List of problems

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We suck. So this is a long list. The problem might be as simple as "Manny Diaz and the people who hired him." But someone is going to have to fix these issues, so let's address the specifics:

Lack of discipline. We dropped from 48th to 104th in penalties. We finished with a total score of 41-42 against G5 teams. For comparison, Richt’s UM teams averaged a 43-18 win against G5. Worst of all, Manny was 0-3 coming off byes. The stats show that this team lost focus at every opportunity. Manny might be attuned to analytics, but analytics don’t mean much if your players don’t respect you.

The first change should be accountability. In retrospect, it was a mistake to bring back Jeff Thomas. He’s not good enough and his football character is not good enough. It’s one thing to tolerate a hard-working whoremonger like Michael Irvin. Jeff isn’t that kind of team player. Navaughn Donaldson is another example. He was too fat to play. Pat Riley doesn’t condone that with professionals. Manny shouldn’t condone it with college kids.

This class is critically important because of the high number of early enrollees. If they are ready to play, it gives Manny more leverage to bench underperformers.

Lack of leadership in the QB room. We’ve struggled here since at least 2007. It’s either been criminal issues (Marve and Olsen), discipline issues (Jarren and Kosi) or work ethic issues (Rosier, Jacory, Morris). The only guy who conducted himself like a quarterback was Brad Kaaya. Not coincidentally, he’s also our all-time leading passer.

We can’t rely on Jarren or Kosi. Ideally, Tyler Van Dyke is the real deal and a worker. If there is any doubt in January, bring in a grad transfer to compete. Maybe he comes in with the new OC.

Enos has been a bust. This one is easy. The top 5 teams in yards per play are Oklahoma, Alabama, LSU, Clemson and Ohio State. It’s an important stat. Enos finished 90th. Even Richt’s teams averaged 51st, and he was using a playbook from 1992. There is no choice but firing Enos. And since “pro-style offense” has been the common thread through 15 years of failure, it is time for a dedicated spread offense.

The OL stinks. Barry’s OL can’t run block or pass block. They are 113th in yards per rush. They are 112nd in sack percentage. Barry is also struggling to recruit. Signing Day is a week away, and he only has two commits. Barry needs to fired along with Enos.

The Michigan model is our best hope. They were awful in 2017. Harbaugh hired a new coach and developed his young starters. Eventually, they grew into a solid unit. Nelson, Campbell, Gaynor, Clark and Scaife should get better – individually and as a group – with more time in the weight room and more experience. Time will tell how much better they get. There was some really bad film but also flashes of athleticism and toughness.

Donaldson should not play again until he loses at least 25 pounds. Given his knee injury, a full redshirt makes some sense. You can bring him back for the last four games and keep his redshirt. A grad transfer should come in to compete and add depth. Herbert and Hillary are currently unplayable.

No speed in the back 7. Our LBs and DBs were too slow this year. The speed at LB should improve naturally with guys like McCloud, Brooks and Huff. Speed at DB is another story. This class is a disaster. I’ve defended Rumph and Banda in the past because their players developed. But they have been negligent this cycle. This class reminds me of Golden and Shannon’s depth-killing DB classes. That's how you end up starting grad transfers. Manny needs to evaluate that operation from top-to-bottom, with all options on the table.

One thing I’d like us to do is pursue big-time traits out of state. If you can’t get the Tyriques of the world with the total package, find a tough high-ceiling guy and pair him with a high-floor local player. There are plenty of viable DBs in South Florida and you can task your recruiting department with tracking down out-of-state speedsters.

We are too slow to offer. We aren’t good enough to offer kids late. We need to be first and we need to be aggressive. OL recruiting is a perfect example. Everyone down here knew this was a historic OL class in South Florida. But the SEC beat us to the punch and took the best guys. How does LSU offer a Cuban OL before UM? That’s unforgivable. We don’t have a problem dropping guys, so get in early and be aggressive.

