Upon Further Review: Miami vs. Stanford

Let the record reflect, it's not just me that noticed Damari Brown got beat multiple times in coverage.
I don't understand how he hasn't been beaten out for his spot. He was terrible. I don't like to say that about our guys but that performance by Brown was Baumanesque. The reality is that Jaboree Antoine and OJ Frederique are out so I would like to see Portis, Jennings, Waters and Ewald get plenty of reps at CB.
I believe Ethan was also slightly banged up or probably would've played more
 
Let the record reflect, it's not just me that noticed Damari Brown got beat multiple times in coverage.
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We finally made it through the summer and football season is here as the Miami Hurricanes returned to the football for the opening game of the 2026 season. How did it look on film? Find out, only at Upon Further Review.

Opening kickoff, want to give some love to the teamers. They’re attacking the correct shoulders to squeeze this gap and funnel the returner back into their pursuit from 30, 17, 21. Controls his man with his left arm and actually wraps him with his right and makes this tackle. Nice play, Chase Smith.

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Miami opens in an even front with a 1T shade over the C, 3T over the G, with a B-gap bubble to the LG with a standup 5T. Common way to build an Over front and set the B-gap as bait. Adjacent defender can wrong-arm/spill, crash down and squeeze, then the LB folds into the gap behind it. Looks like a weakness but is designed to invite a run there so the defense dictates direction. I won’t talk through every single front but wanted to show a pretty common defensive setup Miami runs.

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In this situation, Stanford has a pass play on, you can see Miami blitzes that open bubble with their overhang defender and Stanford throws into it on the outside. This is honestly a nice decision by Warren because if he throws the slant it’s much more likely to get knocked down. He takes the outside route and gets a completion. I’m sure Stanford also watches film and knows this is a common defensive look from Miami and scripted a nice play against it. Stanford OL has a full-slide right with the LT locked backside (58 vs. Lightfoot) turning it into a double vs. Moten.

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Miami gets Stanford off-the-field quickly and forces a punt.

Opens with a 2x1 look with a sniffer and offset back to field side from gun. Pull LG across, fake give to RB, and get Mali into intermediate area. You need your RG/C to work on their timing here. I don’t know their assignments, and that’s important to remember, but it seems like your C is supposed to step down and take 45 here and your RG steps down to take the NT. It could be that the RG is supposed to get across to 45 and the C just got knocked into his lap, I cannot know for sure. My guess is that the C needs to step down. Fletcher gets 45 to protect the play and Mali runs an awesome Sluggo to get open for a big gain. Want to highlight Jordan taking an edge and locking him up nicely 1-on-1.

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They’ll get more in-sync and improve their rhythm over this play. Mali has #6 in a blender, Fletcher rides the edge out, SJ needs to be looking for work instead of blocking air. Big play.

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RT taps RG to slide left, leaving the edge unblocked (which means the QB is responsible for him).

