On Monday afternoon, Miami head coach Mario Cristobal, offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson and defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman spoke with the media to discuss the Hurricanes’ recent win over Florida State and preview their upcoming matchup on Saturday afternoon against Pittsburgh.
Here are five takeaways from the weekly press conference.
Canes come away unscathed
Despite the competitive and ultra-physical nature of Miami’s 43-35, double-overtime victory over rival FSU last Saturday, the Hurricanes did not suffer any major injuries.
“We came out relatively clean. It’s the first time in a long time that we get that,” Cristobal said. “That being said, probably the biggest is a couple guys being sick. The flu’s going around and whatnot, but that’s come and gone. I think we’re gonna be in a good spot.”
This game also marked a return for starting cornerback Xavier Lucas, who has previously been sidelined with an injury that he suffered in UM’s season-opener against Stanford.
“Minus two plays, he looked good,” Cristobal said about Lucas’ outing. “I take responsibility for not finding ways to get him more in one-on-one situations in practice.”
When asked about the recovery of sophomore cornerback Ja’Boree Antoine, Cristobal replied that he’s “progressing well” but “he’s still gonna be out for a significant amount of time. We see it more toward the end of the season.”
Dawson thinks Miami’s offense could have done more against FSU
The Hurricanes put up 43 points and totaled a whopping 583 yards against the Seminoles.
Still, this was not a totally clean game by offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson’s unit. Miami went 0-of-2 on fourth downs, had a trio of three-and-outs and quarterback Darian Mensah threw his first interception of the season.
“We didn’t play our best football for the most part of the game,” Dawson said. “We did enough to win, but we left a lot out there … and it’s very simple things, like very, very simple, routine things that we’re letting slip that will eventually cost us if we don’t get it fixed.”
For the season, UM ranks first nationally in points (48.5), second in total yards (559.5), third in passing yards (333.0) and 13th in rushing yards per game (226.5).
Hetherman explains safety blitz decision on game-tying FSU touchdown
Defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman received some postgame criticism from UM fans after Miami’s win, with a major critique addressing the blitz he called that led to Duce Robinson’s 75-yard touchdown reception to tie the game at 28 with 2:39 left in the game.
He addressed why he decided to blitz on this play on Monday.
“We’re in a situation, there’s probably 15 or so plays left in the game. It’s kind of just outside two minutes. We got a once-score lead. I think they’re gonna come out, I think they go moving pocket early, they look for the access throw. They changed it up from what they did earlier in the game … They changed it up and ran a fade. [Lucas] was playing really well at that point. I like that matchup for us. We got a really good corner on a really good player. Give them credit too. They win a one-on-one. In that situation, it’s a good throw from the quarterback. I thought early on, we struggled a little bit with four [pass rushers], containing the quarterback, not so much moving the pocket, just keeping him contained. Early in the game, on a third-and-eight, on a second down and off track, he scrambled around, he created some things, got some first downs, so we wanted to bring an extra hat to keep in the pocket and force him from doing that, and we had won a lot of those one-on-ones in that point. And then we got to get him down,” Hetherman said.
Cristobal “not a fan” but taking team-player approach to 24-team CFP news
ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported last week that the College Football Playoff was closing in on a deal to expand the playoff field to 24 teams, starting in the 2027 season.
What is Cristobal’s reaction to the sport-altering news?
“At the end of the day, I am for whatever helps our conference because you have to be a team player. Me personally, not a fan, but again back to the team player thing. If it’s what’s best for the conference, then all things are being looked at, and whatever’s best for the team we do.”
Pittsburgh on deck
Miami’s next game is on Saturday at noon against Pittsburgh.
The Panthers started 5-0 but have since lost two straight games, largely due to the season-ending injury that starting quarterback Mason Heintschel suffered against Virginia Tech.
Cristobal was very complimentary when asked about the Panthers.
“The trademark of their team is the trenches. They’re very disruptive. They’re very senior [led]. You see a lot of upperclassmen on the two-deep,” Cristobal said. “They’re just really explosive, physical guys, guys that play with relentless effort and that have a great understanding – which I think is important to point out. They have a great understanding of situational football.
Pitt, notably, has the nation’s top-ranked run defense.
“They’re violent, if I had to explain them in one word,” Dawson said. “They’re very sound … and they’re very disciplined. And their d-line, they remind me a lot of what I go against every day on Greentree.”
