What is the Biggest Key for Miami’s Defense Against Florida? 🔑Rueben Bain & D-Line vs. Graham Mertz

certainly it's a huge task for the Miami Hurricanes at Florida they've got a lot of work to do to get this win let's talk with about the defense David what do you think is the biggest key for Miami's defense against the Florida offense to get this win yeah I mean look SEC is a line of scrimmage League uh it just looks different at those position groups in that league with the body types and and the talent and so I think you know to beat those SEC type teams you have to win or at least hold Euro at the line of scrimmage so as that relates on the defensive side you know I think Miami's top unit arguably on the team uh the defensive line needs to step up and be impactful and Florida needs to feel uh their talent and presence and I think you know you can Define uh how how a defense wins the line of scrimmage in a lot of ways whether that's stopping the run whether that's tackles for loss UM quarterback pressures or or straightup sacks right um Miami's gota gotta be better than Florida in those areas uh you know more more of those areas than not and look again coming out of Camp I think the feeling internally is is the defensive line is the strength of the team in terms of position groups um you know particularly The Edge guys with Ruben bane of course coming back Kim mesidor uh healthy and looking you know according to you know some of the reports I'm getting from Camp looking better than how he looked in 2022 when he was the best defensive lineman on the team that year uh they've added Tyler Baron in the portal the Tennessee transfer uh he's a 40 pressure guy 65 260 type guy Elijah Austin productive Marshall pass rusher so these are proven Commodities um that have done it at a high level you know in college and you know a lot of these guys too are versatile and and they can kick inside and give you those looks too in obvious passing situations so I think those guys in particular need to show up Miami also brought in some veteran D tackles that you know I think they feel like are going to be consistent guys like Simeon Barrow CJ Clark um you know so I think the defensive line needs to show up you look at last year uh their win over Texas A&M it wasn't necessarily the defensive line that straight up whipped Texas A&M as more of like a collective defensive effort uh but they certainly overwhelmed that Texas A&M offensive line I went back and looked at the numbers and they recorded 37 quarterback pressures in that game as a defense and uh just as a point of reference like 20 is a lot in a game so they were getting after uh Connor Wegman in that game kind of overwhelming that Texas A&M offensive line went back and looked at Alabama right that 2021 game uh you know that was a season opener as well the Crimson Tide had four sacks Miami had just one sack in that game when Miami played Florida in the season opener back in 2019 uh of course Florida had 10 sacks in that disastrous game and Miami had just one so again to to beat these SEC teams I think you have to at least hold your own on the line of scrimmage I would expect Miami to win uh that battle on the line of scrimmage because again Miami does have a lot of talent a lot of proven production there and I do think there's there's still some question marks as it relates to Florida's offensive line particularly on the right side so um and you know one thing I think it also helps with too is assisting your you know question mark Group which is the secondary uh if you have a good pass rush it certainly helps that group uh perform at a higher level as well so I think you know with defense it all ties together it all matters uh but to me you know that defensive line needs to look like the best position group on the team I think with you know I think with what you're you're kind of alluding to and what you're talking about here is it's supposed to be Miami strength so Miami strength needs to be at its best in a game like this not just that it's not just that it's a defensive line because certainly that's always a key and as you mentioned some good points about SEC matchups dline is always important in those ones but this is supposed to be the unit that is going to carry this defense and Ruben Bane is supposed to have a huge year after what we saw last year a lot of excitement and rightfully so how will he perform in this big game you know they need him to have a huge game in this one they need a healthy hem mesidor at his best and I think that's great we'll see how mesidor season goes if he can stay healthy but in this one you know getting him on point and really operating at a high level certainly is big and then kind of being able to move some guys around or or really rush off the edge with with Baron and you touched on Elijah Altin there uh certainly and then up front you know as you mentioned with those two main guys with Clark and and also with with Barrow where are they're going to put uh whether it's mesidor if they're going to move Bane a little bit or whatever they might do I know mesidor has been working there more um that's kind of the option but they can certainly kind of do different things that's what makes it a little bit intriguing but but but I'm with you in that it's certainly a big deal and I think it's because um they are supposed to lead this defense and as you mentioned Florida a little bit of question marks those there seemed like they're still kind of working through some things and trying to identify exactly who they want to go with their top five and where they want to put guys so that will be very important for Miami's defense there's no doubt about it with the defensive line and and Ruben Bane a perfect opportunity a spotlight game for him to to Really shine and have a huge performance in this one yes and you know those are your stars and uh you know I think Miami just philosophically wants to build From The Trenches out right and so um you know they went out and got those transfer players uh to really beef up that group they last recruiting cycle they uh signed you know arguably the best defensive line class in the country I don't know how many of those guys we're necessarily going to see against Florida but they of waiting in the wings and they're going to be that next wave for the future so uh this is kind of Mario chrystall's identity his bread and butter win the trenches and uh I think he would love to do it against an SEC team on the road you know and for me and I thought about the defensive line because of things I said look it's got to be a strength so let's see it be a strength in this one and the BigTime players need to step up you know and have good games th those are the ones that are supposed to lead you and and certainly they believe in in their defensive line but for me I think it is a secondary I I think for me for Miami to win this game they've got to be on point and I worry even though I know a lot of talk with with graham Merz and the the Florida passing attack and when you look at the numbers they're you know they're known for not going down field or