Barry is saying the right things about OL traits but he is slow to actually identify those players. For example, I posted about a player named James Pogorelc from Virginia. This was in May 2019 and he still had no offers. His testing numbers were public and his film showed a prototype tackle in the Barry mold—tall (6’7), flexible, coordinated, laterally quick (4.68 shuttle) with great grades. I even sent his name to the staff. We did nothing.

Flash forward seven months. We are still short on tackles, and Pogorelc now has offers from Michigan and Stanford. If we had gotten him on campus in spring or Paradise we could have stolen him. Now, there’s no chance. Given the state of our program, we need to be ahead of the curve.

We need a more consistent run game. Miami finished dead last nationally in power success rate, per Football Outsiders. Some of that is on the OL. But in general, the Enos run game was boom or bust. If Dallas leaves, this becomes a much bigger problem. Harris, Lingard, Chaney and Knighton are big-play backs but they aren't guys who chew up yards between the tackles. Marcus Crowley could prove to be one of the biggest misses from the 2019 class.

One option is adding more of a QB-run dynamic. Trevor Lawrence has run for 407 yards and 7 TDs this year. Lawrence is a better athlete than our QBs, but the difference is slight when you look at testing numbers. Get those guys involved.

We have no proven WRs. One of the most glaring aspects of the FIU and Duke games was that our WRs couldn't separate. Some of that is schematic. But we don't have enough proven playmakers. It would be nice to see athletic workers like Payton and Wiggins step up in the bowl game and carry that into the offseason. We need a couple players to separate from the pack.

We need to get more out of our TEs. This is a first-world problem, but we never got Jordan and Mallory going at the same time. One adjustment I would make is using Mallory more like a flexed receiver. He was in-line too often when they were together and he performed worse than I expected. Throw him some screens and get him running with the ball. Jordan is just as good of a receiver, but he is so much better as a blocker that it makes sense for him to take on the bigger role there.

Add it all up and you have 6-6. The only group I'm comfortable with is DL. We've finished 2nd, 2nd and 7th in sack percentage the last three years and now we are stopping the run. Recruiting is also going well. That's a godsend, because DL is one of the most difficult positions to restock.

The bowl game is irrelevant but also important. The young guys and the OL should be eager to prove themselves. And Manny needs to show that he can keep his players focus when it isn't FSU or Florida week. So far, he's failed spectacularly.



Only thing I take issue with on "Lack of Discipline" is respect for the coaches. I think the players respect Manny (maybe they don't respect every assistant), but the problem that we have had, and will continue to have, is true accountability. Players know they will not be pulled off the field and/or benched due to our lack of depth. Did we HONESTLY have any OLs past our starting 5 who could come in whenever one of our starters jumped prior to the snap, held a DL, or (God forbid) gave up a horrible sack?

I agree on firing Enos and Barry. I would be fine with replacing Baker, and Patke if he can't get the KO returns and P returns to improve.

Can you figure out what the problem is with recruiting speed? We are in South Fvckin' Florida, by God. We should be swamped with speed (at least at DB). I can understand an OL coach who might not be able to project an OL's abilities, but speed is about as objective as it could possibly be, we have 40 yard dash times on all of these guys. How is this happening?
 
This was 100 % accurate in every way. The obvious most immediate change is firing Enos/ Barry but the time has come to let go of rumph & banda too. The shortcomings in recruiting our secondary has become too apparent now. This is a dumpster fire but there's no reason immediate improvement can't take place if Manolo takes some personal accountability and makes staff changes.
 
Dereliction of duty. Failure to perform to professional standards. Incompetence. Need I say more? I wish I had more power over these buffoons. They’d be shoveling manure on some farm near Gainesville.
 
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Quick question: How is it possible that Special Teams which has by far been our biggest deficit the last 5 years at least goes unmentioned? Everything you said was important but ______.

Honestly, I thought our special teams were decent this year aside from the terrible kicker. But that's a big issue.

I would look at Jose Borregales from FIU as a grad transfer.
 
