Miami Hurricanes Q&A w/ Manny Navarro

Manny Navarro covers the Miami Hurricanes for the Miami Herald. You can find his work at http://miamiherald.typepad.com/umiami/
& on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/Manny_navarro

Baltimore Sports and Life thanks Mr. Navarro for answering a few Hurricanes questions prior to the Miami vs. Maryland game this weekend.

Baltimore Sports and Life: “Expectations are always going to be high for the Miami Hurricanes, but they were raised for this 2010 season based on the Top 20 finish a year ago. The expectation was that the Hurricanes would take the next-step this year, and were considered legitimate favorites to win the Atlantic Coast Conference and a dark-horse contender Nationally. There is obviously no shame in losing at Ohio State, but I suspect fans of the Hurricanes are surprised by beating they took at home to Florida State (45-17), and losing to Virginia (even when you account for the injury sustained to QB Jacory Harris). Does Head Coach Randy Shannon survive if the ‘Canes do not run the table against the Terps, @Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, and South Florida?”

Manny Navarro: “UM President Donna Shalala has always backed Shannon because she believes he’s a good leader and has done a good job not improving the work his players have done in the classroom, but also by avoiding the police blotter. The only way I see Shannon being fired is if this team completely tanks the rest of the season and fails to play in a bowl game. The pressure isn’t from inside — it is from the outside where Hurricanes fans are tired of losing and mediocrity.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “Everyone saw the devastating hit Harris sustained last-week, and it appears he will not be available for Miami this weekend. Assuming Harris is not able to play, it looks like true Frosh Stephen Morris will get the call. After being down 24 points, Morris put 3 TD’s on the board against Virginia in just over 5 minutes. What did you see from him? Does the offensive play calling change any with Morris behind Center?”

Manny Navarro: “Offensive coordinator Mark Whipple isn’t one to change his game plan — regardless of who is under center. I think we saw that Saturday when Morris went under center and threw three consecutive passes to start the second half. The good news for Miami is that Morris might be the better quarterback for Whipple’s system. He was handpicked by Whipple out of high school last year and played his entire senior season in a Miami-type pro style offense. He’s just very young. I think the Canes will try to run the ball more this week and take the pressure off Morris. But I don’t think we will see any drastic changes in playcalling. Morris will be asked to throw deep.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “The Hurricanes always have plenty of speed on the roster, especially at WR. Leonard Hankerson has 9 TD’s, and at 6’3 215 lbs will obviously be a large target for Morris. Who else should Terp fans be aware of at the WR or TE positions?”

Manny Navarro: “Travis Benjamin has done a nice job rebounding from a sluggish start over the past weeks. He caught a 24-yard TD pass against North Carolina and had 4 catches for 78 yards at Virginia including that 60-yard touchdown catch and run. I think outside of Hankerson, Benjamin is the only real threat in the passing game Maryland should worry about. LaRon Byrd has always been an 8-15 yard possession type receiver. He’ll have has catches, but nothing that breaks the game open.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “Senior Damien Berry has rushed for 690 yards on 18 carries a game. I know Graig Cooper is also highly thought of. What are your thoughts on the Miami rushing attack?”

Manny Navarro: “The Canes will be shorthanded this week without Berry. But his backups are very good. Redshirt freshman Lamar Miller is Miami’s most explosive back. He hasn’t had many touches this season. But given some more opportunities this week with Berry out, he could be a big key for UM against Maryland. Cooper has also played sparingly. But his role should increase this week along with sophomore Mike James, who is more like Berry in terms of their physical running styles.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “The Terps have had better success getting to the Quarterback in recent weeks, bringing pressure from a multitude of differing looks. Is Tackle Orlando Franklin (6’7, 318 lbs) the leader of the O-line? How are the ‘Canes as a pass-blocking unit?”

Manny Navarro: “Franklin was supposed to be the anchor of this line, but he’s had trouble jumping early and drawing false starts. The Hurricanes have been one of the most penalized team in the country this season, ranking 118th out of 120 FBS schools. Most of them having been holding (14) and false start penalties (21). I would expect for Maryland’s pressure to create more of those mental mistakes, especially with a true freshman behind center. Miami’s strength on the line, really, is its young. Freshmen Seantrel Henderson and Brandon Linder are two young promising players that have helped add depth to an inexperienced offensive line. UM has only surrendered 12 sacks thus far — a large improvement over the 35 they allowed a year ago.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “Conversely Maryland is still dealing with the loss of two starters on their offensive-line, while Miami’s defense leads the Nation in Tackles for Loss, and is 6th in Sacks. What can you tell me about the Front 7 Defensively for the Hurricanes? How good is Allen Bailey on the line?”

Manny Navarro: “UM coach Randy Shannon said his line has sorely missed defensive tackle Josh Holmes, who has only played in one of UM’s last four games. While the line has done a good job creating problems in the backfield as well as sacks, they’ve been gashed in the running game. UM ranks 71st in run defense. It almost seems like all or nothing. The leader of the line is Bailey, a player Mel Kiper considers the 11th best senior in the country regardless of position. Bailey leads UM with 5.5 sacks. But at times, he can disappear. Sophomore Olivier Vernon, who has four sacks, is the best pass rusher on the team in my opinion.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “With the help of that pass-rush, the Hurricanes lead the Atlantic Coast Conference in pass-defense, allowing just 152.5 yards per game. If you were game-planning against the Hurricanes, how would you attack Miami? Assuming you had the personnel sets to do either, would you run a power-set offense with extra-blockers, or would you attempt to spread Miami out with extra-receivers?”

Manny Navarro: “If I were game-planning against Miami, I would run right at them (what Ohio State, Florida State did) and beat them with quick slant passes and screen passes. The one thing this defense does at times is over pursue and get itself out of position to make plays. Cutbacks have created a lot of problems. Throwing deep isn’t smart. The corners — Ryan Hill and Brandon Harris — are solid. They’ve been taught not to get beat deep. But underneath stuff? It can work.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “Maryland has two major Special Teams weapons with Torrey Smith, and Tony Logan. Has Miami been effective on their Punt and Kickoff coverages?”

Manny Navarro: “Not exactly. The Hurricanes have given up a few long returns this season and kicker/punter Matt Bosher has had to make at least a handful of key stops to prevent touchdowns. Does Miami have players who can get downfield and make plays? Yes. But that doesn’t mean they always do.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “Predictions for this game?”> Manny Navarro: “The Hurricanes haven’t had back-to-back losses since they lost three in a row to end the 2008 season. Even though Jacory Harris is out and leading rusher Damien Berry probably won’t play, I think their backups might be upgrades and more than capable of making this team better. Maryland has played well this season. But who have the Terps really beaten that’s impressed you? I see a close game. Miami will win 31-24.”