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This is NFL stuff from Mensah. He knows he has the unblocked edge, but he holds his gaze to the left long enough to freeze that post safety, then flips his hips to get a ball up at this look and drops it perfectly to Mali at the three-yard line (second red circle). Maybe want to avoid some free hits on your star QB, but that’s an elite throw and play by Mensah.
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Blount splits a slide, then blasts through the RB. Wilson speed rushes around the TE pretty easily and gets close to hitting Warren. Chase Smith got kind of lost in coverage on this one and had to turn and chase. Canes rotate their coverage into a cover-3 after the snap and invert their nickel into the flat to take the RB. WR has a free release and drops into a soft spot in front of the dropper. This one got messy for the coverage.
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You’re asking your TE to die slowly on this play and he gets an initial jolt on Wilson and controls his wrist, which is what gets enough time for the QB. On socials it felt to some like I was picking on Wilson, but I’m just highlighting plays and you want your star edge to whip TE’s every time is all I’m pointing out.
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Chase getting lost and having to turn and sprint caused some more problems on the back-end.
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Nice job spilling while singled up vs. a TE by Wilson here. Controls him with right arm (also called “wrong-arm”) and spills it into pursuit.
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Wilson shows his power against the RT here. You’d like to see him disengage or swipe clean here and get to the QB. He keeps the bull rush, and the RT is eventually able to stall him. Nice rush that he make just a bit better with either cleaner hand usage or adding a secondary move to the rush.
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Miami mugs the A-gaps on 3rd & 7 and Toure gets moved out and Chase Smith gets viced by the RG. Defense used a “NASCAR” front and got caught with the run (Blount, Moten, Wilson, Lightfoot). Slanted front away from Blount to leave him unblocked, then mauled the muggers for the big run. Poyser takes a poor angle here (slow to react) and lets it get by him.
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Stanford runs “Leak” to the TE, who fakes a wham and then gets to the wheel route outside. Toure bites on the fake and completely loses his coverage. Leak is a tough play to defend because Stanford is a run-based team and they make you respect that fake, but LB’s are having a tough drive.
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Nice rush here from the interior, though they almost got too wide in the middle to let the QB escape. Blount brings him down with one hand on the undershirt.
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Miami goes to twin gun backs and sends Brown to the orbit. SJ just whiffs against 45 and ends up on the ground. Rodriguez loses across his face quickly and this run is blown up. I’m pretty certain there was a slide adjustment called and SJ missed it because he initially goes at the 3T instead of the edge. 76 was also slow to slide as Samson had to take the blitzing #5.
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SJ has really struggled with quickness in this one. Here, he completely whiffs on the initial punch and is blown by for what should be a TFL, but Fletcher makes him miss.
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Any time I do these I have to point what a dude Mali is with his blocking. This is textbook, strong base, drops his hips, hands inside the chest plate. Such a physical player for his listed size.
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Run a screen to Barkate and Mali gets his block, McCoy shows his athleticism to get from his RT spot all the way across to this S here. That’s impressive mobility from him.
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If you read my stuff, you’ve heard me talk about “football character on film” and I think this picture right here shows so much of it from this team. Look at the prior screenshot and see where #7, #63, #65, #4 are to start things and see their effort to get out and block on this screen play. Total team effort to help their teammate and that is football character. If #65 could have just gotten #39 here, it might be a TD. Great play by the S to fight off the block and get Barkate down.
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This is an example of how Stanford sold out to stop the run (especially in the red zone). Seven defenders against five blockers (though there really were six if Brown isn’t going fast to flat on this play with Jordan leading). Running into that look is tough, but Fletcher makes the man miss in the hole and gets a nice gain. His feet are really quick for a big back.
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Miami is an extremely physical team, full of players not afraid to get dirty inside. Really like this view just to see how much Miami embraces the grimy side of football. Brown gets an inside give in the low red zone (inside 10). Jordan offset as an H-back, Ruskavich as a sniffer, SJ & Samson on a duo where Samson has to get to LB. Brown gets skinny through this hole (which is just a great look at what “holes” look like with these tight splits on short yardage plays). Ruskavich gets his helmet bent back but he just grinds that dude into the end zone on this one. Upshaw (#7) at the top of the screen just scrapping to block his man the whole time. The offense is pretty and explosive, but this right here combined with the other is what is going to win a lot of games.
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Bad snap. Mensah shows composure and just collects the ball, stays calm, delivers a dart for the TD after Mali does the clean hesi release into a slant. TD. He even avoided the Stanford defenders and made them hit each other for good measure.



I see you #27! #17 and #4 joining in on the trio with a big hit on return.

