Defense growing during pre-camp workouts

Miami Hurricanes players have approached the offseason with an urgency and eagerness to get back to work after a disappointing 6-7 season in 2019.

While UM coaches cannot work directly with players for much of the time between the end of the season and the start of spring drills, which begin Monday, several players voluntarily sought offseason training within a week of Miami’s Independence Bowl loss to Louisiana Tech.

The South Florida Sun Sentinel spoke with a couple of those local trainers, and

to discuss strides Hurricanes players have made in their speed, agility and footwork ahead of next week’s spring practices.

In the first of a two-part series, we focus on Miami’s defensive players.

Allen, who runs Gold Feet Global training services, has been impressed with sophomore cornerback approach to the offseason.

“He’s definitely trying to take someone’s spot,” said Allen of Couch, who as a freshman played in all 13 games on special teams but was behind

and cornerback reps.

“He doesn’t want to for be

abackup, so I believe that he’ll go in and work his hardest to earn more playing time. Obviously, he has to wait his turn, but if he has the opportunity to make a lot of plays during camp or during spring and leading into the regular season, he’ll do that. He’s definitely determined and disciplined as well. Real humble kid.”

Scott, whose TH3 LAB training service has worked with more than 400 NFL, college and high school players, has been impressed with Ivey’s potential.

“He’s one guy that can really set the tone and the standard of what it is to really be an elite defensive back,” said Scott of the rising junior. “Once he’s able to understand his length and how to use his length, his ceiling is going to be ridiculous. He has the speed, he has the hands, he has the range.

“He’s still very young. With him learning how to use his body and how to control his body, and if he’s in press-man, he’s going to know, ‘I can literally lock this full side of the field down and not have any issues of it.’ ” Junior defensive tackle

has worked with both Scott and Allen since the end of the season.

“Nesta’s speed is great,” Scott said. “It all starts with the feet. It all starts with the mobility. It all starts with the movement, being clean in the trenches where your feet will win you the battle every single time.

“Working on his feet, his hips, staying low and being comfortable staying low, making the right steps, the right movements, not stepping underneath ourselves when we do certain movements. Nesta’s been doing great at that.”

Allen has worked to improve similar facets of senior defensive tackle game.

“When it comes to my D-linemen, it’s all about getting that quick twitch to be able to get off the ball as fast as possible,” Allen said. “We’ll work on resistance sprints, over-speed drills, then deceleration drills. Getting in the backfield and being able to change directions when the running back changes direction, and just making more plays in the backfield, tackles for loss and creating more opportunities.” Redshirt sophomore striker

has been focusing coverage drills with on

Scott.

“Not being too out of control when he does break on the ball, making sure that his feet are where they need to be at,” said Scott of the details they’ve worked on.

“His hips, he’s not running too high and he’s able to get in and out of his breaks fluidly enough to get in on a play.

“His hip mobility, his 180-degree turns, backpedalopen run, backpedal-open cut down at 45 [degrees] has been the main thing we’ve been working on with him.”

With Miami losing two starting linebackers to graduation, Scott has been impressed with redshirt sophomore

who returned from a leg injury to play in the Louisville game last November.

“I think Pat is going to be used in such a great way because of what he brings,” said Scott, noting the former defensive end’s athleticism and ball skills for someone at his size. “Out of all the defensive guys that are coming back, as far as upside goes, Pat is definitely one to look out for.”

Blades is someone Allen has worked with for years as both are St. Thomas Aquinas grads, and after he split starts with Ivey at cornerback opposite of Bandy, Allen sees him making strides.

“Basically, just working on that press coverage, that lateral movement,” Allen said. “Getting him to understand the receiver releases and then getting out of their breaks and closing on that space.”

From Scott’s time with junior safety he identified fluidity with his hips and avoiding getting caught with his turns when reacting to receiver breaks as things they’ve worked on.