CaneSport’s Inside The Lines: Up close with offensive line coach Alex Mirabal
Jalen Rivers is the lone returner for Miami who started in Game 1 a year ago, so it’s a much different-looking offensive line for Hurricanes OL coach Alex Mirabal this fall. And while losing four starters is often viewed as, well, not so great, in this case it’s good news for a UM team that struggled up front a year ago and has added a lot of talent through the transfer portal.
Starting LG Javion Cohen arrives after starting at Alabama, center Matt Lee after starting at UCF, and in recruiting there will be a starting role for 5-star signee Francis Mauigoa at RT and perhaps 5-star signee Samson Okunlola at LT, where he is competing with Jalen Rivers.
Anez Cooper also is a second-year guard who started games last year and could start again depending on if Rivers moves back to guard.
So yes, Mirabal’s Miami group is looking to be vastly improved after ranking No. 95 in the nation in rushing offense and No. 108 in sacks allowed per game.
“We have created more depth and competition in the room, have eight new guys on the offensive line,” Mirabal said. “We are excited to be able to create depth and also be able to create competition, which is the most important thing.”
The line is bigger and more physical. It’s a whole different look.
“If you asked me the biggest difference in our room it’s the leadership,” Mirabal said. “And it all comes to me from Matt Lee (started 36 games at UCF) – he’s an unbelievable communicator, a guy who is urgent, loves football. … He’s the biggest difference in that room, in my opinion. He’s the leader. And you have Cohen, who has 20 games of SEC experience. That’s invaluable.”
With Cohen, Miami’s landed a starter from one of the nation’s top programs/lines.
“You watch Alabama film, you watch him and you’re like, `He’s pretty darn good,’” Mirabal said. “Javion’s experience and having done it in games and that environment is a stabilizing force, too. A guy that’s been there and done that at the highest level of competition.”
Mirabal stressed that the communication aspect and experience of other linemen will help acclimate the younger linemen so that the freshmen “can play faster.”
The depth will also be helped by Zion Nelson’s anticipated return at some point in fall camp. The former LT starter has been hampered by recurring knee issues.
A bottom line takeaway as Mirabal looks to build a dominating front line? “The depth chart, that doesn’t matter,” he says. “Every day, at the end of the day, every one of us position coaches – I have 19 guys, I go one through 19 and rank them from top to bottom every day. Our job is if something happens to one of the first five guys on that list, make sure that No. 6 is the next guy in, not that No. 6 hasn’t taken any reps at left guard. That’s our job, put the next best player in.”
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