Miami junior running back DeeJay Dallas was one of the stars of the offense in Miami’s opener against the Florida Gators this past week, compiling 12 carries for 95 yards and a TD, and adding 4 catches for 37 yards. A big chunk of his yardage total came from running the Wildcat package, as he broke off both a 50-yard TD and a 24-yard scamper with the formation.
“When you look at Wildcat, Wildcat is something a defense has to adjust to," Dallas said. "You don’t see the Wildcat every day. You don’t see the Wildcat in practice, people don’t practice that. And I mean it’s just a schematic thing. That’s probably why they worked, they just popped."
However, Dallas' strong performance wasn't enough, as the Hurricanes just fell short to the Gators in Orlando, 24-20.
"The loss hurt," Dallas said. "We fought, we didn't waver at all. Just the ball didn't roll our way at the end of the day. We gave it everything we had, it should have been a different outcome but that's just football."
Redshirt freshman QB Jarren Williams made his first career start against UF and had some big moments in the game as well.
“He played his tail off. But at the end of the day, we didn’t get the job done and I feel like all of us could have done a better job of making plays, including myself," Dallas said. "I didn’t make enough plays, so as a leader I feel that’s my job - to make plays. And it’s not just on Jarren, it’s not just on the O-Line, it is on all of us."
With nothing to do but go back to the lab and improve on their mistakes, the rest of the Hurricanes and Dallas are looking forward to the rest of the 2019 season at Miami.
“What coach (Manny) Diaz preached is it’s all about Miami, we don’t care about who is the next opponent, what happened in the past - it’s all about Miami from here on out,” Dallas said. “It’s on everybody to win - not just offense, not just defense.”
During the opener, Miami unveiled the Turnover Chain 3.0, as well as the first iteration of some offensive bling: The Touchdown Rings.
“I feel like now everybody is going to try to swag jack us a little bit. But, hey, it’s starting a little buzz with the offense getting the rings so it’s just like the Turnover Chain," Dallas said. "I hope we get a song so, shoot, if you’re listening, Solo D, we need a song. I like the rings. We have fun.
"The objective behind the rings is like when you score a touchdown, it isn’t a one-man job. So, yeah, I held the rings up, but I went and shared it with the O-line because those are the boys who do the grunt work up front and I appreciate that."
**Junior defensive end Jonathan Garvin didn't show up much on the stat sheet against the Florida Gators, recording just 4 tackles and none of his trademark TFL or sacks. However, Garvin felt he played the role he was asked to play in the game and executed the gameplan.
“They give the scheme and we follow," Garvin said. "Yeah, you always want to put pressure on them, but we had different goals that we can’t sit here and explain to you because you wouldn’t understand. We know on the inside.”
The Miami defense forced multiple mistakes out of the Florida offense in the 4th quarter and put the UM offense in a position to win the game at the end. According to Garvin, though, blame for the loss goes to everyone, not just one unit.
“It was everywhere. It was not a [single] position who didn’t have a mistake that could have cost us the game," Garvin said. "It was mistakes everywhere. I’m not going to sit here and single anybody out, but everyone made a mistake.”
What did he learn about this team during the game?
“Well, the good thing about it is it was a fight and it was a fight until the very end, so now we know how to fight. Now we know how to finish a fight," Garvin said. "We’ve got to come out and do better, play cleaner throughout the whole game, so when we get to that point in the game, it’s not a 4-point game. It’s more like a 25-point game.”
While the Canes are currently resting on their bye week, their next opponent will be the UNC Tar Heels, with whom the Hurricanes had their way with last season. UM racked up three defensive TD's, including a fumble return for six by Garvin, on their way to a 47-10 rout of North Carolina in 2018, and Garvin says there will be no change in how he prepares for UNC this season.
“Same really as last year, no disrespect," Garvin said of how he's preparing for UNC. "They’re going to come out and they’re going to grind like any other team. They’re going to give it all they’ve got. They have a new quarterback, so we’re going see the tape, take the time to watch it and then we’re going watch him play on Saturday.”
“When you look at Wildcat, Wildcat is something a defense has to adjust to," Dallas said. "You don’t see the Wildcat every day. You don’t see the Wildcat in practice, people don’t practice that. And I mean it’s just a schematic thing. That’s probably why they worked, they just popped."
However, Dallas' strong performance wasn't enough, as the Hurricanes just fell short to the Gators in Orlando, 24-20.
"The loss hurt," Dallas said. "We fought, we didn't waver at all. Just the ball didn't roll our way at the end of the day. We gave it everything we had, it should have been a different outcome but that's just football."
Redshirt freshman QB Jarren Williams made his first career start against UF and had some big moments in the game as well.
“He played his tail off. But at the end of the day, we didn’t get the job done and I feel like all of us could have done a better job of making plays, including myself," Dallas said. "I didn’t make enough plays, so as a leader I feel that’s my job - to make plays. And it’s not just on Jarren, it’s not just on the O-Line, it is on all of us."
With nothing to do but go back to the lab and improve on their mistakes, the rest of the Hurricanes and Dallas are looking forward to the rest of the 2019 season at Miami.
“What coach (Manny) Diaz preached is it’s all about Miami, we don’t care about who is the next opponent, what happened in the past - it’s all about Miami from here on out,” Dallas said. “It’s on everybody to win - not just offense, not just defense.”
During the opener, Miami unveiled the Turnover Chain 3.0, as well as the first iteration of some offensive bling: The Touchdown Rings.
“I feel like now everybody is going to try to swag jack us a little bit. But, hey, it’s starting a little buzz with the offense getting the rings so it’s just like the Turnover Chain," Dallas said. "I hope we get a song so, shoot, if you’re listening, Solo D, we need a song. I like the rings. We have fun.
"The objective behind the rings is like when you score a touchdown, it isn’t a one-man job. So, yeah, I held the rings up, but I went and shared it with the O-line because those are the boys who do the grunt work up front and I appreciate that."
**Junior defensive end Jonathan Garvin didn't show up much on the stat sheet against the Florida Gators, recording just 4 tackles and none of his trademark TFL or sacks. However, Garvin felt he played the role he was asked to play in the game and executed the gameplan.
“They give the scheme and we follow," Garvin said. "Yeah, you always want to put pressure on them, but we had different goals that we can’t sit here and explain to you because you wouldn’t understand. We know on the inside.”
The Miami defense forced multiple mistakes out of the Florida offense in the 4th quarter and put the UM offense in a position to win the game at the end. According to Garvin, though, blame for the loss goes to everyone, not just one unit.
“It was everywhere. It was not a [single] position who didn’t have a mistake that could have cost us the game," Garvin said. "It was mistakes everywhere. I’m not going to sit here and single anybody out, but everyone made a mistake.”
What did he learn about this team during the game?
“Well, the good thing about it is it was a fight and it was a fight until the very end, so now we know how to fight. Now we know how to finish a fight," Garvin said. "We’ve got to come out and do better, play cleaner throughout the whole game, so when we get to that point in the game, it’s not a 4-point game. It’s more like a 25-point game.”
While the Canes are currently resting on their bye week, their next opponent will be the UNC Tar Heels, with whom the Hurricanes had their way with last season. UM racked up three defensive TD's, including a fumble return for six by Garvin, on their way to a 47-10 rout of North Carolina in 2018, and Garvin says there will be no change in how he prepares for UNC this season.
“Same really as last year, no disrespect," Garvin said of how he's preparing for UNC. "They’re going to come out and they’re going to grind like any other team. They’re going to give it all they’ve got. They have a new quarterback, so we’re going see the tape, take the time to watch it and then we’re going watch him play on Saturday.”
