Canes Spring Practice Report: March 22
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The Hurricanes were back on the Greentree Practice Fields on Saturday morning as spring drills continued at Miami.
After Saturday’s practice, head coach Mario Cristobal, offensive lineman Markel Bell, defensive lineman David Blay, Jr., and wide receivers Ny Carr and JoJo Trader spoke with reporters and shared their thoughts on the day’s workout.
Here’s some of what they had to say after Saturday’s practice, in their own words…
Head coach Mario Cristobal
On the quarterbacks getting increased reps while Carson Beck continues to recover from his injury:
“Football has a funny way of making people step up when they have to step up. That’s what you see, you know? There’s no reliance. They want to go in there and make plays. These guys now have to make the plays. They have to have presence in the huddle and make sure they get the call correct, make sure they change the play correctly, that they’re signaling and receiving signals and understanding them the right way. So, progress. I’m probably going to use that word ad nauseam, but it’s the whole goal and as long as we keep doing that and showing good attitude, it’s good.”
On players stepping up to become leaders for the team after the departure of a number of veterans:
“I think we’re pushing it. Our first [recruiting] class, they are now true juniors, right? So, it’s on them now. It really is. Now we have to develop that and push that. And the whole lead-by-example [approach,] that’s a bunch of BS. Leading by example is just doing what you’re supposed to be doing and keeping your mouth shut. We want the vocal part to be backed up by action. And we are seeing bits and spurts or whatnot. We are seeing hard workers. We are seeing time invested. We want to work. We want to stay away from the nonsense, the BS, and the hype and all that stuff and really understand that we play really good football teams, and we can be an excellent football team and we’re going to keep pushing progress until we get there.”
On sophomore receivers JoJo Trader and Ny Carr:
“I see a lot of ability and I see flashes. And I see guys that need a ton of work. That’s what I see. I see guys that need to get pushed and we’re going to push them. They don’t have a problem getting pushed, but now, when you have to be the guy, it’s different. So, we have a way to go. … We’re not consistent enough. We make some spectacular flash plays and then other times, it’s a little bit head scratching and that’s okay. That’s part of growing up and part of maturing. But we’re going to pour it on them. I myself am on them really, really hard. That’s ball, right? There’s no kind and cuddly way to prepare for this stuff. … They have to earn everything that they get to display on the field on a daily basis and that’s going to be hammered home. I hope they hear this, too. They need to. … We’ve got a way to go, but we’ve come a long way.”
On the defensive tackles and the interior of the defensive line:
“We’re pushing them hard for toughness. I think the addition of Damione Lewis, in combination with Jason Taylor, they’re getting after those guys really good. We want physicality. We want guys using their hands and striking. Block destruction, that’s always been a big part of our operation. We see improvement there. We do. And now, we’ve got to learn how to chase the ball down on a consistent basis. We’ve got to learn ball disruption on a down-by-down basis. Schematically, we are … it’s designed to allow the big guys to play heavy, to play fast, and to play up the field, to play vertical, really cut loose our ability. So, we have seen a lot of progress in that department, and we are going to test them. We’ve got a big week coming up with what we’re going to install, and how we’re going to come at them and we’re going to come at them really, really hard this week.”
Offensive lineman Markel Bell:
On the experience he gained last season:
“I’d most definitely say that the reps I did get last year, [they were] very impactful and I tried to take advantage of any rep I that I did get. I’m so grateful that I did get those reps because now it’s setting me up for me taking on this new job that I have as the starting left tackle.”
On what he learned from former Hurricanes offensive lineman Jalen Rivers:
“One thing I learned from Jalen Rivers is just being patient and trusting your technique because we practice for two hours a day and all those hours build up. … You don’t want to practice all throughout the week and then when you get to the game, forget everything. So, just trust your technique and trust who you are.”
Defensive lineman David Blay, Jr.
On what has stood out to him during his first weeks at Miami:
“My coaches. I’d say they’re very detail oriented. Coach [Damione Lewis], I love the way he coaches. I love his style of coaching, and it really motivates me to come to practice every day and do things earlier or later. I’m trying to really get into the groove of doing that so I can do nothing but [speak] positively on that.”
On his fellow defensive linemen and the offensive line he faces daily in practice:
“Oh, those are some guys, for sure. I’m not going to lie. They’re some guys. It’s good competition. Everybody’s working and [trying to] outwork each other, but we’re all getting better every day.”
On the adjustment that comes with playing at a Power Four program, after being at a Group of Five program:
“I’m really just excited, man. The competition. There’s a difference in the competition I would say, for sure. But it’s not going to do anything but make me better. Every single day I come out, I know I can’t be lacking when I come out on this field. If you’re lacking, you’re going to lack and you’re going to get exposed.”
Wide receiver Ny Carr
On how this season feels different, given his experience from last year:
“It feels the same. It’s just me elevating my game every day, trying to get better, watching more film, coming in after practice and stuff like that. Just putting in extra work, working hard every day. I wouldn’t say it feels different, because I did the same thing in high school to be able to get here. … It’s what I do. It’s my job.”
On embracing the opportunity ahead of him, with so many veteran receivers having left the program:
“I’m embracing it a lot. … I know I’ve got to fill big shoes and a big role, but I’m not letting it get to me a lot. I’m trying to stay level-headed. I’m trying to stay focused, trying to watch film and stuff like that, just look at the things that they did wrong and find the good in it so it [can] make me better.”
Wide receiver JoJo Trader
On what he learned during his freshman season last fall:
“I actually took away a lot from [Xavier Restrepo], [Jacolby George], Sam Brown, all those receivers, definitely. And just getting comfortable with the offense, seeing the stuff like [quarterback Cam Ward] calling out the signals during a game, I’m on the sideline like, ‘That’s this play, that’s that play.’ Just basically being a student of the game on the sideline, while not even playing, basically.”
On the receiving corps:
“Everybody’s here to come to work. Nobody has an ego. I just feel like it’s going to be a great year from the receiver standpoint, definitely.”
