The Boys Are Back In Town

The Miami Hurricanes were back in action today on the Greentree Practice Fields Saturday morning, opening fall camp ahead of the 2018 season.
 
"It was really a great day in that you could feel the humidity, feel the heat," Miami head coach Mark Richt said. "A lot of guys that had great summers came through really well."

The Canes held their first official practice on Greentree since April. Miami returns 14 starters and 44 letter-winners from a team that won 10 games for the first time since 2003 and advanced to the ACC Championship Game for the first time in program history in 2017.
 

"Pretty typical Day One," Richt said. "It was very evident who has been around this program a while and who is just showing up for the first time – just in knowing how to practice and knowing how to push, knowing how to do things right, knowing how to finish a drill, knowing the things that we teach on a daily basis that [are] very, very normal to the guys who have been around and new to the guys who are new. They have a long way to go, just to understand how we practice around here. It's not because they're not trying. They're just learning."

As expected, Preseason All-ACC selections Jaquan Johnson and Shaquille Quarterman were among the leaders on the defensive side of the ball and they were impressed with how the team handled the first day of practice.
 
"It's great to see that your summer really paid off and I really see it for a whole bunch of guys on our team," Quarterman said. "Guys took the time and put in the work this summer. Everybody is looking better. As a team where we were last year with conditioning, we're way levels past that now so that's always good to see on the first day."
 
The Canes had several players back in action for the first time since the 2017 season, as veterans like Ahmmon Richards, Demetrius Jackson and Charles Perry participated in a practice for the first time since suffering season-ending injuries last season.
 
"Just finally being able to practice again and doing all the little things with all my teammates again, it just felt good to be out here," Richards said. "I haven't really practiced since December of last year. I'm kind of getting back into football condition. I'll be alright."
 

While the veterans led the way for the Canes on Saturday, several newcomers made a quick impression on Richt and his staff on the opening day of camp.
 
"Some of the young guys [were] making a few plays here and there," Richt said. "I know Dee Wiggins had a really great contested catch in the end zone one time. [Marquez] Ezzard - once he learns what to do - I think is going to be a pretty good ballplayer. I really like the young [defensive backs] – you have [Al] Blades doing a good job. Cam [Davis], the tailback out of Carol City, did a nice job today. You can see his quickness and those types of things."

The Canes took a major step forward as a program in 2017, finishing with a perfect 7-0 record at home during the regular season in 2017 and marking the first undefeated home campaign during the regular season since 2002. But Miami stumbled down the stretch, dropping its final three games to finish 10-3 on the season.
 
With a deep group of proven veterans and an influx of talented newcomers joining the roster, the Canes feel like they will have the depth to avoid a late-season slide and finish the year strong.
 
"We want to finish," Johnson said. "We preach that all the time. There are four quarters to football. We started off the season with a great half of the season and then on the back end we let things go. We're preaching that we have to finish. That's what's most important."

Comments

[Terrance Sullivan]

Yesssss Yesssss Yesssss Roach Cane!

[BigWindyCane]

Per Miami Herald:
“▪ ”Our No. 1 unit protected, I thought, very well,’’ said Richt, who was pleased with the starting O-line. The No. 2 offensive line? Not so much. The coach said starting right tackle Navaughn Donaldson was doing “much better.

“I really feel good about him at right tackle now.’’

Richt also praised right guard Hayden Mahoney, and said that freshman guard DJ Scaife “is probably the sixth guy’’ now among linemen.

Read more here: https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/college/acc/university-of-miami/article216140210.html#storylink=cpy

[thirstybuzzardcane]

Sound like the OL will be a lot better than I was thinking.

[Terrance Sullivan]

Like I said I took 2 things from this No major injuries and a lot of players got plenty of reps and playing in the home Stadium after that it's fluff.

[58 Straight]

Rosier had 2 TD's and 0 Int's in the scrimmage!

Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | August 11, 2018 at 11:08 PM

#BestQuarterbackEver

[58 Straight]

Also, CMR is very pleased with Donaldson at RT.

Posted by: BigWindyCane | August 12, 2018 at 12:03 PM

Watch the games, don't listen to the hype.

[AfriCane]

The difference is, CMR doesn’t hype. He’s not shanon or the last group.

[CaneRock]

I am curious as to who dropped passes though. My guess is the second and third team receivers.

Posted by: BigWindyCane | August 12, 2018 at 12:01 PM

Harley dropped three of em'. Might be one less DB Rumph has to recruit.

#Butterfingers

[CaneRock]

And while these freshmen TEs are talented with their pass catching, they gotta grow up quick with their blocking. Hopefully Polendey keeps steppin' up like Richt said He has to take some pressure off they young'ins.