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This is exactly how Damon Wilson is taught to attack a block in this technique. Head across the outside shoulder, outside leg in-between the blockers legs, knockback power, and protect the bounce. Lightfoot beats the RT trying to downblock and this play is shut down.
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Stanford either had a tell on some of these runs, or they simply dared Miami to throw every play (they could have). All three LB’s are already screaming downhill and Mensah barely has the ball.
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This is an absolute dot from Warren on the rollout, but I show this just to show how difficult Stanford was making it to get any pressure on the passer in this one. Rollouts, multiple TE’s staying in to block, and quick passes. It helps prevent pressure, but it also limits your offensive options, which we saw play out over time.
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Found it interesting that Bonner got an entire series as an edge player and Pruitt got the entire series as a Mike. Felt like Pruitt showed some speed and quickness. Bonner is kind of searching for a role right now, as his rush was ineffective and he sort of just stalled. (Not pictured)

You’d like Chase to be a little more aware here. He’s responsible for the flat out there, but he’s also responsible for his zone drop first. He doesn’t seem to notice the TE settle into his zone and the QB separate to start to throw and just runs away from it. This goes for a 1st down. Chase isn’t responsible for the vertical, so he can stay a little more square and play that TE first while still pinching the flat.
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I admire what PFF has built and how they are able to provide grades for every player in a quick turnaround, but I often find myself seeing it quite differently than they do in their system; particularly at the LOS. Cantwell is into the game and it looks better immediately. The size is an obvious change from Buch/SJ to Cantwell/Buch on this play. Cantwell keeps quick feet, anchors, and his C looks for work to clean this guy out. Nice job. It’s cover-1 man for Stanford, so there’s a post safety back there, but I feel like Mensah passed up a chance for an explosive to Mali.
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Need better from Cantwell here. Let’s his man beat him across his face with speed and into the backfield. It doesn’t stop the conversion, but this is where he has to grow.
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Stanford did a really good job of playing games with their pressure packages and brought rushers from different locations and on delays etc. Here the line call is to slide left towards that wide-9 rusher. #0 comes from the backside and is a free rusher.
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But what a job by Mensah to float, throw it falling away and hit Mali here. This is really elite QB play by our guy. I feel like #6 probably should’ve blocked #0, but I don’t know the line call, of course.
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Cantwell just little brother’s #96. Buch really struggled with getting over his ski’s in this game. He tended to lunge and get really wide in his base, causing him to fall forward and lose his grip.
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Mensah had to get rid of it a bit early, but Mali has enough space to run to it because the S is scared to death of the vertical here. Better safeties will stay in their bracket better and the loss up front might hurt more.
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Cantwell forklifts his defender, McCoy misses his block at the second level but Brown makes #10 miss. #76 washes down the NT and Buch gets to second level.
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Cantwell pulls and just swallows the edge. Ruskavich washes his guy down so hard he gets two blocks in one and Brown scores easily.
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Jordan washes down #0 and gets a pancake. Then look at Ruskavich who helps with #95 and then gets to #10 and #5. Woah. That’s a ridiculous blocking effort from him.
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Another bad snap that Mensah has to jump for. Barkate stalks across the LOS and crushes a defender all the way over at LG. SJ probably takes the wrong guy because Barkate has an angle to stalk block this and SJ can take #0. Instead no one does and it’s stuffed. Brown doesn’t really get his block, either. Timing was messed up off the snap and Rodriguez was kind of in SJ’s way, so it really could be that was where things went wrong overall.
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Want to highlight both the tackles here. Samson with excellent independent hand usage here. He steers with his left while keeping his right clean in case the defender tries to cross his face. I see so many college T’s who are two-hand punchers and that leaves them more vulnerable to inside moves or falling off-balance if it doesn’t land. Great base and athletic feet. McCoy uses his length to control here and still has his right free to push wide and has the inside covered. This pocket is perfect and Mensah hits Moore on the mesh concept coming right into his vision.
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This was a cluster from the beginning. Fletcher was shoving Rodriguez to get upfield and Rod blocks no one. Fletcher runs into Buch who gets spun around. Just a really poor rep on tape here. Josh Moore got his, though.
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This play is just filthy. As a former DB I feel for the defender as he gets shaken so badly he almost falls on his face. Just zero chance in man-press against Toney in the slot.
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From the stands it looked like Stanford was selling out to stop the run on every down and distance that seemed like it might be a run play. The problem was I could usually guess 8 out of 10 times based on formation whether we were going to run or pass and I didn't see much RPO like I was expecting. I also think Dawson held some things back, particularly once we got a solid lead but who knows if that's true.
 