This was 100 % accurate in every way. The obvious most immediate change is firing Enos/ Barry but the time has come to let go of rumph & banda too. The shortcomings in recruiting our secondary has become too apparent now. This is a dumpster fire but there's no reason immediate improvement can't take place if Manolo takes some personal accountability and makes staff changes.

how does making staff changes even matter? the players dont respect the HC, and the HC has no idea how to hire good coaches as evidenced by the ENTIRE STAFF needing to be fired.

just fire Diaz and move on. the rest is all window dressing.
 
They allowed garvin and what does he does on game day? The same sh*t even worse than Thomas during actual games

Dude you gotta have the biggest hard on for garvin I’ve ever seen, it’s every day you mention him , we can be talking the weather being bad and you’d bust out with “ you know garvin underachieved this year and took plays off”. But then make constant excuses for Williams and Thomas , two of the biggest cancers on the team. Your garvin obsession is almost as bad as krazy cane and Williams.


I know this much , every Saturday of his career garvin was out there battling , unlike Thomas and Williams who wanted to quit , quit or went AWOL . You got this **** *** backwards bruh.

I was a Williams guy, made excuses for him but at some point take for can’t save bad work ethic , a bad attitude and selfish.

If it wasn’t for the Seniors Williams would’ve been gone ,on top of all his other drama.

How can you be a program about winning with all this **** **** going on by supposed leadership positions ?

Ten years from now Thomas will do something silly and you’ll say “ poor kid, you know he’s from east St. Louis right“? Lol.
 
Honestly, I thought our special teams were decent this year aside from the terrible kicker. But that's a big issue.

Kicker is definitely a problem. I would look at Jose Borregales from FIU as a grad transfer.
Miami was definitely better on ST's under Butch/Coker back in the day when we had real coaching there. In particular, punt/FG blocking/returns. I still think this is an issue.
 
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Only thing I take issue with on "Lack of Discipline" is respect for the coaches. I think the players respect Manny (maybe they don't respect every assistant), but the problem that we have had, and will continue to have, is true accountability. Players know they will not be pulled off the field and/or benched due to our lack of depth. Did we HONESTLY have any OLs past our starting 5 who could come in whenever one of our starters jumped prior to the snap, held a DL, or (God forbid) gave up a horrible sack?

I agree on firing Enos and Barry. I would be fine with replacing Baker, and Patke if he can't get the KO returns and P returns to improve.

Can you figure out what the problem is with recruiting speed? We are in South Fvckin' Florida, by God. We should be swamped with speed (at least at DB). I can understand an OL coach who might not be able to project an OL's abilities, but speed is about as objective as it could possibly be, we have 40 yard dash times on all of these guys. How is this happening?

so another “its everyone but manny” slurper moron.

the players have zero respect for Diaz. they know he has never played and was about to be temples coach. they know he hasnt developed players for the NFL, and they think the chain and knuckles are corny now.
 
@DMoney with all do respect but don’t absolve the defense in this mess, they failed us in the 4th quarter in literally every loss and that must be added to your list of problems

Just going to talk about the losses, not even going to mention other games where our 4th quarter defense was bad like pitt and cmu. We had 5 out of 6 losses in the 4th quarter in which the defense had the lead or a tie(va tech) but gave up a td right after in everyone of those instances.

Vs uf had lead in the 4th with 9:30 left
Leading 20-17 let them go on a 85 yard drive to score a td

vs unc had the lead in the 4th with 3minutes left

After the offense led a td drive. Defense gives up a 4th and 17 with 3 minutes left in the game and proceed to let unc march down the field.

vs Va tech
Had a tie in the 4th with limited time remaining
We allowed va tech 6 redzone trips and they scored a td on each of those 6 trips... not to mention when we did make a comeback we let them walk right down the field and score a td in the 4th quarter.

vs ga tech
Had the lead in the 4th
29 missed tackles attributed to the amount of time they were able to burn off in the game . Horrible tackling performance by the defense and couldn’t get a stop when we needed to

vs fiu
we let fiu really score 30 points against us including 2 4th quarter tds? Like what are we doing here?

