New Miami Hurricanes DL coach Todd Stroud concerned about developing depth
New Miami Hurricanes defensive line Todd Stroud frequently repeatedly to reporters on Thursday the need to develop two-deep up front on defense. Miami has a lot of depth at defensive end but still needs work developing depth at defensive tackle.
The Miami Hurricanes will have a deep rotation at defensive end. Returning rising junior Jonathan Garvin had a breakout sophomore season in 2018. Miami also adds graduate senior Trevon Hill from Virginia Tech and incoming freshman Jahfari Harvey.
Greg Rousseau who had to redshirt as a freshman because of injury and rising senior Scott Patchan join Garvin as returnees at defensive end in 2019. Rousseau was dominant last spring. He had nine sacks in the three scrimmages. Rousseau suffered a season-ending ankle injury last September. That postponed his progress.
Garvin should continue to star for the Miami Hurricanes defense. He was exceptional last season next to All-American defensive tackle Gerald Willis. With defensive end Joe Jackson moving on to the NFL, Garvin will garner the primary attention from opposing offensive lines.
Garvin was dominant last season with 60 tackles, 17.0 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, five pass breakups, two fumbles recoveries and a fumble return for a touchdown. Hill gives Miami another explosive DE that can wreak havoc in opposing backfields. In 29 games with Virginia Tech, Hill had 94 tackles, 20 TFLs and 11.5 sacks.
Walter Football projects Garvin as the eighth best 3-4 outside linebacker in the 2020 NFL Draft. Stroud calls Garvin an exceptional talent.
"“There are two or three kids right now in the front. On the edge, Jon “Neo” Garvin is an exceptional talent. Scott Patchan is having a great spring as well…On the inside, Jon Ford, who you guys visited with earlier today, is having an exceptional spring. He obviously has a great body. He’s learning. And he’s kind of embracing what we’re doing. He’s been phenomenal this spring.The biggest challenge you have as you look at the talent is developing your two-deep…We have some guys that need to get better and need to step up. And then we’ll have some new faces come in this fall and we’ll find out where our depth plugs in there.But you gotta be two-deep in this league. You gotta be two deep. They’re all going to get an opportunity. They’re all going to play quite a bit. Your two-deep is what’s really important. We can put one group out there that is probably as good as anybody.”"
Related Story. Miami football staff wants Nesta Silvera to chill. light
There had been some question earlier this spring if rising sophomore defensive tackle Nesta Silvera was progressing enough. Rising redshirt freshman Jordan Miller surpassed Silvera and had been playing with the second-team defense while Silvera was on the third team.
Reports from earlier this week stated that Silvera had been too intense and needed to tone his play down. The Hurricanes coaching staff grew frustrated with the former four-star signee celebrating every time he made a play. Stroud discussed Silvera’s progress.
"“Nesta is having a great spring…He’s one of those twos that I was talking about that is having an opportunity right now to push for a job. I’m sure that will carry into the fall.So far I’ve been very pleased. His work ethic and what he’s been doing, his intensity. He’s been great and he’s been very coachable, too. That’s the whole deal.”"
The Hurricanes rotation at defensive tackle is far more uncertain than at end.
started 12 games last season and gave the Miami Hurricanes a blue-collar approach. Bethel had 22 tackles, five TFLs and two sacks in his first season as a starter. UCLA graduate transfer
should be the other starter at defensive tackle.
Nnoruka comes to Miami after falling out of favor at UCLA in Chip Kelly’s first season in 2018. He had an exceptional productive 2017 for the Bruins with 46 tackles, eight TFLs and two sacks. Ford and Silvera should be ahead of Miller based on their experience. Miller will receive his first collegiate snaps this season.
Next. Reloading at DT critical for Miami football in 2019. dark
Getting the rotation figured out at defensive tackle will be one of the keys to the season for Stroud and co-defensive coordinators Blake Baker and Ephraim Banda. One of the biggest priorities for Miami on defense in 2019 will be improving the run defense. That begins upfront at defensive tackle.