Earlier today, we had the first installment of our 3 part roundtable discussion leading up to Saturday’s rivalry game between the Miami Hurricanes and Florida Gators. You can see that discussion here:
We pick up where we left off this morning with the last 5 questions of our discussion. Don’t see predictions? Don’t worry. Those will be up tomorrow.
Here’s the rest of our Roundtable discussion:
QUESTION 6: What have you seen from Miami that makes you think the Canes will win against Florida?
Cam Underwood: I’ve seen a dominant offensive line. I’ve seen a savvy, veteran QB be one of the best operators in the country. I’ve seen a plethora of playmakers at RB and WR make big plays and find the endzone. I’ve seen an unblockable defensive line. I’ve seen physical and smart linebacking. I’ve seen tough, physical, athletic coverage in the secondary. I’ve seen efficiency. I’ve seen explosion. I’ve seen solid special teams. I’ve seen good coaching and solid (but not perfect) game operations. I’ve seen a lot of things that make me think the Canes will win.
Justin Dottavio: Carson Beck doesn’t throw five picks in a game. The Miami offense has been solid, the defense is improving, and the kicking hasn’t been an issue- yet.
Craig T. Smith: As I referenced before, the play of both the offensive and defensive lines is elite right now. They have a quarterback in Carson Beck who has an NFL mind reading defenses, whereas I’m not sure what DJ Lagway is seeing at times. They have young players starting to emerge in the passing game, which was one of my biggest worries coming into the season. And they have a secondary that looks so much better than last year, it’s silly. So, there are a lot of strengths for Miami going into this matchup.
Mike Schiffman: Line of scrimmage play. The big guys up front on both sides of the ball have been far better than every opponent they’ve faced this season. Also, Carson Beck making plays with his arm when they present themselves, while taking care of the football.
John Michaels: This is the best lines that Miami has had since 2001. Florida struggled against LSU’s pass rush, so expect Rueben Bain Jr. and Ahkeem Meisor to wreck shop. On the other side Carson Beck has had all day to throw the ball behind the great wall of Alex, so the offense should operate at maximum efficiency.
Jake Marcus: Everything, but mainly the trenches. Miami has been able to open up their game plan specifically because of the offensive line and defensive line led by Francis Mauigoa and Rueben Bain Jr., respectively. This aspect of the game is making it easy for Carson Beck to step up and deliver and allow the defense to smother opposing offenses.
Rob Weaver: We are consistently controlling the line, and when you have the better line your floor should be a 9 win season. But on top of that, Beck has looked discipline and healed, the backfield has been running well, and a deep WR corps has really stepped up. On the defensive side, everything starts with winning the line – holding USF QB Byrum Brown to just two yards on 13 carries says it all.
Jordan Lopez: I’ve seen an offensive line that is the best in the country. I’ve seen a defensive line that is arguably the best in the country. The trenches on both sides are elite, and it sets the tone for the entire team. Carson Beck is playing with poise and looks like a seasoned vet out there. The wide receivers have shown up and shown out, and that is without having seen Joshisa “JoJo” Trader. The secondary is flying around and playing with confidence. This Miami team looks legit and has played like it thus far through three weeks. Florida is quite the opposite of everything I just mentioned, and it is doom and gloom in Gainesville.
QUESTION 7: What have you seen from Miami that makes you think the Canes could lose against Florida?
Underwood: I’ve seen a couple of turnovers (2 in 3 games, both last week). I’ve seen a handful of coverage lapses. I’ve seen the offense stall out more times than I’d like. And I’ve seen more penalties than I’m comfortable with (19 in 3 games). And, it’s not about this team, but I’ve seen Miami have more than an letdowns in big spots in years gone by, so I guess I’ve seen historical failures of this sort.
Dottavio: The Lagway scramble drill would have to work 5+ times for a TD in order for Miami to lose. That or Beck would have to get really careless (he’s had 2-3 throws / game that were head scratchingly risky) and match Lagway in that regard. A KR for a TD or a blocked punt could be an issue, too.
Smith: The main thing that comes to mind is the mentality from the Notre Dame game. Up 24-7, Miami absolutely let off the gas, and it almost bit them in the ass. Mental toughness and focus has to be there for four quarters. Play their game for 60 minutes the way they have all year outside of a quarter and a half against the Irish, and it should be a W.
Schiffman: Miami playing their worst game of the season, while the Gators play their best. The Canes lose the turnover battle, give up at least one inexplicable touchdown, and miss opportunities of their own. This sounds terrible! I don’t want to think about this anymore.
