Transfer Portal and PFF Grades: How Miami Can Improve in 2023
The highly-anticipated first season for Mario Cristobal in Coral Gables did not go exactly to plan. Due to multiple factors including injuries, offensive struggles and more, Miami ended the season 5-7 and had their worst record since 2007.
Heading into year two for Cristobal, a top ranked freshman class comes in along with some key transfers. In addition, both coordinators were replaced as Miami hopes to turn over a new leaf in the coming season.
Despite all that, there are still some areas on the roster that need to be focused on as well as some strengths heading into the season.
By using Pro Football Focus, AllHurricanes breaks down some important position groups to keep an eye on.
Where The Transfer Portal Needs to Help Miami: Wide Receiver
The Canes hit home runs along the offensive line with Javion Cohen (Alabama transfer) and Matt Lee (Center), and also just added coach Cristobal's nephew, Lou Cristobal (Georgia State). With the offensive line looking good, there's another offensive position to discuss.
Following Charleston Rambo's record-breaking 2021 campaign, Miami's receiving room took a drop as the Hurricane's offense failed to have a consistent top receiver throughout the season.
Charleston Rambo's catch to break the Miami single-season receiving yards record!@CanesFootball | @CharlestonRambo
— ACC Football (@ACCFootball) November 27, 2021
pic.twitter.com/CM4xCKIYXA
Colbie Young did show flashes, but his 367 yards on the season were inflated by 100 yard performances against Duke and Virginia Tech.
Overall, Miami's two highest graded receivers were Xavier Restrepo and Brashard Smith, both of which saw over 96% of their snaps in the slot.
Taking into account new offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson and the implementation of his scheme, his top option in Houston the past few seasons was Nathaniel Dell. He was in the slot around 60% of snaps during the last two seasons.
While it is unsure if Miami will experiment with Smith and Restrepo on the outside more, Miami's offseason addition of Tyler Harrell (Louisville/Alabama) has the experience playing on the outside. His 2021 season at Louisville would've graded him as Miami's highest ranking outside receiver for 2023.
Based on that information, Miami and Coach Dawson will need to focus heavily on the outside receiver play to improve the passing attack for the Canes. Disregarding Harrell, Frank Ladson Jr. is the only returning Miami receiver who saw at least 80% or more of snaps on the outside this past season.
If Dawson is able to get Young on the outside more, he might be able to set up the 6-foot-5 receiver for a breakout campaign.
Strength: Safety Room
To nobody's surprise, Miami will enter next season with one of if not the best safety tandem in the country with All-American Kamren Kinchens and James Williams patrolling the field.
Highest graded returning Safeties🔥 pic.twitter.com/Nf1vv7pZ4Q
— PFF College (@PFF_College) May 14, 2023
Kinchens took a massive jump from 2021 to 2022, forcing six turnovers en route to receiving one of the highest grades in the country at 90.0.
Even though his coverage was elite, Kinchens will look to improve upon his tackling, as he saw a decline in his tackle grade from 2021 (77.8) to 2022 (56.4).
For Williams, he too was elite in coverage with an 88.5 coverage grade. In addition, he also took a step-up as a tackler (63.3 from 47.9), an area he has all the tools to excel at with his 6-foot-5 and 225-pound frame.
The only problem for this safety room has been depth. Lining up the successors to Kinchens and Williams shall not be easy in 2024, and if one of them misses time for any reason this next season there shall be uncertainty. Assuming both at least keep up their level of play, they are likely candidates to be selected in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Transfer Portal Helped, But More Improvement Needed: Cornerback Room
Even though Miami has one of the best safety rooms in the country, the same can not be said for the cornerbacks.
Miami did get good seasons out of Tyrique Stevenson and DJ Ivey (both with 75.0+ grades), both ended up hearing their names called in the 2023 Draft and closing the books on their collegiate careers. That did not mean Miami's corner play was consistent.
The game against Middle Tennessee State was a disaster, and the Florida State game was much the same. Part of the blame went to the poor cornerback play in both games. Miami needs to improve at cornerback, and that means new players must emerge.
Te'Coury Couch is the highest graded returner for this Hurricanes roster (66.5), however his coverage grade is not much to be desired.
Miami did bring in some Transfer Portal additions at the position group with Davonte Brown (UCF), Jaden Davis (Oklahoma), Terry Roberts (Iowa) and Jadais Richard (Vanderbilt).
Brown and Roberts are the best of the bunch, as Roberts has yet to allow a touchdown in his career while Brown has the highest peak with a 2021 grade of 82.3.
Here's new Miami CB Terry Roberts in action -- read, react, smash. Some textbook DB play here from Iowa last year.pic.twitter.com/37DLhmOjTV
— Cam Mellor (@CamMellor) January 23, 2023
Given the state of the cornerback room, it appears that Brown and Roberts are on track to be the starting outside corners for the team this coming campaign. However, the overall depth at the position remains unproven.
Miami and new defensive coordinator Lance Guidry will look towards the transfers and hope Daryl Porter Jr. can continue to improve following his first season in Coral Gables.
If the recent transfers struggle, there's a chance that freshmen Damari Brown and Robert Stafford could see some snaps at cornerback for the Hurricanes.
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You can find Liam on Twitter @theleftyliam where he shares news on University of Miami basketball and football as well as opinions