Miami Hurricanes: Five Burning Questions for 2023
We are less than a month away from college football fall camps getting going, ACC media days will be on July 26 and 27, and there are some key questions to answer about the Miami Hurricanes.
The following five questions are just ones I personally have, have discussed with other people, as well as been asked by Canes fans that approached me. I provided some backdrop in the article down below, as well as more detail via a podcast that can be viewed here:
1) Will Mario Cristobal Openly and Consistently Promote A Game Plan That Throws The Football All Over The Field?
There will be games where opponents challenge the Canes with seven and eight in the box, and/or bring a variety of pressures to stuff the run game (North Carolina State does an excellent job with pressures as one example). That leaves some really talented wide receivers like Xavier Restrepo, Jacolby George, Isaiah Horton, Frank Ladson, Jr., and of course Colbie Young, among others, one-on-one with a defender. That’s also when the Hurricanes must capitalize.
That stated, Cristobal has proven to have a very old-school mentality, a good deal of the time; he believes in being a power football team. That’s cool, but if my premise is right about being challenged comes to fruition, how the head coach of the Canes accepts throwing the football – play after play – could help dictate which team wins.
To be clear, this is a game-by-game and even series-by-series situation. Bottom line, if Miami needs to throw the football all over the field, Cristobal must give his blessing to do so.
I have more to say about this in the podcast, as this is an important topic that could truly change the tide of Miami’s 2023 season.
2) How Will The Defense Adapt To Lance Guidry’s Defensive Scheme, Including The Ability To Not Have Coverage Busts Like In 2022?
Lance Guidry has proven to be one heck of a defensive coordinator. What he did with the talent available at Marshall was phenomenal. While he would assuredly defend his former players and their respective talent, that’s not the same stable of horses that Kirby Smart has at Georgia or even what Miami had in recent years.
Two points, however. One, it’s a new system. There will be mishaps at some point. How does Miami adjust after a poor defensive play? Two, will the system cause paralysis by analysis, meaning the players become unsure of their assignments because it’s so new?
Miami must find the happy medium between running schemes that confuse opposing offenses and not also confusing its own players. Easier said than done. I believe Guidry will be cautious about actually installing too much, especially with many younger players likely to play, and rely more on fundamentals and talent to get the job done.
3) Will The Ultra-Talented 2023 Recruiting Class Make An Immediate Splash?
I believe I speak for just about anyone that follows UM football when I say I’m quite excited about both sides of the football with regards to the freshmen coming to Coral Gables. Predictions in the podcast, but note that running back Mark Fletcher is at the forefront of the conversation, but not necessarily for a reason some may think about.
4) Just How Good Will Tyler Van Dyke Be, And Will He Be Clutch?
I believe Van Dyke breaks out this year, but in a unique way. Statistics will be a part of it, but I believe the more important data point will be how he performs in pressure moments.
Third downs, red zone, making the proper call versus the look the defense goes with, etc. Those will be the reasons Van Dyke succeeds, as well as Miami overall.
5) How Many Of The Big Games Such As Texas A&M, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Clemson, Louisville, and Florida State Will Miami Win?
I have pondered this question for months. It’s complex because the timing of the games, injuries, how hot an opposing quarterback has become, road game versus home game, and more, all impact the final score and eventual winner.
For Miami to improve as a program, they need to win at least three of the above six games. That's doable. If that happens, it's progress for the program and gives some credibility on the recruiting trail as well.
Finally, no blowout losses. Absolutely none.
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