Hurricanes Bounce Back With Strong Practice
Aug. 19, 2005
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami Hurricanes football team seemed to be a little tired after Thursday’s double session during Friday’s morning practice at the Greentree Practice Fields. UM was able to overcome a slow start to practice with its second wind and provide a strong finish.
“We were tired and a little bit sore,” head coach Larry Coker said. “We were a little bit sluggish on both sides of the ball. Defensively we really picked it up in the two-minute drill and came on and had a nice finish.”
Although the offense has worked more cohesively and shown improvement in its two-minute drills, the defense has continued to thwart them. The play of the day came from freshman safety Kenny Phillips, who laid out, fully-extended, to intercept a corner route near the end of practice. “We didn’t really compete for the ball offensively and Phillips made a great play,” Coker said. “That’s what happens at this level, and that’s what will happen in Tallahassee if we do the same thing. (Florida State) has the same type of players. It was just a phenomenal play by Phillips and it is something we’ve seen a lot throughout camp.”
Two other young players who have caught Coker’s eye are linebackers Willie Williams and Jon Beason. Coker compared Williams to former Hurricane and current Denver Broncos linebacker D.J. Williams. “He has shown me a lot,” Coker said of Willie Williams. “He’s not a lot different than D.J. Williams when he came here. D.J. was behind a little bit, but it takes a little time to learn the system. I think that’s where Willie is, but I think he’s going to be an outstanding player.
Beason made the switch to weakside linebacker from the strongside this season to take advantage of his exceptional speed. “I think Jon Beason is improving and he is going to be an outstanding linebacker for us. This is his second year at the position, but he’s definitely much-improved.”
Sophomore tight end Greg Olsen caught several passes from quarterback Kyle Wright early in the two-minute drill. Olsen is poised for a breakout season and is already drawing comparisons by some to former Hurricanes standout tight ends Jeremy Shockey and Kellen Winslow. Coker feels that Olsen may have progressed further than either at this point in their careers.
“Olsen does some things better than (Shockey and Winslow). Obviously, Winslow was a receiver and he does some things better than Greg does. But as a total package, as a tight end, is he ahead? Yeah, he probably is a little bit ahead.”
The Hurricanes return to the Greentree Practice Fields at 8:30 a.m. Saturday for the last morning practice of the preseason. UM’s second controlled scrimmage of the preseason is scheduled to take place.
Notes: Coker also had encouraging words about the play of Wright, thus far in camp. “(Wright is) special, I think,” Coker said. “He looks very comfortable in the pocket. He has a presence about him and he is throwing the ball extremely well.”… Linebacker Rocky McIntosh has been dressed and rehabilitating his knee the last two days. “He’s doing some individual work and some rehabilitation work,” Coker said. “Hopefully we get him back toward the latter part of this week and the early part of next week.”
