Miami spring to start with ‘organized chaos.’ New OC talks QB order, naming starter.
Anguished University of Miami football fans once again have reason for hope, even if it equates to considerable confusion when the Canes open spring practice with a new offensive identity Monday at Greentree Field.
“There’s no real easing into it,’’ new UM offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Rhett Lashlee said in an interview with the Miami Herald. “We just have to throw them into the deep end and let them go. There will be some growing pains and a learning curve the first few days. Organized chaos is probably a good way to put it.’’
Say goodbye to the huddle, and behold the brave, new world of the up-tempo, spread offense. Say hello to high-profile, graduate transfer quarterback D’Eriq King, who ran a similar offense at Houston, passing for 50 touchdowns with only 10 interceptions and running for another 28 touchdowns in 35 games.
Both will be on display when Miami — 6-7 last season — takes the field Monday, though King, Lashlee insisted, in no way has earned the starting job. At least not yet. UM moved back the opening of spring practice two days because the funeral for King’s father Eric, who died Feb. 15 at age 48, was scheduled for Saturday.
King, who revered his father, initially returned home to be with his family in Manvel, Texas, a suburb of Houston. Lashlee said King would come back to Coral Gables this past week to continue with offseason workouts before going home again for the funeral.
Time to grieve
“He’s a phenomenal young man,’’ Lashlee said. “He’s a great kid, a great leader, a great person. He has been raised well. He was very close with his dad. I know their family is grieving right now. But he’s in as good spirits as you would hope someone would be in. We’re doing everything to allow him to grieve and go through that with his family. Family first for sure.’’
No doubt King, who has been given jersey No. 1 and will enter his final season of NCAA eligibility, will be driven even more than before.
“I promise to make you proud for the rest of my life!’’ King tweeted the day his dad passed. I GOT US.’’ And then, earlier this week: “You’ll live through me forever. Help guide me along the way like you always have.’’
UM QB hierarchy
Asked how he would characterize the UM quarterback hierarchy at this point, Lashlee said there is none. After 2019 starter Jarren Williams transferred, left fighting for the new starting spot were part-time starter but mostly backup redshirt junior N’Kosi Perry, former Ohio State transfer/redshirt junior Tate Martell and King. Neither redshirt freshman Peyton Matocha, who did not play in 2019, nor true freshman Tyler Van Dyke is expected to be a major factor in the 2020 starting race.
“All that guys get promised is an opportunity,’’ Lashlee said. “It’s that way with every position. No one is ever safe. You could have started at left tackle or running back or quarterback— or whatever — for three years. We’re a new staff, and you’re going to have to come out and prove that’s your spot.’’
Lashlee did say that the players, including at quarterback, who get the first reps Monday are a reflection of how they performed in the recent offseason program, primarily known as mat drills. After that, he said, “it’s day to day.’’
“How they’re performing will determine the pecking order through spring,’’ Lashlee said. “I’m not one who thinks the first snap of spring really matters. So, the first couple of days when we’re all figuring everything out, there probably will be fairly equal reps, regardless of who takes the first one. And then, after three or four days you’ll start to see separation. The guys who are earning more reps will get them.’’
When would it be ideal to name a starting quarterback?
Timeline for naming QB
“You know, I’ve done it every way,’’ said Lashlee, who came to UM from SMU, where the team went 10-3 last season and his offense ranked No. 7 of 130 FBS teams in scoring (41.8 points a game), No. 13 in passing offense (309 yards a game), No. 9 in total offense (489.8 yards a game) and No. 12 in first downs gained (322). “We’ve known going into spring, at the end of spring, middle of summer, beginning of fall camp, a week before the first game.
“I think always the sooner the better because it allows your team to develop its identity and identify the leadership hierarchy and the way things roll. But I don’t think any way is right or wrong. Coach [Manny] Diaz and I would probably do that when we feel like we know. When that is, isn’t as important as getting it right.’’
Lashlee, who also served as an offensive coordinator at UConn, Auburn, Arkansas State and Samford, was hired in January after UM dismissed former coordinator Dan Enos, who coached the Hurricanes for one season after head coach/coordinator Mark Richt stepped down.
Richt was mellow. Enos was tough, blunt, a screamer. Lashlee, a two-time finalist for the Broyles Award that goes to the nation’s top assistant at season’s end, described himself as “intense’’ and “competitive,’’ but a relationship-driven leader.
Intense but caring
“I think life is about relationships,’’ he said. “I think people matter. I don’t think kids care what you know until they know you care about them. The first thing I’ve been trying to do, and not only with the quarterbacks, is to get to know these guys and let them see I care about them more than just as football players.
“Our offense will fit my personality. We’ll be aggressive and go fast. But at the same time I’m not big on cussing and demeaning and dogging players. You coach them, you teach them, you show them the expectations. And once you communicate the expectations, you hold them to it.’’
In an interview aired recently and recorded just after signing day in early February with UM broadcaster Joe Zagacki, King said he had only been in Coral Gables for “two-and-a-half weeks” but was trying to “earn the team’s respect.’’
“It’s going great,’’ he said of his bonding with the other quarterbacks. “Me, Kosi, Tate, Peyton — everybody — has a good relationship already. Every quarterback room I’ve ever been in my whole college career we all had a good relationship. Obviously we have to come in and compete. Nobody has won a starting job yet.”
Spring game
Spring football is limited to 15 practices and concludes with the spring game April 11 at Traz Powell Stadium. The players will be off for UM’s spring break from March 7 until they resume practice March 17. That’s when Lashlee’s wife Lauren and their 9-year-old twin sons Hudson and Thomas, and 3-year-old twin daughters Rowyn and Scarlet, will leave the Dallas area and arrive in South Florida for good.
“My boys really enjoy the beach,’’ Lashlee said. “And my girls just keep talking about moving to the beach. They’ll be here soon and we’re all excited about it.’’
Canes fans are likely thrilled, too, as a new era of Miami football takes shape.
This story was originally published February 28, 2020 at 11:05 AM.
