**Jamie Gordinier, out for the season with a torn ACL, was on crutches today and his knee in a brace. Coach Richt expressed his emotions on the injury.
“It was sad,” Richt said. “There’s so much work between January and now. It’s heartbreaking for those guys.”
What will Miami do in Gordinier’s absence? One major possibility is seeing a ton of safety JaQuan Johnson. At the start of practice today, Johnson was getting some position work with the linebackers.
Johnson has played defensive back his whole career dating back to high school, but has been most effective up near the box, where he can go and find the football.
“A nickel back is basically a SAM linebacker. That’s basically what he is. Will he play that in a two-receiver set? If he has to he will,” Richt said.
**Mark Richt said that FAU is “very tough up front” and credited the job that Charlie Partridge has done in Boca Raton. Another note on the Owls’ defense that Richt mentioned – FAU plays a lot of press coverage with their cornerbacks, freeing up the safeties to make plays in the run game.
**Richt said that FAU’s up-tempo offense is something that the Canes will need to prepare for this week in practice.
**Offensively for the Canes in practice today, the emphasis was on the run game and play-action passes, according to Richt.
**LSU transfer OT George Brown, Jr. was practicing with Miami as a left tackle today and wearing
#70 .
**DE Trent Harris practiced today with his left fractured hand was heavily wrapped up. Chad Thomas and Demetrius Jackson were still the starters at defensive end though, as it appears they are trying to ease Harris back into it.
**Defensive tackle Gerald Willis makes his Hurricanes debut this week against FAU after serving a one-game suspension last week. Willis was arguably the most productive lineman during fall practice for the Canes.
**Miami defensive tackle Courtel Jenkins limped off the field late in Saturday’s game against FAMU. He started practice on the stationery bike today. He did not appear to be moving his right leg, but there is no update other than that.
