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
View attachment 373739

You called it

 

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

Minaya and Wilkerson dead ?

 

We all thought the season was over last year after blowing the Louisville game. Nails in the coffin after SMU.

Even with the current OL issues we have, who is it on our schedule in the ACC that scares you? Here’s what’s left in conference play:

Clemson
FSU
Pitt
NC
Duke
VA Tech
Boston College

That’s it. We were up 31-7 on a Wake Forest team that would likely beat everyone on this slate, aside from maybe Pitt. We have Pitt at home and that’s the 2001 team celebration. Probably a sold out crowd, energy will be insane in the building. Zero chance of a letdown for that game.

Also, we’re about to be playing on Saturday from here on. No more Thursday and Friday games. More home games down the stretch, less long trips, no more cross country trips either. That makes a difference when it comes to being mentally prepared to play and getting guys the proper rest/treatment when they’re banged up.

I understand the OL has big problems. Let’s just not jump on the panic button with both feet yet. Gently press it with a pinky finger, if you must. But I still stand by my statement before the season started that the worst case scenario (barring season ending injuries to Mensah or Mali) is 11-1. I’m gonna continue to stand by that. We’ve turned the corner as a team because last year, we lose at Wake Forest playing a 2nd half like that. But there was never a point I thought we were going to blow the game. Don’t underestimate the grit and determination of a team that still has a lot of players who were a big part of that playoff run last year. All we gotta do is get the interior OL straightened out, and the mood of this board will change overnight. We will all be back to chugging the Kool-Aid like we all did after the Stanford game. Just watch.

 

You called it

Only thing at LB specifically I've been wrong so far is that I genuinely didn't think Marcelin would be a contributor here until maybe year 4. He's looked a lot more explosive than I would have thought. However I still wouldn't put him in a category beyond that type of role I'd want Toure+Smith in yet for next season. But I've been more impressed than I thought I would have been out of him.... Next season I'd currently have Wiley with Marcelin backing him up for the mike role. And then Will could be open comp that I'd love to see pruitt win or one of the Frosh.

I think at this point for this season ideally we have Toure on field 1st+2nd and obvious Run downs, and then he comes off every obvious pass down for Pruitt or even a 3rd safety (when our Cbs are healthy). And Chase Smith can rotate in with Toure every few drives.

 

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

Any chance he can get into games and work on it? I can’t take much more of the sous chef chopping green onions every play

 

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 ...

You wish we’d have left a kid who clearly isn’t anywhere near ready to protect your $8M QBs blindside? Thats certainly a choice. A braindead one, but a choice nonetheless.

 

Only thing at LB specifically I've been wrong so far is that I genuinely didn't think Marcelin would be a contributor here until maybe year 4. He's looked a lot more explosive than I would have thought. However I still wouldn't put him in a category beyond that type of role I'd want Toure+Smith in yet for next season. But I've been more impressed than I thought I would have been out of him.... Next season I'd currently have Wiley with Marcelin backing him up for the mike role. And then Will could be open comp that I'd love to see pruitt win or one of the Frosh.

I think at this point for this season ideally we have Toure on field 1st+2nd and obvious Run downs, and then he comes off every obvious pass down for Pruitt or even a 3rd safety (when our Cbs are healthy). And Chase Smith can rotate in with Toure every few drives.

After this season, the room will finally be filled with athletic guys.

 

SJ is a center.
Cantwell is a Tackle.

It’s about their build. If you can’t see that idk what to tell ya.

SJ should be on the bench

 

You wish we’d have left a kid who clearly isn’t anywhere near ready to protect your $8M QBs blindside? Thats certainly a choice. A braindead one, but a choice nonetheless.

Not really. Unless I misunderstanding him his point would be these first few games where we're playing trash would have been the time to give him the reps necessary where he's staying at a position we can count on him long-term and get through some of the bumps and bruises. It actually is by far the best strategy we could have had if that's the intent. Myself I don't see the logic in having him play a position just for reps that won't be his position long term. Now obviously if we would have started off the season with people with a pulse then you'd be 100% accurate why would you put a guy to guard The blind side of somebody you're severely counting on. It's also important to remember we are talking about the number one recruits and the number one offensive tackle and a huge Mammoth individual here. Whose main weakness right now is just the fact he needs to work on his technique and he needs reps. It's not like all the sudden he's no good that's not the case with him at all. It's also important to remember he would have had fall camp to go along with spring and back up his reps. He didn't get that once Samson came back the focus was him at left tackle and spreading the reps around at the other position for the rest of the lineup

 

I would be utterly shocked if McCoy moves to guard. It’s not happening. He’s been playing tackle since spring. The changes are gonna come with the guards. I hope..