OL struggles to put it together

CORAL GABLES — Entering spring practice, the Hurricanes offensive line knew it faced a challenge in trying to replace veteran left tackle Kc McDermott and left guard Trevor Darling, who both graduated and are now hoping to hear their names called in next week’s NFL draft.

After five weeks of work, that line has endured its share of issues.

In both of Miami’s first two scrimmages — including Saturday’s spring game — the offensive line struggled, giving up sacks and forcing Hurricanes coach Mark Richt and offensive line coach Stacy Searels to get creative in finding ways to protect Miami’s quarterbacks, who weren’t getting much time to work.

During Miami’s first spring scrimmage, Searels moved Hayden Mahoney up to the first unit and shifted Navaughn Donaldson from right guard to right tackle.

That revamped first unit — which also included Tyree St. Louis at left tackle, Jahair Jones at left guard, Tyler Gauthier at center and put Mahoney at right guard — had just one day of real work together ahead of Saturday’s spring game.

As one might expect, the group struggled again, giving up nine sacks, with even reserve defensive linemen pressuring Malik Rosier, N’Kosi Perry and Jarren Williams.

“Do we have any true tackles out there right now? I don’t know. Is Tyree a true left tackle? He’s there now and he gives us our best shot right now and I think he can and I think he is,” Richt said this past Saturday. “Is Navaughn going to be? I think so. … He’s energized to play that position. … I think he’ll end up being just fine. If we run into guys we’re just struggling protecting, we’ll find ways to help them out, but I really don’t like doing that in the spring because I just want to see what those guys can do without the help. … We’ve just got to make sure we get the right five, work them all this summer and in fall camp, we’ve got to go do it.”

For Miami’s linemen, some of that work has already begun, in a way. Though spring games traditionally mark the start of the offseason, the Hurricanes have continued working this year, practicing both Tuesday and Thursday ahead of one final, situational scrimmage scheduled for Saturday.

While finding motivation with an unusual schedule like that may have been an issue for some players, it hasn’t been for the offensive line. Both St. Louis and Mahoney said Thursday there has been a sense of urgency this week, with the line continuing to try and put the right players in the right spots.

On Thursday, that included keeping St. Louis, Jones, Gauthier, Mahoney and Donaldson with the first unit and George Brown, Delone Scaife, Corey Gaynor, Zalon’tae Hillery and John Campbell Jr. on the second unit. Both Scaife and Campbell are freshmen early enrollees that arrived on campus in January and are getting their first taste of college football.

“The spring game put us in the best place to know where we’re at and what positions certain guys are at,” said St. Louis, who moved from right tackle to left tackle this spring. “Now, it gives us a chance to see if we need to keep these guys here, keep these guys there, move this way, move that way. … As an offensive line, we were very disappointed in the scrimmage but we definitely what we need to come back to, the toughness that we need to have and fix the little things. Little things matter the most on the offensive line and that’s what we need to fix.”

As the Hurricanes prepare to move into the offseason, they also know there will be time to continue improving before camp begins. They also know help is on the way, with former Tennessee offensive lineman Venzell Boulware set to arrive this summer after he graduates in May.