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The head coach of the Miami Hurricanes joins The Joe Rose Show after cruising past Wake Forest on Friday
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00:00All right, welcome back and a good morning to everybody out there. Thanks for being with us here on a
00:05Monday. The head coach of the Miami Hurricanes football team, Mario Cristobal with us. Coach, good morning. How you doing
00:11there, sir?
00:12Good morning, Joe. How are you, man? Ready to roll.
00:14Hey, man, it's great to hear. We got a lot of stuff to get to. You go on the road,
00:20going back to the Wake Forest game, and Darren Mintzall puts on, he goes 24 for 24, man. And I
00:30found myself standing out in California screaming, like, keep it rolling. Amazing what he was able to do and his
00:39accuracy in that game.
00:4090% completion rate with 11 touchdowns and zero picks through three games. Just when you think, I've never seen
00:49anything like this at the start of season. I know there's a lot of football left. What do you like
00:53about, what is he doing besides, has anything surprised you that he's doing, I should say?
00:59No, but quite honestly, what we like the best is that he and the rest of the guys, just, you
01:04know, no one's satisfied and want to get better. So we do see a lot of positive stuff. And again,
01:10especially last this past week for two and a half quarters. And then aside from that is the focus is
01:15on just getting better. So honestly, that's what I like most, that there's no, no one's sitting around and, you
01:20know, admiring statistical data. Everybody's ready to go to work.
01:25Coach, before we get to everything else, a lot of guys got banged up. Some, some came back and played
01:30a little bit. Marty Brown, a great run going into the end zone and then couldn't get up. Can you
01:37give us an update on him?
01:40Well, in general, Joe, we got beat up pretty good. We've had some injuries, some contact type stuff that has
01:46put a couple more guys out that we didn't even expect. So, but Marty Brown is definitely one of them.
01:52He's going to be out. He's going to be out for the rest of the season.
01:54And then some other guys that are going to be out. Josh Moore, unfortunately, sustained an upper body injury. He'll
02:00be out for the rest of the season.
02:04Ezekiel Marcelin suffered a lower body injury. He'll be out for a few weeks. And it's a shame because he
02:09was playing high level football and was now, you know, sharing reps with the ones that was going to play
02:14even a more significant role. Really, really good player.
02:18The rest, I'll know more in the next couple of days. Some guys got banged up and are in and
02:22out, but certainly, you know, not what we wanted, but you know what?
02:26Yeah.
02:26We're always going to be playing the tee on Saturday and we got to get ready to roll.
02:29Hey, one that was interesting is, is a mom.
02:32Oten went out of the game who's, who's been, and he left and he came right back, got jumped back
02:37in there and, and played.
02:40We saw this actually last year. I think he got a little banged up and boy, that guy just, just
02:45keeps going. Is he going to be okay?
02:48Yeah. You know, we feel like he is going to be okay. You know, again, I think he showed it
02:52last year and I think that's why his value, you know, went up so much, not only for the team,
02:56but for his future.
02:57Uh, that's really looked at closely guys that can, you know, show legitimate durability to a tough time. So yeah,
03:04all in all, just hoping for, for good reports, um, from the medical staff and whatnot. So we could go
03:10from there.
03:10Yeah. Boy, uh, Fletch and, uh, Malachi looked like he got a little nicked up as well. He was in
03:15out. You talk about two tough guys, those two guys from American heritage plantation. Uh, you expect those guys to
03:21be okay.
03:23Uh, I do, you know, got banged up, you know, we, we got banged up and, um, you know, again,
03:28uh, an interesting kind of situation, but day to day brother, you know, day to day.
03:33Hey, that's why we talk about depth. That's why you talk about these young classes and getting them ready to
03:38go. I know you preach that to your coaching staff. Uh, JVN Mallory makes a really nice run to the,
03:45the, the first down for you late in that game to run it out.
03:47But I know a lot of people are wondering, is Jordan Lyle about ready to come back coach? Any update
03:52on him now that, uh, you might be short a couple of running backs?
03:56Well, it's aside from that, honestly, it has nothing to do with us being short. It's the fact that he
04:00did serve, you know, the consequences that come with, with the issue. Um, and, uh, yeah, he is, he has
04:07been practicing with the team and certainly he's back, you know, and activated and whatnot. But you know what, um,
04:12unrelated to that, when guys do go down, it's not just a matter of a guy inheriting
04:17that opportunity. Guys still have to earn it. You know what I mean, Joe? Yeah. Uh, because now you have
04:22to move guys to spots so that they can play and perform. And, and the assessments here weekly are, are
04:28very thorough. And so that's, uh, that's the mode of win right now, making sure we find a way to
04:32put the best guys on the field, give us the best chance.
04:34So you guys are cruising along there and then had some three and outs and, and I just, listen, that
04:39stuff's going to happen. And they, they made some changes defensively and, and got on a roll. Big Mo does
04:44take place in these games. Uh, but what I loved is the way that defense stepped up. You guys got
04:50aggressive and boy, we, we got to see, speaking of young guys, JJ Dunnigan, uh, on the outside, along with
04:57Omar Thornton, both on the blitz really seemed to change things around from, from the pressure you got.
