#CanesCamp Report - Day 8

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The Miami Hurricanes held their first scrimmage of #CanesCamp 2015 on Thursday night under the lights at Cobb Stadium.

Following a day off on Wednesday, the Canes were back in action in a highly competitive setting. Miami worked on a variety of situations including goal line, third and long, fourth and short and two-minute drill.

“We mixed it up so much tonight,” Miami head coach Al Golden said. “We moved the threes up against the twos, a lot of twos up against the ones, and vice versa. So, we really mixed it up. We wanted to get a lot of looks. We weren’t really trying to win the scrimmage on either side of the ball. We were trying to get a look at a lot of different people, take a good look at our concepts, and evaluate and see where we are at. I thought our conditioning was good, and again, we’re injury-free, so we’re blessed.”

Players on both sides of the ball credited the opposing unit for their efforts on Thursday night.

“They sacked me a couple of times,” quarterback Brad Kaaya said. “The D-line is looking really good right now. Getting a lot of good loops and twists up front, creating some problems up there. It’s a solid group, a lot of depth over there. Our linebackers can break coverage and get in the pass game.“

Linebacker Jermaine Grace had good things to say about the offense, especially a talented group of running backs that had a solid showing.

“Offensively, I’ll say Gus [Edwards], but really I’m not going to just single out Gus,” Grace said of scrimmage standouts. “I’m going to say all our running backs did good today. Cutting back, finding good holes, and stuff like that. So I would say the running backs were definitely a position right now that I would say stood out.”

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2015 Miami Hurricanes Fall Camp Quotes – Aug. 13

Head Coach Al Golden

How do you think Brad Kaaya’s day went?

“It was good. It was challenging. They came after him, gave him a lot of different looks, a lot of different fronts, multiple coverages so it was a challenging day for him. Good day, good poise, good command, and I’m excited about Brad, {but} we got a long way to go, though. We got to clean up a lot of the bad ball stuff.” 

Did you feel any kind of separation at any of the positions?

“No, I think it’s too early. We mixed it up so much tonight. We moved the threes up against the twos, a lot of twos up against the ones, and vice versa. So, we really mixed it up. We wanted to get a lot of looks. We weren’t really trying to win the scrimmage on either side of the ball. We were trying to get a look at a lot of different people, take a good look at our concepts, and evaluate and see where we are at. I thought our conditioning was good, and again, we’re injury-free, so we’re blessed.”

How did the running backs look today?

“Good, strong. All four of them went with the ones. Al four of them went with the twos and we just rotated them in so good evaluation of them, and again, part of that is to see what they do best. That’s what we have to do with those guys.”

Defensive Coordinator Mark D’Onofrio

How’d the defense do tonight?

“We have to watch the film. It’s the first scrimmage. We played probably 45 guys out there. We had about 20 series. I think we played the threes five of those series. We played the fours one series. So, the ones and twos probably got seven series each. So, we played a whole lot of people and we’ll just watch the tape and see who stood out. We’ll reset the depth based on how they performed tonight and we’ll just keep chipping away and go from there. We’ll repeat the process again as we move closer to Bethune [Cookman] and just keep whittling away. It’s hard to tell, especially when it’s a scrimmage situation. You don’t always have an adjustment period. We’re just calling plays. [Offensive coordinator] James [Coley] is calling plays and I’m calling plays and that’s what we’re doing for two hours without processing what happened that series because when the ones go out, then the twos come in, then the threes come in, then the fours come in. So, it’s a matter of going back and just watching the tape.”

Was there any separation between certain players?

“It’s hard because what we want to do is if a guy starts as a one, he’s going to eventually, in the series, play against the twos, and the twos are going to play against the ones. That way we’re evaluating them against the same people. So, it’s not that one guy is in the twos and he’s only against twos or going against ones. So, it’s really a mix and match. So, again, from a continuity standpoint, the same 11 guys were not out there for any series today. It was just a sub pattern that we rolled to make sure each guy got enough plays so we can evaluate them and go forward. But I would say whoever was with the one group stood out more than the twos.”

Is Rayshawn Jenkins the same as before the knee injury?

“Well that’s hard [to say]. This is the first live tackling he’s had in 18 months, so I don’t know how to measure that. That’s a hard thing to play safety against the type of athletes we have here, and to go through your first practice and say ‘he was where he was,’ that’s going to be a really tough statement to make, but we’ll watch the tape. He did some good things tonight. He’s had a good camp. The most important thing is that he’s staying healthy and he’s getting better every week. So, we’ll just keep getting him better and we’re glad he’s out here. He’s done a lot of good things. He’s worked really hard to get himself back.”

Quarterback Brad Kaaya

How was the defensive pressure on you?

“Yeah, they sacked me a couple of times. The D-line is looking really good right now. Getting a lot of good loops and twists up front, creating some problems up there. It’s a solid group, a lot of depth over there. Our linebackers can break coverage and get in the pass game.“

Any penalty issues you guys usually have in the first scrimmage?

