Canes305 from allCanes was nice enough to answer our questions on this week's VT-Miami game. Click here for my answers to his questions.
Q: The Younglings are on a roll and have won four consecutive games after starting the season 2-3. They have a legitimate shot now at going to the ACC title game. How has this team performed based on what your expectations were before the season?
When the season started, I said 9-3 would be a dream season and that 8-4 was very doable. 7-5 had to be the worst case, but was tolerable as long as this team played with heart, which they are doing.
I think Miami can go 2-1 down the stretch and that an 8-4 looks like a reality and would be huge after a 2-3 start and back-to-back losses to North Carolina and Florida State (by a combined six points).
Personally, I don't think the Canes get to the ACC title game this year. Next year it's a reality, but the two early season ACC losses will come back to haunt.
A four-game win streak would need to turn into a seven-game streak and that's asking a lot for a young, inexperienced team. They're liable to slip somewhere down the stretch.
As for how this team has performed, I'll reserve judgment until the season is over. The fact that Miami was able to rebound from a 2-3 start was impressive, as last year's team would've gone in the toilet. The Canes are showing grit, determination and heart.
That said, now is no time to let up. Wins against Wake Forest and Virginia were impressive, but Miami needs to 'bring it' against Virginia Tech (11/13) and Georgia Tech (11/20) as both have had their number the past few years.
Where this team has exceeded expectations is in regards to the freshman class. On paper, Miami knew they had some ballers... but to see these kids hit the ground running and play beyond their years, it's been incredible. These freshman have single-handedly saved the season and have the future looking extremely bright.
Q: Randy Shannon has had good luck recently at quarterback going with whoever has the hot hand. Are you comfortable with the two quarterback system the Canes have right now? Is there one quarterback (Marve or Harris) you feel should be the No. 1 guy?
I like the current system. After Harris led the comeback against Duke weeks ago, people were clamoring for him to be starter. I disagreed and posed the argument, what happens if Marve comes in and saves the day against Wake the following week - which he did. You can't flip-flop your starter week-to-week. That's how you turn a competition into a controversy.
The current system works. Start Marve, give Harris his reps and go with the hot hand down the stretch. Both these kids are first-year starters. Both need to play. Let them get through 2008 and come spring 2009, open up the competition again and see who wins the starting job. One of these guys will eventually separate themselves from the other. Until then, play them both.
If I had to rate them, I'd definitely go Harris as 1a and Marve as 1b right now. Both are studs, but Harris' composure and playmaking ability - it's immeasurable regarding a true freshman. Marve seems to have better wheels and plays more by feel than with his mind.
Q: How close is Javarris James to being at 100 percent and how important is it for the Canes offense to have a healthy James in the backfield?
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