UM beats "LSU" in simulated game on last minute Rosier to Richards TD; Richt gives thoughts

UM beats "LSU" in simulated game on last minute Rosier to Richards TD; Richt gives thoughts

Stefan Adams
For their final scrimmage of fall, the Miami Hurricanes switched it up a little bit and held the game at Miami Southridge Senior High School on Wednesday morning.

The format was the entire Miami first team offense and first team defense on the same team, who then played a simulated game against “LSU” - a team that was made up of the UM second and third stringers.

The coaching staff created a 17-0 halftime deficit for the first team as a way to see how they could battle back from adversity and the game was essentially just the second half from there.

“The No. 1 goal was to create situations that we would have to play out,” head coach Mark Richt said. “For example, we started out as the third quarter, we were kicking off to them down 17-0, had to try to fight our way back into the game, try to create a little adversity, create a little intensity so to speak. I was also looking for the transition from offense to kicking teams, from kicking teams to offense or defense, from defense to punt block, PAT block, field goal block whatever it may be, just the act of doing that."

To start things off, Sheldrick Redwine had an interception early on off of N’Kosi Perry, which led to a short touchdown drive for the first team, “Miami”.

Following two more touchdown drives for the Miami offense, Miami was up 21-17 on LSU to end the third quarter. That’s when Richt “pretended” the offense fumbled the ball and LSU got a scoop and score.

With the score 24-21 LSU early in the fourth quarter, Rosier threw a pick for Miami, which turned into a long field goal drive for LSU to go up 27-21. Walk-on Turner Davidson converted the 47 yard FG for LSU.

However, Rosier would bounce back. With only a few minutes remaining and no timeouts, the senior QB led the Canes down the field, capping the game with a 75 yard drive that finished with Rosier hitting Ahmmon Richards in the back of the endzone. 27-27 tied up.

In a pressure situation, Bubba Baxa had to kick the winning extra point and he converted. 28-27 Miami.

Needing only one stop until victory, Miami shut down LSU on their final drive and the offense kneeled out the clock.

"Kind of how it went last year - just wait till the final drive," Richt said.

"I like what happened in camp. I like how hard everyone is practicing. I like how we’re coaching. Until you play somebody, you really don’t know. There’s no warmup games, here. We are going to be physically, mentally tested (against LSU). It will be a gut check at the very least. That's part of the reason I created the 17-0 adversity."

After being held out the past few practices, CB Trajan Bandy suited up to play, and so did DE Demetrius Jackson. DE Joe Jackson was held out with an elbow injury and De’Andre Wilder was out with a neck injury.

“(Joe Jackson) will be fine,” Richt said. “We didn’t want to get a jolt.”

Richt felt that Malik Rosier had a good game today, and that was in part because of how the offensive line protected him.

“He’s doing well,” Richt said on Rosier. “It’s so true - the bigger the pocket the more accurate he is. But that’s true of any quarterback I ever coached. We’re protecting really well; our one line has done a good job.”

Moving over to left tackle, Richt praised Tyree St. Louis’ effort not only on the field, but as a leader of the offense as well.

“He’s done great,” Richt said on St. Louis. “He’s a really good leader for us. I would say him and Tyler Gauthier and Malik are the top guys that are leading [on offense], but we’ve got Ahmmon [Richards] and [Lawrence] Cager is starting to step up in that area. [Travis] Homer, he just leads by showing up every day and kicking butt. I feel better about the leadership of our offense this year.”

The Canes have held the entire first string offensive line together throughout fall, but the rotation seems to be shortening. Both DJ Scaife and Venzell Boulware got reps with the O-Line’s first team today, and are guys that the staff would be comfortable subbing in.

“Right this second they’d be the first two in,” Richt said, before mentioning Corey Gaynor as a possibility as well.

Cade Weldon worked in with the first team offense (Miami), while N’Kosi Perry was the QB for LSU.

“I did give (Cade) Weldon a few snaps with the 1 unit today, it was N’Kosi (Perry’s) turn to be with the 2’s and 3’s,” Richt said. “It just happened to be the day where Weldon got a couple of plays and actually did a good job.”

Richt also praised both of the freshmen tight ends, going in-depth on what each has been working on. He sees the pair slowly starting to pick up the mental side of being a tight end.

On Brevin Jordan: “Half the battle for them is just knowing what to do. The position that Brevin [Jordan] plays, he’s the adjuster. He could be on [one] side and it could be a two-by-two-set. Or he goes to the field [side] sometimes and it could be a three-by-one [set]. Sometimes he’s in the backfield. Sometimes he’s in just a ‘wing’ position. He just has to know the assignments in all those spots.

“First you need to know where to line up, how to line up, then all of the assignments, then the technical part of blocking as a receiver downfield. Then he has to block as a fullback in pass protection, then he has to block as a fullback in the run game, then he has to pass protect like an offensive lineman, on the line at times. He is off the line, he’s on the line – even the run blocking, when you’re an on-the-line tight end, is different than if you’re a guy who’s off [the line of scrimmage]. He has a lot to learn, but he’s learning fast. He’s a really good ballplayer and he just loves football.”

On Will Mallory: “We were teaching him to play kind of where [David] Njoku was - more of a flexed-out [wide] guy,” Richt said. “But he also has to learn all the things that Brevin knows, because with Michael [Irvin II], out, if Brevin got hurt, we’d probably have to make Mallory that guy. We were hoping to have Irvin and Brevin in what we call the ‘F’ and let Will be that hybrid wide receiver-tight end guy, but now with Michael out and if something happened to Brevin…you still got [Brian] Polendey, but there’s still just not enough depth. All of a sudden Mallory’s plate is getting a lot more full after Michael got hurt.”