So, D$ is lost in the sauce.
No idea what he said about Damari. I doubt he thought he’d be an elite Nickel guy. If so, I don’t see how. Over his time here, he has struggled with short area quickness - watch him get turned in multiple clips - and that’s the blender of covering inside guys. He’s been a good tackler at times and is a strong player, so maybe he meant good at blitzing and some of the other duties asked of a Nickel.
 
I don't understand how he hasn't been beaten out for his spot. He was terrible. I don't like to say that about our guys but that performance by Brown was Baumanesque. The reality is that Jaboree Antoine and OJ Frederique are out so I would like to see Portis, Jennings, Waters and Ewald get plenty of reps at CB.
O'Connot was banged up and Antoine is hurt. If both were 100%, we would've seen less Damari.
 
O'Connot was banged up and Antoine is hurt. If both were 100%, we would've seen less Damari.
I knew about Antoine but I didn't know about O'Connor being banged up until today. Makes sense now. We need Damari to step up and I'm looking forward to seeing the young CBs on Thursday.
 
Let the record reflect, it's not just me that noticed Damari Brown got beat multiple times in coverage.
BUT BUT BUT...YOU KNOW THE REST LOL WHO CONTINUE TO DEFEND HIM ON HERE WILL SAY HE HAS ALL THE PROTOTYPE & MEASUREABLES...

IN MY EYES ALL HYPE AND ALWAYS INJURED SINCE HES BEEN HERE
 
Aside from the obvious, I really liked what I saw from:

- All the TEs! Lofton, he got a good catch didn’t look as sloppy big as last yr, and everytime I saw him he was blocking quite well. Think he will represent a major upgrade over our TE performance last season as long as he is healthy. I especially loved how Dawson used our TE. We weren’t just running 11 or 12 with inline TEs all day. We went 4 WR, went 2 Rb, and splitting TE out a lot when 11 too. Ruskavich seems like he will be a nice TE3 inline blocker. For now until Mueller steps up he will likely serve as TE2 I guess, but at least this yr Dawson isn’t going to us that nearly as much as last yr. And Mueller had some nice reps. It’s good they are sprinkling him in. If he develops I think by the end of the season we will be good. If Lofton blocks all season like he did this game, I’m very happy.

- Wiley. He got a tackle on like 1/3rx of his snaps. He is physical, and looked like he read his keys well. Pass Coverage is still the question. But I think he will contribute well as a blitzed and against run asap. I really hope he and Pruitt continue to get quality snaps. Toure and Smith are liabilities against the pass like I’ve been saying. And Chad Smith showed me nothing to step away from my take that he is average at best.

- Moore and Upshaw. As the “WR3” duo, they made plays everytime they were required. They are the key as there is just no way to stop our pass game if they can win their 1v1s where the defense is so worried about Mali and Barkate. When we have Mali and Barkate to one side and Moore on the island wide, and he can reliably make those Slants/Curls - that’s basically what we asked of Horton and he was a very valuable contributor. Upshaw is just smooth. And both of them block with effort. I was pretty shocked how early Spafford was out there getting reps. It’s impossible not to be extremely excited about this WR group this season (and looking forward to future seasons!).

- Lightfoot. I’ve been saying this but I just think he’s a dawg. Pound for pound he’s a surprisingly good run defender. Ultimately mass kicks *** though, so I don’t necessarily expect him to always win Run D reps. But man the amount he does win and given his quickness he’s great when run goes away from him. I think he’s better as a qb spy than fully dropping into a coverage where he is a bit lost. But will he be better than Mesidor at it? I think so by end of season… I’m also not worried much about Wilson when it comes to pass rush. Run D I’m still in wait and see mode.

- Safeties. I thought Poyser was very good. Thornton was nice and did what was asked of him. Didn’t get tested much in coverage so tbd on that. Fitzgerald was flying around but wasn’t too targeted. Dunnigan was in early and often. I love what this 4 layer group can be…. Guess we will see what Dylan Day does when he is back too… And it’s important cause without Oj, Damari was ***, and LBs were a liability in coverage like I said. Really hope Lucas has taken the next step, cause I have no faith in Damari. OConnor I think is solid, but apparently he was limited as well. And too bad Antione had a bigger injury apparently….
 
