We are two days away from the Miami Hurricanes taking on the Clemson Tigers this Saturday in Death Valley. Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal spoke one more time before the team heads off to Clemson. Here is everything he had to say.
On his thoughts on the win over Central Michigan: Solid win. Saw significant playing time, for not only our frontline guys, but also key contributors as well as the reserves. And growth and development, across the board. I also saw areas of improvement, particularly the penalty area, where we were flagged 13 times, which is something that you just cannot do. And we have been good about that up until this game. And then areas where you can strain and chase and finish and play with more physicality, more consistency in that area. That's always going to lead to force and turnovers, getting first downs, moving the sticks, scoring. Those are things that are easy to find on film and that we can push and elevate the standard.
On the defense in the win: After that first drive, really got our cleats in the ground and started playing more of the brand of football that we're used to seeing, doing a better job leveraging the football and tackling. And I know Coach Hetherman, he's never going to be satisfied, and he's going to keep pouring it on and getting the most out of every player on that field.
On facing three different quarterbacks: That's why you spend so much time just going over your rules, right, and practicing your base plays and your rules that come with those base plays. So when game day comes around and you're seeing different things, there's no time to go to the sideline to adjust, right? You've got to depend on each other, communicate, and let it rip.
On Brody Jennings getting his first interception: Awesome young man, awesome player, and certainly has worked his tail off to get an opportunity, got in there and made the most of it, and yeah. Our team loves him, and it shows they absolutely swarmed him when he picked off the ball.
On Miami’s 97-yard touchdown drive: Really like the result, just didn't like the process that went with it. Like you mentioned, we made it harder on ourselves. We hurt ourselves on three different occasions throughout that drive, and those are things that in other games are going to be harder to overcome. So it's great that we overcame those things, we learned from it, but certainly it just shows you that there's a lot of things that we need to improve upon. So we're focused on that and ready to attack the entire week of practice.
On seven running back getting snaps: Yeah, we try to get more plays for our frontline guys, and we play, I think, until like minute seven or eight of the third quarter because we played four games. In game one, we played two quarters and a half. In game two, we played two quarters flat. We played a full game, right, a five-game, game three, and then this game two quarters again and maybe another drive or so. So it was important to get reps. Because believe it or not if you start really minimizing reps as the weeks go on, you will develop some kind of rust, and we didn't want to do that and felt like we accomplished what we wanted.
On having success in the red-zone: I think we're executing. I think I can say this. It's great to hear, but I'll be honest with you, we're focusing on Clemson and they've been outstanding. In fact, they haven't allowed a touchdown in the second half in their last three games. So down there you have to be very well schemed up. You have to make the tough yards happen, right? You got to have great contact balance, secure the football, and you've got to win. You've got to win your one-on-ones, and that's always really difficult to do against good football teams. So we've got to keep improving at that.
On the impact last year’s defensive ends had on Lightfoot and Blount: Yeah, those guys last year and even now, they're still in those group chats, and they're letting them have it, and they've made it very clear there's a standard here, and you just didn't inherit that position. You've been working for a couple of years. Well, now it's time to make sure that you continue to elevate the standard, because your legacy is going to come into play at some point in time. So I think what you see is you're seeing guys growing up and developing. You're seeing guys pushing themselves, getting pushed by their teammates, and we're getting better and better play up front, and we're going to need it. One game at a time, and we're heading against a really good opponent, a tough place to play, and the trenches got to play well.
On Justin Scott being a force: He has been. We see him as a guy that has no limits. We need to push Justin to get even more. There's more in there. He's an elite human being and competitor. Awesome person. And the same thing with mom and everybody at home. They are awesome, and he's a guy that enjoys getting pushed, and he knows that we're going to do so. We're going to confront demand. So looking forward to more really good play out of him.
On Javian Mallory’s running ability and pass protection: Yeah, you have to be able to do it all. If you cannot protect effectively, we cannot play you. The way that we run our offense, we're systematic, and we can't expect the coordinator to look down the field and say, well, he's not in the game, so we can't call blank, right? He's got to be able to have the confidence in each and every player to run the gamut, right, the entire call sheet, and Javian has certainly earned that respect and that trust.
On JJ Dunnigan: Physical, tough, well-organized, just very deep in preparation. That's what he is. It's what he does. Grateful guy. Humble guy. He just goes. There's not much to say, but everything to do, and that's his approach, and he's only going to keep getting better and better.
On Herbert Scroggins making his presence felt: He's now fully healthy. He's knocked the rust out, right, the last couple of games, and now he's playing fast and physical with a lot of confidence, and also it needs to be said his presence was felt on the sideline, great leader, strong voice, certainly an impact guy.