When asked which of the freshman he feels comfortable enough to play in crunch time during the opener, Richt listed a few options.

“The two tight ends I would think would play,” Richt said. “Some of those receivers might. There’s four of them and they’ve all got a lot of reps, have done well. I wouldn’t be shocked to see couple of corners in there, safety Gurvan Hall. You take special teams, almost all of them are going to play. We’re not sitting here thinking anyone is redshirting right now, I can tell you that.”

While he maintains that the battle is ongoing, Richt stated that Bubba Baxa would be the #1 kicker if the season started today.

“Bubba would be the guy right now,” Richt said. “I’ve seen (Camden) Price kick it well too, so I feel good about that. Not a surprise, but when you finally see it in person it was impressive. He does a nice job.”

Richt also expanded on the DT competition as well.

“Tito [Odenigbo] has come in and done well,” Richt said. “Jade (Nesta) Silvera is a guy that has a lot of potential. He is already big and strong and physical. He’s still learning how to play college football, but I think he’s going to help us.”

“The brand new guys have got a ways to go. They’re kind of like the skills guys – they’ll flash, do something really good, then the next time might they might get a double team on them and they get moved too far. We’re definitely going to have to play by committee. If you can take [Gerald] and make four of them, I’d feel better, but these guys are going to be really good. Pat Bethel is doing his job. He’s solid and playing well for us.”

Heading into LSU, Miami is ranked in the preseason top 10 of both polls for the first time since 2006. However, Richt isn’t planning on letting it affect the team in any way whatsoever as they prepare for the Tigers.

“It’s been a long time since I was a kid and I’d maybe look at [the polls] and think we’re great or something,” Richt said. “I don’t know. I don’t see it any of these guys. I think we practice hard. I think we practice with a purpose, I think the guys are competing extremely hard. That’s all I can ask for. If I see them goofing off, I’ll have to jump them and all that kind of thing, but I don’t see that right now. When you play LSU, Game 1, in this type of game, in this setting that we’re going to be in, you can’t help but think, ‘I better get ready.’ I think that’s what everyone is thinking - we better get ready.”
 

Comments (36)

Just saw a video of the presser, and God I am hyped as **** for Sept. 2nd. Great to hear our O line stepping it up in run and pass pro, can't wait. GO CANES!
 
I like the idea but....

Why not have Bubba take all the kicks for both teams?

Doesn't make sense.
 
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At some point this fanbase just needs to buy any and all Redwine stock. Not sure what else the kid can do to show yall he is not the same guy from last year. He has hit the trifecta. 1) Coaches praise him all the time. 2) He shows up in practices and scrimmages. 3) And an NFL Scout said hes the real deal and will play in the NFL.

Sounds like a great scenario scrimmage. Disappointing our second team offense couldn't muster up many points and make it competitive without the 17 point cushion. But I guess that's a testament to the D. Glad to see the first team offense is clicking at the exact time you want them too.
 
Am I reading this correctly?

The 2nd team offense only scored 3 points?
 
'Rosier threw a pick for Miami'

Crying will begin in 3...2...1.............................
 
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Am I reading this correctly?

The 2nd team offense only scored 3 points?
The 2nd and 3rd string players combined to essentially be the scout team in this simulated scrimmage. The represented LSU, while the first team O and D represented Miami.
 
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I like the idea but....

Why not have Bubba take all the kicks for both teams?

Doesn't make sense.

Richt said in the story that it was still a kicking competition.

Not sure if he's keeping the feet to the fire on the true freshman because true frosh don't come in and get handed the job, or if he's really not sure who the better kicker is at this point, but either way it makes sense to me. I don't want my kicker feeling pressure for the first time as he lines one up in Jerry World against LSU.
 
At some point this fanbase just needs to buy any and all Redwine stock. Not sure what else the kid can do to show yall he is not the same guy from last year. He has hit the trifecta. 1) Coaches praise him all the time. 2) He shows up in practices and scrimmages. 3) And an NFL Scout said hes the real deal and will play in the NFL.

Sounds like a great scenario scrimmage. Disappointing our second team offense couldn't muster up many points and make it competitive without the 17 point cushion. But I guess that's a testament to the D. Glad to see the first team offense is clicking at the exact time you want them too.

I was thinking the same thing listening to DMoney this morning on the pod, and not just about Redwine. It's like we always fall into the trap of thinking that all our hotsh!t HS recruits are going to be our saviors, then they get on the field and don't play like hall of famers day 1 and we want to throw them in the trash. Maybe Golden and Shannon trained us to stop expecting players to get better from year to year (cause in those days players usually did get worse the longer they were here), but it's like we all think that our guys can't get better each year.

Entering CMR year three, I'm prepared to have the faith until proven otherwise.

Heading into this season...
zxyoe.jpg
 
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Did Richt say whether or not the 2nd team ("LSU") O Line was allowed to hold the the 1st team defense all game?

Gotta provide realistic game conditions.
 
At some point this fanbase just needs to buy any and all Redwine stock. Not sure what else the kid can do to show yall he is not the same guy from last year. He has hit the trifecta. 1) Coaches praise him all the time. 2) He shows up in practices and scrimmages. 3) And an NFL Scout said hes the real deal and will play in the NFL.

Sounds like a great scenario scrimmage. Disappointing our second team offense couldn't muster up many points and make it competitive without the 17 point cushion. But I guess that's a testament to the D. Glad to see the first team offense is clicking at the exact time you want them too.

I was all for Redwine to go to safety. That's his perfect position. Last year was his first year the position and he did decent considering the circumstances. I think he'll be a surprise at the position.
 
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