Miami’s QB battle continued today during the Hurricanes’ fourth spring practice, and, when asked when he would be comfortable naming a starter, head coach Manny Diaz said the team would do so “when it’s obvious.”
“If you have a guy, you want that guy to be the starting quarterback because you want everyone in that locker room to know,” Diaz said. “If you’re not sure who the guy is, you have to battle it out. To me there’s no craftiness of trying to hold it in. If we knew today, we’d announce it today, you know? I like what we have going on right now and one of the big themes of the spring – get out of your comfort zone, everybody on edge, no one really comfortable with anything and let’s see who responds in the chaos.”
The Canes and new OC Dan Enos have been pretty liberal in rotating the QB’s with the first team, and Diaz gave his thoughts on how two of them are looking so far.
On Tate Martell: “Tate, he can make all the throws, has good zip on his ball,” Diaz said. “And from a physical standpoint, he gives you an element with his legs either designed quarterback runs or improvisation that makes a defense have to defend two plays. There’s no doubt he has good skills. All our quarterbacks are all being held to a ridiculously high standard by coach Enos.”
On Jarren Williams: “Jarren has arm talent,” Diaz said. “Jarren can make throws. In terms of getting better, commanding the huddle, understanding what’s going on, that’s just the deal. Coach Enos is very demanding, wants them to do it exactly right.”
Redshirt freshman DE Gregory Rousseau missed the majority of his first season at Miami with a broken ankle, but Diaz says he is fully recovered and picked up right where he left off.
“Greg hasn’t missed a step, he’s a very talented young man, tries to do everything exactly the way he’s coached to do it,” Diaz said. “With his length, he’s a problem to block.”
Rousseau has been working on the second team so far this spring, and across from him at the other DE spot has been true freshman Jahfari Harvey, who enrolled early as a 2019 signee from Vero Beach.
“Jahfari, you have to remind yourself the guy should be sitting in English 4 class right now,” Diaz said. “He has really done some nice things out here early on. We couldn’t believe in recruiting there weren’t more people busting down his door to try and get him. We’re thankful he’s here.”
While many expected him to slot right in at first team LT, Butler grad transfer Tommy Kennedy has instead struggled his first few practices. Kennedy has spent the last 2 practices working as the backup center, and Diaz feels he has a long way to go to get used to the competition at Miami.
“He’s just learning the different tempo of our practice, going up against better players than he’s probably gone up against at any point of his career,” Diaz said. “And understanding that when coach (Butch) Barry teaches you these techniques, you better be on point with them because you need them to go against the guys on our defensive front.”
The second team offensive line has had a rough first few spring sessions and Diaz recognizes that Miami may need more depth at those spots. He intimated that they will evaluate everyone after spring and decide if they need to bring in another grad transfer offensive lineman.
“We’re aware there’ll be another little bump of transfer activity after spring practice,” Diaz said.
“If you have a guy, you want that guy to be the starting quarterback because you want everyone in that locker room to know,” Diaz said. “If you’re not sure who the guy is, you have to battle it out. To me there’s no craftiness of trying to hold it in. If we knew today, we’d announce it today, you know? I like what we have going on right now and one of the big themes of the spring – get out of your comfort zone, everybody on edge, no one really comfortable with anything and let’s see who responds in the chaos.”
The Canes and new OC Dan Enos have been pretty liberal in rotating the QB’s with the first team, and Diaz gave his thoughts on how two of them are looking so far.
On Tate Martell: “Tate, he can make all the throws, has good zip on his ball,” Diaz said. “And from a physical standpoint, he gives you an element with his legs either designed quarterback runs or improvisation that makes a defense have to defend two plays. There’s no doubt he has good skills. All our quarterbacks are all being held to a ridiculously high standard by coach Enos.”
On Jarren Williams: “Jarren has arm talent,” Diaz said. “Jarren can make throws. In terms of getting better, commanding the huddle, understanding what’s going on, that’s just the deal. Coach Enos is very demanding, wants them to do it exactly right.”
Redshirt freshman DE Gregory Rousseau missed the majority of his first season at Miami with a broken ankle, but Diaz says he is fully recovered and picked up right where he left off.
“Greg hasn’t missed a step, he’s a very talented young man, tries to do everything exactly the way he’s coached to do it,” Diaz said. “With his length, he’s a problem to block.”
Rousseau has been working on the second team so far this spring, and across from him at the other DE spot has been true freshman Jahfari Harvey, who enrolled early as a 2019 signee from Vero Beach.
“Jahfari, you have to remind yourself the guy should be sitting in English 4 class right now,” Diaz said. “He has really done some nice things out here early on. We couldn’t believe in recruiting there weren’t more people busting down his door to try and get him. We’re thankful he’s here.”
While many expected him to slot right in at first team LT, Butler grad transfer Tommy Kennedy has instead struggled his first few practices. Kennedy has spent the last 2 practices working as the backup center, and Diaz feels he has a long way to go to get used to the competition at Miami.
“He’s just learning the different tempo of our practice, going up against better players than he’s probably gone up against at any point of his career,” Diaz said. “And understanding that when coach (Butch) Barry teaches you these techniques, you better be on point with them because you need them to go against the guys on our defensive front.”
The second team offensive line has had a rough first few spring sessions and Diaz recognizes that Miami may need more depth at those spots. He intimated that they will evaluate everyone after spring and decide if they need to bring in another grad transfer offensive lineman.
“We’re aware there’ll be another little bump of transfer activity after spring practice,” Diaz said.
