How Miami has set itself up for more success in 2023

Miami had a disappointing first season under head coach Mario Cristobal. On3’s JD PicKell doesn’t expect that to be the case in Year 2.

PicKell recently spoke on The Hard Count about why he expects the Hurricanes to be much improved in 2023 after going 5-7 last season.

“Wasn’t great last year, but the good news for Miami fans is Mario Cristobal does not endorse what happened last year. It was a Year 1, ‘Let’s get this thing rolling.’ But there was also high expectations with Tyler Van Dyke being your quarterback last year and it just did not pan out offensively. So where do we start with Miami? Personally, I feel like you have a way better set up than you did a season ago.

Year 1 was a lot of growing pains. And you kind of have got to get the bad out to build for the good. When I look at Miami, this roster is just so much better, especially on the offensive line.”

The Hurricanes rebuilt their offensive line this offseason, signing talented players and bringing in difference makers out of the transfer portal.

PicKell believes that will pay off and the Miami offense will be much improved.

“[Five-star freshman] Francis Mauigoa is probably going to start for them at tackle. [Alabama transfer] Javion Cohen, [UCF transfer] Matt Lee, two adds through the transfer portal that are probably going to be NFL guys. You got better on the offensive line,” PicKell said. “Personnel wise you’re way better. You feel way better about what’s going to happen this coming season. And also your culture. I mean culture is kind of a cliché thing to talk about, but it’s cliché for a reason because it’s real.”

Speaking of culture, PicKell also believes Miami will have a much better culture in 2023 now that Cristobal has had a year to run the program the way he wants to.

“The way that I look at it, last year for Miami, they were just not strong in the muscles as a team that you need to be strong in. And when I say that I mean roster and I mean discipline. And you look at last year, and it’s unfortunate how it all shook out for Miami. But the good news is you get to set the reset button offensively and get a new scheme in there. But the muscles that you’re building, you had to get sore before you could start to grow,” PicKell said.

“Those muscles are going to start to grow at Miami in my opinion. The culture wasn’t great, evidently. Look at what they did on the field last year. The culture, I don’t believe, was good enough a season ago. The roster wasn’t good enough a season ago. So what do you do? You hit the portal. You develop a new offense. You bring in a new OC. And you keep hammering away at your culture to get that soreness to turn to muscle. So I’m excited for Miami.”