The week zero loss to Florida meant the Miami football team started the regular season and training camp a week early. Head coach Manny Diaz said the season lasting a week longer could take it’s toll later in the season.
Starting the season a week earlier, especially in a hard-hitting rivalry game was a tough way to begin the season for the Florida and Miami football programs. Miami quarterback Jarren Williams was sacked 10 times and was pressured throughout the game by the Gators. That will take its toll over the entire season.
Next up for Miami is North Carolina. The Tar Heels had seven tackles for loss and three sacks in a 24-20 comeback victory against South Carolina on Saturday afternoon in Charlotte. The Hurricanes have to shore up the offensive line for next weekend or Jarren Williams will have more difficulty finding time to throw.
The hits and knockdowns will wear the body down just like sacks will. Keeping Williams upright will be critical for the success of Miami’s season. We saw what the Hurricanes offense can do with a quarterback who can throw the ball accurately. Williams is the starting QB largely because of his accuracy.
Manny Diaz spoke about how starting training camp and the season a week early can impact Miami throughout the season. The impact starting the season a week early was not on how the game was played by both sides in Orlando, but more on the training the Gators and Hurricanes players did over the summer.
"“The thing that we’ll both have to manage going forward is you’ve got an extra week in your season. It affected your summer training a little bit, but it did it for both teams…I don’t know that there was an advantage one way or the other. I think just managing us for the long haul, it’s going to be a long season for these kids.”"
The longer season is more than just physically exhausting. It’s a week longer of practice. The plus about starting the season a week earlier than originally scheduled is that Miami gets a week to recover physically and emotionally from a tough loss to Florida. Diaz said they can focus on themselves during the week off.
"“Let’s get to work on Miami because what they saw on Saturday is if we will compete and do all the things that we’ve been preaching all offseason — which we had not proven, but we went out there and did it on Saturday — we can play with anybody, so what that means is let’s get Miami right.There is no opposition. I think what we found out on Saturday is that we are the opposition, that we’re playing against the best version of ourselves every week and so now to make sure that we present the best version of ourselves on Saturday…I think our players believe it doesn’t really matter who the opposition is, that our best will beat anybody as long as we’re at it.”"
Diaz has repeatedly discussed changing the culture in the offseason. The first-year Miami football head coach thought that the Hurricanes gave up in last season’s opening game loss to LSU and the debacle in the Pinstripe Bowl against Wisconsin. It’s a cliche, but Diaz liked the way Miami competed against Florida.
"“There was a little bit different mentality in here [Sunday] when the team came in. It wasn’t a sadness maybe like it had been in the past with some losses or kind of a moping around.It was a little bit more of an edge or an anger, maybe even a little bit of a disgust, which I thought was really good and healthy, and something to build on I think for sure going forward.”"
The change in the culture for the Miami football program has gone beyond their change in mentality. Diaz has repeatedly mentioned the impact that new strength and conditioning coach David Feeley has had on the Hurricanes. Changing both over the course of a long season will lead to success on the field.