Monday practice thoughts (8/4)

DMoney

Aug 4, 2025 2 min read

The contact is picking up as the Canes head into Week 2 of camp. Here are some of my thoughts on the media portion of Monday's practice:

- We often talk about OT Francis Mauigoa and DE Rueben Bain as potential All-Americans and first round picks. But another name with that kind of potential is CB OJ Frederique. He missed spring with a shoulder injury, added muscle, and came back to camp on a mission. He was smothering in 1on1s.

- Miami might have hit big on WR in the Class of 2025. Malachi Toney, Daylyn Upshaw and Josh Moore all scored long TDs during the viewing period, with Moore contorting to catch an off-target pass in the back of the end zone. I could see all three playing right away.

- RayRay Joseph continues to make progress. He made snatched an pass behind him and generally looked quick and explosive. Toney is pushing him in a positive way.

- Chance Robinson looked sharp as a route-runner and created ample separation on digs and other in-breaking routes. He's finally healthy and taking advantage of this opportunity.

- The transfer class has pushed the 2025 DB class to the back of the line, but one guy who keeps earning meaningful snaps is Chris Ewald, Jr. He's extremely smart as a nickel and quick to diagnose plays. He's someone to keep an eye on Year 1.

- OT Jaden Wilkerson is a true freshman to watch on the offensive line. He tips the scales at 6'7, 330 and had some excellent reps against fellow freshman Hayden Lowe. Still far away but he has the physical traits to hit

This version is the radio edit from the media portion of practice. For more specific thoughts on the entire practice, sign up for Canes Connection by using promo code CIS50 and clicking this link to get on the mailing list for the weekly Zoom practice calls. That code takes 50% off the first month.

I will be having a call every week to provide practice information for the donor community. Let's be part of the sixth championship.

www.canesconnection.com/cis

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Comments (180)

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Calinative

Aug 5, 2025

Reyrey said:
You knew what you got from X, JG, and etc. at the end of the day, it’s human nature to talk about the shiny new toy. How it was last year, this year, and how it will be next year

People acting like X and Horton weren't absolutely getting hype (restrepo more about repeating what he just did) and Horton about being the most improved in the room, are ******* lying or misremembering. Also George was always said to still be doing good and they said he was actually getting more serious - which considering his biggest problem the previous season was being a dumbass with penalties - imo was the same as hyping him up. lol. This idea that only Jojo and Carr were getting hyped and then "did nothing" is so dumb. Especially given we had 3 WRs with 1yr left who were starters and then another in Horton who was an upperclassman and viewed as most improved...

Plenty of guys get hyped. Most of the freshman that receive hype do end up playing a good amount for true freshman. Like OJ/Lofton/Lyle/etc .. I mean even McConathy got much more pt than anyone would have predicted on NSD... The more stacked you are as a roster, the more telling it actually is when you are hyping freshman and they do get on the field. Even if they aren't like dominant players, if true freshman get a lot of PT and you are a very talented team, that IS pretty **** good.... Like If Toney gets 400 yards receiving this year is that considered living up to the hype?...

I think WR this year is going to be a lot of guys getting a lot of PT. Ultimately the best will separate as the season goes on. But we have a lot of talent in the room. The only one I don't believe in being productive this year are Ray Ray, Chance, and Upshaw (but Chance and Upshaw have barely been getting any hype about really being impactful this year, even Ray Ray hasn't been getting THAT much hype)... As for Anthony Johnson, I mean he may get most burn early. But as the season goes on either Toney or whoever will either prove themselves or not...

DMoney

Aug 5, 2025

Luke Caneswalker said:
@DMoney Is Brown solidified as RB3 or can he possibly walk in and start as the season continues ?

He’s been really impressive. I thought it would be 1A, 1B and 3 but it’s more like a three-headed monster.

brock

Aug 5, 2025

I’m more concerned with safety than wide receiver much more actually. I honestly Think we have a lot to work with at receiver, yes unproven names but the talent is there. At safety we all saw how bad safety play can alter a defense and it’s vital those guys perform well this year

caneingville

Aug 5, 2025

b caned said:
Wasn’t putting the slurpfest comment at you - it’s nationwide.

