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Starting center Tyler Gauthier talked after Tuesday’s practice about what he saw on tape following the LSU loss.
“We saw a lot of things that we need to improve on, but we did see some good things, too,” Gauthier said. “The score is not what we wanted, and it is definitely not the outcome we wanted, but we did see some good things. There are a lot of things we need to correct and we are going to do that this week.”
Gauthier and the rest of the line have made a slight change in their cadence to improve their communication on the field.
“It’s a little change in the cadence to keep my head up so I can make calls for blitzes,” Gauthier said. “We are doing it for the full game now, but especially for one-minute situations where they are going to be sending a lot of blitzes when they know we are going to pass. It went really well today; I was actually very impressed. I think it is going to help us a lot.”
After the tough loss, Gauthier said he’s been more critical of himself than anyone else could be.
“We are all our hardest judges; I haven’t slept very good in the past two days just because I don’t think we did the best that we can,” Gauthier said. “I think we’ve played better in camp than what we did that night. Whether it is nerves or something like that, I don’t know what it was for everybody, but it is something we need to gel on. Like I said, they did do good things. We came out of that with a lot of good things and a lot of bad things. The good thing about those bad things is that you learn from them. We can come out here and execute it now.”
On Malik Rosier: “We’re always going to support Malik,” Gauthier said. “He’s quarterback 1. I mean, people have bad days. Malik is going to come out and do better this week, I know that. He’s a good quarterback. You have to learn from it and move on.”
After the LSU loss and with FCS Savannah State on tap for next week, Gauthier said the team feels it has a lot to prove.
“We have something to prove,” Gauthier said. “After last week we want to go out there and prove we’re the team that we’re supposed to be, because we are. It doesn’t matter what team we’re playing, we’re going to prepare for them the same. We’re going to practice just as hard if not harder now because of last week. We’ll be good.”
Hayden Mahoney graded out the highest lineman against LSU according to coaches and Gauthier.
“He was able to make good calls at the end and it showed out in his grading, too,” Gauthier said on Mahoney.
**With Ahmmon Richards leaving the LSU game with a tweaked knee, freshman WR Brian Hightower got an opportunity to see more snaps and took advantage, grabbing a 32 yard TD over a Tigers’ defender in last weekend’s contest for his first career catch and touchdown.
“It meant a lot,” Hightower said. “We still lost the game so you know, it wasn’t as big as it could have been. I give all glory to God. I’m thankful and I’m going to continue to work hard and do what I need to do on the field.”
How did it feel playing at the college level for the first time?
“It felt great going out there, first college game against one of the biggest college football teams in America,” Hightower said. “It felt great. They’re a great team, we’re a great team and it was a good game.”
When asked to elaborate on Malik Rosier’s performance, Hightower defended his starting QB.
“We’re on to the next game,” Hightower said on Rosier. “In my eyes, he had a good performance. They can say what they want, but we know what’s going on in the inside.”
Although Miami has a deep and veteran receiving corps that has made plays in the past, the coaches had no issues trusting Hightower in big moments in the LSU game.
“I’m proud of myself, but I’m still working hard, staying humble and doing my job,” Hightower said. “It gave me some confidence going out there, going against such a great team so early in my career. It felt a little scary, at first, but after that I got comfortable and continued to play my game.”
Miami has a vaunted freshmen class and Hightower is staying in his classmates’ ears to make sure everyone is giving their best.
“We just talked about how we all have to step up,” Hightower said on his class. “Yeah, we’re young, but the older guys need us, too. They can’t do it all on their own.”
On what the backup quarterbacks bring to the table: “They all bring different things to the table, they’re all great quarterbacks,” Hightower said. “You know, they’re playmakers.”
**Of all the things that went horribly for Miami against LSU, WR Jeff Thomas was one of the lone bright spots with 5 catches for 132 yards. Despite connecting on a few deep balls in the game, Thomas is continuing to work on his timing with Malik Rosier in practice this week.
“We might start after practice just getting some deep balls in, working on each other’s timing.”
