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Hokie Analysts Take On The Canes

They do as good a job as you could get from an opponent breakdown. But they are also massively underrating our talent on defense. They think teams will run on us and think they’ll have a really good rushing performance on us. Basically think our defense was only good because of 3 and 4. In fairness this seems to be the general consensus out there because people can’t do a bit of research on their own. Bain himself said he thinks our defense will be better this year. They also seem to think Heatherman was here two years ago when they played us and moved the ball.
 
CreativeCane said:
They do as good a job as you could get from an opponent breakdown. But they are also massively underrating our talent on defense. They think teams will run on us and think they’ll have a really good rushing performance on us. Basically think our defense was only good because of 3 and 4. In fairness this seems to be the general consensus out there because people can’t do a bit of research on their own. Bain himself said he thinks our defense will be better this year. They also seem to think Heatherman was here two years ago when they played us and moved the ball.
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Unfortunately, the National takes are that our defense is going to take a big step back. Instead of actually seeing the talent we return.
 
TpaBayFlyFisher said:
I can't invest 90 mins on an opposing blogger's analysis of our team. Has ChatGPT done a summary?
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I listened on 2x speed. Here’s what to know:

- We should easily win ACC
- Offense firepower is elite
- OL will be weaker but good enough to beat most teams
- Lose to ND and Narduzzi is ****ed at us
- Teams will run on us, especially VT
- Their staff figured out Heatherman after two years (wrong!) and moved the ball on us (wrong!) Is it even the same staff?
- Big step back for D
- Mario still not a good coach
- Won’t win a playoff game
- Still griping about the overturned Hail Mary call (even though he was clearly out of bounds before he secured the bobbling ball) two years ago
- Kept talking about Syracuse game as if it’s the same defense
 
CreativeCane said:
I listened on 2x speed. Here’s what to know:

- We should easily win ACC
- Offense firepower is elite
- OL will be weaker but good enough to beat most teams
- Lose to ND and Narduzzi is ****ed at us
- Teams will run on us, especially VT
- Their staff figured out Heatherman after two years (wrong!) and moved the ball on us (wrong!) Is it even the same staff?
- Big step back for D
- Mario still not a good coach
- Won’t win a playoff game
- Still griping about the overturned Hail Mary call (even though he was clearly out of bounds before he secured the bobbling ball) two years ago
- Kept talking about Syracuse game as if it’s the same defense
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Its intentional wishful thinking by them vs acknowledging an eventual *** kicking that is on deck for them.
 
JamesQuall said:
Good listen. A very fair review from a rival. Don't agree with all of their takes but they are fair. The realest thing said:

"It would track with Miami to lose a game that they shouldn't."

Let's hope we can change that narrative this season.
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While this was true of us for sooooo many years from 07-2020 I think now its more of just the way football goes, very rare to see an undefeated team, we are going to be favored in prob every game except ND if the current rankings hold, so yes, if we lose only one game outside of ND, it will technically be losing to a team we shouldnt.
 
Cookie917 said:
While this was true of us for sooooo many years from 03-2025 I think now its more of just the way football goes, very rare to see an undefeated team, we are going to be favored in prob every game except ND if the current rankings hold, so yes, if we lose only one game outside of ND, it will technically be losing to a team we shouldnt.
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You're right. We do it every year.
 
TpaBayFlyFisher said:
I can't invest 90 mins on an opposing blogger's analysis of our team. Has ChatGPT done a summary?
Click to expand...


Overall vibe: Extremely bullish​


The hosts believe Miami is one of the best teams in the country and a legitimate College Football Playoff and national championship contender. They repeatedly say this isn't the same "Miami is back" hype from previous years—they think this team is actually built to compete at the highest level.


National outlook​


  • Consensus preseason ranking: around No. 7–8 nationally.
  • They expect Miami to be a Top-10 team all season.
  • Their expectation is 10–11 regular-season wins, with one host specifically predicting 11-1.


Biggest strengths​


⭐ Quarterback (Darien Mensah)​


They are extremely high on Mensah.


Their opinions:


  • Upgrade or at least equal to Carson Beck.
  • More talented passer than people realize.
  • Put up excellent numbers at Duke despite having less talent around him.
  • Now gets significantly better weapons and coaching.
  • Dark horse Heisman candidate.


⭐ Skill position talent​


They think Miami may have:


  • Better WR room than last year.
  • Elite running backs.
  • One of the most explosive offenses in college football.

They repeatedly mention:


  • Malachi Tony
  • Cooper Barkquet
  • Mark Fletcher

as potential stars.



⭐ Coaching​


Very complimentary of Mario Cristobal.


They believe:


  • He's restored Miami's physical identity.
  • Elite recruiter.
  • Elite offensive line developer.
  • Kept both coordinators, which they view as a huge advantage.


Biggest concerns​


Offensive line​


This is their biggest question mark.


Miami lost:


  • four starters
  • multiple NFL Draft picks

They believe the line will take a step back, but still probably finishes among the best in the ACC because of the talent behind those players.



Defensive line​


Another concern.


They lost stars:


  • Ruben Bain
  • Akheem Mesidor

The replacements are talented, but the hosts don't think they'll completely replace last year's dominant pass rush.



Defense​


Overall opinion:


Still expected to be very good, especially the secondary.


They love:


  • experienced defensive backs
  • aggressive scheme
  • lots of blitzing

They think the defense will probably be slightly worse than last year, but still among the ACC's best.



Schedule​


This is where they become very optimistic.


They think Miami's schedule is favorable.


They expect Miami to:


  • cruise through the first month,
  • be heavily favored in nearly every ACC game,
  • have Notre Dame as the one major obstacle.