DJ Lagway - 57.9 QBR 1900 yards 12 TD 9 INT…and oh yea, he’s a walking injury.

The country is supposed to fear that? Particularly a team that walked into the dreaded swamp and curb stomped them just last year (and all indications are we’re a better, more balanced team this year)??

I simply don’t see it. And frankly can’t wait to see them get slapped around again this year.

The only thing wrong with this is…

DJ can barely walk…

9oh4Cane

Aug 5, 2025

So the thread about Trader got deleted. That tells me all I need to know. But I don’t understand why it’s such top secret info. Pretty pathetic, are other programs this weird about reporting injuries?

n0rcalcane

Aug 5, 2025

brock said:
I’m more concerned with safety than wide receiver much more actually. I honestly Think we have a lot to work with at receiver, yes unproven names but the talent is there. At safety we all saw how bad safety play can alter a defense and it’s vital those guys perform well this year

At the end of the Day it will all work out…

C
CANESCANES

Aug 5, 2025

️

TheOriginalCane

Aug 5, 2025

Calinative said:
People acting like X and Horton weren't absolutely getting hype (restrepo more about repeating what he just did) and Horton about being the most improved in the room, are ******* lying or misremembering. Also George was always said to still be doing good and they said he was actually getting more serious - which considering his biggest problem the previous season was being a dumbass with penalties - imo was the same as hyping him up. lol. This idea that only Jojo and Carr were getting hyped and then "did nothing" is so dumb. Especially given we had 3 WRs with 1yr left who were starters and then another in Horton who was an upperclassman and viewed as most improved...

Plenty of guys get hyped. Most of the freshman that receive hype do end up playing a good amount for true freshman. Like OJ/Lofton/Lyle/etc .. I mean even McConathy got much more pt than anyone would have predicted on NSD... The more stacked you are as a roster, the more telling it actually is when you are hyping freshman and they do get on the field. Even if they aren't like dominant players, if true freshman get a lot of PT and you are a very talented team, that IS pretty **** good.... Like If Toney gets 400 yards receiving this year is that considered living up to the hype?...

I think WR this year is going to be a lot of guys getting a lot of PT. Ultimately the best will separate as the season goes on. But we have a lot of talent in the room. The only one I don't believe in being productive this year are Ray Ray, Chance, and Upshaw (but Chance and Upshaw have barely been getting any hype about really being impactful this year, even Ray Ray hasn't been getting THAT much hype)... As for Anthony Johnson, I mean he may get most burn early. But as the season goes on either Toney or whoever will either prove themselves or not...

Yes.

To put it another way, JoJo/Ny/Chance were not "hyped" and then "failed to live up to the hype".

They had four very good and very senior players ahead of them on the depth chart.

So all the "this happens every year" bull**** is just bull****.

TheOriginalCane

Aug 5, 2025

brock said:
I’m more concerned with safety than wide receiver much more actually. I honestly Think we have a lot to work with at receiver, yes unproven names but the talent is there. At safety we all saw how bad safety play can alter a defense and it’s vital those guys perform well this year

gogeta4

Aug 5, 2025

CBurrr93 said:
My favorite was brown just refusing to score with a head of steam. Somehow would get tackled at the 1 when he probably had a 97 percent expected touchdown lol the one from the Florida game was pitiful

he left at minimum 3 tds on the field last year. whats bad is he knew it to ....im like how tf does this dude consistently NOT score. It was uncanny how he would either slow up or not power through to score....

Cane_J15

Aug 5, 2025

b caned said:
Seriously…

What’s with the phobia of UF on here?? If we don’t dog walk those losers again after doing so in their house last year (week 1 mind you) with a deeper, more physical team.. then we’ve got bigger problems.

I still have no idea what people here or nationally see in that squad. I expect another thumping..especially since LSU takes their soul a week prior.

Lagway isnt near Beck’s level and is overhyped as ****… what exactly did they add that strikes fear in anyone?

CIS in full form early in camp.. Go to church if you’re scared!

There in the SEC bro lol thats it. We dominated them last year in every area of the game i expect the same especially at home our fans should be lit!

