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.”
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.”
