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our defense will take a step back, but so will the offenses we face

Cribby said:
This is my point . I don’t expect the defense to be as dominant but it shouldn’t have to.
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The defense will get stops and will reek havoc but the offensive will be so explosive I think if we get ahead early it will force teams to abandon the run and I believe we are one of the most complete teams in terms of DB talent. It won't bode well for the opposition.
 
Cribby said:
We had the two best de’s in America that were complete players. Imo the pass rush will drop off ( duh) but the setting the edge by the de’s is more of my concern. The Interior should be better so maybe those guys take some pressure off with the run d.
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I think the pass rush will actually be better, if you are just measuring sacks. The run D from the DEs worse.
 
Cribby said:
The schedule is why the drop off isn’t as big of a deal to me. When we do step up in competition is when it’ll be more of an issue. No DE is what those guys were. They blew up the run game and pass. Always affecting the game even if stats didn’t show it.

I could see a guy or two with more total sacks but having nowhere near the impact on offenses if that makes sense. Watching Missouri games Wilson would disappear for long periods then would make a splash play.
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That's why Wilson came to Miami. He intends to get better and more consistent. First round draft choice and maybe top 10----and haha, I'm sure he has longer arms than Bain.
 
I think our current DLine is better than last years.

The only real drop-off IMO is Nickel & Rover Safety spots. Keionte Scott & Jakobe Thomas will be difficult to replace from last season.

I am a big believer in JJ Dunnigan though, so we'll see how he maturates into his role.

There's questions marks about LB too; Toure & Chase are both old guys, so from an experience standpoint they'll have that covered. There are movement concerns with both of them in open space, but we'll see what they do with the rotations.

But otherwise, I think the Defense overall will be just as good if not better than last year.

As long as they play Ja'Boree more this season. He's the Key.
 
Josh said:
I’m curious what a step back looks like to you or anyone who’s expecting that to happen? Is it a top 3 unit to top 10ish? Or 20?
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I see the pass defense taking a step back because teams will have more possessions. Same reason I see the sacks improving even though I don’t think the edges are as good as last year. The offense will have the defense on the field more with all the quick scores. Run D I’d put close to the ‘25 season since the interior guys will be as good or better. So as @ageezy said 20’s would be my guess.
 
Cribby said:
ageezy said:
is the drop off defensively exploitable by the quality of offenses we will face ... especially if we get up on teams
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The schedule is why the drop off isn’t as big of a deal to me. When we do step up in competition is when it’ll be more of an issue. No DE is what those guys were. They blew up the run game and pass. Always affecting the game even if stats didn’t show it.

I could see a guy or two with more total sacks but having nowhere near the impact on offenses if that makes sense. Watching Missouri games Wilson would disappear for long periods then would make a splash play.
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Agree 100%. Bain and mesidor took over games and helped close games out. Overall the d will be an improved unit in 2027 minus d-end. Can the wave of talent and our depth at d-end take over games by effecting the qb with sacks, hurries, or simply hitting them?
 
Handsome Squidbum said:
I expect DB, interior DL, and LB will be better in 2026. So the one position that might take a slight step back is DE, but when 3 of the 4 position groups on defense will be deeper and more experienced next season, I don't quite see how that adds up to the defense overall taking a step back.
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Here's my thing with this "undeniable truth" about losing Bain and Mesidor.

Lowe was getting more hype than Blount coming out of camp his injury and off the field things derailed his freshman campaign.

Blount flashed hard and probably would have way more hype if Bain and Mesidor didnt play inhuman snaps. I'm really bullish on Blount, I think he is going to breakout. So if Lowe is as advertised that means we got two 3 down DEs that are elite caliber and an elite pass rushing edge in Wilson.

I would not be shocked at all if by the playoff Wilson is our 3rd best edge defender. The caveat being JT could work his magic and unlock whatever untapped potential Wilson has in him.

Most important thing to remember. Bain and Mesidor took over games. Taking a step back from that is not being a liability on the edge. Just because the guys may not be unblockable forces that destroy game plans (they will be) doesn't mean they are automatically some sort of weakness we have to overcome.
 
