Miami Hurricanes quarterbacks not near where they need to be

The Miami Hurricanes quarterbacks are not yet near where they need to be according to offensive coordinator and QB coach Dan Enos. The battle is expected to last well into summer training camp and beyond.

Miami Hurricanes offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Dan Enos spoke to reporters after Tuesday’s seventh practice this spring and said that the QBs progress is “Not near where we need to be.’…Not near a championship level.”  No one expected the Miami QBs at a championship level. The problems at QB per Enos are troubling.

Enos relayed to reporters on Tuesday that the Miami Hurricanes signal callers are still working on their techniques, learning the new offensive system and have to work on reading defenses. Ohio State transfer Tate Martell’s strengths are supposed to be his athleticism, leadership and intellect.

N’Kosi Perry has always been knocked for his inability to read defenses. Manny Navarro of the Athletic said in an appearance last month on WQAM that Perry’s high school coach told him that the rising redshirt sophomore would need help in college learning how to read defenses better.

It is going to be a process with the Miami QBs. This spring and summer is essential in their development. In addition to working on their games, Martell, Perry and rising redshirt freshman Jarren Williams have to learn Enos’ system. The Hurricanes are still working on installing their offense.

Enos elaborated to the Miami Hurricanes beat reporters on Tuesday following practice what issues have presented themselves through the first two weeks of spring practice. He said that “50-60 percent” of the Miami offense has been installed thus far. Enos spoke about all three QBs during the media session.

"“Fundamentals and techniques, learning our system and also defensive identification are the biggest areas (that need to improve)…I’ve seen good out of all three of them, and we just got to keep grinding. We have very high standards. I have very high standards for them.We’re going to try to correct everything they do because at the end of the day we’re going to try to get whoever is under center to get that to be the best product we can possibly be and get him to play the best that they can.”"

A lot has been made of Martell’s struggles. He hasn’t been as accurate throwing the football as Perry (who struggled with accuracy in 2018) and Williams whose biggest strength is his accuracy. Martell is in a new environment having to get acclimated to a new school, new teammates and new offense. Enos discussed Martell’s progress.

"“He’s like all of them. They’re getting better in some areas. Tate is much more comfortable with the terminology than he was early. He’s thrown the ball pretty effectively the last couple of days.“We’re really, really working with his eyes in the pocket — his eyes and his feet and his posture. He drifts around on his drops a lot. There’s not a real distinct set of timing in his drops. It’s something that’s new for him.He’s gotta learn how to transition what we’re asking him to do with his feet and do it during team situations when I’m not standing there with him telling him to do it every day.”"

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Perry had one of his best days of practice on Saturday before taking a step back on Tuesday. Enos spoke about Perry and Williams development this spring.

"“They’ve been up and down a little bit. Jarren’s come out here and made terrific throws. He’s had situations where he’s had some mental lapses, as well.Saturday, [Perry] had his best day. on Saturday, N’Kosi had a great day. He graded very high. I saw poise, I saw a passer, I saw a guy get through his progression. And then today we gotta watch the tape, but I think he had a little bit of a step back today. But certainly these things are expected."

Patience is the best approach with the Miami QBs. The Hurricanes season opener against Florida is still more than four months away. There is plenty of time for the QBs to improve through the last two-plus weeks of spring practice and throughout the summer. Head Coach Manny Diaz also spoke about where UM is with their QBs.

"“Don’t burn the building down (in relation to the QBs)…(the best evaluation will come when ) we have 21 guys around [the QB] playing football. That’s when… again, when it’s routes on air…Hey, you need to get a bunch of guys around and you need to get the dynamic of changing defensive coverages around you to see who can make the decisions, who can do it accurately and who can avoid the critical error.’’"

Martell, Perry and Williams are expected to split time equally during Saturday’s first scrimmage. They will lose time for poor play. The scrimmage is not open to the media or the public and will be held and the Soffer Indoor Practice Facility.

The Hurricanes final two scrimmages are at Traz Powell Stadium in Miami April 13 and at Camping World Stadium in Orlando on April 20. The game in Orlando is being viewed as a dress rehearsal by Diaz for the new coaches on the Hurricanes staff.