Another year, another opportunity for my delusion to kick in and believe in this team.
Mario has made changes. He has not been status quo with coaching changes and most notably with players- in mass. He is doing all he can to will this program to a 10 win season out of the ashes.
Why I’m optimistic:
1. A healthy TVD.
2. Different players to utilize on defense all over the field.
3. Seemingly full RB room.
4. This could be #1 but I have to see first… an improved OLine.
5. Players seem to like being there as opposed to obvious chemistry issues carrying over early last season after the TAMU loss.
6. We have an excellent FG kicker- and many ACC games prove close enough where a missed kick by this team and a made kick by that team ultimately determine the game.
7. What other choice do I have? They’re my Canes man!!!!
Why I’m NOT optimistic:
1. I do not trust this defense. Just don’t until proven otherwise. Hyped over a starting Mike LB from Washington State??? Jury is out.
2. We did not go to portal to get a competent back up QB. Teams will be pinning their ears back knowing the #1 way to be the Miami Hurricanes is to put TVD out of the game.
3. Depending on transfers and freshman to radically improve a program is usually fools gold.
4. I still don’t trust Mario as a game day coach. I think he doesn’t have the team to overcome that just yet. But I believe he will one day.
5. Kick and punt returning. Unless JoJo is a revelation, I don’t see these areas helping us overcome. I bet Mario and co are just hoping to pull a CMR and make sure this area isn’t a minus. Playoff teams have game changers on ST. Hard to say we have a game changer here.
X-Factors:
1. How embarrassed was this team REALLY from last season??? We will find out in the first two weeks.
2. Was the poor defense primarily from players or scheme/coaching style?
3. Will WRs finally take a step past being possession or miracle catch guys? We need the play by play excellence on every down.
4. A punter change always makes me hold my breath. If we had an accomplished offense and defense it would be less a factor. But the punting could be THE difference in us being a 10 win team and us being a 7 win team by itself. If our defense is good not great- every yard will be important.
5. Were these the right coaching changes? We’ll find out.
Final thoughts on season:
1. I think the defense improves to become a bend don’t break type deal. Not elite, but maybe an MTSU type, FSU and Clemson (read: anyone and everyone) don’t go nuclear on us ala 2022.
2. I think our offense improves drastically back to a more run based (or balanced) version of 2021 based on a deeper running back room with diverse skill sets. This will set up our passing game very well and offset our slightly less talented WR room.
3. I’m glad Mario came. Why? He can recruit. That will be the difference on why he succeeds when so many others have failed. Hard to say if he can pull off the miracle of resurrecting a program with championship expectation in a city where it’s hard to keep a program from being sanctioned, let alone win. (ps. I know nil has changed the game, but if anyone can find a way to be sanctioned it’s the NCAA on Miami) But if anyone can turn this around, it’s Mario.
4. I do think the ball bounces our way more than not. We will win a game we shouldn’t.
Hot take predictions (if TVD is healthy):
Miami oh- W 41-10
TAMU- W 24-20
Bethune- W 70-10
@ Temple- W 28-24
GT- W 35-21
@UNC- L 31-27
Klempsun- L 38-21
Virginia- W 31- 20
@ NC State- L 31- 23
@ Free Shoes U- W 31-30
Louisville- W 31-21
@ Boston College- W 20-16
9-3. We miss ACC championship.
Win a bowl- 10 wins.
Final record 10-3. Recruiting goes wild. Watch out in 2 years.
* if TVD goes down early we are 6-6 team and barely make a bowl. If Williams is reasonably serviceable we go 8-4. Bowl wins without TVD? Who knows.
Mario has made changes. He has not been status quo with coaching changes and most notably with players- in mass. He is doing all he can to will this program to a 10 win season out of the ashes.
Why I’m optimistic:
1. A healthy TVD.
2. Different players to utilize on defense all over the field.
3. Seemingly full RB room.
4. This could be #1 but I have to see first… an improved OLine.
5. Players seem to like being there as opposed to obvious chemistry issues carrying over early last season after the TAMU loss.
6. We have an excellent FG kicker- and many ACC games prove close enough where a missed kick by this team and a made kick by that team ultimately determine the game.
7. What other choice do I have? They’re my Canes man!!!!
Why I’m NOT optimistic:
1. I do not trust this defense. Just don’t until proven otherwise. Hyped over a starting Mike LB from Washington State??? Jury is out.
2. We did not go to portal to get a competent back up QB. Teams will be pinning their ears back knowing the #1 way to be the Miami Hurricanes is to put TVD out of the game.
3. Depending on transfers and freshman to radically improve a program is usually fools gold.
4. I still don’t trust Mario as a game day coach. I think he doesn’t have the team to overcome that just yet. But I believe he will one day.
5. Kick and punt returning. Unless JoJo is a revelation, I don’t see these areas helping us overcome. I bet Mario and co are just hoping to pull a CMR and make sure this area isn’t a minus. Playoff teams have game changers on ST. Hard to say we have a game changer here.
X-Factors:
1. How embarrassed was this team REALLY from last season??? We will find out in the first two weeks.
2. Was the poor defense primarily from players or scheme/coaching style?
3. Will WRs finally take a step past being possession or miracle catch guys? We need the play by play excellence on every down.
4. A punter change always makes me hold my breath. If we had an accomplished offense and defense it would be less a factor. But the punting could be THE difference in us being a 10 win team and us being a 7 win team by itself. If our defense is good not great- every yard will be important.
5. Were these the right coaching changes? We’ll find out.
Final thoughts on season:
1. I think the defense improves to become a bend don’t break type deal. Not elite, but maybe an MTSU type, FSU and Clemson (read: anyone and everyone) don’t go nuclear on us ala 2022.
2. I think our offense improves drastically back to a more run based (or balanced) version of 2021 based on a deeper running back room with diverse skill sets. This will set up our passing game very well and offset our slightly less talented WR room.
3. I’m glad Mario came. Why? He can recruit. That will be the difference on why he succeeds when so many others have failed. Hard to say if he can pull off the miracle of resurrecting a program with championship expectation in a city where it’s hard to keep a program from being sanctioned, let alone win. (ps. I know nil has changed the game, but if anyone can find a way to be sanctioned it’s the NCAA on Miami) But if anyone can turn this around, it’s Mario.
4. I do think the ball bounces our way more than not. We will win a game we shouldn’t.
Hot take predictions (if TVD is healthy):
Miami oh- W 41-10
TAMU- W 24-20
Bethune- W 70-10
@ Temple- W 28-24
GT- W 35-21
@UNC- L 31-27
Klempsun- L 38-21
Virginia- W 31- 20
@ NC State- L 31- 23
@ Free Shoes U- W 31-30
Louisville- W 31-21
@ Boston College- W 20-16
9-3. We miss ACC championship.
Win a bowl- 10 wins.
Final record 10-3. Recruiting goes wild. Watch out in 2 years.
* if TVD goes down early we are 6-6 team and barely make a bowl. If Williams is reasonably serviceable we go 8-4. Bowl wins without TVD? Who knows.
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