- 11 minutes ago
Locked On Canes host Alex Donno joins The Joe Rose Show to discuss Darian Mensah's record-setting 24-for-24 passing start and how he compares to Carson Beck and Cam Ward. Plus, Donno breaks down Miami Hurricanes injury updates on Malachi Toney and Mark Fletcher Jr., the emergence of Javian Mallory, and what to expect against Central Michigan.
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00:00All right, Joe, let's head back out to the Toyota of Hollywood online shop.
00:03Over 2,000 Toyotas on sale, one location, Toyota of Hollywood on 441.
00:06We tune in Hollywood and share it in toyotafhollywood.com.
00:09All right, Woody, we got your partner on the pregame show for the University of Miami football games
00:14and, of course, does a great job.
00:16If you're not following that host of Locked on Canes podcast, you're making a mistake
00:20because Alex Donald's really good at what he does, and he joins us this morning
00:24because we need to talk, coming off all the serious injuries, my God,
00:30we found out a couple of days ago, as we say good morning to Alex,
00:33Alex kind of crazy, a couple of key guys and a couple of other guys banged up.
00:40I wonder, we always try to figure out Mario right up until game time
00:45and who might play and who might not.
00:46You expect Malachi to play in this game, or is this a game you say no?
00:52I feel like it's hard to keep Malachi Tony from playing.
00:56That's my thought heading into this one, that even the fact that he was banged up
01:01in that Wake Forest game and he was on a snap count, but he still played some.
01:07He was trying to play key downs and stuff.
01:09So I expect Malachi Tony to probably, and this is just my opinion, of course,
01:14I expect him to probably start this game and maybe not play the full amount of offensive snaps.
01:20I would probably prefer not to see Malachi returning punts this week,
01:24but it's going to be, Joe, especially hard to figure that stuff out this week
01:29because the Miami fans notice some weeks you get the availability reports,
01:33which are essentially injury reports, but that's only for ACC games.
01:37So with this being Central Michigan, non-conference,
01:41Mario does not have to put out a Tuesday night availability,
01:45which would have come out last night, a Wednesday and a Thursday night.
01:48So we're really going to go into this thing on Saturday having no idea what the status is
01:54of the banged up guys like Tony, like Mark Fletcher, and Ahmaud Moten.
01:59Yeah, hey, I want to ask you about some positions where you're not shorthanded.
02:03That's not the right word, but you're going to have to play some guys that haven't done much,
02:08don't have a lot of experience right now at some different positions.
02:13I'll start at the wide receiver position since we're talking about Malachi.
02:17Josh Moore's out for the season.
02:18My God, I had no idea watching on TV from California.
02:24So they got some guys.
02:25We've talked about the talent, but there hasn't been a lot of football stoned to everybody else on this team.
02:31So who do you expect?
02:33As they get into this, they're going to start, it makes sense,
02:36they're going to try to start taking Malachi out of these games a little bit
02:39and not let him go off for all these huge games he's having.
02:43Who are the next couple of guys besides Barkate that have that chance?
02:48Samorian Wingo, true freshman, is someone that I can see getting an increased workload here.
02:54He seems to have proven himself in the limited reps that he's played so far this season.
02:58Joe has looked pretty reliable.
03:00He's going to continue to come along, and he's a bigger receiver.
03:04So he's not quite as big as Josh Moore, who's out for the year,
03:08but he gives you that similar size profile.
03:10So I could see Wingo getting an increased workload.
03:13But really, probably the first guy, to be fair, would be Dalen Upshaw.
03:18I think his workload is really going to increase because throughout the offseason with Upshaw,
03:23it was a really close competition between he and Josh Moore,
03:26between who the third starter was going to be after Tony and Barkate.
03:31And then on Cooper Barkate, who's obviously been starting these games,
03:35I would really like to see him hit his stride and to get more receptions and more targets.
03:42You know, hearing Shannon Dawson, the offensive coordinator, speak on Monday,
03:45it sounds like there were like a couple of big plays to be had,
03:48and maybe his route running on certain instances just wasn't like precise enough.
03:53And that's something he's going to continue to work on, Barkate.
03:56And I'm sure it's a small adjustment because he's such a veteran,
03:59and he had 1,100 receiving yards last year.
