Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Bolden hears criticism, wants to make more plays
Bubba Bolden is aware of the criticisms toward him through the Miami Hurricanes’ first six games after the team’s 2-4 start to the season in which UM’s defense is allowing over 30 points per game to FBS opponents.
“Everybody looks at it [like],” Bolden said Wednesday, “‘Oh, Bubba you should be playing how you did the first half of the season [last year].’ “
Bolden’s production during the first half of the 2020 season he’s referring to? Thirty-four tackles (four for loss), three forced fumbles and one interception through the first six games of last season.
In the 11 games since then spanning across the past two seasons, Bolden’s recorded 49 tackles, but has only forced one fumble and zero interceptions.
“Once you become a good player in other team’s minds, teams start to game plan around certain players,” Bolden said. “Sometimes it’s frustrating for me to not be able to make plays, but we have other guys out there who can make those plays.
“If they key on me, somebody else has to make the play. That’s all good for me. I just want to win, that’s why I came back. To also increase my draft stock — more football will better me for the next level — but at the same time I’m focused on the now and trying to get better.”
Bolden, a returning starter who’s been with Miami since 2019 after transferring from USC and was named to the All-ACC second team last year, hasn’t been graded well by Pro Football Focus for most games this season.
Without publicly revealing how Miami has assessed Bolden’s play this year, coach Manny Diaz said he doesn’t put a lot of stock into the Pro Football Focus grades.
“I don’t know how they can grade a player not knowing what their assignment is, what responsibilities they have — there’s so much nuance to how everybody coaches,” Diaz added. “It’s easy to count tackles, [pass break-ups] and interceptions.
“Bubba’s played well. There’s been some situations where the ball hasn’t found Bubba. I know he wants to make more plays, but we talk about being where he’s supposed to be and being responsible. Bubba is our best communicator on the back end, the best guy in terms of getting everybody lined up and anticipating what’s coming from the offense.”
Although he continues to be one of the highest-played defensive players for UM, Bolden has witnessed firsthand the Hurricanes’ youth movement on defense, with true freshman safety James Williams moving into a starting role over Gurvan Hall Jr.
True freshman Kam Kinchens received more reps at safety than Hall in UM’s loss to North Carolina last Saturday, which has made communication more important on Bolden’s end.
“That’s been a key thing, especially having young guys out there, I got to overemphasize that,” Bolden said. “Just make sure we’re on the same page. I feel like that’s one of my better traits.”
What areas does he see himself needing to improve at?
“I’d say tackling, that’s always the key thing,” Bolden said. “I’ve missed a few tackles here and there in games, but at the same time I have stepped up some key tackling too. Overall, I’d say I’m out there doing good. I’m communicating a lot better. We have to get everyone on the same page. I’m just out there trying to do my part and be the leader of the defense.”
While also wanting to make the game-changing plays that’s alluded him for the last year.
“One thing I really want is to get some interceptions,” Bolden said. “Hopefully that ball comes my way or hopefully I can put myself in a better position to make a play. Those are some things right there. Tackling is going to come. Those big-time plays, they’re very limited, so I can try to go out and get some plays like that.”