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.

 

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

Pruitt and Wiley man

You can see the speed and athleticism when their in the field and it’s not like they don’t look the part

 

Dabo always gets someone. Usually at home.

Better not let it be us

If clemson has anything at all about them, we’ll be there for the taking.

 

Wiley
Bonner
Jennings
Ewald
Waters
Wingo
Paris
Spafford

Lets go

Enough of the retreads, you recruited the above to be major contributors and Wiley, Jennings, Ewald, Waters are all in year 2, so find out what they are

Waters is injured too

 

Im ****ed about the first part in regards to bringing in more guys (we dropped the ball) but Ahmmon hit on the 2nd part better than I could explain, because guys overlook what I call the Human nature "politics" of it all..

McCoy has a 1000 reps at guard but he look at it as he earned his right to play tackle. Its his senior year and he did 4 years putting in work. He EARNED that (thats what this program is built on right), now you want to tell him move back inside so a TRUE FRESHMAN hotshot high paid guy can come and not have to put the same work in at guard he was sold on and not have to grind for years and he get to red carpet to tackle spot?! We all know tckle is glamour spot and scouts will ask why he was moved? And I see some say he have enough film, famu aint film, no scout or gm will ever watch that crap.. lol..

It's called being a team player

 

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

Our qb gets it our quick

 

Our qb gets it our quick

just like the 2nd half vs WF

 

OL is not getting great push up the middle & this is a staple of Dawsons Offense,combine this with Fletcher not being 100% Dawson will need to tweak O run game for Lyle, Pringle etc.....

 

It's called being a team player

He’s not a tackle at the next level anyway. Will stand out more to the NFL if he dominates at guard at the college level.

 

@DMoney

What about Wilkerson ? The word during camp was he was doing well at tackle. Any chance he gets a shot at guard?

 

OL is not getting great push up the middle & this is a staple of Dawsons Offense,combine this with Fletcher not being 100% Dawson will need to tweak O run game for Lyle, Pringle etc.....

Gonna be a **** of tweak when the interior of the oline can’t block worth a ****

Best runs have been coming off the edge towards our tackles and TEs in an unshocking development

 

The stretch of Clemson, FSU, PITT, UNC, & ND going to be grueling

Hopefully injury luck turns in our favor

 

The stretch of Clemson, FSU, PITT, UNC, & ND going to be absolute dog fight.

Hopefully injury luck turns in our favor

It’s funny because only ND should be tough. But it’ll be 4/5 will be a game probably.

 

It’s funny because only ND should be tough. But it’ll be 4/5 will be a game probably.

We will be in dogfights

 

Amir wants to have a word. HA

I guess the coaches aren't moving McCoy or Samson to OG.

That’s probably what they need to do

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.

 

As a hypothetical…

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

 

On both incompletiins to Lofton we had the underneath wide open. On the first one Moore was open on the slant and on the second Toney was open on the hook. Both would have been first downs.

but Lofton is such a mismatch.

 

@DMoney How much do you think losing Fletcher and Brown in the 2nd half impacted pass play calling? Assume you can't count on Pringle and a true freshman to hold it down on LB blitzes?

 

Yep pure insanity.

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

Makes no sense. Why are we so sure McCoy is a NFL tackle when FM was moved from tackle to G the moment he was drafted?

And to top it off, I would argue with our preference for the inside run game, you could say RG is more important than RT.

 

@DMoney How much do you think losing Fletcher and Brown in the 2nd half impacted pass play calling? Assume you can't count on Pringle and a true freshman to hold it down on LB blitzes?

Mallory had 4 pass blocking opportunities against Wake, graded well (also 5 against FAMU, obviously massive discrepancy in talent but he passed both tests).

 

Some more discussion on OL here:

I understand Cantwell getting beaten out by Samson an McCoy playing fine at RT. If the best lineup is Cantwell at RT and McCoy back at G, then so be it. We need the best 5 and McCoy if being honest is a G next level. Samson