04:02But I want to see more of a rhythm between Darian Ments and Cooper Barkate.
04:07So running back, Fletch, we don't know about Fletch.
04:10But listen, if Fletch is a physical player and if he's not 100%, you know,
04:15this might be a game he doesn't get as much work.
04:19So now you're out without your top two guys.
04:22Who steps up next, and do you see a guy from St. Thomas Aquinas, a running back,
04:27maybe coming back into the mix here with Mallory?
04:31Yeah, well, let's start with that former St. Thomas Aquinas running back
04:35because it sounds as though his, what Mario Cristobal referred to as a suspension,
04:40you know, he was arrested during the offseason for reckless driving,
04:43but it sounds like he's now moved past that suspension.
04:47So you have to wonder if Jordan Lyle could be making his season debut this week.
04:53And, like, the timing couldn't be better, you know,
04:55with the unfortunate Marty Brown being out for the year.
04:59I feel terrible for him because that looked like a very significant leg injury,
05:03knee injury that he suffered.
05:04And like you said, Mark Fletcher could be limited this week.
05:07So this seems like the time to start getting Jordan Lyle involved.
05:11But then the other one you mentioned, JV and Mallory, the true freshman, Joe,
05:15I mean, he's been one of the best stories of the season so far.
05:18And I don't always love these comparisons,
05:21but so many people have been texting me and tweeting me referring to Mallory
05:26as Frank Gore 2.0.
05:28Calm down, homies.
05:30Yeah, let's all calm down.
05:31But I've seen that a lot, Joe.
05:34That was freakish.
05:35That was – he'd come in for a second half of a blowout
05:39and go for 80 yards and about a nine-yard average.
05:42I got you.
05:43Yeah.
05:44And then, of course, you know, the other one being Gerard Pringle,
05:46who's also had some really positive moments so far this year.
05:50So, again, it's really hard to predict how much Mark Fletcher's going to play this week
05:54with him getting banged up last week.
05:56But, you know, those other three names that I mentioned,
05:59and hopefully Jordan Lyle is able to get some reps this week,
06:03I think can definitely carry the load against Central Michigan.
06:06Dono, help me out on the guard thing.
06:08One thing, guard plays not where it needs to be.
06:12I've heard a lot of people, especially left guard,
06:16and we got all these young guys that, hey, there's been a lot of NIL money
06:20and they were top guys coming out and they're not playing, not much.
06:26So, could there be a change this week?
06:28If there's going to be a change this week to do it with Clemson on deck?
06:33Yeah, I would like to see more work for the freshmen this week.
06:38You know, I noticed the snap counts last week against Wake Forest.
06:42It was a conference game on the road and the game, you know,
06:44got closer in the second half than we expected.
06:47So, the starting five last week played almost 100% of the snaps.
06:53It was like 70 snaps.
06:55Jackson Cantwell only played two snaps off the bench because it was, you know,
06:58it was a tense game, road conference game.
07:01I would love to see a lot more reps this week for the likes of Jackson Cantwell
07:05and Ben Congdon because the reps were more even the first couple of games.
07:09And I think just the opportunity to get these guys, especially Cantwell,
07:12who's, you know, physically very mature.
07:14I know technique, he's still working on stuff as a true freshman.
07:17But to get these guys more ready to potentially take on bigger roles late in the year
07:22because, yeah, I think, you know, Coach Cristobal was one of the first to say that,
07:26you know, after this past Friday night's game that he really loved the tackle
07:32and the center play, but that the guard play was up and down.
07:35And I think that probably shows up on film, right, that there have been some struggles
07:39there with the starters.
07:40And I don't necessarily think it's a strength thing.
07:44There is some physicality that seems to be lacking.
07:46I'm sure there's some technique that goes to that as well.
07:49So I just, you know, I want to see this group continue to come together and improve.
07:54I know Alex Mirabal works really hard with them, Joe.
07:57But to your original question, I would like to see more work this week for the freshman.
08:02All right.
08:03So we lose Frederick and Lucas to, you know, two of our best corners and really good players.
08:08And Lucas hopefully will be back soon.
08:13O'Connor and Brown have done a nice job.
