Spring Game Thoughts

[Cane30]

Since it is all sunshine and National Champs around here for the most part, I will post on this one last time until Fall Camp.
You can have the credentialed media focus on how far ahead Cantwell and Congden are for TR FR every single day. They want to keep their credentials. I get it, you can't mention injuries or Lowe's situation. They don't want that text or email about their coverage. Pass blocking across the board is not close to where it needs to be to be a playoff team. On repeat, it's the biggest concern on this team by far. Again, run blocking is really good. You aren't going to hear Mario try to motivate the OL or TE room through the media like he is LB's for a reason. They have all season to become a playoff pass blocking group. Center has to be the biggest focus on this team. I already don't trust RR's pass blocking, but he is not alone by a long shot, to be fair. Now, his backup, Houston we have a problem. That is worse than a 5 alarm fire, by the way.
This is a NC contender everywhere if pass blocking is developed and backup C is critical with a injury prone starter. Critical!

 

[SpringsCane]

Since it is all sunshine and National Champs around here for the most part, I will post on this one last time until Fall Camp.
You can have the credentialed media focus on how far ahead Cantwell and Congden are for TR FR every single day. They want to keep their credentials. I get it, you can't mention injuries or Lowe's situation. They don't want that text or email about their coverage. Pass blocking across the board is not close to where it needs to be to be a playoff team. On repeat, it's the biggest concern on this team by far. Again, run blocking is really good. You aren't going to hear Mario try to motivate the OL or TE room through the media like he is LB's for a reason. They have all season to become a playoff pass blocking group. Center has to be the biggest focus on this team. I already don't trust RR's pass blocking, but he is not alone by a long shot, to be fair. Now, his backup, Houston we have a problem. That is worse than a 5 alarm fire, by the way.
This is a NC contender everywhere if pass blocking is developed and backup C is critical with a injury prone starter. Critical!

Curious if Samson or Max would be an option as Backup Center? Then you can bring a Congdon/merriweather to replace whatever guard spot that is free.

 

[AllbouttheU]

I hate comments like this… Dawson is an air raid OC by pedrigree coming up and he’s mixing in a power running game that his boss expects.

There’s only so many snaps and highlighting the TE I don’t think is common in air raid offenses… sucks but it is what it is. As long as we have guys like Toney, Moore, Barkate, etc eating and destroying coverages weakening boxes and letting fletch and brown run down hill with bad intentions

Sinister’s comment still stands though. TE talent at the position has been disappointing. There were plenty of times last season where a TE should have made a play but you have Bauman and Lofton ****ting the bed constantly.

 

[OrangeBowlMagic]

Since it is all sunshine and National Champs around here for the most part, I will post on this one last time until Fall Camp.
You can have the credentialed media focus on how far ahead Cantwell and Congden are for TR FR every single day. They want to keep their credentials. I get it, you can't mention injuries or Lowe's situation. They don't want that text or email about their coverage. Pass blocking across the board is not close to where it needs to be to be a playoff team. On repeat, it's the biggest concern on this team by far. Again, run blocking is really good. You aren't going to hear Mario try to motivate the OL or TE room through the media like he is LB's for a reason. They have all season to become a playoff pass blocking group. Center has to be the biggest focus on this team. I already don't trust RR's pass blocking, but he is not alone by a long shot, to be fair. Now, his backup, Houston we have a problem. That is worse than a 5 alarm fire, by the way.
This is a NC contender everywhere if pass blocking is developed and backup C is critical with a injury prone starter. Critical!

This is where the first month of the season comes in heavily. We don't play a team we have to really even think about until October 3. That's almost 6 full months away.

We have an entire summer for Mirabal to work these kids. Then a full month of camp. Then Stanford, then FAMU, then Wake, then Central Michigan. 6 months from now, these kids, especially the very young ones, are going to look and play significantly differently than they're playing now.

