Cristobal assesses team progress after Saturday scrimmage

CanesInSight News

Apr 8, 2023 3 min read

Miami Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal was pleased with the team's overall progress during their Saturday morning scrimmage in Coral Gables. He highlighted some standout performances and shared insights on both defensive and offensive updates.

"Some big plays, explosive plays on both sides of the ball," Cristobal said. "Kam Kinchens continues to excel. He's not satisfied at all. The banner got hung up two days ago, and it's like he's performing like it was never there, and that's awesome to see. We're seeing that from a lot of veteran guys as well but overall, very solid progress from our entire football team, and we still have three days of practice."

On the defensive front, Cristobal acknowledged that the team had been dealing with injuries during spring ball but was impressed with the players' performances in the scrimmage. "A guy like Chantz Williams showed up big, Nyjalik Kelly and Rueben Bain showed up big, Jake Lichtenstein, Thomas Gore showed up, Ahmad Moten and had some really good moments," he noted. "Our linebackers played at a high level they all did today. And then in the secondary on the back end, they did a great job being aggressive, getting hands on receivers and they made it difficult for the offense to get the ball out and they put them in difficult down and distance situations."

Offensively, Cristobal mentioned a few standout players, including Jacurri Brown, Isaiah Horton, Xavier Restrepo, and Don Chaney. However, he did point out some inconsistencies, especially with the wide receivers. "As a wide receiver group, the receivers were inconsistent today outside, we had some opportunities and we did not come up with them. Later in the scrimmage, we did, but early on we couldn't get the thing going," Cristobal explained.

Regarding second-year quarterback Jacurri Brown, Cristobal commented on his potential and progress. "Well, this suits his style a little bit more because it's just from a progression standpoint, from a learning standpoint, and then having a quarterback coach in the room – it just it all makes sense and he has progressed. Guy's won a lot of ball games. He's played in a lot of big games, and he knows how to play football. All we've got to do is make sure that him and all the quarterbacks are systematic that they're playing within the system, but without being a robot."

Cristobal also touched on the state of the ‘Canes roster, indicating that Miami will be active in the transfer portal in the coming weeks. "We have to do what it requires. That's always been the blueprint to success at the stops that we have had; you've got to build and develop to a point where you have legitimate winning and championship depth at every position. We have certainly gained a lot of ground towards that we still have to gain more so at every position."

Miami's coach did express satisfaction with the offensive line's development. "We have certainly poured a lot into the offensive line body types and mentality, which was a monstrously glaring issue upon arrival and through the season, and it's something that we feel that we're getting a lot of ground towards getting better."

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Apr 10, 2023

Lance Roffers said:
We are playing walk-ons at DT in scrimmages. That’s how thin we are right now.

There is one unit on this team that’s NY6 Bowl game worthy. That’s at OL, which is where you’d expect Mario to be able to impact the most.

CB might not be bowl-worthy today. DJ Ivey started from jump last year and there isn’t anyone at this point who has played better than he did. Ivey wasn’t our best CB last year and that player is ALSO gone.

The defensive scheme that Guidry wants to play relies on smart, sticky CB’s. We don’t have that. They NEED a portal CB who is all-conference level. It doesn’t matter the price, you have to pay it.

At LB, Flagg is still starting a lot of snaps in spring. Wesley isn’t even the 2 a lot of times right now. It’s fair to be a bit disappointed in him to this point.

Edge looks to be solid if everyone is healthy, but it’s thin of P5 level performers at the moment.

WR is as bad as you can imagine Miami being and are currently getting trolled by all the legit ones in the portal.

RB needs a legit horse.

The biggest issue with a rebuild isn’t that you need a recruiting class or two to get the talent up, the problem is that once you’ve gotten those two recruiting classes, all of the really good players you had when the rebuild started are now gone. That means you’re relying on the two recruiting classes, but now all your good players are young. So you really need four recruiting classes to get things balanced and aged at the same time.

With Miami being in year two of the rebuild, it’s exactly as Cribby is talking about: thin.

If injuries stay away, this team can win nine. If injuries hit hard, they could miss a bowl game.

Most likely it ends somewhere in-between.

Spot on, truth is we’re at least 4-5 years of being what clemson is right now and 6-8 from being where uga is. We’ll see if who mario is by year 3 or 4

canecrazy23

Apr 10, 2023

Lance Roffers said:
We are playing walk-ons at DT in scrimmages. That’s how thin we are right now.

