His offense is too conservative. He's not letting his playmakers make plays. His strategy is more suited for Pop Warner.

After Wednesday's practice, Nix filled reporters in on the reasoning behind some of the struggles and also offered a lesson why coaches should use the media. We are the link to the fans, and Nix provided some good insight as to why the offense is having difficulty. But you would never know because he talks so little to the media.

Nix is just like any other coach or player involved in athletics. They don't care what is written about them in the newspaper, or what some fan says on an Internet message board. They only care about the opinions of those within program, and that's all that really matters. In many ways, they are right.

After listening to Nix today, he made some valid points but there was no reason to keep them a secret. I can recall requesting him for an interview through the sports information department during the week of the Florida game, but to no avail. It led to a story about the woes of the offense without quoting Nix. A five-minute interview with the offensive coordinator would've made for a much more balanced story.

Of course, UM only allows interviews with coordinators to be written in story format and cannot appear in blogs. I still have to transcribe the audio, and hope to post the actual story later tonight. I will say Nix told us the offensive problems are more than just quarterback Robert Marve and what appears to be a limited playbook.

In the end, UM could have saved itself a lot of criticism had he spoken up earlier.

A few thoughts:

-Coach Randy Shannon said running back Javarris James and tackle Reggie Youngblood will play against Duke, but in limited roles. James is expected to play 20 snaps, and Youngblood probably 40.

-Running back Lee Chambers is likely out with that turf toe. He didn't practice for a second consecutive day.

-Check back later this week for a look at the WR position and the log jam at the position. We'll look at the pros and cons of it.

With Robert Marve in the middle of a three-game rut, Shannon has done everything possible to avoid a quarterback controversy. He's stuck by Marve, saying he IS the starter and will be for the rest of the season. Regardless of performance. With that said, doesn't that mean there is no weekly competition at QB? Sure seems that way because Shannon was asked the question again during Tuesday's news conference.

He was brief in answering, and said Marve is his starter no matter what.  So there you have it. Maybe this is just Shannon's way of showing he remains supportive of Marve. The last thing he needs is a young quarterback looking over his shoulder after every mistake.

But, honestly, does anyone feel Marve remains the stater if he tanks at Duke and Jacory Harris shows life? I don't.

We'll see.

A few thoughts:

-So much for tackle Reggie Youngblood being out for the season. Shannon said he will play Saturday, giving a much-needed boost to the offensive line. This is the same unit Shannon said was the strength in the preseason, but has been beaten up in recent weeks. In its defense, injuries to Youngblood and Chris Barney have been a factor. Only Jason Fox and Xavier Shannon have been consistent starters.

-Running back Javarris James, who has missed the last four games with a high ankle sprain, said after practice he is between 90-95 percent healthy. Expect him on the field against Duke. This is too important of a game for him not to play. Still, look for Graig Cooper to handle most of the load as James eases his way back. His return adds another dimension to the running game and will affect how teams scheme to play the Hurricanes.

-The rumors of receiver Sam Shields moving to secondary are somewhat true. Shields is still a receiver, but has played some scout team defensive back.

-An interesting tidbit from defensive end Allen Bailey: He said he wished he would've made the move from linebacker when he first arrived. This way, he would be more advanced and not still learning.

From M.H.:

Q: Why can't Arthur Brown see the field?

A: I wish I knew. We've asked coach Randy Shannon repeatedly about this and he gives the same answer. Brown is still struggling to make the adjustment. He was expected to play last week, but nothing. Like Brown said last week, he's coming along slower than expected.

From M.H.

Q: Is Javarris James playing Saturday?

A: As far as I know, yes. He should be fully healed and ready to go.

From Tee-Jay

Q: Who's been the best player in the secondary?

A: Probably Anthony Reddick. He's not the Reddick we saw as a freshman, but he's been pretty consistent. No one else in the secondary can say that. Reddick has really impressed with his tackling skills.

