Offensive coordinator and RB coach Thomas Brown echoed his head coach from earlier in the day, saying the goal is to split carries evenly between Travis Homer and DeeJay Dallas.
“This (past) game, those guys basically split carries. I think DeeJay had 17, Travis had 16,” Brown said. “Carries about the same; it all depends on the game.”
Today, freshman RB Lorenzo Lingard continued to work as the third string running back for the second straight week.
“Lorenzo is still coming on strong, have to find a way to get a package of pays for him,” Brown said. “Also Cam Davis, he got here late, really impressed the last couple of days. And (Robert) Burns also.
TE Brian Polendey was ruled out for the season, leaving Miami with only two healthy TE’s. However, there are no plans to move another player to the tight end position.
As Miami’s main blocking tight end, Polendey was “playing six or seven snaps per game, mostly on short yardage and goal line,” according to Brown.
Will the team move to more three and four wide receiver sets without Polendey?
“It’s possible,” Brown said.
The Canes have shown improvement in short yardage situations, and Brown credits Trayone Gray for a lot of that success.
“He’s definitely helped us out, embraced that role,” Brown said on Gray. “Last year, we didn’t have a fullback.”
On Mark Pope seeing more reps: “We have some very talented guys in front of him, are trying to find ways to get him involved in the game,” Brown said. “He’s progressing along well.”
Obviously, the level of competition has gone down, but the offense has run much more smooth since the opening week matchup against LSU.
“We’re not beating ourselves,” Brown said. “(Last week was) the first game I’ve been a part of where we didn’t turn the ball over, didn’t have any sacks, penalties. If we can play that way every game, we’ll have a shot to be in every game if not win every game.”
Jeff Thomas had another big game this past week. What area has he improved on the most to take his game to the next level?
“Practice,” Brown said. “It’s a direct (correlation) between what he does every day in practice and what he does on game day. He’s matured a lot, has been taking coaching from (Ron Dugans) on how to be a better practice player. He’s become a much more mature player.”
The defensive strength of upcoming opponent FIU has been the defensive line.
“They do a really good job rotating guys to keep them fresh, are very disruptive,” Brown said. “They’re vertical penetrating guys up the field. (You) have to account for how aggressive they are up front, have to get some backs involved to try and help out up front as well.”
**Offensive line coach Stacy Searels talked after Tuesday’s practice about the competition at left guard between Jahair Jones and Venzell Boulware.
“Venzell is definitely challenging Jahair (for the starting job),” Searels said. “If you look, I think Venzell got 39 reps, Jahair got like 37 reps this past game. They’re playing about the same amount of reps. It’s always a competition, we’re going to play the best player.”
DJ Scaife saw an increase in snaps last week and Searels said it was no accident, as the freshman continues to impress.
“He played about 11 snaps, really well the other day, well the game before,” Searels said on Scaife. “Trying to work him in more and more. DJ has shown that he deserves playing time. I wouldn’t be afraid, if the game is on the line, for him to be out there.”
Other young backups that have made impressions? That’s Zalon’tae Hillery, Cleveland Reed and John Campbell.
“I’m pleased with those guys,” Searels said. “We have guys ahead of them right now, they just have to keep working, show in Tuesday’s practice that they deserve reps on Saturdays.”
First year starting right guard Hayden Mahoney has consistently graded out among the highest linemen on the team.
“Consistency has been good, communication skills have been good,” Searels said on Mahoney. “He has graded well.”
On right tackle Navaughn Donaldson: “He’s done a pretty good job at times. It’s just consistency,” Searels said. “If he has a lapse in focus, we’re going to get hit.”
Playing a tough FIU defensive line next week, Searels believes it will be his group’s biggest challenge since LSU.
“They have some guys there that can play for anybody,” Searels said. “They have size, quickness, are twitchy. They’re a well-coached defensive line.”
“This (past) game, those guys basically split carries. I think DeeJay had 17, Travis had 16,” Brown said. “Carries about the same; it all depends on the game.”
Today, freshman RB Lorenzo Lingard continued to work as the third string running back for the second straight week.
“Lorenzo is still coming on strong, have to find a way to get a package of pays for him,” Brown said. “Also Cam Davis, he got here late, really impressed the last couple of days. And (Robert) Burns also.
TE Brian Polendey was ruled out for the season, leaving Miami with only two healthy TE’s. However, there are no plans to move another player to the tight end position.
As Miami’s main blocking tight end, Polendey was “playing six or seven snaps per game, mostly on short yardage and goal line,” according to Brown.
Will the team move to more three and four wide receiver sets without Polendey?
“It’s possible,” Brown said.
The Canes have shown improvement in short yardage situations, and Brown credits Trayone Gray for a lot of that success.
“He’s definitely helped us out, embraced that role,” Brown said on Gray. “Last year, we didn’t have a fullback.”
On Mark Pope seeing more reps: “We have some very talented guys in front of him, are trying to find ways to get him involved in the game,” Brown said. “He’s progressing along well.”
Obviously, the level of competition has gone down, but the offense has run much more smooth since the opening week matchup against LSU.
“We’re not beating ourselves,” Brown said. “(Last week was) the first game I’ve been a part of where we didn’t turn the ball over, didn’t have any sacks, penalties. If we can play that way every game, we’ll have a shot to be in every game if not win every game.”
Jeff Thomas had another big game this past week. What area has he improved on the most to take his game to the next level?
“Practice,” Brown said. “It’s a direct (correlation) between what he does every day in practice and what he does on game day. He’s matured a lot, has been taking coaching from (Ron Dugans) on how to be a better practice player. He’s become a much more mature player.”
The defensive strength of upcoming opponent FIU has been the defensive line.
“They do a really good job rotating guys to keep them fresh, are very disruptive,” Brown said. “They’re vertical penetrating guys up the field. (You) have to account for how aggressive they are up front, have to get some backs involved to try and help out up front as well.”
**Offensive line coach Stacy Searels talked after Tuesday’s practice about the competition at left guard between Jahair Jones and Venzell Boulware.
“Venzell is definitely challenging Jahair (for the starting job),” Searels said. “If you look, I think Venzell got 39 reps, Jahair got like 37 reps this past game. They’re playing about the same amount of reps. It’s always a competition, we’re going to play the best player.”
DJ Scaife saw an increase in snaps last week and Searels said it was no accident, as the freshman continues to impress.
“He played about 11 snaps, really well the other day, well the game before,” Searels said on Scaife. “Trying to work him in more and more. DJ has shown that he deserves playing time. I wouldn’t be afraid, if the game is on the line, for him to be out there.”
Other young backups that have made impressions? That’s Zalon’tae Hillery, Cleveland Reed and John Campbell.
“I’m pleased with those guys,” Searels said. “We have guys ahead of them right now, they just have to keep working, show in Tuesday’s practice that they deserve reps on Saturdays.”
First year starting right guard Hayden Mahoney has consistently graded out among the highest linemen on the team.
“Consistency has been good, communication skills have been good,” Searels said on Mahoney. “He has graded well.”
On right tackle Navaughn Donaldson: “He’s done a pretty good job at times. It’s just consistency,” Searels said. “If he has a lapse in focus, we’re going to get hit.”
Playing a tough FIU defensive line next week, Searels believes it will be his group’s biggest challenge since LSU.
“They have some guys there that can play for anybody,” Searels said. “They have size, quickness, are twitchy. They’re a well-coached defensive line.”