05:04For the safety to the fourth down stops. And, and then of course the interception at the end of the
05:09game.
05:10Yeah. You know, we, uh, two and for two and a half quarters, we're playing really good football for the
05:15most part of 31, seven, I believe there's five and a half minutes to go or something like that. And
05:21we actually forced a turnover. Um, but we get called for roughing.
05:24Right. And then momentum swings. Um, and then all of a sudden we, we hit ourselves, we, we found ourselves
05:29in a rut on offense and the defense came out and truly, um, epitomized complimentary football just got after it.
05:36And in fact, they're succeeding a successive four drives after that were a safety, a turnover on downs, another turnover
05:44on downs, and then an interception, uh, to close out the football game.
05:48So those guys really, uh, really stepped up, really affected the quarterback. That guy's a great player because we had
05:54him wrapped up so many times and he makes guys missing, you know, college football nowadays, man, those mobile quarterbacks
06:00that have a lot of space and time, they can, they can hurt you. And Gio is, is a great
06:05player. Um, but we did get after him. Um, and, uh, the defense just, uh, I thought they were, they
06:11were really impressive. Unbelievable job there to close out the game.
06:14Morrow, Ethan O'Connor, nice, nice play at the end of the game. The pick is a guy that's played
06:18some football because you've had injuries at the cornerback position. Now he's getting a chance to, to play. I'm guessing
06:25a lot more because of some guys are down, but he seems to be getting more comfortable, makes a nice
06:30play across the middle.
06:32Well, he's also earned it, you know, Joe, that's the big thing. And I think that, you know, Ethan's a
06:37talented guy that we're going to keep pushing and pressing because he's a guy that has a ton of potential.
06:41And the more he grows and develops, the better for,
06:44for the football team, the better for himself and his future. We're excited about, uh, the way he ended up
06:49performing, ends up being really a defensive player of the game for us. Um, really proud of him and looking
06:55forward to more impressive play by him.
06:57Yeah. You had some key guys that we just talked about. We went through the list of wide receivers and,
07:02and running backs. Do you feel you had to change your offense a little bit with so many key guys,
07:07uh, that are out and when, you know, we'll, we'll find out when they come back, but did that change
07:12things a little bit in the play calling?
07:14For you guys?
07:15No, Joe, actually it didn't. You know, I was asked about that after the game and you always look at
07:19your drive chart and what you call and you're looking at four or three and outs. And in those four,
07:24three and outs, you have two out of those three plays or are down the field calls. You know what
07:28I mean? Um, we just, we weren't executing. We weren't in sync, uh, at the same level that we were
07:33in the first half. And also I always want to credit the opponent because it's not your disrespect in football,
07:38but they all be at the one, uh, where we had a couple of screens in a row.
07:42So they are down the field calls and they mimic, uh, they actually reflect what we were calling in the
07:47first half against the same defensive structures and coverages. So no, we don't, uh, we don't have a throttle down,
07:53uh, button on our offense.
07:55Yeah. So that's, uh, hopefully that, that makes it clear.
07:59Yeah. No, I'm glad you said that because people did think you guys were just throwing it. Those were set
08:04plays to just get them out quickly to the outside. So you had, you had another part to it and
08:08I'm, and I'm glad you said that.
08:10So I do, I do want to ask you as, as we're, we're going forward now, um, competition still open
08:17with the, the, the young guys and everybody else.
08:20Does it change a little bit when you get some guys really banged up who, by the way, are all
08:25the guys you talked about, obviously have been proven guys that have played well throughout those playoffs last year.
08:32Yeah. Well, you know what we, uh, it's no secret. We practice with, uh, physicality and in a very intense
08:37manner, but unfortunately we have sustained injuries during games, not in practice.
08:42So there are some modifications and adjustments for some of the guys that are banged up. And then on the
08:47flip side, the other guys actually need more work guys that are now in position to earn more playing time.
08:53Uh, and some guys have shown that they have an opportunity to do so, but again, everything is assessed thoroughly,
08:58Joe. This is, you know, this isn't a romper room, right?
09:01I mean, everything is, has got to be done a certain way to attain the trust of not only the
09:06staff, but of teammates. So from practice to meetings, to walk through, right?
09:11Then you've got to be on point because at the end of the day, you're being entrusted with, again, the
09:16fortunes of the football team and the game itself. So we, uh, we make sure that all that stuff is
09:21assessed at a high level.
09:22Um, you, you talk, I know you talk about, we got, we, Hey, we'll take the wind. We're, we're never
09:26going to sit and cry about 33, 20 win for sure.
09:30But you said, we got to clean some things up. It's obvious. Can you just share in general, what some
09:34of those things would be for you after now you've reviewed the tapes?
09:38Well, I think if you look at us in the first part of the game, we're executing at a high
09:42level because our level of strain and effort and precision on execution is really, really high.
09:48And some of the attention that goes with the details of, again, the passing game is about right timing, spacing,
09:54and protection.
09:56The, the details and the breakdowns or not the same amount of intensity and effort, or maybe just a flat
10:03out good play by the other side, you know, led to not the same level of performance.
