Miami Hurricanes Preview

Few teams are as consistently good year in and year out as the Miami Hurricanes. Knock them if you will on being a “punk” school and full of trouble makers, Miami is still known to clean up on the field when push comes to shove, and their win percentage in recent history proves that point. Situated in the talent laden state of Florida, Miami is the perfect school for attracting all of the top talent in the country and those recruiting successes are what leads to Miami’s consistent victories.

No matter how many players leave Miami to go to the NFL, it seems as if an equally talented player is always ready to step into those shoes. It is an aspect of Miami football that every coach in the nation wishes they shared. Despite returning only 5 players on offense and 6 on defense, Miami is still rated in the top 10 nationally and has the preseason #1 rated defensive squad.

It is this defense, which returns both defensive ends and both star safeties, which Miami hopes to rely on to carry them through the year. Putting pressure on the QB and forcing interceptions shouldn’t be much of a problem for the Hurricanes, and the defense should be able to keep their ACC opponents to low scoring games, which should help their young and inexperienced, despite talented, offense.

The biggest hurdle that Miami faces this year is the internal problems. Players getting intro trouble is something that Miami is known for, and 2006 is no different. The loss of key players in the early games is going to make going undefeated a near impossibility, especially when the team faces Florida State early on without its stars, and that fact will probably keep Miami out of the BCS Championship picture. That being said, Miami still stands a formidable chance of competing in the ACC and possibly earning themselves a BCS birth this year.