Canes Camp Report: Aug. 4
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The Hurricanes were back in action on the Greentree Practice Field and continue making their way through preseason camp.
After Monday’s practice, assistant head coach/offensive line coach Alex Mirabal, and offensive linemen Markel Bell, James Brockermeyer, Matthew McCoy and Ryan Rodriguez all spoke with reporters.
Here are some of their best quotes after Monday’s practice as Miami moves one step closer to its Aug. 31 season opener against Notre Dame.
Assistant head coach/offensive line coach Alex Mirabal
On how he’d assess the offensive line’s progress through the first five days of camp:
“It’s progress. We’re only [on] Day Five, right? Fourth day of practice, we had a walkthrough. So, still a work in progress. Far from a finished product. And we’ll never be a finished product. As long as they work, give effort, finish, chase the ball, we’ll continue to grow as an offensive line. So, we’re growing. We’re growing.”
On the addition of center James Brockermeyer, and how Miami has been able to integrate veteran centers onto its offensive line during his and head coach Mario Cristobal’s time at Miami:
“It’s what we do, right? It’s not only the centers, but it’s every kid in that room. Every kid in that room every day has to be acclimated, has to be assimilated into how we do things, right? From a cultural standpoint around the program, from how we call things inside the offensive line. That’s just a daily thing, right? It’s a daily thing. And it’s important when you’re recruiting, whether it’s a high school kid or a transfer portal kid, in Brockermeyer’s sense, that you’re recruiting the right kids; that you’re recruiting kids that are willing to put themselves aside for the betterment of the group. And we talk about that in our room. Our most important thing that we’ve been focusing on since January is to be proud of the room and not jealous of the room, right? That’s my job as a coach, just as it is teaching the fundamentals of a base block or reach block or pass set, it’s also the cohesion, right? Especially in this world nowadays, where it’s ‘What can I get for myself?’ right? Well, one of the things I have to do, that we try to do in this program – but specifically in the offensive line, because it’s such a unit – is try to strip selfishness and make it more about us as a unit than one individual.”
On how the offensive line is building trust and chemistry with transfer quarterback Carson Beck:
“It’s phenomenal. It’s phenomenal and you know why? He’s a tremendous competitor. Carson is a tremendous competitor. You know, just like Cam [Ward] was last year. Different, but a competitor. He’s done a great job of getting their buy-in because he’s unbelievable in knowing protections and turning protections and checking us and putting the run plays to right looks. He’s really advanced in those areas and aspects and that’s a tribute to the program he came from, right…so, all of a sudden, we’re on the offensive line, we get a certain look, we make a certain call, but he checks us to a different protection and boy, it works, and it hits right and it’s perfect. … Well, guess what? That earns trust. He’s done it by his work, by being around and just how he is every day.
“He’s someone who’s comfortable in his skin. I mean, he’s a competitor. He’s very calm and he’s very cool. And when I say cool, I’m talking about things don’t rattle him. So, that’s how he’s gained those guys’ trust just on a daily basis, on how he does it. … He might not have [taken] them to Prime 112 yet, but that’s not what it’s about. That wasn’t what it was about with Cam. It was about him putting them in the right situations on the field so they can succeed. If you do that, that’s how you gain each other’s trust. Same thing up front. How do you gain trust up front? You gain trust upfront when you make a call to [Francis Mauigoa] or make a call to [Markel] Bell or [James] Brockermeyer and things work. Now, Brockermeyer, Bell, Sisi, [Anez] Cooper, now they trust that person. So, it’s the same.”
On leadership on the offensive line:
“I’ve got a veteran group, right? I mean, it’s [Mauigoa], and Anez and Bell and Brockermeyer. And the reason I say that is, a, are they starters? Yeah. But I hear them. I see them. … They check people, right? They check people if they’re not upholding the standards and the culture of our program, right? That’s how they’ve done it. Today, our major point of emphasis was finishing, chasing the ball. So, I told them, ‘Hey, Coop, that’s on you, man. Hey, Sisi, that’s on you. Hey, Kel, that’s on you. You do it, the rest of them dudes are going to do it.’ So, holding each other accountable and then also putting it on film. Like we tell them, like [head coach Mario] Cristobal tells them, don’t go holding somebody else accountable until you hold yourself accountable first and that’s what they’ve done.
