The Miami Hurricanes held their first spring scrimmage on Saturday and when asked about the performance of the QB’s, head coach Manny Diaz didn’t tip much of his hand when talking to the media after Tuesday’s practice.
“I don’t know that there was a best, I think they all know they have to play a lot better for us to win games,” Diaz said.
Diaz pointed out that all three contenders for the starting QB role are still learning the playbook and haven’t yet mastered where to go on every play just yet.
“When we have that, we’ll be able to evaluate what we really have,” Diaz said. “We want to be an offense that’s difficult to defend, force the defense into a lot of decision-making. In the passing game there’s going to be an answer for the quarterback.”
WR Jeff Thomas has had a standout spring after returning to the team and Diaz feels Thomas now understands what is expected from him day in and day out at Miami.
“Without getting into the details of how we do things he understands there’s a consistent structure, he knows exactly where the lines are drawn and any crossing of the line results in this and if you walk the line it’s this,” Diaz said.
Sophomore LB Waynmon Steed is undergoing surgery after sustaining a knee injury in Saturday’s scrimmage, but Diaz says sophomore LB BJ Jennings has been stepping up this play this entire spring and is ready to handle a larger role after taking a redshirt year in 2018.
“Jennings is doing great, will be able to play the role that Mike Smith did a year ago, train at MIKE and WILL, push him on the field more,” Diaz said. “We think he has a great future. Beyond that, we’ll be counting on some young guys (at LB).”
Sophomore center Corey Gaynor was also held out today with an undisclosed injury.
“He’s a day-to-day type thing,” Diaz said. “He’s a guy we can count on along the offensive line.”
Diaz also mentioned sophomore RB Robert Burns would miss the rest of spring with a knee injury, but would be fine for fall camp.
With Miami showing a lot of I-formation and off-balance sets, redshirt freshman FB Realus George looks like he will play a role in OC Dan Enos’ offense this season after sitting out his rookie year in 2018.
“He has made a jump, he really has,” Diaz said. “He’s come out here and been a physical presence in our downhill running game.”
“I don’t know that there was a best, I think they all know they have to play a lot better for us to win games,” Diaz said.
Diaz pointed out that all three contenders for the starting QB role are still learning the playbook and haven’t yet mastered where to go on every play just yet.
“When we have that, we’ll be able to evaluate what we really have,” Diaz said. “We want to be an offense that’s difficult to defend, force the defense into a lot of decision-making. In the passing game there’s going to be an answer for the quarterback.”
WR Jeff Thomas has had a standout spring after returning to the team and Diaz feels Thomas now understands what is expected from him day in and day out at Miami.
“Without getting into the details of how we do things he understands there’s a consistent structure, he knows exactly where the lines are drawn and any crossing of the line results in this and if you walk the line it’s this,” Diaz said.
Sophomore LB Waynmon Steed is undergoing surgery after sustaining a knee injury in Saturday’s scrimmage, but Diaz says sophomore LB BJ Jennings has been stepping up this play this entire spring and is ready to handle a larger role after taking a redshirt year in 2018.
“Jennings is doing great, will be able to play the role that Mike Smith did a year ago, train at MIKE and WILL, push him on the field more,” Diaz said. “We think he has a great future. Beyond that, we’ll be counting on some young guys (at LB).”
Sophomore center Corey Gaynor was also held out today with an undisclosed injury.
“He’s a day-to-day type thing,” Diaz said. “He’s a guy we can count on along the offensive line.”
Diaz also mentioned sophomore RB Robert Burns would miss the rest of spring with a knee injury, but would be fine for fall camp.
With Miami showing a lot of I-formation and off-balance sets, redshirt freshman FB Realus George looks like he will play a role in OC Dan Enos’ offense this season after sitting out his rookie year in 2018.
“He has made a jump, he really has,” Diaz said. “He’s come out here and been a physical presence in our downhill running game.”
