Things have been far from perfect for Mario Cristobal in his first two seasons back at his alma mater. However, back to back top seven recruiting classes should give Miami fans hope that the team will continue to improve as the talent-level rises.
What should Cristobal’s New Year’s Resolutions be for 2024?
1- Resolve the quarterback situation as quickly as possible. Miami was forced to pivot from Plan A after Cam Ward opted to enter the NFL draft rather than transferring to The U. Other transfer targets remain. The Hurricanes have reportedly shown interest in USC transfer Malachi Nelson and UNLV transfer Jayden Maiava. James Madison standout Jordan McCloud, Liberty quarterback Kaidon Salter, and Arizona transfer Jayden de Laura are also intriguing options who remain unsigned.
Or could Miami end up promoting their next starting quarterback from within? Jacurri Brown and Emory Williams remain on the roster. Both lack experience, but have shown potential in a handful of starts. Judd Anderson will arrive as an early enrollee, but it’s unlikely he would be ready to take the reigns right away.
Time is not on Miami’s side. If they do still feel the need to bring in a transfer, they have until January 24th at the absolute latest to enroll a new player in time to participate in spring football. Given the timeline, it’s possible that Miami might not get their desired transfer addition until later in the spring.
2- Show more consistency in setting your football culture. Miami’s coaches talk a lot about discipline, but it doesn’t always show up on the field. WR Jacolby George committed three costly unsportsmanlike penalties during the Pinstripe Bowl loss to Rutgers. He’s a talented player, but he should have been benched earlier in the game to send a message. There were other instances during the regular season of players remaining on the field after costly penalties. Cristobal’s message should always be that selfish plays cannot be tolerated.
3- Get your playmakers more involved. Miami just lost “Swiss army knife” Brashard Smith in the transfer portal. Smith was likely frustrated by his lack of reps. The Hurricanes have several young players who can offer similar quickness and versatility. 2024 needs to be a year where speedy receivers like Nathaniel “Ray Ray” Joseph, Joshisa Trader, Ny Carr and Robby Washington get used creatively in space. Running back Chris Johnson is one of the fastest track stars in the country, Miami’s offense has been too predictable in recent years.
4- Cristobal and staff need self-reflection and solutions for in-game management. When you don’t take a knee to secure a win and when the TV announcers start criticizing your use of timeouts week to week, it might be time to tighten these things up. Cristobal excels at roster construction and talent evaluation but has shown limitations at Oregon and Miami in other areas. Whether Miami needs to find new analysts to perfect their analytics charts, or if Cristobal needs someone on headset late in games strictly to focus on his time management calls, something should be done here. The best leaders are the ones who can identify their own weaknesses and delegate those responsibilities to others.
