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A day before his team takes the field for the start of fall camp, Miami Hurricanes head coach Manny Diaz addressed the media via a Zoom teleconference touching on a number of team issues, including the status of star redshirt sophomore DE Gregory Rousseau.
Considered a current top 10 draft choice in the next NFL Draft, Rousseau informed Diaz today that he will opt out of the 2020 season to prepare for the draft, something numerous other top players in his position have recently done due to COVID-19 concerns this year.
“We have a great relationship with Greg, discovering him years ago at Champagnat,” Diaz said. “He is an outstanding young man and we want to thank him for everything he has done for the Miami Hurricanes and we are going to support him in everything we can to achieve his dreams to become a great player in the National Football League."
"My reaction is for Greg personally. We work for these young men. We are advocates for them and we want what is best for him. If this is what he has chosen, then we will support him. With our team, it will be next man up and our guys will be excited to play. I am sure they will be supportive in Greg on his decision as well."
Although Miami may be missing Rousseau when they start camp tomorrow, Diaz does not expect any more opt-outs from his players in the 2020 season.
“As of right now, we expect our entire team to be available when we begin practice,” Diaz said. “We’re in such a fluid situation and we’re aware of that, but we’ve had a great summer of workouts so far, are excited to get going tomorrow.”
Diaz also named Houston grad transfer QB D’Eriq King his starting QB earlier this week, and spoke about why it was important to announce that decision before camp.
"I think it is unfair to call naming him the starting quarterback a formality because that would diminish his efforts,” Diaz said of King. “Even though we got in only four spring practices, there was still a lot of things going on - not to mention all of the Zoom meetings. I think a lot of the qualities that D'Eriq demonstrated throughout the year, we felt like when we got into the walkthrough period and with where we are right now in training camp, we ultimately needed somebody for our offense to rally around.
“We have been talking about it for a long time - Miami having a quarterback that the entire locker room believes in. There has been tremendous strides from the other quarterbacks, but we felt it was important to have one voice and one leader that can hold the offense accountable. All good offenses have that guy at the quarterback position."
Over the last few weeks, Miami players were able to go through walkthroughs and take mental reps of the play calls, something that was not previously allowed by NCAA rules.
“There was a new deal this summer we haven’t had in the past, this walkthrough period which gave us a great opportunity,” Diaz said. “We were in masks the whole time. The offensive and defensive line used punch balls, it gave our coaches on both sides of the ball the chance to install our offensive and defensive schemes, normally something we’d do in practice 1.”
Will there be any changes to how fall camp is run due to the COVID-19 outbreak compared to how Diaz has run things in the past?
“We have worked very closely with the CDC and we are lucky here at the University of Miami because we are led by an expert [President Julio Frenk],” Diaz said. “I can't speak for other universities, but nobody has a public health expert leading their institution like we do with Dr. Frenk. With his office and our medical community, we are blessed to have a great medical community. On one hand we will follow the ACC with their guidelines, but we are also doing our own things. There will be all kinds of things that will be different and our players have embraced that. They see that we are putting their safety first and they understand things will be different, but we are pleased with the way workouts have gone all summer.
“The way you stretch, stand when you’re not in a drill, how you get your water, having a personalized water bottle, there are drills we have eliminated - like we won’t be doing The Big Cane Drill. There’s not a place for that here in 2020.”
After the coronavirus outbreak happened, Diaz and the rest of the Miami coaches went to the tape – not to break down player progression, but to get a better understanding of how often players are in close contact and what the team could do to possibly mitigate transmission of the virus.
“In a practice, we weren’t trying to be socially distanced back in March, but it was so few players that another player comes in close contact with for a long period of time during the course of a two-hour practice,” Diaz said. “What the data showed is the linemen have the greatest close contact. But in a two-hour practice, we had one pair of an offensive and defensive lineman that came in contact with each other for right at four minutes. Most of that was in the two-minute period. We had skill player that were in contact only 30 seconds the entire practice. Think about a football play lasting four to six seconds, and how many plays in a practice that happens - the answer might be in the low 30’s.”
Of the things that are different in practices this fall, Diaz said, “The way you stretch, stand when you’re not in a drill, how you get your water, having a personalized water bottle, there are drills we have eliminated - like we won’t be doing The Big Cane Drill. There’s not a place for that here in 2020.”
Diaz also mentioned that the team will test every week within 72 hours of a game, but did not clarify how often Miami would test during camp.
The Hurricanes 2020 schedule was released today as well, something that was a long-awaited moment for Diaz and the team. Miami will play an 11-game slate, starting with non-conference opponent UAB on Sept. 10th, followed by 10 ACC matchups. The conference also announced last week that there would be no divisions this year, and that the conference championship game would be played between the teams with the top two ACC records.
“It’s very exciting,” Diaz said. “We announced it to our players today right before it went out, they were obviously very excited. It’s going to be a unique deal for everybody. It makes every week a big deal, you know you’ll be challenged week in and week out. Having everyone in one big pile, I think it’s going to be fun.”
Is the team planning to train players at multiple positions in case Miami loses a number of starters due to COVID?
"There is not anyone right now necessarily working at dramatically different positions, but we have certainly spoken about it with the coaching staff and the players where this could be the year where the offensive line might have to play at different spots and all along the secondary you might have to play with all safeties or cornerbacks. There has to be some flexibility this year and that can be exciting because it is a great opportunity for players and young players."
