Cavalier Corner Digital

100312 - Miami Preview

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strike to sophomore Phillip Dorsett with 19 seconds remaining, to help the Hur- ricanes win their third consecutive game — the first time they did that since 2009. Morris has seemingly developed more confidence in his young receivers to make plays downfield after attempting just two passes of more than 20 yards in the first three contests. Sophomore receiver Phillip Dorsett compiled 16 receptions for 375 yards and three touchdowns in Miami's last two games. Senior Davon Johnson, who began the year as a defensive back, had seven catches for 107 yards against Georgia Tech, and sophomore Rashawn Scott notched six snags for 180 yards and two scores versus the Wolfpack. "Morris has a very, very strong arm and Sophomore linebacker Denzel Perryman, who returned an interception for a touchdown in Miami's season- opening win at Boston College, has been one of the few bright spots for a struggling defense despite miss- ing the past two games with a leg injury. PHOTO BY JC RIDLEY/COURTESY MIAMI returns. He's not doing punt returns yet, but he very well could be by the Notre Dame game. "He has learned everything quickly here and is very mature. That's one thing Golden has been praising him about here. He's definitely a smart kid." Junior quarterback Stephen Morris has the ability to make the Miami offense ef- fective, but it's a matter of putting skilled players around him to make it all work. A freshmen, a sophomore and a converted defensive back have sparked the receiving corps, which didn't wow anyone through three games but caught fire the last two weeks. Morris set school and Atlantic Coast Conference records by throwing for 566 yards in Miami's 44-37 victory over North Carolina State last week, just seven days after torching Georgia Tech for 436 aerial yards. He tossed five touchdown passes against the Wolfpack, including a 62-yard could give those guys a chance to go get it, but there's just a ton of inexperience at receiver right now," Lake noted. Six underclassmen are starting on the defense, which has struggled in all fac- ets. Sophomore defensive end Anthony Chickillo notched five sacks as a fresh- man in 2011, but as the primary threat on the defensive line, he's been met with double-teams all season. The team as a whole has registered just seven sacks in 2012 and the front seven has surrendered 1,128 rushing yards this fall (225.6 yards per game), which ranks 115th nationally. Getting sophomore linebacker Denzel Per- ryman back after missing two games with a leg injury will certainly help Miami. "There are issues all over the field on defense," Lake said. "But I think you'd have to say linebacker is probably the strength of the defense. Denzel Perryman, who is their middle linebacker, has really excelled in his role with speed and being able to run sideline to sideline. Against Boston College he had a pick-six that turned the momentum of that game and helped Miami win it. "But I figured the defense would struggle like it has. It's a very young defense." ✦ ✦ PAGE 3

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