Diaz evaluates defensive unit, then tells it like it is
Linebacker Smith, safety Knowles earn praise for progress.
CORAL GABLES — Rather than sidestepping questions, Hurricanes defensive coordinator Manny Diaz offers direct responses to direct inquiries.
A s k e d w h o h i s m o s t i mprove d p l ay e r i s t h i s spring, the always-insightful Diaz discussed the progress of several players, including middle linebacker Mike Smith and safet y Rober t Knowles. He said Smith, a redshirt junior, has “really made a jump,” and Knowles, a redshirt sophomore, “is a much better player than he was a year ago.”
■ The next step for defensive end Chad Thomas, a former five-star recruit entering his senior year, is to “put it all together on game day, even in scrimmages,” Diaz said. Thomas, who had double-digit tackles for loss last year and projects to start at strong-side end, is improving but can be even more of a force. “He’s playing so much better,” Diaz said. “He can be so much better.”
■ Sophomore weakside linebacker Michael Pinckney “is more inconsistent in the effort department” than Diaz would like. “He’s learning that he has to bring it every day to be a big-time guy,” Diaz said. Resurgent redshirt junior Darrion Owens, who believes he’s over his serious September 2015 knee injury, is challenging for that starting role but needs to show Diaz he’s a playmaker.
“Little by little, his confidence is coming back,” coach Mark Richt said of Owens. “He’s playing a little harder and faster. He’s changing direction better. A year ago, it almost looked like he was dragging that leg along with him. Now he’s much more in sync with his gait and how he runs, how he moves and how he changes direction. I’m really happy for him.”
■ Diaz, in response to questions about who among his cornerbacks is making a case for playing time this fall, said it’s too early to tell. “Most of the bad things that happened to us in (last Saturday ’s) scrimmage happened to us on the outside,” Diaz said. That goes for the wide receivers, too; both the cornerback and wideout units will get an upgrade this summer. Among those arriving on campus is an FCS All-American grad transfer cornerback (The Citadel’s Dee Delaney), a junior college cornerback ( Jhavonte Dean), a four-star cornerback recruit (Trajan Bandy) and two high school All-American receivers, Mike Harley and Jeff Thomas.
Diaz said the message to Miami’s defensive backs and receivers is clear: Make an impression now, because in the fall, “We only have so many reps because we’ve got to figure out what these young guys can do,” he said.
■ At defensive t ackle, Anthony Moten has played with more urgency, Diaz said, a welcome sight entering his senior year. He’s pushing starters Kendrick Norton and R.J. McIntosh, though those t wo most likely are locked into their roles. Diaz praised converted defensive end Pat Bethel, who “seems like he belongs in there,” and had a fine start to Saturday’s scrimmage, with a sack and double-team split in his first two plays. Bethel, listed by UM at 6-3, 245 last year, is now in the low 270s.
■ Defensive end Scott Patchan, who’s had multiple knee injuries, should be ready to play this fall. “We expect I think pretty much everyone on our roster to be full-go in August,” Diaz said.