Blocking by WRs earning praise
Richt is ‘really big on physical dominance,’ says QB Rosier.
CORAL GABLES — ESPN’s Desmond Howard won the Heisman Trophy in part for his punt-return skills, but he was primarily a standout wide receiver for Michigan. Knowing the intricacies of the position, he was so fired up about the Hurricanes receivers that he rose from his seat while narrating a segment on “College GameDay” last Saturday morning.
“They are some of the best blockers in the nation,” Howard said, his voice rising to a shout over a clip of Ahmmon Richards (Wellington High) flattening an unsuspecting Florida State defender. “Those are championship plays . ... That gets me going. I love that.”
Miami’s downfield blocking has been strong this year, especially on long passing plays. But Miami has had trouble moving bodies in the run game, particularly up front. It especially irritated Mark Richt at North Carolina on Oct. 28, when Miami scored 24 points and rushed for 1.8 yards per carry against a team that’s currently 2-8.
“Coach Richt is really big on physical dominance,” quarterback Malik Rosier said Wednesday. “You watched the UNC game. We weren’t that physical. He took that to heart. He was (upset) all week going into the Virginia Tech game. He told the offensive line, if you guys aren’t physical up front, we won’t win this game.”
Miami rushed for 210 yards that week in a 28-10 win, then 237 yards in last Saturday night’s 41-8 win over Notre Dame, nearly
doubling their averages coming into those games. The Hurricanes scored a combined five rushing touchdowns and, last week, called 24 run plays in a row (“a first for me,” Richt said).
It’s one reason Miami’s offense is more dangerous entering the final weeks of the season: when others are finishing their blocks, drives are sustained, and big gains come easier.
“We aren’t overlooking teams anymore,” Rosier said. “Our receivers, too. They’re bringing a more physical presence in the run game. You see Ahmmon Richards and Lawrence Cager ... blocking 3 or 4 yards down the field. That’s the biggest difference: we’re playing more physical as an offense.”
Braxton Berrios, who has served up a few pancake blocks this year, said receivers aren’t rewarded for big blocks. UM’s offensive linemen receive a brick for their work, and of course, Miami’s defense has its Turnover Chain.
“We get a nice pat on the back and laugh about it in the film room,” Berrios said. “So much goes on for us to get a catch. We have to return those favors.”
Injuries were a factor in Miami’s midseason malaise.
The Hurricanes opened the spring with a starting offensive line of, left to right, seniors Kc McDermott (Palm Beach Central) and Trevor Darling, junior Tyler Gauthier, early-enrollee and true freshman Navaughn Donaldson and junior Tyree St. Louis. They were together until Oct. 7 at Florida State, when Donaldson sprained his ankle. That was the game star running back Mark Walton went down with a season-ending ankle injury.
While Travis Homer (Oxbridge High) adjusted to life as the No. 1 back, and Miami searched for his new backup, the offensive line shuffled between three guards (Darling, true freshman Corey Gaynor and redshirt sophomore Hayden Mahoney). Things clicked two weeks ago, with Donaldson’s return to form and the emergence of true freshman running back DeeJay Dallas.
Dallas has 18 carries for 85 yards in the past two weeks,and scored a pair of touchdowns against Notre Dame. Offensive coordinator Thomas Brown called him an “alpha male-type personality.”
Homer looks stronger than ever, with 32 carries for 241 yards, and is ninth nationally in yards per carry (6.67) among running backs with 100 or more carries. Rosier has become more dangerous with his legs of late, with 22 carries for 128 yards and a pair of touchdowns in Miami’s last two games. He’s running tougher, too, lowering his shoulder and careening off defenders on a touchdown against Notre Dame.
Brown likes Rosier’s consistency and handling of young players as well as his improved accuracy.
“He’s obviously doing a better job when we ask him to run the football, making some plays,” Brown said of his first-year starting quarterback. Last week, “he made a couple guys miss and then he came back and told us about (it), which is good.”
Not coincidentally, Miami has seemed to fix another season-long malady: after scoring fivetouchdowns in its previous 14 red-zone trips, Miami has six in nine tries the past two weeks.
“There were multiple times in previous games, especially before the Virginia Tech game, where our defense would have a great stop or a turnover and the offense would get no points out of it,” Rosier said.
“We’re not only making people turn the ball over, but we’re punishing them for turning the ball over.” GAINESVILLE — With two games remaining and a losing season guaranteed, the Florida football team is trying to finish on a high note for pride.
Next season, though, will be a different thought.
With a new coach, a new staff and a new chance to bring Florida back to its winning ways, 2018 could be an early opportunity to make waves.
If the Gators want to be successful, these underclassmen will be vital, regardless of if it’s Chip Kelly or someone else who’s coaching.
LB David Reese: Reese, only a sophomore, has been the Gators’ unquestionable leader late in the season. He called out the team’s lack of effort following the loss to Missouri, and freshmen and veterans alike are looking to Reese to lead the way.
He’s also the Gators’ best player at a position where they have struggled all season. Reese leads the team with 83 tackles — next closest is Chauncey Gardner with 52. Reese has four games with double-digit tackles and is on a straight path for a successful junior season, barring injury.
WR Tyrie Cleveland: Cleveland is Florida’s only proven deep threat on the roster. Even after being hobbled by a high-ankle sprain and only recording five catches during the Gators’ losing streak, he still leads the team in receiving yards (388), yards per catch (19.4) and touchdowns (two).
The highlight of the season, still, is the 63-yard winning touchdown catch against Tennessee from Feleipe Franks as time expired. When healthy, Cleveland is capable of making many more critical catches.
RBs Malik Davis and Lamical Perine: Davis was poised to take on a lead back role next season before sustaining a season-ending knee injury against Georgia. With his timetable to return uncertain, Florida’s next coaching staff will likely rely on Perine heavily early in the season while Davis gets back to full strength. Perine has held his own this season. He’s averaging 4.4 yards per carry and has a teambest seven rushing touchdowns. Davis, however, is a superstar in the making. Prior to the injury, he was averaging 6.7 yards per carry and had five consecutive games with at least 90 rushing yards. Both will be vital in 2018 for setting the tone on offense.
CB Marco Wilson: Florida’s young secondary will have to make a big jump next season if the Gators defense wants to get back to anything close to its glory days.
Wilson will be pivotal in that progression. The lockdown corner has started every game this season and is tied for the team lead with nine pass break-ups, a mark that ranks second among all freshmen.
The ‘Bam Bam’ Kids: Florida is likely going to lose redshirt junior Taven Bryan to the NFL draft. Khairi Clark could leave, too. With that, the Gators will need to rebuild the interior of the defensive line.
Luckily, it has a freshman class full of defensive linemen ready to make an impact.
Defensive tackles T.J. Slaton, Elijah Conliffe and Kyree Campbell — along with defensive end Zach Carter — all should be primed for big roles in 2018. The quartet known as the “Bam Bam Kids” has been biding its time and playing spot roles while getting ready for its opportunity to shine.
Slaton (6 feet 4, 358 pounds), Conliffe (6-4, 317) and Campbell (6-3, 305) are massive and should have an advantage going up against SEC offensive lines.
Carter, who has not played this season, was a four-star recruit. He will likely see a role next season. UAB at Florida, 4 p.m., SEC Network