On Cooper Barkate: Just a great player and another great person. His numbers are going to continue to go up, explode. He doesn't get enough credit for how well he has blocked, especially this last game. Whatever he's given, he works at it, but a great football player and one of the key parts of our football team.
On Ben Congdon and Jamal Meriweather playing: They worked out well. I think that all four guards that played did a good job. I think versus a front that stunts a lot, a lot of internal pressures, I think that those guys, they all held up well, and I think it's important that we continue to do so. Coach Mirabal has prepped those guys to play football, and aside from the fact that they're young, like I want to make it clear we don't really care. Some are freshmen, some are second-year guys. They're getting better. They're seeing a great defense every day in practice, and their competitive reps will continue to be elevated so we can figure out who's best to play for the Hurricanes on Saturday.
On SJ Alofaituli playing center: Did a really, really good job at center as well. Again, the versatility of the offensive line is starting to show more and more and more. Again, we have a lot of confidence in those guys. Their pride, their work ethic is going to continue to pay off.
On the Clemson Tigers: Yeah, they figure it out. They're a really good football team. I don't think in any way, shape, or form anyone really thinks that Game One was part of what they are. They've gone on. They've won these three games, and they've won them convincingly. They've taken over games in the second half with physicality, with a strong run game, and a really effective pass game. They've protected well. They've run the ball well. They have knocked people back. I think it started halfway through that game against North Carolina where they took over down the stretch, and they've never looked back. Their DBs have been off the charts. They showed it last week against Cal, who's got one of the more dynamic passers in the country. This is a really impressive football team.
On Clemson averaging almost 200 yards in the past three games: Yeah, and it's a credit to everybody. It's a credit to the offensive line. The tight ends are really physical in the run game as well. And they get downhill in a hurry, and they can get you with everything from wide zone, tight zone, counter, to sprint draw, which they busted a huge run last week on third down. So they come at you in different ways. Their quarterback is not only accurate, he's excellent with his feet, and he can hurt you with those as well. So really good football team.
On Tait Reynolds: Yeah, great high school player and already a great college player, and he can do it all. He's got no limits. He does not look like a freshman while he's back there. He has complete command of the offense. He is accurate. He's on time. He's got great pocket presence, and he can make things happen on the move as well. So really tough to bring down. He's broken a lot of tackles and made a lot of extra yards with his feet and just putting his pads down and run over people also. So really good football player.
On Sammy Brown: He triggers quickly. Great at block destruction. If you watch guards and centers try to get up on him on the second level, he gets hands on them and discards them in a hurry. Knock-back tackler. I mean, just runs through people. Can do it in the passing game as well. Really good cover skills. Complete linebacker. \
On preparing for a loud environment: Always simulate it the best you can. Obviously it's extremely loud. Their fans do an awesome job. They pack the place up. It's an unbelievable opportunity for Miami.
On Clemson's wide receivers: Guys that we're familiar with in recruiting, and they've been playing great football for them during their entire time there. Their entire roster is littered with high, high-end talent, and they're playing at a really, really high level right now.
On their experienced staff: No doubt. They've been together before for the most part, and you can tell, again, the way that they play in the second half is a reflection of both the players getting after it and coming out the locker room ready to roll, but also the staff making adjustments to be able to make games what they are. Those are lopsided stats. That's an overwhelmingly dominant second-half metric as it relates to what they've been able to do in their last three games. So something to always keep in mind. They've got good players and coaches across the board.
On Clemson blocking out the noise after the LSU loss: Whether it be in-conference or out-of-conference, the season has 12 guaranteed chapters, right? And nothing should be really judged until the very end. And one thing that you always want to do as a football team is improve every single week, not just win, because sometimes you can mask deficiencies with a win and find yourself sliding. Well, these guys are playing great football, and we knew they would. This is not surprising to us. We're looking forward to a great opportunity.
On Miami needing to have success on special teams: Absolutely, and last week it showed up for Clemson, right, with a punt return for a touchdown at a critical time during the game. Dangerous return men, but just as importantly, the players playing on special teams play with a lot of effort, a lot of pride. They hold their blocks well. They get people on the ground. All three phases playing at a high level.
On Clemson’s aggressive defense and secondary: Yeah, a lot of post-safety is what you're going to see, but they have plays in the middle open, and the thing they do best is that pre-snap picture, it ends up very different. And in a lot of different things. Usually, you know, pre-snap picture ends up in this or stays the same. They give you a lot of different endings to their pre-snap pictures, which is really, really impressive, and they hold them. They hold their water really well. Their secondary, they can play man. They played man against everybody and have been extremely successful.