[AeroCane]

Like I said I took 2 things from this No major injuries and a lot of players got plenty of reps and playing in the home Stadium after that it's fluff.

Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | August 12, 2018 at 08:45 PM

Good morning and absolutely. Anybody who thinks different is incorrect!

[Terrance Sullivan]

Good morning AeroCane

[58 Straight]

RoachCane...how bad was/is the red tide in your area? Getting better or worse?

[Go Canes!!]

Stefan Adams; Brevin Jordan is working with the ones today over Brian Polendey (twos) and Will Mallory (threes) #Canes #theU

[BigWindyCane1]

Stefan Adams; Brevin Jordan is working with the ones today over Brian Polendey (twos) and Will Mallory (threes) #Canes #theU

Posted by: Go Canes!! | August 13, 2018 at 09:53 AM

Jordan seems poised to win the job with Irvin out, and since CMR has decided to make that decision while it is still early in camp, Jordan playing with the #1s will help him tremendously. Mallory might also have a legitimate chance to play this season. The issue for young TEs is always blocking.

In teaching Jordan and Mallory, Hartley should put in that tape of Herndon from last three seasons. I absolutely love the way Herndon played the TE position at UM - blocking, route-running, catching - Herndon was the complete package.

[BigWindyCane1]

Per Herald:

▪ True freshman tight end Brevin Jordan took passes from Rosier, followed by true freshman Will Mallory and sophomore Brian Polendey taking passes from Perry.

[Old Skool]

Warning soccer highlight...

What a play!
Rooney prevents an open net goal, then makes a game winning pass. All in about 10 seconds

https://tinyurl.com/y99maelm

[Old Skool]

Soup
Red tide may be spreading toward Pinellas. Concentrations have ticked upward.

[raizecane]

Concentrations have ticked upward.

Posted by: Old Skool | August 13, 2018 at 12:41 PM

*************************************

referring to green grass and high tides....forever?

[roachcane77]

Red Tide was/is HORRIBLE in our area. Ground Zero is Englewood Beach and Boca Grande.

We get occasional reprieves when the wind comes out of the East, but it's really sad. The amount, and variety of dead wildlife washing up on our shores is just unimaginable.

(SOUP did you get my recent emails at your @aol account?)

[Old Skool]

9 dolphins dead so far in Sarasota and Venice
Hope it doesn't get as bad as Tampa Bay's outbreak in the 70's. Driving across the Courtney Campbell surrounded by acres of rotting fish was gag inducing.

[NativeCane]

We were snorkeling about 3 miles out from Weeki Wachee in the gulf 8 hours a day for last 3 days. No ill effects but several gallons of delicious scallops.

[58 Straight]

Native...share the spoils plundering of our natural resources. Our pay the penalties of you debauchery!

[58 Straight]

Soup
Red tide may be spreading toward Pinellas. Concentrations have ticked upward.

Posted by: Old Skool | August 13, 2018 at 12:41 PM

I think that was last week when the wind direction was different. We had none in Madeira Beach and northward. It was stuck down in Manatee, in the Bradenton and Sarasota area. Winds are now NW pushing it back south I believe?

[BigWindyCane]

Happy to see the creation of the striker position in Manny’s scheme. Last season, I thought teams tried to expose LBs in coverage by spreading the Canes out. Many teams did try to pick on Zach McCloud and they found some success.

Now, the new striker position allows McCloud along with the other four players—De'Andre Wilder, Mike Smith, Derrick Smith, and Romeo Finley- to really cover guys and adjust to what opposing OCs are trying to do to the Canes. It’s frustrating to watch the Canes play good solid defense everywhere, except that position being consistently exposed.

This defense can be a lot better with the striker position. I also see that those strikers look a lot bigger since last season. This can be a special defense this season. I think they will be better than last season

[58 Straight]

BWC...agree 100%.

[CaneRock]

“He’s more accurate,’’ receiver Jeff Thomas says. “He’s making passes he couldn’t last year.”

His reading of defenses improved with study. Case in point: Saturday’s intra-squad scrimmage, where he got to the line for what designed as a quick, red-zone play over the middle. He saw no blitz coming and a traffic jam in the middle. He slowed down the offense, changed the play to his outsider receivers.

He threw a touchdown to Lawrence Cager.

“Perfect call, perfect pass,’’ Cager said.

“He wouldn’t have done that a year ago,’’ quarterback coach Jon Richt said.

Most every day it’s something. Rosier pointed to the last practice where he yelled at a receiver who didn’t win on a slant across the middle. Jon Richt pointed to a recent practice where the offense ran a staggering 150 plays before working on red-zone offense to finish out – and then looked too tired in the red-zone work.

