Cristobal after Thurs. practice: Zion Nelson questionable for Game 1, Chaney expected back at some point in season

Game 1 is a week from Saturday, and after the team’s Thursday practice coach Mario Cristobal shared more insight onto how he views his inaugural Miami Hurricanes team.

“We now shift, start working on opponent No. 1,” Cristobal said. “The expectation is how you do anything is how you do everything. We abide by those principles, values.

“Camp was successful – our way of doing things (was implemented) in every aspect. Ways we signal, communicate on the field, way we are able to make adjustments. We’re getting better. All in all, improvement and still have a ways to go.”

Today’s practice was what Cristobal called a “mental sweat day” including a lot of special teams work. There also was some Game 1 prep.

“Part of it was corrections,” Cristobal said. “We installed everything on both sides of the ball – when you do a lot against a lot, your plays aren’t going to be perfect but you can work on solutions. We went a fair amount of time today on those corrections.”

An issue for this team: Drops from the receiving corps this fall. Cristobal said “there is improvement, but still too inconsistent” in that area.

“We see progress, inconsistencies,” he said. “I see a defense that’s getting better, guys that have really improved their techniques in coverage. The windows are certainly tighter with the length and size and speed in the secondary.

“We expect both sides to come up with the play.”

Cristobal also said it’s been “a wide open camp” to allow competition to determine who will get reps.

“We have a little bit of a deepr talent pool at some positions, not all,” he said. “It’s created that urgency where `I have to be at my best every day.’ Others aren’t that deep.”

One position that’s not so deep: Running backs, which lost TreVonte’ Ciutizen for the season and Don Chaney for the foreseeable future.

And Knighton has been limited.

“He returned to practice, got nicked up a little bit, nothing major,” Cristobal said of Knighton. “We’ll see him in the game.”

Cristobal said he expects Chaney back at some point but that “He will miss some time.”

On the offensive line, UM is still awaiting the return of starting LT Zion Nelson? He hasn’t gone through a full practice yet off cleanup surgery.

“He’s getting closer, can’t guarantee he’ll be ready for game 1,” Cristobal said. “We’ll know more probably Wednesday. If you had to run a full practice (with him) you’d probably feel good about that. If you had to play a game it’s pretty close, and we hedge on the side of safety.”

On the other side of the line there’s a lot of competition for reps, and it’s expected six to eight D linemen will be rotated into games.

“If you’re not at your best you’re at risk of losing reps,” Cristobal said. “Everyone has a goal to play in the NFL one day, and the competition there is kind of real. … So they’ve got to get used to that competition. We’ve seen tremendous battles going on, want to see more consistency inside.

“Darrell Jackson is probably the most consistent one just knocking people back and playing with pad level, discipline, effort.”

As for the plan this weekend?

Cristobal said there will be pregame work done identical to what it’ll be on Saturday’s game day.

The bottom line as Cristobal continues to build this program?

If we want to be really good we have to get there from a recruiting standpoint, talent development standpoint,” he said.

*Asked about Al Blades at safety, Cristobal said, “He’s done a great job. Call it like it is, that’s the way it should be. Al Blades has done a great job at playing just about everything and on special teams as well. We find ourselves now in a position we can play a good number of guys back there that can play winning football. He’s been really good off the field as well as a leader in the weight room. All of them back there are playing well. … I think he’s going o be a great player.”

* Cristobal also was asked to weigh in on the progress of freshman DL Nyjalik Kelly.

“He looks like a power forward on an elite basketball team,” Cristobal said. “Length, explosiveness, suddenness. His foot and body quickness is elite. He’s very heavy-handed with light feet. And he’s got some very unique elite recoverability. He’s learning the system, and as he learns it more and more and more he’s going to be an elite player.”