There is one unit on this team that’s NY6 Bowl game worthy. That’s at OL, which is where you’d expect Mario to be able to impact the most.

CB might not be bowl-worthy today. DJ Ivey started from jump last year and there isn’t anyone at this point who has played better than he did. Ivey wasn’t our best CB last year and that player is ALSO gone.

The defensive scheme that Guidry wants to play relies on smart, sticky CB’s. We don’t have that. They NEED a portal CB who is all-conference level. It doesn’t matter the price, you have to pay it.

At LB, Flagg is still starting a lot of snaps in spring. Wesley isn’t even the 2 a lot of times right now. It’s fair to be a bit disappointed in him to this point.

Edge looks to be solid if everyone is healthy, but it’s thin of P5 level performers at the moment.

WR is as bad as you can imagine Miami being and are currently getting trolled by all the legit ones in the portal.

RB needs a legit horse.

The biggest issue with a rebuild isn’t that you need a recruiting class or two to get the talent up, the problem is that once you’ve gotten those two recruiting classes, all of the really good players you had when the rebuild started are now gone. That means you’re relying on the two recruiting classes, but now all your good players are young. So you really need four recruiting classes to get things balanced and aged at the same time.

With Miami being in year two of the rebuild, it’s exactly as Cribby is talking about: thin.

If injuries stay away, this team can win nine. If injuries hit hard, they could miss a bowl game.

Most likely it ends somewhere in-between.

Nope just need depth. The horse is here and dominating spring so far.

NSHCane

Apr 10, 2023

How hard is it to get 1 decent WR in the portal? It's hard for me to believe that some schools like Va. Tech could get 2, and Miami couldn't get 1 guy to commit. The offense was abysmal last year, but TVD was the ACC ROY in 2021.

Canes Legacy

Apr 10, 2023

NSHCane said:
How hard is it to get 1 decent WR in the portal? It's hard for me to believe that some schools like Va. Tech could get 2, and Miami couldn't get 1 guy to commit. The offense was abysmal last year, but TVD was the ACC ROY in 2021.

It’s hard to get WRs in the portal when Mario let Gattis hang around for so long instead of taking care of business in November. We basically punted on the first portal wave/cycle at WR cause of that horrible mismanagement by Mario.

Empirical Cane

Apr 10, 2023

Canes Legacy said:
It’s hard to get WRs in the portal when Mario let Gattis hang around for so long instead of taking care of business in November. We basically punted on the first portal wave/cycle at WR cause of that horrible mismanagement by Mario.

CIS will be holding porster open tryouts for WR1 position.

Drils at Tropical Park, then film review at the Titanic.

NSHCane

Apr 10, 2023

Canes Legacy said:
It’s hard to get WRs in the portal when Mario let Gattis hang around for so long instead of taking care of business in November. We basically punted on the first portal wave/cycle at WR cause of that horrible mismanagement by Mario.

That's what I was thinking was the case. I hope this second portal window isn't a let-down.

Lance Roffers

Apr 10, 2023

RVACane said:
Where’s Harrell going?

I swear man, we desperately need to buy a high level speedy WR1 and 2 CBs in the portal.

He’s got an injury deal. Not sure what happens with him.

SinisterCane

Apr 10, 2023

E1k said:
Spot on, truth is we’re at least 4-5 years of being what clemson is right now and 6-8 from being where uga is. We’ll see if who mario is by year 3 or 4

So about in four years when Mario can field a 10 win team he would have already banked about 40 millions dollars for Manny results

SinisterCane

Apr 10, 2023

**** YOU LEVELS OF MONEY

D
dk72

Apr 10, 2023

NSHCane said:
I wish I felt the slightest bit enthusiastic about this season, but it's starting to feel like this season is going to go a lot like the last one. I hope that I'm wrong, but that's the vibe I'm getting right now.

So the fact that we dramatically upgraded a previously weak yet fundamental core of any team, the OL, got a new OC with a proven, QB-friendly offense, and upgraded other positions isn't reason for at least some optimism? Yes, we still have holes and are in rebuilding mode, but we have literally upgraded every position group to some extent.

