Podcast: Panic meter on Cristobal, Van Dyke and the state of Miami after loss to MTSU
Mario Cristobal’s honeymoon with the Miami Hurricanes is over, and it happened faster than just about anyone could have predicted.
Miami was a 25 1/2-point favorite last weekend, yet lost 45-31 to the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders, exposing deep flaws with these current Hurricanes and maybe some holes in the Cristobal experience as a whole.
It means now is as good a time for the Eye on the U podcast to check in on the panic meter, and David Wilson and Susan Miller Degnan, the Miami Herald’s Hurricanes beat writer, offer up their level of concern about all the key players from the debacle last week in Miami Gardens.
It starts with resetting expectations for this season and it’s hard now to consider the Hurricanes (2-2) the team to beat the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Coastal Division.
From there, Wilson and Degnan move on to discuss quarterback Tyler Van Dyke’s shocking regression, offensive coordinator Josh Gattis’ failing scheme, the big plays defensive coordinator Kevin Steele’s defense kept coughing up and their long-term levels of confidence in Cristobal as coach in Coral Gables.
The outlook, right now, isn’t rosy for any of them with Van Dyke getting benched Saturday, the Hurricanes’ passing attack slipping to 48th in passing yards per game under Gattis, Miami giving up a 98-yard touchdown under Steele and Cristobal’s recruiting ability seemingly taking a hit beacuse of the stunning upset at Hard Rock Stadium.
Next up is a bye week for the Hurricanes and they need it badly because they have plenty of questions to try to work out behind the scenes before they host the North Carolina Tar Heels next week to open ACC play.
As always, thanks for listening and please continue to rate, review and subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
This story was originally published September 30, 2022 at 7:00 AM.