Thomas on the team keeping their confidence: “We just have to stay focused and work on the little things.”
“We saw a lot of things that we need to improve on, but we did see some good things, too,” Gauthier said. “The score is not what we wanted, and it is definitely not the outcome we wanted, but we did see some good things. There are a lot of things we need to correct and we are going to do that this week.”
Gauthier and the rest of the line have made a slight change in their cadence to improve their communication on the field.
“It’s a little change in the cadence to keep my head up so I can make calls for blitzes,” Gauthier said. “We are doing it for the full game now, but especially for one-minute situations where they are going to be sending a lot of blitzes when they know we are going to pass. It went really well today; I was actually very impressed. I think it is going to help us a lot.”
After the tough loss, Gauthier said he’s been more critical of himself than anyone else could be.
“We are all our hardest judges; I haven’t slept very good in the past two days just because I don’t think we did the best that we can,” Gauthier said. “I think we’ve played better in camp than what we did that night. Whether it is nerves or something like that, I don’t know what it was for everybody, but it is something we need to gel on. Like I said, they did do good things. We came out of that with a lot of good things and a lot of bad things. The good thing about those bad things is that you learn from them. We can come out here and execute it now.”
On Malik Rosier: “We’re always going to support Malik,” Gauthier said. “He’s quarterback 1. I mean, people have bad days. Malik is going to come out and do better this week, I know that. He’s a good quarterback. You have to learn from it and move on.”
After the LSU loss and with FCS Savannah State on tap for next week, Gauthier said the team feels it has a lot to prove.
“We have something to prove,” Gauthier said. “After last week we want to go out there and prove we’re the team that we’re supposed to be, because we are. It doesn’t matter what team we’re playing, we’re going to prepare for them the same. We’re going to practice just as hard if not harder now because of last week. We’ll be good.”
Hayden Mahoney graded out the highest lineman against LSU according to coaches and Gauthier.
“He was able to make good calls at the end and it showed out in his grading, too,” Gauthier said on Mahoney.
**With Ahmmon Richards leaving the LSU game with a tweaked knee, freshman WR Brian Hightower got an opportunity to see more snaps and took advantage, grabbing a 32 yard TD over a Tigers’ defender in last weekend’s contest for his first career catch and touchdown.
“It meant a lot,” Hightower said. “We still lost the game so you know, it wasn’t as big as it could have been. I give all glory to God. I’m thankful and I’m going to continue to work hard and do what I need to do on the field.”
How did it feel playing at the college level for the first time?
“It felt great going out there, first college game against one of the biggest college football teams in America,” Hightower said. “It felt great. They’re a great team, we’re a great team and it was a good game.”
When asked to elaborate on Malik Rosier’s performance, Hightower defended his starting QB.
“We’re on to the next game,” Hightower said on Rosier. “In my eyes, he had a good performance. They can say what they want, but we know what’s going on in the inside.”
Although Miami has a deep and veteran receiving corps that has made plays in the past, the coaches had no issues trusting Hightower in big moments in the LSU game.
“I’m proud of myself, but I’m still working hard, staying humble and doing my job,” Hightower said. “It gave me some confidence going out there, going against such a great team so early in my career. It felt a little scary, at first, but after that I got comfortable and continued to play my game.”
Miami has a vaunted freshmen class and Hightower is staying in his classmates’ ears to make sure everyone is giving their best.
“We just talked about how we all have to step up,” Hightower said on his class. “Yeah, we’re young, but the older guys need us, too. They can’t do it all on their own.”
On what the backup quarterbacks bring to the table: “They all bring different things to the table, they’re all great quarterbacks,” Hightower said. “You know, they’re playmakers.”
**Of all the things that went horribly for Miami against LSU, WR Jeff Thomas was one of the lone bright spots with 5 catches for 132 yards. Despite connecting on a few deep balls in the game, Thomas is continuing to work on his timing with Malik Rosier in practice this week.
“We might start after practice just getting some deep balls in, working on each other’s timing.”
Thomas on the team keeping their confidence: “We just have to stay focused and work on the little things.”