No idea what he said about Damari. I doubt he thought he’d be an elite Nickel guy. If so, I don’t see how. Over his time here, he has struggled with short area quickness - watch him get turned in multiple clips - and that’s the blender of covering inside guys. He’s been a good tackler at times and is a strong player, so maybe he meant good at blitzing and some of the other duties asked of a Nickel.
We discussed it in the corner show in offseason. I am a proponent of him playing the big nickel stuff like you would if you walked a LB out over a slot.

But iso with a slot having two way go? No. That's not his game.

I'm sure it feels like I'm dogging on him. He had a bad game. Many do. I've called out hundreds on these things and it doesn't mean they can't play etc.

Right now, he's having a hard time changing directions and seems unsure of himself. Hope he settles in.
 
@Lance Roffers just curious based on your watch…. Who would you send out as your starting 5 OL if the ND game was this weekend?
I just can't have SJ out there in the scheme we run. Up tempo, tons of screens, outside zone scheme? Maybe.

But Miami loves inside runs with power. They love RPO game. They like moving people against their will and tight splits. SJ just doesn't have the size I want.

Personally, I'd go with Samson/Buch/Ryan/Cantwell/McCoy

Samson was the true standout in this game. McCoy was next. Everyone else has work to do (just like you'd expect them to).
 
I just can't have SJ out there in the scheme we run. Up tempo, tons of screens, outside zone scheme? Maybe.

But Miami loves inside runs with power. They love RPO game. They like moving people against their will and tight splits. SJ just doesn't have the size I want.

Personally, I'd go with Samson/Buch/Ryan/Cantwell/McCoy

Samson was the true standout in this game. McCoy was next. Everyone else has work to do (just like you'd expect them to).
That makes sense. Thanks for the feedback. I have a feeling SJ needs to figure out how to snap to stay on the field long term.
 
I just can't have SJ out there in the scheme we run. Up tempo, tons of screens, outside zone scheme? Maybe.

But Miami loves inside runs with power. They love RPO game. They like moving people against their will and tight splits. SJ just doesn't have the size I want.

Personally, I'd go with Samson/Buch/Ryan/Cantwell/McCoy

Samson was the true standout in this game. McCoy was next. Everyone else has work to do (just like you'd expect them to).
I thought Max Buch was the best G in the run game but got beat a couple times in pass pro. Seemed to me the best combo was exactly what you listed with Samson, Buch, Ryan, Cantwell, McCoy
 
During the season last year before he got hurt.. majority of the board was saying Damari Brown was our best cover corner. Lol we were on the **** of every fake insider hoping he would come back from injury and play in the CFP playoffs. Now after 1 game he sucks. Has the bleakness rubbed off?.
 
Miami has an embarrassment of riches at the WR position as they can throw out multiple players who would be focal points of other offenses. Upshaw with a nice catch and what a dime of a throw.



Wilson has tried the bull rush several times in this one to mixed results. Here he is locked up by #74 as Wilson tries power and never even threatens.
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Wilson gets put on his back by #51 here. I am merely pointing out that even in a blowout, there are things to grow from this game.
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Brown opens his hips too early here to go to the post and the receiver burns him outside. Thornton comes on the blitz and beats the RB so the WR had to win quickly and he did.
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Toasted.
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This throw to Lofton at the :36 second mark is truly an elite throw. The Stanford coaches literally just threw their hands up like “what am I supposed to do with that?”



