Took him longer than we liked, but Mario does have the makings of a good staff for 2023.

[Angry Ibis]

So expecting 8-4 against a schedule with maybe two ranked opponents is now “greatness”? Man, have our standards collapsed.

I recall that 7-5, 8-4 was never acceptable under previous regimes, blasted on here for accepting mediocrity and basically saying you hate Miami if you are OK with it…

We’ve now invested the most in the program’s history and somehow lowered the expectations… weird to me to go from any competent coach should win 10 games to being OK with 7 wins…

 

[ItsMeD]

I am excited. I think there are good coaches in staff. Particularly, on defense. I'm sure it's been discussed elsewhere on this board, but I just found out last week from Cover 3 podcast that Guidry had some DUI issues in the past. Yes, I know that podcast is filled with Miami haters and FSU fans. But they discussed how that hindered his ability to get big jobs for sometime and that he's a legit good DC. If not for that, he would have been in the power 5 and big schools a lot earlier. I'm excited to see what he can do on defense.

With the offense, I'm taking a prove it to me approach. I feel good about it generally, but I need to see improvement. Almost anything is better than Gattis. But that wouldn't be enough. I want to see a unit that knows what it is doing, has an identity, and executes the game plan. I have a feeling Mario knows everything that is being said about him so this should be the time he let's an OC do what he has to do. We'll see.

 

[GojiraCane]

I recall that 7-5, 8-4 was never acceptable under previous regimes, blasted on here for accepting mediocrity and basically saying you hate Miami if you are OK with it…

We’ve now invested the most in the program’s history and somehow lowered the expectations… weird to me to go from any competent coach should win 10 games to being OK with 7 wins…

Last year was the lowest point in the program's modern history. Worse than 1997. Considerably. The offensive ineptitude was worse than anything I have ever seen, which the exception of Oklahoma's strategy and performance against Texas this last season.

So if you were to have asked me in March 1998 - after the program's previous nadir - what I thought that the Miami Hurricanes were going to the following season, I probably would have said something less than 10 wins.

That said, on paper in 2023 the blue chip ratio is the highest that is has been since Larry Coker. But a lot has to go right this season for Miami to win ten or more games:

1. Tyler Van Dyke has to not only rebound to 2021 performance, but then surpass it
2. The transfers and young offensive linemen need to almost immediately jell
3. Our wide receivers need to be revitalized by the new offense
4. The veritable horde of very inexperienced but very talented defensive ends have to take steps up
5. Our freshmen linebackers need to make an immediate impact
6. A starting caliber defensive tackle needs to transfer in
7. Above all, we cannot suffer the injury attrition that we sustained last year

 

[Brains]

The best teams improve in the portal. We have a ton of roster holes, and improvement via the portal is mandatory, not optional. Until the roster is set, the discussion of coaches is highly speculative.

Still need:


Rotation S
Rotation big DT
Starter level CB
Starter level RB
Two Starter level WR
Backup QB

Getting everything listed above doesn't even give us depth, it just gives us the potential for a solid starting lineup.

 

[ScharfCane]

The best teams improve in the portal. We have a ton of roster holes, and improvement via the portal is mandatory, not optional. Until the roster is set, the discussion of coaches is highly speculative.

Still need:


Rotation S
Rotation big DT
Starter level CB
Starter level RB
Two Starter level WR
Backup QB

Getting everything listed above doesn't even give us depth, it just gives us the potential for a solid starting lineup.

We definitely need a RB for depth purposes but we do not need a starter level RB.

 

[The U is back to work]

Mario is here for 6 years minimum. He turned over most of the staff after a 7 loss season and likely could have turned over Addae and Salavea even though Addae coached an AA in Kam.

I love his hires at DC, DE, RB, and LB. All three I believe will make a sizable year 1 impact.

At OC it’s 100% wait and see - it’s not Gattis so that’s an improvement but there are glaring historically bad stops at UK you can’t just avoid. But if he can score 33PPG here then we will get **** turned around quick.

Beard is also wait and see - I know he’s a Cane and respected here but I don’t want to hear about us missing out again with recruits - it’s enough. Our depth chart is dog **** and it’s a WR friendly system. He needs to produce immediately. He will develop talent - I didn’t have a problem with the WRs when he was coaching them last.

 

[Brains]

We definitely need a RB for depth purposes but we do not need a starter level RB.

We have a rotational RB (Parrish), a freshman who should be good (Fletcher), one back coming off a significant injury (Citizen) who also hasn't played a down of CFB, and Chaney.

That does not inspire a great deal of confidence. We will have to agree to disagree on RB need.

 

[L A M P]

We have a rotational RB (Parrish), a freshman who should be good (Fletcher), one back coming off a significant injury (Citizen) who also hasn't played a down of CFB, and Chaney.

