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.

 

Sounds like roster mismanagement to me, obviously hindsight is 20/20 but if the answer is simple as you pointed out...one would think they would have addressed the question in the portal. Beating a dead horse as all this has been pointed out but it's disappointing.

Good offensive linemen are extremely expensive. We had to spend a gajillion dollars to pry away Mensah, likely pay his buyout, and then add Barkate.

Yes, it would be nice if we could just grab a few high end offensive linemen in the portal but that’s not a reality.

 

I get what you're saying but i'd rather play my uber physically gifted freshman over an undersized guy that's one year older. Why not? Worried he's a freshman and may whiff and get the qb hit? That's already happening.

I hear you. But the coaching staff seems to think SJ is better. Maybe they are prioritizing experience too much, or maybe Cantwell hasn’t been good. We aren’t at practice so it’s hard to pretend to know better.

Plus I thought we were trusting Mario and Mirabal when it came to the offensive line.

 

He could’ve played guard

If you're talking about Tommy that's probably all he should've played. Again haven't watched him at ole **** but here he seemed a lil unpredictable.

Yea kinsler and guard probably his best spot. Dude big as hèll think they got him at like 350 now and he looks like a guard

He doesn’t have the foot speed for tackle and I’m pretty positive he didn’t want to play guard here. Thought he woulda been perfect replacement for cooper with those wide shoulders

 

Sounds like roster mismanagement to me, obviously hindsight is 20/20 but if the answer is simple as you pointed out...one would think they would have addressed the question in the portal. Beating a dead horse as all this has been pointed out but it's disappointing.

Good offensive linemen are extremely expensive. We had to spend a gajillion dollars to pry away Mensah, likely pay his buyout, and then add Barkate.

Yes, it would be nice if we could just grab a few high end offensive linemen in the portal but that’s not a reality.

I disagree

 

I disagree

Fair enough. But I’d guess you have as much inside info at the annual roster budget as I do, so we are just saying things that sound good imo

 

I understand how physical frame plays a role on the offensive line but there are hundreds of examples where prototypical tackles become great guards. Cantwell can’t even beat out SJ at guard, but if he had been able to focus on tackle for an extra 2 months suddenly we think he’s gonna be a great tackle?

Maybe Cantwell ends up back at tackle but my only point is really that I don’t think cross training Cantwell is a big reason why the OL stinks.

I am significantly less negative about Cantwell at Guard - IF they’d actually put him the **** on the field if That was the logic. I just happen to think the choice was a very obviously bad one that hurt us far more than it could potentially help. And it seems very simply why

The SJ not playing center no excuse period idgaf.

 

I don’t want to hear about some guy playing RT having it not be fair to him to move to guard. He excelled there last year. He’s a better guard than Tackle.

He’s gonna be a guard in the NFL more than likely. Move him to left or RG. Rodriguez can stay at center or move to left guard. Woodrow can play center. Cantwell at RT. That’s his natural spot. Cantwell is a better tackle than guard so have him play there.

We can’t continue to have the middle of the O-line keep getting blown up.

What are we basing Cantwell being a better T on? Hopes and dreams?

 

What are we basing Cantwell being a better T on? Hopes and dreams?

I'm not going to read most of this on here but if anybody is telling you that can't well isn't going to be a good tackle or even that he's any form of an issue right now just ignore them. His issue is that he's way too straight he plays high that's really it the rest will come with reps in getting to know the people near him Mirabelle and Mario will correct how high he plays quickly

 

I'm not going to read most of this on here but if anybody is telling you that can't well isn't going to be a good tackle or even that he's any form of an issue right now just ignore them. His issue is that he's way too straight he plays high that's really it the rest will come with reps in getting to know the people near him Mirabelle and Mario will correct how high he plays quickly

Yup just wish we left him at LT from start to today and let him sink or swim and THEN is he isn't stepping up you talk about McCoy to OT and him to OG or Congdon or something ...

 

What are we basing Cantwell being a better T on? Hopes and dreams?

I said he’s a better tackle than he is a guard. I didn’t say he was better than McCoy.

 

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
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You called it