OL is a concern, for sure. I listed it in my original post a few pages ago. But the schedule is very generous in terms of allowing time to gel before we really play meaningful games. If we were playing Notre Dame again Week 1 like last year, I'd be infinitely more concerned about the OL.

 

[TomAce]

Since it is all sunshine and National Champs around here for the most part, I will post on this one last time until Fall Camp.
You can have the credentialed media focus on how far ahead Cantwell and Congden are for TR FR every single day. They want to keep their credentials. I get it, you can't mention injuries or Lowe's situation. They don't want that text or email about their coverage. Pass blocking across the board is not close to where it needs to be to be a playoff team. On repeat, it's the biggest concern on this team by far. Again, run blocking is really good. You aren't going to hear Mario try to motivate the OL or TE room through the media like he is LB's for a reason. They have all season to become a playoff pass blocking group. Center has to be the biggest focus on this team. I already don't trust RR's pass blocking, but he is not alone by a long shot, to be fair. Now, his backup, Houston we have a problem. That is worse than a 5 alarm fire, by the way.
This is a NC contender everywhere if pass blocking is developed and backup C is critical with a injury prone starter. Critical!

Who is the back-up at center? And what is the second team along the whole line?

 

[Pentagon Cane]

This year is legitimately as deep as any WR room I've seen at Miami. Not as good at the top as the 2000 team with starters Santana and Reggie and Andre Johnson coming off the bench. But I'm talking about depth.

We have two guys who had over 1,000 yards last year (that's pretty rare right there). Then we have two transfers who averaged, respectively, 15.5 and 17.5 yards per catch. Then two 2nd year guys, Moore and Upshaw, who flashed as FR. Then add an excellent incoming class with two guys, Wingo and Parris, that were in a lot of top 100 lists. Spafford and Evans were also pretty highly-regarded.

Name me a Canes team that looked that deep at WR.

Well if you compare the trajectory of Moss and Wayne then yes they are clearly the best. Johnson didn't even play. Wayne will end up in the HoF along side Johnson. Moss had an outstanding NFL career. Jones and King were #3 and #4. As long as Mali stays healthy that kid is going to shatter every receiving record by a mile. Barkate is going to be a **** of a pro. Kid has a knack for going open.

 

[Silentobserver]

Curious if Samson or Max would be an option as Backup Center? Then you can bring a Congdon/merriweather to replace whatever guard spot that is free.

I think Max would be the center if Ryan goes down with Congdon and Merriweather filling in as needed.

 

[TomAce]

This is where the first month of the season comes in heavily. We don't play a team we have to really even think about until October 3. That's almost 6 full months away.

We have an entire summer for Mirabal to work these kids. Then a full month of camp. Then Stanford, then FAMU, then Wake, then Central Michigan. 6 months from now, these kids, especially the very young ones, are going to look and play significantly differently than they're playing now.

OL is a concern, for sure. I listed it in my original post a few pages ago. But the schedule is very generous in terms of allowing time to gel before we really play meaningful games. If we were playing Notre Dame again Week 1 like last year, I'd be infinitely more concerned about the OL.

Also, they have the advantage of working against an elite DL...that is invaluable.

 

[SpringsCane]

Curious if Samson or Max would be an option as Backup Center? Then you can bring a Congdon/merriweather to replace whatever guard spot that is free.

I think Max would be the center if Ryan goes down with Congdon and Merriweather filling in as needed.

Tend to agree- unless a SJ improves dramatically, think the backup center is a starting guard. Like most have said, our schedule sets up nice for both first and second team Oline to get some decent snaps those first 4 weeks.

 

[skyman]

 

[OrangeBowlMagic]

Also, they have the advantage of working against an elite DL...that is invaluable.

Absolutely. The elite programs over time are elite because they get elite players, but a very big part of that is elite players emerge from competing every day with other elite players.

