Miami Hurricanes Showing Reasons For Optimism During Fall Camp?

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Q: After seeing the scrimmage this past weekend do you feel more optimistic about this season and think we will be much improved than last year? -From 818CaliCane

A: I am always cautious about drinking too much kool-aid when watching Miami go up against themselves in practice. When the offense makes a big play does that just mean the defense did something wrong, or vice versa?

The Associated Press couldn't find a single member to vote for Miami as a Top 25 team. Expectations nationally are low.

I will say that the Hurricanes look bigger, longer and deeper at most position groups. Mario Cristobal's roster overhaul is showing me signs for optimism.

Tyler Van Dyke had a solid showing in last weekend's scrimmage. He connected on big plays will all three of the starting receivers: Xavier Restrepo, Jacolby George and Colbie Young.

I recall watching a frustrating amount of drops from Miami's receivers last year, but this year the fundamentals are already looking better under WR's coach Kevin Beard.

Van Dyke will likely have a lot more time to throw this year with a beefed up offensive line. Miami did well to add center Matt Lee, guard Javion Cohen and tackle Francis Mauigoa.

The offensive and defensive schemes look more dynamic and confusing for opponents.

Defensive line additions Rueben Bain (freshman), Branson Deen (transfer), Anthony Campbell (transfer) and Jayden Wayne (freshman) all performed well in the scrimmage. Bain and Deen worked with the first time while Campbell and Wayne lined up with the second and third team.

The linebacker room got an infusion of freshman talent and I also expect transfers Francisco Mauigoa and KJ Cloyd to play a major role.

The defensive backfield added serious size with a trio of 6-2 cornerbacks in Ja'Dais Richard and Davonte and Damari Brown.

If the Hurricanes don't significantly improve from last year's 5-7 debacle, we have every right to scratch our heads at the end of the season. I consider something like three extra wins to be significant, in case you were wondering.

There are two major questions Miami needs to answer on the field:

1) Can so many new faces gel together and play as a unit?

2) How will this team respond to adversity when they face it? Will they give up on each other or will they bounce back with excellence?

Q: What WR do you see having a season similar to Colbie Young last year? Someone who might start off slow but become more involved in the offense towards the middle to end of the season -Chalupa Batman

A: Shemar Kirk has the opportunity to do almost exactly what Young did last year. Like Young, Kirk just transferred in from junior college.

Like Young, Kirk likely won't begin the season as a starter but has the opportunity to earn his way up the depth chart.

Kirk has done some good things in practice, but a player like him won't truly shine until full contact and tackling commences. Kirk's super power is yards after catch and breaking/shedding tackles. While the team is only thudding and playing glorified touch football in camp, he's not in his element just yet.

Q: It sounds like several starting spots will go to freshmen. Good for them but isn’t that a bad thing for the team overall? We might go 6-6 while these kids develop. -James

A: Honestly I only see one or possibly two freshmen starting for this team when the season begins. Francis Mauigoa is almost a lock at first team right tackle.

Beyond Francis, it's possible that Damari Brown earns a starting cornerback job, but other freshman standouts like Rueben Bain, Ray Ray Joseph, Mark Fletcher, Jayden Wayne, Samson Okunlola and Raul Aguirre, just to name a few, won't be at the top of the depth chart.

Perhaps by the end of the season, additional players will ascend into starting roles the way linebacker Wesley Bissainthe did last year.

I see your point, though. I agree that in theory, a team that relies heavily on inexperienced players is likely to hit a few speed bumps and take their lumps. However, a lot of these class of '23 players on Miami's roster might be exceptions to that rule. This is a very mature group who love to put in extra work and study film. Physically and mentally, it's a mature class.

I don't think a team with so many new faces and young talent can contend for a college football playoff spot. That won't be on the table for Miami this season unless something beyond special happens out there. But I do think several of these freshmen will have a great opportunity to gain experience in their first year and help Miami improve from their 5-7 fiasco in 2022.

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