At noon on Saturday, Miami will look to stop Georgia Tech’s triple option offense and the Hurricanes will count on three true freshmen linebackers to lead the way against the Yellow Jackets’ running game.
Shaq Quarterman, Mike Pinckney and Zach McCloud will face the biggest challenge of their young careers when they take the field in Atlanta, but the trio is confident they are up to the task.
“We’re very confident,” Pinckney said of facing Georgia Tech. “The extra bye week gave us a chance to really learn their scheme and what they’re doing and what our jobs got to be. It’s an advantage. The challenges are getting harder and we’re getting smarter.”
Miami is 3-0 and heads to Georgia Tech fresh off a bye week. Quarterman, who has 12 tackles through three games, believes he and his fellow defenders benefitted from the extra time to prepare.
“Any time you have an extra week to prepare for any team it’s a good thing,” Quarterman said. “We had an extra week to prepare a little bit slower. It’s kind of like a math problem, you can go through it piece by piece.”
In addition to learning the intricacies of defending the triple option, McCloud believes the Canes benefitted from the rest and recovery that came with a week off.
“It helped us, not only with preparation mentally, but we were able to heal our bodies and get back in shape to be ready to perform,” McCloud said.
The trio of linebackers has worked extensively with Miami defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Manny Diaz to learn their keys for the week and each player knows that discipline will be essential to success.
“It all starts with eye discipline,” Quarterman said. “That’s actually their whole goal in their offense. If you don’t follow your keys and your eye progressions, things can escalate quickly.”
McCloud knows the temptation to leave assignments will come up on Saturday, but the Lantana, Fla., native understands that he and his teammates need to overcome the urge to freelance and stay on their key.
“You can’t try to make plays that are not meant for you,” McCloud said. “Everybody has their man and their assignment and you’ve just got to follow yours.”
For Pinckney, the biggest key is mental focus against a repetitive offense.
“They don’t do too many different things, so you have to do things over and over,” Pinckney said. “Just a lot of repetition. When you do something that’s the same a lot, you might mess up. We just have to stay focused. If you stop four or five plays, you took half their playbook out. We just have to swarm to the ball.”
While the Canes are set to match up against Georgia Tech’s highly deceptive offense, that does not mean they are going to change their approach too much. They have every intention of continuing their aggressive pursuit of the ball.
“It’s a bit of an adjustment, but you defeat this offense by playing fast,” Quarterman said. “They’re not really good with movement up front. Any time we have the opportunity to play fast and we do so, we’re going to create havoc.”
Miami’s defense is statistically ranked among the best in the country. The Hurricanes have the top scoring defense in the NCAA (7.7 points per game), and are first in team sacks (4.33 per game) and team tackles for loss (13.3 per game).
Kaaya is sharp. OL is giving a clean pocket. Manny Diaz is a breath of fresh air. Canes are going to roll. Love this.
Posted by: The Dude | October 01, 2016 at 12:22 PM
That run, the OL opened a hole anyone of us could jog through.
Posted by: The Dude | October 01, 2016 at 12:23 PM
Driving....can someone please call game? Thanks, Mrs NativeCane
Posted by: NativeCane | October 01, 2016 at 12:25 PM
GT 1st & goal at UM 6
Posted by: CoCane | October 01, 2016 at 12:33 PM
corners are not in the right position
Posted by: mi@mic@ne | October 01, 2016 at 12:33 PM
This GT team is a test for a defense in its 1st year. You have to fight through the grind and failures and beat them when it counts... which is right now.
Posted by: The Dude | October 01, 2016 at 12:34 PM
This is why I didn't see the super high score some thought.
They burned 5 minutes on their first drive alone and only got two first downs.
Posted by: Go,GoCanes! | October 01, 2016 at 12:35 PM
why are the backs playing 10 yards deep on the goal line
Posted by: mi@mic@ne | October 01, 2016 at 12:36 PM
our d backs have got to play better...no head hunters or quick reaction on the ends
Posted by: mi@mic@ne | October 01, 2016 at 12:38 PM
we look like slow motion ...too much looking
Posted by: mi@mic@ne | October 01, 2016 at 12:41 PM
Looking weak right now. They need to tighten up...
Posted by: CoCane | October 01, 2016 at 12:41 PM
it looks like coach d habits are back
Posted by: mi@mic@ne | October 01, 2016 at 12:43 PM
Panic time for weak people
Posted by: Lur-ker | October 01, 2016 at 12:44 PM
where is the back position on the edge....
