Miami’s Cristobal: QB Tyler Van Dyke ‘has a great chance to be back’ for Pittsburgh

Miami Hurricanes quarterback Tyler Van Dyke has missed the past three of four games since injuring his throwing shoulder against Duke Oct. 22.

It appears he might be back.

University of Miami coach Mario Cristobal told WQAM early Monday that there’s ‘a great chance’ Van Dyke will be back for the Hurricanes (5-6, 3-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) on Saturday in the regular-season finale at home against Pittsburgh (7-4, 4-3).

Cristobal also was asked about criticized offensive coordinator Josh Gattis later in the interview.

WQAM’s Zach Krantz asked Cristobal: “Tyler Van Dyke, any chance of seeing him in the regular-season finale?”

Cristobal: “Yes, there is a chance. He’s been getting better and better. Obviously since, I think it was Game 6 or Game 7, when he got injured, certainly he’s a guy that is sorely missed. Right? We started off OK and then we had some lumps and then he really got hot for two games before he got hurt.

Monday update: Cristobal, Gattis talk Miami QB Tyler Van Dyke, Jacurri Brown; bowl scenario

“It would be great to have him back and he’s got a great chance to be back, and we’re monitoring that daily.”

True freshman quarterback Jacurri Brown has started the past two games, leading UM to a win at Georgia Tech on Nov. 12 but struggled mightily, with the rest of the offense, in the Cane’s 40-10 loss Saturday to Clemson.

Brown completed 6-of-13 passes for 53 yards, with an interception. He was sacked three times.

UM’s offense gained a total 98 yards (30 rushing), the fewest since gaining 87 on Nov. 27, 1965 — 57 years ago.

Van Dyke’s future?

WQAM host Joe Rose asked Cristobal if he’s had discussions with Van Dyke about the quarterback’s future. Van Dyke, a third-year sophomore, was the ACC Rookie of the Year last season and there has been plenty of discussion of his either turning pro or entering the transfer portal after this season.

“Stuff like that is private,’’ Cristobal said. “The right time to talk about that will be sooner or later. I’d prefer in the meantime just to focus on the game.”

Cristobal then said that “there’s also a level of respect that needs to be maintained.”

“I saw this from afar,’’ the coach said. “From afar Miami staff-wise has allowed itself to get pushed around and all that junk. This is a different deal, man. We came here to do this thing the right way and do right by people and also elevate this program and that requires hard-line decisions and not taking any bullcrap.

“And along the way, it’s important to establish clear lines of respect as it relates to everything players, everything program, everything alumni, all that stuff. And you need to be a tough son-of-a-bitch to do that. So that’s why this fits and that’s why this requires every ounce of what I have, the rest of the staff and players have and that’s the route we’re going, brother. Just 1000 miles per hour. Take the lumps that come with it so we can keep moving forward, progressing and elevating. “

Josh Gattis

Rose brought up offensive coordinator Gattis to Cristobal and how he has been criticized for his play-calling. UM’s offense is ranked 85th nationally (365.5-yard-average-per-game) of 131 FBS teams. The Canes are 92nd in scoring offense (24.3-point average).

“What are your thoughts on Gattis and his play-calling?”

“You don’t share certain things in public,’’ Cristobal said. “You always try to work things out within the walls of the program. We’ve done a really good job in hiring coaches that have had tremendous success in every place that they’ve been at. We’ve had our offensive struggles but we put that on all of us. You just don’t start singling out people and isolating people during the season. That’s not it.

“People either come together or they unravel. You have to be the example in terms of leadership to the entire organization. So, our entire focus is on doing whatever it takes to get one more point than the opponent — whatever that is. Whether things are going well, whether things are not going so well. That’s our entire focus and that’s all we talk about.’’

Regarding his thoughts on the importance of bowl eligibility, which UM would have should it win its sixth game by defeating Pittsburgh, Cristobal said “every game is important” and that the seniors and everyone else, for that matter, deserve it.