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After Tuesday’s practice Mark Richt addressed some team issues, beginning with sophomore WR Jeff Thomas, who tweaked his knee against FSU and was limited in practice today while wearing a brace.
“I expect to see more of (Mark) Pope now because we have to keep people fresh,” Richt said. “Like today, Jeff wasn’t able to practice, we think he’ll be there, pretty sure he will. But when this guy has a little something, before you know it you see your depth go down.”
UM announced today that redshirt freshman QB Cade Weldon was suspended four games for a violation of team rules, beginning with the FSU game.
“We have certain standards around here, we love Cade,” Richt said. “People don’t understand sometimes, but when you discipline your child it means you love them.
“We’re disciplining him, there’ll be some early morning fun, also will be counseling. We’ll hug him and love him. Once he handles his discipline like a man, he’ll be in good standing and we’ll move on.”
As this is Weldon’s second suspension in less than a year, is it possible he could transfer from the program?
“You can’t worry about that,” Richt said. “You have to do what’s in the best interest of the program and player. I know everyone’s treated fairly.”
Star junior WR Ahmmon Richards was ruled out for his career with a debilitating neck injury on Saturday, the second key player (Malek Young) in less than a year that Miami has lost to similar injuries.
"It's just the sport," Richt said. "We have the most updated and technically sound helmets that you can buy. Even how we tackle on defense, we rugby tackle. We're trying to do everything we possibly can to keep it as safe as possible. Things happen sometimes."
Miami’s offensive line really struggled against FSU, giving up 5 sacks, 13 TFL, and numerous pressures on the QB.
“Our effort is good, we’re blocking pretty good at the point (of attack) in the run game, our perimeter blocking is improving,” Richt said of the O-Line. “We haven’t had as many big runs, but we’ve had a few.”
Even so, the Canes appear to have made some changes to their starting line. Miami opened practice today with freshman DJ Scaife at first string RT and Navaughn Donaldson moving inside to RG, the first time that’s ever happened. Hayden Mahoney moved to LG and Venzell Boulware moved back to the 2nd team.
“Scaife is a real talented kid,” Richt said. “He’s got a great skill set, is a pass protector, that’s where it starts at tackle. He’s not bad when it comes to physical play.”
The changes didn’t seem to help much as the offensive line was held after practice today to hit the sleds because of a bad practice.
“The thing today that wasn’t good was flinching, self-inflicted wounds,” Richt said. “We have to vary our cadence. Coach (Stacy) Searels holds them accountable.”
This is how Searels is holding his unit accountable this week: every error a lineman makes, he has to take a lap around the field. After practice ended, RB Deejay Dallas joined the linemen in taking their laps.
“He wants to do whatever he can to help everyone be great,” Richt said on Dallas. “He’s the most positive motivator we have on the team.”
Is UM close to being a championship-caliber offensive line?
“We’re getting closer, a lot (better) than a year ago, especially two years ago,” Richt said. “We’ve been making progress for sure.”
Richt also looked ahead to the Canes’ next matchup, which will be on the road at Virginia in a night game.
“We have a great challenge ahead of us, going to their house at night,” Richt said. “They’ll be well rested, had an open date. We had an emotional ballgame (beating FSU), have to turn around and get ready for this. Their offense is averaging 30 points a game, over 400 yards a game, 50 percent (third down conversions), which is outstanding. They’ve been an explosive offense. Eleven of the 20 touchdowns are 20 yards or more. Get big chunks a little like we’d done a year ago. As a team, they’re 11th in the country with fewest penalty yards per game.
“They’re third in total defense in the league, second in the league and 10th in the nation in first downs allowed, only 18 per game. A lot of things for us to be challenged by. We’re looking forward to it. No more out of conference games, only two more home games.”
QB N'Kosi Perry is entering his first career road start at UVA, but Richt doesn’t seem too worried.
"It's the same field, you do the same thing in the game you do in practice over and over," Richt said. "You have to get your focus tight, not looking around."
