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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252cane

Apr 9, 2023

Like I said before season just ended 4 months ago and these coaches ain’t been here 2 months lol give it time. No doubt needs more help but fall camp will be more telling

NSHCane

Apr 9, 2023

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.

Squid Bumciorek

Apr 9, 2023

OriginalCanesCanesCanes said:
It’s laughable when people talk about us finding a starting ready P5 QB in the portal after spring practice.

No QB that is in the mindset to transfer (for obviously a chance to start) would want to come here with TVD. We’ll have a better chance to find a high quality QB in the portal after this season - not before.

Only way I can think of getting a P5 starter before the season is if a QB that already transferred once wants to transfer again, so he's willing to sit out a year and then be penciled in as UMs starter. For example, lets hypothetically say Ewers at Texas gets injured in camp, then Manning wins the QB1 job. Maybe Ewers will be looking to transfer again and sit out a year since he knows he probably isn't winning the starting job back from Manning. That's pretty much the only scenario I can see where a quality P5 QB is willing to sit a year behind TVD.

canes732

Apr 9, 2023

CanefaninBuckeyeland said:
The comments on the wide outs are very disturbing

Why our WRs ******* suck. That’s nothing new wouldve scared me if the DBs couldn’t stop them

Bender

Apr 9, 2023

I can sense an overwhelming pattern of pessimism flowing through this board.

A change for once.

Apr 9, 2023

Cryptical Envelopment said:
He's in the right system to excel now, that's for sure. I am actually betting on him. Word is that he's taken a big leap from last year. Now he just needs to keep developing under Shannon.

Headline, excerpt and paraphrases from a long article today:

Jacurri Brown: Dawson's "QB friendly" offense resonating with me, I know I don't have to be Superman

This spring? Brown looks like a different guy from last year. He’s throwing on-point passes and his mechanics have improved.

“I just wanted to progress for myself,” Brown said. “I love this game and I had to figure out the definition of love and I’d do anything for it. In order to play at this school and be great I had to increase how I am as a player. I worked hard, went in the film room, watched how Tyler (Van Dyke) throws and does things, he puts different touch on balls. For me I had a strong arm, was really gunning it in, but had to work on my touch, my feet for sure.

“Coach (Shannon) Dawson say when I have a wider base I throw well, so just harping on those things.”

Brown’s also bulked up to 225 pounds – in January he was 210 and he arrived at Miami at 195 pounds.

“Coach (Aaron) Feld’s weight lifting is crazy, really good,” Brown said. “The nutrition is good. I’m eating good, feeling good.”

In the new Miami offense under Dawson, Brown’s skillset is a perfect fit. You can just look at Dawson’s dual-threat QB success in 2022 at Houston, with Clayton Tune throwing for 40 TDs and 4,074 yards while adding a team-high 546 rush yards and five more scores on the ground.

Dawson’s message? “Put the ball in play – read a defense, put the ball in play and play ball,” Brown said, adding that the offense “is very quarterback friendly. You don’t have to be erratic with your eyes, beat the blitz with your throw, not a lot of confusion, everyone’s on the same page. We can go fast, go slow. It’s quarterback friendly for sure.”

Brown says he has a close relationship with Van Dyke and says he’s learned that “I don’t have to be Superman every play, just put the ball in play, play with touch, have fun out there. Don’t let the last play affect the next one."

Brown also shared his thoughts on newly arrived freshman QB Emory Williams. “Emory is always on top of stuff, learning progressing, way far in front of where I was when I got here,” Brown said. “He’s going to be a good one for sure.”

The bottom line with Brown: He has an NFL arm and showed his skill last year when he would tuck it down and run. If he puts it all together he can be one of the ACC’s most dangerous QBs.

I love this kid man, he gets it. I want him to be a successful qb, but even if he’s not i feel like he’ll succeed at anything else he puts his mind to

Cribby

Apr 9, 2023

TruCane81 said:
Man. I know last year was traumatizing, but 5 wins?

I went back and looked at the 2020 roster and we are better than then overall right now, as is.

So you believe Pope, Wiggins, and Harley are better than Young, George, and X/Smith/Ray/Robby? Now TE is unproven but does not lack talent. OL is much better.

LB and safety are better. I can’t see us not being able to field corners that can at least play up to Ivey, Couch, and Blades level.

LT will be at least as good as Nesta. We should be able to find a portal guy at least as good as Ford.

Phillips and Roche were good pass rushers but these guys showed they can generate some pressure last year.

That 2020 squad was a 9 win team ( yeah I’m counting Arky State). If Mario can’t get us to 8 as is, that means he is worse than rookie Manny. I can’t accept that at all. Mario has to produce, even if we don’t pick up anyone new.

I had these same arguments last year when I said the season could go to **** fast if any injuries happen, especially on the OL. This team has holes all over it and lacks depth at most positions. The season is long.

