Spoke to sources about everything around the team and recruiting. Some quick notes:

- The mood around the team is angry. No excuse-making or rationalization, even though they have a lot of respect for Wake Forest. Everybody knows the second half sucked and they need to get a lot better.

- The best way to describe the OL situation is "fluid." They need to find the best 5, and what we've seen so far isn't it. Based on what Mario said on WQAM, and what I've heard independently, the focus seems to be more on the guards than center or tackle. I would expect to see some different combinations this weekend. I've talked a lot about Ben Congdon and Jackson Cantwell, because they split the first-team RG reps all camp. But one young name to watch is Rhys Woodrow. He already has a ton of responsibility in punt protection and has C/G versatility. Canon Pickett is another guy who can get in the mix with the other three.

The concern with most freshmen (especially the big guys) is they may dominate on two reps and whiff badly on a third. And the that whiff could change the season. With that said, we aren't getting consistency from the older players, and they're only second-year guys themselves. Bottom line- this is a work in progress and I expect to see tinkering until it's playoff caliber.

- They're being extremely tight-lipped about injuries, although I don't sense a ton of concern aside from Marty Brown and Josh Moore. Those two are heartbreakers. Two names Miami wants to see step up in their place: Jordan Lyle and Somourian Wingo.

- Ezekiel Marcelin's injury was ill-timed because we need more at LB. I don't think those two starting spots are set in stone all year.

- In terms of recruiting, Miami is very purposeful in terms of watching senior film and grading their own prospects. Some guys who have really impressed: QB Israel Abrams, RB Ty Keys, WRs Nick Lennear and Eli Woodard, ATH A'mir Sears, DE Jaiden Bryant, DL Josh Johnson, LB Noah Glover and CB Sherrod Gourdine.

- There is no secret that the staff still wants to make another big splash in 2027. Three names stand above the rest: OT Mark Matthews, DE DJ Jacobs and TE Jaxon Dollar. Miami finished second for all three and will continue to push aggressively until the final whistle.

 

As a hypothetical…

What would people think of Woodrow at C and Rodriguez back to LG?

Why would woodrow be ready at center which is a position much more important to have experience at...

If woodrow was ready to contribute ahead of Cantwell, Congdon, (and/or Buchanan) I'd be ******* stunned

 

Spoke to sources about everything around the team and recruiting. Some quick notes:

- The mood around the team is angry. No excuse-making or rationalization, even though they have a lot of respect for Wake Forest. Everybody knows the second half sucked and they need to get a lot better.

- The best way to describe the OL situation is "fluid." They need to find the best 5, and what we've seen so far isn't it. Based on what Mario said on WQAM, and what I've heard independently, the focus seems to be more on the guards than center or tackle. I would expect to see some different combinations this weekend. I've talked a lot about Ben Congdon and Jackson Cantwell, because they split the first-team RG reps all camp. But one young name to watch is Rhys Woodrow. He already has a ton of responsibility in punt protection and has C/G versatility. Canon Pickett is another guy who can get in the mix with the other three.

The concern with most freshmen (especially the big guys) is they may dominate on two reps and whiff badly on a third. And the that whiff could change the season. With that said, we aren't getting consistency from the older players, and they're only second-year guys themselves. Bottom line- this is a work in progress and I expect to see tinkering until it's playoff caliber.

- They're being extremely tight-lipped about injuries, although I don't sense a ton of concern aside from Marty Brown and Josh Moore. Those two are heartbreakers. Two names Miami wants to see step up in their place: Jordan Lyle and Somourian Wingo.

- Ezekiel Marcelin's injury was ill-timed because we need more at LB. I don't think those two starting spots are set in stone all year.

- In terms of recruiting, Miami is very purposeful in terms of watching senior film and grading their own prospects. Some guys who have really impressed: QB Israel Abrams, RB Ty Keys, WRs Nick Lennear and Eli Woodard, DE Jaiden Bryant, DL Josh Johnson, LB Noah Glover and CB Sherrod Gourdine.

- There is no secret that the staff still wants to make another big splash in 2027. Three names stand above the rest: OT Mark Matthews, DE DJ Jacobs and TE Jaxon Dollar. Miami finished second for all three and will continue to push aggressively until the final whistle.

I feel like I’m living in the twilight zone with what I’m reading about the oline thinking. “The concern with most freshmen (especially the big guys) is they may dominate on two reps and whiff badly on a third. And the that whiff could change the season”…SJ is whiffing CONSTANTLY. Mensah got dinged on a play SJ got blown up, Fletcher and the other backs are facing hits from unblocked linebackers, etc. and that’s the rationale?!? Bull****.

That doesn’t mean the younger guys are ready for starter minutes. I’d like to see McCoy slide inside and congdon or cantwell at tackle.

 

I’m in the twilight zone with their OL rationals that almost completely transport us to the DB rationals of 2024.

Hopefully, offseason whiffs and poor planning don’t wreck a season like they did in 2024.

At this rate, in that same pattern, we’d then go into the portal and sign 286 OL for next season.

I feel like the big difference this year is we have some talented freshman where as in 2024 the defensive backfield didn’t have the young talent, at least that I can remember.

