Well, Miami's played with fire a bit this season, and the Canes finally got burned. #2 Miami loses a very close game to a good Louisville Team. Warning: this thread is for people who aren't completely hysterical. Seriously, people, get a grip. Here are some thoughts and takeaways on this team, as we look forward to next week.
- This was - by far - Shannon Dawson's worst game as an OC in Miami. The offense was predictable, and he did absolutely nothing to disguise whether we were going to run or pass. Just a completely putrid performance. When Dawson is on, he's on. When he's not, he's worse than Patrick Nix. Just a terrible offensive game plan. Multiple opportunities to score, and went into a shell. The absence of a play action pass or anything else involving a semblance of creativity was astounding.
- This run scheme needs to be revamped from the ground up. The fact that 95% of our run game is inside zone directed to the A gap is astounding. Teams have learned and seen the film: if you just collapse the center of our OL, our run game is negated. We need to throw in some pitches, outside runs, and counters. We have too talented an RB room to have the same vanilla run game.
- Speaking of which, it was inexcusable that we didn't even try to get the run game going at the end of the game. Didn't even try to catch them sleeping. Just predictably stayed with the pass. If it doesn't work, we have a TO and time to try something else. Again, Dawson was atrocious.
- Carson Beck had a TVD-level performance tonight. Just absolutely terrible throughout. He has an opportunity now to shake it off or crater. The choice is his. Dawson did absolutely nothing to help him, though. Beck also predetermined his targets wayyyyyyyy too much. It was just a terrible performance all around, and UL made plays all over the field. The fact that the intermediate passing game was working and we just went away from it for long stretches is just astounding.
- Hats off to our defense. After completely ****ting the bed in the first two drives, they were stout for the rest of the game. They did everything they could to keep us in it. UL's O is too good to hold for all game. However, tackling was the worst it has been this season and the second level of our defense just kept getting gashed.
- Our OL had its worst night of the season. Pass protection was fine, but our run blocking was absolutely terrible. A lot of that is scheme, but we just couldn't create any lanes. Additionally, and the biggest issue so far, is how many drive-killing pre-snap penalties we commit. It's inexcusable. Every game this year, save Bethune, we've had 1-2 drive killing pre-snap penalties. This needs to be fixed; teams are simulating the snap because they realize we have this bad tendency.
- We have a good WR room. Malachi Toney is a superstar. He's going to be making big plays for years to come. Daniels and Marion did what they needed to tonight. Ultimately, it's almost always impossible to overcome four interceptions.
- I remain astounded by Shannon Dawson's inability to use our TEs. When we do, we almost always have decent positive yardage. If we do not figure out a way to involve our TEs in our passing game, there's zero reason for any highly touted HS TEs or portal TEs to consider coming here.
- Carter Davis, what a guy. Kicker was a huge concern coming into this season, and the guy picked up where the Borregales brothers left off. In close games, like today, a good kicker is an essential.
- Rueben Bain gets hold on every play and never gets a call. For the most part, Refs nitpick us. But like Jimmy Johnson said, you gotta play well enough to make them a non-factor. I would like to see Mario get in their face more. There's a reason why Kirby and other coaches do it. Refs are more hesitant to throw a flag with a very ****ed off coach breathing down their neck. It's human nature.
- Our secondary struggled in the intermediate passing game tonight. Too much cushion, not enough press. However, they still did enough to win. This L is not on them or is defense. It is squarely on our offense, specifically, our QB and OC.
- Mario Cristobal has gotten a lot of flak for his gameday coaching abilities, for good reason. However, especially since 2023, Cristobal has been a far better gameday coach. Yes, he play's it too conservative at times, but sometimes it's damned if you do damned if you don't. If we go for the FG there and lose in 2OT, he gets criticized for being too conservative. If we go for the win but throw an INT, he still gets criticized. Cristobal deserves criticism for today's gameplan and flat performance coming off the bye. However, if you made a list of the reasons why we lost today, Cristobal's gameday coaching doesn't even make the top ten. He's not the reason Carson Beck threw four interceptions.
- Ultimately, as terrible as our O was tonight, we were in a position to win this game. Sometimes, you just don't get the lucky bounce or play and it's not your night. Losing by 3 is far different than getting blown out or manhandled. The optics aren't terrible.
- As tough as it is to hear right now, this team was never going to be undefeated. We don't have the depth or across-the-board talent/production yet. We knew an L was coming. This is a good UL team. All our goals, an ACC Championship and CFP Appearance are still in front of us. Hopefully, we can use this as a turning point in the season and go on the run. Maybe even get a shot at returning the favor to UL in the ACC Championship. We'll see what this team and program are made of over the next few weeks. But seriously, people, get a grip. This is a setback, but there's a clear path to our goals.
