MANNY DIAZ
OPENING STATEMENT “The fan base really stepped up, turned up today so we had to repay them with a team that looked like they were excited to be here. I felt we passed that test. In terms of the actual ball I thought there was execution on both sides, I was happy to see all our three quarterbacks make plays - we believe all three can play. I think we are going to summer now knowing all three guys can play, so that was a big plus today. Our one defense played like I think our one defense should, there was one drive I thought was not to our standard but for the most part those guys tackled well. The big thing is are we beginning to look like the Miami Hurricanes, and you can kind of see the improvements this team has made.
“Today was about taking a photo of ourselves. We know we have to improve. We have to go in the summer, make a big jump when we come back for report date and then another big jump in training camp to be victorious August 24th.”
ON TATE MARTELL, AND HIM SEEMING BETTER OUT OF SHOGUN “All of our quarterbacks played in the gun and all of our quarterbacks including Tate played under. The whole point of spring practice was we’re getting our offense installed, have to find out the best 11 to run it. We want all of our guys to be able to play our stuff in all different kinds of ways.”
HAPPY WITH HOW IT WENT? “The whole 36 hours was unbelievable. The guys associated with this stadium, the Citrus Bowl were fantastic. Where we stayed, the meeting rooms, the ballrooms, we recreated everything as similar as it’s going to be in August. The game and the crowd and all that really exceeded my expectations, but the last 36 hours has all been better than I even wanted it to be. I’m very pleased with how this went.”
ON DEFENSE: “I like the disruption we had up front, it looked like a lot of tackles for losses, sacks. I know we’re playing touch football with the sacks. I like the way some of our young defensive backs stepped up, DJ Ivey and Al Blades and Gurvan Hall, some of those guys that haven’t played a lot. We know what the linebackers can do. Jade Silvera had a really good spring, it’s good to see him again pop up in the backfield. The Miami Hurricane defense, there’s a standard of how we should play and those guys understand it and you saw it today.”
TAKE ON O LINE: “It’s going to depend on what the matchups are. Our offensive line has made a big jump this spring, they really have. They’ll take confidence in that. Now it’s finding our best guys, getting guys back from injury, being able to settle on that, get continuity. If I had to grade our offensive line on the entire spring, I think they’ve really made a big jump for us.”
ON WILL MALLORY: “Will is making that jump. The thing that stands out is the way we get him the ball in space, let his athleticism go. Just ways we can get him the ball and the quarterbacks put the ball on him. He’s a guy that can run after catch. And then he’s a big-time problem in the red zone - that was a great catch vs. good coverage, a good throw. That’s where tight ends really can thrive in an offense.”
ON JOYNER: “Patrick Joyner stepped up at linebacker, we recruited him with the idea of being both (DE and LB).”
ON NEEDING TO BUILD EXCITEMENT IN FAN BASE IN ORLANDO: “We were coming and weren’t sure what to expect, and the way our fans brought it today was unbelievable. We want to try to repay them with a performance worthy of coming here. What should be the minimum expectation when you come watch the Miami Hurricanes play? You should see a team that loves playing for each other, a team that plays with physicality, a team that plays with toughness. I think some of those things were offered today.”
WHAT HE’S LEARNED ABOUT HIMSELF SO FAR: “You hire a lot of really smart people and let them do their job. It gives you a different perspective. Also really define what wins football games. … We try to say we don’t ever practice, we always play, and that way we’ll be prepared to play in the fall.”
ON MARK RICHT: “We’re really good friends and I have a lot of respect for who he is not just as a man but as a football coach. But now, what an amazing thing for me to have someone like him with a wealth of experience that cares very deeply for the Miami Hurricanes that I can call on at any time. When spring ball is over we can get back together again and talk through how it works.”
ON RICHT AS ACC ANALYST: “I think it’s great for him. He has given us a springboard for where this program needs to go in a lot of different ways. We’re very indebted to him for that.”
