You only get so many chances

DMoney

Nov 30, 2024 2 min read

This one hurts deep in the soul. We had a chance for a special season and blew it. Every November feels the same for the past 20 years.

I'll dig deeper on rewatch, but my big picture view is this: Miami fell to its true level. We won games we could've lost, and we lost games we could've won. At the end, we were who we were all year.

We have a national championship offense. We have a bad defense. And we lack discipline overall. We came into this game ranked 120th in penalty yards per game. With the season on the line, we made two of the most immature penalties in team history. That was not a fluke.

Add it all up, and you get 10-2. Do I expect major defensive staff changes? Yes. But that isn't the only area we need to improve.

Mario ultimately owns all of it. He missed a rare opportunity. Now, the ownership cuts both ways- you can't blame him for the defensive misses and then ignore the strength of the offense. We were blessed to have Cam Ward, but he also landed Cam Ward and built his supporting cast. The question now becomes whether we can improve elsewhere enough to compensate for the loss of such a unique and special player.

This season will be remembered one of two ways: the beginning of something sustainable, or a fun, ultimately disappointing fluke like 2017. For true progress, this team needs to remake its defensive identity. You can fire coaches and recruit better DBs. But when you get bowled over by an Arena League running back with the season on the line, that's a cultural issue. When you look confused all year, it's deeper than talent. We had four NFL players in the 2022 secondary, and we looked just as lost as we did this year.

Was there progress? Of course. Should anyone expect us to build on that progress? That's a hard sell. The fanbase has every reason to be cynical. But none of us are going anywhere, so let's hope the build continues and we have enough material to tell lies this summer.

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harphong

Dec 1, 2024

WeBallinBoyz said:
If it’s Bailey, we won’t win more than 8.

And if it is, at a bare minimum, we better surround him with 2019 LSU weapons on offense and 2001 Miami Hurricanes defensive players. Otherwise, good luck.

We have to play an improved UF team
ND
@SMU
@ embarrassed and desperate FSU team
@VT
@ Pitt
Louisville

Not to mention NC State and Cuse. Much tougher schedule in 2025.

I fear that we go full fsu next year.

J
jupo2001

Dec 1, 2024

Hoyacane1620 said:
I think the offensive side of the ball was tough all season. They dug in and made plays when needed. It always felt llike the defensive side was 11 individual players all doing their own thing. No leadership, no unity. I can't remember them ever coming together on the field after a bad play and just pumping each other up and reassuring one another. Isn't that what all those experienced transfers were supposed to do? Be leaders on the field and in the locker room? Be a part of the development of younger guys?????

As a teacher myself, you have to create an environment to cultivate leaders. We had a leadership problem last season offensively. Tyler was NOT a leader. Good ball player, but not a good leader. We are in an era of Miami football that us 35 plus years of fandom people are not used to. There’s been a lack of leadership from our players for the past 15-20 years. We don’t really have kids that get into people’s faces to keep each other accountable. We don’t have to have Ed Reed, but we need upperclassmen and kids who work hard, watch film consistently, and play good ball on Saturdays to bring other kids with them. That’s called a winning culture and we, unfortunately, don’t really have that. Good talent, but not really a winning culture yet. Hopefully, we will. But, it’s really hard to see it right now. Only two double digit winning seasons in the last 10 years….5-7, 7-6, 10-2 for now…Our coaching leaves a LOT to be desired and I usually don’t rag on coaches, but I’ve seen enough football to know that something ain’t right down in the Gables. If Brent Key can have his team constantly prepared and in ball games with inferior talent, what are we doing?

R
Roe 15th00

Dec 1, 2024

Dmoney it’s time to crank up the train…Lance must go if not Mario can go too….all that tough talk like he’s a championship coach and can’t think straight smh…unacceptable we got out coached every week…Miami lifestyle ain’t for everybody and Lance has gotten caught up imo….he’s not prepared because he gots a lot of extra ish going on imo

rrose8

Dec 1, 2024

The U is back to work said:
I really don’t know what answer at QB there is out there to make this team even close offensively to what it was this year. OL will be good RBs good but that’s not enough.

If the defense improves 40% we don’t need to b what we were this year.

R
Roe 15th00

Dec 1, 2024

Shooter McGavin said:
Bell is a first round talent I heard….oh wait

Bell is slow & sorry…I just don’t see it…never have lol why does he play to be honest

JayCane20

Dec 1, 2024

aelmiami said:
All due respect $, but are we seriously going to come on here, year 3, biggest game of Mario’s HC career at UM, and say our defense has a culture problem!? Gtfoh. Mario was hired to do two things, recruit and fix the **** culture. If he can’t win a game to make the freaking playoffs because of culture then leave his *** in Syracuse.

