Five things to watch with Miami Hurricanes defense in Spring Game

Rousseau was able to rack up those numbers without quarterbacks being able to be tackled. He will have to take his game up another level by bringing the quarterbacks to the ground.

Rousseau will battle with Rising Junior Scott Patchan to be the fourth defensive end in the Miami Hurricanes rotation. While the Hurricanes are thin and inexperienced at tackle but have good depth at the ends.

3. How will the striker position play out at linebacker in the nickel? 

Defensive Coordinator Manny Diaz added a hybrid linebacker/defensive back position in the nickel package to give the Hurricanes more speed on passing downs. The position was created partly out of necessity with McCloud out for the remainder of the Spring with a wrist injury.

Safties Rising Junior Romeo Finley and rising Sophomore Derrick Smith, plus Wilder have initially been manning the position. The base defense that Miami is using this spring is a 4-2-5 with the striker position somewhat in between safety and linebacker.

There is no indication if Miami will continue to use it this fall. Outside Linebacker Coach, Jonathan Patke told the Palm Beach Post’s Matt Porter Jonathan Patke that the 4-2-5 is the base this Spring.