Working on conditioning as much as strength, key for Miami Hurricanes this summer

MIAMI, FL - SEPTEMBER 22: (L-R) Jhavonte Dean #6, Amari Carter #5, and Travis Homer #24 of the Miami celebrate with Jeff Thomas #4 of the Miami Hurricanes after returning a punt for a touchdown in the first quarter against the Florida International Golden Panthers at Hard Rock Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - SEPTEMBER 22: (L-R) Jhavonte Dean #6, Amari Carter #5, and Travis Homer #24 of the Miami celebrate with Jeff Thomas #4 of the Miami Hurricanes after returning a punt for a touchdown in the first quarter against the Florida International Golden Panthers at Hard Rock Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /
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The focus on a football team can often be on the weight room from the strength and conditioning coach. Playing in the heat of South Florida for half their games the Miami Hurricanes will make conditioning a priority during the offseason.

Miami Hurricanes head coach Manny Diaz was impressed with David Feeley enough during his 18-day tenure as Temple’s coach to hire him as the strength and conditioning coach in Coral Gables. Diaz has spoken frequently about the impact Feeley has had getting more players to the weight room in a short period of time.

The Hurricanes are going to focus on running a lot this summer. Feeley told reporters on Monday that the base for the Miami players has to start with great stamina and then work on speed in the summertime. Miami will then work on what Feeley said was high effort and high volume agility drills during summer camp.

The conditioning will be critical at some positions. Miami’s depth at linebacker has been depleted by injuries this spring. Incoming freshmen Samuel Brooks and Avery Huff are likely to be second on the depth chart behind returning starters Shaq Quarterman, Michael Pinckney and Zach McCloud.

Running back is another area of concern. DeeJay Dallas and Cam’Ron Harris are likely to get the bulk of the carries. Former five-star signee Lorenzo Lingard is an unknown coming off knee surgery. The Miami offensive line and defensive tackles are question marks with how deep the Hurricanes will be able to go.

"“Now a lot more running is going to be involved in the program because you’ve got to prepare the guys for camp. You have to start off with a great base of stamina — have to have great stamina — [then] work on a lot of speed in the summertime…Once we start getting down to camp, the high-effort and the high-volume agility work will take place just to get them ready for all the cutting they’ll endure…I think the strength level’s good. I think these guys can really run. … It’s funny when they take off, they take off a little differently than the places I’ve been at [before].So that’s pretty neat. We’ll put them through some serious stress levels in the summertime. We do need to get a little bit more powerful, a little stronger, like everybody else in America. But the way we’ll condition and condition out here in this heat, it will set us apart.”"

Lingard, the linebackers and other Miami Hurricanes coming off injuries entering summer training camp will be expected to get in some work ahead of camp if they are healthy enough to do so. Feeley added that each player will be evaluated individually before they begin their offseason work.

"“We kind of treat the body like a test, you know? Your limbs are 20 [percent] each and the core is 20. So if there’s something kind of not working, you can still get an 80 on that test. Whatever bumps or bruises they have, that’s fine. That’s part of it.If you don’t, you’re probably not practicing hard enough and it’s not a good effort. Our guys. … they give good effort. They’re going to get bumped up.But as long as you keep working with them, and they can let you know what bothers them and what doesn’t, then you can build trust within the player-coach relationship. You’re going to work with them and get them stronger, any which way you can. They’ll know that and they’ll be ready for the fall.”"

Conditioning is often an underrecognized key in sports, especially football. Players need to pace themselves throughout a game will still giving maximum effort. Diaz has spoken about the Hurricanes need to upgrade the depth throughout the Miami roster. That’s why Diaz signed six transfers since he took over.

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The upgrade and additional depth should help the Miami Hurricanes game plan better in 2019. Feeley has made an immediate impact with getting the players more enthused about getting in the weight room. He should have a similar impact getting the Miami Hurricanes to work on conditioning.