Miami head coach Mario Cristobal met with the press on Monday and shared his thoughts on the upcoming and critical game at Syracuse.
On Syracuse…
"Full speed ahead on preparation for Syracuse,” said Cristobal. “And our opportunity this weekend, coming off a solid performance against Wake Forest, where we felt that we took some really good steps from a defensive standpoint, running the football amongst other things. Putting together a really strong second half, primarily in the fourth quarter. And we're on it. We're on to the next one right now, looking forward to playing a really good football team that's one of the top offenses in the country. I don't think their defense gets enough credit. They’re top three in our conference, from a past defense standpoint. I don't think their running back [LeQuint Allen] gets enough credit. That coach has done a really good job. Coach Brown has put together really good staff and put together some really good players and developing that roster.”
On the Orange rushing attack…
"Running back [Allen] is really good player. I mean, he's a lot like what we faced this last week. He's bigger, he's strong, just a one-cut, make and miss and go guys. He does not go down easily. He's complimented by a very big offensive line–really physical. I know that we're just studying the interior right before coming in. They get some good knock back, some good push the line of scrimmage, and they get the ball out and space the ball. He's in the screen game really well, you know. And obviously they use number 19, we know him, right? Local guy that's got a great history of playing high school football down here, family history as well. But they use Gadsen in so many different ways, 11 personnel and 12 personnel. But he's got great players. This guy, two is a great player. 82 is a great player. 7. 5. I could go on and on and on.”
“So all in all, their success isn't by accident. They're very efficient. They are a team that plays really hard and in the dome, I believe they're five and one. So they defend home territory, home turf, really well. So really good football team.”
On playing inside a dome…
"We split time inside and outside. Just like being on the grass. I mean, there's something like playing and practicing on grass. It's just always it's better on the body, but we'll use it, you know, and certainly it'll be loud and expecting just a great college football atmosphere. So all the amenities that we use to prepare for those away trips, for those for those road games that have that type of an environment, we'll use it in the IPF, but we also have ways to do it outside.”
On keeping the team focused…
“…it’s hard to. When was the last time you've seen so many top 25 teams, just week by week by week succumb to whatever be media pressure, program expectations or whatnot. So it's almost like our process has been really good for so our guys believe it. They regurgitate it.. They flat out, speak it and live it before we even get to them. And I think the part of the best way to put it is like our team, like in our team, the clear understanding is this is Miami against Syracuse. This is not Cam Ward against Kyle McCord. This is not Gadsen's records versus Restrepo's records. This is not Akheem Mesidor and Rueben Bain's sack record against Fadil Diggs. No.”
“This is Miami against Syracuse in the most important game of the year.”
GO CANES!
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