One host predicts:


11-1, with the lone loss coming at Notre Dame.
Click to expand...


ACC expectations​


They believe:


  • Winning the ACC Championship is the expectation.
  • Missing the ACC title game would be considered disappointing.
  • Making the Playoff should be the minimum goal.


National Championship?​


They think Miami is capable, but aren't ready to pick them to win it all.


Reasons:


  • Questions on the offensive line.
  • Questions replacing NFL talent.
  • They still need to prove themselves against elite opponents.

Their feeling is:


Playoff team? Yes.

National champion? Possible, but not their pick.
Click to expand...
 
canes_226 said:

Overall vibe: Extremely bullish​


The hosts believe Miami is one of the best teams in the country and a legitimate College Football Playoff and national championship contender. They repeatedly say this isn't the same "Miami is back" hype from previous years—they think this team is actually built to compete at the highest level.


National outlook​


  • Consensus preseason ranking: around No. 7–8 nationally.
  • They expect Miami to be a Top-10 team all season.
  • Their expectation is 10–11 regular-season wins, with one host specifically predicting 11-1.


Biggest strengths​


⭐ Quarterback (Darien Mensah)​


They are extremely high on Mensah.


Their opinions:


  • Upgrade or at least equal to Carson Beck.
  • More talented passer than people realize.
  • Put up excellent numbers at Duke despite having less talent around him.
  • Now gets significantly better weapons and coaching.
  • Dark horse Heisman candidate.


⭐ Skill position talent​


They think Miami may have:


  • Better WR room than last year.
  • Elite running backs.
  • One of the most explosive offenses in college football.

They repeatedly mention:


  • Malachi Tony
  • Cooper Barkquet
  • Mark Fletcher

as potential stars.



⭐ Coaching​


Very complimentary of Mario Cristobal.


They believe:


  • He's restored Miami's physical identity.
  • Elite recruiter.
  • Elite offensive line developer.
  • Kept both coordinators, which they view as a huge advantage.


Biggest concerns​


Offensive line​


This is their biggest question mark.


Miami lost:


  • four starters
  • multiple NFL Draft picks

They believe the line will take a step back, but still probably finishes among the best in the ACC because of the talent behind those players.



Defensive line​


Another concern.


They lost stars:


  • Ruben Bain
  • Akheem Mesidor

The replacements are talented, but the hosts don't think they'll completely replace last year's dominant pass rush.



Defense​


Overall opinion:


Still expected to be very good, especially the secondary.


They love:


  • experienced defensive backs
  • aggressive scheme
  • lots of blitzing

They think the defense will probably be slightly worse than last year, but still among the ACC's best.



Schedule​


This is where they become very optimistic.


They think Miami's schedule is favorable.


They expect Miami to:


  • cruise through the first month,
  • be heavily favored in nearly every ACC game,
  • have Notre Dame as the one major obstacle.

One host predicts:





ACC expectations​


They believe:


  • Winning the ACC Championship is the expectation.
  • Missing the ACC title game would be considered disappointing.
  • Making the Playoff should be the minimum goal.


National Championship?​


They think Miami is capable, but aren't ready to pick them to win it all.


Reasons:


  • Questions on the offensive line.
  • Questions replacing NFL talent.
  • They still need to prove themselves against elite opponents.

Their feeling is:
Click to expand...
Thank you for the cliffnotes version. It's greatly appreciated.
 
I turned it off when they started complaining about us taking Mensah and Duke suing us. Ha. Who wants to tell them that Duke sued Mensah, not Miami?

They seemed to take issue with Mario's words at the ACC Media days, like he was almost bragging that no one was going to stop us since we have now done this with Lucas and Mensah. Oh, and they said something about us having the money to do whatever we wanted. Said if this was the SEC it would have been shut down. Give me a break. I'm so sick of people not understanding how the rules actually work, that the NCAA lacks the rules to enforce much of this, and that we were partly screwed with the portal because of being in the championship game. But they "know" exactly when Miami when talking to Mensah because the internet said so. Idiots.
 
CreativeCane said:
I listened on 2x speed. Here’s what to know:

- We should easily win ACC
- Offense firepower is elite
- OL will be weaker but good enough to beat most teams
- Lose to ND and Narduzzi is ****ed at us
- Teams will run on us, especially VT
- Their staff figured out Heatherman after two years (wrong!) and moved the ball on us (wrong!) Is it even the same staff?
- Big step back for D
- Mario still not a good coach
- Won’t win a playoff game
- Still griping about the overturned Hail Mary call (even though he was clearly out of bounds before he secured the bobbling ball) two years ago
- Kept talking about Syracuse game as if it’s the same defense
Click to expand...
I'm glad someone brought up the homerism! And, them being tipsy from drinking some beer from Vermont and a mojito! What I don't get is their very sure about what they don't know!
 
Cookie917 said:
While this was true of us for sooooo many years from 07-2020 I think now its more of just the way football goes, very rare to see an undefeated team, we are going to be favored in prob every game except ND if the current rankings hold, so yes, if we lose only one game outside of ND, it will technically be losing to a team we shouldnt.
Click to expand...
in the last ten years, 25% of cfb games were won by the underdog. I think we are just more sensitive to our losses, but no evidence we are worse than others in this arena. Dumb a$$ losses like GT belong in a category of their own.
 
ScorpionKane1 said:
So Notre dame, a@m, osu, ole **** and Indiana are not real opponents? And we're 5-0 against the vaunted sec the last 2-3 years! They shouldn't be drinking and hosting at the same time!
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That's exactly what I was thinking. What do these imbeciles think we did last year and in the playoffs?
 
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