Podcast: What we learned, what we know and what we still don’t after Miami’s spring game
In his first spring game as coach of the Miami Hurricanes, Mario Cristobal kept things simple and that was just fine.
Quarterback Tyler Van Dyke had nothing to prove. Injuries meant Miami might have been missing something like 10 starters Saturday at DRV PNK Stadium. The new coach is still in the earliest days of implementing his culture, and installing an all-new offense and defense.
It doesn’t mean there was nothing to learn, though, and that’s where the Eye on the U podcast starts this week, as David Wilson and Susan Miller Degnan, the Hurricanes beat writer for the Miami Herald, talk about what they learned, what they know and what they still don’t after the Hurricanes wrapped up spring practice in Fort Lauderdale.
The most fun player to finally get a look at was probably Jacurri Brown. The freshman quarterback didn’t put up impressive numbers — he threw an interception and lost a fumble on a strip sack — but he didn’t need to. It was enough just to see how fluidly he cuts and how explosive of a runner he already is.
Besides, the fumble came at the hands of another freshman as defensive lineman Cyrus Moss put together an impressive day, too, with a pair of sacks and the forced fumble. Every freshman who played made a strong impression, so it was a shame linebacker Wesley Bissainthe was out. He might have the best chance to contribute of any of them.
As for the other quarterbacks, Miami fans mostly already knew what they were getting from Van Dyke and Jake Garcia, and they didn’t do anything Saturday to change anyone’s opinions. Neither connected on any deep balls, but they also didn’t make any mistakes and executed a basic offense effectively. Barring something unforeseen, Van Dyke will start in September and Garcia will provide the Hurricanes one of the best backups in the country.
It was a little bit of a shame to see so many players sidelined, though, especially in the front seven. Between injuries and transfers who haven’t yet enrolled, Miami might have been missing its entire 2022 starting defensive line and both of its potential starting traditional linebackers.
As always, thanks for listening and please continue to rate, review and subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
