Brevin Jordan spoke after Day 1 of spring practice at The New Miami, and the sophomore TE already sees an obvious difference in the offense UM will run.
"The big difference from last year is just a lot of motions, a lot of shifts, a lot of peels, a lot of backs,” Jordan said. “Schematically, it's more intense, more thinking. Once you get the whole offense down, it's going to be insane. We're going to put up numbers."
After a freshman season where he finished 2nd on the team in receptions with 32, Jordan is looking to make a leap in his second year at UM and knows how you carry yourself day in and day out can make a big difference.
“Just the energy - in the weight room jumping around, it’s fun, the energy feels so much different,” Jordan said. “The whole vibe of the team, we walk in the locker room excited to be here, to be in Miami. When coach Diaz says, 'The New Miami’, he means it. It feels different. When he says The New Miami’, he’s being for real. ‘The New Miami’, we’re elite. Aug. 24. Game 1.”
Jordan also weighed in on his former high school teammate in QB Tate Martell, who transferred to UM over the off-season.
“He’s a character, a 5-11 little white dude with tattoos, running around with high energy, ****y,” Jordan said. “His swag is so Miami. Tate, he fits in pretty well here. He’s elite, he’s elite. As simple as that, elite.”
**Entering his last season wearing the orange and green, senior LB Shaq Quarterman probably feels like he’s seen it all. He’s been a part of surprisingly successful teams and vastly underachieving groups, but there’s a new sheriff in town with Manny Diaz and Quarterman says the vibe he’s given ‘The New Miami’ will last beyond 2019.
"Just the pace and the overall energy (is different). Coach Diaz, when he says ‘The New Miami,’ he obviously meant it,” Quarterman said. “He's implementing things that are stretching the mentality of the defense last year, across the team. It's a new wave. It's the new energy around town. It's ‘The New Miami.’ It's what we're going to be from here on and years to come."
The Canes debuted two new coordinators today in OC Dan Enos and DC Blake Baker, and Quarterman broke down what he’s seen from the pair so far.
On Baker: "The fact that (Baker and Diaz) have very similar defensive tendencies makes it easier for him to get accustomed to us and for us to get accustomed to him. I don't know what changes are in store, but he's all about fast aggression."
On Enos: "I love coach Enos, he's making me better every day. I like to pick his brain. He's great. I'm glad we have him."
Quarterman had his best season in 2018, and, as a three year starter, nobody would have blamed him if he would have left UM to head to the NFL Draft early. However, Quarterman says he and partner in crime Michael Pinckney decided together it did not feel right to leave with so much left unfinished.
"There were a multitude of reasons (I stayed). I did not want to leave Miami with the way the season ended last year,” Quarterman said. “Obviously, me and Mike had a lot of conversations, talking about that big step. I wasn't going to have him leave me and me come back and have a new wheel. We've been playing together for our whole career and it’s the same thing vice versa [for him]… Overall, it was a better decision for me to come back."
Diaz’s return to Miami also played a big role in Quarterman’s ultimate decision to come back for his last year as a Hurricane.
"It factored in a lot. Once he got the job, he called me the next morning,” Quarterman said of Diaz. “He has always been a very, very solid guy. He's never lied to me and has always kept it very honest with me and I've appreciated the transparency because a lot of coaches across the country aren't like that. So he called me and we talked a bit, and it's hard not to go with that guy. I'd suit up for him any day.”
Even though today was Diaz’s first time running practice as an official head coach, Quarterman says he’s always seen the program leader within Diaz.
"Being around him the past three years, you knew he was a head coach before anything,” Quarterman said. “So seeing him do it now, I'm happy for him and very proud of him and I'm glad I'm here to be able to go through it with him. He's going to do great things. I'm just excited about what's in store."
**Junior RB DeeJay Dallas is now an elder statesmen on the Hurricanes, but even he is back at square one in a way with the entire offense having to learn a new system this spring. Still, he sees UM’s attacking philosophy as something that’s designed for the playmakers that litter the roster in Coral Gables.
"It's real fast and gives us chances for explosive plays,” Dallas said of the offense. “Explosive plays equal touchdowns and touchdowns equals wins."
New offensive coordinator Dan Enos was noticeably more loud running the offense in practice than his predecessor in Mark Richt, but Dallas just sees it as a way to maintain the standard at Miami.
"It’s just holding each other accountable – coaches holding players accountable. Players holding coaches accountable,” Dallas said. “That's what the standard is here."
