Hurricanes Head Back To Practice Field
Aug. 15, 2005
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami football team returned to the Greentree Practice Fields Monday for its second double-session of the preseason after spending Sunday in meetings.
Miami’s coaching staff spent Saturday and Sunday picking apart film of the Hurricanes’ Saturday scrimmage and were able to better concentrate on areas of development heading into Monday. The play of quarterbacks Kyle Wright and Kirby Freeman in the scrimmage garnered some praise from head coach Larry Coker, though Coker was more focused on the improvement of the team as a whole.
“The scrimmage was about what I expected it to be,” Coker said. “It was a good scrimmage from the standpoint that there were some good things from the offense and good things from the defense, but a lot of things can be done better on both sides. There was a lot to build on.”
The team practiced in full pads in the morning and was dressed in shoulder pads and shorts in the afternoon. Coker was pleased with the turnovers his defense created during the morning session but stressed the need for his offense to protect the ball. “The effort is good, but we’re making too many mental (errors),” Coker said. “We’re working hard and we need to keep pushing on.”
Regardless of whether the offense or defense dominates practice, overall progress is the key with the season opener against Florida State just three weeks away.
“We can’t let this week just slide by,” Coker said. “It has got to be productive time. This is one of those tough weeks. It’s three weeks before the (FSU) game, but it seems like three years to the players.”
The Hurricanes will step back into the sun with an 8:30 a.m. practice Tuesday at the Greentree Practice Fields.
Notes: Sophomore guard Derrick Morse, who sprained his left shoulder last week, will be out for a few weeks recovering and will miss the season opener at FSU, Coker confirmed. … Coker categorized right guard Tony Tella (high ankle sprain) as day to day… Senior defensive end Thomas Carroll missed practice due to illness. … Freshman defensive tackle Antonio Dixon was back in practice on a limited basis. … Linebacker Tavares Gooden participated in the afternoon practice. … When asked about freshman safety Kenny Phillips, Coker had some encouraging words. “You don’t have to be too astute to see him jump off the charts and make plays. He’s had a couple interceptions on a couple different days of practice. He’ll get your attention. Plus, he’s a physical player.”… In addition to Kenny Phillips, Coker was also happy with freshmen defensive backs Randy Phillips and Bruce Johnson. “We didn’t miss with any of those three,” Coker said. “I’m really excited about all three of those guys.”
