Ryan Williams opens up eyes in Miami Hurricanes’ scrimmage
Ryan Williams emerged in Saturday’s first scrimmage as the competitor to Stephen Morris for UM’s starting quarterback job.
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UM blog | Eye on the U
BY SUSAN MILLER DEGNAN
SDEGNAN@MIAMIHERALD.COM
With University of Miami veteran quarterback Stephen Morris sidelined until fall while recuperating from back surgery, all eyes were planted firmly on the other three scholarship quarterbacks Saturday in the first spring scrimmage of 2012.
One of them proved more than capable.
The other two — recent arrivals out of high school — need lots more grooming before they make it into a college game.
It became evident early in the Hurricanes’ scrimmage at Ted Hendricks Stadium in Hialeah that the race for starting quarterback will be limited to Morris, a junior, and Memphis transfer Ryan Williams, a 6-6, 225-pound redshirt sophomore eligible to play after sitting out in 2011.
Williams, who won a state championship for Miramar High in 2009, completed 14 of 21 passes for 228 yards and four touchdowns, including passes of 7 and 62 yards to rising sophomore Rashawn Scott.
“He had good command,” UM coach Al Golden said. “He distributed the ball well. His corner routes I thought he threw really well for us. He did a good job in the naked [bootleg] game, for such a big guy to be able to get out of the pocket and throw it as accurately as he did. And he ran it well.
“He looked like he had been through it before.”
Of the two freshmen, 6-3, 225-pound quarterback Gray Crow seemed more composed and fared better. He completed 7 of 14 passes for 43 yards and a touchdown.
Preston Dewey, 6-2 and 210 pounds, struggled. He completed just 4 of 12 passes for 21 yards. He was aided by the defense, as linebacker Tyrone Cornileus and safety A.J. Highsmith each dropped would-be interceptions.
“We’re going to coach them hard right now,” said offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch of the freshmen. “We don’t temper the expectations — after the fact we do. But going into it, the expectation is that they’re going to play like a quarterback at the University of Miami, and those expectations are high.
“… They really need to relax a little bit and have some confidence.”
The scrimmage did not mimic a normal game. It was situational and included various elements, such as goal-line and two-minute drills.
The offense fumbled at least four times (Darris Hughes, Eduardo Clements, David Perry and during an exchange from Dewey to Mike James). The tailback James had a strong day, with 78 yards rushing on 13 carries and three touchdowns. His most impressive score came on a 55-yard sprint down the right sideline.
“Just something I learned from Lamar Miller,” he said with a big smile. “You all just ain’t never had a chance to see me open up.”
Clements added 56 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries and had three catches for 14 yards — behind Phillip Dorsett’s four catches for 50 yards. Senior receiver Kendal Thompkins also had a good day, catching a 25-yarder and a 30-yard touchdown from Williams.
Defensively, coordinator Mark D’Onofrio said he had to make adjustments with defensive end Anthony Chickillo out with an injury. Chickillo injured his back in practice last week and is expected to be out for an extended period of time. Two sources said he would miss the rest of the spring but that surgery would not be necessary. There are eight practice sessions left, including two scrimmages that conclude with the April 14 spring game.
Golden downplayed the injury.
“He got a little pull,” the coach said. “Hopefully, he’ll be back Tuesday.”
With Chickillo out, D’Onofrio said Shayon Green (seven tackles, one sack) moved to strong-side end and usual linebacker/rush end Kelvin Cain started on the weak side. Jimmy Gaines (team-leading eight tackles) moved to strong-side linebacker, with Gionni Paul starting at middle linebacker after missing most of the six previous spring practices and all of the U-Tough conditioning program with a leg injury.
“It was his second practice of spring ball,” D’Onofrio said of Paul. “I liked what we did in the short-yardage period. I think it was 10 plays. We might have had six or seven stops, and that’s hard to do.”
The Canes did not escape injury Saturday. Guard Jon Feliciano injured his right knee when Clements was hit in the back and fell into the knee. Tackle Seantrel Henderson had his right knee examined by the team doctor on the sideline, limping before he returned to the game.
“I just tweaked it a little bit,” Henderson said. “I felt better once I went back in.”
