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 like McCoy at guard because I’d just like more girth in there and experience but I get not moving him. You have two non issues on OL so why just trade problems especially at the more important position? But Congdon and Cantwell need to find time somewhere. The interior has constructed won’t cut it.

Facts McCoy needs to go to G imo thats the best fix easily.

 

…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.

One of the rare occasions you'll get no dispute at all out of me I'd scream it from a ****** rooftop. Seniority shouldn't be earning you nothing at this point. This is about putting the best possible product on the field and I don't give a **** about favoritism... @Kellen Sr

 

I feel like I’m living in the twilight zone with what I’m reading about the oline thinking. “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”…SJ is whiffing CONSTANTLY. Mensah got dinged on a play SJ got blown up, Fletcher and the other backs are facing hits from unblocked linebackers, etc. and that’s the rationale?!? Bull****.

The rationale is stupid. We already
Know what they have put out there is not working. Time to make adjustments THIS week before its too late and you get Mensah hurt

 

I like McCoy at guard because I’d just like more girth in there and experience but I get not moving him. You have two non issues on OL so why just trade problems especially at the more important position? But Congdon and Cantwell need to find time somewhere. The interior has constructed won’t cut it.

Facts McCoy needs to go to G imo thats the best fix easily.

Now tackle is weak. I would rather be weak at G than T

 

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

That's not SJ that's that silly *** Matthew McCoy that's been playing for years now off the strengths of his teammates. SJ on the other hand probably shouldn't be at guard because he doesn't have the people around him that will allow him to excel at this point. Physically speaking he's limited and I'd probably either put him at center or nowhere. But if he struggles to snap which he does out of shotgun then you can't really put him there either. It's a conundrum to say the least. I wouldn't have either of them on the field though if it was me

 

I can't shake the thought that not having the second portal window in addition to the long playoff run threw our portal game off. Knowing how deliberate Mario is, I keep returning to this after what we've seen so far on the IOLine.

If Mario and staff are smart they have an entire team of people just watching film and evaluating weekly so that when these guys jump in, we already know and can pull trigger immediately
I definitely feel like we were behind the 8 ball this year w the playoff run….hopefully Mario learned and we have a better process this year.

I assume we will as Mario has shown growth as a football coach and program operator

 

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.

Thanks @DMoney

A couple of points on the above. You say the vibe around the team is angry? Good!!! This team needs to start getting pi$$ed off and playing that way especially the OL and the defense but we don't need to waste our anger on CMU. I want to see that dog in them when we play @Clemson and FSU.

Secondly, this staff can tinker with this OL until they're blue in the face. They may improve as the season progresses but this OL is unlikely to become "playoff caliber" anytime soon. They could have avoided all this by getting one or two guards and a center in the portal.

Lastly, Toure, Smith and Thornton will continue to be a major liability in pass coverage until Hetherman decides that enough is enough and makes a change. What that change may be I have no idea but it is necessary unless we are cool giving up 1st down after 1st down over the middle of the field.

 

Facts McCoy needs to go to G imo thats the best fix easily.

He needs to go right bench right next to the coolers and the Gatorade. That's the best possible fix

 

If you haven’t heard Mario today he was ****ED at the ST. Gave the most on that unit I’ve heard from him and I listen to every single one of these

 

Facts McCoy needs to go to G imo thats the best fix easily.

He needs to go right bench right next to the coolers and the Gatorade. That's the best possible fix

He hasn’t been bad so far

 

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.

Addition by subtraction
Gettin SJ OUT is step 1
Anything they role out is an upgrade imo

 

He needs to go right bench right next to the coolers and the Gatorade. That's the best possible fix

McCoy hasn’t been bad at all

 

It’s obviously pretty soft sledding thus far in reference to opposing DL’s, but in 85 pass pro snaps, McCoy has allowed 2 pressures. Samson, who’s been solid, allowed 3 on his own against Wake.

Matthew McCoy is quite literally, the least of our concerns on the OL. A tackle’s main job is to keep his QB clean, and McCoy has checked every box in that regard.

 

T

This is Jordan Lyle’s Super Bowl on Saturday

This mFer need to get
His **** straight!!!!
Miami needs him to step the *** up and start
Contributing and become a reliable player
Time is NOW

 

He needs to go right bench right next to the coolers and the Gatorade. That's the best possible fix

that's absurd

 

Just might have to accept the fact that the o-line will be mid this year. We are looking to and hoping a freshmen is the answer and that never a good thing. Just don’t have the experienced talent inside

 

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

This is facts …dude almost took out our best player …add to the fact he’s been mediocre so far this season smh

 

If you haven’t heard Mario today he was ****ED at the ST. Gave the most on that unit I’ve heard from him and I listen to every single one of these

Punting the ball right down the middle then horrible coverage. Alot of it caused by outkicking the coverage. Then an idiotic decision to kick a long fg with a suspect kicker who's never made a 50 yard field goal in two years. The awful ST's is even more alarming after the catastrophe in the title game. Whatever time they're spending on it isn't nearly enough. Also tackling as a whole has been bad on D and ST"s.

 

SJ can hit the fuccin portal today. I don't care how many stars he had or that he went to Bishop Canary High School. He's small asf and he stinks at playing OL.

Max needs more practice. If he gets Wally Pipped byCongdon and Cantwell, too bad. We don't do participation trophies any more.

I've been hearing about Chase Smith for 6 years now. He's mid asf. Toure will knock your teeth out and plays with heart, but he's not much better than me in coverage and I suck at covering.

I've never felt more alarmed and upset after a 2 TD win than I do right now.

SJ should make a switch and start his Patrick Ricard journey now.

 

Punting the ball right down the middle then horrible coverage. Alot of it caused by outkicking the coverage. Then an idiotic decision to kick a long fg with a suspect kicker who's never made a 50 yard field goal in two years. The awful ST's is even more alarming after the catastrophe in the title game. Whatever time they're spending on it isn't nearly enough. Also tackling as a whole has been bad on D and ST"s.

When was even the last time we blocked (or even came close to blocking) a punt? Other top teams treat ST like a facet that can positively impact the game, we seem to treat it as an afterthought.