Summary:
-Richt remembers recruiting Crowder. "Great player."
-Honored to be at UM. Enjoying getting to know the team. Impressed with their coachability. They are moldable, teachable. All a coach can ask for.
-Have some guys who can play but need more. Have to develop guys they have. Can't complain about the attitude.
-Strangest part isn't coaching new school, it's calling plays. A lot of fun and excitement.
-Working with Kaaya is a blessing. Fine player, great person. Hasn't been resistant of learning new offense. Has done well so far.
-No doubt Kaaya is on par with best QBs Richt has coached (Ward, Weinke, Greene, Stafford, Murray...) Some guys move better or have stronger arm (Stafford), but Kaaya is super accurate, can make any throw and is a student of the game. Politely corrected Richt on a few play calls during first scrimmage.
-Manny is "doing his thing". The great Canes defenses of the 80s and 90s played 4-3, two deep, and guys wreaked so much havoc they didn't need a safety in the box. Their players were better than anyone else's. This defense won't sit and two-gap all day. Gonna let guys get on the edges and penetrate, redirect the run. Will be versatile in what they do, but everyone will have a chance to make a play.
-The great defenses played cover 2. When Shannon came in, it was 2-man, but lots of two-safety help. Miami had phenomenal pass rushers so they could keep it simple. Every defense has a weakness potentially. Man works when you cover well. Zero coverage reduces it to one on one. Zone can work in certain matchups, too.
-Richt is looking to run the ball. Team has good backs but won't know if they are great until live game. Walton had great runs, Edwards made a few nice plays, "even Yearby" had some good ones. Not sure if that means backs are great or defense isn't tackling right. Will always be on lookout for more backs.
-Historically, if defense kicks butt in spring, it means you will have a good year. Even as OC as FSU, they had some top-5 offenses, but Mickey Andrews and the defense would whip them in the spring. Defenses that know tendencies and calls have an advantage. In the middle of the year, it's a couple days to prepare and it's a big difference.
-Richt hasn't watched any other sports, just focusing on team, installing offense. Enjoying it and having a great time coaching football.
-When a university president retires, usually goes back to teaching. Richt feels that way about his current situation.
