Some quick Canes hits (Please see below for 1:30 p.m. updates with Heat and Dolphins notes):
### UM said Stephen Morris threw during UM’s light practice today -- he wasn't a full participant in practiced -- and Al Golden indicated he expects him to play Saturday against USF.
“He looks good,” Golden said, noting this is not as serious as the ankle issue that forced him to miss the end of last year’s North Carolina game. (Morris was able to start the next week.)
### The perception of Ryan Williams around the program has improved. Golden noted that he has improved by changing his mechanics and using his feet more to escape pressure. “He doesn’t have an arm [as strong as] Stephen’s, but that doesn’t preclude him from being a very good quarterback,” Golden said.
### People who have watched UM’s closed practices during training camp have said they’re impressed with how freshman quarterback Kevin Olsen threw the ball. But in some pointed remarks, Golden made clear Monday he expects more. A lot more.
“He has to improve the mental aspects,” Golden said. “He hasn't owned the process. He can't waste this year. He's got to get better. When we're not throwing, he's got to be throwing anyway... [and] watch how Steve and Ryan conduct themselves....”
In other words, don’t get too comfortable, kid, and think you don't have to work harder at this. Golden sent the message he clearly expects more. (Susan Miller Degnan will have more of Golden's comments on Olsen and the quarterbacks in a story to be posted later.)
### Malcolm Lewis, who has essentially fallen to sixth on UM’s receiver depth chart before Rashawn Scott was injured late in the opener, is close to the player he was before his gruesome ankle injury against Georgia Tech last season, Golden said.
“Is he 100? No,” Golden said. “Will he be this year? I don’t know yet. He was playing faster.”
### Defensive coordinator Mark D’Onofrio smiled when noting that freshman linebacker Jermaine Grace not only thanked him after Saturday’s blowout win for putting him in the game but also reminded him that he had six tackles.
### Artie Burns wasn’t able to seize a starting cornerback job (he was listed as a possible starter last week, but not on Sunday’s depth chart), and that’s not a surprise because he’s got quality older players ahead of him. But Burns remains firmly entrenched among UM's top four corners and coaches love the upside.
"He played over 30 plays and graded out pretty well," Golden said. "We have to get more production from him in pass breakups and tackles, things of that nature.”
### UM is pleased with tight end Beau Sandland’s emergence.
“He's gifted athletically, he has loose hips, soft hands,” Golden said. “The things we didn't know was how good he'd be with run after catch.”
### Game time for the Oct. 5 home game against Georgia Tech will be decided next Sunday.
Read more here:
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/2013/09/monday-afternoon-um-quick-hits.html#storylink=cpy
