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Observation about Nesta

It's finally starting to feel like we're getting back to the way Miami should be. Al Blades special teams captain, Nesta blowing people up on special teams reminds me of Kellen Winslow doing the same thing on special teams back in the day. Let the dogs learn on special teams and then turn them loose in year 2.
 
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I like the idea of playing Nesta and Willis together. Nesta showed the ability to both get into the backfield and make plays behind the line and occupy multiple blockers playing two gap responsibilities in high school. Very few DTs show both those abilities at an early age. I think Ford, Tito and Bethel are all solid role players.

For all the (deserved) hype around Miami's list of all -time DTs, they've managed to win big with teams that didn't feature a dominating tackle. Can anybody name a play that Matt Walters ever made besides catching the pass that ricocheted off Rumph's knee against BC? CAn anybody even name the starting DTs on the 1991 championship team?
 
DTP said:
I like the idea of playing Nesta and Willis together. Nesta showed the ability to both get into the backfield and make plays behind the line and occupy multiple blockers playing two gap responsibilities in high school. Very few DTs show both those abilities at an early age. I think Ford, Tito and Bethel are all solid role players.

For all the (deserved) hype around Miami's list of all -time DTs, they've managed to win big with teams that didn't feature a dominating tackle. Can anybody name a play that Matt Walters ever made besides catching the pass that ricocheted off Rumph's knee against BC? CAn anybody even name the starting DTs on the 1991 championship team?
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Further diving into this topic - I would rate the following NC teams via DT's:
  • 1983 - We actually had some studs at DT and were pretty stacked there.
  • 1987 - We we decent, but no one dominated. Derwin was our rock, Greg was better on passing downs because he was in fact a DE. But the DL as a unit was very good!
  • 1989 - Arguably the best DT tandem in CFB history, not just Cane history. Cortez and Russel mad Greg Mark an AA and the rest of the D operate with the kind of freedom that allowed them to do their thing. I believe this unit still hold the single season sack record for UM.
  • 1991 - This group of DT's is the poster child for how it is possible to have an absolutely suffocating D, without all stars at the DT position. The other 9 on D were so spectacular that the DT's, who would've shined on most teams, were adequate and held serve for the other 9.
  • 2001 - Similar to 1991, but did have more talent, specifically with Joseph as a starter and Sandwiches (Wilfork) as a back up.
 
CANEMC said:
Loyal to the soil!



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I'd love to agree but it's just not true. He was literally undecided on the morning of National signing day. Nesta was one bad thought away from being a Gator. That would've been the ultimate kick in the nuts, so much worse than losing the rest of the Heritage trolls.
 
Coach Macho said:
Our (interior) DL looks like a DL should look when you recruit a bunch of lower rated kids. Coincidentally the two highest ranked kids stick out like sore thumbs.

I really don't care to hear any mumbo jumbo about "they have time to develop yada yada yada". You either have a get-off or you don't. You either have tenacity or you don't. Those traits should've been developed for the last 18-20 years.

Ford is pedestrian, just an extremely big body that doesn't move particularly well. And Miller, OMG, lol. He was awful against SSU. A guy his size should not be moved so easily. He got absolutely bullied a couple times by a single blocker. Don't give me this nonsense about him being a Freshman either. We're Miami. Our Freshman should be better than SSU's upperclassmen. Nesta's a Freshman too and he was tossing SSU Linemen like they were infants.

DL and OL play is the biggest different between us and the elite teams IMO. We are so far behind it's sad.
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The thing is...were not even after the big dogs really in this years class on the interior. They are after a lot of uys that will need to add 10-20 pounds and some seasoning too. Guys like Ingraham, Munoz arent right away players imo on the inside. I do like Ingraham alot though out of Dillard then STA.

Ford looks the part he needs to just put it together. Im a big fan of doing what Bama does...which is offer **** near every 5 star DT in the country. Give them ALLLLL an offer and land them like that. Same thing i would do at OT. Just go after everyone nationwide be damned. I mean Richt's son only recruits one guy a year.
 
Gatorhater said:
Crushed one blocker into the punter and then hit The punter again. Not done yet, he speared someone else on the goal line. This boy need to play both way—looks like the guard on the team too.
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When i first brought his name up on the board a few years ago. I mentioned he was the best ol on an ol that included Tederell Slaton (uf)and Kai Herbert (um). He was a guard then.
 
Coach Macho said:
Him and Willis are Miami DT's. The rest are fill-in guys. I paid close attention to all of them and they're pedestrian. But Silvera and Willis are legit. They need to be playing together.
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Yup.

The real issue is, Miami needs like 4 more Nesta or Willis types on the inside and 4 more Joe Jackson types before we can think we'll compete with the Top of the ACC.
 
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nycane said:
Kool really hurt us recruiting wise these
last couple years. Im not sure why everyone was so crazy about Jon Ford.
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Kuligowski isn't a recruiter, but we will miss what he brought to the table from a coaching perspective. I wouldn't worry that Kul would coach up whatever he had in front of him - 3* or 4* or 5*...he'd get their best football with him.

He's an A Coach, D Recruiter.
 
gogeta4 said:
The thing is...were not even after the big dogs really in this years class on the interior. They are after a lot of uys that will need to add 10-20 pounds and some seasoning too. Guys like Ingraham, Munoz arent right away players imo on the inside. I do like Ingraham alot though out of Dillard then STA.

