Spring Practice Report: Day 4
March 8, 2012
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami football team closed out its fourth spring practice Thursday before breaking for the spring recess. There was plenty of contact as the pads were on for the second straight practice, first in full pads, as the team continues preparation toward their Spring Game on April 14.
Alumni Presence
As usual, there were a group of former players on hand to watch the morning practice, a group that included Reggie Wayne, Lamar Thomas and Richard Gordon. Also joining the list of NFL players on hand was former All-Pro linebacker LaVar Arrington.
7s and Full-team Action
The first 7s drill of the practice was the scramble drill, in which all three quarterbacks (Ryan Williams, Preston Dewey and Gray Crow) threw a bevy of accurate passes while on the run.
During punt-return drills, Philip Dorsett electrified the field with his shifty returns, one of which he returned all the way for a touchdown.
In full-team action, the offense was led by Mike James breaking tackle after tackle on his inside runs, Dorsett and Dallas Crawford making highlight-reel catches diving on the sideline and skying over the middle respectively, Darris Hughes taking a handful of tough runs between the tackles for big gains, Asante Cleveland grabbing some impressive throws in traffic from Ryan Williams, and the wide receiving duo of Kendal Thompkins and Rashawn Scott both taking it to the house.
The defense was led by Ray-Ray Armstrong covering the whole field and breaking up pass after pass, Vaughn Telemaque laying the boom on numerous ball-carriers, Andrew Swasey making a beautiful diving pass deflection in the red zone, and Josh Witt finding his way into the backfield on a couple of plays.
Kicking Away
Jake Wieclaw continued to impress by consistently sending balls into the parking garage during field goal drills on Thursday.
Coaches Corner
The coaches continued to be very vocal players, leaving us with this gem:
“That’s the definition of slow when Ryan Williams catches you” Coach Fisch to the freshman QB’s during their drills.
The Weather Report: 79 degrees, winds out of the east at 19 mph, 64-percent humidity and 85-percent cloud cover.