Richt also announced the captains for this week: Travis Homer, Hayden Mahoney, Jaquan Johnson, and Jeff Thomas.
“I expect to see more of (Mark) Pope now because we have to keep people fresh,” Richt said. “Like today, Jeff wasn’t able to practice, we think he’ll be there, pretty sure he will. But when this guy has a little something, before you know it you see your depth go down.”
UM announced today that redshirt freshman QB Cade Weldon was suspended four games for a violation of team rules, beginning with the FSU game.
“We have certain standards around here, we love Cade,” Richt said. “People don’t understand sometimes, but when you discipline your child it means you love them.
“We’re disciplining him, there’ll be some early morning fun, also will be counseling. We’ll hug him and love him. Once he handles his discipline like a man, he’ll be in good standing and we’ll move on.”
As this is Weldon’s second suspension in less than a year, is it possible he could transfer from the program?
“You can’t worry about that,” Richt said. “You have to do what’s in the best interest of the program and player. I know everyone’s treated fairly.”
Star junior WR Ahmmon Richards was ruled out for his career with a debilitating neck injury on Saturday, the second key player (Malek Young) in less than a year that Miami has lost to similar injuries.
"It's just the sport," Richt said. "We have the most updated and technically sound helmets that you can buy. Even how we tackle on defense, we rugby tackle. We're trying to do everything we possibly can to keep it as safe as possible. Things happen sometimes."
Miami’s offensive line really struggled against FSU, giving up 5 sacks, 13 TFL, and numerous pressures on the QB.
“Our effort is good, we’re blocking pretty good at the point (of attack) in the run game, our perimeter blocking is improving,” Richt said of the O-Line. “We haven’t had as many big runs, but we’ve had a few.”
Even so, the Canes appear to have made some changes to their starting line. Miami opened practice today with freshman DJ Scaife at first string RT and Navaughn Donaldson moving inside to RG, the first time that’s ever happened. Hayden Mahoney moved to LG and Venzell Boulware moved back to the 2nd team.
“Scaife is a real talented kid,” Richt said. “He’s got a great skill set, is a pass protector, that’s where it starts at tackle. He’s not bad when it comes to physical play.”
The changes didn’t seem to help much as the offensive line was held after practice today to hit the sleds because of a bad practice.
“The thing today that wasn’t good was flinching, self-inflicted wounds,” Richt said. “We have to vary our cadence. Coach (Stacy) Searels holds them accountable.”
This is how Searels is holding his unit accountable this week: every error a lineman makes, he has to take a lap around the field. After practice ended, RB Deejay Dallas joined the linemen in taking their laps.
“He wants to do whatever he can to help everyone be great,” Richt said on Dallas. “He’s the most positive motivator we have on the team.”
Is UM close to being a championship-caliber offensive line?
“We’re getting closer, a lot (better) than a year ago, especially two years ago,” Richt said. “We’ve been making progress for sure.”
Richt also looked ahead to the Canes’ next matchup, which will be on the road at Virginia in a night game.
“We have a great challenge ahead of us, going to their house at night,” Richt said. “They’ll be well rested, had an open date. We had an emotional ballgame (beating FSU), have to turn around and get ready for this. Their offense is averaging 30 points a game, over 400 yards a game, 50 percent (third down conversions), which is outstanding. They’ve been an explosive offense. Eleven of the 20 touchdowns are 20 yards or more. Get big chunks a little like we’d done a year ago. As a team, they’re 11th in the country with fewest penalty yards per game.
“They’re third in total defense in the league, second in the league and 10th in the nation in first downs allowed, only 18 per game. A lot of things for us to be challenged by. We’re looking forward to it. No more out of conference games, only two more home games.”
QB N'Kosi Perry is entering his first career road start at UVA, but Richt doesn’t seem too worried.
"It's the same field, you do the same thing in the game you do in practice over and over," Richt said. "You have to get your focus tight, not looking around."
Richt also announced the captains for this week: Travis Homer, Hayden Mahoney, Jaquan Johnson, and Jeff Thomas.