Ford looks the part he needs to just put it together. Im a big fan of doing what Bama does...which is offer **** near every 5 star DT in the country. Give them ALLLLL an offer and land them like that. Same thing i would do at OT. Just go after everyone nationwide be damned. I mean Richt's son only recruits one guy a year.
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Sad but true... we gotta go out and grab us some dt's and ot's this is pathetic.
 
DMoney said:
Agree on Miller. He wasn't good on Saturday but he has had really nice moments in practice. He has natural flexibility, mass and first step, along with what appears to be a good competitive nature. He needs to get in shape.

Ford is frustrating. He has flashed in practice but is inconsistent and looked bad on Saturday. Still, he's only a sophomore and came in to Miami very raw (basketball player).

Bethel is just a blue-collar backup. Tito is stopgap.
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D

AMEN... All points are true.. There is a reason he went to Illinois.... It is what it is.
 
filmcane said:
Further diving into this topic - I would rate the following NC teams via DT's:
  • 1983 - We actually had some studs at DT and were pretty stacked there.
  • 1987 - We we decent, but no one dominated. Derwin was our rock, Greg was better on passing downs because he was in fact a DE. But the DL as a unit was very good!
  • 1989 - Arguably the best DT tandem in CFB history, not just Cane history. Cortez and Russel mad Greg Mark an AA and the rest of the D operate with the kind of freedom that allowed them to do their thing. I believe this unit still hold the single season sack record for UM.
  • 1991 - This group of DT's is the poster child for how it is possible to have an absolutely suffocating D, without all stars at the DT position. The other 9 on D were so spectacular that the DT's, who would've shined on most teams, were adequate and held serve for the other 9.
  • 2001 - Similar to 1991, but did have more talent, specifically with Joseph as a starter and Sandwiches (Wilfork) as a back up.
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1989? Seriously. Maryland started with Greg Mark. Russell end up career with the Outland and first pick in the draft. Mark was heck of a college DT. Granted that team had maybe the greatest pair of DE ever at Miami, but that does not change the fact that Russell Maryland was one of best DTs we ever saw. There are not many schools where he would not be the GOAT.
 
Gatorhater said:
1989? Seriously. Maryland started with Greg Mark. Russell end up career with the Outland and first pick in the draft. Mark was heck of a college DT. Granted that team had maybe the greatest pair of DE ever at Miami, but that does not change the fact that Russell Maryland was one of best DTs we ever saw. There are not many schools where he would not be the GOAT.
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Mark was a DT in 1987 and then kicked outside in 88' and had a great year in 89'. I like Mark and am not trying to diminish his accomplishments, but the biggest engine behind that great 89' D and sack record was the fact that Russel and Cortez pushed OL's faces back into their skull pan nearly every play.

And, speaking of 89', if Erickson doesn't get injured that year and miss the Nole game, we win that one as well.
 
filmcane said:
Mark was a DT in 1987 and then kicked outside in 88' and had a great year in 89'. I like Mark and am not trying to diminish his accomplishments, but the biggest engine behind that great 89' D and sack record was the fact that Russel and Cortez pushed OL's faces back into their skull pan nearly every play.

And, speaking of 89', if Erickson doesn't get injured that year and miss the Nole game, we win that one as well.
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Oops, I typed wrong year. I meant your mention of 87.
 
DMoney said:
Agree on Miller. He wasn't good on Saturday but he has had really nice moments in practice. He has natural flexibility, mass and first step, along with what appears to be a good competitive nature. He needs to get in shape.

Ford is frustrating. He has flashed in practice but is inconsistent and looked bad on Saturday. Still, he's only a sophomore and came in to Miami very raw (basketball player).

Bethel is just a blue-collar backup. Tito is stopgap.
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Shocked that three star players are three star players.

A few on the roster on the interior are nice to develop, but we're relying heavily on these types to perform well above their head in their first and second year. Thats bad news on any roster in the nation. In a perfect world, you take your Ford types all of the time, but you've got 1-2 on your roster and they legitimately develop and see little to no playing time until they are RSJuniors where they are physically and mentally mature. We've asked from Ford for significant snaps since the first day he stepped foot on campus. Bad news.

Bethel, a low end four star, is your blue collar backup that is going to be asked to play an incredible number of snaps this year. It won't end well for Miami.
 
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So Nesta is now Warren Sapp after ragdolling Division II caliber players in garbage time and true Sophomore Jon Ford is hot garbage?

I hate myself for being addicted to this website.
 
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Comparing Silvera to Cortez Kennedy and Jerome Brown is a bit much at this stage of Silvera’s development don’t you think?

The kid has the potential to be special but let’s not crown him yet until he gets a season under his belt.

Anyway I also don’t understand why Rick or Manny didn’t start Silvera and Willis to begin with? It’s apparent that combination gives the best chance of success in the middle of the D.
 
I'm not going to crown Nesta as a ******* pro football HOF after one game against Vegan State, but when I saw that punt block it took me back. When we were really great we had true freshman making "wow" plays on special teams. Usually, the great players flash quite a bit as freshman. That punt block was freakish. He needs to have an elite work ethic and his game will be elite. God gave him alot of gifts, chief amongst them brute strength, an elite first step and unbridled rage.
 
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