore Frank Gore (5-10, 218, So.) gives the Miami offense great balance once again this year. Gore has rushed 85 times for 453 yards and four touchdowns and is averaging 113.2 yards per game. Backup Jarrett Payton (6-2, 210, Sr.) has carried 19 times for 136 yards and has scored three times.
Gore was once the team’s third-team tailback on a roster that included NFL first rounders Clinton Portis and Willis McGahee. Gore looks like he will continue that trend.
“Gore was the starter going into last year before he got hurt, so obviously the Miami coaches thought he was better (than McGahee),” said Rodriguez. “Now that Willis is gone (to the NFL) I think Frank is better, too, from what I see on film. They’re both great players. The difference is McGahee might be a little bit bigger but Gore has so much more of the ability to make you miss. Very rarely does the first guy get him.”
Most of Miami’s running comes behind senior left guard Vernon Carey (6-5, 330, Sr.), who successfully made the move from right tackle this year. Carey has been hobbled by a sprained ankle, but has still helped the Hurricanes average 166.3 yards per game on the ground.
Right guard Chris Myers (6-5, 287, Jr.) teamed with Carey last year to give Miami one of the most powerful right sides in college football last season. At center is junior Joel Rodriguez (6-3, 293, Jr.), who takes over for graduated Brett Romberg. Carlos Joseph (6-6, 307, Sr.) slips in at right tackle where Carey played last year and sophomore Eric Winston (6-7, 307, So.) will start at the all-important left tackle position.
And while the Miami offense gets most of the headlines, it is the Hurricane defense that has enabled them to become one of the nation’s most dominant football programs.
This year Miami has had to overcome some key personnel losses but has still managed to hold opponents to an average of just 14.8 points per game. The strength of the defense this year appears to be in the secondary, where Miami is giving up just an average of 162.8 yards per game through the air. Hurricane defensive backs have picked off seven passes so far this season and have returned two of them for touchdowns.
Miami starts two seniors in strong safety Mo Sikes (5-11, 206, Sr.) and left cornerback Alfonso Marshall (6-1, 187, Sr.), and two juniors in right cornerback Antrel Rolle (6-1, 200, Jr.) and free safety Sean Taylor (6-3, 230, Jr.).
Taylor is a physical specimen who leads the team in tackles with 28 and also leads the team with three interceptions. Rolle is Miami’s shutdown corner on the left side and ranks fifth on the team in tackles with 17.
Strong safety Mo Sikes has started 16 career games for Miami and recorded a key hit in the Florida game that helped spur a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback victory for the ‘Canes.
The linebacker corps is once again athletic and aggressive led by senior middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma (6-2, 223, Sr.). The Coral Gables resident is tied for second on the team in tackles with 25 including 17 solos.
Weakside linebacker D.J. Williams (6-2, 240, Sr.) has more starts than any other Miami player with 29, and he is having his best and most consistent season this year, according to the Hurricane coaching staff. Williams returned a fumble 78 yards for a touchdown in the season opener against Louisiana Tech.
Miami’s starting strongside linebacker will either be Darrell McClover (6-2, 220, Sr.) or Roger McIntosh (6-3, 220, So.).
Up front, defensive tackle Vince Wilfork (6-2, 346, Jr.) ranks as one of college football’s best defensive linemen and carries on a long standing Miami tradition of fielding dominant defensive tackles. Wilfork has four tackles for a loss of 17 yards and also shows two sacks.
Defensive end Baraka Atkins (6-4, 255, Fr.) leads Miami with four sacks and five tackles for loss. Right end Thomas Carroll (6-5, 230, So.) and left tackle Orien Harris (6-4, 294, So.) round out Miami’s 4-3 defensive alignment.
Kicker Jon Peattie (6-3, 200, Fr.) has made five of six attempts this year with a long of 38 yards. His only miss this year was a 42-yard attempt against Louisiana Tech.
The punting game has not been up to Miami standards. Brian Monroe (6-2, 190, Fr.) is averaging just 34.5 yards per kick and opponents have averaged 10.3 yards per return.
Following West Virginia, Miami has a much anticipated meeting coming up in the Orange Bowl against No. 5-ranked Florida State. The Hurricanes also have a future date against No. 7-rated Tennessee on Nov. 8.
Thursday night’s game will be televised nationally on ESPN (Mike Tirico, Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso and Dr. Jerry Punch) and will kickoff at 7:45 pm.
