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.

 

Will Heldt say he got 4 sacks and its a money year.. Say yall better figure it out in 2 weeks time, tick tock..

This is the one I mentioned throughout spring and summer for our RT position test. Wake had one guy. Then it’d be decided by Clemson’s guy.

 

Big Zesty comin to Miami

Not a doubt in my mind the Zesty can block better than SJ

 

I know everyone wants to move McCoy back to guard but if Cantwell can’t take SJ spot. I for sure don’t want him at RT

McCoy struggled in pass protection a lot last season and, even though Wake is the only team we’ve played with a viable EDGE, he really hasn’t shown the same issues. The OL guys can better explain the differences needed, but maybe Cantwell is simply more comfortable out there than inside quickly reacting to slants, twists, and getting underneath DTs. I mean, he faced Wilson and Lightfoot all spring, summer, and fall camp. We should have a pretty **** good idea of what he’d look like against ACC DEs.

Some guys are just better at tackle. I think Cantwell is one of those guys.

 

Can you give your perspective on why it would take that play if we’ve all seen similar issues in coverage before?

It’s like the Thornton stuff. Some are now surprised that he struggles in man coverage and turning to cover inside WRs and TEs? It’s plainly in his tape from BC.

Can we get a little ahead of this stuff or do we need to see our players struggle at their weakness before we make an aggressive move in the other direction.

Kind of like last year’s tendencies. Dawson ran into a pile 13/13 times in short yardage against SMU, we lost the game, and THEN we said ‘**** it, let it rip’ or whatever (and started layering wrinkles and breaking tendencies all over by formation and playcall).

We’re 3-0. We have what I believe to be the perfect type of college QB. Can we avoid inevitable things before they happen this year? And, no, I don’t expect us to go undefeated or anything. Just to avoid the obvious.

Brother you know all the things I said were concerns coming into the offseason. Unfortunately your personally is what it is at this point and our expectations aren't where they should be because we didn't give enough reps to our youth. It's one of our fatal flaws. Now we're seeing several flawed units because we didn't put youth in a spot to succeed. BUT several of these rooms just ain't it. When everyone said thorton would be a perfect replacement for keionte I said exactly what you're saying same with jakobe. All the same we have to be realistic as well. We're struggling because we're dealing with a **** TON OF INJURIES. People are being asked to play positions and roles they've never been a part of. Not only physically is that difficult but far more importantly it means dudes are having to completely readjust their approach and roles in the scheme. It's **** difficult. So I'd give a lil more slack than most. All the same I'd say several positions our personnel was just not where it should be coming into the season. Let's all breathe a lil bit and realize this is a lot of adversity being thrown on us and we're still coming out with wins. Long term this will make us a far stronger squad. One thing that can't continue throughout this phase though is **** playcalling. Dawson needs to get his ****** head out his *** and wake up. Look at all the ****** weapons he has and say never in life should he be consistently calling screens and rub routes. It's ****** infuriating. Past that let's all just breathe

 

I remember camp opening and being told 6 or 7 wr would play and they trusted.. but games started and it was same as before 4 guys taking majority. They throw Jacobs like 5 reps and say be happy.. lol.. **** wild..

Hopefully we can get up 5 or 6 scores quickly this week. We urgently need some game reps for young guys prior to next week. This won't be the same Clemson team that lost by 41 we face next week.

 

@DMoney Then why not Hawks at RT with McCoy back at guard?

Hawks at the very minimum has gone through game week as a starter and has play in college as a starter even though it’s JUCO.

 

Really don’t understand the McCoy slander since he’s been playing well, and one of our best OL’s this year.

 

Its not insanity, it will work itself out I am sure. They just wanted to give those guys a chance, But McCoy gonna have to see it and be ok with it, you can lose guys when you make promises and have to go back on it. Now you lose the entire room and it becomes toxic quick which can spread. That unit has to be one. Idk why this is hard to believe, even if you didnt play ball, I am sure in life you have been part of a team.

What about losing the rest of the offense? The qb who you’re risking injury to by starting a turnstile at LG? Or the running backs whose running lanes are impacted? Or receivers who might not get chances downfield with longer developing plays because the protection can’t hold up?

 

I need to see Congdon at guard.

We heard all fall camp how he was playing there and looked good because of his bend and strength

Play him extensively on Saturday and see what we have because what we have seen from Cantwell at guard is not the solution to the problem.

this phrase invalidates the phrase that follows. generally, what we hear in camp is worth as much as a ho saying "only put in the tip".

 

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.

Lol who tf had expectations exceeded vs FAMU, Stanford and Wake Forest. You are a world renowned glazer.

 

Fair point. My impression watching the game was that the calls weren't materially different. I could be wrong.

Before the offense ground to a halt we had scored TDs on 4/6 drives and scored points on 5/6. I don't think there was any reason for Dawson to change the offense (since it was working so well!) and data points towards little changing WRT how we passed.

I think folks are doing hindsight bias/playing the result.

The calls may have been similar, but the formations were not.

Second half, after the first TD, we rarely used 4 WRs, there was a LOT of tight formation stuff, which made the screens harder to throw with so many Wake Forest guys crowding the line.

 

What about losing the rest of the offense? The qb who you’re risking injury to by starting a turnstile at LG? Or the running backs whose running lanes are impacted? Or receivers who might not get chances downfield with longer developing plays because the protection can’t hold up?

Im sure the coaches will make the changed necessary. My comments arent to be taken as something in stone or fact.. Im just telling you the politics of it, like anything in that arena you have to be a diplomat and handle accordingly. Some coaches arent really good at that tho lol.. Because we didnt portal a vet, mcCoy maybe even Samson has to sacrifice which sucks because the freshman is benefiting when they put in work. Im just giving the whole landscape, I know you guys dont care.. lol..

This is like SJ benefiting of playing LG because he cAnT sNaP tHe bAlL, like how you fail up lmaoo.. Thats how it will be looked at.. Fail into the position..

 

@DMoney IF THE STAFF IS REALLY CONCERNED WITH FRESHMAN DOMINATING THEN WHIFFING ONCE AND AWHILE WHAT THE HÉLL IS THE STAFF SEEING WITH SJ ON GAME TAPE EACH WEEK

 

Big Zesty comin to Miami

Elko Error!

 

The second half made me question the integrity of the sport. If we weren’t point shaving, Dawson should have to answer for whatever in the **** that was

 

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.

Money year? What's he auditioning for CFL? Buddy ain't it. He knows it and all of us know it. He s liability more so this year because his weaknesses can't be covered up by the strengths of the people around him like they were previously. Dudes *** and that's just that. Him playing period is a result of how loyal Mario and Mirabel are. But to say it's his money year and that's why he deserves to play at tackle is wild. At best he's a 6th or seventh round pick simply due to his size and the trend of scouting and gms getting stupider and stupider. But the NFL long term ain't in his future.

 

Xavier Lewis will break the interior if SJ and Ryan are out there with him.

 

10 million posts and counting

 

Money year? What's he auditioning for CFL? Buddy ain't it. He knows it and all of us know it. He s liability more so this year because his weaknesses can't be covered up by the strengths of the people around him like they were previously. Dudes *** and that's just that. Him playing period is a result of how loyal Mario and Mirabel are. But to say it's his money year and that's why he deserves to play at tackle is wild. At best, he's a 6th or seventh round pick simply due to his size and the trend of scouting and GMs getting stupider and stupider. But the NFL long term ain't in his future.

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

 

Some guys are just better at tackle. I think Cantwell is one of those guys.

It’s gotta be Congdon that breaks through then, especially with his wrestler background

Maybe Cannon Pickett but I thought he was banged up