BLAKE BAKER
ON WHO IMPRESSED TODAY: “First is Jordan Miller - just watching the film we’ll have a better idea. But Jordan Miller had a really good day I believe. The first defense played really, really well as a whole we have to get some better depth at some spots.”
MORE ON MILLER: “He needs to be more consistent and continue to get in really good shape.”
ON THE DBS AND DEPTH: “I think we’re pretty good where we’re at. If the right guy was to pop up (as a transfer) who knows. But the way DJ Ivey has played the last half of spring ball, he’s done some really good things. Al Blades had a good day today, physical at the point of contact. We have to continue to develop who we have and see what happens. But right now we’re happy with what we have.”
ON PATRICK JOYNER: “He was awesome, made some plays in the backfield after just moving there three days ago. And he loves the game, is sitting there tapping my shoulder the whole game - `I’m ready to go back in, I’m ready to go back in.’ I’m proud of his performance and love his attitude.”
ON JAHFARI HARVEY: “He’s had an outstanding spring, has played well, is mature beyond his years, understands the defense. He did a great job on a defense today that he’s probably run four times. He’s obviously engaged in meetings and paying attention.”
ON SCOTT PATCHAN: “He had a great spring, played well, he’s becoming more of a vocal leader, is playing with more confidence.”
ON GURVAN HALL: “He continued to improve every single day. He has an unbelievable skill set, as good as anyone at that position, is really mentally into it. Have to clean up some technique things - once he cleans up his technique he can be one of the best safeties I’ve ever been around.”
ON DEFENSIVE TACKLE SITUATION: “I think we’re in a great spot (also considering the new summer arrivals). I think we have great talent, great depth inside. I’m really pleased with where we’re at.”
DAN ENOS
IN HIS MIND DOES HE HAVE A FEELING WHO WILL START AT QB? “I’ll be honest, which is probably a new thing for a coach - I thought I had a gut feeling three different times already, it keeps changing because guys keep getting better. It’s a process. One thing I’ll say, I have to give the three quarterbacks a ton of credit because I think all three have improved from Day 1 to now. We had a very poor practice on Thursday, not just the quarterbacks but a lot of guys on offense. So we had a heart to heart Friday meeting just about the expectations, the standard we’re trying to set. I thought they came out here today and obviously were far from perfect, made some mistakes, but I thought we played with a lot of effort today and I thought the quarterbacks did a good job of managing the game. … All three have given me hope and our entire staff and team hope that whoever ends up winning the job is first of all going to have to have earned it because the other guys are nipping at his heels, competing every day.”
ON TATE MARTELL SEEMING MORE COMFORTABLE IN SHOTGUN: “He does well in shotgun and under center. He’s getting better under center, but his comfort level is obviously in the shotgun. So you have to work at things you’re not good at. … Tate has operated in shotgun his entire career, so we’ve asked him to do some things to get out of his comfort zone, learn to be under center. At the end of the day that’ll benefit him. Certainly we know he can function in the shotgun. All of them have played well, but him in particular the last three practices, three to four have been his best ones.
ON JARREN WILLIAMS: “He did well today, came back (off an interception) and did a good job. He was very poised. Some of the situations we put those guys in today when they were going against the one defense with the twos and threes on offense - there are some quick decisions, pressure in their face, guys being covered very tightly. All three of them got equal chance at it.”
ON HOW QBS HANDLED THE UPS AND DOWNS: “I think they handled themselves very well. All of them made a mistake here and there, bounced back and had a good play. All three are getting accustomed to how I coach them. I’m very demanding, confront and demand them to do it correctly every time and I don’t take a play off. All three of them are getting used to the style, are I think buying in.”
ON ZION NELSON: “I can’t say he’s surprised me - he’s a good looking kid, has got excellent athletic ability. He’s very tough, is a competitor and is picking up things very, very fast. … He’s put on a bunch of weight since he got here, got stronger. I can’t say enough about him. Asking a lot of him as a true freshman but he’s responded in a very good way.”
