Pinckney discusses having accountability, Rousseau breaks down GT offense

Stefan Adams
4 min read
As a 4th year starter, senior LB Mike Pinckney was one of the defensive leaders that took to heart the criticisms that Miami head coach Manny Diaz leveled in his press conferences last week about the lackluster play of the defense.

Instead of dwelling on the past, Pinckney rose to the challenge offered by his head coach and left no doubt that the defense would be improved.

“Everyone knew what it was, what (Diaz) was talking about. He can talk about us in the media, say those things, knows we take that to heart,” Pinckney said. “We can do one of two things - fold or you can come back and adjust, what we need to do. It’s the truth. That’s something me and Shaq (Quarterman) had to look ourselves in the mirror, say `We’re not playing our best ball right now.’ We had the opportunity the next week to go out and fix it, I feel we did.”

After holding #20 UVA to just 9 points last week, is this defense now back to the Miami standard?

“Oh, we’re very close,” Pinckney said. “Every week is a challenge. It’s hard to come off a win - (Diaz) said something coming into this week that no one has a book on how to prepare for success, but everyone has books on how to prepare for failure. We’re in that position right now. Beat a highly ranked team, feeling good about yourself. And Georgia Tech, they’re just as good a team. So we have to come out and prepare like we prepared last week.

“It’s hard to be successful in everything you do, and I learned that just from being in college. You have to wake up and do the same thing you did yesterday. Everyone’s expecting more out of you, especially the older guys.”

Pickney also admitted that Diaz having more of a hand in the weekly game prep for the Cavaliers ended up making a difference on the field.

“Nobody does it how coach Diaz does it, constantly in your ear, constantly improving smaller things that really count,” Pinckney said. “He knows what we need on the defensive side of the ball and he emphasized it - that was one of the things that helped us play a great game.”

Despite the win, at 3-3, the Canes aren’t quite where they wanted to be at midway through the season. However, with all three losses coming by less than 7 points, Pinckney feels that the team is right on the doorstep of breaking through.

“If you look at the games we lost - it’s really the Florida game, one drive, North Carolina, one drive," he said. “We’re one drive away from being an undefeated team, so close in this program to where we want to be at. We’re going in the right direction.”

Georgia Tech (1-5) comes to town this weekend for a Coastal matchup with a new offense, and Pinckney is glad it won’t be the Yellow Jacket’s famous triple-option.

“It’s definitely a relief,” Pinckney said. “They have a new scheme and we’re going to prepare.”


**With a team-leading 7.5 TFL and 5 sacks, redshirt freshman DE Gregory Rousseau is slowly beginning to make a name for himself, although he doesn’t feel like he’s quite where he wants to be just yet.

“A lot of people probably don’t know about me yet,” Rousseau said. “I’m just keep on building on it, be ready for anything they throw at me, but just keep on working hard.”

During his first career start last week, Rousseau had his best performance of the season, racking up 7 tackles, 2 TFL, a sack, a forced fumble, and a QB hurry; Rousseau gave part of the credit to his fellow starting DE Jonathan Garvin.

“He draws so much attention because he’s such a great player,” Rousseau said of Garvin. “It does open some things up for me for sure.”

With just 309.5 yards per game, upcoming opponent Georgia Tech comes into Miami Gardens this weekend with the worst offense in the ACC (121st nationally).

“They do a lot of different things, move around a lot,” Rousseau said of GT. “Those offensive linemen are pretty athletic, are used to chopping, moving a lot. They play with high effort, high intensity. Even though they’re 1-5, we’re taking them seriously just like we should.”

What is Rousseau working on improving in practice?

“Keep my pad level down because I’m a tall guy,” Rousseau said. “I’ve just been working on that for a minute.”
 

Comments (28)

My observations:

(Diaz) said something coming into this week that no one has a book on how to prepare for success, but everyone has books on how to prepare for failure. - Establish boundaries and build trust by being clear about the learning and development objectives they set, overcoming obstacles, showing good judgment, continuing to be innovative , being patient and following through on any promises and agreements you make! -Signs of Leadership !

Pickney also admitted that Diaz having more of a hand in the weekly game prep for the Cavaliers ended up making a difference on the field.-“Nobody does it how coach Diaz does it, constantly in your ear, constantly improving smaller things that really count,” Pinckney said. “He knows what we need on the defensive side of the ball and he emphasized it - that was one of the things that helped us play a great game.”- Baker ON THE CLOCK for a red slip.... he if he continues to slip??? We don't have time for this- Tighten Up Bro! Lets goooo!

at 3-3, the Canes aren’t quite where they wanted to be at midway through the season. However, with all three losses coming by less than 7 points, Pinckney feels that the team is right on the doorstep of breaking through.
“If you look at the games we lost - it’s really the Florida game, one drive, North Carolina, one drive," he said. “We’re one drive away from being an undefeated team, so close in this program to where we want to be at. We’re going in the right direction.”-
GOOD to know and your owning up to it and you REALIZE THIS and want to be better , do better !

**With a team-leading 7.5 TFL and 5 sacks, redshirt freshman DE Gregory Rousseau -Canesinsight FAMILY didn't sleep on ya bruh WE SEE YOU!!! Long overdue for you!

Georgia Tech comes into Miami Gardens this weekend with the worst offense in the ACC (121st nationally). - Buffet time We shall eat!

Those offensive linemen are pretty athletic, are used to chopping, moving a lot. They play with high effort, high intensity. -Will the refs call the holds and illegal blocks???-Watching for this! #WatchTheThrone!


Lets get this W #KosiHive and Chain Gain Defense swarm on these yellow jackets and send they a** back home packing!

#Heres2VictoryFormation!


Go Canes!
 
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thats a good UVA win, but weve seen this team look unprepared and sleepy just off byes. they should be on alert this week given the VT and UNC starts and the entire CMU game. also, dont be such a downer. we got a win against a ranked team no one gave us a shot against
Not ranked anymore and likely still won’t be by years end
 
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I feel like you’d complain if our player said “This week is easy. Nothing to worry about”

You just like to complain right?
No, I just want a guy that plays on a team that has been a disappointment for 15 years to have the mental fortitude to not get complacent like they are all that and a bag of chips now after one win against a mediocre team. And that win was some terrible football. I think you missed his point.
 
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No, I just want a guy that plays on a team that has been a disappointment for 15 years to have the mental fortitude to not get complacent like they are all that and a bag of chips now after one win against a mediocre team. And that win was some terrible football. I think you missed his point.

Doesn’t sound like he is getting complacent. You guys seriously over analyze interviews. They have to do interviews every week. So what do you talk about after a win? This.
 
Not ranked anymore and likely still won’t be by years end

Exactly...year in and year out it takes adversity or rivalry to get us to win one we SHOULD win anyway.

I'm glad they beat UVA who many picked to win a sorry Coastal division, but this team, properly coached and executing should beat UVA handily...instead, we are having to treat beating a team that was barely hanging in the top 25 as a top 3 team.
 
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thats a good UVA win, but weve seen this team look unprepared and sleepy just off byes. they should be on alert this week given the VT and UNC starts and the entire CMU game. also, dont be such a downer. we got a win against a ranked team no one gave us a shot against

To be fair plenty of folks gave us a shot. We were favored in that game.
 
I feel like you’d complain if our player said “This week is easy. Nothing to worry about”

You just like to complain right?
Don't let him fool you dude, I have serious doubts about him being a cane fan or his intentions on the board.

Always be wary of the poster that has NOTHING positive or objective to bring EVER, even that **** bag What the **** can do that. If I am wrong he needs to find someone else to pull for.
 
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