- Joined
- Oct 13, 2011
- Messages
- 22,549
A couple days late, but wanted to share Peter Ariz's impressions from the Thursday practice media session. A transcript is below:
Peter Ariz: This is big embroidery, my brother. We move the needle. Embroidery is the art of moving the needle, and that’s all we do. I’ll tell you one thing—this Miami Hurricanes roster moves the needle. Those one-on-ones were electric, man. We got about 45 to 50 minutes in there today, and those one-on-ones really stood out.
First of all, I think with Dereon Coleman in the seven-on-seven stuff, they threw a couple picks. You see the arm talent is there. It looks beautiful coming out of his hand. The spin of it is there. But I think it’s similar to what we saw with Luke Nickel last year early on—you can fit certain balls into windows at the high school level, but it’s a little more difficult here in college.
One of the interceptions was a really nice play by Ethan O’Connor. It was a go route about 25 yards to the end zone, and again, nice play by O’Connor, but it was a bit underthrown. That was to Dre Jacobs.
Then Coleman had another one where, to me, one of the stars of the day from the portion we got to see was Jontavius Wyman. He had two interceptions today—one in seven-on-seven and one in one-on-one. On the seven-on-seven one, it was an underneath route and he kind of read it, made a really nice jump on it. The other one was a really nice play on Tyran Evans in one-on-one. It wasn’t a deep ball down the field, but he did a really good job—even though Evans has about four or five inches on him—of reading it, undercutting it, and making a play on the ball.
That’s someone who isn’t going to stick out if you walk by him in street clothes or even in pads. He’s not just going to jump out physically. But you go back to his high school tape and every time we watch it, we’re like, is this guy better than we think he is? Maybe not right away because of the nature of the physicality, but this could be a really nice nickel prospect for Miami here. The ball skills were awesome from him today.
Another guy who made a really big-time play was Xavier Lucas. We always talk about his length and speed, but the one thing you want to see him continue to make progress with is the ball skills, because he’s going to be in position to make plays. He made a sick play on a ball in the end zone. Cooper Barkate was the wide receiver, Judd Anderson was the quarterback, and to me it really wasn’t a horrible throw. It was more Xavier Lucas making a play that very few can make because of the length he has. That was awesome.
Jaboree Antoine was in coverage on Malachi Toney. Judd hit Malachi on about a seven-yard out route. Tyran Evans did have a rep where he got Wyman in the end zone, so they had a good back-and-forth.
Tyran Evans is a guy where, just going through drills and stuff, he needs to put some weight on and add some strength, but he snatches the ball out of the air and he’s smooth for that size. I think he was a guy where Miami stuck with him because of what they see in his long-term upside.
We’ll get back to the one-on-one stuff here in a second, but there was another day where there was an emphasis on special teams.
VanDrevius Jacobs—the transfer from South Carolina—might be the fastest guy on the team. There are others like Pringle and Xavier Lucas, but seeing Jacobs in person, he had a really strong day as a receiver. The upside there is very high.
Milan Parris was working as a returner. Vance Spafford, Somourian Wingo, Cooper Barkate, Malachi Toney—all in the mix there.
Chase Smith made a play in coverage that had Danny Kalter (special teams coach) and the staff fired up.
Back to one-on-ones, Malachi got Bryce Fitzgerald on a short comeback. Next play, Elija Lofton got Dylan Day on a slant. Lofton is moving pretty well—best in tight spaces.
Later, Lofton ran a slot fade, and it was great coverage by Isaiah Taylor, who broke it up in the end zone.
Cooper Barkate beat Xavier Lucas on a slant.
Milan Parris had a drop and some inconsistency with route detail. He also had a touchdown called back for pass interference against Jabari Antoine.
Brody Jennings continues to stand out. He looks like he belongs physically and could contribute early on special teams. He had tight coverage on Daylyn Upshaw on a deep ball.
Jontavius Wyman’s second interception—undercutting Tyran Evans—was one that really wowed people.
VanDrevius Jacobs had what many called the play of the day. He beat Ethan O’Connor on a tight coverage rep in the end zone, turning back late to make a big-time catch.
There was another play with Chris Ewald in coverage on Malachi Toney where Darian Mensah overthrew it slightly.
Cam Vaughn had a nice catch up the seam on Brody Jennings from Mensah.
There was a comeback route to Cooper Barkate from Luke Nickel that looked like a timing issue.
Isaiah Taylor again showed strong coverage on Lofton.
Going back to early observations:
- OJ Frederique looks stout up top, added good weight.
- Terry Jefferson continues to work closely with the corners and has their attention.
- Corey Hetherman brings a ton of energy coaching linebackers—very uptempo and demanding.
- On the line, Ben Congdon was working at right tackle. Mario Cristobal pulled him aside for what looked like a teaching moment. You can tell he believes in him and wants to invest in him.
- JJ Dunigan moves at a different speed for his size—special athlete.
- Luka Gilbert continues to look like the top in-line tight end option.
- Gavin Mueller is moving well in limited contact.
- Israel Briggs looks solid in pads.
- JJ Edwards—you can see it.
