Cristobal assesses team progress after Saturday scrimmage

[AllAboutTheU]

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.

This is rewriting history. The last time Manny coached he had Jaelen Phillips, Quincy Roche on that roster and Rambo. How did he do better with that roster when it clearly was a different roster?

One dude was a game wrecker on defense who went on to be a FRP and the other had the best season from a WR we’ve seen the last decade. Mario definitely deserves criticism for how this team performed or didn’t perform last year but calling this the same roster is just disingenuous.

 

[FrancisSawyer]

People said the same thing when the Al Golden /DNofrio defense was giving up 200 pts per game. Every one claimed the roster was a disaster with zero talent. And then with pretty much the same roster, Diaz used the players in a 4-3 scheme and ended up with the #12 ranked defense in his 1st season as DC. Turns out that trying to fatten up players to play a Big 10 style 3-4 defense was a bad use of personnel. Who would have guessed?

Cristobal blew it with his OC hire so personally, I can't tell say for sure if the offensive roster Cristobal inherited was mediocre or if it was actually one of the worst in the country. I lean towards the former, especially given that TVD looked terrific under Diaz. Cristobal has since fixed the OC issue, but note that the problem wasn't just the play caller, it was the entire scheme. If the lack of production is a pure roster issue, then you stick with the same scheme until you bring in enough talent needed to execute it well. By abandoning caveman football for a spread offense, Cristobal all but admitted his decisions on the offense played a significant role in making the talent look worse than it was.

Agreed and I would say it was obvious that his boneheaded decision to go with his caveman four corners offense when he **** well knew that TVD was lighting it up in Lashlee's spread offense was one of if not the dumbest coaching decisions I've ever seen.

You are right that the above was key in making the talent seem worse that it was but we weren't exactly playing with AA caliber talent either. The fact is that Manny really destroyed this rooster through his incompetence on the trail and **** poor evals. Diaz and staff were also notoriously lazy to the point of being negligent. Then because he was a jock sniffing wannabe, he acted like he was one of the guys thus playing favorites and shunning serious hard working players who threatened his Club Med style culture. Diaz was a cancer and his incompetence set this program back years.

Golden/Donofrio were both goofballs in their own way with their stupid Defense and such but in terms of recruiting and building the rooster, they left Coach Richt a much better situation.

 

[OriginalCanesCanesCanes]

He does that.

That's his thing.

Stay out of it, grandpa. Unless you can tell me how his words mean something different. Biut you can’t and you won’t.

Now go fix your colostomy bag.

 

[Lance Roffers]

Who can challenge to start at Z? Who is this D2 WR you speak of? Inquiring minds want to know.

JaQuae Jackson

 

[grover]

That is very possible if not probable. Put it this way.... If you told me right now that we would finish 8-5 I would be happy with that. 9-4 would be a dream season with this rooster.

What we need in the portal post spring is glaringly obvious. We need 2 WRs who can play not depth guys and one of them needs to be able to be WR1. We need 2 CBs with P5 starting experience who can cover or a highly touted 4 or 5 star who wasn't happy were he was at. Bottom line is we need 2 difference makers at CB because that room is terrible and Stafford, true freshman Brown and Chris Graves are not going to be ready. I have a feeling that Jaden Harris will be a baller but we need talent at CB. Mario needs to get cooking there.

I think we are ok at DE/Edge but if a Quincy Roche caliber kid shows up at our doorstep we take him. That said we need size inside at DT. We need 2 grown men inside. 0 tech, 1 tech, 2 tech or all of the above. We have to fill the hole that Darrell Jackson left and then some.

Let's be real. Travonte Citizen will not play a down this year so that leaves us with Henry Parrish, Don Chaney and the two freshmen Chris Johnson and Mark Fletcher. I love Parrish but he cannot be the bell cow that Mario loves. Chaney can but he has injury history. I believe both Johnson and Fletcher can and will play this year but we need a very solid starter quality RB in the portal.

We need a QB. I love TVD and think Brown could be a future star but we need the depth.

We could also use a LB. In the event that a good one becomes available then we have to take him. We could use a Safety for depth but I'll happily roll the dice there if we meet most of the other needs I listed.

The only units on the team that actually look good are the OL and TEs. This OL should be the strength of the team. Rivers/Cohen/Lee/Cooper/Mauigoa could be the best line we have had in a decade maybe more. With depth consisting of McCoy, Okunlola, Zion Nelson, Denis and Sagapolu we should be ok. Depth will be even better when Kinsler and Tinilau arrive.

Mario is a proven recruiter and we know he can recruit elite TEs. This group of Arroyo, Skinner, R.Williams and Carver are an elite collection of talent. Question is what are we going to do with all that talent? Given the issues at WR, I would expect all of the above with the possible exception of Carver to get serious burn. When you have talent you better **** well use it unlike the buffoon we had at OC last year.

