{"id":13102,"date":"2023-08-09T09:33:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-09T14:33:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/?p=13102"},"modified":"2023-08-09T09:33:00","modified_gmt":"2023-08-09T14:33:00","slug":"miami-hurricanes-lb-francisco-mauigoa-battling-to-start-sees-a-run-defense-that-is-fixing-its-mistakes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/miami-hurricanes-lb-francisco-mauigoa-battling-to-start-sees-a-run-defense-that-is-fixing-its-mistakes\/","title":{"rendered":"Miami Hurricanes LB Francisco Mauigoa battling to start, sees a run defense that is fixing its mistakes"},"content":{"rendered":"

The smaller Mauigoa <\/a>brother at 6-3 and 230 pounds compared to the freshman Francis at 6-6 and 315, Francisco joins his 5-star sibling on this Miami team and both will have a big impact with the expectation they\u2019ll start (Francisco at MLB, Francis at right tackle).<\/p>\n

Francisco, though, will have to hold off a charge from returning Miami starter Corey Flagg, who was slowed in the spring by a foot injury and has impressed coaches so far this fall.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are just trying to get each other better,\u201d Mauigoa says. \u201cThis is a really talented group, we have a lot of competitors. Each guy has their own unique skillset. Coach DNich (LB coach Derek Nicholson) is just putting us in a good spot to feel comfortable and play better. The competition is up there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mauigoa does have four inches on Flagg, and just as much athleticism. It\u2019s why Mauigoa was brought on board from Washington State, where he had 60 tackles, 5.5 TFL and 3.5 sacks this past season as a starter, also forcing three fumbles (tied for the Pac-12 lead) with an interception. That interception was, interestingly enough, against Mario Cristobal\u2019s former team \u2013 he took it back 95 yards for a TD against Oregon Sept. 24.<\/p>\n

\n<\/a><\/span>\n<\/div>\n

A former 3-star prospect in the Class of 2021 out of American Samoa, he has two years of eligibility remaining.<\/p>\n

His Pro Football Focus<\/a> grades? In 457 reps last season he graded out 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. So all around pretty solid. He also was noted by PFF with five QB hurries and nine missed tackles. Mauigoa only played 58 reps in 2021 as a freshman.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Pac-12 was good competition, great teams,\u201d Mauigoa said.<\/p>\n

As for how Mauigoa is adapting to Lance Guidry\u2019s new defense at Miami?<\/p>\n

\u201cWe run the same terminology, making it easy for me to understand \u2013 basically the same defense (as at Washington State), just different ways of running it,\u201d Mauigoa said. \u201cI\u2019m comfortable with the defense.\u201d<\/p>\n

*Asked about LB KJ Cloyd, Mauigoa described him as \u201cconsistent\u201d and \u201cvery physical.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s been rushing very good, is very flexible, can bend and get under blocks,\u201d Mauigoa said.<\/p>\n

*Mauigoa echoed what other linebackers have said about one freshman linebacker in particular that has stood out: Raul Aguirre.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s smart and very instinctive,\u201d Mauigoa said. \u201cVery aggressive, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

*Mauigoa said there have been \u201csome mistakes\u201d in the run defense in practices but that overall he thinks the front is doing a good job in that area.<\/p>\n

Mauigoa says it\u2019s a case of needing more \u201cmental reps.\u201d<\/p>\n

On Saturday in particular there were issues with the run defense, and in Monday\u2019s practice Mauigoa said he didn\u2019t see as many mistakes.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we make those mistakes the offense is going to take advantage of us,\u201d Mauigoa said. \u201cWe don\u2019t win all of the reps, don\u2019t lose all the reps. It\u2019s down to competition. \u2026 We know what\u2019s wrong and we\u2019re going to fix it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The post Miami Hurricanes LB Francisco Mauigoa battling to start, sees a run defense that is fixing its mistakes<\/a> appeared first on On3<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The smaller Mauigoa brother at 6-3 and 230 pounds compared to the freshman Francis at…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13102","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13102","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13102"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13102\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13102"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13102"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13102"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}