Mali gets a pancake on the catch by Mueller. He will put you on his highlight in many different ways.
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Barkate TD on a beautiful ball from Mensah. :20 seconds from the Jordan Reid tweet above. You want to double Mali? Well, Barkate is a legit weapon opposite him and can beat you with route running and with speed.
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It’s fair to say he has an exceptional pocket to feel comfortable in but look at the picture as he’s releasing this ball. Even with double coverage, Mali is wide-open. Mensah is reading two things here: the leverage of the CB covering Barkate and that post safety. If the leverage is outside from the CB and the post safety drops to Mali, it’s let it fly and that’s what Mensah does.
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Special teams’ discipline is nice here. Rather than getting out of their lanes and trying to be heroes, everyone has the proper leverage and is in their lane. #28 outside, #27 outside. Then #0 (Thornton) is actually spilling this returner in a way that you can see #48 expected him to come more towards the wedge. #11 (Kamal Bonner) smacks him on this return. Nice work, teams.
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Cantwell turns his man out with power, Rodriguez washes his man down, Buch gets to the second level (he fell off his block too much), and Brown has an explosive run. Lofton kicking out #8 is nice as well.
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Stanford did a lot of slanting and games up-front. Their DL had a lot of tricks in the bag and were honestly a really good learning experience for our OL. NT with a swim move is not something your C sees a ton and he whiffs completely. 3T slants away from Cantwell, who uses his length and power to wash him out. Cantwell wins here, Rodriguez loses (nearly fell over), Buch saved Rodriguez by initially diagnosing that the green dog isn’t coming and fanning down to the NT.
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I’m just about through as the backups are all in and it’s out of hand, but I do want to put out that in a less serious environment, I thought Wiley was our best LB. Here he diagnoses the run and triggers before the OL can get to the second level and makes a pop.
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This is what you do to TE’s trying to block you, Wilson! He sends this guy to the shadow realm with his punch. Lifted him off his feet into the air like Uncle Phil tossing Jazz out the mansion on Fresh Prince of Bel Air.
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This should’ve been a TD on 4th down as Brown got roasted.
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Congdon uses his length to do his initial jolt, then anchors. Cantwell tries to do the same but gets his weight over his toes and the DL is able to shed his hands and let Cantwell fall forward. That’s a loss for him.
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Ooof. Nickel actually completes this to #12 (Wingo). Nice job by the QB, not so much from Cantwell.
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This is a mistake by the OL. Not sure if it’s Congdon or Meriweather who misses the call. From my watch, it’s Congdon who misses it, as Meriweather fans to the rushing Overhang defender. What furthers that opinion is Woodrow passes off his defender and picks up the rushing Mike. You certainly aren’t just releasing #11 here and going to the second level. #11 runs in and just tackles Pringle in the backfield.
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Miami runs out the string from here. Great to get so many reps for the young players and mostly get out of it injury-free (Frederique is going to be out several weeks).

Overall

This was what you hoped to see out of Miami against an overmatched opponent. Stanford had a lot of injuries, no doubt about it. That said, they were well-prepared and were at home in a conference opener. Miami hasn’t beaten a conference opponent this thoroughly in years. I won’t tell you Stanford will be good (they won’t be), but Warren showed me some things at QB and they are physical. Great first test to learn and get film to make corrections.
  • Wilson had some good, had some bad. You’d like to see more speed rush where he threatens with his rush quickly, but Stanford definitely moved the pocket, went to quick game to neutralize some of that.
  • Cantwell showed his elite power but had a couple of warts in pass protection where his weight got forward and his balance wasn’t there. Would like to see better movement at times as well. Seems like he’s thinking rather than just playing (robotic at times).
  • Lightfoot was physical and held up well. He dropped into the hook zone several times and is clearly not comfortable doing so (he steps out wide at his landmark, rather than understanding threats and spacing and pinching where the receiver threatens most).
  • Toure was his typical self.
  • To my eyes, Chase Smith did not play well. He was out of position in pass defense and slow to trigger in the run game. One game, simply what I felt upon my review.
  • This offense is national championship good if the OL continues to grow as I expect it to.
  • Mensah was as good as pretty much any QB could be in this game. If I were giving him a grade upon watch of the tv copy and some coaches film, I’d give him an absolutely elite, top-of-scale grade. NFL teams will undoubtedly move him up the watch list after this one.
Buckle up, friends, this is a year full of expectations and what an unbelievable feeling it is to be back to that.

Somebody get Lance the all 22 film

 
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