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The Good, The Bad, The Ugly: FAMU Edition

What went right, what went wrong, and everything in between in UM's home debut. Plus team grades.

By Jerry Steinberg
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Tonight was one of those games every young (or old) team needs, to develop. The 'Canes defense barely broke a sweat.

But they still have PLENTY of room to improve.  A win is a win, but this one was nothing to write home about even with the 41-7 final.

Here are my observations, and team grades.

The Good:

  • Denzel Perryman had two huge stops on the first 3 plays, to help force a three and out.  Another big game overall for DP.
  • True freshman DT Courtel Jenkins was again stout up front.
  • Thurston Armbrister, making like LT, had a strip sack for the second consecutive week. He added a second sack in the 3rd quarter.
  • 20 yard completion from Brad Kaaya to Herb Waters to open the game for UM's offense, nice way to open up.  Kaaya finished the drive with a pinpoint accurate 4 yard pass to Phillip Dorsett for a 7-0 lead.
  • Duke Johnson surpassing Frank Gore for 9th on the All Time 'Canes rushing list in the first quarter:

  • And more Duke!

  • Also this:

  • Gus Edwards looked pretty fast out there.

  • Phillip Dorsett's TD catch in the back of the end zone between two defenders to put Miami up 28-0 was a thing of beauty. PD has not always been known for his hands, but that catch was sensational.

  • First of many??

  • The FAMU band:

  • Trayone Gray scored a TD on his first career carry in the 4th quarter (reminiscent of Frank Gore wearing #32).

The Bad:

  • My sources tell me the crowd tonight, was sparse, at best.  Although because expectation was low, you could make the case......

  • FAMU is not a quality opponent, even for an FCS School.
  • Waters getting beat out for the ball in the back of the end zone by Rattlers DB Darren Parker. Waters needs to get the ball at the highest point. The FAMU DB out fought him.  The throw was too far inside as well.
  • Kaaya's swing pass to Yearby in the 2 minute offense.  The freshman QB remains a work in progress.
  • Miami's DBs did not make enough plays on the ball.

  • Hopefully not serious (early reports are just a bruise)!

The Ugly:

  • Ugh! (McDermott was later called for a held as well)

  • UM's special teams handing FAMU 7 points at the end of the 1st half and a poor snap. Long snapper Ronald Regula probably wants to forget that one. And punter Justin Vogel should have just pounced on it.

Team Grades:

Offense:

The guys up front should have been much more dominant.  Duke was Duke (9 rushes -97 yards TD).  Kaaya was uneven (12-22 177 yards 2 TD 2 INT). His second pick went right through the hands of Clive Walford.  Nice games by Dorsett (2TDs) and Braxton Berrios (Mr. Clutch on 4th down) at WR. Yearby looked very good running the ball. Back-up QB Jake Heaps saw some action and was so-so as well.

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Defense:

Miami's front 7 was again very good.  But the DBs let Brandon Norwood make three long catches on under thrown balls. Lots of young players (Chad Thomas, Ryan Mayes, & Trent Harris among others) saw valuable action, and played well. UM's D pitched a shut out with the not so special teams giving up the only points of the night. Unofficially just 117 total yards allowed.

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Special Teams:

Stacy Coley had a few nice punt returns. The poor punt snap at the end of the first half can not be repeated against better opponents. Kick coverage overall was very good, including a 4th quarter fumble recovery. Matt Goudis missed 2 FGs (45,32). Second straight week the ST gives up a TD.

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Coaching:

No one wants to cut this staff any slack it seems.  But coming off a short week, the team was okay but not sensational. But can we really judge Al Golden and Co. too positively or too negatively based on tonight?

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Stay tuned for much more coverage on SOTU of this game.