@CanesFootball Puts the Pads On During Day Three of #CanesCamp
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami football team returned to the Greentree Practice Fields Saturday morning for the third day of spring practice under head coach Mark Richt.
The Hurricanes began practice at 9 a.m. during another sunny day in South Florida. The third practice also placed the team in full pads for the first time this spring as the Hurricanes ran through another day of drills and play installation.
Following practice, Richt, wide receiver Braxton Berrios, wide receiver Lawrence Cager, wide receiver Darrell Langham, running back Mark Walton and running back Joe Yearby spoke to members of the media.
Miami returns to the gridiron on Tuesday, March 22, beginning at 9 a.m. at the Greentree Practice Fields.
The spring schedule will conclude on April 16 with its spring game (2 p.m.) at Lockhart Stadium and will be aired live on ESPN3. The Hurricanes’ spring game also will be open to the public and will be free for all fans.
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Spring Camp – Day Three
Head coach Mark Richt
On the spring practices so far…
“We are learning a lot. I like what I saw from the defense today they are really playing fast and being aggressive. Offensively, we’re still learning more assignments and trying to coordinate where every single guy has to do it right, so the offense struggled a little bit. Now they finished pretty good at the end – they made some really nice plays in the teamwork part.”
On the running backs…
“When you look at (Joe) Yearby, (Mark) Walton and Gus (Edwards) they’re all a little bit different in their stature, but they have got some great skills. They all have some toughness about them and so I like what I see.”
On whether anyone stood out…
“It’s hard to say. We’re prepping three units on both sides of the ball, it wasn’t as quick of a tempo as it’s been the first two days – I don’t know if it was the pads being on or whatever it was. Offensively, we weren’t getting to the line as quick, play calling as quick, getting the ball snapped as quickly as I would like to see. But it’s so hard to say. I can look at the tape and tell you later.”
On the team speed…
“We got team speed or at least, it looked like it today. They were really penetrating and doing a good job of getting after the quarterback on the pass rush. We got guys just breaking on the ball and using their speed. There were two or three picks today on guys just really doing a good job of breaking on the ball and using their quickness, speed, and skills. It’s one thing for a guy to get there and not catch it, that doesn’t do you any good. These guys caught the ball, which was nice to see. Overall, I’d say we got pretty good team speed and quickness on defense.”
On what his week one philosophy is…
“Just play hard and know what to do, know how to do it well, play really hard, play really hard every down, play together and know that bad things will happen. That’s what I was talking to them (the team) about afterwards. Actually, we got a little conditioning in after practice. We didn’t run to the hoop as fast as we should as a team and so we went ahead and got to conditioning afterwards. I just reiterated to them, the goal is to do it in practice. Let’s practice it with tempo, let’s finish every drive with a sprint to the hoop and just do it right and do it together. We talked about adversity; we’re running some sprints at the end. If a guy doesn’t do it just perfect then, the whole team has got to do one more. We’re supposed to run eight and we might have to run 16, might have run 14 something like that because this guy didn’t have his hand behind the line, or this guy didn’t finish, or this guy didn’t break down when we asked the team to break down. One guy had his hand on his knees and we told him not to do that. There’s certain stances around here. We got it right, and coaches are being demanding and the players do respond. You know they’re tired, it hot, but that’s when you’ve got to play well when you’re tired.”
Braxton Berrios, Junior, WR
On the biggest difference between spring practice this year to last year…
“Everything is different, the way practice is and how everything is run. Every part of practice is different. We’re really not comparing it (to last year) to be honest. We’re doing what we’re asked, and working hard.”
As one of the more experienced guys in your group, what have you done to take guys under your wing?
“It’s hard because we’re learning a whole new offense. Everybody is in step one and then you know day two, step two. We’ve got to learn a little bit quicker and when the younger guys need help, we’ve got to be able to help them. We’ve got to be at their disposal, so it puts a little more pressure on us to it quicker than they do.”
Lawrence Cager, Sophomore, WR
On how he has developed as a player so far…
“When I first got here, I was trying to absorb everything and learn as much as I could. Now going into it, they expect me and Stacy [Coley] and the whole wide receiver group to set the tone. I’m really just stepping into that leadership role and trying to lead. I’m just trying to get consistent.”
On what he needs to improve on this year…
“For me, I really think it’s speed, and explosiveness. Coach (Ron) Dugans has been trying to get everybody bigger, faster and stronger. That’s really what I’m trying to change.”
Darrell Langham, Redshirt Sophomore, WR
On his speed of routes…
“My Speed kind of went down a little bit, but I’m still working to get it back to the way it was. I was 220 lbs. and now I’m 236 lbs.”
On the new playbook…
“They’re a lot of changes to the playbook, but we still have to work with what they gave us.”
On what he is working on this spring…
“I am working on getting my speed back and working on getting a starting role on the team.”
Mark Walton, sophomore, RB:
On how this spring has been different…
“We’re more disciplined and focused on control. The coaches are more fundamental guys and they’re trying to get the best out of us and push us.”
On the new playbook
“We’re installing a new playbook and the coaches are showing us what to do and things we should not do.”
On whether the new playbook is tougher…
“It’s not tougher, football is football. You just have to sit down and learn it yourself. I wouldn’t say it’s tougher.”
Joe Yearby, Junior, RB
On whether having Gus Edwards back into the dynamic changes anything…
“It won’t change at all. All of us are going to just come in and compete. Anything we need to do as far as on the field and off the field, we’re going to get it done together. We’re just ready to play ball.”
On his expectations in terms of the rotation this year…
“I want all of us to share the ball. I want all of us to be successful. If one is hot, I want another one to come back in and be hot as well.”
