@CanesFootball Concludes Second Week of #CanesCamp
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami football team returned to the Greentree Practice Fields Saturday morning for the sixth day of spring practice under head coach Mark Richt.
The Hurricanes began practice at 9 a.m. on a sunny day in South Florida. The sixth practice once again placed the team in full pads as the Hurricanes ran through another day of drills and play installation.
Following practice, Richt, cornerbacks coach Mike Rumph, wide receiver Braxton Berrios, defensive lineman Trent Harris, defensive back Rayshawn Jenkins and offensive lineman Tyree St. Louis spoke to members of the media.
Miami returns to the gridiron on Tuesday, March 29, 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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Season tickets for the 2016 Miami Hurricanes football season are on sale now – visit CanesTix.com or call (305) 284-2263 for more information.
Spring Camp – Day Six
Mark Richt, Head Coach
On day six of spring practice
“Day six already, it’s amazing how fast it is going. Forty percent of spring ball is over. I guess all I can say is it is very interesting for it to be this hot in spring ball in the morning, but it is good for us, and the kids know it. That’s part of what we are able to endure and able to thrive in, and it’s going to be to our advantage down the road. I thought the guys are pushing to make plays, and there’s always going to be a victory on one side of the ball and a victory on the other side of the ball. When you’re repping as many guys as we are, there’s going to be a lot of that. I think what the coaches hang on to is that when we all do it right, we get excited, and the kids get excited because they see it. It takes everybody to get it right, and we’re working hard towards that, and I’m proud of their effort so far.”
On having a separate coach for the cornerbacks and the safeties
“Part of it was that was how coach (Manny) Diaz wanted to set his staff. If he wanted one DBs coach and two d-line coaches than that’s what we would have done. I’ve done it both ways, and I’ve seen it succeed both ways. Manny (Diaz) feels like he can handle the linebacking core. There’s no question that coach (Craig) Kuligowski can handle the front four and that gives us two more full-time coaches on defense. The reality of it is, you have four DBs at a time – always two corners and two safeties, but sometimes you’ll be in nickel, so you’ll have five in there, sometimes you’re in dime, and you’ll have six in there. That’s one guy trying to coach that many players, so it’s nice to have two guys in there.”
On the possibility of gaining some help from junior college transfers
“We could use some help there (at defensive back), we could use some help at receiver, we could use some help in the kicker position, we could use some help in the fullback position – we just don’t have that many scholarships to give out. I’ve got to be the one prioritize and say, ‘this is what we need the most.’”
On whether any individuals have been able to separate themselves
“I’m mostly watching quarterback play. I’m watching to see if my quarterback is taking the right steps. Is he making the right read, is he keying the right person, is he handling the sight adjustments on the blitz pickup and all the hot routes. I’m really watching everything he does because I have to watch it as it’s happening, so I can coach him, so I usually don’t get to see what else is happening with everybody else until I watch tape. I do notice certain people showing up a lot. Al-Quadin Muhammad plays so hard every down. He’s talented, but what adds to his talent level is his effort level. Usually, guys that are pass rushers, who are relentless – meaning that they just never stop – they get the most sacks. I don’t know if that’s going to happen for him or not, but he’s one guy, who has stood out.”
On whether he values speed as an important factor when recruiting players…
“You have to because typically wide receiver is a speed position – not always. You do have big guys like (Darrell) Langham and (Lawrence) Cager, who may not be blistering fast, but they are big men, and they can catch the ball because they can out jump people or out muscle people, so we’re going to use their skill set. We need more guys, who can flat out go at wide receiver. At corner, every team in America is looking for fast receivers, so you better be able to run. If not, you better back up, and if you back up too far, they’ll throw it in front of you, and you better be able to tackle and play the next down. The goal is to find guys, who are long enough to handle receivers with length and fast enough to run with the fastest guys and those are hard to find.”