The 2020 roster / schedule / Acc has nothing to do with the 2023 versions, every season is its own story.

The talent we do have is mostly young or unproven. The defense being very shaky and thin. If we don’t add talent / depth things could go very bad again. That’s just reality.

RVACane

Apr 9, 2023

Cribby said:
I had these same arguments last year when I said the season could go to **** fast if any injuries happen, especially on the OL. This team has holes all over it and lacks depth at most positions. The season is long.

The 2020 roster / schedule / Acc has nothing to do with the 2023 versions, every season is its own story.

The talent we do have is mostly young or unproven. The defense being very shaky and thin. If we don’t add talent / depth things could go very bad again. That’s just reality.

I feel like they need 7-9 players.

Cribby

Apr 9, 2023

RVACane said:
I feel like they need 7-9 players.

Not sure if they can find that many guys but they’ll be very aggressive.

SWFLHurricane

Apr 9, 2023

RVACane said:
I feel like they need 7-9 players.

I HATE Gefilte fish....So there's that....

TruCane81

Apr 9, 2023

grover said:
That team had a QB in King (a transfer QB!) who won half the games single handedly, with some timely help from a TE in Jordan. We could easily have lost 6 games without those two.

p.s. Phillips and Roche were both transfers too

I love King and his impact was awesome, but TVD has a higher ceiling when used properly.

RVACane

Apr 9, 2023

SWFLHurricane said:
I HATE Gefilte fish....So there's that....

The fresh white kind I like but it’s what I ate as a kid. I wouldn’t expect most people to want anything to do with it.

RVACane

Apr 9, 2023

Cribby said:
Not sure if they can find that many guys but they’ll be very aggressive.

I don’t know what they’ll find but I think it’s imperative that they get WRs if they want to look competent on offense.

SWFLHurricane

Apr 9, 2023

RVACane said:
The fresh white kind I like but it’s what I ate as a kid. I wouldn’t expect most people to want anything to do with it.

You can pile Empire State Bld size mounds of Horseradish on it and Nah....

OriginalCanesCanesCanes

Apr 9, 2023

TimeBum said:
Only way I can think of getting a P5 starter before the season is if a QB that already transferred once wants to transfer again, so he's willing to sit out a year and then be penciled in as UMs starter. For example, lets hypothetically say Ewers at Texas gets injured in camp, then Manning wins the QB1 job. Maybe Ewers will be looking to transfer again and sit out a year since he knows he probably isn't winning the starting job back from Manning. That's pretty much the only scenario I can see where a quality P5 QB is willing to sit a year behind TVD.

That makes sense, but how many quarterbacks are out there that are in that situation, that are also quality quarterbacks?

The U is back to work

Apr 9, 2023

Problem is we need 5-6 impact transfers as does every other major program.

We realistically can hope for a DT and WR who are impact and others who are just depth.

The days of UM dominating the portal are done I just hope we have a legit DT we have been backchanneling with because without one we are getting owned all season in the middle

M
Meast21

Apr 9, 2023

WR room is so depressing. Literally an entire room of 4 stars and only good one is a juco transfer from lackawanna college...

Empirical Cane

Apr 9, 2023

252cane said:
Disagree on the last part. When I see teams like wake forest and NcSt be able to win 9 games in the acc without all this talent and depth my question is why does miami have to have a loaded roster to win 8 games in the acc?

Last year's WF and NC State OL units were superior to Miami's OL. I believe that is a big part of the answer.

Bender

Apr 9, 2023

Empirical Cane said:
Last year's WF and NC State OL units were superior to Miami's OL. I believe that is a big part of the answer.

Health?

CaneThang2020

Apr 9, 2023

252cane said:
Disagree on the last part. When I see teams like wake forest and NcSt be able to win 9 games in the acc without all this talent and depth my question is why does miami have to have a loaded roster to win 8 games in the acc?

Scheme and Culture will get you there (8-9wins etc).

Talent is what takes it over the top and breaks you into the CFP.

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Cristobal assesses team progress after Saturday scrimmage

Comments (404)

252cane

NSHCane

Squid Bumciorek

canes732

Bender

E1k

Jacurri Brown: Dawson's "QB friendly" offense resonating with me, I know I don't have to be Superman

Cribby

RVACane

Cribby

SWFLHurricane

TruCane81

RVACane

RVACane

SWFLHurricane

OriginalCanesCanesCanes

The U is back to work

Meast21

Empirical Cane

Bender

CaneThang2020

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Cristobal assesses team progress after Saturday scrimmage

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Jacurri Brown: Dawson's "QB friendly" offense resonating with me, I know I don't have to be Superman​

Latest articles

Jacurri Brown: Dawson's "QB friendly" offense resonating with me, I know I don't have to be Superman