Just over the last month former Miami Hurricanes offensive lineman, Joaquin Gonzalez has continually criticized the coaching staff. Gonzalez has been relentless with his commentary via Twitter of the coaching staff. No matter what decisions Miami makes Gonzales has chastised the decisions made by Manny Diaz.
Gonzalez has taken the Hurricanes head coach to task over the turnover chain, the changes Diaz made or did not make on the coaching staff and the prospect of Miami opening the 2021 season against Alabama. The Hurricanes will kickoff against the Crimson Tide at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta on September 4.
Since the end of the regular season, Diaz has brought back defensive line coach Jess Simpson to replace Todd Stroud due to medical reasons, hired Travaris Robinson as the defensive backs coach and DeMarcus Van Dyke as the cornerbacks’ coach to replace Ephraim Banda and Mike Rumph as safeties and CB coach.
Banda left for Utah State to run his own defense after being the co-defensive coordinator at Miami and Rumph was reassigned on the Miami Hurricanes staff likely in the recruiting department. Diaz also announced last week that he will take over the defensive play-calling from defensive coordinator Blake Baker.
Hopefully we can find another opponent other than Bama in the transfer portal to open 2021🤦🏽 The frustration is that there is so much right, but so much wrong!!!! Bothers when I hear Ed is there, what’s going on? They can have God there, if Manny ain’t listening...what good is it
— Joaquin Gonzalez (@Joaquin_UMOL73) December 30, 2020
Gonzalez was referring to Pro Football Hall of Fame safety Ed Reed who joined the Miami Hurricanes football staff last year as the Chief of Staff. The primary role for Reed is to help Diaz develop the culture for the Miami football program. The culture for Miami has seemed to evolve this season.
Miami improved from 6-7 in 2019 to 8-3 in 2020. In past seasons, Miami lost many juniors to the NFL Draft. Most of the Hurricanes draft-eligible juniors and three seniors with an extra season granted by the NCAA chose to return for the 2021 season. Diaz is beginning to develop a culture of winning.
So we hire a fired DB coach from the 101st ranked defense last year? I’m pumped! We should just hire AJ Machado the jeweler to be our new DC!
— Joaquin Gonzalez (@Joaquin_UMOL73) January 9, 2021
Gonzalez was referring to Robinson being the defensive coordinator at South Carolina where he spent the last five seasons. The Gamecocks actually were the 105th ranked defense in 2020. Robinson will be more focused at Miami. At Miami, Robinson will focus on the secondary and recruiting.
South Carolina finished 97th in pass defense in 2020. Robinson has been lauded for his work as a recruiter. Coaching at less than elite Power Five schools, Robinson has been credited with three-five-star and 27 four-star signees in his coaching career. As a Miami native, Robinson knows South Florida well.
Can’t wait to see the unveiling of the “3 and out” bracelet, the “get off the field on 3rd down” earrings, and the “force them to punt” tiara!
— Joaquin Gonzalez (@Joaquin_UMOL73) January 14, 2021
It’s gonna be epic, can’t wait for next year!!
Diaz introduced the turnover chain as a way to incentivize the Miami defense in 2017. Miami was 67th with 19 turnovers despite a very good defense in 2016. A year later Miami finished third nationally forcing 31 turnovers. The chain was produced by previously mentioned jeweler A.J. Machado.
Gonzalez is passionate and certainly shows he cares about the Miami football program. The over the top criticism and sarcasm doesn’t help the Miami coaching staff. Multiple other players on Twitter have criticized the Hurricanes without being as harsh. Diaz has to continue to improve the Miami football program to erase doubts.