- Ezekiel Marcelin may not look like a freak physically, but he’s cerebral and quick. Not a likely starter this year, but could be a solid rotational piece and special teams contributor.
Peter Ariz: This is big embroidery, my brother. We move the needle. Embroidery is the art of moving the needle, and that’s all we do. I’ll tell you one thing—this Miami Hurricanes roster moves the needle. Those one-on-ones were electric, man. We got about 45 to 50 minutes in there today, and those one-on-ones really stood out.
First of all, I think with Dereon Coleman in the seven-on-seven stuff, they threw a couple picks. You see the arm talent is there. It looks beautiful coming out of his hand. The spin of it is there. But I think it’s similar to what we saw with Luke Nickel last year early on—you can fit certain balls into windows at the high school level, but it’s a little more difficult here in college.
One of the interceptions was a really nice play by Ethan O’Connor. It was a go route about 25 yards to the end zone, and again, nice play by O’Connor, but it was a bit underthrown. That was to Dre Jacobs.
Then Coleman had another one where, to me, one of the stars of the day from the portion we got to see was Jontavius Wyman. He had two interceptions today—one in seven-on-seven and one in one-on-one. On the seven-on-seven one, it was an underneath route and he kind of read it, made a really nice jump on it. The other one was a really nice play on Tyran Evans in one-on-one. It wasn’t a deep ball down the field, but he did a really good job—even though Evans has about four or five inches on him—of reading it, undercutting it, and making a play on the ball.
That’s someone who isn’t going to stick out if you walk by him in street clothes or even in pads. He’s not just going to jump out physically. But you go back to his high school tape and every time we watch it, we’re like, is this guy better than we think he is? Maybe not right away because of the nature of the physicality, but this could be a really nice nickel prospect for Miami here. The ball skills were awesome from him today.
Another guy who made a really big-time play was Xavier Lucas. We always talk about his length and speed, but the one thing you want to see him continue to make progress with is the ball skills, because he’s going to be in position to make plays. He made a sick play on a ball in the end zone. Cooper Barkate was the wide receiver, Judd Anderson was the quarterback, and to me it really wasn’t a horrible throw. It was more Xavier Lucas making a play that very few can make because of the length he has. That was awesome.
Jaboree Antoine was in coverage on Malachi Toney. Judd hit Malachi on about a seven-yard out route. Tyran Evans did have a rep where he got Wyman in the end zone, so they had a good back-and-forth.
Tyran Evans is a guy where, just going through drills and stuff, he needs to put some weight on and add some strength, but he snatches the ball out of the air and he’s smooth for that size. I think he was a guy where Miami stuck with him because of what they see in his long-term upside.
We’ll get back to the one-on-one stuff here in a second, but there was another day where there was an emphasis on special teams.
VanDrevius Jacobs—the transfer from South Carolina—might be the fastest guy on the team. There are others like Pringle and Xavier Lucas, but seeing Jacobs in person, he had a really strong day as a receiver. The upside there is very high.
Milan Parris was working as a returner. Vance Spafford, Somourian Wingo, Cooper Barkate, Malachi Toney—all in the mix there.
Chase Smith made a play in coverage that had Danny Kalter (special teams coach) and the staff fired up.
Back to one-on-ones, Malachi got Bryce Fitzgerald on a short comeback. Next play, Elija Lofton got Dylan Day on a slant. Lofton is moving pretty well—best in tight spaces.
Later, Lofton ran a slot fade, and it was great coverage by Isaiah Taylor, who broke it up in the end zone.
Cooper Barkate beat Xavier Lucas on a slant.
Milan Parris had a drop and some inconsistency with route detail. He also had a touchdown called back for pass interference against Jabari Antoine.
Brody Jennings continues to stand out. He looks like he belongs physically and could contribute early on special teams. He had tight coverage on Daylyn Upshaw on a deep ball.
Jontavius Wyman’s second interception—undercutting Tyran Evans—was one that really wowed people.
VanDrevius Jacobs had what many called the play of the day. He beat Ethan O’Connor on a tight coverage rep in the end zone, turning back late to make a big-time catch.
There was another play with Chris Ewald in coverage on Malachi Toney where Darian Mensah overthrew it slightly.
Cam Vaughn had a nice catch up the seam on Brody Jennings from Mensah.
There was a comeback route to Cooper Barkate from Luke Nickel that looked like a timing issue.
Isaiah Taylor again showed strong coverage on Lofton.
Going back to early observations:
- OJ Frederique looks stout up top, added good weight.
- Terry Jefferson continues to work closely with the corners and has their attention.
- Corey Hetherman brings a ton of energy coaching linebackers—very uptempo and demanding.
- On the line, Ben Congdon was working at right tackle. Mario Cristobal pulled him aside for what looked like a teaching moment. You can tell he believes in him and wants to invest in him.
- JJ Dunigan moves at a different speed for his size—special athlete.
- Luka Gilbert continues to look like the top in-line tight end option.
- Gavin Mueller is moving well in limited contact.
- Israel Briggs looks solid in pads.
- JJ Edwards—you can see it.
- Ezekiel Marcelin may not look like a freak physically, but he’s cerebral and quick. Not a likely starter this year, but could be a solid rotational piece and special teams contributor.
