Hurricanes Complete Practice No. 6
March 3, 2010
Coral Gables, Fla. – The University of Miami football team wrapped up its sixth spring practice Wednesday with another two-hour afternoon session – this time in full pads – at the Greentree Practice Fields. The Hurricanes will have a closed scrimmage on Saturday.
The Hurricanes continued to add and move around their usual practice script spending time working in 7-on-7 earlier in practice then past days. Miami finished practice working in 9-on-9 situations with some special teams work sprinkled in between the two periods. UM also worked on fieldgoal protection before ending practice working in 11-on-11, blitz and 3rd down team situations.
Miami will take Thursday off before returning to the practice field on Friday at 3:30 p.m.
A Few Practice Highlights
Senior defensive back DeMarcus Van Dyke had an interception during the blitz period.
Junior quarterback Spencer Whipple hooked up with Kendal Thompkins for a nice gain of over 20 yards over the middle.
Junior wide receiver LaRon Byrd ended the blitz period with a grab as he snatched a ball thrown by Stephen Morris out of the air over three defenders.
Shannon Post-Practice
After practice, head coach Randy Shannon met with members of the media, here’s some of what he had to say …
On how freshman offensive lineman Malcolm Bunche has been practicing: Ok. He’s a freshman. Anybody that comes in January is going to struggle a little bit, but give him to the midway through spring football or the last week of spring football. He’ll probably be starting to understand. He’s doing okay right now.
On running back Damien Berry: He emerged as a guy that can come in and run the football inside. We needed some tough gains when [Graig] Cooper and JJ [Javarris James] was banged up. He came in last year and ran the football hard. We’ve told him he has to become the complete guy [this year]. He has to be a guy that can pass protect and run routes, but also he has to be a guy that can run outside and do other things besides run the ball up the middle. I told him still keep that physical part of you, but let’s improve on your ability to help us out as a team.
On defensive back Vaughn Telemaque: He’s doing well, a lot better than he was this time last year. He’s started to make a lot of plays and he’s gotten a real feel for it. We’re real excited about how he’s producing.
On being more comfortable as a coach this spring: We have more depth. I’m not worried about five offensive linemen making practice or seven offensive linemen or five defensive linemen. We have depth now. You feel good about your team. You feel good about the progress you’ve made. You also just feel good, because you have numbers to work with. You see guys that have grown and gotten bigger. You look at LaRon Byrd and how big he is. You look at offensive line with big physical guys. The defensive line is big and physical. When I first took over, we were very small. Right now, we can do the things we need to get done.
Harris, Spence Post-Practice
After practice, juniors linebacker Sean Spence and defensive back Brandon Harris met with members of the media, here’s some of what they had to say …
Junior linebacker Sean Spence
On areas of his game he wants to work on this spring: Everything. I feel like there’s always room for improvement. I’m not satisfied with any parts of my game. I’m just trying to get better each and every day.
On his play last season: It was not what I wanted it to be. I wanted to come out and help the team win games. I wasn’t able to do that. I got hurt and had a setback. Now, I just need to bounce back.
On expectations as a junior: A lot of leadership. I want to be able to keep my composure on the field. I want to help my defense stay together when we’re going through rough times on the field. Just being a natural leader.
On tight end Richard Gordon: He’s looking good. He’s a load. He’s catching a lot more balls. He’s being physical. He’s always been physical. Catching the ball and getting on the field has been a big part of his game already this year.
Junior defensive back Brandon Harris
On how hard it is to take down running back Lamar Miller: Miller time! It’s tough, because Lamar is a very fast kid. He’s a guy that will sneak up on you. If you think he’s going to fake you out, he’ll lower his shoulder on you and get in your chest. You have to pick your poison with Lamar and just hope you get him on the ground. He won’t go down easy, though.”
On how important scrimmages are: There very important. We need to be able to go out there and compete with each other. We haven’t played a game since December. Even though the season doesn’t start until the fall, during this offseason, we need to get back in the form of competing with each other, grinding it out and coming out in tough situations such as a scrimmage. You’ll have different scenarios. It’s the closest to a game atmosphere that we can get until the fall.
On what older players tell young guys about scrimmages: The main thing we tell them is not put too much pressure on it. It’s a scrimmage. It’s a game situation, but it’s still meant to be fun. You want to go out there and focus on executing your game plan.
On what the team wants to accomplish by the end of March: We want to be closer as a team, but by competition. Our big motto this spring is being competitive. The defense wants to go at the offense every time we touch the field. The same goes for the offense. We don’t want to pat each other on the backs along this way. We want to really, really get after it this spring.
Post-practice notes
Former `Canes tight end and current Chicago Bear Greg Olsen made his second appearance at spring practice and was joined by former UM teammate and current San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore, who also stopped by.
The `Canes will participate in eight more practices leading up to the spring game on Saturday, March 27.
The Hurricanes will take Thursday off before returning to the practice field on Friday at 3:30 p.m. and again on Saturday at 10 a.m. All practices are closed to the public this spring with the exception of a scrimmage on Mar. 11 and the spring game on March 27.
Details for Open Practice and Spring Game Announced
The University of Miami football team has announced two dates for fans to get a glimpse of the 2010 Hurricanes. Miami will hold an open scrimmage on Thurs. Mar. 11 and its annual spring game on Sat. Mar. 27. Both events are free and open to the public. The Hurricanes will hold an intrasquad scrimmage, open to the public, at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale (5201 NW 12th Avenue) on Thurs., Mar. 11, at 7 p.m. Gates will open at 6 p.m. and players will take part in an autograph session from 6-6:45 p.m. Spring Practice will conclude at Traz Powell Stadium located on the north campus of Miami Dade College (11380 NW 27th Avenue) on Saturday, March 27. UM’s annual spring game which is slated to start at 4:30 p.m. Gates will open at 3 p.m. Players will take part in an autograph session from 3:30-4 p.m.
For `Canes Tickets
To purchase tickets for Miami’s upcoming 2010 season at Sun Life Stadium, contact the Hurricanes ticket office by calling 1-800-GO-CANES. Lower level season tickets start at just $199.