From Tee-Jay

Q: Beside Travis Benjamin, who's been impressive at WR?

A: I like Aldarius Johnson. He's going to be a playmaker and he's been just as impressive as Benjamin, minus the punt returns, etc. Simply put, Johnson probably has the best hands on the team and is the most physical WR.

From M.H.

Q: Have they decided who is going to redshirt?

A: Still up in the air. I thought Ramon Buchanan was one for sure, but that changed with injuries. The only ones that are pretty sure to redshirt are Brandon Marti, C.J. Holton and Taylor Cook.

From Tee-Jay

Q: Do you think UM can hold onto Bryce Brown, Lamar Miller and Mike James?

A: I don't see why not. You have three guys who really want to play at Miami, and see an opportunity to play as a true freshman. Now will all three stay here once they arrive? I doubt that. But Shannon shouldn't have a problem getting them here.

From M.H.

Q: Is Reggie Johnson a good inside scorer on the basketball team?

A: Yes, the kid is huge, and he will be a fierce inside presence. He and Dwayne Collins are going to have some wars in practice. Once Johnson loses weight, he should be a solid player in the ACC. He's got a soft touch from what I've heard.

From Tee-Jay

Q: What happened to Ramon Buchanan?

A: Pretty much just got lost in the shuffle. Another guy who is still adjusting to a new position. But he's really impressed the staff in recent weeks, which is why we saw him on special teams recently. But really, he was probably a redshirt guy had it not been for Vaughan Telemaque's injury.

From M.H

Q: What is Tommy Streeter's injury and did he have surgery?

A: I wrote this a while back when it happened, but Streeter had a dislocated wrist. It's the same injury he suffered in high school during an All-Star game practice. He had surgery in August.

From U Dynasty

Q: Will we finally see Jermaine McKenzie this week?

A: I doubt it. Last week there was no Leonard Hankerson and McKenzie still didn't play. There's just too much depth at WR and McKenzie is running out of time. We're at the midpoint of the season, and he's yet to see the field. Might be time for him to look forward to next spring and trying to prove himself again.

From M.H.

Q: Why are our receivers not getting enough separation?

A: It boils down to technique. Playing WR is much more than running past a defender, unless you're Randy Moss. Route running and footwork play such a key roles in wide receiver development. These guys are young, and still learning. Central Florida's secondary was full of seniors and experience is going to win out against talent 99 percent of the time.

From Canzfan

Q: We have several highly recruited players. Why weren't we able to dominate UCF?

A: Recruiting isn't an exact science. Some guys pan out, some don't. But I agree with you. You would think most of UM's backups are more talented than UCF's starters. Coaching factors into the formula. You can't just have great players and win, otherwise USC, Texas and Miami would win the national title every year. It takes team chemistry, and I'm not sure the `Canes have that right now. Very few are on the same page.

From M.H.

Q: How do you explain Robert Marve having the lowest yard per pass attempt in the nation?

A: I didn't know it was that bad. But here's the explanation. A lot of you missed it, but I wrote Graig Cooper lead the nation in 1-yard receptions. That was a joke, but it's true. Miami is simply throwing too many screen pass plays. I've never seen a team use the bubble screen so often.

From M.H.

Q: Are we going to see more of Jacory Harris?

A: Yes. It appears that way, especially if Marve struggles again. If that happens, we're going to see a serious quarterback controversy. Shannon says Marve is his guy, but for how long? Not very if Marve keeps playing the way he has the last three weeks.

From EpCane21

Q: Do you really think Duke will beat Miami?

A: Why not? Duke is improved and we're not even sure if the `Canes can string together consecutive victories. They haven't done it since early last season. Duke has played the `Canes really tough the last two years, and this week could be the chance to get over the hump.

From M.H.

Q: Does Marve or Harris have authority to call audibles?