vs duke
Had the lead in the 4th quarter and let duke score 2 tds in that period

People can say well the games shouldn’t have been that close if the offense did their job but what good is it to have these meaningless stats on defense if you CANNOT depend on them in crunch time when it matters most? Our defense failed us just as much as anyone else when we needed them to step up. It’s common place for people to just blame the offense and yes without and it’s no secret we do but this defense needs this criticism but if we just throw all the blame to the O again these coaches/players on that side of the ball are still going to think their sh*t don’t stank and they aren’t issue. But what I can say as I’ve illustrated above they are in cahoots with this debacle of a season to along with the offense if you ask me :monkey-serious:

Comical
 
I think our situational play calling is a huge problem. Both offense and defense. Against UNC FIU and DUKE and probably more, we gave up long 3rd and 4th downs. Embarrassing. Against horrible teams they run a draw on 3rd and 15+ and pick it up. Its insane. On offense Enos just doesn't have a good feel for play calling which we know.

I'd also make the argument that we lack leaders at all positions not just QB.

What you said about recruiting and that tackle from virginia is absolutely criminal. Stanford knows their OL too so the fact they're going cross country with an offer is big. We need way more support staff dedicated to this task. Put LCL on staff he'd do a better job. Him and Gogeta call these late risers all the dam time and our staff sits on their ***. Marlon Martinez is a huge flop also. OL situation is bad.
 
Agree with this 1,000%. DB recruiting is lagging, I like Rumph & Banda as people but the fact is they're not getting it done as recruiters.

We need more Depth at CB & the methodology by which we go about offering kids at this spot is asinine. We're either too lazy or too picky with how we recruit CB's & then when we strike out on multiple targets we just sit pat & act like nothing's wrong, it's annoying AF.

Al Blades has been good for us & I believe he's going to be much better next year, but Ivey is a HUGE liability in coverage, his technique is poor, he has no recovery speed & he lacks physicality in rerouting the WR despite the fact he's a pretty **** big corner.
This couldn't be more true.. i swear every time a receiver picked up a 3rd down Ivey was either on the ground or behind him. I dont know why blades didn't play more over him. he was much better, had his issues, but was better
 
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Can't disagree with a single thought. Just wish some of the shortcomings were pointed out last spring rather than after the fact.
 
how does making staff changes even matter? the players dont respect the HC, and the HC has no idea how to hire good coaches as evidenced by the ENTIRE STAFF needing to be fired.

just fire Diaz and move on. the rest is all window dressing.
AD and BoTches.
 
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Huge recruiting weekend and closing on the 18th early signing day. We might possibly have a top ten class. The best thing going right now. “Idea” let’s continue to slam a first year head coach and his staff about things like team speed and culture for the 1,000,000 time. What would a kicker have done for the season. I get it.... they missed. They missed on the entire season. Can we please get through the bowl and recruiting before we burn the place down AGAIN.
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how does making staff changes even matter? the players dont respect the HC, and the HC has no idea how to hire good coaches as evidenced by the ENTIRE STAFF needing to be fired.

just fire Diaz and move on. the rest is all window dressing.
That's because I realistically understand the entire staff won't be fired so I rather stay out of fantasy land. I would want to see sweeping changes starting from the administration level of blake james/jen strawley gone but that won't happen so here we are.
 
@DMoney we have posters on here who are making accusations that frankly imply a total loss of and, therefore, lack of institutional control as it relates to our football program. What will it take to get the powers at be to take seriously these problems, assuming they are real, before we have even bigger issues than those that you raise here? What you are saying and what we are seeing are symptomatic of deeper core leadership issues. Again, why the hesitancy to make necessary changes?

With regard to our coach, Manny strikes me as the type of manager who wants everyone to like him. That's a huge problem and also why we don't have accountability or discipline across all levels of our football program, but that is an easy fix when you have the right people in place above him.
 
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