08:16I had no problem.
08:16Both of them, O'Connor makes a great interception at the end of the game to close it, a clutch
08:20play.
08:22I feel like we're a little shorthanded on cover guys, though, after that.
08:25And unfortunately, the play zone, the safeties have not, the coverage hasn't been good.
08:30Linebackers have not covered well one-on-one.
08:32We saw it on some plays where guys are wide open.
08:36Who's the next cover corner that we could be looking at that we can trust or more importantly
08:41that Heatherman trust?
08:43Well, I mean, one of those is Bryce Fitzgerald, who is capable of playing every position in
08:49that defensive secondary.
08:51And, you know, the true freshman all-ACC safety from last year has been deputized at corner
08:58and working hard at that spot.
09:00I'm also, I'm encouraged, Joe, with what we've seen kind of early on this year from Camden
09:06Portis, you know, the son of Miami Hurricanes legend Clinton Portis.
09:09Again, it's one of those things, he's a true freshman, so I'm sure there's more consistency
09:14being created and he's still got to continue to earn that trust from his coaches.
09:18But I think he's getting there.
09:20And then also when you talk about the guys who are injured long-term, like I'm hoping
09:24we're just a couple weeks away from getting Xavier Lucas back.
09:27And probably the same thing for Jabory Antoine, who shouldn't be out for too much longer.
09:32Because he's another one that really, he was a true freshman last year who increased his
09:37playing time throughout the season into the postseason, really earned his coach's trust
09:41so we could use him back as well.
09:43But, you know, in the meantime, you know, Camden Portis, I think, has been someone to look
09:47at that is going to continue to rise.
09:49Hey, one guy that, boy, ended up having a hell of a game, J.J.
09:54Dunnigan coming up with some of the blitzes.
09:57Even though he didn't get there in all of them, the fact is the quarterback felt his
10:01presence and made some bad throws.
10:03And that's part of it.
10:04It's not just always getting a sack or hitting a guy, but being there.
10:08He's kind of become the lead guy in this freshman class for me.
10:12I mean, he's outstanding.
10:13And there's been a few on-the-job trainings for him, a couple missed tackles and stuff.
10:18But, I mean, that's a lot of guys missed tackles last week, Joe.
10:21Miami had 15 missed tackles.
10:23That's something they have to clean up.
10:24But, I mean, J.J. Dunnigan, he's been stellar, Joe.
10:27I mean, I mentioned on offense that JV and Mallory has been one of the stories of the
10:31season so far.
10:32J.J. Dunnigan even more so.
10:34I mean, this young man, he's so – the football IQ is so high, like, positionally.
10:40They really trust him, and he's got the physicality to go with that.
10:43I mean, he's led this team in tackles now multiple times.
10:47And, Joe, to already see him playing – and I know it's not the toughest competition
10:51Miami's going to face all season, although Wake Forest was pretty good.
10:54But it's going to get harder throughout the year.
10:56But to already see just how well he's playing three games into his career, you can only
11:02imagine how good J.J. is going to be by November, let's say.
11:06Because for a lot of freshmen, it takes a little bit longer.
11:09But he's been incredible.
11:10You know, it's been interesting here.
11:12We talk quarterbacks all the time, and I could have started this conversation with Mensah,
11:1724 for 24 to start the game.
11:20And I think he's got a chance.
11:22Woody said this to me off the air.
11:23We were talking, and he goes, I think when it's said and done, we're going to look at Mensah
11:27as a better quarterback than Carson Beck from last year.
11:30And I thought about it, and, yeah, obviously he's going to have a chance.
11:37Not a big runner, but when he's got time, he's been really super accurate.
11:43Yeah, and I think that's one of the things that is going to separate him from Beck.
11:47And I think this is even more important in a college offense, is that ability for him
11:52to run a little bit more.
11:55Now, Beck had one of the best runs of the season last year, that touchdown against Ole Miss.
11:59But that wasn't his bag.
12:01That wasn't a usual thing for him.
12:03Darian Mensah can do more of that.
12:05But it's mostly his ability to extend plays, Joe, which is really valuable.
12:09And when he extends plays, to be able to find a receiver deep down the field.