That does not inspire a great deal of confidence. We will have to agree to disagree on RB need.

The need for an additional RB is a valid point. IMO it doesn't have to be starter level. Parrish talent level would suffice. We need to stay healthy at the position.

 

[MizCane]

I think he made a great DC hire.. I’m going to have to see it for the OC.

I think the OC is obviously capable and has done well at spots and will be a great fit here. Mario recruits at a high level and will have every resource the other top programs have surrounding these coaches and players to win consistently. He just needs coaches that can scheme and it appears he got 2 that can.

 

[ghost2]

Mario just needs a scheme that first does no harm, so that his recruiting prowess isn't hindered by the on-field product. Give the man something to sell and we'll see it really take off.

 

[harphong]

None of the recruits or transfers Mario brought in before 2022 improved the team? Just compare the defensive line from 2021 and 2022. Better at every position with twice the depth. That alone should have gotten us an extra win. 7-5 wasn’t good enough for any of the coaches we’ve employed while nickel and dime-ing the football program. Why is it acceptable now that we’re playing big boy ball?

I’m not going to blame you or anyone who has low expectations. This team sucked balls last year. I just get mad at the guys that are “happy if we go 7-5”. Why would you be happy about terribly underachieving again? How many times do we have to win the off season and fail the regular season.

Given the schedule and the players we have right now, going 7-5 would be a monumental failure to me.

Here's where we align on this; maybe we're cross talking the points:

I won't be HAPPY with a 6-6 , 7-5 type season - it's what I expect.
I will be happiER with a team that looks better top to bottom than anything we saw last year en route to 5-7. I also expect that; vis a vis talent, but especially coaching.

Anything better is exceeding expectations.

I 'd really point to the last 5 or so points made above by various posters about the roster needs and coaching unknowns.

Am basically excited about the coaching staff, but in W&See mode.
Roster needs are of real concern.

 

[DTP]

Here's where we align on this; maybe we're cross talking the points:

I won't be HAPPY with a 6-6 , 7-5 type season - it's what I expect.
I will be happiER with a team that looks better top to bottom than anything we saw last year en route to 5-7. I also expect that; vis a vis talent, but especially coaching.

Anything better is exceeding expectations.

If you expect a 6-6 type season, I won’t fault you on that. Just as long as you’re not accepting a 6-6 type season as some sort of success. That’s all I’m saying

 

[GojiraCane]

We definitely need a RB for depth purposes but we do not need a starter level RB.

I’d say one wide receiver, not two. Scheme and a vastly improved offensive line are going to make that position a lot better by default.

 

[GojiraCane]

DTP, I regard you as a most solid poster, but just look at the expectations for 2022 vs. 21.

Supposed to be better? - **** yes! Since we joined the ACC...

Everything you point to for 23 vs 22 is still true in comparison.

Exchange the OOC schedule -not much of a difference, really - and ACC analysis....

Look to what we produced in 22.

Another new coaching staff and The sorry assed ACC hasn't been so to us since we joined.

Boat raced by Duke. smashed at home by MTSU with an all star corching staff and comparable talent, minus harley and rambo.

Talented? Are we really more talented than we were in 21? I don't see it.

The roster hasn't truly flipped our way and new talent hasn't been developed.

I think the lower standards are a more than fair assessment.

I have hope that a 6-6 team can look light years better than the mess we lived through in 22.

That's where my standards are nowadays.

Imma mope until I can't.

Am looking very forward to those days.

It’s flipped. Excluding Jackson (who arrived and left in less than 12 months), Miami has shed 64 players in the last two off seasons.

 

[ToTheHouse]

Last staff was a lot of big names. Big names come big ego. The staff wasn’t cohesive. This staff should and would be. They a lot of up and coming coaches that have some to prove.

 

[harphong]

If you expect a 6-6 type season, I won’t fault you on that. Just as long as you’re not accepting a 6-6 type season as some sort of success. That’s all I’m saying

At best, it's a small step towards reestablishing our standard.
Unlike years and years past, I am perhaps overestimating our opponents and underestimating our own abilities.
I hope so, but don't think so.

 

[harphong]

It’s flipped. Excluding Jackson (who arrived and left in less than 12 months), Miami has shed 64 players in the last two off seasons.

Thanks for pointing that out. I sincerely hope the batch cooks.
With some hungry coaching, we may see some fight. That's all I want this year.

 

[DTP]

It’s flipped. Excluding Jackson (who arrived and left in less than 12 months), Miami has shed 64 players in the last two off seasons.

Exactly. most of the guys who were on the roster just two years ago are gone. These are Mario's guys now.