Can we consider that the Bain/Mesidor combo was not dominant until last season? Yeah we saw Bain’s freshman year and flashes for Mesidor, but there were a lot of people who were ready to kick him to the curb.

Last year’s backups were not Bain/Mesidor level at the time, but they are all highly rated guys who have shown real flashes at times. Another year of experience, S&C, JT coaching, and Heatherman’s system…maybe they take leaps forward like Mesidor did and we dominate in waves of fresh guys rather than two guys playing all the snaps.
 
Cribby said:
Josh said:
I’m curious what a step back looks like to you or anyone who’s expecting that to happen? Is it a top 3 unit to top 10ish? Or 20?
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I see the pass defense taking a step back because teams will have more possessions. Same reason I see the sacks improving even though I don’t think the edges are as good as last year. The offense will have the defense on the field more with all the quick scores. Run D I’d put close to the ‘25 season since the interior guys will be as good or better. So as @ageezy said 20’s would be my guess.
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So would it be fair to say you expect a step back more because our O is going to be giving teams more opportunities? If so, I tend to agree. From a talent and coaching standpoint I still see a top 10 unit. We also got 4 mouths to feed at RB so I’m going to assume ball possession will still play a part in our scheme.
 
I will wipe the slate clean from last year for our defense and only discuss how the losses make it worse, while strictly looking at numbers from last year for our opponents.

I think Gary and Shodell have a combined 78 IQ.
 
Virgil Cane24 said:
View attachment 365764
Go Canes!
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That Carnac guy was good! He was right - every time! And predicted that in 2026/7, UM takes the ACC and National Championship.

Nostradamus wasn't that accurate! He predicted UM would win our first NC in 1988.

Carnac:

In advance - his prediction: "A hundred yard dash."

Sealed Question: "What do you do after eating a 100 yard long prune?"

You see what I mean!
 
I don’t expect a drop off on defense it will just be a different look without Bain and Mesidor…our Dline is still elite at every position and I believe will still be dominate in both the run and pass.
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A lot of ppl are selling Toure and Chase Smiths presence at Lber short. Those are two grown *** men and Toure is an enforcer. Chase smith can add that type of presence consistently as well.
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Plus I think our secondary is going to be better even without Scott and Thomas.
 
I hope Lowe balls pause, he has the ability to set the edge which is the concern I have. Don’t think we have an edge setter yet unless it’s HL. Pause
 
Josh said:
So would it be fair to say you expect a step back more because our O is going to be giving teams more opportunities? If so, I tend to agree. From a talent and coaching standpoint I still see a top 10 unit. We also got 4 mouths to feed at RB so I’m going to assume ball possession will still play a part in our scheme.
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That’s part of it and the weak schedule but it would also be naive to think you lost your best DE combo in school history but will improve at that position. There’s more nuance to this imo. I think the offense will help camouflage the loss some. 3 and 4 had to be great at run and pass support for the d to be really good.
 
ageezy said:
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got this from shodell at canesport, i appreciate him as he shoots it straight ... he makes some great points in regards to our defense vs upcoming offenses ... not to mention most think our offense will take a step forward under mensah
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Matt Shodell in Heaven woukd ask to a Manager.
Some people believe the “Are a Realist”
Prefer believe the Negative Rather the Fact: How was Miami’s Defense in ‘24
How was Miami Defensive in ‘25?
Now Facts :2nd Year under Heatherman & There Is Abundance of Talent, Depth & Experience.

*Deepest & Yes Most Talented D-line since 2017. No one had Messidor playing up To his Ceiling.

Miami D-Line & Secondaries 2nd Team Players could Make two Solid ACC Defenses.

Matt Shodell doent know what he is talking about half the Time.

If he were Factual & Accurate I would pay attention & Listen to him . I tune him out.
 
Dwinstitles said:
I hope Lowe balls pause, he has the ability to set the edge which is the concern I have. Don’t think we have an edge setter yet unless it’s HL. Pause
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I expect blount to be at de on early downs and vs heavy personnel packages for this reason
 
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