Posted by: mi@mic@ne | October 01, 2016 at 12:44 PM
nobody on the edge..why are we playing so deep.
Posted by: mi@mic@ne | October 01, 2016 at 12:45 PM
These freshman are having a tough time against the option
Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | October 01, 2016 at 12:48 PM
they are calling plays at the line of scrimmage so you bring the backs up right before the snap
Posted by: mi@mic@ne | October 01, 2016 at 12:48 PM
d ends are not scraping to the outside ..d ends are not doing the right job
Posted by: mi@mic@ne | October 01, 2016 at 12:51 PM
oline got to pass block...
Posted by: mi@mic@ne | October 01, 2016 at 12:54 PM
yearby is playing a step faster
Posted by: mi@mic@ne | October 01, 2016 at 12:58 PM
man they are slow in d
Posted by: mi@mic@ne | October 01, 2016 at 12:59 PM
Where's Walton?
Posted by: Lur-ker | October 01, 2016 at 01:00 PM
walton hurt?
Posted by: mi@mic@ne | October 01, 2016 at 01:00 PM
this tv announcing suks
Posted by: mi@mic@ne | October 01, 2016 at 01:01 PM
richt running that same off tackle play on the last score...bread and butter
Posted by: mi@mic@ne | October 01, 2016 at 01:03 PM
We got some canes ova here!
Posted by: Sarasota 'cane | October 01, 2016 at 01:05 PM
0 flags for Miami
Posted by: AfriCane | October 01, 2016 at 01:06 PM
thats what im talking about wooooooooooooo
Posted by: mi@mic@ne | October 01, 2016 at 01:07 PM
The U's D is back
Posted by: AfriCane | October 01, 2016 at 01:07 PM
d is starting to hit too hard for these georga 3 star players...lol
Posted by: mi@mic@ne | October 01, 2016 at 01:08 PM
Holy shit
Posted by: 1mg of Epi | October 01, 2016 at 01:11 PM
total domination..intercepted the pitch lol
Posted by: mi@mic@ne | October 01, 2016 at 01:11 PM
Boom baby!!!!.....Hey D'no, speed kills!!!!!!!!
Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | October 01, 2016 at 01:11 PM
Somebody call HOMELAND SECURITY. Miami is terrorizing G-Tech.
Posted by: AfriCane | October 01, 2016 at 01:12 PM
hey al...its a cane thang you would never understand
Posted by: mi@mic@ne | October 01, 2016 at 01:12 PM
Wow!
Posted by: SJMPARMAN | October 01, 2016 at 01:13 PM
WTF am I watching right now? I... I haven't seen anything like this before.
Wait. Maybe I have. A long long time ago.
Posted by: 1mg of Epi | October 01, 2016 at 01:13 PM
To all recruits, if you want to play as a freshman come to the U, but get ready to compete boyz!!!
Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | October 01, 2016 at 01:14 PM
They are throwing up the old school Batman KAPOW! and BAM!!! on them.
What a freaking stretch!
Posted by: Go,GoCanes! | October 01, 2016 at 01:15 PM
12% is Right Again....
BLOWOUT!!
Posted by: RCCF | October 01, 2016 at 01:15 PM
Old school canes tackle there.
Posted by: AfriCane | October 01, 2016 at 01:16 PM
arm tackling
Posted by: mi@mic@ne | October 01, 2016 at 01:16 PM
Come on boyz, wrap up
Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | October 01, 2016 at 01:16 PM
Those outside pitch runs are not working anymore for GT.
Posted by: AfriCane | October 01, 2016 at 01:17 PM
Somebody call the play by play. Score updates please!
Posted by: SOUP | October 01, 2016 at 01:18 PM
Moving day, no TV!
Posted by: SOUP | October 01, 2016 at 01:20 PM
Knock on wood but I think the D is starting to adjust and figure this BS offense out. Good stuff!
Posted by: NicKane | October 01, 2016 at 01:20 PM
53 seconds left GT no more timeouts ball on Miami 9 yrd line. 2nd and 6.
Posted by: SJMPARMAN | October 01, 2016 at 01:21 PM
Gators only up 7-0 on Vandy approaching half time.
They suck so freaking bad.
Posted by: Go,GoCanes! | October 01, 2016 at 01:22 PM
GT pass flat TD
Posted by: SJMPARMAN | October 01, 2016 at 01:22 PM