A: Yes and no. They can do it, but it's very limited. Harris told us earlier this year there are only certain situations and plays he can switch to. It seems like Patrick Nix is trying to keep things simple until they get a better grasp of the offense. I can understand this with Harris, but not Marve. He's had plenty of time to adapt, and should be given full reign.

From The Man

Q: Is Randy Shannon happy with Patrick Nix?

A: I asked him and Shannon has 100 percent support for Nix. As a follow up question, I asked why he felt Nix was the guy to get the job done. Shannon said, "Because we hired him." So if there is any unhappiness with Nix, no one is saying anything publicly.

From JCanes

Q: Why don't the Canes use the middle of the field more on passing plays?

A: Good question. We haven't seen very many slants or crossing routes, except for the Texas A & M game. I think that was the most effective the passing game has been this season because the tight ends were very involved.

From M.H.

Q: How do you like Dolphin Stadium.

A: Love it. Comfortable pressbox. Good food. Concessions are a short walk away. The only thing I hate about it is the wireless Internet service is a little shaky. Other than that, it's flawless. They do a good job of making it feel like a UM stadium. A lot of work is put into the transformation each week.

Big things are expected from coach Frank Haith's team. The Hurricanes were picked as high as No. 8 in some preseason polls. They return All-ACC guard Jack McClinton, and freshman DeQuan Jones is already drawing raves.

A few thoughts:

-I'll have the Q & A tonight at 5-6 p.m. ET. Bring your A-game. No lame questions.

-Here's a link to some updates on recruiting coverage in Broward and Palm Beach County, courtest of recruiting writer Chris Stock.

-Biggest surprise: Receiver Travis Benjamin.  Who knew he would be this good, this fast. Not many. You can only expect him to get better as he gains experience. By next season, fans will show up with dread-lock wigs. All 20,000 at Dolphin Stadium. Just kidding, folks.You go tta love his hair, though. He's been growing it since seventh grade. And at least he doesn't look like Oscar Gamble.

-Biggest disappointment: Linebacker Arthur Brown. By no means is this a knock against Brown. He's just a freshman, and not expected to be the second coming of Lawrence Taylor in his first year. The disappointing fact is that so many other freshmen are contributing while Brown is on the bench. He was the top-rated recruit in the class, but has yet to see the field.

-The frequent flier: Linebacker Sean Spence. This goes to player who flies around the most, and we all know Spence is always at the airport. I'm willing to bet he'll be able to fly for free to any destination after this season. He's arguably been the most impressive player on the team. I haven't seen a newcomer make an impact like this since Bobby Boucher.

-Where are they now: What happened to Sam Shields and DeMarcus Van Dyke? In the preseason, I expected Shields to have a breakout season and now he's been reduced to pla ying only special teams. Shields has to find a way to get back on the field, or it becomes time to lump him with Lance Leggett and other busts. The sky was the limit for Van Dyke last season. He started last year's opener as a true freshman. This year, he's played in certain situations, but is usually alongside Shields covering kicks. DVD needs to Tivo back to last season.

-Who turns the corner: Defensive end Allen Bailey. No player was hyped more in the preseason than Bailey, but he was slowed by injuries and is still adjusting to moving from linebacker. We saw what Bailey was capable of last week against UCF, and expect to see more. He's just now getting back into playing shape.

Most valuable player: Graig Cooper. Say what you want about his running style, but `Coop has been the truth this year. Without Javarris James, he's single-handedly carried the running load and he also has the NCAA record for most 1-yard receptions.

-Coach on the Hot Seat: Patrick Nix. Unlike most of you, I had no problem with Nix until last week. The offense really struggled against an inferior team. Nix is trying to bring things along slowly with so many young players. If he shows some progress, then he sticks around because the `Canes need st ability. If they regress, there may be some Rivals.com video of him cleaning out his office.

-Coach on the Lukewarm Seat: Randy Shannon. Barring a total collapse, Shannon is back next season. He has too much support with the administration, and it is willing to be patient with him. If the struggles continue in 2009, then it might be time for Kirby Hocutt to start sifting through resumes.

