Post-Spring Analysis: Miami Hurricanes still have depth questions on OL, and position shuffling could come if Zion Nelson is back in form

Post-Spring Miami QB analysis … RB analysis … WR analysis … TE analysis

With Miami’s 15 spring practices in the rearview mirror, it’s worth taking a position by position look at where things stand, and today we look at the key offensive line position:

PROJECTED MIAMI OL DEPTH CHART

CaneSport projected starters

Co-1st team: Jalen Rivers

Co-1st team: Zion Nelson

2nd team: Samson Okunlola

1st team: Javion Cohen

Co-2nd team: Laurance Seymore

Co-2nd team: Tommy Kinsler

1st team: Matt Lee

Co-2nd team: Ryan Rodriguez

Co-2nd team: Jon Denis

Co-1st team: Anez Cooper

Co-1st team: Jalen Rivers

2nd team: Logan Sagapolu

1st team: Francis Mauigoa

2nd team: Michael McLaughlin

Co-2nd team: Matthew McCoy

MIAMI POST-SPRING ANALYSIS

This is the position that really needs a total overhaul based on last year’s performance. The line struggled handling pressure, with opponents totaling 36 sacks in the 12 games along with 69 tackles for loss. There were penalties, poor run blocking, spotty pass protection, etc. How many linemen with more than 100 reps graded out at 70 percent or higher per Pro Football Focus (with 70 considered a good grade)? Not one of them. And five of the nine with 100 or more reps graded out below 60. Yikes.

So this spring was a huge test for this unit, and there was good news and bad news.

The good news? Miami added LG Javion Cohen, who started at Alabama, and center Matt Lee, who started at UCF. Both very much look the part. The team also had 5-star signee Francis Mauigoa with the first team at right tackle all spring, and he’s a physical marvel. Returning starter Jalen Rivers moved from guard to tackle, and Anez Cooper got some starts last year as a true freshman and was the first team right guard.

So that’s a pretty good looking starting five on paper. And if Zion Nelson can return to form off a knee injury then Rives could move back inside – he looked a bit slow for a tackle.

The bad news? Well, Miami’s defensive line was banged up with DT Leonard Taylor, DT Jared Harrison-Hunte and DE Jahfari Harvey out all spring, plus Akheem Mesidor was limited. So you had the O line basically being tested by backups, which makes it hard to get a real read on how well they performed.

And the backup offensive line was nothing to write home about, so depth here remains a concern.

But we are much more encouraged by this line compared to the woeful one of a year ago.

A LOOK UNDER THE HOOD

It was an inconsistent and not real good offensive line in 2022, with low points the four sacks and eight TFL vs. Middle Tennessee and then six sacks allowed vs. Duke. Some difficult decisions were made here, with two starters transferring out (Jakai Clark and John Campbell), and more tough decisions remain to be made in the fall with a starting lineup still in flux depending on Zion Nelson’s status. Also gone from last year due to graduation: RT DJ Scaife and OG Justice Oluwaseun.

As you look at the projected first team depth chart, the only holdovers are Rivers and Cooper. And one of them may be bumped to the bench by Nelson, who missed essentially all of last season injured.

We really like the top end talent on the line this year compared to 2022. Adding Cohen and Lee plus two five-stars (Mauigoa, Okunlola) was a home run for Mario Cristobal and Alex Mirabal. But, with that said, this is a group that still hasn’t really been tested. So there are some questions that won’t be answered for a while. Plus the depth here isn’t great with a second team that has lots of question marks.

Now let’s look at the Pro Football Focus grades for the guys with a decent amount of college reps that are expected to contribute (with 70 considered a good grade):

OG Javion Cohen (junior): 549 reps, 72.5 overall grade, 80.5 pass blocking, 68.9 run blocking

Jalen Rivers (rising fourth year redshirt sophomore): 631 reps, 60.6 overall grade, 73.3 pass blocking, 53.6 run blocking. Played 9 games due to injury.

Anez Cooper (sophomore): 351 reps, 59.4 overall grade, 65.1 pass blocking, 62.5 run blocking

C Matt Lee (junior): 1,059 reps, 83.7 overall grade, 90.6 pass blocking, 80.6 run blocking

OT Zion Nelson (from 2021 when he last played a full season): 898 reps, 73.3 overall grade, 85.3 pass blocking, 65.0 run blocking.

There also were some projected backups that got a decent amount of reps last season. Their grades:

Logan Sagapolu (fourth year redshirt sophomore): 176 reps, 52.8 overall grade, 40.0 pass blocking, 53.1 run blocking. Played 5 games due to injury.

Jon Denis (fourth year redshirt sophomore): 201 reps, 57.1 overall grade, 62.6 pass blocking, 66.3 pass blocking

Laurance Seymore (rising redshirt sophomore): 254 reps, 57.0 overall grade, 37.7 pass blocking, 61.3 run blocking

As you look at the above, that’s it in terms of proven experience. Two guys had over a 70 grade for the season (both the transfers), with Nelson passing 70 two years ago.

The 36 sacks and a run game that averaged 3.7 yards and 128.1 rush yards can’t be repeated if Miami is going to enjoy a successful season. And that’s on this reshaped O line that must continue to gel this offseason and will be tested more in fall drills when starters are back in action on the defensive side.

THE BOTTOM LINE

In terms of guys we think can be counted on to perform at a pretty high level this season? Outside of the first team and OT Zion Nelson (who has recurrent knee issues that could impact his 2023 season) you can’ really point to many others with perhaps 5-star signee Samson Okunlola the exception. So depth is a concern.

But, again, we like what Miami has done to piece together the first team O line we saw this spring.

At the end of the day this should be a line that does a lot better with the rushing attack and protecting the passer than what we saw a year ago.

The post Post-Spring Analysis: Miami Hurricanes still have depth questions on OL, and position shuffling could come if Zion Nelson is back in form appeared first on On3.