Hurricanes Wrap Up First Spring Scrimmage
March 7, 2009
Coral Gables, Fla. – The University of Miami football team held its first scrimmage of spring practice Saturday morning at the Greentree Practice Fields. The Hurricanes worked through more than 100 plays that lasted close to two hours as UM wrapped up its eighth practice of the spring.
“Today was a good scrimmage day for us,” UM head coach said. “We ran the ball pretty well on offense and responded with some big plays on offense from the receivers. Jacory [Harris] made a lot of nice throws, and we moved the ball.”
“Defensively, we made some big hits today. We got a couple of turnovers, which is what you want to see from the defense – being aggressive. But, we still got a long way to go as a football team. This was the first scrimmage so there’s going to be some mistakes. That’s why you put them in these situations. We have two more opportunities to scrimmage and get better. When we get those things done, then we’ll have an idea of where we’re at as a football team.”
Rising sophomore quarterback shined early completing his first 17 passes as he alternated series with quarterbacks and . Harris ended up completing 17-of-18 passes.
Harris led the first team offense to a scoring drive on its first possession which was capped off by a 1-yard TD run. The key-play was a 35-yard completion to on the first play of the scrimmage. UM’s offense also scored on a Lee Chambers’ 1-yard run in a goal line situation.
Defensively, safety and cornerback recorded interceptions. McGee, a freshman who joined the team in January, returned his 35 yards for a touchdown. Two of the biggest hits of the day came from linebacker who knocked back running back on a second-and-goal play from the 1-yard line. Senior safety also had a big hit on wide receiver on a third down that ended up leading to a blocked field goal.
Defensive end and defensive back each blocked field goal attempts by kicker .
The Hurricanes had a big play on offense when Cooper hit on a half-back option pass from 47 yards out. All six of Miami’s early enrollees – McGee, running back , offensive linemen and , defensive linemen and – took part in the scrimmage.
The `Canes will participate in six more practices leading up to the spring game at the BankUnited CanesFest at Lockhart Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale on Saturday, March 28.
The Hurricanes will take the next few days off before returning to the practice field on Tuesday. UM will practice at 3:30 p.m Tuesday and Wednesday before taking part in its first open scrimmage. The Hurricanes will scrimmage at Traz Powell Stadium next Thursday, March 12.
To purchase 2009 season tickets starting for as low as $99, contact the UM ticket office by calling 1-800-GO-CANES.
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More Shannon after Saturday’s Scrimmage
On the negatives from Saturday:
“We had too many turnovers from the second-team offense definitely. There were too many interceptions from the second team, but also when we got in the red zone with the first unit, we turned the ball over. We can’t turn the ball over in that situation.”
“He’s [Randy Phillips] a fifth-year guy that’s able to make the big hits and do some good things. on goal line had a real big hit. Those are the type of plays you want from guys who have the ability to make the big hit, but it also changes the momentum of the game.”
“He had some nice runs today. No, he doesn’t look like a freshman. He’s a smart kid, who’s picking up the offense well. We added some stuff this week in practice, and he might have had one little bust on it, but for the most part, he’s picking up the offense. He’s catching the ball well and running the ball good. It’s only going to make Javarris [James] and [Graig] Cooper a lot better. When you see those guys competing with a , it’s only going to make us a better football team.
On the blocked field goals:
“It really was the first time we worked on special teams and field goal blocks. If you wait until the fall season, you’ll never know what you need to work on. We installed it this week, but didn’t work on it until yesterday and today. We’ll keep working on it the rest of the year.”
“They played okay. Taylor might have moved the ball a little bit better than Cannon, but both of them have a long way to go to where we want them to be as a football team. They just have to keep pounding away next week and get the scrimmage in on Thursday. Then we have an open week and then they have to come back and pound away at it some more.”
On progression of team now that spring practice is half-way through”
“We’ve done some things that we wanted to get done as far as guys competing and knowing what to do. I don’t think we’ve had very many busts. I think the receivers have run some good routes with good depth – things coming from a new offense. We’ve had execution up front from the offensive line as a total group.”
On Jacory’s performance:
“He threw the ball well today. It was just the one pass in the red zone. It wasn’t all Jacory. He threw it and he was expecting the receiver to go up and make a play, but it’s still the quarterback’s fault, so we’re always going to get on him until we watch film. He’s been throwing the ball well in practice. He’s done a nice job of spreading the wealth in spreading the football around. The offensive line has been doing a nice job of pass protecting. They’ve been giving him an opportunity to make throws.”
-UM-