How I see the rest of the season:

Oct. 18 at Duke-- Loss. The Blue Devils can taste it, and we're not talking about Bojangles.
Oct. 25 vs. Wake Forest --Loss. Wake has too much talent. Never thought I'd say that.
Nov. 1 at Virginia --Win. `Canes will use last year's game as motivation.
Nov. 13 vs. Va. Tech -- Win. The Hokies ain't what they used to be.
Nov. 20 at Ga. Tech -- Loss. By then, that triple option will be rollin'
Nov. 29 at N.C. State -- Win. `Canes become bowl-eligible. Bojangles for everyone.

And I didn't forget about the bloggers. Here's the midseason first-team:
-M.H. Could he be the Brett Hart of blogging? The best there was, the best there is and the best there will ever be?

-footballfreak40. Lately, he's been flyin' around.

-Orlando Cane. If he had to choose between his wife and this blog, it would be a tough decision. That's dedication.

-U Dynasty. He gets a spot here by default. Kind of like a 42-year-old Cal Ripken being voted for the All-Star game.

-Adam. Even though his name is boring, he deserves some shine.

-Demeanor. I know there are only five spots, so I'm making him the alternate in case someone can't make it to the game.

On the brink:
-Kbboy80
-Suffering Miami Fan
-Tee-Jay/Sekou
-SantanaFan
-Darthcane

Newcomer of the Year:
-JCanes. His rise to power on this blog has been very Sean Spence-like.

A few thoughts:
-I'll have the Q & A tonight at 5 p.m. You guys get me for one hour.

-The ACC announced today the Wake Forest game is at noon on ESPNU.

-I'm gonna head to Mix Ultra Lounge in Hollywood for Monday Night Football. There's a weekly party hosted by former Dolphins receiver O.J. McDuffie, and it's a cool atmosphere. It's usually frequented by former `Canes players who still live in the area, including Lamar Thomas and Yatil Green. I'm hoping to grab a couple interviews and will post them on the blog sometime this week. And, of course, I'll enjoy the drink specials.

Shannon knows there are still glaring issues with the team, mostly on offense. Robert Marve has to make better decisions or else a quarterback controversy will develop. If Marve struggles against Duke, look for Shannon to give him the hook a little sooner. At least Marve's problems are making Shannon's decision to play Jacory Harris seem more reasonable.

Not much good came from the UCF game other than picking up a victory and becoming one step closer to being bowl-eligible. With that said, here's how the Hurricanes graded against the Knights:

QUARTERBACK: F -- Marve and Harris didn't do much right on Saturday. Marve did have the TD pass to Travis Benjamin in the first quarter, but things went downhill in a hurry. Marve has made poor decisions the last two games, and admitted he's trying to do too much. He's already feeling pressure to make things happen, and it only becomes more difficult now that we know the coaches are willing to go with Harris in tight-game situations. Harris failed to take advantage of the opportunity. He looked a little nervous in the pocket at times, and took a key sack late.

RUNNING BACK: A-minus -- Graig Cooper has yet another strong game. He has three 100-yard efforts in the last four weeks. The only problem with Cooper is sometimes you don't know if he's a running back or the next contestant on Dancing With The Stars. When he becomes a more straightforward runner, you'll see his numbers increase even more. Lee Chambers provided a solid spark off the bench. You have to wonder how long before he or Shawnbrey McNeal replaces Derron Thomas. It really won't matter with Javarris James returning this week. Cooper and James should handle most of the load from here on out.

WIDE RECEIVER/TIGHT END: C-minus -- It's easy to point a finger at the quarterbacks because what they do is so visible. But the WRs are still struggling with running routes. It makes things more difficult for the QBs. We didn't see many dropped balls, but we also didn't see any spectacular plays. It's bad when the best play made by a receiver comes on special teams (Sam Shields).

