http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/
Some UM spring football notes from today:
### Kevin Olsen has looked sharper than Ryan Williams at times in spring practice, but Al Golden made this very clear after the fifth session of the spring on Thursday: "Obviously, it's Ryan right now. Ryan is ahead right now. Ryan is experienced and smart and doing a good job with the football." But he added that Olsen "is having a good spring."
### Olsen throws with more zip, but it was encouraging to see Williams complete a 50-yard pass to Stacy Coley late in today's session. "It feels good to stretch the defense," Williams said. "I've played good."
### Alex Figueroa, back healthy, is being disruptive from his outside linebacker position. "We missed that last year," Golden said. "He made three or four plays today. Played with a lot of energy."
Figueroa, whose two parents have military backgrounds, said his playmaking results from "the trained killer in me." OK then.
### The first-team linebacker group has remained consistent: Denzel Perryman in the middle, flanked by Raphael Kirby and Figueroa. Thurston Armbrister, Jermaine Grace, Darrion Owens and Juwon Young are behind them, with defensive ends Al Quadin Muhammad, Tyriq McCord and Trent Harris also able to play outside linebacker when Miami uses a 3-4.
### With Clive Walford missing the spring, Standish Dobard got first team reps at tight end. "Standish is fast, can make plays after the catch," Williams said.
Golden said his linebackers "can run and we're explosive and we're bigger than we have been."
### Much improved receiver D'Mauri Jones also got some first team reps with Rashawn Scott and Coley.
### Because UM has been kind enough to allow reporters and fans to watch practice, we've heard some interesting on-field exchanges this spring.
Defensive coordinator Mark D'Onofrio, trying to encourage his unit, told them Thursday: "The young linebackers are the weak link right now."
Linebackers coach Micheal Barrow later told his group: "We're supposed to be the strength of the unit, not the weak link."
D'Onofrio encouraged players to "over-exaggerate your communication."
Coaches implore players to focus. Barrow said Thursday: "Think you are on vacation out here like we're still on spring break. Wake up!"
Earlier this spring, defensive line coach Jethro Frankin told players he wants them to "pay attention" and not be "looking at the **** birds in the **** sky."
Check out Manny Navarro's blog later for more UM notes today. He'll have good stuff, as always.
Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/#storylink=cpy
Some UM spring football notes from today:
### Kevin Olsen has looked sharper than Ryan Williams at times in spring practice, but Al Golden made this very clear after the fifth session of the spring on Thursday: "Obviously, it's Ryan right now. Ryan is ahead right now. Ryan is experienced and smart and doing a good job with the football." But he added that Olsen "is having a good spring."
### Olsen throws with more zip, but it was encouraging to see Williams complete a 50-yard pass to Stacy Coley late in today's session. "It feels good to stretch the defense," Williams said. "I've played good."
### Alex Figueroa, back healthy, is being disruptive from his outside linebacker position. "We missed that last year," Golden said. "He made three or four plays today. Played with a lot of energy."
Figueroa, whose two parents have military backgrounds, said his playmaking results from "the trained killer in me." OK then.
### The first-team linebacker group has remained consistent: Denzel Perryman in the middle, flanked by Raphael Kirby and Figueroa. Thurston Armbrister, Jermaine Grace, Darrion Owens and Juwon Young are behind them, with defensive ends Al Quadin Muhammad, Tyriq McCord and Trent Harris also able to play outside linebacker when Miami uses a 3-4.
### With Clive Walford missing the spring, Standish Dobard got first team reps at tight end. "Standish is fast, can make plays after the catch," Williams said.
Golden said his linebackers "can run and we're explosive and we're bigger than we have been."
### Much improved receiver D'Mauri Jones also got some first team reps with Rashawn Scott and Coley.
### Because UM has been kind enough to allow reporters and fans to watch practice, we've heard some interesting on-field exchanges this spring.
Defensive coordinator Mark D'Onofrio, trying to encourage his unit, told them Thursday: "The young linebackers are the weak link right now."
Linebackers coach Micheal Barrow later told his group: "We're supposed to be the strength of the unit, not the weak link."
D'Onofrio encouraged players to "over-exaggerate your communication."
Coaches implore players to focus. Barrow said Thursday: "Think you are on vacation out here like we're still on spring break. Wake up!"
Earlier this spring, defensive line coach Jethro Frankin told players he wants them to "pay attention" and not be "looking at the **** birds in the **** sky."
Check out Manny Navarro's blog later for more UM notes today. He'll have good stuff, as always.
Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/#storylink=cpy
