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Now that the dust is settling... Next’s Year...?

filmcane

filmcane

Redshirt Freshman
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What are the expectations and thoughts on/for next year? For funsies here are mine...
  • The floor this year was 10 wins and he just met that. I don't have a lot of confidence that we will win our bowl game, especially if Shadeur plays in CU's game and we play them. If Cam somehow plays (VERY UNLIKELY), then it's a game. Point is, my floor for this year (and I think for a lot of people), was 10 wins and by golly, he did accomplish that - BARELY - but he did get there and that counts for something.
  • Whether Mario helps him find a soft landing or is forced to publicly fire him, Guidry is 100% gonzo and with the young talent on D coming back and the expected portal additions, we will be back to being better than average on D. How much better is based on the DC he brings in, but we're at the bottom and we're not hiring Al's BF, so we will be better.
  • Floor for wins next year is 9 wins. Even if it requires the post-season to get there, I believe he needs to and will get to 9 wins. Absent of 9 wins, the slow death spiral will juuuuuust start to begin. If Mario wants to stay here, and of course build the champion team he desires, he will HAVE to find 9 wins next season. Outside of that, I really do think the vultures will justifiably be circling over head. More than likely, in the absence of 9 wins next year, he is almost certainly going to be out the following year barring some Cinderella season. He needs 9 wins.
  • The QB situation: I believe that they will bring in a QB if for no other reason than for sake of numbers. Having said that, there has been a decent amount of smoke regarding them being happy with Emory. Obviously, whoever is the OC and the kind of O they like to call will have a huge impact on the direction of that position room, but all things being equal, I think that unlike with Cam, when they bring in a QB this time, it will be a real competition and my way too early prediction is that Emory will win it. I could absolutely be wrong on this, but that's my best guess and I'd be happy with it.
  • Our OL took 3/5 of the season to finally get good again at the run game. Even losing Rivers and our center, our OL will be cured, seasoned and a top 5 unit.
  • Justin Scott will be an All ACC DT barring injury. That kid is the actual goods and he will be a leader in bringing our D back to at least good if not better.
  • Hot take, as an overall unit, next years WR starters will be as good if not better than this year's. JoJo, Horton and the speedster from GA who was a frosh this year and I'm too lazy to hunt down his name. Yes, this year's group was a vet group and X is an all time great, but the overall athleticism of next year's starters will give our O the over the top speed and threat that we didn't really floss too much this year.
  • We need to use our TE's more and if we do, we will benefit greatly, There's a version of this, where we crush D's with a mixture of heavy sets and over the top speed finesse sets. If handled correctly, we will have another top 15 O.
  • Since this has been longer than I originally intended, I'll wrap it up with a way too early but broad (to hedge my bets) record prediction of 10 wins. Mario is a flawed coach (a perfect one doesn't exist), but he continues to make good changes and improve the team. So far, I'm still riding with Mario until such a time as it is obvious that we need to go in a different direction.
    • Next year will be better than many cynics think, but we won't be a serious NC contender. 10 wins and a much stronger recruiting year, and the slow Mario build is still justified. There will be championship expectations in 26', but one season at a time.
    • No less than 9 wins and verifiable signs of growth. This or the inevitable death spiral begins...
 

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This offseason, I expect something or somethings to get my hopes very high. For the 2025 season, I expect an exciting start with a statement win over Notre Dame, Florida, or both, but history tells me to brace for a late-season letdown—perhaps a frustrating loss to FSU or an opponent we are favored by 10+ and should comfortably beat. It’s the familiar mix of hope and heartbreak and I need to see otherwise to expect anything different.
 
