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The head coach of Miami Hurricanes football joins to discuss the shellacking of Central Michigan and look ahead to facing Clemson
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00:01It is time to head out to the Toyota of Hollywood Hotline Shop, over 2,000 Toyotas on sale, one
00:06location, Toyota of Hollywood on 441 with you in Hollywood and Sheridan, ToyotaofHollywood.com, Joe.
00:11All right, Woody, always great talking to the head coach after a nice win where everybody gets to play, a
00:18nice 52-3 win against Central Michigan, now getting set for Clemson, going back to ACC play, Mario Cristobal, the
00:25head coach of the Miami Hurricane, joins us this morning.
00:27Coach, good morning, how you doing?
00:30Good morning, Joe.
00:30Appreciate you having me.
00:31No, thank you.
00:32Thanks for coming on.
00:34And I got to tell you, I think it's great.
00:36You got some guys banged up.
00:37You give them some time off.
00:40And a lot more guys get to play, especially in the second half.
00:43But actually, some rotated in the first half.
00:46Always wonder.
00:47And it looked like a lot of guys had some success.
00:49I just think the experience really, really helps you in the advancement of this young team.
00:55No, without a doubt.
00:56You know, after the first series, really on both sides of the ball, we got our cleats in the ground
01:00and started playing good football.
01:03You know, and rotated a lot of guys in there, like you mentioned.
01:06And just, you know, cut it loose, man.
01:09Cut it loose and had some success.
01:11And certainly, you know, got better at a bunch of stuff.
01:13And also, again, a lot of areas we have to continue to get better at.
01:16But 1-0 and on to the next one.
01:18Yeah, hey, I want to ask you, first of all, Malachi catch.
01:22Everybody's talking.
01:23It's a catch, by the way, that he got called for pass interference, which nobody got to see that part.
01:29But what a catch in the back.
01:31Yeah.
01:32He does something every game, man.
01:34It's crazy.
01:35Reminded me of a young Joe Rose.
01:37Yeah.
01:39I don't know.
01:40I know.
01:41That was sick.
01:42I mean, when you got everybody talking after the game about a catch and it didn't count for a touchdown.
01:48I know you've seen about everything and everybody talks.
01:52You know what's amazing about him, besides everything we talk about?
01:54He never drops the ball in the middle of the field.
01:57And he's always blocking somebody and pissing some defensive back off.
02:02Yeah, I don't think he gets enough credit for his blocking.
02:06I think he not only is one of the best blockers on the team, he's one of the best in
02:10college football, period.
02:11You know, he sticks his face in there, runs his feet through contact, hands inside, understands half position, leverage,
02:17blocking low to high with a flat back.
02:20Excellent blocker.
02:21You know, the other thing, JV on Mallory is getting a lot more confident running.
02:27He runs strong.
02:28He runs like he's about 230 pounds anyway.
02:30But his strength and he just looks like a different guy from his first couple of carries when this season
02:37started.
02:37Do you see it with him?
02:39Yeah, strong runner.
02:40Great contact balance.
02:42He's really honed up his protection.
02:43And he's really physical in protection as well.
02:45He's seen some of the internals and corner fires people have brought.
02:49He's really stuck his face in there and knocked people back.
02:51And he's been a really good lead blocker also.
02:53He gets better and better.
02:55And again, when he's touched the ball, he's made the most of his opportunities.
02:59Coach, you always talk about competition week to week.
03:02More, just as much as anybody I can ever remember.
03:04And I do want to ask you, with the guard position, a lot of guys got to play.
03:09Is that going to be a rotating thing?
03:12First of all, Congdon, I know everybody noticed Congdon got in there early at left guard.
03:17How did he play overall?
03:18I was just curious.
03:20Did a good job.
03:21I think all the guards that we have, we played at least for them with the starting rotation and another
03:27couple towards the end, I believe.
03:29And they all improved.
03:30They all showed signs that they can play winning football for us.
03:34And we played some guys to tackle as well.
03:36And those guys showed signs as well.
03:38So, I tell you, we're going to do one thing, Joe.
