Hurricanes
Some freshmen struggle while offensive line improves pass protection during scrimmage.
MIAMI GARDENS — Ahead of their first scrimmage of fall camp, Miami Hurricanes coach Mark Richt said he wanted to try and create as close to a gameday-like atmosphere as he could for his team, particularly his freshmen.
So, on Saturday evening, the Hurricanes trekked from Coral Gables to Hard Rock Stadium where their coaches put them through a closed, situational workout that they hoped would give their players some muchneeded experience and give them some clarity on a still emerging depth chart.
While Richt has, in the past, provided “unofficial official” statistics after scrimmages, he declined on Saturday, noting that “in the fall, I really don’t want to give anybody a clue to who’s doing what.”
O-line improves
That said, the coach did say he felt Miami’s first offensive line provided better protection on Saturday for quarterback Malik Rosier, who was named the Hurricanes starter last month. He also said the quarterback, who completed 54 percent of his passes and threw for 3,120 yards and 26 touchdowns last season with four interceptions, threw two touchdown passes on Saturday with no picks.
During the spring, Miami’s offensive line gave up 22 sacks in three scrimmages. Their first line’s performance Saturday was better, Richt said, though the second unit struggled against Miami’s first-string defense.
“The one unit all fall long has been really good. No complaints there. The twos, they’re struggling going against the best we’ve got. Those guys are pretty good, those rushers. Whether it’s just coming off the edge with speed or start out with speed and decide to go … they call it go from speed to power — you’re doing a speed rush and then you turn right into the guy and run him into the quarterback— I sawa few of those,” Richt said. “You know, our tight ends, we do use our tight ends to protect at times and they’re getting knocked around, manhandled pretty good right now, especially the young guys. But, it’s a combination of a guy like Joe Jackson just being a full-grown man and them still trying to figure it out.”
As to how sophomore Navaughn Donaldson is transitioning to his new role as right tackle, Richt seemed pleased. He also said freshman offensive lineman DJ Scaife is having a strong camp and Tennessee transfer Venzell Boulware is working to learn the offense.
“Navaughn’s doing much better. … I feel good about him at right tackle right now. I feel good about the 1 unit. Hayden Mahoney has had a really good camp. We’re thinking Venzell would really challenge him and I think he still can challenge him, but as you would imagine, he’s still learning what to do, Venzell is still learning,” Richt said. “When he really learns it and can play full speed, he can probably compete a little bit harder.”
Rating QBs
While Rosier seems to be hanging on to the No. 1 quarterback job, redshirt sophomore N’Kosi Perry and Cade Weldon have put together solid performances in camp, Richt said. On Saturday, though, the coach said Weldon had some accuracy issues.
Freshman Jarren Williams, he indicated, is still working to learn the system.
“The other quarterbacks, I think are getting there … I will say I think N’Kosi is coming along well. Jarren, he just still kind of sometimes gets his head on a swivel and finds somebody and zings it to them,” Richt said. “He doesn’t always know exactly where he’s going and why, but he’s got ability. Weldon’s really had a great camp. Really, he only had one day where he was off. The first five [days] in a row, he was on fire. Really, had probably the highest passing percentage of all QBs. He didn’t get on track that much tonight.” ...
Assessing freshmen
As to the play of Miami’s freshmen, Richt indicated that some of them struggled when playing their first “game” at Hard Rock Stadium. He gave no specifics, but said some of the young Hurricanes dropped passes they haven’t dropped in camp and freshman kicker Bubba Baxa struggled.
Baxa is the Hurricanes No. 1 kicker after Michael Badgley’s graduation.
“I think Bubba’s eyes got big, too, learning how to kick in a half-a-billion-dollar stadium. I think it might have got to him a little bit. He struggled today, to be honest with you. In the other practices, though, he’s done very well. He actually, well he didn’t make ... he kicked like a 57-yarder that had enough juice, but just missed. He’s got a big strong leg and he’s just got to get his reps in and get over the fact that he’s a No. 1kicker at the University of Miami. He’s got to realize there’s a lot of people counting on him.” ...
Richt also said that he felt the Hurricanes made it out of Saturday night’s scrimmage in relatively good health. He said there were some minor injuries, but nothing that concerned him too much. Linebacker Michael Pinckney, who missed practice on Thursday with an ankle injury, participated in Saturday’s scrimmage, Richt said.
“We had no one have anything that I would be really concerned about. You get, guys get dinged-up a little bit and some guys go out for aminute, come back,” Richt said, when asked about injuries. “We had a couple guys thatwere kind of nursing a hammy, thought they were ready but weren’t quite ready but didn’t pull it. A couple guys like that.” ...
So what’s next for the Hurricanes? Richt said there will likely be moves on the depth chart as the staff evaluates film from Saturday night.
The plan for next week, he said, is to perfect what has already been installed before the team shifts into full preparation for its season opener against LSU on Sept. 2 in Arlington, Texas.
“I think we’re in a good place. I think guys are fighting hard. I think they’re working the way they need towork. I think after watching this tape, we’ll get closer to trying to figure out who can play and who can’t,” Richt said.
“I think Bubba’s eyes got big, too, learning how to kick in a half-a-billion-stadium. I think it might have got to him a little bit.” Mark Richt,
UM coach on freshman kicker Bubba Baxa