Rosier refocused with an edge
QB takes ownership of poor game vs. Pitt, pushing team ahead
CORAL GABLES — Adversity is inevitable during any season, especially for a quarterback.
University of Miami coach Mark Richt was watching to see how Malik Rosier would react after playing so poorly that he was pulled during the fourth quarter in Friday’s 24-14 loss at Pittsburgh.
Rosier’s demeanor — despite the deepest funk he and the team has endured this season — had much to do with why Richt sent him back into the game. And why, although his performance was abysmal, there was never any doubt the redshirt junior would be the starter for Saturday’s Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Game.
“I was glad to see him not sit on the bench and pout. He was up, he was trying to help his teammates,” Richt said Tuesday. “He kind of grabbed me and said, ‘Coach, I would like to go back into there and try to lead this team to victory.’ That was good.”
Rosier returned and threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Braxton Berrios in the closing minutes of the dispiriting defeat.
More important has been a reassertion of his leadership leading up to the showdown with Clemson, according to coaches and teammates.
“I feel like he has more of an edge,” wide receiver Ahmmon Richards said of Rosier’s demeanor in practice this week. “I feel like he’s moving around a lot more, he’s more vocal. I just feel like he has an edge to him this week. I like it.”
Offensive coordinator Thomas Brown said: “This is his best week of preparation so far. [Tuesday] was a great practice, probably one of the best Tuesday’s of the year, because it starts with the quarterback. When he has a right mindset, taking charge and pushing the tempo, everybody else responds.”
Rosier’s comments after the loss that ended UM’s 15-game winning streak suggested a mindset not conducive to winning.
“I guess I got complacent,” Rosier said after the game. “I was kind of like going through my reads instead of dialing in and focusing every snap.”
The most logical explanation for Miami’s lackluster effort against a 4-7 opponent was that the Hurricanes didn’t take Pittsburgh seriously. In that regard, getting pulled was a useful wakeup call for Rosier.
Tuesday, in a conference call with national media, he acknowledged that he was the root of the problem in that game, and he must be at the forefront of the effort needed against the defending national champions.
“Coach Brown has a big thing that the ship follows the leader: The ship only goes as far as I go,” Rosier said. “The big thing that the coaches have been stressing to me is push the offense, push the tempo, get these guys going.”
Richt made it clear with a tweet after the game that Rosier would remain the starting quarterback.
There is no doubt that Miami’s best hope against Clemson resides with Rosier. His teammates appear comfortable with that knowledge and energized by what their quarterback has shown in practice the past few days.
“I think he’s more focused now,” running back Travis Homer said. “I’m not saying that he wasn’t focused before, but it’s just something extra.”
Keep in mind that at his best, Rosier isn’t the most accurate passer. He wasn’t among the 16 Hurricanes who received All-ACC honors this week on the first, second or third teams or honorable mention.
He has shown a knack for making plays at crucial moments while the Hurricanes were winning their first 10 games. At Pittsburgh, he was off-target all day, finishing 15-of-34 for 187 yards.
“He has not had many issues in his decision-making process,” Richt said. “That game, in particular, he missed open receivers too often. Why he did that, I couldn’t sit there and watch the film and say, ‘Your foot was a little bit different here or you overstrided there.’ ”
Richt even texted Rosier during the weekend asking how he felt.
There have been some shoulder issues. Some Sundays he doesn’t throw in practice to rest it. But that wasn’t the case this week, Rosier said.
“This is one of the few Sundays that I actually threw. Threw very well, actually. My arm still feels great,” said Rosier, adding that his confidence is similarly solid.
“Some guys lose, they’re done for,” he continued. “They don’t have the maturity to put a loss behind them and keep grinding. This team has showed so much maturity in the loss … I’ve had multiple defensive guys come up to me and say, ‘We’re fine, we’ve got your back, don’t worry.’ ”
All are encouraging signs for Miami, which will need a strong bounce-back effort from their quarterback and offensive unit to contend with Clemson. The deep and talented Tigers lead the ACC in rushing defense and passing defense.
“I think Malik’s responded great,” Richt said. “He knew when the game was over … he was our guy. He also knew that he struggled,” Richt said, adding that getting yanked, “It could shake up a guy, but I think he knows that we believe in him, and I do believe in him.
“I don’t think there’s any doubt he gives us the best chance of winning.”