Miami Hurricanes Spring Football Week One Progress Report

If you'd like to submit questions for a future mailbag, you can tweet me any time @LockedOnCanes!

Q: Donno, I've been watching your spring practice recaps and it sounds like the Canes are about to win another offseason national championship. Can we pump the breaks a bit? -Craig in Homestead

A: If I sound overly optimistic to some if you, try to remember that in spring football pretty much everyone looks good. If I dwell on negativity in my practice recaps it would have to be for some manufactured agenda. I've never said Miami will compete for an actual national title next season, nor have I attempted to predict their 2023 win-loss record. I do, however, see progress.

Transfer players like center Matt Lee, guard Javion Cohen, and linebacker Francisco Mauigoa all look like starters at this stage. Early enrollee Francis Mauigoa, younger brother of Francisco, has spent time with the starters at right tackle. There are a handful of other newcomers turning heads and competing. What I've seen so far out at Greentree makes me feel optimistic that the roster is improving.

We’ve talked about better scheme fit for a lot of our offensive players. TVD, obviously, and it’ll be huge for many different WR’s.

Who are some defensive guys who will be in a better position to succeed with Guidry’s scheme? #GoCanes
— Paul Erickson, Ed.D (@PrincipalPaul) March 13, 2023

A: It's too early in the installation to give you a great answer for this on the defensive side, but I can give it a shot.

Since new DC Lance Guidry has a background coaching defensive backs, he spends extra time with those players (much like Cristobal does with the O-line). I can see the safeties, especially, benefitting from his mentorship and scheme. Guidry puts a major emphasis on forcing turnovers. My hope is that he can bring Kam Kinchens to an even higher level. Once James Williams is ready to start practicing (he's currently out after an offseason shoulder procedure) I hope he can benefit, too.

Also, Guidry noted to us that he can be a tad unconventional with his defensive ends. He often has them standing up rather than putting a hand in the dirt. They drop into coverage sometimes. Akheem Mesidor and Nyjalik Kelly are extremely versatile and I think they can thrive.

I expect Guidry to rotate his D-linemen less than Kevin Steele did. Being on the field for more snaps could help Leonard Taylor make a big jump in 2023. He wasn't used often enough last season in my opinion.

You hit the nail on the head with the offense, though. Bringing in air raid passing schemes under Shannon Dawson should bring some spark back to QB Tyler Van Dyke and Miami's receivers.

Q: Could we do status updates on some of the key injuries? Arroyo and Citizen immediately come to mind but sure there are others still dealing with major injuries from last season. -Cash Money Cane

A: Here's what I know. If I leave anyone out it's because I either have no intel on them or perhaps some names might slip my mind. Cristobal keeps this information close to the vest. Most of the injuries being dealt with are not serious.

On the defensive line, Leonard Taylor and Akheem Mesidor have both been held out to this point due to minor injuries. Taylor will miss all of spring but should be fully healthy by early May, per Cristobal. Mesidor will likely be practicing by the mid-way point of the spring period.

You mentioned TE Elijah Arroyo, who will miss the spring after having ACL surgery last fall. I've seen him walking around and he's not limping, so I'm optimistic he could be ready for fall camp.

OT Zion Nelson is still recovering from the injury that cost him most of last season. Mario hinted that he's making good progress, but I don't recall hearing a timetable. Cristobal did say that he expects everyone who's currently injured to be ready by the start of next season, so that's good.

RB Tre'Vonte Citizen, like Arroyo, is recovering from an ACL. I don't have any reliable information about how he's doing, but we won't see him at all during spring ball.

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