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filmcane said:
What are the expectations and thoughts on/for next year? For funsies here are mine...
  • The floor this year was 10 wins and he just met that. I don't have a lot of confidence that we will win our bowl game, especially if Shadeur plays in CU's game and we play them. If Cam somehow plays (VERY UNLIKELY), then it's a game. Point is, my floor for this year (and I think for a lot of people), was 10 wins and by golly, he did accomplish that - BARELY - but he did get there and that counts for something.
  • Whether Mario helps him find a soft landing or is forced to publicly fire him, Guidry is 100% gonzo and with the young talent on D coming back and the expected portal additions, we will be back to being better than average on D. How much better is based on the DC he brings in, but we're at the bottom and we're not hiring Al's BF, so we will be better.
  • Floor for wins next year is 9 wins. Even if it requires the post-season to get there, I believe he needs to and will get to 9 wins. Absent of 9 wins, the slow death spiral will juuuuuust start to begin. If Mario wants to stay here, and of course build the champion team he desires, he will HAVE to find 9 wins next season. Outside of that, I really do think the vultures will justifiably be circling over head. More than likely, in the absence of 9 wins next year, he is almost certainly going to be out the following year barring some Cinderella season. He needs 9 wins.
  • The QB situation: I believe that they will bring in a QB if for no other reason than for sake of numbers. Having said that, there has been a decent amount of smoke regarding them being happy with Emory. Obviously, whoever is the OC and the kind of O they like to call will have a huge impact on the direction of that position room, but all things being equal, I think that unlike with Cam, when they bring in a QB this time, it will be a real competition and my way too early prediction is that Emory will win it. I could absolutely be wrong on this, but that's my best guess and I'd be happy with it.
  • Our OL took 3/5 of the season to finally get good again at the run game. Even losing Rivers and our center, our OL will be cured, seasoned and a top 5 unit.
  • Justin Scott will be an All ACC DT barring injury. That kid is the actual goods and he will be a leader in bringing our D back to at least good if not better.
  • Hot take, as an overall unit, next years WR starters will be as good if not better than this year's. JoJo, Horton and the speedster from GA who was a frosh this year and I'm too lazy to hunt down his name. Yes, this year's group was a vet group and X is an all time great, but the overall athleticism of next year's starters will give our O the over the top speed and threat that we didn't really floss too much this year.
  • We need to use our TE's more and if we do, we will benefit greatly, There's a version of this, where we crush D's with a mixture of heavy sets and over the top speed finesse sets. If handled correctly, we will have another top 15 O.
  • Since this has been longer than I originally intended, I'll wrap it up with a way too early but broad (to hedge my bets) record prediction of 10 wins. Mario is a flawed coach (a perfect one doesn't exist), but he continues to make good changes and improve the team. So far, I'm still riding with Mario until such a time as it is obvious that we need to go in a different direction.
    • Next year will be better than many cynics think, but we won't be a serious NC contender. 10 wins and a much stronger recruiting year, and the slow Mario build is still justified. There will be championship expectations in 26', but one season at a time.
    • No less than 9 wins and verifiable signs of growth. This or the inevitable death spiral begins...
Click to expand...
There is no way to predict next season's record or achievements until we know who we get in the portal and what we have come spring practice and how players perform. I want to see who Mario brings in at DC, and on defensive side.

I am down on this coaching staff and expected more from Mario and co this year, but this offseason will be huge if Mario really can turn this around or not. I am trying to be optimistic but definitely have some concerns.
 
Part of me wants to skip to Christmas of next year and avoid the whole carousel, but then I would miss out on potential wins against UF, ND and FSU in the same season.
Here are rarely accomplished goals at Miami, that Mario can achieve:
Double Digit Season: Done
Bowl Win: TBD
ACCC Appearance: TBD
Playoff appearance: TBD
ACCC Win: TBD

His contract buyout means he coaches for 5 seasons regardless of outcome.
If Mario can cross off 2 of those TBD, he buys himself more time.
 
I truly don't understand making predictions before the portal is done.

You don't know our 2025 roster, or that of our opponents.

You don't know the matchups.

You don't know the staffs.

What are you even predicting at this point?
 
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I'm probably FOS - but year after year - looking around the country, and especially in the ACC - I see smaller defenses being quicker, faster, and quickly swarming the big, strong, slower offensive players.

I keep hearing the whisper while watching games, "speed kills."

