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.

 

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 love D$ money but I think we got bamboozled with all these cane mods, insiders, those who go to the practices etc. They were so confident about these players and made it seem like Cogdan was the next coming of Anthony Munoz and Buchanan was a beast and we were going to be fine because Mario and Mirabal have a 100% success rate. From what my eyes tell me this line is straight up garbage. If they get can get bullied by the trash wake forest put than Scott, Moten and the other Dlineman we have suck. Now the spin is Wake Forest is national powerhouse lol!. GTFOH. I thought practice would be harder than the games? I had my concerns with this line as you just don’t snap your fingers with the amount of talent we lost last year and think we’ll be fine as the season goes on. We can’t afford to take Ls and just be fine. We are trouble and we were sold a bill of goods. Sorry if that ****es people off but SJ, Rodriguez, Buchanan suck. Cantwell is a thief as he is robbing money. Only Samson and Mckoy you go to war with. We are in trouble. Let’s stop with the propaganda and just tell us the truth. I would rather know we were trouble from the beginning than being lied to and saying this team may be better than last year. We needed another lineman in the portal that was not Jordan money hungry seaton. You tell me we couldn’t get like a 4 th or 5th year senior with proven snaps who would come to Miami?????

 

I have a feeling Woodrow might be better than SJ long term. I dont trust SJ as a Center of the future.

Rodriguez was starting guard vs Florida before he got hurt, if SJ could snap he’d be doing it now and Ryan would be at guard.

 

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

Just to show how easily predictable this has been I posted this JANUARY 25th immediately when it was announced Toure+Smith were gettin another season of elig

 

That's a good follow up.

If they're trying to find the best 5, why did 5 guys play ALL 70 snaps against WF? Especially once they started playing poorly. Seems like a wasted opportunity.

Exactly ******* absolutely Bull****.

 

I love D$ money but I think we got bamboozled with all these cane mods, insiders, those who go to the practices etc. They were so confident about these players and made it seem like Cogdan was the next coming of Anthony Munoz and Buchanan was a beast and we were going to be fine because Mario and Mirabal have a 100% success rate. From what my eyes tell me this line is straight up garbage. If they get can get bullied by the trash wake forest put than Scott, Moten and the other Dlineman we have suck. Now the spin is Wake Forest is national powerhouse lol!. GTFOH. I thought practice would be harder than the games? I had my concerns with this line as you just don’t snap your fingers with the amount of talent we lost last year and think we’ll be fine as the season goes on. We can’t afford to take Ls and just be fine. We are trouble and we were sold a bill of goods. Sorry if that ****es people off but SJ, Rodriguez, Buchanan suck. Cantwell is a thief as he is robbing money. Only Samson and Mckoy you go to war with. We are in trouble. Let’s stop with the propaganda and just tell us the truth. I would rather know we were trouble from the beginning than being lied to and saying this team may be better than last year. We needed another lineman in the portal that was not Jordan money hungry seaton. You tell me we couldn’t get like a 4 th or 5th year senior with proven snaps who would come to Miami?????

We?

 

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

 

SJ needs to be used as a FB like the Ny giants do when that 300 pounder guy Picard in the running game. He ain’t no dam guard, center whatever. He is a full back

 

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.

I don’t care if he goes on tour with Journey cuz I’m done believin’.

 

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

Hopefully injury luck turns in our favor

If that’s grueling, that’s embarrassing and we better just accept staying in the ACC lol

It doesn’t get easier than that in October anywhere. Including most ACC teams

 

I’m pretty convinced that it is clear. This coaching staff has botched the OL 3 weeks in. We were never playing the 5 best guys if the whole narrative was, this will look different by Nov 7. The advantage of this schedule was to play and integrate young guys. Here we are, game 3, and Cantwell played 2 snaps and Congdon didn’t play.

Meanwhile, our starting “guards” who are both centers, struggled mightily. If the issue ends up being a tough conversation with McCoy about going back to guard for the betterment of the team, then that’s what your culture is set for.

I’m not sure the exact reason, but our #1 recruit OT who played LT pretty well all spring played 2 snaps on Friday while we had a 6-0 285 LG struggle to block anybody. It doesn’t make sense. There is time to get this right but it’s running short.

