UM wins transfer portal again but needs more help
Bradley Jennings Jr.) and at weak-side linebacker ( Waymon Steed, perpetually injured Sam Brooks, Keontra Smith or Avery Huff) likely wouldn’t start at a strong SEC program.
Jennings delivers the hard hit, but his instincts and coverage skills aren’t consistent enough. Flagg’s motor and nose for the ball are assets, but at 5-11, he’s not the hulking run-stuffing presence to necessarily stop a power running back.
Huff, who played just 11 defensive snaps in 2020, has “made great strides this spring,” inside linebackers coach Jon Patke said. And the Canes can get away with playing only one or two linebackers at times. They opened Saturday with only one linebacker on the field (Flagg). The Canes will continue seeking linebacker help in the portal, but there’s no obvious upgrade available.
One UM staffer acknowledged there’s no Greg Rousseau or Jaelan Phillips on the roster, but Chantz Williams and Cameron Williams (who was injured Saturday and on crutches) impressed this spring as pass rushers. And Zach McCloud exceeded expectations in his move from linebacker. Those three, plus projected starters Jahfari Harvey and Tennessee transfer Johnson, likely will comprise the defensive end rotation.
A UM still lacks dominant defensive tackle play, and the hope is that assistant coach Jess Simpson — who helped transform Gerald Willis into an elite college player — can do the same with Nesta Silvera, who missed the spring after a shoulder procedure. Five-star prospect Leonard Taylor has the skills to become an All-ACC caliber play but needs time to develop. He will initially challenge Jordan Miller, Jalar Holley and Elijah Roberts for a rotation spot behind Willis, Jared Harrison-Hunte and Jon Ford.
Though Avantae Williams (two pass breakups Saturday) and newcomer Kamren Kinchens (interception on Sat
AAurday) impressed this spring — and five-star safety James Williams arrives this summer — the likelihood is that Bolden, Gurvan Hall and Amari Carter (who’s also getting work at striker) will be the top three safeties in the Alabama opener. UM wants to get those three veterans on the field more together.
UM’s 2022 quarterback outlook — in the post- D’Eriq King era — looks promising, a view reinforced Saturday. UM voice Joe Zagacki said Tyler Van Dyke “gets to his spot in the pocket and does not flinch. He’s not afraid of the rush.” He said Jake Garcia is “deadly, deadly accurate and his footwork is impeccable.” We saw all of that Saturday.
With Pope and Wiggins remaining inconsistent — each had a drop and a long reception on Saturday — there is every opportunity for slot receiver Xavier Restrepo (who was excellent Saturday, including a TD catch in the corner of the end zone), Keyshawn Smith or Mike Redding to seize the No. 3 or 4 receiver jobs behind
Mike Harley and Rambo. On Saturday, Smith eluded two defenders after a fourth-down catch to score an 11-yard touchdown and later scored on a 35-yard TD reception.
A With Don Chaney (shoul
AAder) iffy to start the regular season, Cam’Ron Harris and Jaylon Knighton are immersed in a tight battle to start at running back; offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee wants his starter to get most of the workload. Knighton started Saturday, offers more elusiveness than Harris and could be one of UM’s best pass catching backs in years.
A Two battles are ongoing on UM’s offensive line: Jakai
Clark against Jalen Rivers at left guard and DJ Scaife against Jarrid Williams at right tackle. Clark and Scaife started the spring game. “Jakai doesn’t get enough credit,” offensive line coach Garin Justice said. Navaughn Donaldson is fully back from December 2019 knee surgery and has looked very good at right guard. Among the spring disappointments: By violating team rules, Larry Hodges squandered his chance to get most of the snaps at tight end in practice and the spring game. With Will Mallory and others injured, UM had no scholarship tight ends available Saturday. … Ballyhooed left tackle Issiah Walker isn’t ready to contribute. … Daz Worsham, the former four-star recruit, hasn’t made a big move at receiver.
ACHATTER
AESPN’s Mel Kiper, on why he advocates the Dolphins moving up from No. 6 to No. 3 to ensure they can draft UF tight end Kyle Pitts. “He’s a once-in-adecade player who you won’t find in a draft in the coming years. A game-changer. He could give Tua Tagovailoa what he needs. A wide receiver/ tight end value nightmare.”
The Marlins know they need to upgrade over Jorge Alfaro at catcher, and credit them for trying to acquire Chicago White Sox rookie sensation Yermin Mercedes before he shocked everyone recently in becoming the first player since at least 1900 to begin a season with eight straight hits. The Marlins would be fortunate if Louisville catcher/elite college hitter Henry Davis is available when they pick 16th in this summer’s amateur draft.
Among many reasons for the Heat’s underwhelming season: Not a single Heat wing player is shooting better than 35 percent in the clutch (defined by the NBA as the final five minutes of games with a margin of five points or fewer). Jimmy Butler is 35 percent (14 for 40), Tyler Herro and Kendrick Nunn at 33 percent, Duncan Robinson at 31.6 and Goran Dragic at 23.1 (3 for 13). The Heat was far better in the clutch last season.
A ABC lead MLS analyst Taylor Twellman, who works Sunday’s Inter Miami-Los Angeles Galaxy opener, is eager to see if Miami’s offense is better after scoring 25 goals in 23 games in 2020.
“Gonzalo Higuaín is where it falls,” Twellman said of a player signed by Inter Miami last September. “They brought him in to score goals. They have the players to score. It’s up to [new coach] Phil Neville to put it all together. [The offense] was too anemic and too predictable last season. ... If they’re a more exciting team to watch, making the playoffs may not be the judge of success. You have to do it with style in Miami. David Beckham and Phil Neville know that.”
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