Cane_J15

Aug 5, 2025

CaneMutiny06 said:
I listened to the cover 3 segment in question and thought Bud’s take was perfectly reasonable. He also didn’t consider it a hard under.

The counter on the WR issue is that we really haven’t had an elite WR corps in the last couple years and Dawson has still managed to field top 25 offenses, including in ‘23 with TVD/Emory/Jacuri as the QBs.

I’m not terribly worried about this WR group. I suspect someone is going to emerge as the go-to guy (my money’s on Toney given the role of the slot in Dawson’s offense). Right now I’m expecting Daniels, Toney, and Jojo (if he can stay healthy) to be the top 3 guys. That wouldn’t be bad from a talent perspective.

The offense will obviously look different without Cam, a little less pass heavy overall, less big plays, a little more methodical , but I’m confident it should still be *very* efficient and produce well with this QB, what should be one of the best OL in the country and a very talented group of backs and TEs.

Out of the freshman i hope Schott gets alot of PT think he would be a big weapon with Beck at QB who likes TE of course along with Lofton getting the ball alot too!

N
NCCanefan

Aug 5, 2025

brock said:
I’m more concerned with safety than wide receiver much more actually. I honestly Think we have a lot to work with at receiver, yes unproven names but the talent is there. At safety we all saw how bad safety play can alter a defense and it’s vital those guys perform well this year

Bingo. If somebody can't get open and/or Beck can't find an open guy that's a problem, but that's rare in 2025 when the rules are so stacked against the D. Like you, I'm way more concerned about our safety play. Need to stay very healthy there.

Cane_J15

Aug 5, 2025

Angry Ibis said:
But, if JoJo is hurt, the next camp report will have Chance as Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound … so basically a step behind Lofton.

Lmao u aint lyin all the sudden he the next All American just was hurt

BeastMode

Aug 5, 2025

JHallCanes said:
Ray Ray is legit the definition of Greentree All American so far. Been hearing this since he was a freshman

He’s the first player I’ve ever seen move their legs but go nowhere.

C
CANESCANES

Aug 5, 2025

JHallCanes said:
Ray Ray is legit the definition of Greentree All American so far. Been hearing this since he was a freshman

BeastMode

Aug 5, 2025

DMoney said:
He’s been really impressive. I thought it would be 1A, 1B and 3 but it’s more like a three-headed monster.

Great news. Need the depth. Who is RB4? Pringle?

canes614

Aug 5, 2025

BeastMode said:
Jojo is clearly hurt and RayRay isn’t good. When we start hearing about true freshman like this at a position we should all know what that means.

WR is going to be very interesting this year. Going to be run heavy and use TE’s and let Beck dunk and dunk it down the field. If the defense improves…that could make this team a 10 game winner and get to Charlotte. We will see.

I don't disagree with what you said....but we don't know anything concrete at this point...those practice reports are from drills they don't get to see everything...the main concern for me is top end speed and more importantly chemistry....

Damiencane86

Aug 5, 2025

Gocanes1990 said:
Not slurping. Just trying to be objective.

A healthy Lagway is a special arm talent. They have two very good RBs. At WR they have Eugene and Dallas Wilson has had a very good camp. They have the most starts across the OL in the country.

On defense they have banks and sapp on the OL. I think they are weak in the secondary. It’s a good team, hate to say it, but it’s a good team. They May not go 10-2 bc they have a tough schedule. But it’s going to be a tough game and we should treat it as such. Not going to be last year’s game 1,team.

Does Lagway actually have the brains to read defenses and go through progressions ? Or is he another glorified running back playing qb ? Thats the question he will have to answer. They have more at wr than we do but I dont see their trenches on either side as anything special at all.

J
Jassid82

Aug 5, 2025

DMoney said:
I got you. In this case, I think it’s more of an issue of limited viewing. They are reporting what they see but it’s only a short viewing period.

In the offseason, there is more of what you’re describing because reporters aren't there and have to go off who the staff chooses to hype.

Hey all good. I just asked. If Johnson is doing what he’s supposed to do quietly then all good. Look forward to seeing him this year.

And to the one poster..I never said he was penciled in as a starter..I said the CIS Poll from the posters penciled him in as the slot starter. Which means nothing obviously.