Miami football energy increases with new uptempo offense as spring practice starts

The Miami football program will see a vast transformation this spring with the installation of the uptempo, spread offense run by new offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee. Lashlee and the largely new offensive coaching staff have infused new energy to the Hurricanes.

One of the criticisms of the Miami football team in 2019 was their inconsistencies. The Hurricanes seemed to play up or down to their competition. The pace of the uptempo, spread offense and the energy created by the system new offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee and his staff have brought a new attitude to Coral Gables.

There was a lot of excitement surrounding the first day of 2020 spring practice for the Miami football team. Led by Lashlee, new offensive line coach Garin Justice and recently hired wide receivers coach Rob Likens, spring practice had a different feel to it than 2019. The Miami offensive players have to adjust to a vastly new system.

The offensive players who are in at least their third year with the Hurricanes are with their third offensive coordinator in as many seasons. Mark Richt retired as the head coach after the 2018 season. He ran the Hurricanes offense during his three-year tenure. Dan Enos was fired following an inconsistent offense in 2019.

Conditioning is going to be critical for Miami in 2020. The speed at which the offense is expected to play will likely mean that the defense is on the field more often. The Miami quarterbacks took turns in drills. As everyone gets acclimated to the Hurricanes offense there will be enough touches for the skill position players.

"“The players have no choice because of the energy of coach Lashlee and this entire offensive staff…It is a high energy thing. You have to be a high energy outfit and the players knew it was on from our very first drill.Even the older guys need to know that what they are going through is not something they have done since they have been here. It is a new experience."

Manny Diaz was precise in his analysis about the entire team from the freshmen to the fifth-year seniors experiencing the offense for the first time. Numerous other college football programs run some version of the Lashlee high tempo spread offense, for the Miami football players it was a new experience.

Inside the U summarized the thoughts by Diaz above and further reiterated the content from the Hurricanes head coach after the first day of spring practice. Lashlee, Likens and Justice have brought new energy and attitude with experience running a spread offense as coordinators to Coral Gables.

"“I think all of the guys check the boxes and getting them into our program, it has been a noticeable difference with their personalities with the way that you interact with them.”"

The hiring of Likens could be just as important as Lashlee. Likens did a great job developing wide receivers as the offensive coordinator at Arizona State. Former Sun Devil N’Keal Harry was a first-round pick of the New England Patriots in 2019. Miami needs the same kind of development from their wide receivers.

No Miami WR finished in the top 100 in any of the major receiving categories in 2019. The loss of leading receiver K.J. Osborn further diminishes the Hurricanes receiving corps. Developing the WRs on the Miami roster will be a major task for Lashlee and Likens this spring. Miami WRs need to progress in 2020.