Considered a current top 10 draft choice in the next NFL Draft, Rousseau informed Diaz today that he will opt out of the 2020 season to prepare for the draft, something numerous other top players in his position have recently done due to COVID-19 concerns this year.
“We have a great relationship with Greg, discovering him years ago at Champagnat,” Diaz said. “He is an outstanding young man and we want to thank him for everything he has done for the Miami Hurricanes and we are going to support him in everything we can to achieve his dreams to become a great player in the National Football League."
"My reaction is for Greg personally. We work for these young men. We are advocates for them and we want what is best for him. If this is what he has chosen, then we will support him. With our team, it will be next man up and our guys will be excited to play. I am sure they will be supportive in Greg on his decision as well."
Although Miami may be missing Rousseau when they start camp tomorrow, Diaz does not expect any more opt-outs from his players in the 2020 season.
“As of right now, we expect our entire team to be available when we begin practice,” Diaz said. “We’re in such a fluid situation and we’re aware of that, but we’ve had a great summer of workouts so far, are excited to get going tomorrow.”
Diaz also named Houston grad transfer QB D’Eriq King his starting QB earlier this week, and spoke about why it was important to announce that decision before camp.
"I think it is unfair to call naming him the starting quarterback a formality because that would diminish his efforts,” Diaz said of King. “Even though we got in only four spring practices, there was still a lot of things going on - not to mention all of the Zoom meetings. I think a lot of the qualities that D'Eriq demonstrated throughout the year, we felt like when we got into the walkthrough period and with where we are right now in training camp, we ultimately needed somebody for our offense to rally around.
“We have been talking about it for a long time - Miami having a quarterback that the entire locker room believes in. There has been tremendous strides from the other quarterbacks, but we felt it was important to have one voice and one leader that can hold the offense accountable. All good offenses have that guy at the quarterback position."
Over the last few weeks, Miami players were able to go through walkthroughs and take mental reps of the play calls, something that was not previously allowed by NCAA rules.
“There was a new deal this summer we haven’t had in the past, this walkthrough period which gave us a great opportunity,” Diaz said. “We were in masks the whole time. The offensive and defensive line used punch balls, it gave our coaches on both sides of the ball the chance to install our offensive and defensive schemes, normally something we’d do in practice 1.”
Will there be any changes to how fall camp is run due to the COVID-19 outbreak compared to how Diaz has run things in the past?
“We have worked very closely with the CDC and we are lucky here at the University of Miami because we are led by an expert [President Julio Frenk],” Diaz said. “I can't speak for other universities, but nobody has a public health expert leading their institution like we do with Dr. Frenk. With his office and our medical community, we are blessed to have a great medical community. On one hand we will follow the ACC with their guidelines, but we are also doing our own things. There will be all kinds of things that will be different and our players have embraced that. They see that we are putting their safety first and they understand things will be different, but we are pleased with the way workouts have gone all summer.
“The way you stretch, stand when you’re not in a drill, how you get your water, having a personalized water bottle, there are drills we have eliminated - like we won’t be doing The Big Cane Drill. There’s not a place for that here in 2020.”
After the coronavirus outbreak happened, Diaz and the rest of the Miami coaches went to the tape – not to break down player progression, but to get a better understanding of how often players are in close contact and what the team could do to possibly mitigate transmission of the virus.
“In a practice, we weren’t trying to be socially distanced back in March, but it was so few players that another player comes in close contact with for a long period of time during the course of a two-hour practice,” Diaz said. “What the data showed is the linemen have the greatest close contact. But in a two-hour practice, we had one pair of an offensive and defensive lineman that came in contact with each other for right at four minutes. Most of that was in the two-minute period. We had skill player that were in contact only 30 seconds the entire practice. Think about a football play lasting four to six seconds, and how many plays in a practice that happens - the answer might be in the low 30’s.”
Of the things that are different in practices this fall, Diaz said, “The way you stretch, stand when you’re not in a drill, how you get your water, having a personalized water bottle, there are drills we have eliminated - like we won’t be doing The Big Cane Drill. There’s not a place for that here in 2020.”
Diaz also mentioned that the team will test every week within 72 hours of a game, but did not clarify how often Miami would test during camp.
The Hurricanes 2020 schedule was released today as well, something that was a long-awaited moment for Diaz and the team. Miami will play an 11-game slate, starting with non-conference opponent UAB on Sept. 10th, followed by 10 ACC matchups. The conference also announced last week that there would be no divisions this year, and that the conference championship game would be played between the teams with the top two ACC records.
“It’s very exciting,” Diaz said. “We announced it to our players today right before it went out, they were obviously very excited. It’s going to be a unique deal for everybody. It makes every week a big deal, you know you’ll be challenged week in and week out. Having everyone in one big pile, I think it’s going to be fun.”
Is the team planning to train players at multiple positions in case Miami loses a number of starters due to COVID?
"There is not anyone right now necessarily working at dramatically different positions, but we have certainly spoken about it with the coaching staff and the players where this could be the year where the offensive line might have to play at different spots and all along the secondary you might have to play with all safeties or cornerbacks. There has to be some flexibility this year and that can be exciting because it is a great opportunity for players and young players."
