UM at Pittsburgh
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Receiver Jeff Thomas among Hurricanes returning to practice Tuesday.
CORAL GABLES — Miami Hurricanes receiver Jeff Thomas, who was suspended for UM’s game last Saturday against Georgia Tech, was back with the team and practicing on Tuesday.
Along with Thomas, quarterback N’Kosi Perry and cornerback Trajan Bandy, recovering from injuries, were at practice ahead of Miami’s ACC Coastal game at Pittsburgh on Saturday. Perry suffered a separated left, non-throwing shoulder against the Yellow Jackets, according to offensive coordinator Dan Enos, and re-entered the game. Bandy’s ailment was unknown, but he exited the Tech game in the third quarter and never went back in.
Not at practice on Tuesday were junior running back DeeJay Dallas, who suffered an apparent knee injury early in the Georgia Tech game, and senior linebacker Michael Pinckney. Pinckney’s injury was undisclosed, but like Bandy, he did not re-enter the game.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Jarren Williams, the Hurricanes’ starter for their first five games this season, was throwing deeper routes on Tuesday than he was last week. Dealing with what the team has called an upper-extremity injury, Williams was not throwing two weeks ago ahead of the Virginia game. He threw short patterns last week and appeared to deliver a stronger, crisper ball on Tuesday.
Williams finished off one drive when Perry left the Tech game momentarily. Perry initially subbed in for Williams when Williams started the Virginia Tech game with interceptions on Miami’s first three drives.
Perry finished off the Oct. 5 contest with the Hokies and started the win against Virginia on Oct. 11 and last Saturday’s loss.
Tate Martell was still working with the quarterbacks on Tuesday. Losing out on the preseason quarterback competition, Martell had switched to receiver ahead of the season opener.
With Pinckney not at practice, senior Zach McCloud was seen working with the first team as Miami lined up its linebackers and secondary. McCloud is planning on redshirting this season to preserve his final year of eligibility and lead an inexperienced linebacker corps next year that would lose Pinckney and Shaq Quarterman.
Coach Manny Diaz said on Monday that burning McCloud’s redshirt was an option if Pinckney was out. Playing in the season’s first three games before deciding it would be best to redshirt, McCloud has one game left that he can play to reach the limit of four to redshirt.
Against Tech, walk-on Ryan Ragone came in for the injured Pinckney and finished the game. Ragone was with the second team alongside backup middle linebacker, freshman Sam Brooks.
Also with the first-team defense for a brief portion of media viewing on Tuesday was sophomore cornerback Al Blades Jr. DJ Ivey, who gave up two touchdowns last Saturday, one on a fake punt, was with the second team.
Getting back to tackling: The Hurricanes had a new issue pop up against Georgia Tech, something that has been atypical of a Diaz-led defense: Tackling.
According to Pro Football Focus, the Hurricanes had 29 missed tackles against the Yellow Jackets.
“Get back to the lab and uphold that standard, that work standard,” senior defensive tackle Pat Bethel said. “It doesn’t change. Come out here and practice like it’s our last day.”
Bethel said nothing changed in practice as far as having a greater emphasis on tackling or going through different drills.
“Same stuff,” he said. “It’s the same standard. The standard ain’t going to change. It’s just the way we uphold it.”
Harris, Wiggins stepping up: With DeeJay Dallas going down in the Tech game and his status unknown for the matchup with Pittsburgh, No. 2 running back Cam’Ron Harris stepped up with 136 rushing yards on 18 carries, plus three catches for 31 yards and a receiving touchdown last Saturday.
With Thomas suspended, sophomore receiver Dee Wiggins got his first start of the season.
“I stayed calm and collected,” Wiggins said. “I just [had] to go out there and play.”
Offensive coordinator Dan Enos on Monday said the team is preparing running back Robert Burns to play more snaps, dependent on Dallas’ health.