Miami Hurricanes offense questions to answer in second scrimmage
Without several key players in the second scrimmage on Saturday the Miami Hurricanes offense will have questions to answer. Several reports credited the Miami defense with controlling the action in the first scrimmage last week. New offensive coordinator Josh Gattis will have to experiment with different lineups.
Miami will be without starting left tackle Zion Nelson and running backs Don Chaney Jr. and Tre’Vonte Citizen in the second scrimmage. Wide receiver Isaiah Horton has missed all practice in the last week since the first scrimmage last week. Tight end Will Mallory has been limited in training camp recovering from a labrum injury.
The injuries to Chaney Jr. and Citizen leaves Miami with three healthy scholarship RBs. Gattis will develop a rotation between Sophomore Thad Franklin, third-year sophomore Jaylan Knighton and Mississippi transfer Henry Parrish. Mallory should be ready for the September 3 season opener versus Bethune-Cookman.
Xavier Restrepo is the projected starting slot receiver for Miami. With the season 15 days away the expectation is that Mallory and Restrepo will be the go-to receivers for quarterback Tyler Van Dyke. Van Dyke told the Miami Herald he wants the offense to become more explosive. Expect more passing attempts downfield on Saturday.
Head coach Mario Cristobal has stated he wants to see which show consistency throughout the scrimmage. The players who are able to perform consistently throughout practice and the scrimmages will likely earn first-team on the depth chart for B-C. That will be most prevalent offensively on the line and at WR.
With Nelson out, Cristobal, Gattis and OL coach Alex Mirabal are evaluating who is ready to step up. Miami needs one of the outside WRs to step up to earn starting spots. Key’Shawn Smith who is the lone returning starting WR for the Miami Hurricanes in 2022 is likely to remain to earn one of those positions this season.
Next. Miami RB depth with be tested with Don Chaney Jr. out. dark
Clemson transfer Frank Ladson and sophomore Jacolby George are the two most likely to emerge opposite Smith at WR. Miami has a deep but mostly inexperienced WR corps. Romello Brinson, Michael Redding III and junior college transfer Colbie Young will be the primary backup WRs. Brashard Smith will backup Restrepo.