#CanesCamp Report: Day 10
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The Miami Hurricanes were back in action for the first time since Thursday’s scrimmage and the Canes were eager to get back to work.
The Hurricanes got to work early Saturday morning on the Greentree Practice Fields before returning for their second practice of the two-a-day session in the afternoon. Fresh off Thursday’s scrimmage, the Canes were focused on getting better in all facets of the game.
Offensive lineman Kc McDermott mentioned how the players in his position group are all focused on helping each other improved daily.
“We’re still focused on our team and our team goals, and it’s a team effort,” McDermott said. “So, Sunny [Odogwu]’s helping me, I’m helping Sunny. I’m helping Trevor [Darling], Trevor’s helping me. The same goes for all of the young guys. This is how we work as a team. It’s not going to down anybody. It’s not going to put anybody up. It’s just who we are and it’s just what we’re going to do, and we’re going to take care of each other first.”
The Hurricanes are back on Greentree Sunday morning for the 11th practice of #CanesCamp.
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2015 Miami Hurricanes Fall Camp Quotes – Aug. 13
Head Coach Al Golden
How much are you going to enjoy the process of making tough decisions regarding the football team?
“It was tough yesterday. It took the coaches a lot longer than it ever has. Because, obviously, it was Ereck [Flowers], it was Jon [Feliciano], it was Shane [McDermott]. They weren’t coming in behind them like you want. You just want to keep rolling them in and make it tight and we’re starting to get that, and we’re healthy on top of that. The other is that our walk-on program, over the last two years, has improved so much during that period. Again, those guys from 80 to 105…we’re getting better and better there, and that’s helping us a ton, too.”
Are the walk-ons no longer just bodies anymore?
“No, you’re right. It used to be if they got in on their own, they could come out for football, and now we’re getting help and it’s made such a difference on our practice field – just to have a roster of 114 consistently. Right now, we have 125 guys for 114 spots on the team. Again, it’s a lot different. So, there’s two things going on. The walk-on program is much better than it was and our scholarship count has increased, and the number of guys that leave has dramatically declined now. So, all that is coming to fruition now on our team which is nice.”
Are you seeing enough lot of downfield threats in the [wide receiver] group to make up for the loss of Phillip Dorsett?
“Herb [Waters] is fast, Stacy [Coley] is fast. We have enough speed there, for sure. Rashawn Scott coming back has helped us, Brax[ton Berrios] is one of the fastest guys on the team. So, the biggest thing with Brax right now is his lean body mass. He’s not as bulked up as he was coming off of the ACL, so he’s faster. I think from that standpoint, we have enough long speed. We’re going to have a good competition there and see where it goes.”
Brad [Kaaya] and Malik [Rosier] obviously know their roles, but how do they push each other to be better?
“Well, they do because Malik’s got the skills. He’s got the requisite skills. He’s got a big arm, he can move, and there’s a lot of things that Malik can bring to the table that maybe complement Brad in a lot of different ways, and vice-versa. So, I think that they feed off of each other, they help each other, and that’s a healthy competition there. Malik’s not backing down [from] anybody and Malik’s getting better. He’s just got to continue to work on his command presence, on his leadership, on his body language, and just have a real command of the offense.”
Offensive Coordinator James Coley
What did you learn about your offense during the scrimmage?
“I thought that there were guys that are who they are. I thought that Brad [Kaaya] was who he is. He was very poised. He was extremely accurate. I thought that Braxton [Berrios] made a bunch of plays. I thought that once the offensive line settled, they started to show their potential. They’re going against a good defense front. So, early, it’s always an initial shock when you first come out to practice. But as the day goes on, they get adjusted a little bit and it’s a maturing process for them. I like the way they’re maturing to be honest with you.”
Are all four backs getting reps and doing well?
“I thought that our backs looked good. I didn’t think that they missed any runs. I thought that they hit the hole and made the plays they should have made.”
How much have you evolved in what you think some of the fun stuff you can do with this offense in the last couple of weeks?
“It’s a complete turn. Brad [Kaaya] allows that. It starts with Brad, and then it starts with a very smart center in Nick Linder. It starts with experienced backs in Joe [Yearby] and Gus [Edwards] and it starts with a receiver group that’s really one of the smartest receiver groups that I’ve been around.”
Offensive Lineman Kc McDermott
Are you with the first team at right tackle mostly?
“Yeah, that’s what they told me I was at today. They told me I was the starting right tackle. Obviously, nothing’s set. We’re still focused on our team and our team goals, and it’s a team effort. So, Sunny [Odogwu]’s helping me, I’m helping Sunny. I’m helping Trevor [Darling], Trevor’s helping me. The same goes for all of the young guys. This is how we work as a team. It’s not going to down anybody. It’s not going to put anybody up. It’s just who we are and it’s just what we’re going to do, and we’re going to take care of each other first.”
How much has Coach Coley told you guys about the fun things that he can do with the offense?
“He tells us every day. We do a lot of quarterback/O-line meetings now and now we get to actually see what’s in his mind and what he’s thinking. It makes us better and it makes us more intelligent. That’s a tribute to him and his smarts, because it’s like we’re getting a tube directly to his mind – sucking in the juice. That’s what’s making us more intelligent. We’ve [also] spent a lot of time in the offseason as an offensive line – in the film room, we took extra days, we spent extra time, up there, in the film room, taking care of everything. We went over and watched last season’s tapes and we made sure that we called different things out that we should have called last year, and we’re making sure that we’re not going to be make those same mistake this year. “
Tight End David Njoku
Are you confident that [the tight ends] will be a big part of the offense this year?
“I think that wherever they put us, we’ll be able to produce. We’ve got great kids on this team – special kids. So, wherever we can help the team out, that’s what we’re going to do.
Is there a situation on the field that you guys feel more confident as a group?
“To be honest, wherever we are on the field, we feel confident. We have personnel for everything, wherever you could put us. We feel confident in our ability and our technique and how we’ve been coached thus far. We just got to go out there and do what we got to do.”
Defensive Tackle Anthony Moten
How did the scrimmage go for you and the D-Line?
“It went pretty good. The D-line got penetration throughout the whole entire scrimmage. We just got to get in our books but I feel like we had a good scrimmage.”
How is Kendrick Norton looking?
“He’s looking pretty good. He’s making plays all around the ball – forces fumbles. He’s looking pretty good out there.”
Defensive Tackle Earl Moore
How did you do in the scrimmage?
“I did good. We all did good. Our whole D Line, as a whole, we all hustled to the ball, made plays, and just attacked the O Line – give them all they could handle.”
What does Kendrick Norton bring to the defensive line?
“He’s a guy that hustles to the ball. He’s a big body. So, he’s pushing everybody to hustle and get better. There’s competition, so we’re all just fighting and just trying to become a great position.”