 

This is McCoy’s money year, so the odds of moving him to guard are pretty low. He’s a senior captain who has been waiting years to finally play his natural position, and he’s exceeded everyone’s expectations so far. He deserves that spot

Also, why does everyone assume a 6'9", 330-pound true freshman is going to be ready to play guard on Day 1? There’s a reason the hype simmered down during fall camp when he started taking more reps at guard. It’s not his natural position, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t extremely talented. In my eyes, he’s a first-round tackle all day.

a) Cantwell has to get reps to get better so play him in his natural position. Will take some lumps but the upside is a **** of a lot better than SJ at G.

b) Tough **** for McCoy. There is a 0% chance he ever plays a single snap at T in the NFL.

 

That doesn’t mean the younger guys are ready for starter minutes. I’d like to see McCoy slide inside and congdon or cantwell at tackle.

The so-called experienced guys aren’t ready for starter minutes either as they’ve shown with their performances so far.

 

Crazy but I think the lineup that I would like to see.
LT Cantwell
LG Samson
C Woodrow or RRod
RG McCoy or Buchanon
RT Congdon

Those OGs wouldn’t be at opposite ends of the line and could clean up communications a lot. They could also open up that inside run game more.

But I’d be happy with at least one of either Samson or McCoy kicking inside.

LT Samson
LG Buchanan/Pickett
C RRod/Woodrow
RG McCoy
RT Cantwell/Congdon

 

That doesn’t mean the younger guys are ready for starter minutes. I’d like to see McCoy slide inside and congdon or cantwell at tackle.

The so-called experienced guys aren’t ready for starter minutes either as they’ve shown with their performances so far.

McCoy and Samson have been solid to good at tackle. If cantwell looked good at LT all spring I’d love to see him get some reps at one of the the tackle spots. I get you don’t want true freshman at both tackle spots but something needs to change.

 

If you listened to Cristobal’s press conference, he mentioned the guards are something he’s going to look at. Said Center has been fine and tackle has been good. So based on what he said, he believes Rodriguez is performing fine. So i wouldn’t expect any changes at C or tackle. I beleive we’ll see some changes at G for CMU

 

After the Stanford game I said we should try the following 2 line

Samson
Buchannon
Woodrow
McCoy
Cantwell

or

Samson
Buchannon
Woodrow
Cantwell/Congdon
McCoy

I'd like to try this based off Buchannon now struggling

Samson
Pickett
Woodrow/Ryan
McCoy
Cantwell

 

I've talked with 5 different NFL scouts recently, and they would all disagree with you. We will see how it plays out

 

McCoy and Samson are model Hurricanes. They worked while waiting then won the OT jobs. I don’t think anyone wants to take that away from them.

The other issue is that there would be no experienced players on the right side then. If Buchanan and SJ look lost playing next to a guy with experienced eyes who can make the calls for them, it can’t be any better between two first time starters.

I agree that is the reason they wont slide them to G. They earned that spot.....SJ needs to be replaced this game. This is the game to do it

 

Mario may not get a QB in the portal, but he had better look for a couple O lineman, and a couple backers. The secondary will be fine next year. We 100% need O line DT and backer.

Number 65 cannot be on the field anymore. I know he’s a good hard working kid but he is 6 ft if that and gets abused in pass pro. Play Cantwell there and leave him. He’s gonna learn and get better.

 

Why aren’t we seeing Pruitt more. He’s a third year guy and second year in the defense. What gives there?

I'm all for but let's not pretend he didn't completely fail to wrap up on the 4th down tackle short of the sticks.

 

I'm all for but let's not pretend he didn't completely fail to wrap up on the 4th down tackle short of the sticks.

Maybe he's a liability vs the run

That was Toure dummy. Even still an upgrade wouldn't require perfection. We are mediocre rn.

 

Samson max/pickett rod mccoy cantwell
Jumbo te on cantwell side - SJ
SJ cannot play inside, but could he be that HB FB type. Mario would love the bully ball possibility

 

As a hypothetical…

What would people think of Woodrow at C and Rodriguez back to LG?

 

If you listened to Cristobal’s press conference, he mentioned the guards are something he’s going to look at. Said Center has been fine and tackle has been good. So based on what he said, he believes Rodriguez is performing fine. So i wouldn’t expect any changes at C or tackle. I beleive we’ll see some changes at G for CMU

I read somewhere RR has given up zero QB pressures.

He's serviceable but the two G make everyone look worse.

 

You can call out a lot of things from this game, but the tackling was absolutely atrocious. We had them dead to rights in the backfield 10+ times and couldn't finish sacks.
JJ, Toure were particularly brutal.
Lightfoot could've had 2/3 more sacks. This was the worst tackling and finishing game that I can remember seeing since the golden days.

Also, SJ is brutal. Like non playable.

 

I like McCoy at guard because I’d just like more girth in there and experience but I get not moving him. You have two non issues on OL so why just trade problems especially at the more important position? But Congdon and Cantwell need to find time somewhere. The interior as constructed won’t cut it.

 

I've talked with 5 different NFL scouts recently, and they would all disagree with you. We will see how it plays out

That's great to know. Myself one of my best friends is an NFL GM another is head of scouting for another team and I know probably 70 scouts and not many of them would disagree. But it's fine to feel that way and it's fine for them to feel that way. We don't have to agree. Myself I know what I'm watching and I know what expectations are if you're talking about somebody like they're a stud or something saying it's a money year. You discuss a money year because you feel people are due big payouts. I'm just going to say I strongly disagree and anyone I know feels the same... But I don't have an issue with you feeling that way at all.