10:08It really is that simple, right? The tape is, uh, the tape doesn't lie. Okay. And all those things that,
10:15that we did well, we got to keep doing well, uh, and finish it in a strong manner.
10:19And you also have to give credit to the opponent, you know, but, uh, again, uh, as a coaching staff,
10:24uh, as a team, we take it all together.
10:27There is no pointy finger that coach a better play a better execute a better and go right back to
10:32work.
10:33Um, the offensive line pass protection, uh, wow. Uh, especially in that first half, did he give you a lot
10:39of different looks in the second half?
10:41Mario? Uh, did they, what, what did they change most defensively?
10:45You know, I think we found ourselves in the second half after the first touchdown drive, we found ourselves in
10:50more during the longs, which are a little bit more difficult.
10:53So some of the stuff that was called, it's difficult to, if they made it more difficult to push the
10:57ball down the field, the ball was checked down.
10:59And sometimes we just, you know, you know, we didn't get to it.
11:01Um, but all in all, I think the tackles, the center, they, they played some really solid ball at guard.
11:07There's some hits and misses.
11:08There's some growing pains that come with some new players in there, but like everything else, every week, we, uh,
11:14increase the level of competition, assess, reload and go to work, but making sure we do whatever is best and
11:20whatever gives the university the best chance to win.
11:22Hey, you know, I haven't had a chance to talk to you.
11:24I got to ask you about the contract with, with Nike.
11:27Uh, I was honestly, I was kind of pumped up.
11:30Uh, kind of like everybody else.
11:32Uh, it's a big contract.
11:34Obviously a lot of that has to do with what you guys have done with this football program for sure.
11:40Uh, what were your thoughts on that one when you got the word on that?
11:43Well, I mean, I think there's going to be a place in time to be able to talk about that.
11:47I'm not quite sure exactly what I can or cannot say.
11:50All right.
11:51In the meantime, I'll defer in the meantime, you know, but, uh, obviously the university of Miami continues to grow
11:56and the brand is insanely strong right now.
11:59Yeah, no question.
12:00So, so you got recruiting.
12:02I know that that business never stops and on the phone call and, and that, and you got your team
12:07obviously is the biggest priority right now.
12:10You have any time as a head coach of the Miami hurricanes to sit back and watch any of the
12:15football games?
12:16Damn, there's good games every week.
12:19Yeah.
12:19Well, when you play on a Friday, we got back, I believe like at four in the morning.
12:24Um, by the time you land, you, you pretty much upgraded the tape.
12:28Um, you get a couple hours of sleep, but then you start, you know, putting together everything necessary for your
12:33team meetings, position meetings, um, meet with the staff as it relates to, you know, everything, assessment of the game.
12:40And now again, um, making all the, um, the decisions and the adjustments to injuries.
12:45And then you start diving into your opponent, but you also have a lot of future opponents playing on TV.
12:51So it's like a lab.
12:52You've got your, all your laptops set up with the different, uh, you know, games that you're watching and assessing
12:58while you want live copies as well.
13:00And, uh, you find yourself watching football as it relates to who you're going to play more than anything.
13:05And as it relates to, you know, offense and defenses that are doing some high level stuff or ideas, you
13:10find yourself just watching ball till midnight, you know?
13:13Well, I got to tell you, it's got to be nice to have a Saturday game at home with central
13:18Michigan coming up, uh, this Saturday.
13:20And, uh, after I get an extra day for you guys and to get everything together and, uh, get set
13:27and ready to go.
13:28Mario, thank you, man.
13:29Really appreciate you coming on this morning, talking a little bit about it.
13:32And, uh, hopefully these guys heal up and, and, uh, we get them back real quickly.
13:38Appreciate you, Joe.
13:39Have a good one, brother.
13:40All right.
13:40Mario Cristobal from the Miami hurricanes joining us.
13:44Wow.
13:45Josh Moore out for the season.
13:51That's a big loss.
13:52Wow.
13:53That was, uh, I got the first, well, first or second slant for a touchdown in the back of the
13:57end zone, six, four, just got ridiculous talent.
14:02And, uh, was, I, I didn't see it.
14:05I, I, I didn't see it either.
14:08They're now, if I, I mean, crushing injuries in these, the sport, the one unit that could probably withstand some,
14:16the, the, the, the, very deep at receiver, but that's a, yeah, he was coming on big.
14:21Yeah.
14:22Wow.
14:23Hey, you got to move on.
14:24That's why you can't be Finn in college football.
14:27Boy, you got, you, you know, when we say, Hey, the, the, the, the young guys, you, you got to
14:32get them ready to go.
14:34I know, you know, transfer portal guys seem to move up the top.
14:37They got experience over guys coming in from high school.
14:40A lot of times, but boy, uh, you, the JJ Dunnigan's of the world and the Mallory's of the world.
14:46And, uh, and more to come now, especially at the wide receiver position.
14:51They got a couple of young, talented wide receivers.
14:53Um, wow.
14:55A couple of nice offense alignment in there too.
14:58Anyway.
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