“You’ve seen how Mauigoa, how Cooper, how Bell, how Brockermeyer have changed their bodies, right? … Brockermeyer, for instance, we have meetings at 7:30 in the morning. At 6:15, he’s in the weight room, pre-habilitating stuff, stretching, flexibility, doing that stuff. And he’s got [Max] Buchanan in there with him. I told Brock, ‘That’s your legacy. Your legacy is how do you teach Buchanan to prepare himself for practice? It’s not in the trophies. It’s not in the rings. It’s in that, because that’s what’s going to last’ and that’s how they’ve been doing it.”
Offensive lineman Markel Bell
On what he set out to improve on ahead of this season:
“I just knew since I was trading places with [former offensive lineman] Jalen Rivers every other drive [last season], that coming into this year, I had to play a full game and so the first thing I wanted to attack was my conditioning. I had to get in game shape, good enough shape … to play a full game and play at an elite level.”
On what offensive line coach Alex Mirabal has taught him that has stayed with him throughout his career:
“Well, one thing he emphasized since day one when I came here was ‘next play mentality.’ Whether it’s good, bad, just keep being level-headed and go to the next play.”
On quarterback Carson Beck:
“I like how humble he came in; how humble he came in in the first place and then just him taking charge. This is his huddle, his offense. He took charge of it, and I really appreciate that. We’re going to block our tails off for him.”
On his football journey:
“It’s been a long journey, just leading up to this point. I still have more work to do, but I think the biggest piece of advice I can give somebody … coming in either from [junior college] or high school, just take one day at a time. You’re not going to be perfect. You’re not going to be a Hall of Famer in one day. You’re going to be behind but take it one day at a time and you’re going to find yourself surpassing people.”
Offensive lineman James Brockermeyer
On what stands out about working with offensive line coach Alex Mirabal:
“I’d just say his passion, for everything, really stands out. It’s not something I’ve really ever been around, to be honest, at that level. He’s super, super intense in everything he does. He comes to meetings the same way he comes out to practice. He’s in everyone’s faces. He’s always barking and he’s ready to go. He brings a lot of fight to the party.”
On building chemistry with the rest of the offensive line after transferring from TCU:
“It’s been great. I think that was one of the best things about getting here for spring ball was having that time to mesh with the other guys and learn about the guys in the room. They can learn about me as well. And just by being able to do that, we’ve been able to hit the ground running.”
Offensive lineman Matt McCoy
On how the offensive line is coming together and his role in the group:
“I mean, we’re all competing. Nobody should be comfortable. I feel like the best guys should be playing, so anything that’s just regarded to like somebody starting, it’s not really what we’re trying to do right now. We’re just trying to make sure we’re competing and doing our jobs the best that we can.”
On the culture in the offensive line room:
“I would say Coach Mirabal, he built the culture brick by brick ever since I got here. I came in here with him in the Class of 2022 and he’s just built the culture every year. It’s just guys who come in, they get used to it really quick because that’s really what it’s all about, our culture. We’ve got to be the best position on the field, so that’s really important for an o-line.”
Offensive lineman Ryan Rodriguez
On how he thinks the line is progressing through the first few days of camp:
“Coach Mirabal never lets us settle. He’s always going to push us. He even said it today in the meeting room, everybody’s got to compete. No one’s spot is guaranteed, you get what I’m saying? Everyone’s got to compete and yeah, there’s obviously the guys who are going to play, but everyone’s got to compete and push each other because that’s the only way we can get better. If everyone’s comfortable in their spots and in their roles, there’s no growth.”
On the depth on the offensive line:
“I’m not going to lie. In my years [here], I feel like this is the deepest we’ve been. We have talent everywhere. We’ve got guys backing up guys that are talented and I feel, could start at other places. That’s really the big thing, though. If everyone can buy in and we can just be a unit, we’ll see what we can do.”