D_G87

Apr 10, 2023

Angry Ibis said:
Any competent coach should win the Coastal at Miami and 10 games with the roster….(2021 rallying cry)

Until it’s Mario, then it’s a be patient it’s a 12 year rebuild because Coker didn’t recruit well enough (but **** Barry Alvarez)

****** PREACH!!

Apr 10, 2023

SinisterCane said:
So about in four years when Mario can field a 10 win team he would have already banked about 40 millions dollars for Manny results

I wasn’t really referring to a win total im saying the status clemson is at, right now they are like tier 2. Still the top team in their conference, producing top nfl talent, recruiting at a high level, ny6 bowl game consistently. if mario gets there in 4 or 5 years thats a success.

It took clemson 3-4 years to get to elite elite status took and dabo was left a 10x better situation than mario. Idk why yall think a program can be **** forever then get turned around quickly, it doesn’t work like that.

Most elite elite schools now were left something to build on, mario was left a graveyard of a program. Im not completely sold on him but i see the task at hand so im gonna be patient, of course i need to see the vision building up over the years but im not in a rush at all, nobody should be.

H
hotshot

Apr 10, 2023

So ... Bissainthe? All World out of high school. Lance says not too early to say he's a "bit of a disappointment to this point."

Given how wide open that position is, I'd say the fact he isn't even competing to start is pretty concerning. For those in the know, what exactly about his play seems to be holding him back? Playbook, conditioning, recognition, tackling/technique, effort .... everything?

SinisterCane

Apr 10, 2023

E1k said:
I wasn’t really referring to a win total im saying the status clemson is at, right now they are like tier 2. Still the top team in their conference, producing top nfl talent, recruiting at a high level, ny6 bowl game consistently. if mario gets there in 4 or 5 years thats a success.

It took clemson 3-4 years to get to elite elite status took and dabo was left a 10x better situation than mario. Idk why yall think a program can be **** forever then get turned around quickly, it doesn’t work like that.

Most elite elite schools now were left something to build on, mario was left a graveyard of a program. Im not completely sold on him but i see the task at hand so im gonna be patient, of course i need to see the vision building up over the years but im not in a rush at all, nobody should be.

Sorry wasn’t coming at you but just stating everything about Mario seem to crawl at a snails pace

J
Jaxcane4

Apr 10, 2023

dk72 said:
So the fact that we dramatically upgraded a previously weak yet fundamental core of any team, the OL, got a new OC with a proven, QB-friendly offense, and upgraded other positions isn't reason for at least some optimism? Yes, we still have holes and are in rebuilding mode, but we have literally upgraded every position group to some extent.

I think the main concern is depth. I don't think we ever had a season where an OL didn't get hurt. Last year we had atleast 3 starters get hurt at different times on the OL. We have 1 outside Wr in Young and 1 change of pace RB in Parrish along with Chaney whose next challenge is to prove he can make it through summer and fall camp healthy.

SWFLHurricane

Apr 10, 2023

Empirical Cane said:
CIS will be holding porster open tryouts for WR1 position.

Drils at Tropical Park, then film review at the Titanic.

At the Titanic?????.....Okay bet...

Angry Ibis

Apr 10, 2023

SinisterCane said:
**** YOU LEVELS OF MONEY

I thought the **** You was the MTSU game, but then FSU happened…

Coach Macho

Apr 10, 2023

RVACane said:
I don’t know that he’s the guy for certain. I think he’s the guy by long-term financial commitment given his contract. I think he’s the guy to upgrade the trenches. I need to see what we do on offense to feel better about them.

I’m not over last year. The roster sucked and yet Manny did better with it and Mario could have too but he chose the offense he wanted not what was intelligent and obvious to even the least technically sound of us on here.

Even in a rebuild, UM should never ever be savaged by MTSU. What a disaster. Mario is way too experienced and highly compensated to make errors like that. Come on.

Let's not forget...Manny lost to ULM and FIU...with a better roster...full of guys he recruited...and it wasn't his first season.

Not excusing the loss to MTSU, but you shouldn't have referenced Manny. LOL

RVACane

Apr 10, 2023

Coach Macho said:
Let's not forget...Manny lost to ULM and FIU...with a better roster...full of guys he recruited...and it wasn't his first season.

Not excusing the loss to MTSU, but you shouldn't have referenced Manny. LOL

Last season was the worst we had in my conscious lifetime so I am on solid ground to have mentioned Manny because he did better with that roster than Mario did.

G
G Reg3rdLeg

Apr 10, 2023

It’s hard for me to remember a more bleak feeling about the team in spring. Maybe spring 2015 when golden came back after he should’ve been fired at least twice.

Only 7 months til bball is back…

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Cristobal assesses team progress after Saturday scrimmage

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