OFFENSIVE LINE: D-minus -- Never expected this. The offensive line is having serious problems in all phases, but mostly pass protection. Marve and Harris have been running for their lives recently. You can't pin all the blame on them against UCF. Several players said the Knights showed them different looks on defense. That's coaching right there. They had to find a way to adjust, but never did. Still, we're talking about a group that Shannon called the team's strength in the preseason. The O-line has to play better.

LINEBACKERS: A-plus -- Great comeback for these guys. Everyone talks about freshman Sean Spence, but the two plays that stand out were made by veterans Glenn Cook and Darryl Sharpton. Cook makes a diving tackle late that prevents a first down. It was the same play he was injured. Then Sharpton makes the saving play on the final drive. Still no Arthur Brown. UM elected to play three linebackers, while also receiving help from linebacker/defensive end Spencer Adkins.

DEFENSIVE LINE: A-plus -- Four sacks. Enough said. QB pressure was lacking the last few games, and it was corrected. You can turn off the Amber Alert for Allen Bailey. He's been located, and had a career game. Freshmen Marcus Robinson and Andrew Smith drew praise from Shannon, and may have taken advantage of their opportunity. Shannon said Adewale Ojomo didn't play because of disciplinary reasons and will have to work his way back into the starting lineup.

SECONDARY: C-plus -- You're probably asking why this grade is so low. The DBs have to make plays when the opportunity is there. Brandon Harris and JoJo Nicolas both dropped interceptions. Those are plays they have to make. It could be the difference in a close game.

SPECIAL TEAMS: C-plus -- They get a blocked punt, but allow a kickoff return for a TD. The TD was only possible because of an offsides penalty by DeMarcus Van Dyke on the previous kick. Matt Bosher was solid on kickoffs, but struggled at punting.  The return game was average. You get a sense that maybe Benjamin is pressing a little on returns. He had the big game last week, and feels he has to make a play each time. Nothing wrong with that, but there were a few times he could have lost the ball while fighting for extra yards.

COACHING: C -- The biggest problem was the offense never adjusting to the UCF defense. That just can't happen, especially against a 17-point underdog. On defense, Bill Young responded with a solid game plan. Then again, how much was it a dominating UM defense or a poor UCF offense? We'll never know. And how about the questionable decision by Shannon to go for two points? There is absolutely no difference in a 12- and 13-point lead.

But Saturday's game between UM and UCF trumps that. By far. Mostly because these are college-level athletes, and not high school kids. At times, this looked like the first scrimmage of the season. No organization. Boneheaded plays. But after talking with the UM players, all that matters is they won. This was a much-needed win. If they had loss, can you imagine the reaction. What if Darryl Sharpton doesn't makes that play at the end? I'm going to go ahead and say it: If the `Canes had lost this game, the season would have gone down the drain. That's it. Finished.

So this game saves the season. At least for now.

I still don't know what to make of this game. UCF all but gave this one away. The Knights special teams left 12 points on the field. The UM defense played solid, but was this just a product of facing an unimpressive UCF offense? The Knights were more like pawns. What we do know is the offense is struggling, especially quarterback Robert Marve. He has thrown seven INTs in the last three games. He's pressing a little too much, trying to make plays. If he doesn't calm down, we could see a possible quarterback controversy brewing. Now, by no means, was Jacory Harris impressive. He looked shaky as well, but he was on the field with the game on the line. It will be interesting to see what happens next week at Duke, but the players and coaches clearly remain supportive of Marve.

Check back tomorrow morning for the report card.

FIRST QUARTER

-Robert Marve was intercepted on his first pass of the game. UCF ball at the 42.

-After the defense forces a punt, Marve redeems himself by hitting Travis Benjamin for a 26-yard touchdown.

-Blocked punt by Richard Gordon after a low snap. UM takes over at the 25.

-Jacory Harris makes an appearance on the fourth series. The Hurricanes go three-and-out.