 

I’m pretty convinced that it is clear. This coaching staff has botched the OL 3 weeks in. We were never playing the 5 best guys if the whole narrative was, this will look different by Nov 7. The advantage of this schedule was to play and integrate young guys. Here we are, game 3, and Cantwell played 2 snaps and Congdon didn’t play.

Meanwhile, our starting “guards” who are both centers, struggled mightily. If the issue ends up being a tough conversation with McCoy about going back to guard for the betterment of the team, then that’s what your culture is set for.

I’m not sure the exact reason, but our #1 recruit OT who played LT pretty well all spring played 2 snaps on Friday while we had a 6-0 285 LG struggle to block anybody. It doesn’t make sense. There is time to get this right but it’s running short.

These are all young guys being integrated. Nobody on the entire line has any experience playing the position they’re playing currently. This was all going to be a work in progress, as I told people 500x.

We brought back basically 1 starter, and broke them into 2 positions. And, surprise surprise, those are the only 2 kids who don’t look totally overwhelmed.

We’re winning the ACC. Which means, we’re playing in the playoffs. Those start in 3 months. The one thing I disagree with was absolutely zero rotation on Friday. I get trying to build cohesion. But these kids are a long way away from being good, both individually and as a group. See if you can shuffle some other kids through the interior and maybe you find something.

 

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.

I'd already have 3 OL on the portal dockett for 2027 even if I think we have recruited well last few classes.

If Cantwell, Woodrow, Congdon beat out the transfers so be it.

 

These are all young guys being integrated. Nobody on the entire line has any experience playing the position they’re playing currently. This was all going to be a work in progress, as I told people 500x.

We brought back basically 1 starter, and broke them into 2 positions. And, surprise surprise, those are the only 2 kids who don’t look totally overwhelmed.

We’re winning the ACC. Which means, we’re playing in the playoffs. Those start in 3 months. The one thing I disagree with was absolutely zero rotation on Friday. I get trying to build cohesion. But these kids are a long way away from being good, both individually and as a group. See if you can shuffle some other kids through the interior and maybe you find something.

I understand what you are saying but that is building cohesion with a group being acknowledged won’t be the group in two months.

I would agree the most disturbing aspect this entire situation is why the rotation stopped on Friday. That was pretty disappointing.

I think we will see an adjustment this week. If they made promises to Samson and McCoy about playing OT, then it’s time for a conversation about helping the team. I think Cantwell is a top 5 OL at tackle. It’s not as clear at guard which has led to this situation. My opinion there.

 

These are all young guys being integrated. Nobody on the entire line has any experience playing the position they’re playing currently. This was all going to be a work in progress, as I told people 500x.

We brought back basically 1 starter, and broke them into 2 positions. And, surprise surprise, those are the only 2 kids who don’t look totally overwhelmed.

We’re winning the ACC. Which means, we’re playing in the playoffs. Those start in 3 months. The one thing I disagree with was absolutely zero rotation on Friday. I get trying to build cohesion. But these kids are a long way away from being good, both individually and as a group. See if you can shuffle some other kids through the interior and maybe you find something.

I'm skeptical. If the goal is to build toward something different in 3 months, what is the evidence of experimentation? Some Guards moving around against Stanford?

If we were truly building toward something different, the second we go up 24-7 or 31-7 or 31-13, we start seeing different OL lineups interchanged. Not just rotation. Actually different lineups, like Cantwell at Tackle. Like in 2024 when we'd slide Rivers in and Bell would get snaps at Tackle. We have that past example, so if they genuinely were working it, I guess it's all in practice or in their minds.

I think the simpler explanation is two OL experts at the top of their profession thought they could work through this current lineup, gave it meaningful snaps...and have badly missed in their calculation. It happens. Let's see the adjustment.

 

These first 4 games were supposed to be an opportunity to see what the OL looks like from Clemson on. Well so far 3 of the 5 guys ******* suck and there was barely any rotation if at all last weekend. Really embarrassing by Mario and Alex. If the 3 interior guys are still starting in 2 weeks, remind me to stop drinking and start doing hard drugs.