Michaels: Miami has still given up a couple of explosive plays on the defensive side of the ball, so that continues to be a little bit of a concern. As long as they don’t bust in coverage, they should be fine and win.
Marcus: Nothing. It would essentially take the intangibles for the Gators to pull this off. That is, it being a rivalry game, UF looking to avenge last year’s 41-17 disaster, and Napier coaching better under the pressure of the hottest seat in college football.
Weaver: I haven’t seen it this season, but with Mario Cristobal there’s always a little voice in the back of your head worried about a complete discipline meltdown manifesting with multiple turnovers on offense and blown assignments on defense. Hopefully the team has enough veteran leadership to avoid that. Short of that, there’s nothing in the first three weeks that suggests Miami shouldn’t own this game for four quarters.
Lopez: If I am being honest, it’s nothing. Yes, the Canes can lose this game, but from what we have seen, it’ll be a complete 180 from what we have been watching for three weeks. At the end of the day, it’s still a rivalry game, and the players love to show up and show out for these games. There is talent on both teams, but something that we haven’t seen yet from this team this season has to happen in order for the Canes to lose to Florida. The only thing would be time management issues, but I don’t even want to go there and bring back PTSD for Miami fans.
QUESTION 8: Who needs to step up for Miami to win?
Underwood: The back 7 of the defense. I’m very comfortable with the defensive line, but between the run game with Jaden Baugh, Lagway’s athletic ability to run the ball in designed and improvised situations, and some speedy receivers (Brown III, Wilson), the way the back 7 plays will go a long way in deciding the victors in this game.
Dottavio: The safeties. They have to put together a complete game vs. being good only against the pass on ‘and long’ situations. Miami needs them in the rotation and box game to stop 2-way go’s and to finish off tackles.
Smith: My mind still goes to the secondary. Don’t know if that’s PTSD from watching last year’s group, but the only way I see Florida winning is if Lagway has a big day passing the ball. I trust Miami’s front to keep Florida’s run game under control, given they were in control for most of the game against Notre Dame’s ground attack.
Schiffman: Tough one. I could say the offense because Florida’s defense is their best unit. Still, I’ll say the back seven of Miami’s defense. The linebackers and secondary need to hold up against Lagway and Florida’s playmakers. With Miami’s defensive line pressure, I expect Lagway to be running around trying to make plays. Those have to be contained.
Michaels: Corey Heatherman. Three games in and the defense looks night and day different from last year, but Florida has the most raw talent of anyone that Miami has played so far. Heatherman has a chance to look at the LSU/Florida game from last week, and do whatever he can to confuse DJ Lagway. If he schemes up a good gameplan, the Gators will unravel and begin to have serious doubts about themsleves.
Marcus: The secondary. This was the biggest issue last year but had a whole new look due to additions throughout the offseason and looks good so far. The Gators have plenty of receiving weapons in Vernell Brown III, J. Michael Sturdivant, Aidan Mizell, and Eugene Wilson III, so this will certainly be a challenge for the Canes.
Weaver: Mario Cristobal. The knock on Cristobal is that his teams always manage to drop one game they shouldn’t. As great as the season has started, this isn’t exactly 2001 just yet. Staying focused, staying hungry, and staying disciplined is a week-to-week effort for Cristobal’s staff. If Miami underperforms on Saturday, the blame principally falls on the coaching staff.
Lopez: I understand that Florida’s defense is probably its best unit, but I believe that Miami’s offense can take care of them. So for me, it’ll be the defense. This Florida offense is overrated, and they have to take advantage of how undisciplined and bad they have been. The defense has played great this season, so for them to say they have to be the ones to step up is a little unfair, but if you really want to solidify yourselves as a unit, you have to dominate a rival on primetime. They played well against Notre Dame, but now it’s time to impose its will on the Gators.
QUESTION 9: What about Florida concerns you heading into this game?
Underwood: The “hurt animal fighting out of the corner” mentality. This is a talented team in a tough situation with their season on the brink. They will play for pride, play for their coach, and do their best to play spoiler (as much as they can) to Miami’s stellar start.
Dottavio: Nothing, really. I thought Lagway would be improved but he’s playing meh football and that won’t work. The “star QB’s” haven’t really developed outside of Beck and flashes from Dante Moore (hasn’t played anyone yet).