On his thoughts on the win over Central Michigan: Solid win. Saw significant playing time, for not only our frontline guys, but also key contributors as well as the reserves. And growth and development, across the board. I also saw areas of improvement, particularly the penalty area, where we were flagged 13 times, which is something that you just cannot do. And we have been good about that up until this game. And then areas where you can strain and chase and finish and play with more physicality, more consistency in that area. That's always going to lead to force and turnovers, getting first downs, moving the sticks, scoring. Those are things that are easy to find on film and that we can push and elevate the standard.
On the defense in the win: After that first drive, really got our cleats in the ground and started playing more of the brand of football that we're used to seeing, doing a better job leveraging the football and tackling. And I know Coach Hetherman, he's never going to be satisfied, and he's going to keep pouring it on and getting the most out of every player on that field.
On facing three different quarterbacks: That's why you spend so much time just going over your rules, right, and practicing your base plays and your rules that come with those base plays. So when game day comes around and you're seeing different things, there's no time to go to the sideline to adjust, right? You've got to depend on each other, communicate, and let it rip.
On Brody Jennings getting his first interception: Awesome young man, awesome player, and certainly has worked his tail off to get an opportunity, got in there and made the most of it, and yeah. Our team loves him, and it shows they absolutely swarmed him when he picked off the ball.
On Miami’s 97-yard touchdown drive: Really like the result, just didn't like the process that went with it. Like you mentioned, we made it harder on ourselves. We hurt ourselves on three different occasions throughout that drive, and those are things that in other games are going to be harder to overcome. So it's great that we overcame those things, we learned from it, but certainly it just shows you that there's a lot of things that we need to improve upon. So we're focused on that and ready to attack the entire week of practice.
On seven running back getting snaps: Yeah, we try to get more plays for our frontline guys, and we play, I think, until like minute seven or eight of the third quarter because we played four games. In game one, we played two quarters and a half. In game two, we played two quarters flat. We played a full game, right, a five-game, game three, and then this game two quarters again and maybe another drive or so. So it was important to get reps. Because believe it or not if you start really minimizing reps as the weeks go on, you will develop some kind of rust, and we didn't want to do that and felt like we accomplished what we wanted.
On having success in the red-zone: I think we're executing. I think I can say this. It's great to hear, but I'll be honest with you, we're focusing on Clemson and they've been outstanding. In fact, they haven't allowed a touchdown in the second half in their last three games. So down there you have to be very well schemed up. You have to make the tough yards happen, right? You got to have great contact balance, secure the football, and you've got to win. You've got to win your one-on-ones, and that's always really difficult to do against good football teams. So we've got to keep improving at that.
On the impact last year’s defensive ends had on Lightfoot and Blount: Yeah, those guys last year and even now, they're still in those group chats, and they're letting them have it, and they've made it very clear there's a standard here, and you just didn't inherit that position. You've been working for a couple of years. Well, now it's time to make sure that you continue to elevate the standard, because your legacy is going to come into play at some point in time. So I think what you see is you're seeing guys growing up and developing. You're seeing guys pushing themselves, getting pushed by their teammates, and we're getting better and better play up front, and we're going to need it. One game at a time, and we're heading against a really good opponent, a tough place to play, and the trenches got to play well.
On Justin Scott being a force: He has been. We see him as a guy that has no limits. We need to push Justin to get even more. There's more in there. He's an elite human being and competitor. Awesome person. And the same thing with mom and everybody at home. They are awesome, and he's a guy that enjoys getting pushed, and he knows that we're going to do so. We're going to confront demand. So looking forward to more really good play out of him.
On Javian Mallory’s running ability and pass protection: Yeah, you have to be able to do it all. If you cannot protect effectively, we cannot play you. The way that we run our offense, we're systematic, and we can't expect the coordinator to look down the field and say, well, he's not in the game, so we can't call blank, right? He's got to be able to have the confidence in each and every player to run the gamut, right, the entire call sheet, and Javian has certainly earned that respect and that trust.
On JJ Dunnigan: Physical, tough, well-organized, just very deep in preparation. That's what he is. It's what he does. Grateful guy. Humble guy. He just goes. There's not much to say, but everything to do, and that's his approach, and he's only going to keep getting better and better.
On Herbert Scroggins making his presence felt: He's now fully healthy. He's knocked the rust out, right, the last couple of games, and now he's playing fast and physical with a lot of confidence, and also it needs to be said his presence was felt on the sideline, great leader, strong voice, certainly an impact guy.
