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Spring Game Thoughts

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3FW said:
We did in 2001. Won’t likely be better than last year, but will be better in spots. We will be better at LG and Center. The other 3 spots we will be ok. Depth we have Merriweather, Congdon, Wilkerson and SJ. OL is in better shape that 95% of the rest in FBS.
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I dont doubt that mirabal and cristobal will do their absolute best to have that unit ready but what exactly makes u think we'll be better at Center? A career backup guard that hasnt really been healthy in his career. Brockermeyer had a solid yr
 
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I think worrying about the OL in the Spring is premature. Samson was out, they are mixing and matching most of spring. We have a good DL so I’d be more concerned if they weren’t getting Pressure. If Mensah is running for his life all of Fall Camp, then we can be a little nervous.
 
OrangeBowlMagic said:
The portal DE we got is a WAY different player than the 2 we lost. He’s elite at what he does and I’ve said on record here he will have more sacks than Bain, so I’m sky high on him. But he has very little interest in playing the run and setting the edge.
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Every scheme is different and ask of its players differently, I think a 4 year player in money year can do what was asked of Mesidor (He wasnt setting a hard edge every play).. Dline will be fine, definitely not #1 spot worry.. Open to being wrong but have hard time seeing a veteran player just unable to do his job, I expect him to blow up, his skillset and motivation is gonna be next level.
 
Jedi Master Cane said:
Yeah, I think we've all been sleeping on Upshaw. The thing is we are so loaded at receiver that it's easy to overlook one of these guys....but it's going to be impossible to keep Upshaw off the field. He's already got good chemistry with Mensah.
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last year, on the field he separated and was faster than all our other receivers
 
DMoney said:
I’ll post more later, but wanted to drop a quick reaction while I wait for my son’s hoops game.

Overall, this was a productive spring and pretty clean spring game. The team did a great job keeping players healthy. Josh Moore got banged up in one-on-ones, but the people I talk to aren’t concerned. We are otherwise in good shape. On to the game:

- Darian Mensah was the star of the show. He started off a little conservative, but once he warmed up he was throwing all over the field with outstanding accuracy and anticipation.

This should be no surprise, but Mensah has excellent timing with Cooper Barkate and will make seemingly dangerous throws to him with total confidence. They connected on a tight-window throw over the middle with perfect coverage from Jaboree Antoine. Mensah also hit Barkate for a TD on a fade, and did the same thing with Daylyn Upshaw on a subsequent drive. He also threw a TD to Cam Vaughn over the middle in a spot only Vaughn could catch it. He is going to put up huge numbers in this offense.

- The backup QB who flashed the most was Judd Anderson. He threw several strikes over the middle and led a touchdown drive late in the scrimmage.

- Mark Fletcher and Malachi Toney got very limited work. We know what they can do. In Fletcher’s absence, Javian Mallory got increased reps and took advantage. He had a long run to the outside that could’ve been six if JJ Dunnigan wasn’t there to run down the angle. Jordan Lyle also had some strong runs.

- It was a quiet day for the tight ends, other than a nice full-extension catch by Luka Gilbert on fourth down.

- The aforementioned Cam Vaughn is really coming on since a quiet start of spring. Milan Parris was very active with multiple first downs. He was sick when he first got to Miami and lost 12 pounds. Now, he looks healthy and dangerous. Spafford had a tough drop with Dunnigan closing in but bounced back with several big catches on Judd’s TD drive.

- On the offensive line, the first team gave Mensah some clean pockets. The best matchup of the day was Jackson Cantwell and Damion Wilson. Cantwell tossed Wilson on Mensah’s TD to Barkate, and Wilson got his revenge with a nice inside move. Both players look like future pros.

I continue to be impressed by Ben Congdon’s ability to drive block. He is huge, flexible and mean.

- The defensive line got some pressure, led by Wilson. Maybe the most impressive play was Armondo Blount chasing down a screen to Izzy Briggs. He has a serious motor and can run.

