Post-Spring Analysis: Mauigoa addition makes Miami Hurricanes LB room a lot better, but depth questions linger

Post-Spring Miami QB analysis … RB analysis … WR analysis … TE analysis … OL analysis … DL 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 LB position:

PROJECTED MIAMI LB DEPTH CHART

MLB

1st team: Francisco Mauigoa

2nd team: Corey Flagg

OLB

1st team: Wesley Bissainthe

Co-2nd team: Keontra Smith

Co-2nd team: Chase Smith

POST-SPRING ANALYSIS

Lance Guidry and his 4-2-5 was installed this spring, and even though it’s not the same as Kevin Steele’s 4-3 from last year the linebackers’ roles aren’t all that different. Steele essentially used the SLB as a STAR/nickel role with Te’Cory Couch starting, and it appears that Guidry is of the same mindset with Couch the first team nickel this spring. Which brings us back to MLB and WILL. MLB Francisco Mauigoa came in from Washington State and made an immediate splash, showing sideline to sideline speed, a knack for getting into the backfield and physicality at the point of attack. Returning MLB starter Corey Flagg missed the end of spring with injury, but he has his work cut out if he’s going to resume his starting role. Flagg also could work at WILL, but the expectation is the starter there will be Wesley Bissainthe. Bissainthe flashed as a true freshman last season and has a very bright future. The depth here is young and inexperienced, though, with Keontra Smith and Chase Smith the only other two returning players. Keontra is a senior who has not made much of an impact to this point, and Chase simply hasn’t been able to shake the injury bug in his time at Miami. Then there are true freshmen arrivals Malik Bryant, Raul Aguirre, Marcellius Pulliam and Bobby Washington. Bryant was banged up this spring while Washington impressed but is still learning the ins and outs at this level of play. Pulliam and Aguirre are summer arrivals. So there is some good top end talent here but questions with the level of depth.

A LOOK UNDER THE HOOD

The linebackers struggled this past season with consistency and missed tackles. None graded out above 70 percent, which is considered a good grade, in tackling per Pro Football Focus. And there were a combined 31 missed tackles in the 12 games from this unit. Good news is Mauigoa stepped up this spring, and his presence in the middle can really help this group and the defense overall. Wesley Bissainthe should be improved, and with Flagg providing depth at both spots along with Keontra Smith, Chase Smith and the freshmen, there is certainly more than enough talent at linebacker for Miami.

Here is a closer look at what Miami has returning:

Bissainthe had 30 tackles with no tackles behind the line of scrimmage. But he showed signs that he can be really good, and should be more active in Guidry’s attacking style of D. Per Pro Football Focus in 275 reps last year he had a 68.1 overall grade, 78.0 run defense, 67.2 tackle grade, 52.3 pass rush grade and 62.6 cover grade.

Flagg finished with 56 tackles, 10.5 for losses and 2.5 sacks. But he wasn’t a game-changer and that’s a reason Miami brought in Mauigoa. Flagg had 436 overall reps, a 63.2 overall grade, 61.7 in run defense, 57.0 tackle grade, 70.4 pass rush grade and 60.2 cover grade.

Which brings us to Mauigoa. Last year at Washington State he had 60 tackles, 5.5 TFL and 3.5 sacks as a starter, also forcing three fumbles (tied for the Pac-12 lead) with an interception. That interception was, interestingly enough, against Mario Cristobal’s former team – he took it back 95 yards for a TD against Oregon Sept. 24. As a freshman in 2021 he started twice and had 17 tackles. Mauigoa graded out well in 2022. In 457 reps he was at a solid 75.7 percent (70 is considered good). He had a 74.1 run defense grade, 69.9 tackle grade, 64.6 pass rush grade and 76.3 cover grade.

Keontra Smith is the other experienced returning linebacker, and last season he started three games and had 33 tackles, three for losses with 1.5 sacks and an interception. Per PFF in 290 reps he graded out at 56.8 percent overall on defense with a 50.1 run defense grade, 28.1 tackle grade and 60.1 cover grade. So not very good grade-wise.

THE BOTTOM LINE

The depth for the future at this position is really good given the true freshmen. For this year? Perhaps not so much experience-wise, but adding Mauigoa certainly helps. You add him in with Flagg, Bissainthe and Keontra Smith and that’s four guys with experience who perhaps haven’t shown they are All-ACC caliber but should be good enough. And Chase Smith is a bit of a wildcard since he’s always had the physical tools but just hasn’t been healthy.

An unspoken aspect that will also affect the productivity of this unit is the defensive line. There are some question marks up the middle at tackle, and if those guys aren’t creating gaps for the linebackers to shoot through it’ll create issues at this level of the D. But overall we are optimistic the play at linebacker will be better than it was in 2022 (which wasn’t real good) given the returning pieces and the possibility a freshman or two could emerge this fall as a nice depth addition as well.

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