Rosier expects improvement
Redshirt freshman felt ‘terrible’ about effort vs. Clemson.
CORAL GABLES — Sophomore quarterback Brad Kaaya was not at practice Tuesday after suffering a concussion on a hard hit from defensive end Shaq Lawson that knocked him out of last week’s 58-0 loss to Clemson.
Interim coach Larry Scott said Kaaya is following the orders of the medical staff as he recovers from his injury. Will he start against 22nd-ranked Duke on Saturday?
“We’re still waiting,” offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach James Coley said.
Redshirt freshman Malik Rosier, who took most of the practice reps Tuesday, entered last Saturday’s game at 8:59 of the second quarter and went 7 of 22 for 42 yards with two interceptions. UM’s offense didn’t advance past Clemson’s 31-yard line.
“When I woke up the next day, I felt terrible,” said Rosier, who shares an off-campus apartment with Kaaya and sophomore receiver Braxton Berrios. “I felt I let Brad down. I went in the room and apologized to Brad, and was like, ‘Bro, I’m so sorry.’ He told me, ‘No, you’re fine.’ He said that’s over with. ‘We’ve got Duke. I need you to win that for me.’”
In the spring, Coley was excited about using Rosier as a package quarterback, and spent long hours preparing him to run the offense if Kaaya went down. Was it surprising to Coley that Rosier froze when his chance came Saturday?
“It’s surprising for everybody who knows him,” Coley said. “When it’s your opportunity, you have to be ready for that challenge and you have to step up and it has to be the first snap. You can’t get going after a couple series. That’s the challenge for him this week.
“He’s handled it pretty well so far, being ready in meetings, saying the right things on the field and coming out here and playing with that urgency. I wouldn’t say the word froze. I would say he wasn’t ready for that opportunity.”
Rosier vowed to be better prepared should he get another crack. He hopes — and Miami hopes — that the ACC’s leading passer (1,846 yards, with 10 touchdowns and two interceptions) will be well enough to help the Hurricanes battle Duke’s third- ranked defense (3.96 yards per play).
“He seems back to himself,” Rosier said of Kaaya. “He seems fine, but right now I’m preparing as a starter. He might come back. If he does, then I’m going to be here with him.”
Coley said leading receiver Rashawn Scott, who suffered an apparent upper-body injury in the fourth quarter against Clemson, did not participate in practice but could be ready Saturday. “Some of the stuff we were doing today he knows his stuff pretty well,” Coley said. “So just another day for him to rest.”
Coaches facing future: Asked whether he thinks about where he’ll be in a couple of months, Coley said: “Of course. I’m human. All that stuff gets into your brain. You think about it. ... It’s a good thing I don’t have time to think about that as much. You’re getting your guys ready.”
Scott, who is not a candidate for permanent coach at this time, laughed off a similar question.
“It’s not about me,” he said. “It’s really not about that. When this opportunity was presented to me, it was, ‘Yeah. Let’s go to work.’ ... It was about the kids. We owe them an opportunity.”
Defensive coordinator Mark D’Onofrio, a regular target of outside criticism, was asked bluntly if he’s “surprised he’s still here” after Golden, who showed loyalty in keeping him, was fired.
“No,” he said. “We all work our tails off and do everything we can for the players and that’s all we’ve done. We’re just going to continue to do that.”