Yes, our Offense was pretty good - but when you look at some of the key moments that either costs a game or threatens one - it's by smaller defenses that just seem to give our big linemen fits. And not five star players, either.

And when the defense is smaller, cutting around like a bunch of wild men - it sure is problematic.

I know - it's counterintuitive - but smaller has its advantages. A blend well schemed - just might have be more productive. Smaller, quicker guys don't have to push the big guys around - but they can plug gaps faster while big on big just hangs on to each other not accomplishing **** - go look! Or run around. Or shoot the gaps.

I'm not a football technician - Just an observer. Perspective tints a view at times.

Watch some mongoose take on a cobra. Watch a few engagements. One's quicker than the other. One get tired quicker and slows down even more.

Kinda like - football.
 
Have to wait til the portal class / portal exits / coaching changes are finished.

In reality, Mario doesn’t get any benefit of the doubt after limping to a 1-2 finish that cost us a playoff berth with the best QB and offense in America.

As a baseline going forward in Year 4, he should never win less than 8 games or it’s a fireable offense (not saying he’s actually going to get fired).

Considering the 2023 class was supposed to be the foundation, it really should be 9 wins minimum; but we will adjust once more variables are cemented in place.
 
Hard to make any predictions before we see where we end up after the the bulk of our portal additions, but I EXPECT 10 wins minimum every year at this point with the resources Mario has been given and the trashy conference we play in.

Look at the recruiting rankings. The ACC is terrible.
 
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9-10 wins is doable and should be the target next year if they fix D and SPT. Personally I believe in Dawson to lead the O and think we’ll be good again. Not this year level but 1-2 steps back and a more reliant run game. Big games that go either way depending on our off season Defense and Special Teams adjustments are ND, Florida, and SMU. Should be good in the other ones but if you have been a fan for least the last 20 years we all know how that goes. This year was fun and I have not had fun watching the canes in some time. Mario has shown he’ll take time to reflect and fix issues, let’s all hope he does it again.
 
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Brains said:
I truly don't understand making predictions before the portal is done.

You don't know our 2025 roster, or that of our opponents.

You don't know the matchups.

You don't know the staffs.

What are you even predicting at this point?
Click to expand...
That's what these chatrooms are for. I don't represent the school or Mario, I'm one fan typing away at a laptop like you. If you read everything I wrote, you'll see how I tip my cap to the obvious.
 
UMFarArcher said:
I'm probably FOS - but year after year - looking around the country, and especially in the ACC - I see smaller defenses being quicker, faster, and quickly swarming the big, strong, slower offensive players.

I keep hearing the whisper while watching games, "speed kills."

Yes, our Offense was pretty good - but when you look at some of the key moments that either costs a game or threatens one - it's by smaller defenses that just seem to give our big linemen fits. And not five star players, either.

And when the defense is smaller, cutting around like a bunch of wild men - it sure is problematic.

I know - it's counterintuitive - but smaller has its advantages. A blend well schemed - just might have be more productive. Smaller, quicker guys don't have to push the big guys around - but they can plug gaps faster while big on big just hangs on to each other not accomplishing **** - go look! Or run around. Or shoot the gaps.

I'm not a football technician - Just an observer. Perspective tints a view at times.

Watch some mongoose take on a cobra. Watch a few engagements. One's quicker than the other. One get tired quicker and slows down even more.

Kinda like - football.
Click to expand...
Josh Connolly No GIF by Film Riot
 
My expectations are to:.

1. Beat ND
2. Beat the Gator
3. Beat FSU
4. BLOWOUT Syracuse at home
5. Play for the ACC championship

I'm sorry, but I'm not expecting a step back -- even w us losing Cam -- and anything less than a spot in the ACC Championship is inexcusable.

We have enough resources to field a BETTER team than this year's and I fully expect Mario to do that.

Now, expectation and outcome are totally different things.😅

But yeah. I'm optimistic on next year, and I've never really said that in Mario's tenure. I've said it all year as he has -- we are ahead of schedule. We are still rebuilding and this year was a bit of an unexpected surprise (still a shameful and disappointing end).

We gon be alright.
 
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