We know Mario can get elite OL, TE, DE, RB, and LB. Going forward he is going to have to start stacking elite talent at WR, CB, DT and QB in order to truly succeed here. How he recruits those 4 positions will likely determine his ability to do that.

Francis do you ever sleep? ... I agree with your main argument 100%. Agree on WRs, DE, agree on RB and QB.

But IMO, we need another OT. I know everyone believes Rivers, Nelson (if healthy), the true freshman and McCoy (if healthy) will be good enough. I think that's wishful thinking. Move Rivers inside and get another starting OT, then we're where we need to be.

I would change, "we could also use a LB" to "we also desperately need another quality P5 LB and could use a second". That room looks super concerning unless you're running with freshmen.

Finally, we need at least one more quality P5 CB, probably a second. I've never been a fan of Porter, Couch has disappointed, and Roberts supposedly will be more S than CB.

 

[FrancisSawyer]

JaQuae Jackson

Thank you Sir.

 

[Scorpioncane]

Miami agreed to give Mario everything he asked before he even departed for Miami. Having a **** *** staph in year one is a cotdamm ******* disgrace and Mario actually quit on last years team despite making more money than Manny and Folden combined.

But I guess I get it, you got to give Mario time to beat Duke who was even worst off than Miami during Mannys last year, flipped their roster and curb stomped Mario’s physicality out of existence

How can they kick it out of Mario! He didn't play you reaching sinistercane. His players didn't but in

his answer wasn't really responsive to the question.

"...you have something to prove?"

"...let's be real, i'm a black QB"

being a black QB isn't the reason he's got something to prove; he has something to prove because he's an erratic passer.

He did say in a round about way, It's the stigma of a black qbs.

 

[hoops156]

Wasn't those players Diaz's players also? he was with richt the whole time! Meaning he didn't coach them up or scheme a win against fiu. Give all the facts if you gonna bash Mario.

so how did richt win 9 in year 1 w Goldens guys then? Mario deserves to be bashed for. last year and if you're caping up for last year then you're delusional. it was a poor coaching job by any standard.

 

[hoops156]

Nah, Mario gets a ton of blame and rightfully so. It’s what people blame him for that’s so backwards and creates friction.

QB recruiting? Yup. ******** up the first round of staff hires? Absolutely. Micromanaging and being overly meticulous in the hiring process? Sure.

The roster being a disaster? Lol stop playing, that’s all Manny’s fault and anyone that thinks it can be fixed in 1 recruiting class…seek help.

there was enough talent to win more than 5 games. stop this. it was an absolutely poor coaching job.

 

[AUcane]

The past two years support staff has thought they’ve had five transfer WR’s locked up. None have ended up at Miami after they took Miami’s offer and renegotiated with their current teams, or got bigger offers elsewhere, or just used it to drum up interest.

The Mizzou kid who transferred to Georgia acted interested and then wasn’t. There’s a Kentucky transfer WR who did the same.

Bryant is one of the kids support thought was locked up on his visit and then he wasn’t.

Maybe trolled isn’t the perfect word in a quick post I made full of news drops I have heard. Maybe tease or fish that get off the hook etc.

Bottom line is Miami has attempted to land probably a dozen portal WR’s under Mario and the one they landed was a guy I’ve said publicly since high school I wouldn’t take because he can’t play.

This is coming from a Mario supporter. I’ve convinced he will win here. Probably not a national title (my suspicion is Miami never wins another one), but definitely a NY6 bowl six out of ten years type program.

I am skeptical that Bryant will even come. WRs in their contract year (i.e. portal guys) are not about taking risks and jumping to a team where there is doubt that the passing attack will feature them. Guys like Addison, Zay, Worthy, et al were either going to go to a sure thing (i.e. Addison to USC) or stick with their comfort level after being assured they'd be featured more. Versus....Mario's reputation (last year at this time) as not being a passing friendly coach (right or wrong) or the one year track record of a generationally bad offense.

The only WRs of note we have a chance on are: 1) sofla kids that are playing elsewhere, or 2) some diamond in the rough in D2 that Alonzo has found. I would not count on any big time D1 kid coming here. JMO

 

[FrancisSawyer]

Francis do you ever sleep? ... I agree with your main argument 100%. Agree on WRs, DE, agree on RB and QB.

But IMO, we need another OT. I know everyone believes Rivers, Nelson (if healthy), the true freshman and McCoy (if healthy) will be good enough. I think that's wishful thinking. Move Rivers inside and get another starting OT, then we're where we need to be.

I would change, "we could also use a LB" to "we also desperately need another quality P5 LB and could use a second". That room looks super concerning unless you're running with freshmen.

Finally, we need at least one more quality P5 CB, probably a second. I've never been a fan of Porter, Couch has disappointed, and Roberts supposedly will be more S than CB.

