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Glaring Weaknesses

Hstokes1447

Hstokes1447

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After watching this team over five games, from a pure football standpoint, there isn’t a single glaring weakness. Now, of course, most people will point to the conservative play calling as that weakness, but this post isn’t about coaching; it’s about the makeup of the team itself.

At this point last season, we all knew the secondary was historically bad and would eventually cost the team a game or two. We could also see the serious coverage issues at linebacker.

With this 2025 team, those holes simply don’t exist. When Florida sold out to stop the pass and Carson was struggling, the team won by running the ball. The very next game, FSU stacked the box to stop the run and Carson carved them up for four touchdowns. Defensively, there isn’t a single position group that’s a liability. There are no tight ends pulling away from defensive backs, no safeties missing easy tackles, and no opposing quarterbacks looking like Heisman finalists.

If Mario stays aggressive on offense for all four quarters, there isn’t a team in America that this Miami squad can’t beat.
 
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Glaring is a little dramatic but the only weakness I see is the depth of the defensive line.

I'm not saying the rest of the group are all All-Americas, just if you ask me to point out a weakness, the first (and maybe only?) thing I'm going to do to is, late in games, if we're in a dogfight and it's a back and forth affair, you're really only playing 6 defensive linemen. Bain, Mesidor, Blay, Moten, Scott, and Blount. Is that enough to play championship defense for 75+ snaps against an elite offense? That's really the only thing that I see biting us in the *** from a overall standpoint. Obviously anything can happen in a football game, I'm not saying no other group/player will be a reason we lose a game, but I really see very few weaknesses here.

If we want to reach a little deeper, we're only playing 3 receivers, and none of them are overly big. If we match up with a team who can somewhat limit the run game with their front 7 while being able to play press-man with their corners, do we have kids who can consistently beat that and get open? I'm not sold.

But we have an elite QB, a stable of backs, one of the best OLs in America (if not the best), one of the best DLs in America, fast/aggressive backers, and a tremendous secondary, led by a serial killer coordinator.

The ceiling of the WR group and the depth of the DL are the only things I can think of that can really be called potential weaknesses.

This is a really, really, really good football team.
 
I'm sorry but our biggest weakness is the Head Coach.

Like his early mentor Butch Davis, he is not much of a game day coach. But also like Butch, his greatest strength is he can build you a roster so much more talented than the opponent it will overcome whatever shortcomings there are as a game day coach.

Not sure we're quite there talent level, but this season (and yes, even last season imo) we have certainly had enough talent to go deep in the playoffs.
 
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LBs (Toure) in pass coverage. Need a 3rd WR to step up with Toney and Daniels. Lyle needs to get going to take wear and tear off Charmar and Mark. DBs are good. Louisville is first true test against a QB who can throw
 
Hstokes1447 said:
After watching this team over five games, from a pure football standpoint, there isn’t a single glaring weakness. Now, of course, most people will point to the conservative play calling as that weakness, but this post isn’t about coaching; it’s about the makeup of the team itself.

At this point last season, we all knew the secondary was historically bad and would eventually cost the team a game or two. We could also see the serious coverage issues at linebacker.

With this 2025 team, those holes simply don’t exist. When Florida sold out to stop the pass and Carson was struggling, the team won by running the ball. The very next game, FSU stacked the box to stop the run and Carson carved them up for four touchdowns. Defensively, there isn’t a single position group that’s a liability. There are no tight ends pulling away from defensive backs, no safeties missing easy tackles, and no opposing quarterbacks looking like Heisman finalists.

If Mario stays aggressive on offense for all four quarters, there isn’t a team in America that this Miami squad can’t beat.
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Hstokes1447 said:
After watching this team over five games, from a pure football standpoint, there isn’t a single glaring weakness. Now, of course, most people will point to the conservative play calling as that weakness, but this post isn’t about coaching; it’s about the makeup of the team itself.

At this point last season, we all knew the secondary was historically bad and would eventually cost the team a game or two. We could also see the serious coverage issues at linebacker.

With this 2025 team, those holes simply don’t exist. When Florida sold out to stop the pass and Carson was struggling, the team won by running the ball. The very next game, FSU stacked the box to stop the run and Carson carved them up for four touchdowns. Defensively, there isn’t a single position group that’s a liability. There are no tight ends pulling away from defensive backs, no safeties missing easy tackles, and no opposing quarterbacks looking like Heisman finalists.

If Mario stays aggressive on offense for all four quarters, there isn’t a team in America that this Miami squad can’t beat.
Click to expand...
Depth at certain positions.

Outside of Toney and Daniels, we have shown some potential but we need more production from others going forward. I think Moore, Marion, and Jo Jo can can still be solid players for us too. Although not sure what is going on with Jo Jo. He has talent but something is keeping off the field still. It may be more than just injury. We'll see what happens there.

I feel our offense can definitely be more efficient especially when we develop solid leads on teams. One of these times it could come back to bite us plus too many penalties too still so discipline is a possible area of concern.

I am ecstatic about where Miami is right now but we can definitely improve on some things moving forward. We can't get complacent.

I think Hetherman and the D is the biggest reason for the dramatic turnaround in 1 year from the team. This guy is the real deal and has brought a new culture and physicality and mindset to this canes defense we haven't seen in decades.

I am a little concerned that our DL may get worn down as season progresses with Bain, Mesidor playing 70+ snaps a game so depth is a concern especially at DT. Hopefully we can stay healthy there.

Hopefully we can get our Kicker some more practice too in games kicking more FG's as he is still young but he has looked promising so far.

I would love to see our special teams block a kick or two also. Our coverage units seem okay.

But a very solid Miami team thus far and better than most all of us expected up to this point.

Mario needs to redeem himself this November and December since his record in late season is not good. I think he will.

Go canes!
 
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bacane said:
DT depth
3rd WR
Soft remaining schedule. Easy to get up playing ND & rivals, so can focus be maintained weekly against inferior teams?
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Its a bad way to think but after Louisville, we could probably win the rest of our games with a C+/B- effort against everyone else's A game.

There's always the caveat of the South Florida kids that want revenge on the Canes for not offering and we're going to see a lot of that down the stretch. Plus the portal guys that went elsewhere and couldn't play here. Isaac Brown and Skinner at Louisville. CJ Bailey at NCST. Reid and a few more at Pitt. Obviously SMU with several of our defects.

Always heightens the effort that we get from the opponent. Its also dangerous to be at the top playing teams with nothing to lose. Dirty teams like Narduzzi will not only pull out all of the trick plays they have but will try to hurt your players along the way.
 
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The U is back to work said:
Depth. And that Mario is 4-10 in November/December.

I don’t see much else other than just fluky games with tipped passes for TOs or broken plays
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All of my friends who are fans of other teams have been hitting me up saying how good we look and what are my thoughts about the team. Every single one of them I respond with “I’ll tell you December 1st.”

Won’t get me again. 😂
 
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