- The linebackers were excited to hit. Ezekiel Marcelin, Kellen Wiley and Bobby Pruitt had big tackles. Jordan Campbell also blew up a play in the backfield.

- The most impressive player on the field may have been JJ Dunnigan. He played more snaps than anyone and did it at full speed. He hade multiple PBUs and a physical TFL. Omar Thornton plays at a different speed when it’s full contact and throws his body around like a missile. Cortez Redding had a nice pick during 1on1s.

- OJ Frederique and Xavier Lucas played limited snaps and Damari Brown was out. This created opportunities for guys like Brody Jennings and Antoine and they looked the part. The QBs were forced to check down often and many of the catches were closely contested.

Overall, the intensity was good and the talent is obvious. One of the keys this summer will be getting more guys ready to play on the offensive line and continuing to find tone-setters on defense. On a side note, it was great seeing all the CanesInSight members out there. Your support is appreciated. Go Canes.
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What is going on with Hayden Lowe?
 
In this Offense, in order to feature the TE more, that's going to take targets away from MToney, because that's the Y position.

It's an Inside-Out Offense where the primary route 80% of the time is the Slot-Y.

I imagine most of the people griping about the TE's lack of usage would also simultaneously be up in arms about not featuring MToney on every play.

Ultimately, it's really the QB's decision.

The TE's get plenty of burn & run routes every time they're on the field on pass plays (where they're not just blocking), it's up to the QB to decide where he wants to go with the ball.
 
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OrangeBowlMagic said:
Quick thoughts on my concerns, post-spring, in order of importance:

1. Edge group in the run game. Bain and Mesi were as good as I can ever remember anyone being here at setting the edge in the run game. Who can come close to replicating that? Wilson and Lightfoot are elite pass rushers, I don’t trust either to do what 3 and 4 did (not that I expect them to exactly, but we need to be able to hold up there). But can they be OK? Can the other kids fill some gaps when they’re in the game?

2. Weak side backer and the overall depth. 31 wasn’t incredible, but he was solid. Can chase smith play the same way? I’m not sold. We need 1-2 more kids to step up.

3. Center. It’s an incredibly integral position in this offense (and most offenses). We’ve been spoiled. Lee, Carpenter, Brockermeyer the last 3 years. Again, no Outland trophy winners here, but coming into the last 3 years, we had a kid who we knew would be, at least, solid. We don’t this year. Where will Rodriguez fit in on that lineage?

4. The OL in general. We know the deal here. We lost 4 starters. Will we take a step back? It’s probably a favorite that we do, but if so, how much? Can it still be a Top 20 line?

5. The kicker. Davis was good, till he wasn’t. And it almost cost us the A&M game (yeah, it was windy). He melted down late in the year. We know a game is going to be at least partially decided, if not totally decided, by a kick. A Borregales brother ain’t walking thru that door. Who can hang their nuts out and make a kick?

1 is a MAJOR concern. Again, doesn’t mean we automatically blow. But it’s my main question. 2 and 3 are big. 4….i trust Mario and Alex. I know we’ll be good. The ceiling of the offense is predicated on how good, however. 5 is important but if this offense is as good as I think it is, we’ll be ok.

My reasons for extreme optimism:

1. Literally every other **** thing. Sweet ******** of god is this team loaded. Yes, I am firmly in the camp that this will be a better overall football team. We. Are. Absurdly. Loaded. Does that mean we are 40 yards from a natty on the last drive of the season? No. Football is a crazy game. Crazy **** happens. But I am fully convinced, on a snap to snap basis on both sides, this is one of the 5 best teams in the country. The offense is ******* disgusting. The defense is oozing talent, especially if we can get leads and make teams one-dimensional. The coordinator is a very likely serial murderer. Mario’s in-game coaching is markedly improved. The depth is the best it’s ever been. 5 years ago a kid like Mallory or Wingo would’ve been heavy rotational players and possibly starters. Now they’re gonna get most of their action squeezing water bottles during timeouts. Armondo Blount starts for every single ACC team…except here. Same with O’Conner. What even is this running back room? It’s a joke how deep and talented it is. I can go on for 20 mins. We have a very favorable schedule, especially early, when we need to gel. The ceiling here is a natty, full-stop. The talent is that good.

