Canes Camp Report: Aug. 1
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The Hurricanes were back in action on the Greentree Practice Fields for their second day of preseason camp, and after Friday’s practice, linebacker Wesley Bissainthe, offensive lineman Anez Cooper, running back Mark Fletcher Jr., and defensive back Zechariah Poyser all spoke with reporters.
Here are some of their best quotes after Friday’s practice as Miami moves one step closer to its Aug. 31 season opener against Notre Dame.
Linebacker Wesley Bissainthe
On how the first few days of camp have gone:
“It feels good out there. It feels great to get back out there with my teammates, man. I feel like we’ve been attacking it real hard, and I can’t wait to continue to keep on building our team identity.”
On the addition of transfer linebackers Kamal Bonner and Mohamed Toure:
“They’re dogs, man. They’re dogs. I feel like the whole room is dogs and I feel like the LBs [have to] lead the whole defense, you know? Everything runs through us, the calls and we [have to] communicate. I feel like we’ve got a very special group, and I feel like we are going to continue to get each other better.”
On the importance of communication in defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman’s system:
“Just every day, [you] have to keep on emphasizing it, in walkthroughs so that when you go out there on the practice field, it’s like second nature. I feel like that’s a big, important role in this defense. You have to communicate, because without the communication, [that’s] when the mistakes come.”
On the versatility on this year’s defense:
“I feel like it’s very versatile, and with the weapons we’ve got, I feel like we have a lot of depth [at] each position. So, I feel like we’re able to … when one comes out, we’ve got another dog coming in. I feel like we’re very versatile. We’re able to do multiple things and make plays.”
Offensive lineman Anez Cooper
On his growth, from freshman year to where he is today:
“I think it was just me having to grow up. When I first came in, I didn’t really expect that I was going to end up starting. I just felt like if I was going to have to play and start, and grow up so fast, I felt like I just had to open up to everybody and just let everybody see the person I was, instead of keeping everything in. But I felt like a big thing was my hair. I used to have my hair just all in my face because I [didn’t] really want to talk to [anybody] because I was a freshman. I was young. I didn’t know how college was. I feel like when I just cut my hair off, I opened up to people. It’s just a big thing about it.”
On how he’d evaluate the first two days of practice:
“I feel like everybody’s buying in. I mean, there’s a whole bunch of new faces around, like the quarterback and a whole bunch of new guys in the wide receiver room. But I feel like everybody’s just buying in and I’m just happy to see that we can get things done. Some periods, we’re good, then some periods, we’re kind of off. But I just like how we don’t ever have just a whole off day.”
On which of the defensive tackles have impressed him early in camp:
“All of them, for real. Justin Scott, Ahmad [Moten] Sr., and David Blay, Jr.. I think all those guys, they’re different. I think Justin Scott has probably given me one of the hardest times just because of how big is, and he’s got a lot of power. And then Blay, he knows how to move around. And Ahmad Moten is probably the shiftiest of all three of them. But all of them, they’ve been giving me work. I’ve been giving them work. We’ve been trying to get better off each other. I think that’s a good thing.”
Running back Mark Fletcher, Jr.
On the first two days of camp:
“It’s been going good. It’s been smooth. There are things we’ve got to get better at; it’s only day two. You expect things like that. But we’ve just got to keep on building, stacking days. Everything should be going good.”
On the addition of running back transfer CharMar “Marty” Brown:
“He just adds another physical runner. Like, he’s a physical running back, downhill, not trying to make too many moves on you. Just please get out of the way, or you’re going to get hurt. That’s how I say it. He’s a great person off the field, too. Chill guy. He fits right in with us.”
On how he feels physically this year compared to last August, when he was recovering from a foot injury:
“It’s much nicer. It’s crazy. It’s crazy to say that because we were just in walkthrough and yesterday was our first day of camp, you know? Long day. We were here at 5 a.m., went back home at like 8 p.m., and a couple of guys – it’s human nature – were just a little tired. And I caught myself, too. Like, ‘Man, I’m a little tired, man.’ And then I was like, ‘A year ago, man, I couldn’t even walk right. I couldn’t even walk for like eight months.’ So, I just had to say [to myself], ‘Let me tighten up.’ It’s a blessing that I’m even able to run around here and just play football. I’m not taking this for granted at all.”
On how the team is spending time in the facility during camp:
“That’s going to build team chemistry. As you know, we’re all in camp mode right now. We all just want to stay in the building as much as we can. Have my little blow-up mattress in the locker room, slept here, don’t have to drive here. I’m already here, ready. Everybody…this team just has a lot of football junkies. That’s what I would say. Everybody wants to get better at their job, focus on their job in order to help everybody win.”
On working with transfer quarterback Carson Beck:
“He’s an educator of football. That’s what I call him. He just knows a lot of football. He’s played a lot of football and anytime he sees something, he just tries to give back. That’s not only to me, that’s to anybody.”
Defensive back Zechariah Poyser
On how to communicate effectively on the field:
“Just talking at all times, you know? I mean, you’ve got to be. [There are going to be] loud fans in the stadium and stuff, so everybody’s got to be on the same page. One side can’t be doing this, and the other side can’t be doing that. That’s really just talking, making sure everybody’s on the same page from the second level, third level and first level.”
On how the secondary is coming together:
“It’s coming together. In the summer, we’ve been spending time together in the film room, constantly learning the playbook. It’s coming together well, if you ask me.”
On sophomore defensive back Dylan Day:
“Oh, man, Dylan Day is that guy. He’s a guy that knows the playbook. He’s a guy that flies around. He brings a lot to the room, for sure.”
On which receivers have stood out early in camp:
“A lot of those guys. If I had to pick, two or three, I’d say Malachi Toney, “Ray Ray” Joseph, and [Joshisa] “JoJo” Trader , from what I’ve seen. And CJ [Daniels] , too. Top four.”
