Job on Miami Hurricanes staff big breakthrough for OLB Coach Patke

Pinckney and Quarterman were Freshmen All-Americans in 2016. Pinckney had another outstanding season as a Sophomore in 2017. He finished third on the Hurricanes in tackles and tackles for loss with 68 and 11 and fourth with 3.5 sacks. McCloud had 48 tackles, 4.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss.

Defensive Coordinator Diaz has added a new position to the linebacking core this season, the Striker. It’s being billed as a hybrid between safety and linebacker. It will likely be used frequently in the nickel on passing downs.

Former safeties Romeo Finley and Derrick Smith and linebacker DeAndre Wilder have been practicing there this Spring. Patke spoke about what he and Diaz’s expectations are for the position and the players who will be playing there are.

"“The first thing he must do is be tough…that’s what we say in all of our defense, ‘your toughness will play.’ What we try to do here in Miami – and we are blessed with speed here in south Florida – is try to get the fastest player on the field… Derrick Smith and Romeo [Finley] are athletic coming from the safety room. We want to get the most speed out there and if they are going to play with physicality, it’s going to help our defense immensely.”"