Canes hold final scrimmage before turning focus to LSU
Richt wanted to see players in specific game situations.
CORAL GABLES — The Hurricanes went through their final scrimmage Wednesday morning before their Sept. 2 season
opener against LSU.
The closed situational scrimmage, held at Southridge High, included an interception from Sheldrick Redwine and a touchdown catch from Ahmmon Richards, according to coach Mark Richt.
This scrimmage was meant to put the players in certain situations, as Richt called it a “practice game” in shorts and helmets without pads. It even included the pregame warm-up routine, designed to simulate Miami’s opener. “The No. 1 goal was to create situations that we would have to play out,” Richt said.
The Hurricanes were represented by the offensive and defensive starters. “The best of the rest” represented LSU.
The scrimmage started with this situa
tion: the Hurricanes down 17-0 at the start of the second half. The starters scored three
consecutive touchdowns to put the Hurricanes ahead 21-17, but Richt decided to put the first-unit in another hole by giving LSU a touchdown to give the Tigers a 24-21 lead. The Hurricanes ended up winning 28-27 with the help of a game-winning extra point from freshman kicker Bubba Baxa.
Baxa was recruited to be the starting kicker, and it looks like he’ll begin the season in that role. But if Baxa (a scholarship kicker) falters, Camden Price (a walk-on kicker) could get an opportunity.
“They’ve both done a nice job. Bubba would be the guy right now,” Richt said. “I’ve seen Price kick it well, so I feel good about that.”
Other Richt observations off the scrimmage:
■ Cornerback Trajan Bandy and defensive end Demetrius Jackson participated in the scrimmage. Defensive end Joe Jackson was held out for precautionary reasons and linebacker De’Andre Wilder also did not scrimmage as he’s still being evaluated by UM’s medical staff. The Hurricanes said Tuesday that Bandy was day-to-day, Jackson’s elbow brace was precautionary and Wilder was undergoing evaluation from the medical staff.
■ On quarterback Malik Rosier’s improved accuracy and the starting offensive line: “(Malik is) doing well. It’s so true — the bigger the pocket, the more accurate he is. But that’s true of any quarterback I’ve ever coached. We’re protecting him real well. Our No. 1 line is really doing a good job . ... I don’t think we’ve budged that first line since Day 1.” That offensive line would be: Tyree St. Louis (left tackle), Jahair Jones (left guard), Tyler Gauthier (center), Hayden Mahoney (right guard) and Navaughn Donaldson (right tackle).
■ On St. Louis’ transition to left tackle: “He’s done great. Even throughout the summer, the things we’re allowed to do. You don’t know how a guy will do at the left tackle spot, but he did it really well. He’s done very well all camp. He’s a really good leader for us. I would say him and Tyler Gauthier and Malik are the top guys that are leading. But we’ve got Ahmmon and (Lawrence) Cager starting to step up in that area. (Travis) Homer, he just leads by showing up every day and kicking butt. I feel better about the leadership of our offense this year.”
■ On defensive tackle depth: “Tito (Odenigbo) has come in and done well. (Nesta) Silvera is a guy that has a lot of potential. He is already big and strong and physical. He’s still learning how to play college football, but I think he’s going to help us. Jon Ford is a second-year guy. We already got (Pat) Bethel and Gerald Willis (projected starters). There’s another one in there — Jordan Miller. The brand new guys have got a ways to go. They’re kind of like the skill guys — they’ll flash, then the next time they might get a double team on them and they get moved too far. We’re definitely going to have to play by committee.”