Canes Spring Practice Report: March 18
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – After a brief hiatus for spring break, the Hurricanes were back on the Greentree Practice Fields on Tuesday as spring drills continued at Miami.
After Tuesday’s practice, head coach Mario Cristobal, offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa, defensive back Zechariah Poyser and defensive lineman Ahmad Moten Sr. spoke with reporters and shared their thoughts on the day’s drills.
Here’s some of what they had to say after Tuesday’s practice, in their own words…
Head coach Mario Cristobal
On the team’s approach coming back after spring break:
“The goal for us was to kick off where we left off and not have to start all over again. So, with our players, we made it a point for them to stay in good shape throughout spring break. Obviously, make good choices and decisions, so we could come back and continue where we left off. Feel like we did that today. The whole point of spring football is to progress, to keep progressing and progress has to be forced. It has to be pushed. It has to be worked. It just doesn’t happen because you show up. So, we feel like we got a lot done today and we did have progress today. Looking forward to pushing and building on this over the next couple of weeks.”
On how the quarterback room is progressing, especially as Carson Beck continues to be limited:
“The opportunity comes in the form of reps. Sometimes it’s live reps, sometimes its walkthrough reps, sometimes it’s reps in the film room. The cumulative reps, they’re priceless and they’re most valued piece of, I think, any programs’ player development. … Even Carson, these guys are still young guys. They still have to get those repetitions. So, Emory [Williams] has had a great camp. Judd [Anderson] had one of his better days today. Really just made some really tough, spot-on throws in real tight windows. Luke [Nickel] shows why he was the Gatorade Player of the Year as well. That quarterback room has really benefitted and thrived with the added reps and at the same time, Carson is getting plenty of work, just not actually slinging ball downfield.”
On offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa’s progress after two seasons at Miami:
“I think we all know that he’s a special young man. He’s a special talent. Elite power, elite mindset, elite upbringing, elite parenting. I mean, he’s been pushed, he’s been challenged since the beginning. And I think what he does [is], he challenges himself as a person to be a better leader. He challenges himself to be a better community presence. He does a lot of work with you name it, every possible community service opportunity. And then with him, he understands that game really well now. So, we do want to see that next level. What is the next level for him? I think it always starts with your physicality and effort. We want to take finish to a different level. Our technique, and fundamentals, and versatility, right?
“We always work guys at different positions to be able to help ourselves and put our best five [offensive linemen] out there all the time. … He’s striving for perfection, for absolute excellence. And he has no governor. I mean, he just goes. He’s got his foot on the gas, and he is unbelievably fun to coach because every single day, he brings it, and he brings it with a great attitude. I could talk forever on this guy, and you know, I also think that if he hears me praising him too much, he’s going to think I’m crazy because he wants to get pushed and challenged. So, we’ll probably leave it there.”
On how the wide receivers are progressing:
“I see a lot of contested catches. It’s very encouraging to see the competitiveness of the wide receivers. We play a lot of different coverages, very multiple in what we do on the back end but one-on-one gives you an opportunity to see what they do against man coverage as well. I want to start with tight end Elija Lofton, and his versatility. … I mean, he showed it last year. He’s a matchup problem for people. And he has picked up where he left off and [is] getting better and he’s faster and he’s stronger.
“Outside and inside, “Ray Ray” [Joseph] had an incredible spring, worth noting. I don’t think he gets enough attention, but he’s fully healthy. He is running extremely fast, looking really explosive and has been tremendous in spring. Ny Carr had a tremendous catch today. JoJo [Trader] has had a really strong spring. Malachi Toney, you’ve heard a lot [about] and it’s warranted. He’s a special guy that’s advanced and that we are going to accelerate along with a couple of other guys. … Daylyn Upshaw’s had a great spring so far as well. Joshua Moore, you’ve seen the body type. He’s an absolute monster. And his approach every single day, like Daylyn’s, like Malachi’s, they haven’t approached it as freshmen. We asked them to accelerate their maturity and therefore, they have taken it upon themselves to be here at 5:30, 5:45, practice days and catch extra balls and to stay and really live up in the building on their own. … They’re up there and they’re putting in the time to be able to play fast and it has shown so far in a big-time way. …
“The tight ends, I can’t say enough about what we’ve seen so far. … you’ve seen Elija, Jackson Carver’s 25 pounds heavier. Looks great. Luka Gilbert and Brock Schott have really stood out as well. I mean, we’re getting a lot of opportunities, a lot of reps on guys. … Jack Nickel did a great job stepping in there today. Alex Bauman was a little bit nicked up, but he’s going to be back in action this week and he showed some great stuff as well. So, a lot to be excited about.”
Offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa
On how the offensive line has progressed through the first days of spring practice:
“The o-line is good every year. I mean, behind [offensive line coach and assistant head coach Alex Mirabal], there’s a standard and we reach the standard. We try to keep those standards every year.”
On what it means to now be one of the veterans on the offensive line:
“I mean, being a veteran is awesome. You know what’s coming. But also, having the younger guys, the young guys we’ve got over here, they want to work. And that’s why I’m so glad for this group, because everybody’s trying to work, everybody’s trying to earn their spots on the first team. So, they’re [coming] for my job and that’s pushed me to keep my job.”
On how he’s seen his game grow in his two seasons at Miami:
“I mean, overall, everything. I mean, I’ve been grinding. I’ve been working. … Nobody can [really] perfect their game, but if you can improve every day, I mean, that’s more than enough for me. So, run game, pass game, everywhere, getting off the stance, everything.”
On the defensive line:
“The d-line this year, I mean, they’re pretty good. With the new DC [Corey Hetherman] and still with [defensive line coach Jason Taylor]. He taught the younger guys a lot of things and he’s pointing out my weaknesses, so I need to work on hat. He’s working for them, but I’m hearing what they’re saying and I’m trying to implement that into my game as well. But even the younger guys on the defense, they’re all over the ball. They’re chasing the ball and we’re trying to stop them from chasing the ball. So, we get after it every practice.”
Defensive back Zechariah Poyser
On why he chose to transfer to Miami:
“It always has been a dream, but that’s not the reason why I came. Coach Cristobal is a family guy. I have a daughter. I have a 1-year-old daughter and [Cristobal] is like a father figure to me, you know? I saw that in him. I felt like home. He made me feel like [I was] home in our discussion. That’s why I chose Miami. It was like a family environment.”
On being part of a new-look secondary with new coaches:
“It’s great because we’re all fresh, so we’re all asking questions, we’re all learning together. That’s big. … I feel like that helped us learn each other more. So, we’re always asking questions, always around each other, trying to figure out what’s going on. It’s been great.”
On how he’d describe his style of play:
“Hard edge, you know? I’m going to fly around to the ball. I’m a competitor. I don’t quit on plays. I’m going to fly around to the ball.”
Defensive lineman Ahmad Moten, Sr.
On how his increased role late last season:
“I feel like that just boosted [me] and showed the coaches what I can do. Starting the last game, that was really big for me, really my first start in Syracuse. I’m just glad the coaches really trusted me and put me in position to start for the University of Miami. So, now it’s just really trying to get better every day, trying to make it to the League.”
On what it means to be getting more reps with the starting unit:
“Like my dad always told me, just run the race. You just can’t transfer because stuff [isn’t] going your way. So, I just always dug I out and I’m blessed to be here.”
On defensive tackles coach Damione Lewis brings to the program:
“Just that old-school Miami [approach] we really didn’t have. Now, you really see it on full effect … Him just pushing us every day, him telling us what they used to do and what he used to do, and what I can do to help, [that] makes my game go higher for real.”