OPENING STATEMENT “The fan base really stepped up, turned up today so we had to repay them with a team that looked like they were excited to be here. I felt we passed that test. In terms of the actual ball I thought there was execution on both sides, I was happy to see all our three quarterbacks make plays - we believe all three can play. I think we are going to summer now knowing all three guys can play, so that was a big plus today. Our one defense played like I think our one defense should, there was one drive I thought was not to our standard but for the most part those guys tackled well. The big thing is are we beginning to look like the Miami Hurricanes, and you can kind of see the improvements this team has made.
“Today was about taking a photo of ourselves. We know we have to improve. We have to go in the summer, make a big jump when we come back for report date and then another big jump in training camp to be victorious August 24th.”
ON TATE MARTELL, AND HIM SEEMING BETTER OUT OF SHOGUN “All of our quarterbacks played in the gun and all of our quarterbacks including Tate played under. The whole point of spring practice was we’re getting our offense installed, have to find out the best 11 to run it. We want all of our guys to be able to play our stuff in all different kinds of ways.”
HAPPY WITH HOW IT WENT? “The whole 36 hours was unbelievable. The guys associated with this stadium, the Citrus Bowl were fantastic. Where we stayed, the meeting rooms, the ballrooms, we recreated everything as similar as it’s going to be in August. The game and the crowd and all that really exceeded my expectations, but the last 36 hours has all been better than I even wanted it to be. I’m very pleased with how this went.”
ON DEFENSE: “I like the disruption we had up front, it looked like a lot of tackles for losses, sacks. I know we’re playing touch football with the sacks. I like the way some of our young defensive backs stepped up, DJ Ivey and Al Blades and Gurvan Hall, some of those guys that haven’t played a lot. We know what the linebackers can do. Jade Silvera had a really good spring, it’s good to see him again pop up in the backfield. The Miami Hurricane defense, there’s a standard of how we should play and those guys understand it and you saw it today.”
TAKE ON O LINE: “It’s going to depend on what the matchups are. Our offensive line has made a big jump this spring, they really have. They’ll take confidence in that. Now it’s finding our best guys, getting guys back from injury, being able to settle on that, get continuity. If I had to grade our offensive line on the entire spring, I think they’ve really made a big jump for us.”
ON WILL MALLORY: “Will is making that jump. The thing that stands out is the way we get him the ball in space, let his athleticism go. Just ways we can get him the ball and the quarterbacks put the ball on him. He’s a guy that can run after catch. And then he’s a big-time problem in the red zone - that was a great catch vs. good coverage, a good throw. That’s where tight ends really can thrive in an offense.”
ON JOYNER: “Patrick Joyner stepped up at linebacker, we recruited him with the idea of being both (DE and LB).”
ON NEEDING TO BUILD EXCITEMENT IN FAN BASE IN ORLANDO: “We were coming and weren’t sure what to expect, and the way our fans brought it today was unbelievable. We want to try to repay them with a performance worthy of coming here. What should be the minimum expectation when you come watch the Miami Hurricanes play? You should see a team that loves playing for each other, a team that plays with physicality, a team that plays with toughness. I think some of those things were offered today.”
WHAT HE’S LEARNED ABOUT HIMSELF SO FAR: “You hire a lot of really smart people and let them do their job. It gives you a different perspective. Also really define what wins football games. … We try to say we don’t ever practice, we always play, and that way we’ll be prepared to play in the fall.”
ON MARK RICHT: “We’re really good friends and I have a lot of respect for who he is not just as a man but as a football coach. But now, what an amazing thing for me to have someone like him with a wealth of experience that cares very deeply for the Miami Hurricanes that I can call on at any time. When spring ball is over we can get back together again and talk through how it works.”
ON RICHT AS ACC ANALYST: “I think it’s great for him. He has given us a springboard for where this program needs to go in a lot of different ways. We’re very indebted to him for that.”
