Coker: 'Canes overlooked
Team OU hosts on Sept. 8 has plenty of talent, says its former coach
Team OU hosts on Sept. 8 has plenty of talent, says its former coach

Published: August 27, 2007

In two weeks, Miami may bring to Norman a defense still battered with nagging injuries.

And by then, the Hurricanes may be no more settled on a quarterback than they are now.

But ask Larry Coker, and unranked Miami still possesses one key element that will be dangerous for the eighth-ranked Sooners in their second-week game Sept. 8.

"They'll have talent,” said Coker, Miami's coach since 2001 until he was fired after last season. "I don't think there's any doubt they're being overlooked.

"I think you're going to see a very good Miami team come to Oklahoma.”

Last year, the Hurricanes got blasted by Louisville, later lost four straight conference games and had several off-field incidents that eventually cost Coker his job.

But even though Miami finished 7-6, the Hurricanes still had the seventh-best defense in the country, allowing only 255.5 yards a game.

And most of that defense returns, headlined by four returning starters in the secondary and 6-foot-8, 282-pound defensive end Calais Campbell, who led the ACC last season with 20.5 tackles for loss.

"Campbell will be a top-five pick at some point, and the other end, Eric Moncur, is going to be a force,” said Coker, an Oklahoma native who was OU's offensive coordinator in the early 1990s. "Their scheme in the secondary can cause you some problems, too.

"They have a lot of talent on defense, a defense that can win against anyone, not just Oklahoma.”

The bigger question for Miami, however, will be offensive production.

Last season, the Hurricanes averaged fewer than 20 points a game, scoring more than four touchdowns against only Florida A&M and Florida International.

The Hurricanes return nine offensive starters — including explosive tailback Javarris James — but haven't had consistent play at quarterback since Ken Dorsey in 2002.

And although first-year coach Randy Shannon said he expects to name a starting quarterback between senior Kyle Wright and junior Kirby Freeman early this week, it's likely both will play in Miami's opener Saturday against Marshall.

Even so, Coker said either is capable of performing well enough in Norman.

"Wright and Freeman are two experienced players,” said Coker, now a college football analyst for ESPNU. "Both of them were (EA Sports) Elite 11 quarterbacks.

"I think you've got a lot of talent in those two, but they have to play. Whoever it is will be the key to Miami's chances.”

If the quarterback battle resolves itself and Miami's offense makes enough improvement, Coker said, the Hurricanes could prove last season was a fluke.

"I think the Oklahoma game will be the game for them,” Coker said. "It'll determine if they're for real or not.

"If they win, I think they'll be off and running.”

Comments