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.

 

I am with you 10000%. We have a Manny holdover with chicken legs who couldn't barely sniff the field for four years at Center. SJ is a mess, he looks like a short, fat kid. Neither has a mean streak.

2 Manny holdovers (Chase Smith) who should have been told thanks but we are all good now. Seem like good dudes but sorry just not Miami material.

 

How about we just go jumbo and put Cantwell at TE (so, right tackle #2). Then we can tape SJ and RR together so no twists or slants get between the two stooges. Tighten the splits and make the great wall of Mirabal stand tall.

 

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

Those scouts work for the dolphins, browns, jets, titans or falcons?

 

this is literally the concern with the older players lol. we are seeing it happen every week

I said this in the very next sentence. Which is why I expect shuffling.

I hope they expect it. It can’t continue. No way Mario is watching this film and not thinking of doing something.

 

Big Zesty comin to Miami

who or what is Big Zesty?

 

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

It’s team above everything. Yeah McCoy earned his RT position but right now it ain’t about the politics, you gotta eat it as a player, coach, all that for the team. This where transparency, relationships, adaptability become / remain the most critical attributes of an elite coach. Mario has to make the pieces fit.. for this team and now.

 

who or what is Big Zesty?

 

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.

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.

I’m really praying this is a wake up call for them. Idc who went out. Weve seen the sample size adapt or we die.

 

View attachment 373714

**** he really committed to two in the stink at ALL TIMES

 

Didn't we transfer in a center every year, while having RR on the bench?? I get giving the dude a shot, but I was shocked we didn't bring another senior starter along the line. Here we are playing 2 2nd year players with possible replacements being freshmen.

 

I’m really praying this is a wake up call for them. Idc who went out. Weve seen the sample size adapt or we die.

This is my thought as well

“Hey McCoy… you want to play tackle or win”

Simple as that and if the culture is what everyone claims… it shouldn’t even be a discussion

 

This is my thought as well

“Hey McCoy… you want to play tackle or win”

Simple as that and if the culture is what everyone claims… it shouldn’t even be a discussion

Imagine the positive convos with gm’s about what players doing for the squad. Get it done, let’s go.

 

If you gotta move one of the tackles to guard so Cantwell can play tackle, then so be it. The goal is to find the best combination. And right now we have nobody that can play guard.

 

I’m really praying this is a wake up call for them. Idc who went out. Weve seen the sample size adapt or we die.

This is my thought as well

“Hey McCoy… you want to play tackle or win”

Simple as that and if the culture is what everyone claims… it shouldn’t even be a discussion

I mean act like him being pushed inside and still starting isn’t being loyal. You can still get drafted as a G lol

 

Didn't we transfer in a center every year, while having RR on the bench?? I get giving the dude a shot, but I was shocked we didn't bring another senior starter along the line. Here we are playing 2 2nd year players with possible replacements being freshmen.

I called this out multiple times and got push back from them all because Rodriguez didn’t look bad in the Florida game in 2024.

 

“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.”

The guards are already whiffing potentially getting people injured that could change a season. It can’t hurt.

 

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.

If Mensah has to get the ball out under 2.5s due to the OL, what does that say about running the ball against ND, VT and Pitt? Hoping that we are just suffering the LouisvilleSMU flu.

 

Imagine the positive convos with gm’s about what players doing for the squad. Get it done, let’s go.

I mean Mauignoa isn’t playing tackle for the Giants… go play guard really well and go make your money at the position that you “possibly” have a future at

 

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.

I’m with you I think Rodriguez would look a lot better if he had average guard play. Just average

 

“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.”

The guards are already whiffing potentially getting people injured that could change a season. It can’t hurt.

Said this to someone over the weekend… what’s to lose compared to what is happening there now. Can’t get much worse