12:13You know, Carson did not attack deep as much last season.
12:17That's a little bit more in Darian Mensah's DNA.
12:20And Mensah also, as Carson Beck did, does a really good job seeing the entire field,
12:25going through his progression.
12:27So, you know, I said it before the season, and I'll keep saying it.
12:30I think Darian Mensah is like the perfect prototype of a quarterback for a Shannon Dawson offense.
12:36I think he checks off every single box there.
12:39And, you know, there was a lot of shorter stuff last week compared to the first couple of games.
12:44But still, starting 24 for 24, it's unheard of.
12:48And there was a really good comment made by the Central Michigan head coach, Matt Drinkle,
12:53in his press conference who said, like, man, if I took my offensive coordinator out to the parking lot
12:59and we play catch, we don't think we could go 24 for 24 just playing catch with each other,
13:04which is, I mean, that's very, very difficult to do.
13:07And Mensah, in doing that last week, set not only a Miami Hurricanes program record
13:12of consecutive completions, but also set the ACC record.
13:15And I think we're going to continue to see various records set by Mensah this year.
13:20And, yeah, I think he could end up being even more impactful than Carson Beck was last year,
13:25with all due respect.
13:26And I think you could also put even Cam Ward from two years ago in that conversation as well.
13:32Wow. Okay. Well, let's talk about the getting ready for this game.
13:38And I know they're heavy favorites to beat Central Michigan.
13:40But I remember in the old days when they had to play against Georgia Tech and Paul Johnson,
13:45and the coaching staff used to tell me, we've got to switch everything for this frigging triple option.
13:51The athletic quarterback starts one way, comes back.
13:54We've got him tackled. He flips it.
13:56We tell the guys, you've got to go out with that guy.
13:58So now he fakes it, and he keeps the ball.
14:01Boy, you talk about fundamental.
14:03Stay home.
14:04Whatever your job is, don't get carried away and try to make the big hit
14:08because you think and get out of your lane or we're going to be screwed.
14:11Are you worried about that at all this week or not really because they're such big favorites?
14:16Yeah, I don't know.
14:17I mean, I know that Corey Heatherman is aware of everything you said.
14:21You know, he was making some comments about the Wake Forest game
14:24that I also think was foreshadowing for this week when he mentioned.
14:27I mentioned 15 missed tackles last week,
14:29and Heatherman was really talking about everyone needing to play assignment football,
14:34like what you were just saying, play in the context of the defense
14:38and don't try to sell out for the big hit.
14:40And he was reflecting on Wake Forest,
14:42but I think he was also looking ahead to Central Michigan.
14:45I think what to me is manageable about this,
14:48of course there's a talent gap, right?
14:50Miami players are not the same as Central Michigan players,
14:54but the other part of it, Joe, is Central Michigan is so one-dimensional.
14:59Three games into the season, they have a total,
15:02this is not a stat for one quarter or one half,
15:05a total of 138 passing yards in three games.
15:09So they do just one thing.
15:12Now there's different wrinkles with that one thing that they do, Joe.
15:14It's not like it's just, you know, dive play every handoff or anything.
15:18There's a lot of different looks they give you running the football.
15:21But, you know, Corey Heatherman's philosophy is to always stop the run
15:25and make the opponent one-dimensional.
15:27And if Miami is able to have any modicum of success stopping the run
15:30and you force Central Michigan, who uses three different quarterbacks,
15:34which is also a little unusual these days,
15:37if you force them to have to become drop-back passers,
15:40it's not going to go well for them.
15:42So I know Heatherman's going to have his guys prepared.
15:44Yeah, that's not their thing to drop back and throw it 40 times.
15:48Alex, thank you, bud.
15:49Appreciate it, man.
15:50We hit it pretty good.
15:52Thank you for coming on with us.
15:53We always like having you, buddy.
15:56Thanks, Joe.
15:56Thanks, Hollywood.
15:57Hollywood, I'll see you Saturday.
15:58Yeah, well, we'll see.
15:59And you guys hang out.
16:00We'll get you some good coffee in here.
16:02Alex Donnell, host of Locked on Canes podcast, joining us.
16:05And South Florida Chevy dealers joining us every day
16:07because they're a big part of our community.