#CanesCamp Notebook (August 16)
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Several Hurricanes spent the morning practice of Saturday’s two-a-day session of #CanesCamp as team leaders, helping the Canes prepare for the 2014 season.
Saturday’s team leaders on the Greentree Practice Fields included running back Duke Johnson and linebacker Denzel Perryman. Offensive linemen Ereck Flowers and Shane McDermott, as well as receivers Malcolm Lewis and Braxton Berrios and defensive lineman Anthony Chickillo worked with their position groups on Saturday morning.
But their jobs as team leaders went beyond giving pointers and encouragement to their teammates. Head coach Al Golden took Saturday morning’s practice as a chance to give some key reserves some more reps.
“If somebody goes down in the first quarter at Louisville, I don’t want to see ‘that look’ on that night. I’d rather see it this morning. All the guys that got pressed into action this morning, we are looking to get them to say ‘I’m ready and I’m prepared.’ Braxton and Malcolm not withstanding, although they are leaders, all the other guys are leaders and I wanted to see who would step up and replace those leaders.”
The competition at #CanesCamp continued until the final whistle with the offense and defense battling in an intense goal line drill to end practice.
The defense got started strong, with Chad Thomas picking up a sack and a trio of Canes stuffing Gus Edwards on his first touch of the period.
“You noticed Chad,” Golden said. “You definitely notice Chad when he steps up. Dallas [Crawford] stepped up, too.”
But Edwards and the offense would bounce back, scoring three straight touchdowns from two yards out to end the morning session.
“I’ve been working on getting my pad level much lower than last year,” Edwards said. “I’m stronger than I was last year, too.”
The Canes will return to Greentree Saturday afternoon at 3:20 p.m. For the latest information on Miami Hurricanes Football, follow @MiamiHurricanes on Twitter and the official blog for Hurricanes Football, www.theufootball.com.
