Scaife comfortable at both tackle and guard

Stefan Adams
3 min read
Miami Hurricanes sophomore offensive lineman DJ Scaife started the majority of Miami’s games at right tackle in 2018, but this fall, has spent all of his time on the interior of UM’s OL working at first team right guard. However, with redshirt freshman John Campbell struggling at right tackle in UM’s first game against the Gators two weeks ago, Scaife has been seen back practicing at first team right tackle on some reps this week in practice.

Comparing and contrasting playing guard and tackle, Scaife has seen a difference between the two positions.

“There’s just not as much space to work with at guard,” Scaife told CIS at media day. “At tackle, you’re set up on the edge, so it’s more about timing your block. At guard, it’s almost instant contact.”

Does he have a preference between tackle or guard?

“It really doesn’t matter. I can play both well,” he said.

Known as a quick-learner and someone that was mature beyond his years, Scaife always seemed destined for early playing time on a struggling UM offensive line when he hit campus in 2018 out of Miami Southridge. Although Scaife was eased into action last season as a freshman, he eventually saw time in every game and ended up starting the final 7 games of the year at right tackle.

Some say the biggest jump in a college players’ career comes between freshman and sophomore year, after adjusting mentally and physically to D-I football. According to Scaife, he feels he has taken that next step this past offseason and is looking to become a nationally known name in the college football world.

“I got stronger,” Scaife said. “I know the game a lot more compared to when I was a freshman. I’m trying to be an All-American this year.”

That would suit Miami’s first year OL coach Butch Barry just fine. Scaife has already impressed his new coach out of the gate, and, after inheriting a line that has a few pieces, but needs putting together, Barry hasn’t been shy about saying he will put his best five on the field regardless of position.

“He moves his feet really well, really good athlete,” Barry said of Scaife earlier this fall. “He’s got enough length, there’s guys that play in the NFL that are 6-foot-4 that are playing tackle too… I want to be able to put them in their best position, but I also have to find the five best that work together because at the end of the day our offensive line has to be connected as one.”

While it will likely be a gametime announcement before we know for sure if Scaife will actually get the nod this week at RT or RG, it’s safe to say that he will be well-prepared for success either way.
 

Comments (30)

Do you think Butch Barry will move Scaife, Clarke and Campbell in and out or from guard to tackle depending on the offensive plan? IDK if any of them are stronger in run protection or pass protection but if we seem to have more success with run plays or pass plays do you think Barry will move these guys around? I know the thinking with the Oline is keep the line set so they all work together but maybe our line has 5 that are more effective in the run versus 5 who are more effective in pass protection. This includes flip flopping Scaife from guard to tackle if necessary for certain plays.

Or maybe start Scaife and Campbell in the same positions as last week but then make changes if it doesn't seem to be effective?


We need to have more than 5 guys who can play in case of injury.
 
Sounds like if Campbell struggles at all this week we will see Scaife at tackle. Good Scaife has proven he can play tackle well. The O line has to do its job period.

I think this is the game plane. Put Campbell back out there on the shortest leash possible. Let’s how somehow Campbell can handle it because it makes the o-line better to keep Scaife at Guard where he can dominate
 
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Watching Scaife last year, I thought RT was his money position. Still think he can excel there. Would've loved if we just had a strong right side with Donaldson/Scaife combo to run behind, and knowing that the opposing defense would prefer to attack the inexperienced/least talented left side.
 
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Barry is a good coach.

He also has the hardest job on the team, because OL is the weak link by far. He's got less to work with than anyone else in the program.

The talent is there. Last year the scheme was the reason the OL sucked. This year I thought it was pretty blatant that the UF DL jumping the snap, coupled with our True Frosh LT coming off the ball late against a SR was pretty evident.
 
The talent is there. Last year the scheme was the reason the OL sucked. This year I thought it was pretty blatant that the UF DL jumping the snap, coupled with our True Frosh LT coming off the ball late against a SR was pretty evident.
Talent isnt there especially at tackle. If talent was there you wouldn't have had a guy like zion come in and pass guys who have been here 3 years.
 
I'm not going to say what I really feel about this. Just put the best 5 on the field, too bad our Oline corch, I mean coach, didn't really get to see the past few months who the best 5 were.

By all means please say what you want
 
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Talent isnt there especially at tackle. If talent was there you wouldn't have had a guy like zion come in and pass guys who have been here 3 years.

Evan Neal is starting at Bama. Does that mean there wasn't talented people there? OR that he's the best option? mind you he isn't even at his natural position
 
Evan Neal is starting at Bama. Does that mean there wasn't talented people there? OR that he's the best option? mind you he isn't even at his natural position
Neal and zion aren't on the same level. Neal beat out other highly touted guys to start. Zion immediately passed 2 dudes who just aren't that good. Zion wouldn't crack the 2 deep at bama.
 
Do you think Butch Barry will move Scaife, Clarke and Campbell in and out or from guard to tackle depending on the offensive plan? IDK if any of them are stronger in run protection or pass protection but if we seem to have more success with run plays or pass plays do you think Barry will move these guys around? I know the thinking with the Oline is keep the line set so they all work together but maybe our line has 5 that are more effective in the run versus 5 who are more effective in pass protection. This includes flip flopping Scaife from guard to tackle if necessary for certain plays.

Or maybe start Scaife and Campbell in the same positions as last week but then make changes if it doesn't seem to be effective?


We need to have more than 5 guys who can play in case of injury.

Any D coordinator with half a brain would pick up on that pattern
 
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Neal and zion aren't on the same level. Neal beat out other highly touted guys to start. Zion immediately passed 2 dudes who just aren't that good. Zion wouldn't crack the 2 deep at bama.

So when its Miami, our dudes "arent that good" to get beat by a True Frosh, but for any other team it's whatever. Miami is NOWHERE NEAR the only school that started a TRUE FRESHMAN at OT in Week 0/1.
 
so like theyre moving campbell off? ah, good job coaches.
 
So when its Miami, our dudes "arent that good" to get beat by a True Frosh, but for any other team it's whatever. Miami is NOWHERE NEAR the only school that started a TRUE FRESHMAN at OT in Week 0/1.

Nah, that’s an over generalization. The distinction in this specific instance (as opposed to every school in the country) I..e. Neal and Zion, is that Neal was a 5 star and the top OL recruit in the country, whereas Zion was a 2 or 3 star recruit that wouldn’t have even played this year but for his gaining about 50 lbs. Added to that Zion’s play was just bad.
That’s the point of the other poster when he says our talent is just not there as to offensive tackles.
 
The talent is there. Last year the scheme was the reason the OL sucked. This year I thought it was pretty blatant that the UF DL jumping the snap, coupled with our True Frosh LT coming off the ball late against a SR was pretty evident.

Talent is there. With two Frosh tackles, and a Frosh QB, timing and cadence is everything. That’s one thing Coley was **** good at coaching - controlling the DL via a QBs cadence.
 
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