#CanesCamp Notebook (August 10)
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The Hurricanes closed out practice Sunday with an offense vs. defense dodgeball game, but that was far from the only competition on display at the Greentree Practice Fields.
“Good effort today again. Good focus,” head coach Al Golden said. “Guys have been taking good care of their bodies, getting good rest. I was really impressed with the way they came out this morning. We had a walk through this morning, and not a lot of error repeats from yesterday. It was good they took care of business last night.”
Representatives from the NFL’s Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans watched the Hurricanes turn up their intensity level as they look to improve and prepare for the upcoming season.
Miami’s quarterbacks continue to progress daily. Freshman Brad Kaaya had a successful showing on Sunday, making several highlight-worthy throws. While Kaaya connected for first downs with receivers Stacy Coley and Malcolm Lewis and running back Duke Johnson, his most impressive throw was a perfectly placed ball over the safety and into the hands of Herb Waters for a 25-yard gain.
Senior Jake Heaps also was efficient moving the Hurricane offense downfield. The experienced quarterback showed poise under pressure, orchestrating lengthy drives thanks to key completions for first downs to receiver Braxton Berrios and tight end Standish Dobard. Freshman Malik Rosier showed a quick release, evading the blitz and hitting fellow freshman Joseph Yearby on a swing pass that resulted in a first down.
“We’re strong, we’re mature, and we’re in great shape,” Golden said. “Now we just have to continue to be smart. As I said to them last night, injuries are a part of this game. We do everything we can to minimize that, in terms of when we practice, how we practice, what days we’re off, how much we contact. A lot of it has to do with the maturity of the team and the trust of the team. We get a lot done with this team in a jog-through setting, meaning no contact – going through our calls, going through our routes, going through our drops. It’s a very mature team.”
The defensive backs have been one of the most impressive position groups early in camp and Sunday was no different. Safety Jordan Tolson picked off a pass during 7-on-7s, while cornerback Tracy Howard ended an 11-on-11 period with an interception for a touchdown.
Antonio Crawford continued his strong play early in camp with several noteworthy plays, including an athletic pass breakup on third down to stop the offense’s momentum. Safety Rayshawn Jenkins also had a key pass breakup, ranging over towards the sideline to prevent a huge gain by the offense.
While the DBs have been active, they were not the only ones making an impact on Sunday. Linebackers Denzel Perryman and Raphael Kirby each had pass breakups on underneath routes, while defensive lineman Olsen Pierre batted down a pass attempt on third down to end another offensive drive.
The front seven was also aggressive at the line of scrimmage, applying pressure on all of Miami’s quarterbacks. Defensive tackle Michael Wyche and linebacker Darrion Owens combined for a key sack on third down in 11-on-11s that gave the defense a big win in that period.
“We’re getting good leadership,” Golden said. “Everyone has been here, understands the routine and what they have to get done. I’m just really excited about it right now. These guys right now are making life fun, making it easier. Camp is never easy, but they’re where they need to be when they need to be. There’s urgency. There’s a little bit of an edge. A lot of them have a chip on their shoulder and we need to maintain that. That’s positive.”
The Hurricanes will hold their first two-a-day of #CanesCamp on Monday, with the Canes holding their seventh practice of camp in the morning and returning in the afternoon for a second session. For the latest information on Miami Hurricanes Football, follow @MiamiHurricanes on Twitter and the official blog for Hurricanes Football, www.theufootball.com.
