Canes Camp Report: Aug. 15

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The Hurricanes continue making their way through preseason camp and after Thursday’s evening practice, defensive lineman Rueben Bain, Jr., offensive lineman Anez Cooper, defensive back Meesh Powell and offensive lineman Jalen Rivers all spoke with reporters.

Here are some of their best quotes after Thursday’s workout as Miami moves another day closer to its Aug. 31 season opener at Florida.

Defensive lineman Rueben Bain, Jr.

On the depth of the defensive line:

“That’s something I’m very excited for. We get the chance to just rotate at any given moment in the game because we’re so loaded. We have so much depth. We get to push each other every day in practice. We get to compete, and I’m just really excited to see where it goes because, like I said, [we’re] pushing each other in practice and we’re competing every day. We’re making each other better, but not only [are we] making each other better, we’re making the o-line better. It’s just like one big puzzle.”

On which freshmen defensive linemen have impressed in camp:

“I think all the freshmen are looking pretty good, but the one that stands out to me the most is Cole McConathy II. He’s a guy that plays with his hair on fire at all times. He’s rocking my number too, so it’s like we’re going to have a special relationship anyway. He is just a smart, athletic kid. He’s very active. It’s like everything comes natural to him. And I’d say the advice I’m giving him is to just be patient, let football be football at the end of the day. It’s all the same game. I mean, the only thing that changes is people get a little big in the numbers and in the uniform. It’s really nothing to sweat about, nothing to be nervous about. Nothing to stress about. Football is football. The game is going to come to him because he’s a great player, so just be himself.”

On what the defense and offense learned after last week’s scrimmage:

“I learned we have a great offense. A lot of explosive guys on that side of the ball, but I know that this defense can be battle tested and they’re going to withstand anything that comes toward them. Obviously, the offense got a little better of the defense that day, but the good thing about that was we’re able to wake up again and play some more football and the defense came back out this whole week and just reacted how they were supposed to. And that’s something I was like very proud of because it shows that no matter what happens, we have that next play mentality and that’s what we really need, especially in the game of football. And I feel like that’s all that really matters because that’s what we need; that’s what Coach Cristobal harps on every day. And obviously, it’s camp. It’s good that we both compete, and [the] offense wins some days, the defense wins some days. But as long as we’re competing, I’m fine with that. Some days are going to happen. We’re not going to win every day. As long as we want to and we give it our best, I’m proud of my guys.”

On the mentality of taking camp one day at a time and not looking ahead to the season opener:

“I have a mindset of just being where my feet are. I know that today’s going to make me better for tomorrow, so I try to focus on what’s happening right now, not too deep into the future. I know that to get better … I have to be dialed in in practice. So, that’s why I’m dialed in on. I know that my guys need me, so I can’t be the one that’s talking about something that’s a long time from now. We’ve got to get better on what’s today, not tomorrow.”

Offensive lineman Anez Cooper

 On how he feels camp has gone for the offensive line:

“I feel like everything’s really going well. I feel all of us, we’re building more and more culture and building better relationships with each other every day all the days we’ve been going through camp. But I feel like everything is really just coming together. We’ve been working hard with each other. We’re just learning each other more. We talk more, like we don’t just learn all separate positions. We try to learn what everybody’s doing. So, I feel like that will be a good thing with us. We’ve been doing it all camp, so I feel like that’ll help us.”

On running back Damien Martinez:

“I feel like Damien Martinez is a great back. He’s an older guy, so I feel like a lot of the young guys in the running back room really look up to him. I feel like he’s very agile. He learned fast. He came in and already kind of knew how the offense was and kind of knew how the offensive line was. So, I feel like Damien Martinez, he’s going to be a great running back. I feel like he’s got a lot of balance. He’s fast. He’s big. I feel like if he just keeps doing what he’s doing, he’s going to have a very good season. He believes in us; we believe in him. I feel as long as he just trusts us to have those holes for him, I feel like he should have a very good season this year.”

Defensive back Mishael “Meesh” Powell

On the progress of the secondary so far in camp:

“I would say that we’re doing really well. I think we’re jelling more and more every single day. We’re getting all the small details ironed out, which I think is the most important part in the back end, being very detailed oriented. Overall, we’re having fun flying around and playing confident. I think that’s probably the most important [thing] … you’ve got to play confident. Get a little trash talk in there, too and make a play. So, I’m feeling very confident.”

On defensive back Jaden Harris:

“Well, first of all, that’s my brother. You know, he’s the guy that’s back there with me in the back end and he’s been with me since the start of fall camp. He’s been playing exceptionally well. One thing that I think I’m very impressed by him is just his ability to adjust to different formations. Playing that strong safety, there’s so many calls that you have to make in that strong safety position, and he’s handled that very well. And he’s fast. He covers. And I think the biggest thing with him is he hits. He’s physical. I think when some people think of strong safeties, they think of maybe a super huge guy. He’s big, but he’s not 6-4, 230. Like I said, safeties are a little bit smaller now, but he comes down and you’d think he’s 6-4, 230 the way he comes down and hits. And like I said, he’s just so intelligent and he’s just confident and smart and he’s just been getting better and better every single day. It’s honestly great playing alongside him. He’s my guy.”

On whether coaches have talked about the importance of beating Florida in the opener:

“We haven’t really been worried about talking about Florida. We’ve just been focused on getting ready. I would say we’re more locked in on the scrimmage. We’ve gone throughout this whole week, treating it like a game week to get ready for Saturday. So, I would say we’re dialed in on Saturday for our scrimmage number two, to be honest.”

Offensive lineman Jalen Rivers

On the offensive line’s progress throughout camp:

“We’ve been working on this since the spring, throughout the summer and now, there’s just extra preparation with every single body on the offensive line, especially the first five. That left guard spot is not set in stone, but it’s important for us to work every different lineup we have. It’s important for us. We jelled together really good through spring through now. And we’ve just got to keep doing that with the next practice and we’re looking to face, and obviously, the scrimmage we’re about to take on on Saturday.”

On what it’s like to face Miami’s defensive line in practice:

“I mean, we’re not going to win every rep. It’s definitely 50-50. But we’re getting each other better. I mean, we’re going against the best d-line I feel like we’re ever going to face throughout the season. So, we’re getting that every single day. Iron sharpens iron every day. Between me and Tyler Baron or me and [Rueben] Bain, Jr. or [Anez Cooper] and Simeon [Barrow, Jr.] or Zach [Carpenter] and our linebackers, [Francis Mauigoa] and every single one of our d-linemen and [Francisco Mauigoa], Matt McCoy and even Samson [Okunlola]. We’re going at it each day, so, we’re getting each other better. I love going against these guys because it gets us better. It gets them better as well.”

On the running backs:

“I’m really happy to be blocking for the people in the backfield. We have a lot of depth at that position, and they’re very, very talented, too. You can go down the line throughout the whole roster that we have of the running backs in the running backs room, and I look forward to blocking for them every single day, in the season as well.”