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Jojo Trader and Lofton are the key to beating A&M and a deep playoff run

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Trav said:
I'll say this. We missed Lofton in the championship game.
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In 15 years only the most diehard Canes fans will remember that missing a "slightly better than average" TE may have been the difference between being the runner up or winning a championship in 2025. If Lofton plays, that means less Bauman. And few people will dispute that Lofton would have made his blocks on punt safe.

I am curious though- on the pass were O'Connor could have had a pick 6 put didn't make a play on the ball, if Lucas hadn't been suspended for the 1st half, would he have been covering that WR?
 
Handsome Squidbum said:
In 15 years only the most diehard Canes fans will remember that missing a "slightly better than average" TE may have been the difference between being the runner up or winning a championship in 2025. If Lofton plays, that means less Bauman. And few people will dispute that Lofton would have made his blocks on punt safe.

I am curious though- on the pass were O'Connor could have had a pick 6 put didn't make a play on the ball, if Lucas hadn't been suspended for the 1st half, would he have been covering that WR?
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Yea good questions. Even without Lucas though Mendoza really only got going in the 2nd half when he was back. As for the almost pick-6 I don't think he had the best angle to actually pick it off. JMO.
 
CityboyCanes4life82 said:
One of the keys to Miami beating Texas A&M and honestly making a real playoff run is JoJo Trader and Lofton

I am not saying JoJo needs 8 catches for 150 yards. We’ll gladly take it, but that’s not what we need from him against Texas A&M or during a playoff run.

What JoJo gives you is situational value. We’ve all seen the film and the practice clips. Great feet, polished route runner, one handed catches and creates separation.

With Malachi Toney being a freshman All American and arguably the best slot receiver in the country, playoff defenses are absolutely going to scheme him. Brackets, leverage, safety help. Elko isn’t letting one guy beat him. That’s going to create opportunities elsewhere.

That’s where JoJo comes in.

He might only see 3 to 4 targets in this game, but those targets matter

A key catch on 3rd and medium to keep a drive alive

A contested catch when coverage is tight

A route that pops open because the defense is tilted toward Toney

You only need a handful of plays like that to swing a playoff game.

Same idea with Lofton. We’re not asking him to dominate. But if he can win three critical matchups against linebackers. One on a key 3rd down. One in the red zone. One off play action. That goes a long way toward winning this game or putting A&M away late.

Can they play the Robert Horry, Steve Kerr or John Paxton role? When their number was called they drilled the shot! We need Jojo and Loften to do the same for Miami.
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this aged like milk on a warm summer day.
 
dookie blaylock said:
this aged like milk on a warm summer day.
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will ferrel GIF
 
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Handsome Squidbum said:
And few people will dispute that Lofton would have made his blocks on punt safe.
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Not disagreeing with you on this statement, but did Lofton even play on our punt safe unit? I do know for sure that Bauman played on punt safe regularly during the season, because I remember him getting ran thru on a punt earlier in the season. That punt wasn’t blocked, but Bauman just looked awful.
 
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Handsome Squidbum said:
In 15 years only the most diehard Canes fans will remember that missing a "slightly better than average" TE may have been the difference between being the runner up or winning a championship in 2025. If Lofton plays, that means less Bauman. And few people will dispute that Lofton would have made his blocks on punt safe.

I am curious though- on the pass were O'Connor could have had a pick 6 put didn't make a play on the ball, if Lucas hadn't been suspended for the 1st half, would he have been covering that WR?
Click to expand...
I don't believe Bauman replaced Lofton on punt coverage unless I'm mistaken.
 
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