Cantwell, for example, practiced against Bain and Mesidor for weeks when he first got here. Now he's going against Damon Wilson and Lightfoot and Blount every day. And he's being coached/corrected daily by one of the best in the business. When we land in ****sville, South Carolina on October 3, there's not a soul up there who will be any better than what these kids have been in the muck with for 10 months.

 

[Shooter McGavin]

Since when?? In the very limited time he has been available, he is a lock down corner and as good as any in the ACC.

With all due respect you don't know what you are talking about.

 

[JHallCanes]

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.

I like Wilson but he’s nowhere near 3 and 4 to me

I know that won’t be a popular take but I don’t see it. It’s why I hope Blount gets a lot of reps at DE

 

[ShadowSpring]

2026 offense hopefully is different than we've seen from Dawson. Need to see a bunch of 3-4 WR sets with also 2 RB's at times. TE is the weakness, get these WR and RB's in the game.

Air Raid Da Gawd

Not sure Lightfoot is gonna get the run D reps ya'll saying. Hayden Lowe I think is our starter at DE.

 

[JHallCanes]

Sinister’s comment still stands though. TE talent at the position has been disappointing. There were plenty of times last season where a TE should have made a play but you have Bauman and Lofton ****ting the bed constantly.

Weird thing is somehow we’ve recruited blue chips pretty consistently but they don’t last or get injured. We’ve had the “talent” but it’s not translating.

 

[blackvern]

I like Wilson but he’s nowhere near 3 and 4 to me

I know that won’t be a popular take but I don’t see it. It’s why I hope Blount gets a lot of reps at DE

I agree with the take on wilson..but Blount is not a pss rushing DE IMO THink were gonna have to be doing a lot more blitzing this year. Hopefully Lightfoot, Pickett,and scroggins can step up. I have no faith in Hayden Lowe at all

 

[PIPO]

Any carries for Charmar?

He didn’t participate in the Spring Game.

 

[JHallCanes]

I agree with the take on wilson..but Blount is not a pss rushing DE IMO THink were gonna have to be doing a lot more blitzing this year. Hopefully Lightfoot, Pickett,and scroggins can step up. I have no faith in Hayden Lowe at all

If Lowe can’t play that’s a loss. Not sure if Blount could turn into a pass rusher with JT coaching him. He’s got the raw talent just a long way to go. OL is my #1 concern by far but we just lost two of the best edge setting run DEs I’ve seen here…so it’ll be more like filling the 3 and 4 void by committee. So I expect/hope you’ll see Blount inside and outside. Wilson can get to the QB, hoping Lightfoot takes another step there as well.

 

[OrangeBowlMagic]

I like Wilson but he’s nowhere near 3 and 4 to me

I know that won’t be a popular take but I don’t see it. It’s why I hope Blount gets a lot of reps at DE

Been saying it. It's weird, because I've said on record he will have more sacks than Bain, but he's nowhere near as good of a player overall.

This is a terrible way to do this, but Bain had 30 tackles and 24 assists last year.
Wilson had 9 tackles and 14 assists.
The year before, at UGA, he had 13 tackles and 9 assists.

Now, he had 9 sacks last season in the SEC. That was 3rd in the league, only Colin Simmons and Cashius Howell had more. Dude can get after the passer. But he's rather uninterested in capturing souls in the run game, which is what Bain prided himself on. They're markedly different players.

Can Wilson get double-digit sacks here this year and receive all kinds of national recognition? Absolutely, and I actually think he will. Will he be as effective in the run game as 3 and 4 were on a down to down basis? No. And it's Hetherman and JT's job to 1) Get as much out of him as humanly possible and 2) Understand his limitations and mitigate them. Whether that be schematically or rotationally.

Blount is my guy this year. He won't have the flashy stats that Wilson or Lightfoot will, but he's going to be an impact dude.

 

[twes.305]

OL and TEs are my concern. Concern as in how will those units compare to last season. I don’t think they will be alarmingly bad though.