Miami Hurricanes Spring Practice Report: Practice #7
The Miami Hurricanes concluded their seventh spring practice with the focus on the discussion of the defense. The Hurricanes return their front seven this fall. The focus defensively will be on rebuilding the secondary.
The Hurricanes finished the 2016 season ranked among the best defenses in the country. The front seven will need to continue to shine this fall as defensive coordinator Manny Diaz and secondary coaches Mike Rumph and Ephraim Banda work rebuilding a secondary that lost four key performers from last season.
Junior Michael Jackson spoke about the new secondary.
"“We don’t have much depth like most people but we compete every single day,” said junior Michael Jackson, one of the players expected to play a bigger role this fall. “That is one big thing [defensive coordinator] coach [Manny] Diaz teaches us, and that is what we do.”"
Rumph discussed which players have been impressive this spring.
"“Statistically, Michael Jackson…We just looked at all the man coverages, and who statistically is doing the best job with the amount of talent they have been thrown at. Mike is doing a pretty good job out there just being consistent and showing what he can do.”"
Newcomers at cornerback, incoming Freshman Trajan Bandy and Junior college transfer Jhavonte Dean are highly ranked recruits. Dean was the top-ranked junior college corner in the country and Bandy is a four-star recruit.
Junior to be Sheldrick Redwine has been shifted from corner to safety. He will team with his former high school teammate at Killian in the Kendall area of Miami, Jaquan Johnson.
Sophomore cornerback Malek Young spoke about Redwine’s transition to corner.
"“He is great. He knows where to fit in because he played corner…Him being at safety, his stock is going to go way up, because he just knows where to be at and how to find the ball. He is doing great back there.”"
Young started the final four games of his freshman season in 2016. He has been working on his vision this spring with Rumph, who played on the Hurricanes 2001 National Championship team.
"“Eyes. Keep your eyes on your man, don’t look at the quarterback,” he said. “The quarterback could lose you.”"
The experience Young got starting in 2016 should pay dividends in 2017. We should learn a lot about his growth with the Hurricanes first scrimmage scheduled for this Saturday.
"“It helped a lot. Just taking in what we learned from last year and bringing it to now…Then being able to be coached on top of that. It gave me more knowledge of the game while studying film."
Young is impressed with the growth of the defense this spring. He expects improvement when the Hurricanes take the field this fall.
"“We are just competing and working to the ball…Effort. Effort is what gets us seen and that is what we are doing right now.”"
Next: Miami Hurricanes Spring Practice: What’s going on with the QB’s?
The attacking style implemented by Diaz was a stark contrast from the read and react defense preferred by the previous Miami coaching staff. Being aggressive leads to more effort. If the Hurricanes can get the secondary together they have the potential to be one of the most dominant defenses in the country.