Butch Barry is preparing for his first season at the helm of the Miami Hurricanes’ offensive line and, with a roster of players he didn’t recruit, is attempting to build a culture from the ground up that focuses mainly on togetherness and toughness.
“As a group, there’s always things you can correct. The biggest thing I wanted to see was guys playing together. Because we’re shuffling guys around, trying to find the best five, and play with effort and toughness,” Barry said. “We talk a lot, as offensive linemen, you have to be smart, tough and dependable. We’re not going to stop talking about that, because we have to be that. And our effort and toughness have to always be there. To play O-Line, that’s the key. That was the biggest thing that I wanted to see. We had flashes of it. There were flashes where it wasn’t. Where there wasn’t flashes, we need to get that caught up to speed.”
The biggest story on the offensive line and probably the entire team this offseason has been the rise of true freshman OT Zion Nelson. A lightly recruited and undersized lineman from South Carolina, Nelson has improved his body by gaining 50 pounds since enrolling in January and he has fought his way to the top of the depth chart at left tackle.
“He’s been playing with effort and toughness, number one,” Barry said. “Number two is he’s got good athleticism and good length. That’s a premium for a tackle.”
While the Canes have mostly left Nelson untouched on the first unit at left tackle, Barry has taken a more liberal approach to finding a first-team right tackle, rotating John Campbell, Kai-Leon Herbert, and Zalon’tae Hillery at the spot to try and find someone that’s ready to step up.
“We have a lot of guys we’re shuffling there,” Barry said of right tackle. “I have to find the five best. There’s a lot of moving parts right now. We have some guys who are battling and competing, but we’re trying to find the five best.”
Redshirt sophomore Corey Gaynor has been considered Miami’s center of the future going on two-plus years now, and Barry sees a guy that’s eager to perform.
“It’s been good. He gives us what he can, every time. I always appreciate that,” Barry said of Gaynor. “I think that’s a positive with him, and playing with effort and toughness. He is showing that. He wants to take on a leadership role within that room, and we need him to keep embracing that.”
At first-team right guard is sophomore DJ Scaife. As someone who mostly played right tackle as a freshman and this spring, Scaife was moved to the interior this fall mostly because Barry believes it will benefit the line as a whole.
“I want to be able to put them in their best position, but I also have to find the five best that work together because at the end of the day our offensive line has to be connected as one.”
**New WR coach Taylor Stubblefield is taking over a group of physically talented receivers that struggled with drops last season. The problem was a little better, but remained through the spring, and although the receivers have done some good things this fall, Stubblefield has made clear he is still not satisfied with their play overall.
“We’re going to strain, strain, strain. Our standard, the Miami standard, won’t be compromised,” Stubblefield said. “We’re going to continue to push for it, we’re going to continue to demand it, and we’re going to get there.”
How did he see his group perform in the scrimmage on Sunday?
“We were limited on our YAC yards,” Stubblefield said. “That’s one thing - we design plays to get a certain amount of yards and yes, that’s great, you got them, that’s efficient and all that good stuff… but when you’re evaluating the play, even in recruiting, you’re looking for things like guys can catch the ball, his route-running, but one thing that stands out is, who can make plays? Who has that play-making ability? We need to continue to improve on that. Whether it be getting dirty yards after a catch or whether that be making somebody miss and winning an open-field tackling contest and create some more.”
When discussing which of his players took a jump this summer, Stubblefield felt that each of his players saw improvement, but pointed to two in particular that really have caught his eye.
“Mike Harley put on 15 pounds and lost body fat. KJ Osborn put on some pounds; all of my guys improved somehow,” Stubblefield said.
Junior Jeff Thomas is probably Miami’s most talented WR, but he had a rocky 2018 season that ended with him leaving the team for the final two games. Stubblefield knows that getting Thomas to a mental place that relies on consistently staying focused will be a key to his group’s success this year.
“I try not to have my head buried in the sand so I’m not oblivious to things. I know that the relationship has to continue to be built, but I think that we are on the right path. I think that he is starting to trust me. I think I have been consistent with what I’ve said,” Stubblefield said of Thomas. “I’ve been consistent with my actions and that’s what I ask of all of them as well. I’m going to communicate to you guys and you guys communicate to me. I want you guys to trust me, but you guys should want me to trust you as a well. That’s all part of this relationship building and we’re working on it every day. We’re going to challenge the heck out of Jeff.”
Redshirt sophomore Evidence Njoku has dealt with injury issues as well as struggles to adapt to the college game since coming to Miami, but Stubblefield believes he is one of the more physically talented players on the team.
“Evidence, you look at his physique he’s a good-looking specimen,” Stubblefield said. “Just constant daily reminders of improving his skill as a receiver. We know he’s athletic, we just have to continue to improve his skill at the wide receiver position.”
In offensive coordinator Dan Enos’ new offense, Stubblefield sees UM’s attack being very receiver-friendly going forward.