BLAKE BAKER
ON WHO IMPRESSED TODAY: “First is Jordan Miller - just watching the film we’ll have a better idea. But Jordan Miller had a really good day I believe. The first defense played really, really well as a whole we have to get some better depth at some spots.”
MORE ON MILLER: “He needs to be more consistent and continue to get in really good shape.”
ON THE DBS AND DEPTH: “I think we’re pretty good where we’re at. If the right guy was to pop up (as a transfer) who knows. But the way DJ Ivey has played the last half of spring ball, he’s done some really good things. Al Blades had a good day today, physical at the point of contact. We have to continue to develop who we have and see what happens. But right now we’re happy with what we have.”
ON PATRICK JOYNER: “He was awesome, made some plays in the backfield after just moving there three days ago. And he loves the game, is sitting there tapping my shoulder the whole game - `I’m ready to go back in, I’m ready to go back in.’ I’m proud of his performance and love his attitude.”
ON JAHFARI HARVEY: “He’s had an outstanding spring, has played well, is mature beyond his years, understands the defense. He did a great job on a defense today that he’s probably run four times. He’s obviously engaged in meetings and paying attention.”
ON SCOTT PATCHAN: “He had a great spring, played well, he’s becoming more of a vocal leader, is playing with more confidence.”
ON GURVAN HALL: “He continued to improve every single day. He has an unbelievable skill set, as good as anyone at that position, is really mentally into it. Have to clean up some technique things - once he cleans up his technique he can be one of the best safeties I’ve ever been around.”
ON DEFENSIVE TACKLE SITUATION: “I think we’re in a great spot (also considering the new summer arrivals). I think we have great talent, great depth inside. I’m really pleased with where we’re at.”
DAN ENOS
IN HIS MIND DOES HE HAVE A FEELING WHO WILL START AT QB? “I’ll be honest, which is probably a new thing for a coach - I thought I had a gut feeling three different times already, it keeps changing because guys keep getting better. It’s a process. One thing I’ll say, I have to give the three quarterbacks a ton of credit because I think all three have improved from Day 1 to now. We had a very poor practice on Thursday, not just the quarterbacks but a lot of guys on offense. So we had a heart to heart Friday meeting just about the expectations, the standard we’re trying to set. I thought they came out here today and obviously were far from perfect, made some mistakes, but I thought we played with a lot of effort today and I thought the quarterbacks did a good job of managing the game. … All three have given me hope and our entire staff and team hope that whoever ends up winning the job is first of all going to have to have earned it because the other guys are nipping at his heels, competing every day.”
ON TATE MARTELL SEEMING MORE COMFORTABLE IN SHOTGUN: “He does well in shotgun and under center. He’s getting better under center, but his comfort level is obviously in the shotgun. So you have to work at things you’re not good at. … Tate has operated in shotgun his entire career, so we’ve asked him to do some things to get out of his comfort zone, learn to be under center. At the end of the day that’ll benefit him. Certainly we know he can function in the shotgun. All of them have played well, but him in particular the last three practices, three to four have been his best ones.
ON JARREN WILLIAMS: “He did well today, came back (off an interception) and did a good job. He was very poised. Some of the situations we put those guys in today when they were going against the one defense with the twos and threes on offense - there are some quick decisions, pressure in their face, guys being covered very tightly. All three of them got equal chance at it.”
ON HOW QBS HANDLED THE UPS AND DOWNS: “I think they handled themselves very well. All of them made a mistake here and there, bounced back and had a good play. All three are getting accustomed to how I coach them. I’m very demanding, confront and demand them to do it correctly every time and I don’t take a play off. All three of them are getting used to the style, are I think buying in.”
ON ZION NELSON: “I can’t say he’s surprised me - he’s a good looking kid, has got excellent athletic ability. He’s very tough, is a competitor and is picking up things very, very fast. … He’s put on a bunch of weight since he got here, got stronger. I can’t say enough about him. Asking a lot of him as a true freshman but he’s responded in a very good way.”
