Mario Cristobal Monday Morning take with first shoulder pads practice ahead: "You have to practice and train like a physical team"

Miami Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal’s team enters its third practice on Monday. And before drills kicked off early this morning, he shared his thoughts on a variety of subjects.

Including the competition on the practice field.

“It’s 1, 2s and 3s and rotate every unit,” Cristobal said on 560 AM. “You know what that generates, competition. Guys get on edge and stay on edge, and we need to play with an edge.

“Great teams do that, welcome that aspect. They don’t see it as a threat. They know there’s no way to be at your best without competition. They understand that.”

Miami will have its first practice of the fall in shells this morning, and CaneSport will be there to bring you video and news of the day’s work.

“You have to practice and train like a physical team.”

Cristobal spoke about several players and his thoughts on them:

* Of TreVonte’ Citizen, a freshman running back arrival, Cristobal said, “A big powerful guy that can go 0 to 60 in a hurry. Great vision. He’s learning the system. It happens really fast. He’s learning. Credit to the entire backfield, they are grinding and (Kevin Smith) is putting on them. God help you if you go the wrong way on a particular protection. He understands that is as important as pounding out yards on the ground.

Cristobal said he anticipates carries will be spread around at the running back spot under Josh Gattis.

* At wide receiver, who might step up? Cristobal didn’t point to anyone in particular, saying “Looking to challenge this group and challenge them hard. There is some progress and we need to see more.

* With 12 transfer portal arrivals and his thoughts on that group, Cristobal said, “The biggest thing is the culture – the expectation is they are older, but it’s still a different culture and it’s a full throttle culture. Foot on the gas and we don’t come off of it. It’s them adapting to that and us as an organization (embracing them).”

* Cristobal also said every position group player is held accountable for what they put on tape.

“We have a team meeting (in the morning) so we clearly understand if we want to be a physical team we have to play like a physical team,” Cristobal said. “Your mood has nothing to do with our goals. In terms of setting the tone it has to be shown and demonstrated and done on a daily. Every ounce of film is dissected in front of the team, the unit, so everyone knows who is real.”

“It’s 1, 2s and 3s and rotate every unit. You know what that generates, competition. Guys get on edge and stay on edge, and we need to play with an edge.

Mario Cristobal

The Miami coach also spoke more about not giving out legendary No. 26 this season with one player asking for it.

 “You better be a dude (to get that number),” Cristobal said. “We want to create high standards and (remove) any sense of entitlement.”

The bottom line on what Cristobal wants to see this fall camp with UM coaches last seeing them in the spring for practices?

“If a guy has a great spring and is reading too many articles, hearing too many good things and comes out in the summer and it looks different, well it’s going to end up different for them,” Cristobal said. “We want to have a clear understanding that nothing but their very best is going to be good enough.”

* In recruiting, UM already has a top 10 class, and Cristobal says “to create a championship program you have to bring in multiple classes of that caliber, elite (classes).

“We have to stack up talent. We are off to a really good start. The momentum is real. We don’t see it slowing down anytime soon, and it is only August. Let’s make sure these aren’t dinner reservations at the local restaurant, let’s make sure they are commitments.”

-Cristobal also said he could feel the passion of the Miami fans at CanesFest on Saturday. He said in the future it will be “bigger and better” with such a huge turnout.

-Photos of the new locker room were unveiled yesterday.

“We are building an entirely new facility,” Cristobal said. “This is part of that. We are extremely grateful.”

The *new* Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Locker Room 👀👀🔥🔥🔥@TheRock 🙌 pic.twitter.com/13aVOxcBC2

— Canes Football (@CanesFootball) August 7, 2022