Banda talks Bolden return, Hall progress, and defensive philosophy

Stefan Adams
4 min read
So far this season, the Canes have gone from the best pass defense in FBS (2018) to currently just inside the top 50 at #49 overall with 209.8 passing ypg allowed.

Safeties coach Ephraim Banda credits the offenses Miami’s played to this point and feels that the youth in the secondary is still finding their way; the Canes are replacing 3 seniors on the back end that were drafted into the NFL.

“We have seen good talent at QB, good receivers. We’re a young secondary trying to figure it out,” Banda said. “Everyone forgets what it was like when Jaquan (Johnson) and (Sheldrick) Redwine were young guys, the group we had before that. It’s growing pains, part of it. It’s not going to be, ‘Add water, instant player’… That’s part of growing up.

“What I have seen over the last few weeks is a lot better communication, I’ve seen us start to settle down. What’s happening is they’re stacking reps on reps. Jaquan, Red, Mike Jackson, when they first jumped in there they were ******** it up too. But they had a lot of reps, were on the field a lot and wound up being one of the best, if not the best, secondary in the country.”

With highly-regarded USC transfer Bubba Bolden set to make his Miami debut at safety this week vs. Virginia Tech, Banda is excited to see what the sophomore can bring to the table.

“I’ve kind of seen the same guy from the moment he’s walked in here. He’s been very attentive, urgent,” Banda said of Bolden. “He wants to pick up what we’re doing and learning. I haven’t seen much of a difference in his attitude from when they told him he couldn’t play till today, which speaks to the maturity he has and the mental state he’s in.”

Banda intimated that the amount of playing time Bolden will receive will be based on if he proves he is a sound tackler in game-action.

“Bubba’s reps will be completely 100% a result of how he tackles,” Banda said. “If Bubba tackles, Bubba will play… and he’s done a good job with it (in practice). At the same time, he hasn’t played in a college football game in a long time.

“We’re never going to change our philosophy of what gets you on the field at the University of Miami - you tackle, you will play. If you don’t tackle, you won’t play. I know Bubba is super intelligent, know he’s a good athlete, has good foot speed, will be in the right area at the right place. But I have to see him tackle. If he does that, he’ll play a bunch. And if he doesn’t, everyone will know why. But at the end of the day I think Bubba will tackle.”

Gurvan Hall started the first two weeks at one safety spot opposite Amari Carter, but was quickly replaced by Robert Knowles. Hall has still played a prominent role off the bench, as he is currently leads the team in tackles with 28, and Banda talked about his progress.

“The first two weeks, Gurvan was what I thought Gurvan would be - a young guy running around not necessarily doing everything right, and didn’t tackle well. At the time, Rob was doing a really good job (of tackling) and still is. Rob jumped in front of him because Rob is tackling. What I saw Gurvan do is refocus on the only thing that matters to me - tackling.

“I'm not saying scheme is not important... but the most important thing on defense is playing hard and tackling… that’s what Gurvan has done really, really well the last two weeks.”

UM has played more of a mix of zone and man coverage in the secondary than in years past, but Banda feels that’s had more to do with the opponents they’ve played rather than a wholesale change in philosophy.

“I wouldn’t say it has anything to do with scheme, and it’s not necessarily always what Pro Football Focus is saying it is,” Banda said. “We’re doing a good job mixing it up between 1-high and 2-high, and making sure much like we did a couple of years ago that we can do everything well. We don’t want to just do one thing really good and one thing poorly. With a young secondary we’re taking the same approach as two years ago, making sure we can do both and do it well… and it has a lot to do with who we’re playing in terms of the scheme, not who we are, if that makes sense.”
 

Comments (75)

Interesting metric for who gets on the field. Sometimes it's about how guys prepare and practice. Sometimes it's about how they 100% perform in games. I'm not an anti-Banda guy, as I really don't care to judge position coaches without being in the room or knowing all the playcalls and how they affect specific positions. Just wondering how we measure this and make decisions.

Tackling definitely matters, of course, and especially in a defense so [previously] wild up front. You know what else matters for Safeties? RANGE to even get to spots.

Anyway. I'll just watch this month and see what happens.
 
