Mario Cristobal believes turnovers are the key area of improvement for Miami

Going into Year 3 under head coach Mario Cristobal, the Miami Hurricanes are hoping to take a leap forward. To do that, they’ll need to improve in several key areas, including turnovers.

While speaking to Greg McElroy on an episode of Always College Football, Cristobal addressed the turnover issues Miami has had. Notably, he believes that they’re a key area to improve on for the entire team in 2024.

“It was probably the number one area that requires improvement and that overlapped, a little bit, with our redzone issues as well,” Mario Cristobal said. “We had some really good success early on and then we had our struggles as the season went on.”

Miami did see some improvement from Year 1 under Cristobal in terms of turnovers, having turned the ball over 25 times in 2022 and 22 times in 2023. Still, the Hurricanes were just 108th in the country in turnovers lost with that number. With that, Miami had a 12-13 record over Cristobal’s first two seasons.

Now, Mario Cristobal believes consistency is going to be a key for the Hurricanes as they try to improve in 2024.

“So, you look at from a turnover, a penalty standpoint, a redzone standpoint, and then third downs — we were hot and cold. Okay? But if those four things could launch us into a top-10 operation, offensively and defensively,” Cristobal said. “So, from a turnover standpoint, you know how it is, man, you have to have guys that you can trust to get it done but you’ve got to work them into the mentality that they can be trusted, but there is nothing more important than the ball.”

Recognizing the value in figuring out the turnover issue at Miami, Mario Cristobal explained how the team has been practicing to improve.

“We’ve done that and there’s countless ways. You’ve been drilling since you’ve been a kid and playing football, and then you’ve just got to get it done. You’ve got to present challenging situations, put them in it, and see if they can do it. Sometimes, you’ve got to find out in the game and if they can,” Cristobal said.

“We feel really good about the progress we’ve made there in the offseason. Now it’s got to show up on gameday.”

Mario Cristobal on getting Miami back on top

Miami is one of college football’s proudest programs. That’s something Mario Cristobal knows well, having played there. Now, amid the program’s struggles, Cristobal emphasized that he feels obligated to return the program to the top of college football.

“Well, again, I was spoiled. I was here during those years,” Cristobal said.

“All the things you mentioned is the reason why I came back. Part of it is, of course, it has been a lifelong dream but it’s also my obligation. You know, having played here, having gone away and learned under the very best, been able to apply that and get some great results? It’s my obligation and one that I really have always wanted and looked forward to to make sure that Miami establishes those standards and that culture.”