Five areas where Miami will be improved in 2023

Kam Kinchens finished the 2022 season with an impressive month of November, but it took some growing pains in September and October to get to that point.

In the first nine games games of the 2022 season, Kinchens totaled 31 tackles. He graded out with a 73.2 defensive grade, according to Pro Football Focus.

In the final three games of the season, Kinchens played at an elite level while racking up 28 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and three interceptions. PFF graded him out as the top safety in the country during that stretch with a 92.3 defensive grade.

Kinchens settled into one of the better safeties in the country as the season progressed and part of that was due to the communication improving on the back end.

James Williams projects as the other starting safety. The former five-star recruit showed improvement year over year in his development from 2021 to 2022—and there is still plenty of meat left on the bone in terms of room for growth in 2023 (remember not all development is linear).

At cornerback, Miami enters the 2023 season with a top three of UCF transfer Davonte Brown, Daryl Porter Jr. and Te’Cory Couch. These three players have all played at least 900 defensive snaps at the college level with Couch and Brown having played more than 1,700 defensive snaps. The veteran corners on the roster will be pushed by talented young players like Malik Curtis, Jaden Harris, Chris Graves, and incoming freshman Damari Brown.

It appears the group will have the year over year continuity of playing for the same defensive backs coach in Jahmile Addae in 2023. A veteran secondary that operates on the same page can be difficult to attack. This group can have success in that regard.

Miami’s secondary allowed far too many explosive plays (and touchdowns) in 2022. That’s an area that will improve in 2023.