SECOND QUARTER

-`Canes dodge a bullet with UCF taking points off the board after a penalty on a made field goal attempt.

-Wow, we have a Lee Chambers sighting. Nice couple of runs.

-Marve throws his second INT, this time it's returned 62 yards for a touchdown by Johnell Neal. Offense really looks out of sync.

THIRD QUARTER

-Starting to have some concerns with Marve's arm strength. He's under thrown receivers several times, including a sure touchdown to Travis Benjamin on the opening drive.

-Defense is doing its best to keep the `Canes ahead. The offense hasn't shown much of anything.

FOURTH QUARTER

-The only thing I can say about this game is we're watching some bad football today. On both sides. So far, the most exciting moment of the day came when a fan ran on the field in the third quarter.

The biggest key to today's game is simple: The `Canes can't look past this game. UCF is not a team to be overlooked. With Duke next on the schedule and a chance to get back going in t he ACC, it's very easy to focus on that game. I'm already focused on it because it will be my first chance to have Bojangles this season. So the `Canes can't be like me today.

Don't look too far ahead.

I'll check in once I get to the stadium.

As I said, every Friday is the fans' chance to give their take. For this week's, UM-UCF game we've got three participants (one UM vs. two UCF). For UM, we have this blog's very own "footballfreak40," who hails from Parts Unknown. For UCF, we have "Mark," a frequent visitor to the Orlando Sentinel's UCF blog. We also have Tony Mejia (to be posted later), a UCF grad who bears a strong resemblance to Mr. Miyagi, is the only guy I know who drinks Blackhaus and also happens to be a close friend of mine. He's been trash talking about this game for quite some time.

You guys know the rules. No cursing and no hitting below the belt. Here we go:

WHY THE HURRICANES WILL WIN?

Get your Crunch N Munch ready! It is time to put another one in the win column. I know this game has be en circled on everyone in the college football  world’s calendar. Finally, it is here!!! Sorry, guys but it is tough to get real pumped up about this game. This game starts at what? 3:45 p.m.? I will be very disappointed if this is still a game at 4:35pm.

I know our beloved canes are struggling to get this team ready to consistently win games at this level. Still, we just have so many athletes that Fort Pierce linebacker Derrick Hallman’s big claim “We’re Ready” has gone all but totally unnoticed by who Randy Shannon refers to as “The little bloggers”. My opinion of how this game will unfold is simple. My opinion is you win games by winning at least two of the game's three phases of offense, defense, and special teams. I believe we will win each phase.

Here is how:

Offense-- I think that the coaching staff doesn’t see any reason to get away from what this team is built to do on offense. The talent should get the job done. The `Canes should have a good ol’ fashion New Orleans Mardi Gras. I like what Pat Nix is doing with this offense. He takes a lot of heat, but I think he will pound the football, play Miami Hurricanes football and open things up using the running game. Even with Javaris James out, this team has the talent to do this. The fact is I would say this no matter who we play. We need to force defenses to adjust to what we do. If that doesn’t work, then do other things. We will be successful here.

The younger receivers should get some play here. If we are going to do this, now is definitely the time. Led by Travis Benjamin, Laron Byrd, and Aldarius Johnson, we just have to get playmakers in these game s learning how to make plays on this level. I have seen enough to know these young guns are ready. These guys will break tackles, make people miss, and get behind the secondary. It doesn’t matter to me who is in the game at quarterback. Good players are always ready to play. Robert Marve knows he will be coming out of the game so he needs to prepare accordingly if he worthy of being the starter. Jacory Harris is really just about as good from what I can tell so the competition is always going to be there.

Special Teams-- I couldn’t have been more pleased with our kicking game last week so I am expecting the same. Matt Bosher has to be feeling good about himself about right now. This is my favorite phase of the game. It goes largely underappreciated but now that we have some players who are playing well on special teams that should change. I have no idea why it took the special teams coach so long to put Travis Benjamin back there returning kicks. That is what they call a no-brainer. It shouldn’t take more than a couple practices to see that.