“He let them have it, said, ‘This is where we’ve win,’ ‘’ Jon Richt said. “That’s what we need from him.”

It's His team..."

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-hurricanes/fl-sp-hyde-hurricanes-20180813-story.html

[BigWindyCane]

I hope the statement made by Jon Richt and JT in the Sun Sentinel are right CaneRock, that Rosier has taken that next step to becoming a better QB. The Canes offense deserve it.

[BigWindyCane]

Per BARRY JACKSON:
“Brevin Jordan is taking lot of first team snaps for UM at TE. Richt says Jordan in Chris Herndon spot; Will Mallory in position previously played here by David Njoku.“

[Go Canes!!]

Posted by: CaneRock | August 13, 2018 at 10:58 PM

🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[TruCane81]

The difference is, CMR doesn’t hype. He’s not shanon or the last group.

Posted by: AfriCane | August 12, 2018 at 10:15 PM

This.

That’s one thing about him I like. When he says something, he usually means it.

[AeroCane]

Good morning my Canespace friends!
If you get a chance read the herald article regarding TE Gesicki. You'd swear they were discussing Jordan and Mallory!

[Go Canes!!]

More great news at DT position:’

https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/barry-jackson/article216509200.html

[Go Canes!!]

It's August, so it's time once again for a Choc is a beast story. Would absolutely love to see him have a great end to his career here:

UM 240-lb back is ‘a Mack truck with a Ferrari engine.’ And all he wants to do is run
BY SUSAN MILLER DEGNAN
sdegnan@miamiherald.com

August 14, 2018 01:56 PM

University of Miami tailback/fullback Trayone Gray, a popular fifth-year senior out of Miami Carol City High, goes by the nickname ‘Choc’ — short for Chocolate — and according to fellow tailback DeeJay Dallas runs a lot faster than his 6-2, 240-pound frame might suggest.

“Right now he’s a Mack Truck with a Ferrari engine,’’ said Dallas of Gray after Tuesday’s practice.

“Choc is big. He’s the strongest in our room, one of the fastest in our room. He might not look fast but Choc is fast. He’s like 240 and that’s like a Mack Truck. He brings the juice.’’

Gray might be one of the elder statesmen of these Hurricanes, but he said Tuesday he feels younger than ever. After sitting out 2016 because of reconstructive knee surgery to repair a torn anterior collateral ligament, Gray only played in five games last season, rushing seven times for 42 yards.

His career rushing numbers: 36 carries in 16 games for 211 yards (5.9 yards a carry) and three touchdowns.

Gray began practicing at fullback this past April but will play also play tailback, offensive coordinator Thomas Brown said.

“Feels like I’m younger,’’ Gray said. “I feel more healthy. I got stronger [and] I got faster thanks to the strength staff. I’m just competing every day, trying to do my job, study the playbook and keep pushing.

“...Wherever coach needs me to go, that’s where I’m going to go.’’

Gray, who was a quarterback at Carol City, ran for 145 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries in 2015 as the No. 3 back behind Joseph Yearby and Mark Walton. He had 24 yards and a touchdown on six carries his freshman season in 2014.

If you’re wondering about that nickname, Gray explained its genesis in 2015.

“Choc came from my mama,’’ he said. “When I was a baby I didn’t really want no bottle or nothing. I just ate a lot of chocolate. No bottle. So she just named me chocolate. I just ate chocolate candy. I [did not] like milk.’’

UM coach Mark Richt said on Monday that Gray is “the guy who has probably helped himself more than anybody this camp. He’s not done playing tailback here for us.’’

[MLAlumni1970]

Anyone on the Atlantic Coast having any issues with red tide? As most of you know, I am now homesteaded in Satellite Beach.

[BigWindyCane1]

* * *

UM coach Mark Richt said on Monday that Gray is “the guy who has probably helped himself more than anybody this camp. He’s not done playing tailback here for us.’’

Posted by: Go Canes!! | August 14, 2018 at 02:42 PM

I hope you are right. I saw Choc play as a running QB at Carol City high school. I recall that Choc was a three star who barely qualified at UM, but he was as good, if not better, than any RB I saw that year, including Yearby and Cook. Gray is big and fast. He broke long runs on every team he faced, although he was raw as a RB and probably lacked ideal vision. I always heard that Gray didn't work as hard in certain areas. But no one could ever question is athletic ability.

CMR and his staff have clearly done a great job with Choc. Now that Choc is a fifth-year senior, I hope things finally work out for him because he has rare NFL-level talent.

[58 Straight]

NEW BLOG IS UP!