@CanesFootball Opens Week Three of #CanesCamp
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami football team returned to the Greentree Practice Fields Tuesday morning for the seventh 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 seventh practice once again placed the team in full pads as the Hurricanes ran through another day of drills and play installation.
Following practice, Richt, defensive coordinator Manny Diaz, safeties coach Ephraim Banda, wide receiver Stacy Coley, defensive back Rayshawn Jenkins, offensive line Bar Milo and defensive lineman Al-Quadin Muhammad spoke to members of the media.
Miami returns to the gridiron on Thursday, March 31, 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 Seven
Mark Richt, Head Coach
On the play of Al-Quadin Muhammad wanting to be the best defensive lineman in the country…
“If he plays hard every down, and he plays with that relentless effort that I mentioned before, he has a chance. There’s a lot of good players on there. I want our guys to believe in themselves, and I want them to have those kinds of goals, within the framework of the team. If he plays great, it does help the team – that’s true of anybody at any position. He has some really good tools, he has a great motor, and if he can stay healthy and really play up to his potential, he’ll have a chance to be pretty good.”
On the play of safeties…
“I think they’re doing a nice job. They’re doing a really good job of disguising coverage. [When] coaching quarterbacks, you want to key safeties to make decisions on where to go with the ball. I’ve had the toughest time keying these guys than anybody in 33 years of coaching. I think Coach Banda is doing a great job. Coach Diaz does a nice job of really teaching these guys to understand how important them disguising things is to keeping us from going to the right person. A guy goes deep-middle, I’m going somewhere. If he stays Cover 2, I might go another place. If I can’t distinguish which one it is, I have some issues as a quarterback. We’ve had a lot of misreads because of that.”
On if reshaping the offensive line was a major focus…
“The major focus is everything. That’s part of it. You can’t do anything if the line isn’t playing well. I think Coach Searels has done a nice job of teaching these guys. It’s showing up every practice. We’re getting a little bit better, a little more time to throw, a little more space to run. Guys seem to be sticking their hat in the right spot, giving the effort that you need. Sometimes you don’t need a devastating block – you just need to get your hat placement exactly where it’s supposed to be, and force the defender to decide if he’s going to keep contain or jump inside of a block. If you can’t block the right guy, and you don’t put your hat in the right spot, you have no chance. If you get assignment right, technique right and then you can physically impose your will, you’ve got something really special.”
On the status of offensive linemen Sunny Odogwu…
“He’s just out there encouraging his teammates right now, trying to learn the best he can in the meetings and in practice.”
Manny Diaz, Defensive Coordinator
On the team’s emphasis of tackling…
“We are going to scrimmage. We’ll have three scrimmages and will have the opportunity to tackle. We are tackling every day. We have changed the system of tackling that we use here. We are tackling bodies to the ground every day in our drill work. We are understanding how we do it, what type of tackling system we use, and I think the guys are responding well to it.”
“We can get after it. You have rules on how many days you can bring someone to the ground, but you can have a full speed drill without bringing people to the ground, and you become a good tackling football team doing that. I think that’s what we and most colleges are going to do, and then you get your scrimmage opportunities where it’s more like a game.”
On whether Jermaine Grace is at the standard where he wants his linebackers to be or if he still needs to improve in some areas?
“He’s certainly ahead of the rest of them That jumps out as obvious, and I’ve been using him as an example in the LB room. I’ll say ‘we have Grace and a mush pile of other guys.’ There is certainly more for Jermaine, and he wants to be pushed and held to a higher standard. What I have been most pleased with him is he has put some physical plays on tape. He’s a powerful kid, and I think he likes the role he’s at.”
On his thoughts on Al-Quadin Muhammad so far…
“I like that he is the hardest playing player on our defensive front. That is the point we want to show everybody else. If you’ll play as hard as you can play in the framework of this defense and take to the coaching that Coach (Craig) Kuligowski is giving in terms of how to rush the passer, then you’re going to be a productive guy in the fall. His effort stands out in practice. When other guys start to feel tired, Quan continues to push himself.”
Stacy Coley, Wide Receiver, Senior
On the speed at wide receiver…
“We are still going to work. We are going to play our game the way we like to play.”
On big differences this year on offense…
“The tempo is faster, and the plays are easier. We are just moving fast, and the tempo is much faster, so we are adjusting to that.”
Do you feel the defense is more of an attacking defense now…
“They’re more aggressive and going after the ball. They are making plays and reacting to the quarterback’s eyes.”
Bar Milo, Offensive Line, Redshirt Freshman
On how the offensive line has progressed in the spring…
“It’s good. These coaches are great. They’re really keying in on the things we need to improve on as an offensive line. I think we’re going to be a driving force come the fall.”
On what the coaching staff is challenging the offensive line to do…
“It’s just different form. I actually like Coach [Stacy] Searels’ form better. It’s really bringing the attack to the defensive line. That’s something we didn’t do last year. I’m really happy about the team. There’s a lot of toughness on this team. I’m really excited for the fall, but we have to keep working.”
On where he has been lining up…
“They have me at left tackle right now. I’m on the second string. I’m working with the third string too for extra reps. It’s really helpful for me, helpful with my conditioning. I’m really keying in on my technique.”
Rayshawn Jenkins, Defensive Back, Redshirt Senior
On the speed between the receivers and defensive backs…
“We have speed at receiver in guys like Stacy Coley, Malcolm Lewis and Braxton Berrios, those are all 4.4 guys, and they can stretch the field. But we are a fast unit and have 4.4 guys, as well. We can run with our receivers. It’s kind of even. I feel like when our receivers play other teams you’ll see that speed come out a little bit more.”
Al-Quadin Muhammad, Defensive Line, Redshirt Junior
On his relationship with fellow defensive lineman Chad Thomas…
“I think Chad and I are similar in some ways. I definitely think I’m meaner. Chad’s a good dude overall. For the most part, he always has a positive attitude. Sometimes I may be a little quieter than him, but when I get out here on the field, I’m yelling, screaming, talking, and moving around. I’ve got a whole lot of energy. It works hand in hand, some days I may not have that much intensity, and he’s like, ‘Come on Quan.’ Some days I may be doing that to him. Some days I come out here, and I’m a little quiet, and he’s like, “Quan lets go, baby.” It works back and forth. He’s a great guy to be around and as long as he keeps working the way he’s working than he’s going to do some great things.”
On his goals coming into this season…
“I’m trying to prove that I’m the best in the country. Hands down. I feel like I’m underrated. I’m trying to prove that I’m the best, and that’s why I’m out here working hard every day. It’s going to happen.”
