All three Miami Hurricanes QBs impressive in scrimmage

Tate Martell, N’Kosi Perry and Jarren Williams all led touchdown drives during the Miami Hurricanes first scrimmage of training camp on Sunday. A starter could be named following Saturday’s second scrimmage.

All three Miami Hurricanes quarterbacks took turns playing with the first time on during Sunday’s scrimmage. Each led a touchdown drive according to Miami head coach Manny Diaz. No stats were released. Diaz stated he was pleased with the play collectively of all three Hurricanes QBs. Diaz stated “the battle rages on”

One of the positive signs from the scrimmage was the 71 percent completion percentage from the Miami offense on Sunday. The Hurricanes were 118th in FBS in 2018 with a 51.1 percent completion percentage. Redshirt sophomore N’Kosi Perry is the only QB on the Miami roster who had significant playing time in 2018.

Perry completed 50.8 percent of his passes last season. Tate Martell completed 22 of 28 passing attempts at Ohio State in 2018, while redshirt freshman Jarren Williams completed one pass in three attempts in his lone appearance against Savannah State in 2018. Diaz spoke post-scrimmage about the QB play.

"“Collectively, I was pleased…We rotated the three guys with the ones [first string] and twos [second] evenly. Combined they completed 71 percent of their passes, which is encouraging. All three guys led a touchdown drive, which was very encouraging for me. The battle rages on.There’s a lot of stuff mechanically and organizationally we need to correct, but all three guys left with something to be proud of.”"

Diaz elaborated on his post-scrimmage comments

during his usual Monday morning appearance on 560-WQAM, newly named the Joe. It’s not clear if the station is named for morning show host Joe Rose or Miami play-by-play announcer Joe Zagacki.

"“I thought the quarterbacks were encouraging…Our issue now is that we have come [a long ways since the spring] and are we going to flirt with being good or are we going to be something better than that?Where we were was not very good and we have improved from that. Is it ok to be good or can we be something beyond because all the guys can play. Can we maybe be great? That is what this week of practice will be about.”"

Diaz continued with Rose and co-host Zach Krantz ber continuing to discuss what it will take for the QB who will emerge as the starter for the Miami Hurricanes.

"“Who can avoid the critical errors? That guy touches the ball on every play, so he has the greatest chance to lose your team a game just by making a crazy thing happen. Then it comes down to decision making. The great thing about this offense is that there is going to be an outlet for the quarterback.Do you understand what we have called, what the defense is doing, and where the ball should go? Then finally, do you have the accuracy to get the ball there? The ‘X-factor’ to that is when you have the opportunity make something happen?When the protection breaks down can you create something with your legs or whatever it is. The way you win is to make yourself hard to beat. Once you are hard to beat, who can add onto that with being a little something extra that is special.”"

Diaz has been consistent with what he and the Miami Hurricanes offensive coaching staff are looking for at QB. It seems that Tate Martell has the advantage with the intangibles Diaz is discussing. That isn’t to say that Martell is or should be in the lead, merely that his attributes fit what Diaz has stated.

This week in practice plus this Saturday’s second scrimmage as Diaz stated with Rose and Krantz and in his post-scrimmage comments will likely determine who starts for the Miami Hurricanes against Florida on August 24.

Throughout the summer, Diaz and New Miami offensive coordinator Dan Enos have said they want a starter by two weeks before the opener against Florida. Saturday is two weeks to Orlando. They went to be able to put in an offense for the Gators and get the Hurricanes ready as a team. That includes QB.

This is the week that Diaz and his staff will be evaluating the players who step up and separate themselves as starters from their teammates.

"“After next Saturday, we have to set sail on the 2019 season and not everyone is invited on the boat. If you want to be on the boat, you’ve got to step up this week. You really have to bring it. You have to compete all week. This is going to be a hard week, intentionally. We told them it’s going to be hard.We have to find out…this is really our last evaluation of separating the ones who like it from the ones who love it.”"

All eyes will be on practice this week. Diaz statements clearly create a pressure situation that the Miami coaching staff wants. The pressure of earning a starting job is not as difficult as playing against an opponent like Florida. Diaz will hope to build the Miami football program to a point where practice will be tougher than games.

As of now, it has been a long time since the QB room at Miami has been comparable to the playing in games. It has been nearly 20 years since Ken Dorsey was a Heisman Trophy finalist and drew national accolades as a Hurricanes QB. With Martell, Williams and Perry one of them could emerge and change that.