or maybe that's a lot of underneath stuff and at times it was right based on the the numbers and when you kind of watch them but I think that's why it's important I hope Miami doesn't necessarily fall into that completely and think that they don't have to that these guys are not threats or mer isn't a threat to throw the ball you know with Badger now in there they've got speed as well with with with their guys that they have you know Eugene can have a bigger role than he had even last year you know I I just think that they've got guys and I know they're excited about Melle you know and I think that they've got guys that can make plays and I think the secondary has to really avoid allowing big plays because of the momentum uh that that can kind of create in a big game like this and I have major question marks with the secondary I think when we talk David you you know you're not saying it's a strength by any means but for me I just think that they they really have a lot to prove you know and I understand the the other day I saw a comment about last year's safeties for example with kitchens and and James Williams maybe they weren't perfect but I still think that they they were quality players and I think they're better than what they have now and I think these guys have a lot to prove I think Jaden Harris is going to be a prime time Spotlight to to be an impact player to make plays and not have these bust and we'll see how Mech does and certainly kind of leading the back at safety and then the corners you know you got to guard without getting pass interference calls and holding calls back there so I I think to me that they've got to be really on point even though you know Florida can still run the ball and that'll kind of be their identity you're kind of expecting even uh regardless of who's in or out of the lineup I just think they've got to really avoid those big plays given up and I do think Florida can be a threat there even though that not might not be what everyone's quite thinking right now and look even if we're talking about you know short passing game or quick game especially as it relates to to Trey Wilson right um a big key in game On's uh is tackling in space and so that's where the secondary is also gonna have to show up and do a good job to me in particular because look I I do think that's kind of who what their identity is now Florida is going to take some shots and and of course you got to handle those moments but really they're going to I think they're going to try and test you in space and so you got to get the guy on the ground um in space and and you know a guy like Trey Wilson is very Dynamic and he can hurt you if you know that first tackler misses and you know we saw that in the week zero games uh the better tackling teams in general won those games and so uh you know as you know Chris they don't really nowadays in college football They Don't Really tackle at all in Camp I think it's like an NCA rule where you can only do it like twice in a camp and so it is kind of an uneasy thing for all coaches going into game one because the only way you can really uh get good at tackling is tackling and they really haven't been doing it much in Camp so to me that's another area to watch uh just the in space aspect you know beyond just defending the Deep ball which is definitely something to keep an eye on because look we know what darl Porter is he's uh he's steady and he's reliable and uh but outside of him you know we'll see I know they're high on M pal uh who's a Washington transfer uh experienced guy mainly played in the slot uh during his career at Washington played as an outside corner too um but now he's playing safety they are excited about him they like what he's shown in Camp but we'll see how it looks when the lights are on and then like you're alluding to Jaden Harris we don't know um so we'll find out what he's about and then the other guy you know there there is a competition I think between Jadis Richard and a true freshman and OJ frederiek how do they handle that like what direction do they go with first as a coaching staff and uh how do those guys perform when they are tested because Florida should go after whoever is out there at that quarterback spot so it's definitely the mark spot on the team it's glaring uh we'll find out whether or not those concerns are warranted um because it's always just based on performance and at the end of the day uh your performance doesn't lie and it's not just the the Florida passing game I mean there's just different ways that they can attack you and I I keep looking at this number you know last year 72.3% they completed their passes again different it varied on on different lengths but that's second nationally and just that philosophy you're bringing back Merz again he's a guy that to me has kind of improved steadily I I remember watch them at the high school level and kind of seeing how things have gone and again when I when I talk about the secondary that can really give a lot of confidence when when you have some bricks back there you can give a lot of confidence to either the quarterback or the the uh the receivers whatever it might be and really juice up the crowd with those passes so that will be the big thing I'm watching uh and again as you touched on earlier defensive line can certainly help uh alleviate some of that if they can really pressure a lot then you know you don't have as much pressure on the secondary any final thoughts David defensively we haven't touched on linebackers we're kind of we kind of went back and forth we secondary dine any thoughts here as we wrap this up I mean look linebacker uh again I point to tackling I think you feel good about it as it relates to Kiko Maui NOA I think he's a consistent veteran proven production there you know Wesley Bain needs to Step Up needs to take that next step this year this is year three for him um you know I think everyone's encouraged by how he's performed in Camp but you got to go do it in games um and yeah as you as you were touching on Chris uh grah Merz uh I think it was like only six turnover worthy plays last year according to Pro Football Focus so he is a guy that keeps the ball out of Harm's Way and yes while he's not the most aggressive guy uh that can also be frustrating for a def defense to defend because he's just paper cutting you to death uh down the field so you got to uh you got to be consistent and uh play the next play because most likely Florida style is going to be putting together long sustained drives that wear you down both physically and mentally so and you know look of course the Run game is going to be interesting as it relates to Montreal Johnson and is he going to be healthy or not or if he is healthy what does his workload look like and how do the backup running backs look to me particularly in pass protection right so uh there's definitely a lot of interesting storylines uh with this offense defense matchup definitely is thanks everybody for watching drop in the comments Bel below let us know what you think is the biggest key for Miami's defense to win the game against Florida e