A note on Zion Nelson

Jul 9, 2023

There has been a lot of speculation and mystery surrounding Zion’s health. I am told he looks phenomenal doing football movements and is expected to be full-go in camp.

Jim Nagy (former NFL scout and current head of the Senior Bowl) and several scouting sources quoted by On3 identified four future NFL players on Miami’s line: Zion Nelson, Javion Cohen, Matt Lee and Jalen Rivers. That doesn’t include Anez Cooper, Francis Mauigoa, Samson Okunlola and Matthew McCoy (who someone on staff described to me as “an NFL dude”).

This could be one of the best OLs in the entire nation.

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Hegemon

Jul 9, 2023

grover said:
I've been expecting this ever since we didn't recruit OTs in the transfer portal. This one change is the difference between a good and a great offense. No excuses.

OL: Top in ACC
RB: Top quartile in ACC
QB: Top quartile in ACC
TE: Top quartile in ACC
WR: Unknown but it better be good enough to at least do what we did in the second half of 2021.

We should be putting up 450 YPG and 35 PPG (basically Top 20). For reference, 6 teams put up 500+ YPGs and 6 put up 40+ PPG last year.

If we do this we win 10 games

armstead98

Jul 9, 2023

this year's OL performance is the bellwether of relevance or continued irrelevance. it's their most talented position group by far and the apparent strength/focus of the coaching staff. there are literally 0 excuses for this OL to not be one of the best in the ACC and maybe the country.

if they cant lead this OL group to perform i dont know how anyone could expect this coaching staff to lead this group anywhere. either this OL will plant the flag for mario and crew and put multiple guys in the draft next year or we are a basketball school. it's kind of that simple.

Empirical Cane

Jul 9, 2023

DMoney said:
This could be one of the best OLs in the entire nation.

D$...always appreciate your takes...

So they are going from worst to first-ish?

VERY bold statement.

S
sedlst11

Jul 9, 2023

this is bigger than any recruiting news we can get

BostonCanes47

Jul 9, 2023

DMoney said:
Zion, Cohen, Lee, Rivers, Mauigoa

You’d be hard pressed to find a better o line than that.

Two potential first rounders holding down the left side. An all conference center. A experienced and potential top 3 round pick at RG and then a 5 star RT

Genghis Cane

Jul 9, 2023

LuCane said:
The primary question mark, in my opinion, on offense is whether we setup plays for the QB who already showed he can make certain plays, but struggles with some other types. Whether or not he’s developed some other aspects - like reading defenses or hitting more timing-based routes - is less important than whether we can just open up the field and simplify certain concepts for him to execute. Last year’s intermittent stubbornness - where TVD sometimes looked like he forgot how to play football - was beyond comprehension.

I think TVD will take the next step. We have a simplified offense and he will be well protected and healthy. No QB is going to play to their potential when they are worried about getting blindsided. He should be more comfortable in the pocket. I also think an improved running game will open up the offense.

Home Slice

Jul 9, 2023

grover said:
I've been expecting this ever since we didn't recruit OTs in the transfer portal. This one change is the difference between a good and a great offense. No excuses.

OL: Top in ACC
RB: Top quartile in ACC
QB: Top quartile in ACC
TE: Top quartile in ACC
WR: Unknown but it better be good enough to at least do what we did in the second half of 2021.

We should be putting up 450 YPG and 35 PPG (basically Top 20). For reference, 6 teams put up 500+ YPGs and 6 put up 40+ PPG last year.

I'll buy

Home Slice

Jul 9, 2023

I've been pulling for Zion since he got here. I remember watching this kid come in sooo undersized and then gaining weight and playing so early. If he's healthy, he's adjusted to his weight now and could be phenomenal. Hope he has a stellar season. Go Canes football

H
Hurricajun

Jul 9, 2023

Big difference from a day ago when his body couldn’t support his required weight. Thank you D$.

J
Jaxcane4

Jul 9, 2023

BostonCanes47 said:
You’d be hard pressed to find a better o line than that.

Two potential first rounders holding down the left side. An all conference center. A experienced and potential top 3 round pick at RG and then a 5 star RT

The kool-aid is strong with this one. I would say 2 in the top 3 rounds with 1 or 2 in 4th-6th round and even then I think that is more of a best case scenario.

lfoliva9988

Jul 9, 2023

DMoney said:
There has been a lot of speculation and mystery surrounding Zion’s health. I am told he looks phenomenal doing football movements and is expected to be full-go in camp.

Jim Nagy (former NFL scout and current head of the Senior Bowl) and several scouting sources quoted by On3 identified four future NFL players on Miami’s line: Zion Nelson, Javion Cohen, Matt Lee and Jalen Rivers. That doesn’t include Anez Cooper, Francis Mauigoa, Samson Okunlola and Matthew McCoy (who someone on staff described to me as “an NFL dude”).

This could be one of the best OLs in the entire nation.

F**K yes!!!! Lets get back to being able to assert dominance at the line of scrimmage!!!

AUcane

Jul 9, 2023

ben said:
Assuming Zion is healthy, is he starting at LT?

100%. Did you not see the spring game? Rivers is just not that dude. Big question is whether rivers will start at guard over cooper

LuCane

Jul 9, 2023

Jaxcane4 said:
The kool-aid is strong with this one. I would say 2 in the top 3 rounds with 1 or 2 in 4th-6th round and even then I think that is more of a best case scenario.

Agree. I’ll only add that if you can’t bulldoze, or at the very least smack around, (most of) the ACC with that, something is wrong.

hoops156

Jul 9, 2023

glad to hear this. need him out there

BradTheBearKiller

Jul 9, 2023

DMoney said:
There has been a lot of speculation and mystery surrounding Zion’s health. I am told he looks phenomenal doing football movements and is expected to be full-go in camp.

Jim Nagy (former NFL scout and current head of the Senior Bowl) and several scouting sources quoted by On3 identified four future NFL players on Miami’s line: Zion Nelson, Javion Cohen, Matt Lee and Jalen Rivers. That doesn’t include Anez Cooper, Francis Mauigoa, Samson Okunlola and Matthew McCoy (who someone on staff described to me as “an NFL dude”).

This could be one of the best OLs in the entire nation.

We back????

J
Jaxcane4

Jul 9, 2023

AUcane said:
100%. Did you not see the spring game? Rivers is just not that dude. Big question is whether rivers will start at guard over cooper

Pretty sure Bain and Kelly both beat him and as much trash that gets talked about Moss I'm sure he beat him as well. So would hate to see what A&M would do to him at Lt.

JgDaCane

Jul 9, 2023

The pitcher is getting passed around again. I need to see our QB not look like he's never played football before. Until then my expectations are ehhh.

R
Rickd

Jul 9, 2023

grover said:
Yeah, I was 7-5 pre spring transfers. But once we added the next set of guys we did, I swung to feeling 8-9 wins was the most likely outcome. We could still go 7-5 with injuries, especially if TVD gets hurt. But we could also win 10 if the chips fall our way. I think 8.5 is the right target, personally.

Man this program could certainly use a 10 win season. Especially after 2022.

R
Rickd

Jul 9, 2023

JgDaCane said:
The pitcher is getting passed around again. I need to see our QB not look like he's never played football before. Until then my expectations are ehhh.

Pitcher? Nah, it's a full blown keg!! Get yourself a stein!!