LOL Sleep is for tortoises! Truth is I work nights and that has made me a night owl.

Yeah I agree with you about LB. I just thought that DT, CB and WR were more pressing concerns. Still you are right about how young we are there and I would take another LB in a second especially since it seems like Wes is going to take longer to come around that I had originally thought.

As far as the OT issue you mentioned, I may have to disagree there. From all accounts it appears as if Jalen Rivers is doing an excellent job at LT and he is backed up by one or two of Okunlola, Nelson and McCoy. Also, Javion Cohen can also play play tackle. It's true that you can never have enough linemen so if we went that route I certainly wouldn't complain. I just think it's farther down on the list of needs compared to WR, CB, DT etc...

 

[Scorpioncane]

so how did richt win 9 in year 1 w Goldens guys then? Mario deserves to be bashed for. last year and if you're caping up for last year then you're delusional. it was a poor coaching job by any standard.

Didn't say Mario don't deserve fault, he the head coach it's all on him! Once richt left and diaz got hired the coaching tanked so the players were being coached badly before Mario got there. Enough blame to go around for both Mario and Mannys staph!

 

[hoops156]

Didn't say Mario don't deserve fault, he the head coach it's all on him! Once richt left and diaz got hired the coaching tanked so the players were being coached badly before Mario got there. Enough blame to go around for both Mario and Mannys staph!

I agree that both deserve blame but I expected a lot more from a 10 year veteran coach getting paid a lot of money. just how I feel. we paid 8 mill for 500k results.

 

[RVACane]

This is rewriting history. The last time Manny coached he had Jaelen Phillips, Quincy Roche on that roster and Rambo. How did he do better with that roster when it clearly was a different roster?

One dude was a game wrecker on defense who went on to be a FRP and the other had the best season from a WR we’ve seen the last decade. Mario definitely deserves criticism for how this team performed or didn’t perform last year but calling this the same roster is just disingenuous.

Nothing’s disingenuous. People are making excuses for the worst season in my sizable lifetime. That’s white-washing. Manny had Phillips and Roche and Mario also brought in Mesidor and Darrell Jackson.

And on the offense - you got Rambo??? Gattis would’ve wasted him too.

If the Manny staff from his final year, coaches last year’s team, we have a better season than the putrid bro-style filth we saw last year.

 

[Scorpioncane]

I agree that both deserve blame but I expected a lot more from a 10 year veteran coach getting paid a lot of money. just how I feel. we paid 8 mill for 500k results.

Hey, I'm still wondering myself but it let us know that the culture was really bad and Manny had lost control he really ****ed us over!

 

[hoops156]

Hey, I'm still wondering myself but it let us know that the culture was really bad and Manny had lost control he really ****ed us over!

eh excuses bc the same culture bull**** infected the coaches Mario hired. they quit on each other and the roster. I hate the culture excuse though. we had bad culture with golden but it was enough for MR to win 9 games in year 1. good coaches find a way beyond the excuses. Mario will have a lot more tools at his disposal to win big here. well see how year 2 goes. I don't except 8 wins bc I think the roster isn't good esp w the turnover. just get to Bowl eligibility

 

[hoops156]

Nothing’s disingenuous. People are making excuses for the worst season in my sizable lifetime. That’s white-washing. Manny had Phillips and Roche and Mario also brought in Mesidor and Darrell Jackson.

And on the offense - you got Rambo??? Gattis would’ve wasted him too.

If the Manny staff from his final year, coaches last year’s team, we have a better season than the putrid bro-style filth we saw last year.

Phillips wasn't on mannys last team. Phillips left the year Rousseau did since they both got drafted in round 1 that same year (Phillips to the fins and Rousseau end of round 1 to buffalo). roche also left that year.

 

[Ghandi]

Any news on the D2 WR?

You already have a guy just like him in George.

I dont understand why Miami is after him so hard.

 

[Scorpioncane]

eh excuses bc the same culture bull**** infected the coaches Mario hired. they quit on each other and the roster. I hate the culture excuse though. we had bad culture with golden but it was enough for MR to win 9 games in year 1. good coaches find a way beyond the excuses. Mario will have a lot more tools at his disposal to win big here. well see how year 2 goes. I don't except 8 wins bc I think the roster isn't good esp w the turnover. just get to Bowl eligibility

I agree bowl eligibility is the floor! One more win then last year. But I'm hoping for 8wins though

 

[RVACane]

Phillips wasn't on mannys last team. Phillips left the year Rousseau did since they both got drafted in round 1 that same year (Phillips to the fins and Rousseau end of round 1 to buffalo). roche also left that year.

Even better since @AllAboutTheU included them when he called my post disingenuous. Lol I can’t remember. I just know Rousseau was gone but yeah, I remember now.