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.

 

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

Hopefully injury luck turns in our favor

Thank God, we have that bye between Clemson and FSU. Perfect time to get healthy.

 

RR is feeling the noise already. His press conference was eye-opening. Looked like a guy trying to defend himself and the unit whilst knowing that it's not enough.

Good! He should be feeling the noise and so should SJ! This isn’t good enough and it has to improve right now!

 

If you listened to Cristobal’s press conference, he mentioned the guards are something he’s going to look at. Said Center has been fine and tackle has been good. So based on what he said, he believes Rodriguez is performing fine. So i wouldn’t expect any changes at C or tackle. I beleive we’ll see some changes at G for CMU

Mario ain’t no dummy. The guards are the issue and anyone with a brain cell can see that. That has to get changed and tweaked, and I’m glad Mario is on it!

 

That’s all i ask for. Inexcusable to not get your hands on anybody.

I feel like we need to be subbing these dudes way more because these errors are beyond costly. Good to know on Ryan. Going to keep watching.

Seems like Rhys Woodrow and Canon Pickett may get opportunities to showcase themselves as replacements. No matter what, i feel like having a second set of interior guys to swap out is necessary.

I been saying Woodrow needs to play more since the Stanford game and people thought I was crazy. SJ can't play anymore, at least not start. No way he deserves it. Pickett and Woodrow are always looking like they are trying to pancake dudes.

 

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.

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

Relevant interview from Media Day 2026:



At the 1:45 mark, Lake asks about Samson playing guard. Mirabals says: “He’s going to play guard, tackle, wherever we think we get can our best 5 guys …. So he’s going to play wherever we feel he’s in the best position to help the University of Miami football program”.

He then goes on to chastise the significance people put on the difference between Tackle and Guards.

What we are saying now that we owe McCoy a shot at tackle is diametrically opposed to the messaging from Mirabal here. I know it’s coach speak but that would be quite the departure. Time to rip off the band-aid and play the 5 best OL

 

I been saying Woodrow needs to play more since the Stanford game and people thought I was crazy. SJ can't play anymore, at least not start. No way he deserves it. Pickett and Woodrow are always looking like they are trying to pancake dudes.

Yeah I’m interested in what it looks like when they’re in at the same time; however, that’s wishful thinking. Seems like RR is going to play no matter what.

not sure Mario and mirabal would give pickett and Woodrow a starting opportunity at G however I could see them giving cantwell one, while rotating in Pickett and Woodrow with SJ and Max as the game goes on. Kourtney Kelly, a transfer Clemson is excited about, may be back by our game. TBD tho

 

Don’t post much anymore, as the person I used to know in the program has serious health issues. And I’m more of a watcher than anything else.

Wake forest is a solid team and they came to play. Our IOL did not. That has to be corrected, through substitutions or lighting a fire etcetera. I do not see how SJ can play another snap. It is extremely difficult to whiff on a player lined up 12 inches from your face and yet it has happened multiple times. The injuries are obviously a problem, it is a law of averages and we had great luck with injuries last year… this year less so. I do continue to believe that the line will be better by mid October.

Mensah looks amazing but he doesn’t like to get hit. And obviously he took a few shots last weekend. As long as he is fully healthy and Toney is fully healthy we have a chance
To beat anyone. HoWEVER, Dawson cannot laser focus on the kid. Force feeding Toney puts him at greater odds of injury and make no mistake if he is lost for the year, that’s a wrap on the season.

I hope Cristobal, who I deemed a stubborn average coach two years ago (still choking on that crow) makes changes. He cannot simply say Mirobal fix it, he’s head coach and he needs to act like it.

In the second half against Wake, we abandoned verticality on offense and an inspired Wake team made us pay for it.

Lbs, the writing is on the wall. Jeff Brohm is going to destroy us with crossers if those two are playing in coverage. Toure is a good downhill thumper, Chase Smith is…
Okay. Too much talent sitting behind them not to make the changes NOW. I don’t want to watch Desmond Reid against Chase smith in the hole.

DL has been playing below their ceiling. Lightfoot and Blount have played well, but has Justin Scott made a
Play this season? I expected a step back from last year’s DL, but so far it has been a leap backwards.

 

I’ll deal with 6’8” 340 lb guys making the occasional mistake vs a 6’ 285 lb guy that even if he’s on the right call/read is limited in what he can do because the DT has length and 30 lbs on him. And for that matter if he hasn’t learned how to snap by the end of the year a roster decision needs to be made. Use that NIL for somewhere else next year.

Coach Hayes, on his Good, Bad, Ugly, analysis, couldn't understand why they kept rolling out SJ, as the fullback, on the goal line packages. He complained after watching multiple games, he whiffs on blocks, blocks the wrong guys, and when he actually hits someone, very little movement.

 

That's definitely possible but you're not gonna tell him that before we even get into camp.

Only if he believed Cantwell was assured the RT position and McCoy was pushed to stay at guard. They would have likely deferred to a veteran at guard so he would have gotten an edge over SJ or Max. Unless he was convinced Max was getting a guard spot. I know Alex was really keen on Max. Then again Alex has stated RR would have started on a bunch of ACC squads at center last year. Yikes. Quite frankly Kinsler never impressed me during his reps. But he would most certainly be serviceable where SJ is not even close.

 

Don’t post much anymore, as the person I used to know in the program has serious health issues. And I’m more of a watcher than anything else.

Wake forest is a solid team and they came to play. Our IOL did not. That has to be corrected, through substitutions or lighting a fire etcetera. I do not see how SJ can play another snap. It is extremely difficult to whiff on a player lined up 12 inches from your face and yet it has happened multiple times. The injuries are obviously a problem, it is a law of averages and we had great luck with injuries last year… this year less so. I do continue to believe that the line will be better by mid October.

Mensah looks amazing but he doesn’t like to get hit. And obviously he took a few shots last weekend. As long as he is fully healthy and Toney is fully healthy we have a chance
To beat anyone. HoWEVER, Dawson cannot laser focus on the kid. Force feeding Toney puts him at greater odds of injury and make no mistake if he is lost for the year, that’s a wrap on the season.

I hope Cristobal, who I deemed a stubborn average coach two years ago (still choking on that crow) makes changes. He cannot simply say Mirobal fix it, he’s head coach and he needs to act like it.

In the second half against Wake, we abandoned verticality on offense and an inspired Wake team made us pay for it.

Lbs, the writing is on the wall. Jeff Brohm is going to destroy us with crossers if those two are playing in coverage. Toure is a good downhill thumper, Chase Smith is…
Okay. Too much talent sitting behind them not to make the changes NOW. I don’t want to watch Desmond Reid against Chase smith in the hole.

DL has been playing below their ceiling. Lightfoot and Blount have played well, but has Justin Scott made a
Play this season? I expected a step back from last year’s DL, but so far it has been a leap backwards.

I like to watch too.....