I’ve spent a lot of time giving Mario the benefit of the doubt, looked the other way at the cliff this team is gonna careen off of next year because l figured even he couldn’t ***** up Cam Ward. But he did. I’m sure we’ll flip some guys or land some portal guys, but if he couldn’t do it this year. It’ll never happen. Maybe the CFP bails Mario out and he falls *** backwards into the CFP and miraculously wins a game or two. But I rather doubt it.

Best case scenario is worst case scenario IMO. That’s probably the 11 or 12 seed and the only possibility is being ahead of the Big 12 champ.

That means you’re going to ND or Penn State in mid December,

This team is getting run out of the building on National television, in the freezing cold, in front of a crazy atmosphere, to teams that will get boat raced down the line and aren’t even good.

Let the embarrassment end now and save some dignity.

MiamisMoperiestMopes

Dec 1, 2024

JayCane20 said:
Let the embarrassment end now and save some dignity.

We have none left, SU took it when everything was on the line.

C
CANESCANES

Dec 1, 2024

nvlahos said:
Another problem for next year is not only do we need to revamp the whole defense (coaches & players) but the offense is losing its best players too

2025 could be scary bad

Buuuuut everyone says Mario is such a great recruiter…

Year 4 with this many holes

simplycanes

Dec 1, 2024

He’s a .500 coach, that’s his record.

W
We’reBeckCane

Dec 1, 2024

OldhamA said:
The culture has been fixed - these players fought hard all season. We came back multiple times in games because we refused to give up.

The D scheme (and the talent level at S especially) let us down massively. That's the issue that needs fixing.

It is year 3 and we have virtually zero talent on the defensive side of the ball. That’s wholly unacceptable regardless of the scheme and coordinator.

R
Roe 15th00

Dec 1, 2024

SinisterCane said:
It was number 31 Holding penalty on 3rd and 8 that did it for me

It was on OJ not #31

R
Roe 15th00

Dec 1, 2024

TooWise said:
What percentage chance is it that Martinez comes back?

0%…dude should’ve had over 200 yards yesterday

T
TooWise

Dec 1, 2024

Roe 15th00 said:
0%…dude should’ve had over 200 yards yesterday

Wish they would’ve taken all of Lyle & half of Fletch’s carries smh! Feed the hot hand!

R
Roe 15th00

Dec 1, 2024

SWFLSWAGG17 said:
They called it in someone else but he was also guilty of holding. Dumb penalty, short of the line to gain. Other PI on balls that wouldn't have been caught. Nobody has understood their assignment all year long. Good coaching with this rooster would've got us an ACC championship. We need coaches who can develop players and teach fundamentals. An NFL position coach may be the way to go for DC. In the meantime bump the linebacker coach up to DC for the bowl game

Honestly bad call imo….

CANEFAN83

Dec 1, 2024

brock said:
I just Don’t get why they kept trotting Jaden Harris out there as if he’s not the biggest liability in the country. Worst player in college football literally

This is part of why our D staff needs to go.

R
Roe 15th00

Dec 1, 2024

JayCane20 said:
I will say he’s the fall back option but at the same time the most likely option.

I think option 1 is going to declare for the draft. Probably dumb on his part. We shall see.

Hopefully you are wrong…I know you are plugged in a lil bit but **** that’s not the move

R
Roe 15th00

Dec 1, 2024

gordonsolie said:
"We had four NFL players in the 2022 secondary, and it looked just as lost as it did this year."

YES, YES YES

Coaching !!

TaylorWalls

Dec 1, 2024

itsdolphhh said:
I don't see a QB as special as Cam entering the portal this year...without Cam we are likely 6-6 this year.

We need wholesale upheaval on the defensive staff and I pray to God that these recruiting/portal evals start hitting

Washington State went from 5-7 with Cam Ward to 8-4 without Cam Ward. He lost a game 10-7 with them. He is not irreplaceable.

R
Roe 15th00

Dec 1, 2024

DMoney said:
I predict Bell will be in the NFL. Could be wrong, it’s happened before plenty. But unlike guys like DJ Ivey, who himself is in the NFL, Bell will have the college coaching to maximize his tools.

I’m not disagreeing with that..with that being said he was our worst lineman when he played…bump the hype and potential mess…it’s about now..we need ready to win now players…