“It’s fun to be in this offense,” Stubblefield said. “If you’re a receiver, you want to play in this offense because of the resume you’re going to build.”
“As a group, there’s always things you can correct. The biggest thing I wanted to see was guys playing together. Because we’re shuffling guys around, trying to find the best five, and play with effort and toughness,” Barry said. “We talk a lot, as offensive linemen, you have to be smart, tough and dependable. We’re not going to stop talking about that, because we have to be that. And our effort and toughness have to always be there. To play O-Line, that’s the key. That was the biggest thing that I wanted to see. We had flashes of it. There were flashes where it wasn’t. Where there wasn’t flashes, we need to get that caught up to speed.”
The biggest story on the offensive line and probably the entire team this offseason has been the rise of true freshman OT Zion Nelson. A lightly recruited and undersized lineman from South Carolina, Nelson has improved his body by gaining 50 pounds since enrolling in January and he has fought his way to the top of the depth chart at left tackle.
“He’s been playing with effort and toughness, number one,” Barry said. “Number two is he’s got good athleticism and good length. That’s a premium for a tackle.”
While the Canes have mostly left Nelson untouched on the first unit at left tackle, Barry has taken a more liberal approach to finding a first-team right tackle, rotating John Campbell, Kai-Leon Herbert, and Zalon’tae Hillery at the spot to try and find someone that’s ready to step up.
“We have a lot of guys we’re shuffling there,” Barry said of right tackle. “I have to find the five best. There’s a lot of moving parts right now. We have some guys who are battling and competing, but we’re trying to find the five best.”
Redshirt sophomore Corey Gaynor has been considered Miami’s center of the future going on two-plus years now, and Barry sees a guy that’s eager to perform.
“It’s been good. He gives us what he can, every time. I always appreciate that,” Barry said of Gaynor. “I think that’s a positive with him, and playing with effort and toughness. He is showing that. He wants to take on a leadership role within that room, and we need him to keep embracing that.”
At first-team right guard is sophomore DJ Scaife. As someone who mostly played right tackle as a freshman and this spring, Scaife was moved to the interior this fall mostly because Barry believes it will benefit the line as a whole.
“I want to be able to put them in their best position, but I also have to find the five best that work together because at the end of the day our offensive line has to be connected as one.”
**New WR coach Taylor Stubblefield is taking over a group of physically talented receivers that struggled with drops last season. The problem was a little better, but remained through the spring, and although the receivers have done some good things this fall, Stubblefield has made clear he is still not satisfied with their play overall.
“We’re going to strain, strain, strain. Our standard, the Miami standard, won’t be compromised,” Stubblefield said. “We’re going to continue to push for it, we’re going to continue to demand it, and we’re going to get there.”
How did he see his group perform in the scrimmage on Sunday?
“We were limited on our YAC yards,” Stubblefield said. “That’s one thing - we design plays to get a certain amount of yards and yes, that’s great, you got them, that’s efficient and all that good stuff… but when you’re evaluating the play, even in recruiting, you’re looking for things like guys can catch the ball, his route-running, but one thing that stands out is, who can make plays? Who has that play-making ability? We need to continue to improve on that. Whether it be getting dirty yards after a catch or whether that be making somebody miss and winning an open-field tackling contest and create some more.”
When discussing which of his players took a jump this summer, Stubblefield felt that each of his players saw improvement, but pointed to two in particular that really have caught his eye.
“Mike Harley put on 15 pounds and lost body fat. KJ Osborn put on some pounds; all of my guys improved somehow,” Stubblefield said.
Junior Jeff Thomas is probably Miami’s most talented WR, but he had a rocky 2018 season that ended with him leaving the team for the final two games. Stubblefield knows that getting Thomas to a mental place that relies on consistently staying focused will be a key to his group’s success this year.
“I try not to have my head buried in the sand so I’m not oblivious to things. I know that the relationship has to continue to be built, but I think that we are on the right path. I think that he is starting to trust me. I think I have been consistent with what I’ve said,” Stubblefield said of Thomas. “I’ve been consistent with my actions and that’s what I ask of all of them as well. I’m going to communicate to you guys and you guys communicate to me. I want you guys to trust me, but you guys should want me to trust you as a well. That’s all part of this relationship building and we’re working on it every day. We’re going to challenge the heck out of Jeff.”
Redshirt sophomore Evidence Njoku has dealt with injury issues as well as struggles to adapt to the college game since coming to Miami, but Stubblefield believes he is one of the more physically talented players on the team.
“Evidence, you look at his physique he’s a good-looking specimen,” Stubblefield said. “Just constant daily reminders of improving his skill as a receiver. We know he’s athletic, we just have to continue to improve his skill at the wide receiver position.”
In offensive coordinator Dan Enos’ new offense, Stubblefield sees UM’s attack being very receiver-friendly going forward.
“It’s fun to be in this offense,” Stubblefield said. “If you’re a receiver, you want to play in this offense because of the resume you’re going to build.”
