Why hasn't UM developed the football talent?

Allen Bailey’s body is sculpted as if he’s been chiseled in the image of what the football Gods envisioned for their ideal player.

Problem is this former University of Miami standout is all physique, and little technique. And this defensive lineman’s been that way since arriving in Coral Gables as a over-sized linebacker.

I’ve consistently pointed out one of the biggest limitations of the Randy Shannon era was their failure to develop the talent on the roster. Going all the way back to Calais Campbell and Kenny Phillips, who are now solid NFL starters, very few players got better during Shannon’s tenure.
Bailey, who entered 2010 as the fifth best senior prospect in the nation, had a respectable senior season, but he didn’t dominate. And the fact Bailey only has one pass rush move to accompany his effective bull rush (which is all power) had plenty of scouts scratching their heads at the Senior Bowl.

In this video Bailey, who most project will become a 3-4 defensive end in the NFL, admits going back and forth from defensive end to defensive tackle stunted his development.

But it’s not just Bailey whose technique failed to get better during their college career at UM.

Leonard Hankerson’s one of the few players we can say CLEARLY got better during his career as a Hurricane, and the truth is former Dolphins receiver Mark Duper had plenty to do with his progress considering he mentored Hankerson for most of his career.

Javarris James, Randy Phillips, Antonio Dixon and Sam Shields all had lackluster careers at Miami before catching their footing in the NFL, where teams harvested their talents and made them regular contributors, if not starters.

UM linebacker Colin McCarthy, who had a strong showing in the Senior Bowl, is the EXACT SAME player I covered when he was a true freshman starter. No worse, no better. Why is that?

Fortunately for McCarthy the Hurricanes have a history of pumping out productive NFL linebackers, and he talks about being the next playmaker, following in the footsteps of Ray Lewis and Jon Beason, during this video.

I’d invest in Bailey and McCarthy because both possess plenty of upside with proper coaching, but Bailey doesn’t fit the Miami Dolphins’ needs, and McCarthy doesn’t fit their size molds for his position.

Despite playing four year at UM, cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke still looks like he’s in high school. His wiry frame prompted one NFL inside to ask me, “Don’t they have a meal plan down there at Miami.”

Van Dyke hopes to follow in Sam Shield’s footsteps of becoming the next unheralded Hurricanes defensive back to come out of nowhere and become a solid NFL contributor.

UM strength and conditioning coach Andreu Swasey, who was retained by Al Golden, is well respected in his industry, but there are too many players like Van Dyke, who failed to make massive strength gains while a Hurricane.

I’ve been told this will be addressed under Golden, who has changed the weight lifting program.

The Dolphins haven’t selected or signed a Hurricane since taking Vernon Carey in the first round of the 2004 draft. Is there anyone in this UM draft class (Hankerson, tailback Damien Berry, offensive linemen Orlando Franklin, cornerback Ryan Hill) you think is worthy of ending that drought, and fits what the Dolphins are looking for?



(sun-sentinel.com)