Smith: Their athleticism is still top tier. They have dudes, and talent wins games, even sometimes when the guys coaching them aren’t doing a great job. They also have their backs against the wall, and they’ll be coming out looking to put a dent into Miami’s season while righting their own ship.
Schiffman: Their defense. It’s a good unit. It kept the Gators in the USF game. It only allowed 13 points to LSU’s offense in Baton Rouge. Other than that, their overall desperation as a team. No other specifics from me as I do not watch much Florida Gators football.
Michaels: Desperation. A desperate team is a dangerous team. Florida is hearing all week about how bad they are, how their coach is going to be fired and how many games they are going to lose. These are still talented kids who will play with some pride on Saturday night knowing that a win over Miami will change the narrative around the program.
Marcus: The only chance the Gators make this competitive is if Lagway can correct whatever accuracy issues he has been suffering with through the first three games and plays like the Heisman candidate that some were hyping him up to be. Lagway was dealing with a shoulder issue over the offseason and is playing so abysmally that something still seems off in that regard. Florida has plenty of weapons so if Lagway can erupt and Napier irons out the play call, then it could be a game.
Weaver: Zilch, nada, nothing. Saturday is about Miami and nobody else. If we see the Hurricanes that we saw these first three weeks – violently imposing their will on opponents starting at the line of scrimmage – there’s nothing Florida can do to stop this team from securing a win.
Lopez: The only thing that concerns me is just the rivalry aspect of it. They are usually closely contested to start the game, and you don’t want to give the opposing team (whether they are bad or not) confidence in a game where everyone has extra motivation and juice. Besides that, Florida hasn’t shown me anything for me to be concerned about.
QUESTION 10: Which Florida player(s) are you concerned about heading into Saturday’s game?
Underwood: Lagway. He’s talented and surely won’t have as bad a game as he had at LSU again. Vernell Brown III is a dynamic athlete at receiver and in the return game. Baugh is a very talented running back. And, while the names are largely interchangeable, there’s talent in the secondary as well.
Dottavio: Lagway can be a game breaker on either side of the coin if he stops making dumb throws. Brown could have a huge performance if they can game plan him right.
Smith: Lagway, if he becomes the player that I fear he could be. He has a trio of wideouts who can be a handful in Vernell Brown III, Eugene Wilson III, and J. Michael Sturdivant. If Miami is vanilla on the back end and for some reason can’t get home to Lagway (something I personally don’t see happening, but just saying), he could have a big day with that group.
Schiffman: Lagway and Jadan Baugh on offense. They are true playmakers who can cause issues for Miami’s defense. Defensive lineman Caleb Banks is the obvious answer on defense. Unfortunately, he re-injured his foot against LSU. If he plays against Miami, he will not be at 100%.
Michaels: DJ Lagway. No matter how bad he has struggled, he still is a supremely talenetd QB. If he can clear his head and make a couple of plays early, the Florida has a chance. Miami must pressure him relentlessly and confuse him on the backend.
Marcus: Preseason First Team All-American Center Jake Slaughter? Even though their center is the best player on the team, I do have some concerns that the wide receiving core of Vernell Brown III, J. Michael Sturdivant, Aidan Mizell, and Eugene Wilson III could give the secondary fits so long as Lagway shows any semblance of accuracy.
Weaver: Florida defense has to keep this low scoring, so my answers are Cormani McClain (yeah, that guy) and Tyreak Sapp. After spurring Miami for Colorado, then transferring to Florida, McClain is starting to play up to his lofty recruiting rankings. Against LSU he did not allow a catch on 40 snaps. As for Sapp (no relation to Warren), he’s a pre-season All-American edge rusher (per Athlon) and the heart and soul of the Gator’s defense, but Sapp has only one sack this season and logged a pretty underwhelming 68.9 PFF grade last week against LSU. Napier said that Florida’s other standout defensive lineman Caleb Banks has a “long term” injury, adding pressure to Sapp’s role. If Beck plays more like 2024 Beck than 2023 Beck, I would expect Sapp’s pressure and McClain’s coverage to have played major roles.
Lopez: I guess it’s Lagway despite showing no reason for us to be concerned about him. Yes, he’s talented, but what he has put on tape has not been good. Florida has a couple of good offensive linemen and defensive linemen, but I’m not that worried since I truly do believe that Miami has the best trenches in the country. Not even trying to be biased, it just looks like the truth at this point.
Alright guys. You know the drill: share your thoughts (or thoughts about our thoughts) in the comments section.
And don’t you worry: game predictions are coming tomorrow.
