Junior WR Lawrence Cager has worked with the first unit all of fall camp and was one of the stars of the first scrimmage this past Saturday, hauling in two touchdown passes with the first team offense. However, it’s nothing different than what’s been going on most days in fall camp, says Cager.
“Yeah, I just played my game,” said Cager. “Just a regular performance like I do every day in practice, nothing special. Just go out there and do my job. Some days the ball comes to you, and some days the ball don’t. But overall I feel [the offense] did a good job.”
Cager caught both TD’s from Malik Rosier and feels Miami’s incumbent starting QB has only been taking steps forward in the off-season.
“Malik has grown. He’s more comfortable, you can tell he is,” Cager said. “Second year starting in the system, you’ll see big things from him.”
The highlight of Cager’s 2017 season? That was none other than the final game of the year, the Orange Bowl against Wisconsin. Saving his best for last, Cager hauled in 4 passes for 76 yards and a touchdown in which he changed up his route on a broken play and was all alone to make the score. So, coming off a career-best game, he hopes to use that momentum to springboard himself into 2018.
“Of course, that’s what I feel like I can do every time (play like the Wisconsin game),” Cager said. “All the coaches know that, they were just waiting for the right moment. With all the guys coming back, me coming back, Ahmmon (Richards), and Jeff (Thomas), we’re ready to go.”
The coaches were waiting for a game like that from Cager, and the 6’5” receiver has improved at being physical and using his size to his advantage on the field. This off-season and heading into the fall, Cager has instead been working on perfecting his craft via his route running techniques.
“Well the coaches already know I can use my frame, for me it’s just route running and getting in and out of my breaks, things like that,” Cager said. “We try to work on the things that come harder to you in practice, not the easy things.”
The Canes’ roster is deepest at the WR position and that breeds a higher level of competition; however, Cager maintains his focus is not on who is coming up behind him, but who lines up across from him.
“I mean, yeah it’s motivation, but the real motivation to compete is the DB’s,” Cager said. “We have a lot of talent at the defensive back position, so we really don’t focus on competing against ourselves, we work as a unit to compete against them. That helps to create a good culture on the team.”
After spending all off-season watching tape on the Hurricanes’ first opponent, Cager has some thoughts on how LSU’s will try to defend the Miami receivers. Although he has no predictions on the outcome of the game, Cager believes it will be a battle between two hungry teams.
“I’ve been looking at tape (on LSU) since the season ended,” Cager said. “They’ve got a good DB core. We know they’re going to play man, it’s just going to be a dogfight to see who wins.”
Azucar!!!!!!
