Miami football team praised nationally after spring game

After a shaky second scrimmage last Saturday at Traz Powell Stadium in Miami, the Miami Football team looked much better during their spring game on Saturday at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.

The Miami football team looked much sharper at Camping World Stadium on Saturday, the site of their 2019 season opener against Florida on August 24. The quarterback play, particular Tate Martell, looked much better on Saturday than it did a week prior.

The QB play and who is chosen to be the starter will be the discussion of the offseason. Martell, N’Kosi Perry and Jarren Williams are all challenging to be first team QB for the Miami football team. Perry and Williams vastly outplayed Martell this spring, but the Ohio State transfer closed the gap on Saturday.

Offensive coordinator Dan Enos had Martell operating exclusively out of the shotgun on Saturday. The Spun said, “Tate Martell Is Dominating Miami’s Spring Game Today.” 

Miami Herald beat reporter Susan Miller Degnan added “Tate Martell look looking much better out of shotgun. N’Kosi Perry looking real good. Jarren Williams was just skipped in the QB rotation.”  The Spun discussed the redemption Martell had on Saturday following an inconsistent spring.

After being roasted following a 4-11 performance last week, Martell and graduate transfer wide receiver K.J. Osborn were the stars of the Miami offense in Saturday’s spring game. The Spun provided a Martell timeline.

"“Martell didn’t start his career with the Hurricanes on the right note. Last week, the reports coming out of Miami were that he struggled mightily in a scrimmage.Not only did the dual-threat quarterback go through growing pains, but N’Kosi Perry and Jarren Williams had better performances. As of right now, Martell is third on the depth chart for the Hurricanes.It’s still way too early for Manny Diaz to pick which quarterback will start this season. However, the clock is certainly ticking for Martell to make an impact…All signs from today point to Martell looking much more comfortable under center…Perhaps Martell will pass Williams on the depth chart for the backup spot, but it might take time for him to win the starting job.”"

The presumption by The Spun that Perry is the first team QB is out of town ignorant (some would use a stronger term). Williams and Perry have been pretty even throughout the spring.

Diaz and Enos said throughout the last week of spring practice unless one of the Miami QBs made a significant statement on Saturday they would go into the offseason without naming a first-team QB.

At this point that is the right decision. Martell is still getting acclimated to living in Coral Gables and all three Miami QBs are still learning Enos’ offense. The battle is expected to last until a week or two before the season opener against Florida.

Diaz wants his first teams chosen by then to get the game plan for the Miami football team installed for the Gators. ESPN’s Andrea Adelson praised all three Miami QBs, Osborn, tight end Will Mallory, linebacker Patrick Joyner and defensive tackle Jordan Miller.

Osborn has already taken over the leadership of the wide receiver corps, Mallory and Brevin Jordan should team to become one of the best tight end tandems in the country and Miller and Joyner will provide the Hurricanes will good depth at their positions defensively.

Andrea Adelson-ESPN

"“Coach Manny Diaz said before the spring game even began that no decision would be made on the starting quarterback, and he held to that after it finished Saturday in Orlando, Florida.N’Kosi Perry, Jarren Williams and Ohio State transfer Tate Martell rotated snaps throughout, with Perry getting the first opportunity to run with the first team.Perry ended up throwing for 145 yards and a touchdown, and looked far more polished than he did a season ago, when he split time with Malik Rosier. His growth and improvement puts him firmly in the mix to win the job come fall.Martell made some nice plays as well, specifically in shotgun, where he is most comfortable, throwing for two touchdowns while Williams threw for another. Diaz praised them afterward, saying all three understand they have the ability to start and win for the Hurricanes.Tight end Will Mallory is a player to watch come fall. Coaches have raved about his development this spring and he showed it in a big way, with three catches for 63 yards and a score. Buffalo transfer K.J. Osborn had a big day, too, as did linebacker Patrick Joyner Jr. and defensive lineman Jordan Miller.”"

CBS Sports

only discussed the QB battle that the Miami football team has going. The national focus is on Martell. The expectation when Martell left Ohio State for Miami was that he would be the Hurricanes starting QB.

The Spun focused on Perry and Martell, while Adelson acknowledged all three are in the mix to challenge to be Miami’s starting QB. Williams is the most accurate, Perry has the biggest arm and Martell is the most athletic. It’s going to come down to what Enos wants out of his QB and who is most comfortable in his system.

"“Tate Martell’s isn’t QB1 in Miami just yet: The former Ohio State quarterback was the subject of one of the biggest stories of the offseason after leaving Ohio State and gaining immediate eligibility with the Hurricanes. But will he be the quarterback of the 2019 Hurricanes?It appears to be very much up in the air judging from reviews of the spring game from Camping World Stadium in Orlando. The game was not televised. He was the third quarterback out and ran with the second-team offense, according to 247Sports.He went 6-of-10 passing for 154 yards, two touchdowns, and added seven carries for 29 yards on the ground, even though the quarterbacks weren’t being tackled to the ground. What does it mean? Miami’s quarterback position is still very much a work in progress.N’Kosi Perry was up and down last year, but went 9-of-13 passing for 145 yards and one touchdown with both the ones and twos. Redshirt freshman Jarren Williams went 4-of-6 passing for 44 yards, one touchdown and one pick.All three appeared to close spring strong, but all reports suggest they were up and down during the previous 14 practices. Martell is supposed to be the man in Miami. But as of of now, it appears to be a three-man race heading into the summer portion of the offseason.”"

Like The Spun, CBS Sports analysis of the QB situation for the Miami football team is presumptuous regarding Martell. It’s fair to say he didn’t come to Miami to sit. That doesn’t mean that the first team QB will be handed to him. Martell is going to have to show is the most capable. Perry and Williams had a far better spring than Martell.

Martell’s performance in the spring game was critical heading into the remainder of the offseason. The work the players do through the end of July is their sole responsibility. They have to make the effort on their own to continue to learn Enos’ offense and improve. When training camp convenes in July the QB battle will be even.