April 15 Spring Football Practice Report

April 15, 2004

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami football team donned full pads for a two-hour workout Thursday afternoon under clear skies at the Greentree practice fields to wrap up their 13th practice of the spring.

Head coach Larry Coker and the Hurricane coaching staff appears confident in the quarterbacks’ ability to handle defenses as spring practice draws to an end.

“It’s tough because (the quarterbacks) have had a lot of pressure put on them – we throw a lot of stuff at them,” Coker said. “From that standpoint, I’ve been pleased with how they have handled it. They’ve made some plays and some plays they haven’t had the opportunity. Hopefully we are playing good defense.”

Miami’s defensive line continues to impress coaches, emerging as one of the Hurricanes’ most talented units coming out of the spring.

“Orien Harris and Teraz McCray have been very difficult to block,” Coker said. “Those guys have been dominant players. Orien has done a great job chasing the ball and with screen passes to either side, he’s right there. He runs wide, runs inside – he’s around the ball.”

The Hurricane coaching staff looks for the defensive side to come out of Saturday’s spring game with a little momentum to carry into the summer workouts.

“I would like to see (the offense and defense) both win, but if it’s one or the other, I would rather see the defense win,” Coker said. “If you look back through history, they have had some great, great teams here, and some great offensive teams. Normally in the spring the offense is a little ahead, so if I had to choose one way or the other, I would say I would want the defense to be a little ahead.”

Miami will return to the Greentree practice fields for the final time this spring Friday, working out in shorts for the 14th practice of the spring.

The Hurricanes conclude practice Saturday with the annual spring game, along with CanesFest at the Orange Bowl beginning at 10 a.m.