The Rundown Take
Sleepwalking No More? U Talk Demands Manny Diaz Take the Wheel Before Virginia Tech
Coming off a tighter-than-it-should-have-been Friday night win, Devin and co-host E previewed a road trip to Blacksburg with a heavy heart — E is traveling home after losing a young cousin, so the usual hype show got bumped to Thursday. But the football talk didn't slow down: the defense's slow starts have the panel fed up, and the question of whether Manny Diaz needs to pry the headset away from defensive coordinator Blake Baker dominated the night.
Key Takeaways
- Miami escapes Friday night with the win but comes out flat for a full half, drawing panel complaints about a lack of fire and urgency.
- Blake Baker's postgame comment about defenders needing "short-term memory" becomes the night's lightning rod — the panel wants accountability, not excuses.
- Virginia Tech and mobile QB Hendon Hooker loom Saturday at noon in Blacksburg; Miami lost to him by a touchdown last year.
- Corner depth is a growing worry after Christian Williams transferred and four-star commit Tim Burns decommitted.
- D'Eriq King gets pushed hard as a Heisman name the panel feels is being overlooked nationally.
The Blake Baker Question
E didn't hold back on the defensive coordinator, calling out Baker's "short-term memory" comment as the wrong message after a defense that let an average quarterback look like an all-pro for a half. Both hosts agreed the unit only wakes up once Manny Diaz effectively takes over play-calling in crunch time, and callers Kyle Stalin and Rodney Atwater pushed the same question from different angles: will Diaz re-evaluate Baker after the season the way he did with a previous coordinator? The panel's answer was unanimous — he needs to, and soon, before loyalty to a former staffer costs Miami a winnable season.
Setting the Tone Before Kickoff
Caller Latrell from Tampa and George Diaz both zeroed in on body language, saying the team looks disengaged at kickoff and only finds energy after a halftime speech gets them going. With a 12 noon start in Blacksburg against a Hokies team still stinging from a loss to Liberty, the panel wants the defensive line disciplined in its rush lanes against Hooker, tighter linebacker tackling, and — most of all — a fast start instead of another slow-motion first quarter.
"We need somebody on that defense to just come out and set the tone. I don't care who it is."
King Deserves More Shine
Both hosts pushed back on the lack of national attention for D'Eriq King, arguing his numbers stack up against Heisman names getting more hype despite far less on the line. The concern cuts both ways, though — several callers noted how often King is bailing out a run game and offensive line that still can't consistently hit the edge, with Rhett Lashlie's play-calling still drawing calls for more screens, tosses and outside runs to get the backs in space.
Depth Worries at Corner
David Franklin flagged the roster math at cornerback — down to five scholarship corners after Christian Williams' transfer, with Tim Burns' decommitment stinging for next year's class. Jalen Phillips drew praise for effort but criticism for costly offside penalties, and the panel wants more from Al Blaze and Bubba Bolden, who both looked a step off their recent form. Still, the mood stayed upbeat heading into the matchup — the panel closed out reminding the family the hype show moves to Thursday night, eight o'clock, before Saturday's kickoff in Blacksburg.