Stock up/Stock Down

Hurricanes Football
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Still going to post some game thoughts if I get a chance… I’ve been busy… And going to update my “team best players” thread but for now. This is for the whole season, but mainly with a focus on the last 2-3 games

Stock Up:
Ward obviously
Horton
Arroyo
M.Bryant- Needs more snaps somehow…Absolutely all over the field
Aguirre- Potential stud
D.Hill- I think he’s been best DB last 2 weeks, best tackler for sure
Bissainthe- has taken next step

Stock Down:
Richards- not terrible, but not good…Need Damari Brown back
Cooper- Still will be an NFL player and has had a nice career, but just not as good as last season, interior not creating the holes we need to see
S.Brown- all the tools, but a little soft
J.Harris- not giving up at all…He’s definitely active but sloppy

Almost included Kiki and Powell for too many missed tackles, but I still think they are plus players and will give them a chance to rebound.

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Sam Brown is another transfer that I thought a mild “huh.” He has the career numbers for sure. But UM has a bunch of good receivers and some younger ones who arguably should get a shot (e.g., Ryan Williams at Bama). Sort of, if we are recruiting high school correctly shouldn’t some of the skill players be ready sooner? Brown has a year left after this. But who has more upside for the team, Brown or say Trader?

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Skeeter, not sure how much college football you watch. That being said the tackling now is terrible across the board. Oregon is good, usc is much better but did you watch the georgia and bama game. I am not sure if it is the lack of tackling in practice. The tackling is bad.

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I’m pretty sure he doesn’t?

And if you have the open spot, he was worth he take…Not a bad player at all and just adds to weapons. And it’s not like he hasn’t contributed. Also maybe they didn’t know Horton was going to take such a big next step?

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Also…I will add that I was critical of Cooper here, but it’s wroth nothing he’s playing on a bad ankle, and that can’t be easy at 350.

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I wsn’t sure myself so looked him up quick on ESPN. Perhaps they have it wrong? Samuel Brown - Miami Hurricanes Wide Receiver - ESPN

Not knocking his productivity so far (based on the amount of time he has lined up per se). Just ruminating on whether or not the coaches “assumed” he would outplay the younger guys and are still waiting for that to happen. I know every coach says “let the best man win” but it is not implausible that they are giving Brown the benefit of the doubt over letting a frosh show what he can do. Perhaps more a question of roster management in the NIL era. Need to get young players on the field sooner?

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Ya I was under the impression that after this season, they weren’t granting an extra year for covid…I remember reading that somewhere. But if they are still giving then he would be eligible for a 6th year.

Not knocking his productivity so far (based on the amount of time he has lined up per se). Just ruminating on whether or not the coaches “assumed” he would outplay the younger guys and are still waiting for that to happen. I know every coach says “let the best man win” but it is not implausible that they are giving Brown the benefit of the doubt over letting a frosh show what he can do. Perhaps more a question of roster management in the NIL era. Need to get young players on the field sooner?

While I did have him in the “stock down” category, I don’t think he’s been terrible by any means? I have no reason at this point to believe any of the young guys would be significantly better…He has still made some plays. At the same time I hear ya, I’d love to find a way to get JoJo Trader not he field.

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I’m worried about any sustained ground game against top 25 teams
I’m worried about coverage from corners and linebackers in space getting lost against top 25 teams
I’m worried about gap control stopping the opponents run game against to 25 teams

IF this is a disaster waiting to happen, it will be exposed shortly. Let’s be honest, IF we are a legit contender, we should steam roll this schedule. Bama would, Georgia would, Suckeyes would, Texas would, Tennessee would :man_shrugging:

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Bama always had one early season game where they almost lose to someone they shouldn’t. Maybe that was our VTech game.

If we’re legit, we won’t do the same thing against Cal the very next week.

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Tech isn’t bad

I’m worried about any sustained ground game against top 25 teams
I’m worried about coverage from corners and linebackers in space getting lost against top 25 teams
I’m worried about gap control stopping the opponents run game against to 25 teams

I’m worried about overconfidence/ Cam Ward complacency…This team rallies around Ward. It sounds cliche, but this team right is extremely confident…It was like they never blinked against VT. The problem is Ward can be very complacent, and I believe there may be a mistake-filled game at some point…especially unde4r pressure

I’m worried about injuries, but seems like getting some good news there on defense, but we need Rivers back, as Bell has excellent upside but is struggling with pass pro.

Always the chance of a Cristobal bonehead coaching mishap

And like you, I worry about our lack of running game at this point. Hopefully Rivers returns as that will help, and we need Cooper’s injury to heal, he has not looked like the Cooper of last year.

The DBs were a worry coming into the season….They are still probably the weakest link on the team, but have outperformed expectations and we can win with them.

Power ratings of my remaining opponents
(We are currently 13.5/8th best team with return of Bain/Rivers…I’ve upgraded us 4.5 pts since start of season. For reference my top team, Georgia is a 5.5, Clemson is 16 as of now if we meet up w them in ship)

Cal 25.5 (Tied with UF for 35th best team, +2.5 since start of season)
Lou 22 (25th best team, -.5 since start of season)
FSU 29.5 (-12 from start of season)
Duke 32.5 (+3)
GTech 28 (+.5)
Wake Forest 36 (-1)
Cuse 31.5 (+.5 )

Past opponents
UF 25.5 (-3 from start of season)
Ball ST 50.5 (-3)
So Fla 35.5 (+3.5)
V.Tech 24.5 (+1)

I played Cal this week +13 and am strongly considering under.