The first week of spring practice has concluded and the Miami football players are very comfortable with the new up-tempo, spread offense being installed by new offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee.
Rhett Lashlee was hired by Manny Diaz to put in place a new, more modern, up-tempo offense for the Miami football team for the 2020 season. Lashlee brought with him a no-huddle, spread offense that he has run at Auburn, Connecticut and most recently SMU. The Hurricanes offense will finally enter the 21st century.
The installation of the new offense has forced Miami football players to react more than think. The pace of the new offense will take a lot of patience to get used to and plenty of work conditioning with David Feeley. The post-practice comments throughout the week from the Miami players have praised Lashlee.
The hiring of Lashlee, switch to the up-tempo, spread offense and addition of transfer quarterback D’Eriq King has brought a lot of cautious optimism to the fanbase and media for the Miami football program. After the first week of spring practice, Lashlee and King have received praise from the Hurricanes.
The remainder of the spring will be interesting to observe which Miami players will adapt the quickest and whose skill sets will thrive the most in the Lashlee offense. King has the most experience of any of the Miami players in the spread with his time with Houston in 2018 and the first four games of 2019.
Dee Wiggins showed flashes of being a big-play receiver with three touchdowns in back to back wins over Florida State and Louisville last November. Wiggins is expected to be a starting WR in 2019. The simplified, faster-paced offense will put the receivers in a better position to make big plays.
"“I love it; I love it…It’s not confusing. It’s not as confusing with like everybody moving around. It’s get in your spot and just go…Way more deep shots [than last season]. You have to take advantage of it. Everybody feels comfortable with the offense. We just have to buckle up for the tempo and let’s go.The intensity is very high now. It’s no breaks."
Miami Hurricanes Football
The comments by Wiggins above were quoted in the Miami Herald by columnist Barry Jackson. Wiggins’ comments about the new offense not being as confusing with fewer players moving around was in reference and a direct shot at the offense Miami ran in 2019 under former offensive coordinator Dan Enos.
Miami did a lot of motion and shifting in the pro-style offense that Enos runs. The Lashlee led offense will rely more on tempo tiring out the Hurricanes opponents and putting their own players in a better position to make plays. It is clear the spread offense Lashlee runs is far more player-friendly.
The Miami defensive players have noticed a drastic difference in what the new offense is teaching. Junior cornerback Al Blades has seen how the mindset of the players on the Hurricanes offense in changing under Lashlee and the improvement in the communication that they have. Blades spoke to Jackson.
"“It’s going to make game days 10 times easier. Then we can show off even more of our skill. It has your brain racing. The better you get at thinking fast, when game day comes, it will slow down. And physically, it’s getting us more conditioned. We’re working on hand signal communication.Last year, we went through an offense that made us think. This year we are going through an offense that’s taking away the process of thinking. Now you have to think fast.”"
The offensive line will have a big adjustment this season going from the more traditional pro-style to the spread. The uptempo offense will keep the entire Miami offense on their toes and having to be ready for the next play as soon as the previous one ends. Junior offensive lineman Delone Scaife discussed what to expect.
"“You are going to get tired, but we will get used to it after a while. Some times I have to move them (defensive lineman) out of the way. When they try to audible or make an adjustment on defense, we just snap the ball…He (new OL coach Garin Justice) is like a big brother…He is not an old coach.You know what I mean, but when it is time to work, we go to work. [“I am comfortable] Anywhere on the offensive line). At guard, you have to be more powerful. At tackle, you have to have more speed.”"
David Lake of Inside the U quoted Scaife after practice on Thursday. With DeeJay Dallas moved on to the NFL and Lorenzo Lingard transferring to Florida, junior Cam’Ron Harris is expected to be the featured running back for Miami in 2020. Harris spoke after practice last Tuesday as quoted by Lake.
Sights and sounds of the first week of spring ball 🎥⬇️ pic.twitter.com/xObMVBUp5A
— Miami Hurricanes Football (@CanesFootball) March 7, 2020
"“I was doing extra cardio and extra lifting because I have a lot of weight on my back with this offense. I have to do more stuff for this offense. I am doing it for me, my family, and my teammates. I feel like I am more explosive after doing extra stuff with coach Feeley. I can’t wait for the season.”"
Conditioning will be more critical than ever before for the Miami football team. Playing at the fast pace the Hurricanes offense will be this fall requires a high level of conditioning to be able to run about 70 plays per game. Harris will be one of the key players on the Miami offense this season and he is setting the right example.
King has quickly earned the respect and praise of his teammates being able to perform on and off the field. Leadership was lacking on the Miami football team in 2019, particularly on offense. With a more player-friendly system and coaching staff, there should be less dissension with the Hurricanes in 2020.