Has the change in verbiage, various new formations, and constant motion added to the offense been difficult to get down?
"That's a part of the game,” Dallas said. “You have to become a student of the game to be the best you can."
Ultimately, the success of this offense will come down to finding a QB who can run the system how Enos wants and go make plays. Dallas is aware of this and has seen a lot of growth in both N’Kosi Perry and Jarren Williams from 2018 to 2019.
"Just a lot of maturity. They've matured and I feel like they're better for it,” Dallas said. “Jarren had a full year to sit and practice. Kosi played and they both matured to get to this spring season."
How about UM’s new QB addition in Tate Martell?
“He’s a cool dude - he comes to work, he’s prepared, plays the game with passion,” Dallas said. “He’s got that Vegas swag.”
Dallas also gave his take on how the wide receiver corps is coming along under new WR coach Taylor Stubblefield.
On junior Jeff Thomas: “I’m happy he’s here. He brings a Devin Hester like feel to the game. Glad he’s back.”
On grad transfer KJ Osborn: “He’s a mature dude. He brings maturity to the receiver room. Our receiver room is kind of young, so he brings that pro-like feel to receiver.”
**Senior LB Michael Pinckney says facing the new offense requires a lot of communication, but that the defense is slowly adjusting and is better off for it.
"A lot of shifting, a lot of motion,” Pinckney said of UM’s offense. “Hats off to coach Enos. He's definitely challenging us and that's great for the defense - seeing things we usually don't see during the week with our last offense, but now we got to see something different so that was good for us to communicate."
Even though new DC Blake Baker has only been around the program for two months, Pinckney already sees comparisons between him and Diaz.
“I love coach Baker,” Pinckney said. “He’s a great coach. Him and coach Diaz are similar - he’s trying to do the same thing coach Diaz does, preaches excellent, effort. I like coach Baker.”
Over the past three years, Pinckney has built a special relationship with Quarterman in starting nearly every game of their careers alongside each other, and agrees with Quarterman’s sentiment that it was a mutual decision to return.
"I needed my boy. We talked a lot toward the end of the season saying, ‘What are you going to do?’ I really didn't want to come back without him,” Pinckney said. “We built that camaraderie with each other. I just told him, ‘I need you to let me know what you're going to do. If you leave, I'm still going to think about leaving. If you stay, I'm with you.’ Coach Diaz coming back solidified it."
"The big difference from last year is just a lot of motions, a lot of shifts, a lot of peels, a lot of backs,” Jordan said. “Schematically, it's more intense, more thinking. Once you get the whole offense down, it's going to be insane. We're going to put up numbers."
After a freshman season where he finished 2nd on the team in receptions with 32, Jordan is looking to make a leap in his second year at UM and knows how you carry yourself day in and day out can make a big difference.
“Just the energy - in the weight room jumping around, it’s fun, the energy feels so much different,” Jordan said. “The whole vibe of the team, we walk in the locker room excited to be here, to be in Miami. When coach Diaz says, 'The New Miami’, he means it. It feels different. When he says The New Miami’, he’s being for real. ‘The New Miami’, we’re elite. Aug. 24. Game 1.”
Jordan also weighed in on his former high school teammate in QB Tate Martell, who transferred to UM over the off-season.
“He’s a character, a 5-11 little white dude with tattoos, running around with high energy, ****y,” Jordan said. “His swag is so Miami. Tate, he fits in pretty well here. He’s elite, he’s elite. As simple as that, elite.”
**Entering his last season wearing the orange and green, senior LB Shaq Quarterman probably feels like he’s seen it all. He’s been a part of surprisingly successful teams and vastly underachieving groups, but there’s a new sheriff in town with Manny Diaz and Quarterman says the vibe he’s given ‘The New Miami’ will last beyond 2019.
"Just the pace and the overall energy (is different). Coach Diaz, when he says ‘The New Miami,’ he obviously meant it,” Quarterman said. “He's implementing things that are stretching the mentality of the defense last year, across the team. It's a new wave. It's the new energy around town. It's ‘The New Miami.’ It's what we're going to be from here on and years to come."
The Canes debuted two new coordinators today in OC Dan Enos and DC Blake Baker, and Quarterman broke down what he’s seen from the pair so far.
On Baker: "The fact that (Baker and Diaz) have very similar defensive tendencies makes it easier for him to get accustomed to us and for us to get accustomed to him. I don't know what changes are in store, but he's all about fast aggression."
On Enos: "I love coach Enos, he's making me better every day. I like to pick his brain. He's great. I'm glad we have him."