Defense -- I think that this unit is struggling more than any other now. Most of what I see is young talented players that are learning how to master the fundamentals of the game. I think they are in fact far enough along to put pressure on the quarterback. My concern is there are some injuries. I don’t know how physical practice was this week but I expect this unit to come out like they have the most to prove. I say that because it is the truth. They have been very inconsistent. A lot of breakdowns but I just don’t feel UCF can take advantage of them. Even with the injuries I expect to see this group generate some turnovers. You will see at least three turnovers by the defense this week. You will see at least once score by the defense this week. Put in three inch bold letters.WE WILL GET THEM TO TURN IT OVER!!! Tell them `freak40 said it first… I am actually being generous.

THE UNEXEPECTED-- You always have the unexpected in games. Very rarely, do I watch a game and it goes exactly the way I envisioned it. This will be the lone exception. I am familiar with George O’Leary, the head coach for UCF. He coached at Georgia Tech and I know a kid who played for him. He has the reputation of being a really tough on his players but an excellent coach. He will have some wrinkles.. Again, I am not going to be surprised one bit by what will happen Saturday. I realize a lot of these players know each other and are looking forward to this game. UCF will be trying to play for pride. I think some of them may have wanted to get an offer from Miami but didn’t. So, they will be jacked up. They will also be very disappointed. GET YOUR CRUNCH N MUNCH READY!!! 

`Canes 49  Knights 14.

WHY THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS WILL WIN

(From Mark): In-state games are always exciting for players and fans, and this week's meeting b etween UCF and Miami should be no exception.  While UM is a shadow of its former self, the Hurricanes are always a formidable opponent in any game, and it is assured that it will be a hard-fought game by both sides.

The window is open for UCF, however, to pull out a victory.  With a struggling defense for the `Canes, especially in regards to the passing game, UCF is in the best position to beat a superior team.

Offense-- UCF has the opportunity to ride the momentum from last week's defeat of SMU.  With Michael Greco coming out in the second half and proving not only to fans but to himself that he can rely on his arm, watch out for UCF to attempt the deep ball against UM's very inexperience defensive backfield.  Yes, UCF lost Rocky Ross for the season, but we got Kamar Aiken back and he is a real deal deep-ball threat.  Plus, Brian Waters is emerging as a legitimate go-to guy for whoever is at QB.  Establishing the run against UM will never be easy, but this week would be the best opportunity with multiple starters and other players who have seen action not playing this week due to injury.  Ronnie Weaver proved that he has what it takes to be UCF's running back.  He's gaining confidence in trusting his blockers and hitting the hole with momentum, rather than dancing.

Defense -- If UCF's offense can sustain long drivers, eating up the clock, UCF's defense will be in decent shape to quiet UM's offense.  Yes, UM is fast. We all know this.  However, they are VERY young.  All of the Hurricanes' receivers are freshmen.  Going against UCF's defensive backfield will not be easy for the Canes.  Sure, UCF gave up a whopping 58 to UTEP.  However, remove the turnovers on offense and special teams, coupled with the fact that UCF spent way too much time on defense, that score would be much lower.  They are veterans, which mean that they've seen just about everything you can throw at them.  I don't doubt that UCF's DBs can hang with the inexperienced WRs the Canes will play.  Stopping the run will be what UCF must focus on as well.  With Javaris James out, UCF must look to stop Graig Cooper and Derron Thomas.  UCF has done a pretty good job against the run so far this year, and I look for that to continue against the Canes.

Special Teams-- Joe Burnett.  'Nuff said.  This guy is a playmaker.  All he needs is that one block on a kick or punt return, and he can go the distance for a TD.  Even when not getting the TD, he consiste ntly puts UCF in good field position.  In other areas, Daren Daly is beginning to come around as a solid placekicker.  He seems to have recovered from his injury, and look for him to be pumped up against is former team.  He will have a field goal of 40-plus yards.