03:40We're going to do whatever gives Miami the best chance to win football games.
03:43So, every single week, we're going to crank that thing up and put the best guys on the field.
03:47Yeah, no question.
03:48And I think everybody understands with you, it's not a popularity contest.
03:53It's about who gives you the best chance to win.
03:56I want to ask you about left tackle.
03:57Well, Jackson Cantwell, do you feel like at this point, now that you've seen him a little bit, you like
04:02him better at tackle compared to guard?
04:06You know, here's the thing, Joe.
04:07Everybody in our offensive line, when they were in high school, they all played left tackle.
04:10Every single one of them, you know?
04:12Yeah.
04:12Every single one.
04:13Just about everybody you recruit plays left tackle.
04:15So, the skill set necessary to play at the highest level, you've got to experience some reps inside.
04:21So, you could get blunted right in the teeth by a giant three technique.
04:24I think you've got to go outside and play against some of those really explosive and long-ranging defensive ends.
04:30So, we do move guys around.
04:31His natural home, his tackle, he did a really good job on Saturday.
04:35So, looking forward to continued progress by him, but a guy we're certainly counting on.
04:40Going to the penalties, I think it's 13 penalties.
04:44A lot of them, they didn't do a great job of showing on TV, so we didn't get to see
04:49them.
04:49What'd you think?
04:50And I always hear everybody go, oh, we've got to clean up this, we've got to clean up that.
04:54I saw a hit on a quarterback that I thought was so legal, it made me sick to my stomach.
04:59I was screaming at the TV, Damon's hit on him.
05:03What'd you think of the overall calls in the game?
05:07Well, I mean, we're getting interpretations on some of those.
05:10And at the end of the day, you know, when a flag is thrown, unfortunately, it's not a court case,
05:14man.
05:16It's just very on the spot, game over.
05:18And that part stinks.
05:20Do I agree with him?
05:21Of course not.
05:22But I try to be as respectful as possible and bring it to the table.
05:25I'll get an answer upon it.
05:27I'll give you a buzz on it.
05:28But those things are hard, man.
05:29Those are bang-bang plays at defensive ends, off balance after beating a tackle.
05:34He's trying to stay, you see his arm right, he's going waist up, and he's trying to do the right
05:38things.
05:38But I understand also officials are trying to protect quarterbacks.
05:41So, you know, we also blocked the quarterback that was actually trying to make contact with us on the fumble
05:48return for a touchdown.
05:50Got called for that also.
05:51So those are, we need interps on that so we can get better.
05:54The ones that are inexcusable are the pre-snap penalties, right?
05:57Because pre-snap discipline and post-snap composure are musts, absolute musts, when winning football games, especially when you go
06:06on the road.
06:06Yeah.
06:07It's so funny.
06:08So that was the other call I was going to ask you about.
06:10So I think it's Lightfoot makes a great play and gets up.
06:14And the announcer did a great job of saying, so the quarterback gets back up, and now he's trying to
06:19make a play, and he blocks him again.
06:22So what are you supposed to do as athletic as these quarterbacks are?
06:25They're not just standing back there and like, all right, go run.
06:28They're trying to make a play.
06:29A lot of them are a lot better athletes today.
06:32So what do they tell you on that?
06:34Yeah, well, they said, you know, typically that's flagged when it's a defenseless player, like the quarterback can't see you
06:40coming and you're welcome.
06:41But this was more of the quarterback was chasing and the quarterback engaged first.
06:45I just don't know what the official saw and when he saw it.
06:48So that's the interpretation I'm waiting on.
06:50And, again, you know, we've done really well with penalties up until Saturday.
06:56Like, Saturday was not good as it relates to penalties.
06:59So no matter what is said, the flag was thrown, we can't rationalize that with our players at all.
07:05We've got to coach it to the tee, hammer it, drive the point home, emphasize it, and get a better
07:10result.
07:10Yeah.
07:11Well, let's talk about Mensa for just a second.
07:14Incredible.
07:14I don't care who you're playing.
07:1514 touchdowns and zero picks.
07:18So careful with the ball.
