Hurricanes making contact

But physical practice doesn’t answer other questions for coaches

CORAL GABLES — With music pumping through the building, the Hurricanes charged to the center of the Carol Soffer Indoor Practice Facility and, before long, sent two of their teammates to the center of their circle.

And there, the one-on-one matchups began, the yelling got louder and the hits came.

At most other places, what the Hurricanes did Friday morning when they donned full pads for the first time this spring would be called an “Oklahoma drill.” Under Hurricanes coach Manny Diaz, it’s dubbed the “Big ’Cane” drill, though the goal is the same: to get players competing physically while their teammates watch.

And no one — not even quarterbacks — is exempt. N’Kosi Perry and Jarren Williams went at it during one segment as the rest of the Hurricanes cheered.

“It was the first time we’ve ever done something like that around here,” co-defensive coordinator Blake Baker said. “Coach Diaz had to get them motivated to get going a little bit, but once they understood the expectation level it was awesome.

“It was great energy, great enthusiasm on both sides of the ball, a lot of stalemates, a lot of toughness shown through the guys that were called out there. It’s fun when he calls out a couple kickers and quarterbacks too. It was a good time overall.”

Added fellow co-defensive coordinator Ephraim Banda, “It’s just two guys, circling up on the ‘U’ [at midfield]. I know a lot of the older guys in this program, alumni, understand. We’re going to circle up on the ‘U’ and we’re going to see who’s tough. … We tell everyone you have to prove

your toughness to the locker room — not to me, not to Coach Diaz or Coach Baker. It’s about proving it to the locker room, and that’s an opportunity to do that.”

As the Hurricanes continue trying to put their disappointing 2018 season behind them, there’s no doubt increasing Miami’s level of physicality is one of Diaz’s goals, particularly on the defensive side of the ball, where the Hurricanes excelled last year. But helping younger players find their power and get extra reps isn’t the only focus this spring.

With veteran leaders such as safety Jaquan Johnson, fellow safety Sheldrick Redwine, cornerback Michael Jackson, defensive tackle Gerald Willis III and defensive end Joe Jackson gone, the Hurricanes know they will need playmakers to do more than deliver bone-crushing hits and force turnovers. They need to become the leaders those players were.

On Friday, Banda — who as Miami’s safeties coach worked extensively with both Johnson and Redwine — made it clear more work needs to be done on that front as this Hurricanes team tries to find itself ahead of its Aug. 24 season opener against Florida.

“We’re in practice three — that’s what this is about,” Banda said. “We’re trying to see who can really do that. Even if you are Shaq [Quarterman] or you’re [Mike] Pinckney, you still have to learn how to restart the whole thing after every year. And you’ve got to learn how to lead better, so we’re still looking.

“Obviously, the first two that come up are Shaq and Pinckney. Those are the two we’re going to look at right away, and they’re doing a good job. I think they’re really enjoying this, the way we’re doing things now. So for sure those two, but on the back end we’re obviously young.

“I’d like to see Trajan Bandy step up his overall leadership and see his growth. I’d like to see Amari Carter try to do that. But that’s for them push that.”

For his part, Baker says he’s been impressed with Quarterman and Pinckney — two linebackers who opted to return to Miami for their senior years — defensive tackle Pat Bethel, defensive end Scott Patchan and Bandy.

But like Banda, Baker understands a lot of work remains to be done on that front. to do. You can’t

Knowles, Smith ailing: With Johnson and Redwine gone, the Hurricanes don’t just need to find players to fill the leadership void in the locker room — they need to find players to take their spots in the secondary.

That’s been tough this week, with both Robert Knowles and Derrick Smith ailing, Baker said. Knowles — who was shaken up during the media viewing portion of Wednesday’s practice — was held out of drills Friday for precautionary reasons.

Baker said he expects both Knowles and Smith back next week, but in their absence former Palm Beach Gardens standout Amari Carter has been impressing.

“I see a sense of urgency,” Banda said. “I see his growth, but I tell him every day: You haven’t done anything. It’s your job to go out there and prove it.”

Rousseau progressing: Defensive end Greg Rousseau, a midyear enrollee last year, was one of last spring’s breakout players, but Miami was without him for much of the season itself after he underwent ankle surgery in September.

Now back on the field and fully cleared to participate, Baker said there have been few signs of rust and Rousseau is again making an impression.

“He’s been really good,” Baker said. “I do know about his injury and coming back from that.

“Same thing, you couldn’t tell by watching him here [Friday]. He’s a guy who the good Lord blessed in a lot of ways. He’s got a lot of talent.”