After Monday’s practice, Miami OC Dan Enos spoke about his general philosophy of offense, telling the media he prefers a balanced approach when it comes to putting the QB under center or in the shotgun.

“There’s a timing mechanism that gets lost in the shotgun - I think all young QB’s have to learn to play under center,” Enos said. “There are benefits to both… I do think Jarren (Williams) has done a nice job in both categories.”

Although many have cited Williams as a QB that has not tested the defense deep enough, Enos feels Williams has done what’s been asked of him and has executed the game plan.

“In the pass game the problem was - the first play of the game, Jarren did a great job, stood in and made a down the field throw while getting hit. Later in the game, threw the ball downfield to Jeff Thomas, got hit.

“This past game we got less aggressive downfield because we were trying to coach the game to win and were having a tough time at the line of scrimmage. We didn’t want Jarren back there holding the ball trying to throw downfield a whole lot. We ran more max protect in the second half, get the ball out quickly.”

The bottom line?

“He’s done a good job taking what the defense gives him,” Enos said of Williams. “We’d love to be able to say that we’re going downfield more.”

Enos felt Miami lost the battle on the line of scrimmage to CMU last week, and he spent the bye week preaching improvement to the OL and the rest of the offense.

“Keep building, get better with our techniques and fundamentals of blocking,” Enos said. “Elsewhere, route running and route details, our aiming points by our backs, our initial reads, keys, our quarterbacks - our drops, eyes, pocket posture, ball security, assault running.”

True freshman Zion Nelson has struggled at times getting out of his stance off the snap and has gotten beat for sacks multiple times this season as a result. However, Enos still sees a lot of potential in Nelson, and said the team will continue to stick with him as the starting LT.

“Zion is doing a really nice job. Being a starting left tackle at 18 is hard. A lot of places he might be on the scout team right now, getting big, figuring out how to go to class and everything,” Enos said. “We think he’s going to be a really good player, think he’s improving daily. A lot of confidence in Zion.”

Enos added that he’s still comfortable with the starting lineup on the OL UM has been using the past three games. The Canes have mainly rolled with their starters during games, but in future weeks, they are preparing to use more of an 8-man rotation according to Enos – along with the regular starters, it’s been John Campbell, Kai-Leon Herbert, and Ousman Traore working in.

“They’re getting better,” Enos said of the backups.

The team is still looking to find ways to get WR Jeff Thomas the ball; he has 20 touches for 164 total yards of offense in 2019.

“We’re trying,” Enos said. “Handed him the ball on sweeps, thrown him the ball on screens. We are getting him the ball, some is on Jeff too. Just got to make plays when he has the opportunity to make plays.”

After 4 games, has Enos changed anything about how he gameplans as he’s gotten used to the personnel at his disposal at UM?

“These guys are starting to understand it better and better the more we do,” Enos said. “The more reps our quarterbacks get, the better they’re going to play. The big thing – when plays don’t work, there are three reasons why: It’s a mental error, physical error, or a structural error. To be honest, we have to clean up really the mental and physical side of things. That’s what happens in offensive football. Ten guys do what they’re supposed to, one guy doesn’t, the play is not going to be efficient.

“We just have to get guys to make routine plays right now that we didn’t do the couple of games before - when we were making routine plays, we were moving the ball much better.”


**The Hurricanes’ defense is about to get a shot in the arm.

Two players long-expected to contribute and potentially start finally return to DC Blake Baker’s stop unit this weekend, as DT Nesta Silvera (foot injury) and S Bubba Bolden (NCAA eligibility) have been cleared to play against Virginia Tech on Saturday after missing UM’s first 4 games.

“For sure from a depth standpoint they’re going to provide a huge boost for us,” Baker said of Silvera and Bolden. “Also just a spark, their energy. They both had two really good weeks of practices. Their role will be determined through the flow of the game - both have played really, really well the last two weeks of practice.”

The Canes have been one of the best defenses in the country at getting off the field on third downs, coming in at 4th nationally with a 24.5% opponent conversion rate. However, UM was above their season average against CMU in their last game, allowing the Chippewas to hit on 6-18 (33%) 3rd downs.

“We played well on third down until last week, and a lot of that’s on me,” Baker said. “I don’t think we had a great game plan going into it. Credit Central Michigan, they did a better job coaching than I did. Looking at the entire season, we identified things we can do better. I expect to see different things on Saturday in our third down package.”

This weekend, Justin Fuente brings his Virginia Tech Hokies to Miami Gardens. Although Fuente has been one of the better offensive minds in football in the past, the Hokies have really struggled in that aspect of the game in 2019, as they are just 100th among FBS teams in total offense (363.5 ypg).

“They can do a good job confusing you,” Baker said of watching film on the VT offense. “The biggest thing to me - it’s about us, and us identifying what they’re doing, doing a good job coaching it during the week and going out and executing it on Saturday. Schematically, they provide a lot of issues for you on the defensive side of the ball.”

Last week, it was announced that senior linebacker Zach McCloud would sit out the rest of the season to preserve his redshirt so that he could have a more prominent role on the 2020 team.

“With Zach, he really came to us - he gave me a call, we kind of talked through it,” Baker said. “The thing I told him, I wanted it to be his idea, we gave him the pros and cons. For him personally, it’s really a great opportunity if we’re able to maintain his redshirt.

“I think Zach McCloud can play on Sundays. It’s just a matter of Shaq (Quarterman) and (Mike) Pinckney playing so well.”

With McCloud sitting out, the Canes only have two healthy backup LB’s on scholarship, both freshmen.

“Sam Brooks is doing some really good things, especially as a freshman,” Baker said. “Pat Joyner is just coming back off his injury.”

DE Gregory Rousseau had another sack against CMU last game, and he continues to lead the team in that regard. Rousseau saw his most snaps of the season vs. the Chippewas, and Baker said UM will keep increasing his workload as the season progresses.

“He’s continuing to get more comfortable with what we’re asking him to do, is continuing to produce,” Baker said of Rousseau. “He’s really pushing Scott Patchan, pushing Neo (Jonathan Garvin). And Trevon Hill is getting more comfortable in our scheme… You’ll see more a dose of Greg Rousseau.”

Baker feels both of his freshman corners are playing well, pointing to both Te’Cory Couch and Christian Williams as those that could see more playing time as they continue to get comfortable in the defense.

“(Te’Cory) is continuing to do a good job, and Christian has probably shown more improvement than any of the freshmen in terms of a competitive edge,” Baker said. “He’s starting on our punt block team, plays press man on their gunner, is doing a great job. Still need to work on both of them understanding the fine points of our defense.”