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.

Click to expand...

Facebook X Bluesky LinkedIn Reddit WhatsApp Email Link

Comments (511)

View article View as thread

CANEFAN83

Nov 30, 2024

DMoney said:
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 ultimately 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 it looked just as lost as it 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.

It was so bad today the defense that I immediately was speculating that miami should have went for it on 4th down and goal at the 10 yard line and the tried an onsides kick since I knew our D couldn't stop them. It was obvious.

Why did Mario since he was head coach not try to force adjustments with his DC at halftime or at some point since that is his job? Maybe he doesn't know.

Did anyone think that hold on Miami's Off tackle on Martinez's 60 yard run was bogus? That was questionable I thought.

I feel the worst for Cam Ward and Restrepo who are two of the best players to ever come through Miami at their respective positions. They deserved better.

Guidry should either resign or be fired on Monday. There is no way our players on D are this bad. It's at least partly on the coaches.

I am not trying to criticize or judge as much as I am just asking honest questions. How can George commit such a selfish penalty and why does this keep happening with him?

Horton dropped a key pass on last drive also. Just jaw dropping.

How can Loften who is so highly regarded not turn around in time on a perfectly thrown ball?

This was one of worst Miami losses in last 25-30 years and it ranks up there with 1998 cuse game and 2005 gatech loss. Just inexcusable especially after being up 21-0.

I honestly am devastated after this loss and really don't have much to say other than the D really didn't surprise me but I was hoping we would show at least some improvement after last week.

It just really hurts but I am still hopeful that Mario can turn it around. But this one is going to sting for a while until we prove something hopefully next year.

With a 10 year contract with Mario, there is nothing happening there. But the D staff is a different story. We'll see what happens.

I wonder how much NIL Miami will have to work with in 2025?

I wonder how much this loss hurts recruiting?

SWFLSWAGG17

Nov 30, 2024

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

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

WeBallinBoyz

Nov 30, 2024

JayCane20 said:
CJ Bailey is going to be the QB.

8-4 is probably about right unless that decision includes Jeremiah Smith as a package deal. (And it doesn’t)

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.

brock

Nov 30, 2024

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

Shooter McGavin

Nov 30, 2024

mavericksouth said:
He banned me for telling the truth on Manny. I'm gonna tell the truth on Mario too. He had a real shot to show he was different today. He is more of the same. Complete trash

I was done with Mario after Ga Tech last year. I gave him a pass for 2022 but last year I was done. I knew he’d find a way to lose a game or two this year.

DMoney

Nov 30, 2024

mavericksouth said:
He banned me for telling the truth on Manny. I'm gonna tell the truth on Mario too. He had a real shot to show he was different today. He is more of the same. Complete trash

I don’t ban anybody, and aren’t you here posting in this thread?

L
loreste

Nov 30, 2024

Who do we replace Guidry with?

Tinman64

Nov 30, 2024

The penalty by George came as no surprise effing kid was begging for a flag every play after whistle running his mouth etc .. The cuse people around me all said to me you called it when it came . Was telling that half way thru 1st

GojiraCane

Nov 30, 2024

Odysseus said:
At least 25 high school probably 10 to 15 thru portal could be massively different like you said

The last two years have seen attrition of close to 40 players each year.

FL Cane

Nov 30, 2024

Odysseus said:
For real man people expectations just jumped mid season when it should have always been 10 maybe 11 wins with a chance of a playoff birth. So many dam flaws, and a ton of 3 star projects om our defense in the back 7 specifically

The offense is loaded with talent that could play in the NFL or on any other P4 team, but the defense is bad bad bad.

Most guys on our D, other than our DL, would not start at any other P4 school in the country. That's gotta change next year.

FL Cane

Nov 30, 2024

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

Depends on his draft grade and if we give him a fat bag. Also, without Cam at QB next year, he'll be a focal point of our offense with Fletcher.

Honestly, portal a decent QB and them two and the offense should be pretty decent. Add in a DC who isn't a full on dip**** and it could be an alright team. TBD

ssvir

Nov 30, 2024

Odysseus said:
Boys giving 2025 season predictions without even knowing our roster. Got to love it lol

We have a 25 year track record of ****.

CANEFAN83

Nov 30, 2024

DMoney said:
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 ultimately 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 it looked just as lost as it 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.

It was so bad today the defense that I immediately was speculating during the game that miami should have went for it on 4th down and goal at the 10 yard line and the tried an onsides kick since I knew our D couldn't stop them. It was obvious.

Why did Mario since he was head coach not try to force adjustments with his DC at halftime or at some point since that is his job? Maybe he doesn't know.

Did anyone think that hold on Miami's Off tackle on Martinez's 60 yard run was bogus? That was questionable I thought.

I feel the worst for Cam Ward and Restrepo who are two of the best players to ever come through Miami at their respective positions. They deserved better.

Guidry should either resign or be fired on Monday. There is no way our players on D are this bad. It's at least partly on the coaches.

I am not trying to criticize or judge as much as I am just asking honest questions. How can George commit such a selfish penalty and why does this keep happening with him?

Horton dropped a key pass on last drive also. Just jaw dropping.

How can Loften who is so highly regarded not turn around in time on a perfectly thrown ball?

This was one of worst Miami losses in last 25-30 years and it ranks up there with 1998 cuse game and 2006 gatech loss. Just inexcusable especially after being up 21-0.

I honestly am devastated after this loss and really don't have much to say other than the D really didn't surprise me but I was hoping we would show at least some improvement after last week.

It just really hurts but I am still hopeful that Mario can turn it around. But this one is going to sting for a while until we prove something hopefully next year.

With a 10 year contract with Mario, there is nothing happening there. But the D staff is a different story. We'll see what happens.

I wonder how much NIL Miami will have to spend in 2025?

I wonder how much this loss hurts recruiting?

M
mavericksouth

Nov 30, 2024

DMoney said:
I don’t ban anybody, and aren’t you here posting in this thread?

Someone did. Isn't this your site?

orange&green84

Nov 30, 2024

MiamisMoperiestMopes said:
Look at all that culture in Dallas.

Yup. This debunks any “Mario still has to set the culture”. Rhett Lashlee is about to win the ACC their first year in the conference with players we cast out as his core group.

Negro-Wan Kanobi

Nov 30, 2024

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

It was once I saw Mesidor drop in the flat.

I was like.... yeah... we lost this

Hoyacane1620

Nov 30, 2024

JayCane20 said:
CJ Bailey is going to be the QB.

8-4 is probably about right unless that decision includes Jeremiah Smith as a package deal. (And it does

Bailey? I pray you're wrong. That 's totally depressing

mr.h

Nov 30, 2024

And we start next year losing friggen ND.

ssvir

Nov 30, 2024

Canesmia01 said:
We need to replace a heisman level QB, our record breaking receiver and 10/12 starters on defense. What can go wrong? Oh and the schedule won’t be a cake walk.

Losing 10/12 starters on defense is a bad thing?