Miami Football: Way too early 2021 game by game predictions
With a roster full of veteran experience, a talented recruiting class and a revamped coaching staff, expectations are once again high for Miami Football.
Miami football took a bit of a step forward in 2020, winning eight games and spending all season ranked in the top 25. Quarterback D’Eriq King was phenomenal and lived up to the hype that he brought in as one of the top duel threat quarterbacks in the country.
The Canes fell short in some of their bigger matchups last season, but they are hoping that with a more experienced roster and some upgrades on the coaching staff will be able to push the program over the top and challenging for the ACC Championship.
While the roster returns a wealth of experience, Miami football will be missing some of their key contributors. Their pass rush took a big hit this offseason with the departure of Jaelan Phillips and Quincy Roche to the NFL.
Miami is bringing in Tennessee transfer Deandre Johnson to help the pass rush and they will also be hoping that some of the young guys like Cam Williams and Jahfari Harvey are ready to step up.
Miami’s coaching staff will look differently than it did last season on the defensive side of the ball. Defensive coordinator Blake Baker, cornerbacks coach Mike Rumph and safeties coach Ephraim Banda are all moving on to other jobs and being replaced by Travaris Robinson and Demarcus Van Dyke respectfully. Miami football fans were displeased with Baker after games against North Carolina and Oklahoma State, in which the defense underperformed.
Head coach Manny Diaz will enter this season under pressure to deliver some wins. The schedule is light after the opener vs Alabama, the roster is very experienced with a dynamic quarterback in King and some talented players coming in from recruiting and the transfer portal.
Throw in the best coaching staff that Miami has had in years, you might have a team that ready to make it back to the ACC Championship.
Here are my way too early predictions for Miami’s 2021 schedule