Speaking to the Miami Herald, Hurricanes Outside Linebackers Coach Jonathan Patke said that the Miami football coaching staff wants linebackers Shaq Quarterman and Michael Pinckney in on third downs more often this year.
The Miami football team needs to improve on third downs both offensively and defensively in 2018. The Miami defense ranked 75th in the country in 3rd down conversion percentage in 2017. Teams converted 39.5 percent of their chances on third down against the Hurricanes Defense last season.
Patke was promoted to Outside Linebackers coach after being the Defensive Quality Control Assistant the past two seasons. His current job is a newly created position. College football teams were allowed to add a 10th paid Assistant Football Coach beginning with the 2018 season. That included Spring Practice.
Patke spoke with Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald about the Hurricanes linebackers for the upcoming season. Among the topics they discussed relating to third down were expecting Quarterman and Pinckney staying on the field on third down, the Juniors need to improve in pass coverage and the creation of the striker position.
Quarterman is a beast in the running game and Patke relayed that to Jackson. Patke also said that Pinckney has the best instincts and is the smartest linebacker on the Miami Football roster.
Quarterman was second on the Miami football team in tackles for the second straight season. He finished 2017 with 43 solo tackles, 40 assists for 83 total tackles. He added seven tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
It’s interesting that Patke and the Miami coaching staff expect more out of Quarterman in pass defense. The rising Junior also finished fifth on the Hurricanes defense with five passes defended.
Pinckney was a distant third behind Quarterman in tackles. He finished 2017 with 31 solos, 37 assists for 68 total tackles. He was third on the Miami defense with 11 tackles for loss and fourth with 3.5 sacks.
Patke told Jackson that the Miami staff expects more out of both Quarterman and Pinckney on third down in 2018.
"“Where we want him to excel a little more this year is on third down. He hasn’t played a lot of third down for us. That’s Pinckney as well. With [Quarterman] so instinctual on first and second down, we would love to keep him on the field on third down.”"
Patke went on to discuss Quarterman’s skills against the run and his needed improvement in the passing game.
"“He stops the run and his physicality is second to none…Once he puts what we call a Shaq shoulder on people, they stop. He is an old school MIKE backer and likes to thump and his instincts seeing the run game are very high. He needs to be better in pass coverage.”"
Pinckney’s skills at diagnosing plays should play well in the passing game. Like his classmate, Pinckney has to improve in pass coverage. Patke lauded Pinckney for his intelligence and ability to anticipate what the opponent was going to do.
"“He diagnoses the quickest out of any linebacker we have. You see that on film. It looks like we’re sending him on a blitz and it’s not a blitz. He just has a feel for it. He knows what play is coming, he sees it and believes it and pulls the trigger.That’s why he has so many [tackles for loss]. The offense, in practice, thinks he knows the plays. He doesn’t. He just can [anticipate]. He might be the smartest linebacker we have. He needs to play third down this year; you don’t want to take that guy off on third down.”"
Zach McCloud who has started with Quarterman and Pinckney the last three seasons is being moved from strong side or the SAM linebacker to Striker. The striker was created this spring and will be a hybrid between linebacker and nickelback. Jackson reported that the responsibilities of the striker and the SAM will be similar.
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Patke also spoke to Jackson about the wrist injury McCloud suffered this Spring and how it was healing. Patke also said that McCloud was hurt after the Pitt game.
"“I’m excited to get him back…He was banged up toward the end of the season after the Pitt game. The physicality he brings is exciting.”"
McCloud’s primary backups will be former safeties, Derrick Smith and Romeo Finley. Patke discussed their progress in learning the striker position.
"“They went back and forth; both ran with the ones,…Romeo had a better spring than Derrick… Romeo really showed up in the run game and throwing his body around…Derrick did nice things in coverage, showed up more in coverage”"
The Miami defense is going to have to do a better job getting off the field on third down this season. The striker position was created to improve the Hurricanes third down defense.
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It should be interesting to follow the striker position this season and see if it has the impact that the coaching staff anticipates it will have.