Competition Heats Up as Miami Approaches Second Scrimmage
April 5, 2011
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Three days after their first scrimmage and four days before their next , the Hurricanes returned to the Greentree Practice Fields on Tuesday with a sense of urgency as competition continues to heat up in camp.
With the release of a new depth chart on Tuesday, players are understanding more and more that they are going to have to earn your spot in the starting lineup and it showed today.
Scrimmage Takes
Addressing the media before practice, head coach Al Golden spoke both of what he saw in the first spring scrimmage on April 2, as well as his expectations for more energy and passion moving forward. Golden noted that while there were not a lot operational mishaps in the scrimmage – as evidenced by the offense’s absence of a single turnover in 111 plays – there is still room for improvement.
“Overall we are not in the condition we need to be,” Golden said. “We need to be Miami tough.”
When asked about the ever-changing depth chart, Golden responded by saying, “I want the depth chart to reflect performance, not potential.”
He added that senior linebacker Jordan Futch, sophomore linebacker James Gaines and senior wide receiver Travis Benjamin were among the players that caught his eye the most in the scrimmage’s game film.
Something both Golden and offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch spoke of was the offseason progression of quarterback Jacory Harris. While Golden credited Harris with having a good scrimmage, Fisch added that any mental and physical errors he has seen in Harris could be sorted out prior to the 2011 season.
“Matt Hasselbeck was 36, and we were still working on fundamentals,” Fisch noted.
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April Showers
For the second time in as many weeks, thunderstorms interrupted practice as the university’s emergency preparedness system detector went off at 2:43 p.m., less than an hour into drills. Thankfully though, unlike last week’s practice that had to be cut short, UM was able to return to the field after the storm passed to get the rest of practice in.
During the delay, the team split time between the weight room and team meeting rooms, to continue to break down film from the team’s first scrimmage.
High and Tight
As the team entered warm ups, there was one mantra repeated by all the offensive coaches. Signs reading `High and Tight’ could be seen throughout the football operations office this morning, reminding players of their need to work on ball security. The phrase was echoed by the coaching staff throughout the offense’s drills, particularly from wide receivers coach George McDonald.
After rudimentary stretching and team drills, the `Canes separated into more specialized units. But with rain clouds looming on the eastern horizon, coaches then opted to change the order of exercises sending the team straight into Dog Fight Drills and then 3-on-3’s. In the six-man offense versus defense contest, the offense scored five touchdowns to the defense’s two stops.
Then the lightning sirens rang and it was time to head inside. But even as they exited the field, Jacory Harris and LaRon Byrd could be heard discussing plays and reviewing routes.
Back at It
The weather delay lasted just over an hour as the `Canes returned to Greentree just before 4 p.m. and got back to work.
Whether it was the sloppy conditions or they were just plain better, the offense seemed to have the upper hand after the weather cleared.
Whatever gameplan Harris and LaRon were discussing before the rain worked after. The duo hooked up for a pair of touchdown passes late in the session, with one coming in the corner of the endzone during red zone drills with the other coming on a longer pass play down the middle of the field.
Mike James also had a nice touchdown run on the right side in red zone work, while Maurice Hagens also had a touchdown on a pass from Harris.
QB Session
Late in practice with the majority of the team working on special teams, Fisch took Harris, Stephen Morris and Spencer Whipple off to the side to go over signal calls.
Fisch would tell one of the guys the play, he would signal it to the other two and they would have to decipher which play was being relayed in. The guys rotated to get a chance to both signal in the play, as well as read the call.
Defensive backs coach Paul Williams prior to Tuesday’s practice….
Looking Ahead
Thursday will mark the final practice before Saturday’s scrimmage at Traz Powell Stadium in Miami.
To reserve season tickets for Miami’s upcoming 2011 season at Sun Life Stadium, visit HurricaneSports.com or contact the UM ticket office by calling 1-800-GO-CANES.
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