Turnovers-- UCF's defense is a ball-hawking one.  With at least one interception in the last 14 games, you can count on the young Cane's QB throwing at least one, if not more.  UCF will need these swings in momentum to have a chance, but I think it's safe to assume those swings will occur.

History-- UCF has only beaten two BCS teams.  Thus, UCF needs this win.  Also, it would seem that statistics are on the side of UCF eventually winning these games.  Plus, UCF has a knack for starting slow in the early part of the season, especially against inferior opponents, like UTEP and SMU, and then coming on strong.  Don't forget, this is the same team that took a supposedly superior USF team to the wire.

WHY THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS WILL WIN PART II?

(From Tony Mejia:) It's a good thing Christian Ponder finally stopped running on the `Canes long enough to mix in this week's game, because it's one the UCF faithful has been looking forward to for quite some time.

Only the most delusional Knights won't admit that UCF is running fifth among the state's derby of college football programs. With FSU and UM slipping over the last decade, it's tempting to puff their chests and go after one of the perceived big boys and send a message to bag bragging rights to break out in the heat of recruiting battles.

The Hurricanes are a meal ticket and UCF is hungry. The overwhelming majority of the biggest moments in program history are heartbreak losses against teams that overlooked them. They look at Miami's legacy and see a chance to come in, deliver a sucker-punch and raise some eyebrows.

The weapons are there to do it, too. Considering the Canes defense let Ponder look like Michael Vick in his latest prison scrimmage, it's likely they'll be susceptible to Fort Lauderdale's Michael Greco, one of the faster signal callers in the country. If he gets off to a good start and keeps George O'Leary from playing musical chairs behind center, start brewing that upset.

Randy Shannon has signed some terrific talent since taking over, but almost all of it is excessively young and prone to inconsistency. Connect the dots. From staying on the same field as Florida up in Gainesville to slopping around with the 'Noles to faltering at home against a veteran defense from upstart UCF, the Hurricanes have are working the gamut of growing pains.

Simply put, University of Miami football just isn't scary anymore.

UCF isn't walking into the OB. Dolphin Stadium hasn't been imposing on a Saturday since the Marlins' last World Series run. It's just another place to play, an atmosphere FSU buzzed right through last weekend. There won't be any 58-game winning streaks there. The way the program is going on, talk of even a double-digit home winning streak seems like a stretch.

Neither Howard Schnellenberger, Dennis Erickson or Butch Davis are running things on that sideline. The glory days are gone. Entering this contest, Miami is 13-13 since 2006, winning fewer games than its Central Florida counterparts. UCF has gone to bowl games in two of the last three years, the same amount of appearances as UM, which can point to a warm and fuzzy 40-3 loss to LSU in '05 and a narrow win over Nevada in the always special MPC Computers Bowl the following year for its trouble.

Velocity-wise, the Knights can definitely hang. They have some of that Sunshine State speed at their disposal. That kid Travis Benjamin looks like a monster, but UCF has its own playmaker on special teams in Joe Burnett, a pocket rocket currently doubling as a Devin Hester impersonator.

It would have been nice to have record-setting running back Kevin Smith for this one -- and he'd probably rather be anywhere but Detroit right now -- but the UCF ground game is starting to come around. The Knights are healthier than a UM squad missing key starters on both sides of the ball and have the luxury of arriving in South Florida at precisely the perfect time.

Following disappointing losses to North Carolina and FSU, expecting to roll over the perceived ligh tweight from Orlando before getting back to ACC play, this looms as the perfect trap game. I don't have to have my own 1-900 number selling picks to tell you that. The piece of cheese is in place, the spring is coiled and Sebatian's radar is failing.

Easy pickings? We'll see if you all still think so when the sun sets Saturday.

This one's for Daunte Culpepper, whose career prematurely met its fate in the very stadium the Knights are about to make their own.