Mike Rumph, Cornerbacks
On the players this spring…
“I feel a lot better because they are open to the teaching. Whenever I got someone that will listen to what coach (Manny) Diaz and I are teaching it makes it a lot easier. It is pretty simple, we’ve got an idea and a plan of a defense where these kids can go out and play fast, and they don’t have to do a tremendous amount of thinking. They are just flying to the ball, so mainly I am looking for effort, being able to be coached, and they are doing well.”
On coaching the cornerbacks…
“It allows me to be really creative, and be real hands on with six guys. I don’t have a room full of guys, so I can really focus in on the task at hand. I know the game has changed. It was new to me to see corners and safety coaches, but we have adapted well. Coach (Ephraim) Banda and I, we make sure to meet twice a week together and then we meet individually as much as we can.”
Braxton Berrios, Junior, Wide Receiver
On Spring practice and progress…
“We are getting better every day. We are really pleased right now. We are still learning a lot each and every day. The learning curve is starting to pick up as we have more and more under our belt and less to learn.”
On the improvements over the first six days…
“As far as spring goes, we are getting used to how the coaches want practice to be run, how they want us to be running drills. That’s a huge thing when you have a brand new coaching staff – from top to bottom. Everything is getting better from top to bottom. Our routes, our timing, and I think we are getting a lot tougher.”
Trent Harris, Junior, Defensive End
On transitioning from the linebacker position to defensive end…
“It’s awesome. We have a great group, and we’re already trying to compete with each other. It’s just a lot different this year we’re getting off the ball, and we’re just trying to make plays. We’re just going to keep competing with each other. It’s a lot of fun.”
On sharing reps at the one and two position…
“We really switch, everyday there’s a different line. He [Craig Kuligowski] wants to see what guys fit with what guys and how were doing against these people. Really just giving everybody an opportunity to play.”
On picking up the new system…
“It’s easy, if you’ve ever played football in your life you can pick it up pretty easily. I don’t know if it’s the scheme or maybe the way that they teach it, but it’s not really a lot of thinking involved. You just plan and react to what you normally do.”
Rayshawn Jenkins, Senior, Defensive Back
On taking responsibility as a veteran of the team…
“As seniors, we’ve got to set a high standard. We’ve got to demand the same standard from the younger guys. I feel like they’re still learning, and we already know what we’ve got to do. We have to guide them along through the process.”
On younger members of the team who are standing out…
“Jaquan Johnson, Sheldrick Redwine and Michael Jackson. They’re very athletic younger guys, and they can definitely play for us this year. Sheldrick has a nice size and he’s not scared to tackle. He’s very athletic to be that big and that size. He has really good man to man coverage technique and he can really help us a lot.”
On what it’s like have a cornerback and safeties coach…
“It’s way better because we can cover more stuff, and we can get different techniques. We can get the different experience from the two coaches that we have. Coach [Mike] Rumph played in the league, so we get that experience and then coach [Ephraim] Banda played in college so we get that experience as well. We got two brains in one and that’s rally good.”
Tyree St. Louis, Sophomore, Offensive Lineman
On impressions of coaching in spring so far…
“It has been amazing. Coach Richt has done an amazing job with bringing everybody in here and making adjustments. As you can tell everything in here is different from last spring.”
On Coach Searels…
“He is a great coach – very technical. Everything he focuses on is technique he doesn’t care about doing it super super fast. If you’re doing it wrong, he is going to take the time to make sure you do everything right.”
On how the line is shaping up…
“We are all starting to come together and gel together as an offensive line. You have to make everyone gel together and become a brotherhood. I feel like we are all starting to pick up on each other and build up on each other. It is becoming a real good thing for us.”
On last season…
“Last season was great for me to get my feet wet. The main thing I took from last season was to be able to be there be able to sit back and take it all in. Instead of just being thrown in. I wasn’t as ready as I am now, so I feel like it was good for me to sit there, still travel, still get in the few reps and still be able to look at the ones, look at the older group, and look at how they play and move.”
