Competitive advantage

Diaz says battles for playing time will make program stronger

Miami Hurricanes coach Manny Diaz cited competition at cornerback Wednesday in reaction to sophomore Christian Williams’ Tuesday decision to enter the NCAA transfer portal.

“Sometimes, it’s just a fit,” Diaz said. “Christian is a good young man from a good family. But ultimately, it comes down to competition on Greentree Practice Field. That’s what everybody wants.

“That’s what everybody says — if we want it to be the way it was at one time [at UM], you got to be able to compete. You got to be able to be the best version of yourself. We’ve had nothing but competition, and one thing we pride ourselves on in the secondary is playing the most competitive guys.”

Diaz is moving forward, playing his top three cornerbacks: juniors Al Blades Jr. and DJ Ivey and sophomore Te’Cory Couch. Freshman Isaiah Dunson now appears to be vying for playing time as well.

“I like the guys we’ve got,” Diaz said. “I like the guys we roll with, the way Isaiah Dunson is competing. He’ll be in the mix more and more as the season goes on, just like Brian Balom [at safety]. Both those guys have a competitive spirit.”

Williams played a small number of snaps defensively against UAB in the season-opening victory. Diaz said the number of guys who play at a position can be fluid.

“There’s a line in terms of you can’t just put guys in the secondary that you’re not sure that they’re going to compete,” Diaz said. “The line is the line. If there’s three guys across that line, if there’s four guys across that line — some years, it’s taken guys halfway through the season to become that guy. That’s just all part of it.

“We’re not just trying to play whoever for the sake of playing whoever. I’ve got three really competitive guys in Ivey, Blades and Couch. Those guys bring it every day out there.”

Apparently alluding to Ivey giving up the early touchdown against UAB last Thursday, Diaz said he understands it happens from time to time.

“The only way to not get a ball caught on you is to not show up for the game,” Diaz said. “We have techniques. We can coach better on some of those plays.

“What I’m looking at is who runs to the ball, who tackles, who sets edges on defense and who do their teammates know they can believe in to be highly competitive on every play? Once you raise your level to that standard, it’s amazing how the playing time shows up after that.”

King on passing game

Quarterback D’Eriq King reiterated offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee’s notion earlier in the week that Miami needs to be more explosive in the passing game.

“We have to start making plays, me giving the receivers downfield a chance to make plays, and just being calm in the pocket,” King said. “There were times last game where, I would say, I was out of sorts. I would drop back, I would feel a little bit of pressure and try to escape. Probably just stay in the pocket a little longer and try to make the throws.”

King said UAB gave the Hurricanes one-on-one looks that they didn’t take advantage of, but he was encouraged that there was only one miscommunication on a route, considering it was everyone’s first game under Lashlee.

“It was a first game — first time that we all actually got to play together in a real game,” King said. “We just got to hit them, keep throwing them, taking shots and giving the receivers a chance.

“I have a lot of confidence in those guys.”

Chain reaction

Hurricanes players got to see the fourth installment of the Turnover Chain ahead of the opener against UAB, although the defense did not force a turnover last Thursday in order to reveal it publicly.

UM linebacker Zach McCloud said fans will like the new edition and is hopeful the team will debut it in Saturday’s prime-time matchup against Louisville.

“The fans will like it regardless — it’s the Turnover Chain,” McCloud said. “As far as the defense, that’s one of the things we can all improve on because we had multiple opportunities to turn that ball over last week.

[The] first-game jitters are out of the way. The biggest jump a team makes is from Game 1 to Game 2, so we’ll see what happens.”

Said defensive end Jaelan Phillips: “Our goal is always to get that Turnover Chain every game. That’s why we’re Miami.

“It was kind of disappointing that we didn’t get it last week. We had a couple of opportunities, but we’re definitely building on that and we’re hoping to bring it out this week on prime time.”

MIKE STOCKER/SUN SENTINEL Miami coach Manny Diaz says player competition is what will help the football program regain its past glory.