Quarterman had his best season in 2018, and, as a three year starter, nobody would have blamed him if he would have left UM to head to the NFL Draft early. However, Quarterman says he and partner in crime Michael Pinckney decided together it did not feel right to leave with so much left unfinished.
"There were a multitude of reasons (I stayed). I did not want to leave Miami with the way the season ended last year,” Quarterman said. “Obviously, me and Mike had a lot of conversations, talking about that big step. I wasn't going to have him leave me and me come back and have a new wheel. We've been playing together for our whole career and it’s the same thing vice versa [for him]… Overall, it was a better decision for me to come back."
Diaz’s return to Miami also played a big role in Quarterman’s ultimate decision to come back for his last year as a Hurricane.
"It factored in a lot. Once he got the job, he called me the next morning,” Quarterman said of Diaz. “He has always been a very, very solid guy. He's never lied to me and has always kept it very honest with me and I've appreciated the transparency because a lot of coaches across the country aren't like that. So he called me and we talked a bit, and it's hard not to go with that guy. I'd suit up for him any day.”
Even though today was Diaz’s first time running practice as an official head coach, Quarterman says he’s always seen the program leader within Diaz.
"Being around him the past three years, you knew he was a head coach before anything,” Quarterman said. “So seeing him do it now, I'm happy for him and very proud of him and I'm glad I'm here to be able to go through it with him. He's going to do great things. I'm just excited about what's in store."
**Junior RB DeeJay Dallas is now an elder statesmen on the Hurricanes, but even he is back at square one in a way with the entire offense having to learn a new system this spring. Still, he sees UM’s attacking philosophy as something that’s designed for the playmakers that litter the roster in Coral Gables.
"It's real fast and gives us chances for explosive plays,” Dallas said of the offense. “Explosive plays equal touchdowns and touchdowns equals wins."
New offensive coordinator Dan Enos was noticeably more loud running the offense in practice than his predecessor in Mark Richt, but Dallas just sees it as a way to maintain the standard at Miami.
"It’s just holding each other accountable – coaches holding players accountable. Players holding coaches accountable,” Dallas said. “That's what the standard is here."
Has the change in verbiage, various new formations, and constant motion added to the offense been difficult to get down?
"That's a part of the game,” Dallas said. “You have to become a student of the game to be the best you can."
Ultimately, the success of this offense will come down to finding a QB who can run the system how Enos wants and go make plays. Dallas is aware of this and has seen a lot of growth in both N’Kosi Perry and Jarren Williams from 2018 to 2019.
"Just a lot of maturity. They've matured and I feel like they're better for it,” Dallas said. “Jarren had a full year to sit and practice. Kosi played and they both matured to get to this spring season."
How about UM’s new QB addition in Tate Martell?
“He’s a cool dude - he comes to work, he’s prepared, plays the game with passion,” Dallas said. “He’s got that Vegas swag.”
Dallas also gave his take on how the wide receiver corps is coming along under new WR coach Taylor Stubblefield.
On junior Jeff Thomas: “I’m happy he’s here. He brings a Devin Hester like feel to the game. Glad he’s back.”
On grad transfer KJ Osborn: “He’s a mature dude. He brings maturity to the receiver room. Our receiver room is kind of young, so he brings that pro-like feel to receiver.”
**Senior LB Michael Pinckney says facing the new offense requires a lot of communication, but that the defense is slowly adjusting and is better off for it.
"A lot of shifting, a lot of motion,” Pinckney said of UM’s offense. “Hats off to coach Enos. He's definitely challenging us and that's great for the defense - seeing things we usually don't see during the week with our last offense, but now we got to see something different so that was good for us to communicate."
Even though new DC Blake Baker has only been around the program for two months, Pinckney already sees comparisons between him and Diaz.
“I love coach Baker,” Pinckney said. “He’s a great coach. Him and coach Diaz are similar - he’s trying to do the same thing coach Diaz does, preaches excellent, effort. I like coach Baker.”
Over the past three years, Pinckney has built a special relationship with Quarterman in starting nearly every game of their careers alongside each other, and agrees with Quarterman’s sentiment that it was a mutual decision to return.
"I needed my boy. We talked a lot toward the end of the season saying, ‘What are you going to do?’ I really didn't want to come back without him,” Pinckney said. “We built that camaraderie with each other. I just told him, ‘I need you to let me know what you're going to do. If you leave, I'm still going to think about leaving. If you stay, I'm with you.’ Coach Diaz coming back solidified it."