Is this guy for real? The only thing that matters is tacking? Even if it means making tackles 30 yards down the field? So the ability to diagnose, the range, the speed, the ability to make calls... not important?

This is why we are what we are. The fact that Clowns like this are allowed on the coaching staff blows my mind.
 
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If I'm Bolden my attitude in the last month wouldn't change either. Who has he seen that worry him enough to think he won't be the immediate starter once he touches the field? Carter and Knowles? Lol.

Throw him out there and lets see what he can do. No more mental reps. Hes had enough of those. Only way to find out what hes got is to give him real reps.
 
I hope he does not have the jewelry on during the game....
 
Is this guy for real? The only thing that matters is tacking? Even if it means making tackles 30 yards down the field? So the ability to diagnose, the range, the speed, the ability to make calls... not important?

This is why we are what we are. The fact that Clowns like this are allowed on the coaching staff blows my mind.

Big difference between tackling being most important to him and it being "the ONLY thing that matters" as you put it. But of course, carry on with your narrative.
 
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Big difference between tackling being most important to him and it being "the ONLY thing that matters" as you put it. But of course, carry on with your narrative.

Seriously. The people who call themselves fans of this program are so retarded and toxic and negative, that you can't even have a coach give a quote to the media without every syllable being dissected. Yeah dude, tackling is important. Ask Kadarius Toney about it.
 
Before you internet tough guys keep flexing the story quoted him as saying tackling is the only thing that matters. Hyperbole or not he said it. I ain’t dissecting **** Mr Billy Badass. If he meant something else he could have easily said “tackling is the most important thing.”

And another thing keyboard gangstas, him starting Knowles over Hall is all the proof u need that the only trait he gives 2 ***** about is tackling cause Knowles can’t do a **** thing but make tackles 30 yards downfield. He sure as **** has no speed or coverage ability that helps when playing Safety.
 
Banda just comes off corny though with the tackling comments and you have to “earn the right to wear that jersey“ comments about hall either In the spring or last year yet Robert knowles is king of missing tackles and wearing #20 lol
 
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Seriously. The people who call themselves fans of this program are so retarded and toxic and negative, that you can't even have a coach give a quote to the media without every syllable being dissected. Yeah dude, tackling is important. Ask Kadarius Toney about it.

I would add “distorted” to your “dissected.”
 
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Before you internet tough guys keep flexing the story quoted him as saying tackling is the only thing that matters. Hyperbole or not he said it. I ain’t dissecting **** Mr Billy Badass. If he meant something else he could have easily said “tackling is the most important thing.”

And another thing keyboard gangstas, him starting Knowles over Hall is all the proof u need that the only trait he gives 2 ***** about is tackling cause Knowles can’t do a **** thing but make tackles 30 yards downfield. He sure as **** has no speed or coverage ability that helps when playing Safety.

Would you have preferred a 30 yard tackle or a 66 yard TD in a 4 point loss vs. Florida?

But in any case, apply any amount of common sense and you would know he does not believe that the literal "only" thing that matters is tackling. Otherwise they wouldn't practice anything except tackling. As a coach (or any sort of manager) you need to focus your time on what matters most, and for safeties in this defense, it's tackling. He's being hyperbolic to make sure his kids focus on tackling.

But go ahead and fabricate this weird Banda tackling strawman in your head if you need an excuse to get angry.
 
Would you have preferred a 30 yard tackle or a 66 yard TD in a 4 point loss vs. Florida?

But in any case, apply any amount of common sense and you would know he does not believe that the literal "only" thing that matters is tackling. Otherwise they wouldn't practice anything except tackling. As a coach (or any sort of manager) you need to focus your time on what matters most, and for safeties in this defense, it's tackling. He's being hyperbolic to make sure his kids focus on tackling.

But go ahead and fabricate this weird Banda tackling strawman in your head if you need an excuse to get angry.

Nice!
 
That’s part of it but I suspect the coaches put those numbers in context by also charting MISSED tackles, among other things.

So the trick is to not put urself in position to make a tackle and you won’t be penalized for missing one *mind blown gif*

Knowles got 6 solo tackles.. that **** is trash. All he doing is jumping on piles.
 
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