Through the Smoke

I agree with you for the most part, but without Streeter and some of the grabs he made last night, this would've been a loss of +17. We really need to shuffle around the O-line and stick with who projects to be starting next year in what spot and build continuity. Unless Seantrel is hurting and cant play a full game, he needs to be at LT for the rest of the year and Washington moved back to guard. It seems we have not had the same starting lineup all season. That really hurts production and familiarity. Our secondary is atrocious. We need to start Finnie now and build for the future. If he gets burned at least he has the speed to catch up. Mike Williams is terrible and wont be here next year regardless. Finnie seems to tackle with more ferocity in the few plays I've seen him make. I know Denzel has been playing behind Spence and learning that position for next year, but please put him in instead of Futch. Perryman with no experience playing in place of Futch is better than what we have now. The d-line I cannot really judge because of all the injuries there, but outside of Smith, I wouldn't be surprised if we have one of the smallest d-lines in America. We cannot stop a physical, power, prostyle offense. I think coach D needs to pick one base formation and stick with it. If we are looking to become a 3-4 team, stick with it and let these guys fully adjust to it now. Going back and forth from a 3-4 to 4-3 does not build continuity. If our future is the 3-4 put Vernon and Chickillo out OLB with Perryman and Spence inside. Vernon and Chick would be perfect OLB in the 3-4, but way to small to play DE in a 3-4. My front 7 for the rest of this season if we want to fully transition to a 3-4 would look like this. Grimble or Pierre at one DE spot, Ojomo at the other, Smith at NT, Vernon and Chickillo as our OLB and Perryman and Spence inside. Bottom line is we need an identity on defense and Coach D needs to decide what we are going to be for the future and start installing that now, regardless of the players, because it doesn't seem he is doing that now anyways. Can the D be any worse than it already is?

Love the positive vibe of these posts. Its been a long Decade for us Cane fans it will be just that much sweeter when Al Golden and Co lead us back to a title, which i think he will within the next few years. I have huge expectations for next season. Ray Ray will stay because he wont be a 1st rounder, Lamar will stay, Street will stay to work out his drops( remember how many balls Hankerson used to drop) Morris will be a great QB at Miami when its all said and done. Next year I think we will have depth on defense and playmakers on defense as well ( the lous-jean young man looks like that dude). The young guys playing now like DP and Cain ans Gaines will be better and Fortson maybe will stay healthy and step up or Grimble will take his spot. Finally Chickillo will be damn near impossible to stop.

I dont like the fact that through 8 weeks I already have to look foward to next year but I see big improvements from this team and they will only get better. Hold your heads high Canes fans we will start winning these close ones.

#lifeofacanefan

They fought soooo hard against the mighty cavaliers

Good post Coach Gomez! Last years team gave up too easily! Just think about the FSU game when we had just completely gave in and didn't show any fight! What about the VT game or the terrible game we had in last years bowl with Notre Dame!!! We made them look like the teams of old with Tony Rice running the offense! They gave up on that game too! They have learned about fighting their way through a whole game, now comes the part where they just have to learn how to win and play a full game!

Did Miami not "fight" last year against UVA?

Once again Coach G you have hit it out of the Park with the OP man you are definatley a coach no doubt about it. Most well though out post I have ever read on this board

Thanks for that post Coach! I was disappointed with last night's win, but I think the future is looking brighter than ever.

I don't see Lamar Miller jumping ship after this year with the sub-par performances of his last few games. He may have fallen a bit off the elite running back status. Another year in college will push him into first round money.

Touchdown Tommy is also another one of those guys who can benefit from another year under Golden. He will only get better and better. If he can eliminate those crucial drops, the sky's the limit.

I feel bad for Jacory since he is a senior this year and has had the benefit of some shoddy OC's. If only he could get a fifth year for that reason. We've got some great QBs next year in Morris, Williams, Dewey, and Crow. We will finally have some depth, a real QB competition, and whoever gets the job will deserve it. Golden will have the next QB performing every single week, or he loses his spot.

Have some faith, the future looks BRIGHT.

This game reminded me a lot of last years game. Once miami figured themselves out and stopped beating themselves it got real interesting real fast. However what surprised me was the lack of push that both your o and dline got all game. Mind you we have a pretty good o line but I was shocked that such highly recruited guys weren't pushing us all over the field. Was it complacency? The strength program? Conditioning? Curious to hear about it from your perspective. Additionally it seemed to me that Miller didn't run with the intensity that he did against VT. Great game guys I was impressed with your athletes and worry about facing you when you start putting together the pieces.

Coach,
People on this board have alotta respect for you one being me. With that said i agree with you 100%, Last year you could see the team just up an give up in the 4th. I feel really good about next season for 3: reasons. 1) Player condition with be much inproved 2) These kids are being coached way better then they where last year. 3) There is no more "Doghouse" For them to be scared of Position Competiton is where its at that allways brings out the best in any player! Let me add a 4th THEY LOVE THERE COACH Nuff Said!!!

GO CANES!!!!