On Cooper Barkate: Just a great player and another great person. His numbers are going to continue to go up, explode. He doesn't get enough credit for how well he has blocked, especially this last game. Whatever he's given, he works at it, but a great football player and one of the key parts of our football team.
On Ben Congdon and Jamal Meriweather playing: They worked out well. I think that all four guards that played did a good job. I think versus a front that stunts a lot, a lot of internal pressures, I think that those guys, they all held up well, and I think it's important that we continue to do so. Coach Mirabal has prepped those guys to play football, and aside from the fact that they're young, like I want to make it clear we don't really care. Some are freshmen, some are second-year guys. They're getting better. They're seeing a great defense every day in practice, and their competitive reps will continue to be elevated so we can figure out who's best to play for the Hurricanes on Saturday.
On SJ Alofaituli playing center: Did a really, really good job at center as well. Again, the versatility of the offensive line is starting to show more and more and more. Again, we have a lot of confidence in those guys. Their pride, their work ethic is going to continue to pay off.
On the Clemson Tigers: Yeah, they figure it out. They're a really good football team. I don't think in any way, shape, or form anyone really thinks that Game One was part of what they are. They've gone on. They've won these three games, and they've won them convincingly. They've taken over games in the second half with physicality, with a strong run game, and a really effective pass game. They've protected well. They've run the ball well. They have knocked people back. I think it started halfway through that game against North Carolina where they took over down the stretch, and they've never looked back. Their DBs have been off the charts. They showed it last week against Cal, who's got one of the more dynamic passers in the country. This is a really impressive football team.
On Clemson averaging almost 200 yards in the past three games: Yeah, and it's a credit to everybody. It's a credit to the offensive line. The tight ends are really physical in the run game as well. And they get downhill in a hurry, and they can get you with everything from wide zone, tight zone, counter, to sprint draw, which they busted a huge run last week on third down. So they come at you in different ways. Their quarterback is not only accurate, he's excellent with his feet, and he can hurt you with those as well. So really good football team.
On Tait Reynolds: Yeah, great high school player and already a great college player, and he can do it all. He's got no limits. He does not look like a freshman while he's back there. He has complete command of the offense. He is accurate. He's on time. He's got great pocket presence, and he can make things happen on the move as well. So really tough to bring down. He's broken a lot of tackles and made a lot of extra yards with his feet and just putting his pads down and run over people also. So really good football player.
On Sammy Brown: He triggers quickly. Great at block destruction. If you watch guards and centers try to get up on him on the second level, he gets hands on them and discards them in a hurry. Knock-back tackler. I mean, just runs through people. Can do it in the passing game as well. Really good cover skills. Complete linebacker. \
On preparing for a loud environment: Always simulate it the best you can. Obviously it's extremely loud. Their fans do an awesome job. They pack the place up. It's an unbelievable opportunity for Miami.
On Clemson's wide receivers: Guys that we're familiar with in recruiting, and they've been playing great football for them during their entire time there. Their entire roster is littered with high, high-end talent, and they're playing at a really, really high level right now.
On their experienced staff: No doubt. They've been together before for the most part, and you can tell, again, the way that they play in the second half is a reflection of both the players getting after it and coming out the locker room ready to roll, but also the staff making adjustments to be able to make games what they are. Those are lopsided stats. That's an overwhelmingly dominant second-half metric as it relates to what they've been able to do in their last three games. So something to always keep in mind. They've got good players and coaches across the board.
On Clemson blocking out the noise after the LSU loss: Whether it be in-conference or out-of-conference, the season has 12 guaranteed chapters, right? And nothing should be really judged until the very end. And one thing that you always want to do as a football team is improve every single week, not just win, because sometimes you can mask deficiencies with a win and find yourself sliding. Well, these guys are playing great football, and we knew they would. This is not surprising to us. We're looking forward to a great opportunity.
On Miami needing to have success on special teams: Absolutely, and last week it showed up for Clemson, right, with a punt return for a touchdown at a critical time during the game. Dangerous return men, but just as importantly, the players playing on special teams play with a lot of effort, a lot of pride. They hold their blocks well. They get people on the ground. All three phases playing at a high level.
On Clemson’s aggressive defense and secondary: Yeah, a lot of post-safety is what you're going to see, but they have plays in the middle open, and the thing they do best is that pre-snap picture, it ends up very different. And in a lot of different things. Usually, you know, pre-snap picture ends up in this or stays the same. They give you a lot of different endings to their pre-snap pictures, which is really, really impressive, and they hold them. They hold their water really well. Their secondary, they can play man. They played man against everybody and have been extremely successful.