If we can fill some gaps on my concerns above and just make those good areas (they don’t have to be great), we are losing, at most, 1 game and just prison raping this league.

2023 was better than 2022. 2024 was better than 2023. 2025 was better than 2024. Those are literal facts. I don’t expect that trend to change in the least bit. This staff is assembling a monster, and we have coordinator continuity. The ceiling is truly the roof. Buckle in boys, we are gonna have a TON of fun this fall. Can’t wait.
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I’ve been on here a long time. We have many blind fanatics and we have many suicidal mopers

This is one of the most balanced analysis of the team I have read on here. Identifies legitimate concerns that need to be addressed but recognizes the very good

Tremendous post.
 
Memnon said:
In this Offense, in order to feature the TE more, that's going to take targets away from MToney, because that's the Y position.

It's an Inside-Out Offense where the primary route 80% of the time is the Slot-Y.

I imagine most of the people griping about the TE's lack of usage would also simultaneously be up in arms about not featuring MToney on every play.

Ultimately, it's really the QB's decision.

The TE's get plenty of burn & run routes every time they're on the field on pass plays (where they're not just blocking), it's up to the QB to decide where he wants to go with the ball.
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The complaints about Arroyo and TE make no sense from production standpoint because even tho Arroyo was 4th in yards in '24, in last ten years he was more productive than every other TE in that time other than Njoku in '16. And he was 3rd option. Shannon got great production when he had a weapon there.. The offense was ran well and everyone ate. Most productive offense in our history maybe. arroyo increased his stock in this offense.

Shannon has made most forget what offense has been in miami prior and the type of production overall, his offense has rewritten the record books and continues to do so. I know these are fickle fans when they wanted Mirabal fired then weeks later say he is best in nation.. Wild swings but the narrative when you dig in makes no sense. The TE produced and got drafted.. Recruit a similar guy like him and less bauman please..
 
OrangeBowlMagic said:
Quick thoughts on my concerns, post-spring, in order of importance:


2. Weak side backer and the overall depth. 31 wasn’t incredible, but he was solid. Can chase smith play the same way? I’m not sold. We need 1-2 more kids to step up.
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Agree…. There was a noticeable gap between 31 and 41 last year.


OrangeBowlMagic said:
4. The OL in general. We know the deal here. We lost 4 starters. Will we take a step back? It’s probably a favorite that we do, but if so, how much? Can it still be a Top 20 line?
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Honestly I think it's more likely that we are than aren't…Although probably more likely in the teens. I don't think CMC has ever not had a top 20 OL outside of his Year 1s and of course FIU wasn't top 20 overall but were definitely above average among low g5

OrangeBowlMagic said:
If we can fill some gaps on my concerns above and just make those good areas (they don’t have to be great), we are losing, at most, 1 game and just prison raping this league.
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I wish I could say that, and I agree the potential is there… But although CMC has quietly proven to be a very good big game coach (especially non-con and playoffs), he has shown to be the opposite in some "small games" or should I say vs. good but not great conf opponents. We shall see.
 
Whats up, Canes fans. How you guys liking your team this year? From an outside perspective you guys are crushing it on the recruiting trail even more than usual coming off your post-season run
What do you think, will ND and Miami come into our game both unbeaten and top 5?
 
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Memnon said:
Whose targets do you want cut in half & for which TE do you want them cut in half for?
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I’m over here like how can we do more 4 wide sets and get some of these backs looks out the backfield and they want 13 personnel smh
 
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