Part 9 in a 10-part online-only series … Game 10, at Miami, Nov. 15 in Miami Gardens, time TBA, TV TBA — Florida State’s final road game of the season. The Hurricanes lead the series 31-27. … Participate in #FSUTrivia on Twitter, follow Brad Milner @PCNHBradMilner for your chance to win one of 10 BCS Championship commemorative editions … Click here to read Part 1 ... Click here to read Part 2 ... Click here to read Part 3 … Click here to read Part 4 ... Click here to read Part 5 ... Click here to read Part 6 ... Click here to read Part 7 ... Click here to read Part 8 ...
Miami fell on the list of pretenders last season, especially when it came to facing Florida State.
The Seminoles rallied past and drubbed the Hurricanes 41-14 in a meeting in Tallahassee to open the November slate. Top Miami running back Duke Johnson was lost for the season to a knee injury to add sting to the defeat. Some debated if it was a case of Miami being that bad or FSU being that good.
It appears the answer lies somewhere in between those extremes. The loss led to a three-game slide and the Hurricanes rebounded with two wins in finishing 9-3. They fell hard to Louisville in the Russell Athletic Bowl.
The ending was a disappointment for the Hurricanes, who hoped to win the Coastal Division for the first time. Miami has yet to sniff the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Game and until it makes its talented recruits into standouts on this level it’s likely not going to change.
Johnson returns with the same questions. He’s known for having flashy performances, but has withered in big games. He was on pace for more than 1,400 yards before the knee injury.
He will be counted on for similar production this season and he’ll need to come through in pressure situations for the Hurricanes to be successful. He is one of the most experienced players, along with two senior linemen, on an offense returning seven starters. The key will be finding a new quarterback to replace Stephen Morris.
Miami coach Al Golden said four players are in the mix at quarterback, including Kansas transfer Jake Heaps and the injured Ryan Williams. The latter was projected as the starter, but is recovering from an ACL injury. A freshman, Kevin Olsen, has reportedly been suspended for the season opener at Louisville, making the position even more critical.
Miami has plenty of targets for the new QB, when the position is set. Three returners combined for 14 touchdowns last season and each had 28 or more receptions. Those numbers are expected to climb if there is consistency under center.
Linebacker Denzel Perryman is by far the most productive of six returners on defense. He had 108 tackles a season ago, including five for loss.
The secondary will be the strength of Miami’s defense with five players with a combined 55 starts. Rayshawn Jenkins and Ladarius Gunter each had 46 tackles and three interceptions in 2013.
Miami is bringing in one of the nation’s Top 15 recruiting classes. Fourteen of the 26 newcomers are on defense. The Hurricanes had nine early enrollees, with seven participating in spring drills.
It’s always beneficial to have players in early to understand the system. Having talent is one thing. Honing that talent is another.
That’s been part of the problem for Miami in recent seasons. There are high expectations, but inevitably Miami finds a way to lose a game or two it shouldn’t. That’s not the way to progress as a program, especially in a tightly-contested divisional race.
- FSU’s top returning players: QB Jameis Winston (4,057 yards, 40 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 219 yards rushing, four TDs), RB Karlos Williams (730 yards, 11 TDs), WR Rashad Greene (1,128 yards, nine TDs), TE Nick O’Leary (557 yards, seven TDs), WR Kermit Whitfield (two rushing TDs, 619 kickoff return yards, two TDs), OL Josue Matias (29 starts), OL Cameron Erving (28 starts), PK Roberto Aguayo (21-22 FGs, 53 long, 94-94 XP), LB Terrance Smith (59 tackles, two sacks), DB Jalen Ramsey (49 tackles, one INT, one fumble recovery), DE Mario Edwards Jr. (28 tackles, 9½ for loss, 3½ sacks), DB P.J. Williams (35 tackles, three INTs), DB Ronald Darby (14 tackles, two INTs), DB Nate Andrews (35 tackles, four INTs), LB Reggie Northrup (46 tackles).
- Miami’s top returning players: RB Duke Johnson (920 yards), OL Jon Feliciano, OL Shane McDermott, WR Stacy Coley (591 yards, 790 return yards, nine total TDs), PK Matt Goudis (13-17 FGs, 49 long, 57-57 XP), LB Denzel Perryman (108 tackles), DB Ladarius Gunter (46 tackles, three INTs), DB Rayshawn Jenkins (46 tackles, three INTs).
- First-glance prediction: Miami will be bolstered a little but the home crowd (those that show, that is) but FSU will be in prime condition at this point in the season. The gap might close a bit between 41-14, but not enough to produce a Miami upset.
- Next week: The series wraps up with a look at the home finale against rival Florida.
2014 FSU Football Preview story schedule:
June 25: The Citadel/Boston College
July 2: North Carolina State/Wake Forest
Aug. 6: Miami
Aug. 13: Florida