07:20I love the way he moved around the pocket a little bit, made some really, really good-looking NFL kind
07:25of throws.
07:26He just seems to get more cool and calm.
07:29Has he surprised you with anything he's done to this point?
07:33Just keeps getting better and better.
07:35His level of, his approach to the game, I love it.
07:37Just attack, attack, attack.
07:40Don't waste much time on anything.
07:42Just everything is geared towards playing winning football and making those around him better.
07:46Moten and Fletcher back for the Clemson game.
07:48You expect both those guys back?
07:50Yes, sir.
07:51All right.
07:52And as you look at this game, I had to watch a little Clemson just to see how that was
07:57going against Cal.
07:58They're running the ball, man.
08:00They ran, what, 49 times for 255 yards.
08:03I'm guessing that's going to be part of the game plan again this week.
08:06What do you prepare for the most when you get set for a Clemson?
08:10A great team with great players and great coaches.
08:13I mean, I think, you know, after their first game, they had a rough first game.
08:17And since then, 3-0, they're outscoring everybody.
08:20I think it's like 74-37.
08:23They're pounding the ball.
08:24They're allowing 12 points a game.
08:26They haven't allowed a touchdown in the second half in the last three games.
08:31You know, they've actually outscored opponents 42-6 in the second half in the last three games.
08:35So, they are playing really, really good football.
08:38They have a ton of NFL talent, really good experienced coaches with challenging schemes.
08:42So, let's go to work.
08:43Coach, getting back to some of the play that took place in that 52-3 win over Central Michigan,
08:50I love seeing a lot of other wide receivers get involved in this one.
08:54Not that it was great seeing Malachi and everybody shows up to see Malachi,
08:58but I love the way you spread it out and got some of the young guys
09:01who really got a chance to show what they could do and really played well.
09:06I thought the wide receiver room was pretty good, Coach.
09:08Yeah, getting better and getting better at blocking.
09:11Still got to improve at that as well.
09:12But, you know, this offense is – we're very systematic.
09:15The ball will find you.
09:16You know, if you take away something, something else is bound to come open,
09:21and it's our job to make sure we protect it
09:23and have the quarterback progress through and get the ball there.
09:26So, everybody touches.
09:27The tight ends had a good day.
09:29Running backs had a good day.
09:31Inside, outside receivers all produced,
09:33and they all were involved in the run game in a positive manner with so many areas,
09:38you know, especially the downfield blocking, so many areas to improve upon.
09:41Yeah, it was – yeah, overall, man, it's just great to get all those guys to get playing time.
09:45They put in a lot of time, you know, in practice,
09:48and to get a chance to play, you know, early in the second half
09:52or before the second half, it does great things, man.
09:56Your psyche for all that time you put in in practice to get out there
09:59and get involved in the offense and the defense both.
10:04Hey, the pass rush looks like since the start of the season,
10:09if there's one area of this team that's improved,
10:12it looks like the pass rush has really gotten a lot better.
10:15Do you feel that way?
10:17You're getting better.
10:18More guys are developing.
10:19I think we're doing a better job, you know, of pressing the pocket,
10:23and we're making those edges tighter and better,
10:25and we're facing some really mobile quarterbacks where, you know,
10:29you saw when we were up at Wake Forest, man, that guy's –
10:31and speaking of them, congrats to them.
10:34Obviously a big win for them this past week.
10:35But those quarterbacks, you've got to do a great job trying to contain them
10:40in the pocket, and then when they try to get out of there
10:42to get them on the ground.
10:43And, you know, you look at Clemson's quarterback,
10:45no one's tackled that guy.
10:47That guy's escaped.
10:47That guy's made plays with his arm, with his legs, has broken tackles,
10:52has really – he's been one of the biggest differences
10:56in the way they played the past three weeks.
10:58So it's – the pass rush has always been a point of emphasis for us,
11:02and we're getting better and better dividends.
11:04Yeah, it's – it was fun to watch.
11:06Marquise Lightfoot has just got so much frigging –
11:09sometimes you see a guy, Coach, and I know you're always careful with it,
11:13like, hey, let him play a little bit before you decide to talk about
11:17how good he is now.
