“It’s what I do a lot in high school and growing up in California, a lot of shotgun,” UM Brad Kaaya said. “It’s good, it gets me back there so I can see the whole field and scan everything out, especially for passing situations. It also spreads the run out too.”
The Hurricanes used a number of looks on offense with quarterback Brad Kaaya getting plenty of time in the both the shotgun and pistol early, while still getting some snaps directly under center. The sophomore started out a bit shaky, but improved as his night went on eventually completing 16 of his 27 passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns. Saturday’s opener marked the 14th consecutive game in which Kaaya has thrown a touchdown and as the Hurricanes prepare for their game against FAU, every expectation is that that trend will continue – especially with Kaaya comfortable in seemingly all of the formations Miami runs with him on the field. Added offensive coordinator James Coley, “We liked some of the stuff that we did in the gun, so we game-planned around the gun. That was it … I think [Kaaya] is comfortable in both.”
Like Kaaya, reserve Malik Rosier, who made his Hurricanes debut, said he’s comfortable both in the shot gun and under center. He and Kaaya are roommates and Rosier shared Tuesday that there are plenty of nights the two quarterbacks spend time at home discussing Miami’s offensive strategy and how to help each and their playmakers improve.
“Me and Brad come home and we’re like, ‘We have such good players on our team,’” Rosier said. “That’s honestly our goal, for every play, just to get the ball in our playmakers hands and we feel like this year, spreading it out a little more, we have great receivers, great backs, getting them in open space and making one-on-one matchups is our goal. I think versus Bethune, we did a great job of doing that.”
*For several years, the Hurricanes have used color-coded jerseys to designate which players are injured or limited in practice. But on Tuesday, Coley said as Miami continues gaining more experience with its GPS technology, yellow jerseys no longer necessarily designate that a player is injured. Instead, it could merely be an indication to coaches of which players have had high play counts in recent practices and may need their work load eased.
Receiver Rashawn Scott, who had six catches for 100 yards but did not appear to have been injured in Saturday’s game against Bethune wore a yellow jersey in practice, prompting the discussion with Coley. “We’ve got a whole different color code now for that stuff because of the GPS system,” Coley said. “It means there’s really smart people making those calls…it could be a guy who’s nicked up. You might see four guys in yellow, one guy might be nicked up, the other three might have too [many] miles on them. We’re aware of them, to yield. That’s what it’s supposed to mean…you yield at yellow. That’s some of the guys we’re taking care of because of how they’re practicing on the practice field.”
That said, receiver Stacy Coley -- who injured his hamstring against Bethune and did not practice Monday -- was also a limited participant in Tuesday's workout and Golden said there is a chance he could play Friday against FAU. It's more unlikely that receiver Braxton Berrios (knee) will play Friday, though no official decision has been made on his status yet, though Golden did say Tuesday that surgery has not been an option for Berrios' in discussions with doctors.
*Twenty-six Hurricanes debuted on Saturday against the Wildcats and several have shared some of their memories of that moment. For some, there were slight nerves or butterflies, but for one – running back Mark Walton – there wasn’t much time to think when Miami’s coaches called on him to get on the field for his first play.
“Joe [Yearby’s] shoe came off and I just had to go straight in,” Walton said. “I wasn’t even in the huddle. I just had to run in there. … it caught me by surprise. But I’m going to try and take his shoes next time.”
Coaches have – even in the weeks since training camp ended – stated that reserves continue to push for playing time and starting jobs are always in flux. One group that has earned praise since the opener? The Hurricanes second offensive line unit, particularly Kc McDermott and Joe Brown. Tuesday, both continue pushing for playing time.
The Hurricanes used a number of looks on offense with quarterback Brad Kaaya getting plenty of time in the both the shotgun and pistol early, while still getting some snaps directly under center. The sophomore started out a bit shaky, but improved as his night went on eventually completing 16 of his 27 passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns. Saturday’s opener marked the 14th consecutive game in which Kaaya has thrown a touchdown and as the Hurricanes prepare for their game against FAU, every expectation is that that trend will continue – especially with Kaaya comfortable in seemingly all of the formations Miami runs with him on the field. Added offensive coordinator James Coley, “We liked some of the stuff that we did in the gun, so we game-planned around the gun. That was it … I think [Kaaya] is comfortable in both.”
Like Kaaya, reserve Malik Rosier, who made his Hurricanes debut, said he’s comfortable both in the shot gun and under center. He and Kaaya are roommates and Rosier shared Tuesday that there are plenty of nights the two quarterbacks spend time at home discussing Miami’s offensive strategy and how to help each and their playmakers improve.
“Me and Brad come home and we’re like, ‘We have such good players on our team,’” Rosier said. “That’s honestly our goal, for every play, just to get the ball in our playmakers hands and we feel like this year, spreading it out a little more, we have great receivers, great backs, getting them in open space and making one-on-one matchups is our goal. I think versus Bethune, we did a great job of doing that.”
*For several years, the Hurricanes have used color-coded jerseys to designate which players are injured or limited in practice. But on Tuesday, Coley said as Miami continues gaining more experience with its GPS technology, yellow jerseys no longer necessarily designate that a player is injured. Instead, it could merely be an indication to coaches of which players have had high play counts in recent practices and may need their work load eased.
Receiver Rashawn Scott, who had six catches for 100 yards but did not appear to have been injured in Saturday’s game against Bethune wore a yellow jersey in practice, prompting the discussion with Coley. “We’ve got a whole different color code now for that stuff because of the GPS system,” Coley said. “It means there’s really smart people making those calls…it could be a guy who’s nicked up. You might see four guys in yellow, one guy might be nicked up, the other three might have too [many] miles on them. We’re aware of them, to yield. That’s what it’s supposed to mean…you yield at yellow. That’s some of the guys we’re taking care of because of how they’re practicing on the practice field.”
That said, receiver Stacy Coley -- who injured his hamstring against Bethune and did not practice Monday -- was also a limited participant in Tuesday's workout and Golden said there is a chance he could play Friday against FAU. It's more unlikely that receiver Braxton Berrios (knee) will play Friday, though no official decision has been made on his status yet, though Golden did say Tuesday that surgery has not been an option for Berrios' in discussions with doctors.
*Twenty-six Hurricanes debuted on Saturday against the Wildcats and several have shared some of their memories of that moment. For some, there were slight nerves or butterflies, but for one – running back Mark Walton – there wasn’t much time to think when Miami’s coaches called on him to get on the field for his first play.
“Joe [Yearby’s] shoe came off and I just had to go straight in,” Walton said. “I wasn’t even in the huddle. I just had to run in there. … it caught me by surprise. But I’m going to try and take his shoes next time.”
Coaches have – even in the weeks since training camp ended – stated that reserves continue to push for playing time and starting jobs are always in flux. One group that has earned praise since the opener? The Hurricanes second offensive line unit, particularly Kc McDermott and Joe Brown. Tuesday, both continue pushing for playing time.
