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

I actually recall, i didn't knock you though lol. For **** sake all three of those guys from center out suck.

 

On defense every team should look at what Wake did.
But Clemson and FSU and most of our opponents can’t replicate what Wake can do on offense with Lopez and Hernandez. Those guys are ballers.

We are about to enter a portion of the schedule with weak QB play. Our defense should take over.

I agree with that 100%.

 

2 reps of domination before 1 rep of **** is about 2 reps more of domination than we currently get. I’ll sign up immediately

 

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 remember you reporting that Cantwell looked like a future freshman all American at Tackle in the spring What changes that made them move him inside? wouldn't we better off putting him back outside? both our tackles have already proved that they can be quality Guards...

 

As long as the Big 3-Malachi, Fletcher and Mensah, are only dinged up we’ll be fine.

All it would take is one good width by SJ

 

2 reps of domination before 1 rep of **** is about 2 reps more of domination than we currently get. I’ll sign up immediately

That’s an all-ACC OL. Let’s do it.

 

Heres a concern when it’s 3rd and 8 and we need to put our best hands people on the field . That means taken out lofton who cant make hard. Catches. We seen spafford and upshaw showed they can make them . Wingo , upshaw , duke , tony . Spafford . Love to see that 5 wide combo tried to be covered by opponents . Only way woujd get to the qb quickly . Those 5 can fly and shouldn’t need much time to seperate . It would force a one on with toney or some wide open wr because they are playing over the top safety . What’s wrong with Moore ?

 

Just hate how we aren’t proactive. 2024 was CB. 2026 is oline and LB. Next year will be some other position. You can’t have fans on a message board seeing the voids in the roster before the coaches. Everyone knew this oline was a toss up. And right now it’s the bad side of the toss up. Should’ve used the Jacobs and Vaugh funds and have a Miami O line. But it’s a sunk cost. They gotta find a way to make it work now.

I'm starting to think 2026 OL is like 2024 DBs. We knew going into 2024 that we needed more help in the Secondary, but we pretty much stood pat. Seems we did the same in 2026 with the OL. I don't think this year's OL is quite as bad as that 2024 Secondary (which was historically bad). But the subpar OL play nevertheless has the potential to really ***** up what could otherwise be a banner year.

 

Heres a concern when it’s 3rd and 8 and we need to put our best hands people on the field . That means taken out lofton who cant make hard. Catches. We seen spafford and upshaw showed they can make them . Wingo , upshaw , duke , tony . Spafford . Love to see that 5 wide combo tried to be covered by opponents . Only way woujd get to the qb quickly . Those 5 can fly and shouldn’t need much time to seperate . It would force a one on with toney or some wide open wr because they are playing over the top safety . What’s wrong with Moore ?

You want a five wideouts and only 5 blocking OL? Nah, fam.

 

I actually recall, i didn't knock you though lol. For **** sake all three of those guys from center out suck.

Oh no I know you didn’t. There were others.

 

That’s probably what they need to do

I think they should kick that mass and experience inside and let Cantwell be a young talented right tackle.

But what do I know

 

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

@DMoney is Samson locked in as LT or could we see him slide inside with cantwell at tackle?

 

@DMoney is Samson locked in as LT or could we see him slide inside with cantwell at tackle?

Samson is not moving - he is doing awesome at LT. McCoy could/should kick in if Cantwell can play RT.

 

Samson is not moving - he is doing awesome at LT. McCoy could/should kick in if Cantwell can play RT.

Thats the move. Thats the move man

 

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.

…I could believe that if Toure and as Smith weren’t guys with 7yrs of experience and proven track record of their strengths and major weaknesses/liabilities and yet that is still what staff chose to put in the field.

There was possibly nothing more obvious (except that SJ will never be anything but a center except maybe G5 level guard), than the fact Toure and Chase Smjth should never be on the field together. Or that Smith isn’t starting material period. Toure and Smith were both by far our weak links in pass coverage last yr and it wasn’t close. And that was with them getting significant help from a superior DLine last yr and Scott at nickel…. Yet we didn’t even see Wiley and Pruitt…..

Staff should throw Wiley and Pruitt out on field and force feed them snaps. Should have done it starting week 1 to prep them sooner. Same with Cantwell.

 

Basically weez be fu*ked

 

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.

It’s infuriating specifically because Smith and SJ were so obviously bull**** decisions to start. Like some **** is so **** obvious. And when we have an early season slate like we had it was perfect to absolutely force feed reps to the guys that actually had ability to start long-term and be very important ceiling raisers….

 

Why would Samson be the one to slide in….

Because he’s a really good guard and that’s probably his pro position

 

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.

WELL **** TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL ABOUT SJ THEN HELP ME FEEL BETTER AND WHY WTF IS HE STILL PLAYING...

 

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