Ryan Williams emerged in Saturday’s first scrimmage as the competitor to Stephen Morris for UM’s starting quarterback job.
Related Content
Sports Buzz: Henderson, Armstrong, other Canes looking to reach potential
Sports Buzz: News and notes from UM's spring scrimmage
UM blog | Eye on the U
BY SUSAN MILLER DEGNAN
SDEGNAN@MIAMIHERALD.COM
With University of Miami veteran quarterback Stephen Morris sidelined until fall while recuperating from back surgery, all eyes were planted firmly on the other three scholarship quarterbacks Saturday in the first spring scrimmage of 2012.
One of them proved more than capable.
The other two — recent arrivals out of high school — need lots more grooming before they make it into a college game.
It became evident early in the Hurricanes’ scrimmage at Ted Hendricks Stadium in Hialeah that the race for starting quarterback will be limited to Morris, a junior, and Memphis transfer Ryan Williams, a 6-6, 225-pound redshirt sophomore eligible to play after sitting out in 2011.
Williams, who won a state championship for Miramar High in 2009, completed 14 of 21 passes for 228 yards and four touchdowns, including passes of 7 and 62 yards to rising sophomore Rashawn Scott.
“He had good command,” UM coach Al Golden said. “He distributed the ball well. His corner routes I thought he threw really well for us. He did a good job in the naked [bootleg] game, for such a big guy to be able to get out of the pocket and throw it as accurately as he did. And he ran it well.
“He looked like he had been through it before.”
Of the two freshmen, 6-3, 225-pound quarterback Gray Crow seemed more composed and fared better. He completed 7 of 14 passes for 43 yards and a touchdown.
Preston Dewey, 6-2 and 210 pounds, struggled. He completed just 4 of 12 passes for 21 yards. He was aided by the defense, as linebacker Tyrone Cornileus and safety A.J. Highsmith each dropped would-be interceptions.
“We’re going to coach them hard right now,” said offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch of the freshmen. “We don’t temper the expectations — after the fact we do. But going into it, the expectation is that they’re going to play like a quarterback at the University of Miami, and those expectations are high.
“… They really need to relax a little bit and have some confidence.”
The scrimmage did not mimic a normal game. It was situational and included various elements, such as goal-line and two-minute drills.
The offense fumbled at least four times (Darris Hughes, Eduardo Clements, David Perry and during an exchange from Dewey to Mike James). The tailback James had a strong day, with 78 yards rushing on 13 carries and three touchdowns. His most impressive score came on a 55-yard sprint down the right sideline.
“Just something I learned from Lamar Miller,” he said with a big smile. “You all just ain’t never had a chance to see me open up.”
Clements added 56 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries and had three catches for 14 yards — behind Phillip Dorsett’s four catches for 50 yards. Senior receiver Kendal Thompkins also had a good day, catching a 25-yarder and a 30-yard touchdown from Williams.
Defensively, coordinator Mark D’Onofrio said he had to make adjustments with defensive end Anthony Chickillo out with an injury. Chickillo injured his back in practice last week and is expected to be out for an extended period of time. Two sources said he would miss the rest of the spring but that surgery would not be necessary. There are eight practice sessions left, including two scrimmages that conclude with the April 14 spring game.
Golden downplayed the injury.
“He got a little pull,” the coach said. “Hopefully, he’ll be back Tuesday.”
With Chickillo out, D’Onofrio said Shayon Green (seven tackles, one sack) moved to strong-side end and usual linebacker/rush end Kelvin Cain started on the weak side. Jimmy Gaines (team-leading eight tackles) moved to strong-side linebacker, with Gionni Paul starting at middle linebacker after missing most of the six previous spring practices and all of the U-Tough conditioning program with a leg injury.
“It was his second practice of spring ball,” D’Onofrio said of Paul. “I liked what we did in the short-yardage period. I think it was 10 plays. We might have had six or seven stops, and that’s hard to do.”
The Canes did not escape injury Saturday. Guard Jon Feliciano injured his right knee when Clements was hit in the back and fell into the knee. Tackle Seantrel Henderson had his right knee examined by the team doctor on the sideline, limping before he returned to the game.
“I just tweaked it a little bit,” Henderson said. “I felt better once I went back in.”