“There was a couple just like in any scrimmage.  It’s good to have them now instead of in September. It’s our first scrimmage and it’s the earliest we’ve had our scrimmage. Practice six or seven just ended, so it just shows you the maturity of our team right now.”

Can you talk about running backs?

“They all had good reps, they all made really good plays.”

Defensive Lineman Demetrius Jackson

Who had sacks on defense for you guys?

“Honestly I don’t want to lie, I can’t really put out any names. We had a bunch, I just can’t tell you because everybody was doing their job.  None of us were keeping track of that; we were just going and playing. We don’t really care who gets the credit for things like that.”

Offense had some big plays, and it sounds like you had some big plays. Who wound up winning the scrimmage, Offense or Defense?

“You know as a defensive player I’m going to say defense. I just think both units came out and did good and competed. I think we won, but I think both offense and defense did a really good job. I think our defense and offense will be something to reckon with.”

Wide Receiver Braxton Berrios

How’d the offense look? How did you do in the scrimmage?

“Offense looked good, I think. I think it took us a little while to get going. A lot of times that happens, especially with the first scrimmage.  You can try to simulate it as much, but it’s still not the same. I think it took us a second, but we really got going. The whole team executed I think, obviously we have to clean up a lot of things, but really good.”

Did you get a chance to watch the offensive line? How do you think they did tonight?

“From what I can remember, there weren’t any sacks. There weren’t many mistakes. Not a lot of people were getting pulled at or yelled at.  I think everybody needs to improve, not just the O-line. From the running backs, receivers and quarterbacks. I think everybody needs to improve. I think we had a good day.“

Offensive Lineman Nick Linder

What were you most happy with tonight?

“Just you know, everybody sticking together when the twos went in and the threes went in. Everyone was picking each other up and correcting each other. There were a lot of players coaching players, which is good. It’s always good to see that.”

As far as the first scrimmage, how far along would you say the O-line is?

“We’ve come a long way since the spring and since the start of summer. There’s always room for improvement and we’re always looking forward to getting the O-line that much closer.”

Anybody on the D-line stand out to you? Have they improved?

“I mean personally they are all doing great, Ufomba [Kamalu], Calvin [Heurtelou]. They’re greatly improved. Just like the O-line since spring they’ve improved. They’ve improved on technique and ability, adding stuff to the toolbox.”

Linebacker Jermaine Grace

What’s your take on how the scrimmage went for the defense?

“Today for the defense, the scrimmage went well. We were letting a lot of young guys play. The threes, the twos, a lot of young guys went. The ones didn’t really get a chance to get in the mode because were trying to get the young guys up. They needed a little push and a little time to get adjusted.”

Do you remember any specific plays defensively that stuck out to you?

“There was a lot of good plays. [Raphael] Kirby was able to make Gus Edwards fumble today, a good tackle by him. [Rayshawn] Jenkins got a pick six I think it was. I think Kirby got a sack today. Kirby got a sack on a blitz. I got a sack on a blitz. There were a lot of sacks today. I think one of the freshman number seven [Kendrick Norton], he’s a beast. He had three sacks today. “

Who stood out to you offensively?

“Offensively, I’ll say Gus [Edwards], but really I’m not going to just single out Gus. I’m going to say all our running backs did good today. Cutting back, finding good holes, and stuff like that. So I would say the running backs were definitely a position right now that I would say stood out.”

Safety Rayshawn Jenkins

Talk about the interception you had at practice

“We were in coverage. My responsibility was the flat. I kind of baited him first. I sat inside like I was the hook player and then at the last minute, when I saw him shoot his eyes to the X receiver, I shot straight to the flat and picked it.”

What was the toughest part of working your way back to football?

“Probably feeling alone. When something is taken away from you, temporarily, that you really love, it can be really depressing at points, but you’ve got to find the right people to lean on.”

How do you think you guys did?

“I think we did pretty well. I think we executed pretty well. I do feel like there’s still a lot to improve on.”

Tight End Chris Herndon

What is your role in the tight end spot?

“The tight end spot is a little bit more agile and athletic this year. So, they’re doing a good job of putting us in and putting us out on the outside to mix it up a little and confuse the defense.”

Are the tight ends going to be a big part of the offense this year?

“That’s what it’s looking like, but like I said, we just have to keep working and perfecting our craft.”

Tight End Standish Dobard

What did you do well in the scrimmage?

“I feel like I got a couple of blocks in real good, got lined up pretty quickly, and I caught the one that was thrown to me.”

What do you guys feel you still need to work on?

“Starting fast. We came out a little sluggish, but I feel like we need to come out with that punch, not start slow.”

How did the offensive line do?

“The O-line blocked really well. We had a couple of holding calls, but that’s stuff that we can fix. I think they blocked really well on the goal line, and on short yardage. They were really physical.”