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.

 

Big Zesty comin to Miami

1.) I doubt it
2.) At the end of the day, you take all the big athletic bodies you can. Especially after seeing our situation currently. That price tag is sky high I’m sure and I don’t think he is worth THAT but this is all moot anyway because of point 1. He is obsessed with that cult in CS so let him go have fun w that.

 

The Blood Bank 9/21

 

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.

yea, they may need to flip that room a little.

 

D$ - with what you know now, which combination would you have more confidence in:
1. McCoy at Guard / Cantwell at Tackle
2. SJ at Guard / McCoy at Tackle.

#1 but @skyman and Ahmmon laid out the problem above.

Interesting concept. Just caught up the pod as well. Fair enough. More of a philosophical question but is the priority doing right by an individual player or the team?

Also on some level isn’t it undercutting Mensah, Fletcher, and everyone else on the offense’s value to play a worse version of the OL? Can’t imagine NFL scouts watched that 2nd half and were excited about Mensah performance.

 

#1 but @skyman and Ahmmon laid out the problem above.

Seems insane to put one player above what’s best for the team.

 

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.

This is the 2nd drive and beyond of the second half, taken from espn play log.

 

This is Jordan Lyle’s Super Bowl on Saturday

 

And while we are at it, get Demari tf off of special teams!!! I have never seen one player try to sabotage a punt return this many times in 3 games in my entire life

 

And while we are at it, get Demari tf off of special teams!!! I have never seen one player try to sabotage a punt return this many times in 3 games in my entire life

They already did in the wake game

 

I need that LB bit to be true even if I don't believe it.

It's true. All you have to do is watch how the rotation played out once toure got beat for that first drive touchdown. After that drive you really didn't see him and smith on field together much except in some obvious rushing downs. Mario is one of those dudes like in our old days that believes the starters are always fluid and your spot is dependent on how practice plays out. Everything will always be fluid.

 

If I were the coach (clearly am not),

Samson
Cantwell
Woodrow
Buchanan
McCoy

It seems too obvious. But they love these other kids who cannot perform

I agree with Woodrow starting if he’s really impressing and it’s not just sunshine pumping. At this point it feels like RR is starting by default. I don’t think he has played up to the standard with his struggles being overshadowed by our incompetence at guard. I also dont have confidence that a 6th year player will improve mightily over the season either.

I could be convinced that he looks worse because the guards are so bad and if they improve, so will he.

Would love a Langdon Tengwell breakdown of RRs performance bc everyone i look he getting pushed back.

 

It's true. All you have to do is watch how the rotation played out once toure got beat for that first drive touchdown. After that drive you really didn't see him and smith on field together much except in some obvious rushing downs. Mario is one of those dudes like in our old days that believes the starters are always fluid and your spot is dependent on how practice plays out. Everything will always be fluid.

sucks Marcelin got hurt, he is playing well. starting to grow. that is what happens as season goes on, guys step up.
You think any of the fresh play this year like a JJ Edwards?

 

I agree with Woodrow starting if he’s really impressing and it’s not just sunshine pumping. At this point it feels like RR is starting by default. I don’t think he has played up to the standard with his struggles are overshadowing by our incompetence at guard. I also dont have confidence that a 6th year player will improve mightily over the season either.

I could be convinced that he looks worse because the guards are so bad and if they improve, so will he.

Would love a Langdon Tengwell breakdown of RRs performance bc everyone i look he getting pushed back.

The entire interior just has no grit to their game either. We were fed we would be running the ball down people’s throats. These guys are soft combined with not very talented. And we can’t really afford that

 

I agree with Woodrow starting if he’s really impressing and it’s not just sunshine pumping. At this point it feels like RR is starting by default. I don’t think he has played up to the standard with his struggles are overshadowing by our incompetence at guard. I also dont have confidence that a 6th year player will improve mightily over the season either.

I could be convinced that he looks worse because the guards are so bad and if they improve, so will he.

Would love a Langdon Tengwell breakdown of RRs performance bc everyone i look he getting pushed back.

I mean Woodrow played with back ups against back ups but he and Pickett looked better to me than Ryan and SJ. those guys are soft.

 

Sh*t Bonner flashes every game...im not concerned with him....

Meriweather woosh....

the rest i think can handle up

This. I’m always seeing 11 every time he’s in. Give him the reps asap

 

Seems insane to put one player above what’s best for the team.

Yep pure insanity.

We are leaving McCoy to protect his NFL hopes over winning football games. What a ******* joke.

 

I'll tell you one thing. Wake put out some VERY nasty film on us. Clemson will have a great gameplan for us. We'd better bring our A game.

Dabo always gets someone. Usually at home.

Better not let it be us

 

Then go out and pay big money for a Guard instead of throwing that money at Cantwell. Or, pay for both. I hear you on McCoy earning a shot, but I still don’t think he’s been fully tested at RT and right now the team really needs a better combo of LG/RT than the insanity we are watching. But, yes, I understand.

I agree, we were in the portal threads saying EXACT same thing, lets not neglect certain positions to be DB '24. We were told we gucci, I am not worried about mario/mirabal oline.. We just needed one dude with experience to hold us down..If you gonna go with Rodriguez, you cant flank him with two rookies, because even tho he Manny recruit and been here 6 years, he never was the guy. How Kentucky signed 4 transfers and able to go into tamu and run rock and we cant find one legit guy out portal?

 

This. I’m always seeing 11 every time he’s in. Give him the reps asap

same. he's ALWAYS around the ball. he has effort.

 

It's true. All you have to do is watch how the rotation played out once toure got beat for that first drive touchdown. After that drive you really didn't see him and smith on field together much except in some obvious rushing downs. Mario is one of those dudes like in our old days that believes the starters are always fluid and your spot is dependent on how practice plays out. Everything will always be fluid.