11:18But I'll tell you what, he has just got some natural frigging talent,
11:22not to take anything away from anybody else when you talk about one guy,
11:26but he's got some bend and some junk to him that just looks big time, Coach.
11:31Yeah, but we've got to challenge these guys more, Joe.
11:33You know what I mean?
11:33Because at the end of the day, like the standards here have become
11:36really, really high, right?
11:38Reuben Bain and Akeem Mesut, they showed up every single week.
11:41They do.
11:41You know, so the last thing I'm going to do is sell Marquise Lightfoot
11:44how good he is and how the sun rises and sets on his butt.
11:47You know what I mean?
11:48Like, we've got to push him.
11:50We've got to get better.
11:51He's improving.
11:52Obviously, Coach Taylor's done a great job with him.
11:54I thought Dirk Scroggins really played well.
11:57I mean, he played inside.
11:58He played outside.
12:00Damon continues to get better.
12:01Booker Pickett showed up in a big-time way as well.
12:05I mean, Armando Blount, you know, I know he came out early,
12:08but he was playing good football for us.
12:11All in all, just a lot of guys are improving,
12:14and we have to keep getting better to achieve the things we want to achieve.
12:17Yeah.
12:17Now it gets into the ACC schedule, as you said, with a bye week in there,
12:21and it all starts this week.
12:23I'm guessing you don't have trouble getting up to go on the road
12:27where it's a loud place and a big crowd,
12:29and they know how good you are, and the rankings keep going up,
12:33something you don't care about.
12:34But everybody's going to play – you're going to get everybody's best effort,
12:38and you know that.
12:39But, again, it comes down to, like, the focus should never be on that, Joe.
12:44You know that.
12:44You've played football at the highest level, man.
12:48You know, the focus has to – throughout the course of the season,
12:51you have to win, but you also have to get better each and every week
12:54because if not, at some point down the line you're going to get exposed.
12:57And so we always try to ask ourselves at the end of every week,
13:00what are we doing well?
13:02What do we need to keep getting better at?
13:03And what do we need to just move on from?
13:05Because, you know, the time invested has to produce better results.
13:10So the South Scout process is very tedious, extensive,
13:15and we feel like it just – you know, especially in the day and age of the iPad,
13:20you have to have answers for answers.
13:21Because I think Clemson's the best example of a team
13:24that makes great halftime adjustments
13:26because if you look at their second-half numbers,
13:28that doesn't happen by accident.
13:30So I always wonder, because you say this –
13:33and coaches say this, hey, what area would you say right now
13:36that still needs to improve?
13:38Not individuals, but group needs to play better for you to get to where you guys
13:43want to get to.
13:44Is there one area of this team?
13:45Well, I think it starts with detail.
13:47Detail is tied into communication,
13:49and we're always going to demand more strain, finish, and physicality.
13:52You know, playing the game the way it's supposed to be played
13:55is absolutely straining your gut, man, as hard as you could possibly go.
13:59Bring in physicality, but having detail in your game.
14:02Detail is tied in the technique and fundamentals, Joe.
14:04You know what I mean?
14:05Like, as the game wears on, you've got to be bending at the knees.
14:07You've got to get your cleats in the ground.
14:09The hat's got to be inside.
14:10You've got to leverage the football when you tackle.
14:13You've got to play as a team, but it starts with owning your own responsibility, right?
14:17Doing your job to the highest level.
14:19And if we could all do that one play at a time, we're going to keep getting better.
14:23Mario, thank you, man.
14:24I appreciate you coming on this morning.
14:26Good luck this week, and take care of yourself.
14:29Get some sleep.
14:29Appreciate it, Joe.
14:30Go Canes.
14:31All right.
14:31Mario Cristobal, head coach of the Miami Hurricane, joining us
14:34as they get set to take on Clemson.
14:38And here we go, man.
14:40ACC schedule coming up.
14:41Find out just how good everybody is.
14:44Before you know it, Florida State.
14:45Before you know it, know their name.
14:48And we'll see what it looks like.
14:50This is going to be the biggest test of the year by far, this one against Clemson.