Final UM scrimmage soon, as Diaz reveals possible ‘fun’ byproduct of strange year
The Miami Hurricanes have their final fall camp scrimmage, “a situational scrimmage,” and dress rehearsal of sorts on Friday night, UM coach Manny Diaz said Tuesday in his first Zoom session with the media in two weeks.
Diaz is holding off on any depth chart specifics until at least after this weekend.
“Until we get past our situational scrimmage on Friday night we’re not really deciding on anything depth-chart wise in terms of the two-deep and three-deep and all those type of guys,’’ Diaz said, when asked if he had decided on a backup quarterback to D’Eriq King. “We’ll know all that through the weekend.’’
Former part-time starter N’Kosi Perry, a redshirt junior along with competitor Tate Martell, as well as true freshman Tyler Van Dyke and redshirt freshman Peyton Matocha, are battling for the backup quarterback spot.
Coaches haven’t given any specific stats for the backups, other than UM reporting that the 6-4, 220-pound Van Dyke, out of Suffield Academy in Connecticut, completed five of six passes for 205 yards and a touchdown, with one interception, in the second scrimmage on Aug. 22. Perry would figure to be the front-runner, but Van Dyke would be able to play regardless, given that next year the NCAA has afforded an extra year of eligibility to every player who returns.
More from Diaz:
Two-way players in ‘20?
▪ Related to the COVID-19 situation, regarding what the policy should be for postponing games and how many players would be needed to play: “It’s something that has been discussed in [the Atlantic Coast Conference]. I don’t think there’s a broad, exact number because a lot of it has to do with what position. You could have 100 guys, but if none of the 100 play offensive line, for example, then it’s very difficult to play a game.
“We have discussed some of those measures of what they would be as a league.
“I know from our league, we are committed to play unless it just becomes to the point where you can’t. We’re all aware of that, and that’s why we’ve been telling our players, ‘This could be a year where a defensive player has to play offense and vice-versa’ — you know, a wideout has to play DB, someone has to play this position, that position, and you kind of have fun doing it.
“I think we’re all ready for that, and in the meantime just continue to do what we’re doing off the field to keep our testing going the way that it’s been going and limit the contact tracing.”
Traore rising
▪ Offensive lineman Ousman Traore, a 6-3, redshirt sophomore guard from College Park, Georgia, transferred last season from Hutchinson Community College and has been rising in the depth chart, possibly earning a first-team position.
According to UM stats, Traore saw action in last season’s home opener against Bethune-Cookman and in the Sept. 21 Central Michigan game. When asked about Traore, who made 11 starts and earned all-conference recognition in his one season at Hutchinson, Diaz said he was “really excited when he got here,’’ but that the lineman “kind of got caught up in a weird eligiblity snafu, where I think he would have been featured in some role for us a year ago.”
“But just a steady presence at guard — does his job without a lot of fuss. tough. So, he’s done a nice job sort of establishing a role for himself on this year’s team.’’
Defensive tackle Nesta Jade Silvera weighed in on Ousman, whom he goes against in practice: “Ous [pronounced ooze], I would say he definitely is a technician out there,’’ Silvera said. “He tries to hit you on specific spots... Just the whole O-line, they definitely, from what I can see from the outside looking in, seem like they have created a little bond. They’re working [and] helping us get better.’’
Joyner back to DE
▪ Redshirt sophomore Patrick Joyner, listed as 6-2 and 225 pounds, has returned to defensive end after being switched to linebacker the spring before last season. Diaz said he switched Joyner back after star end Gregory Rousseau opted out of the season and said he would enter the NFL Draft.
“We felt like we had a lot of depth at inside linebacker,” Diaz said. “I feel like that’s always been Patrick’s preferred home. He’s got a great knack, some sort of pass-rush instincts there. He led Dade County in sacks as a high school player.”
Joyner, out of Homestead South Dade High, only played in one game last season as he was recovering from offseason surgery.
▪ Redshirt junior running back Robert Burns practiced Tuesday for the first time this fall, in a limited capacity. Burns underwent offseason knee surgery, Barry Jackson reported Monday. Burns’ workload will be gradually increased, Diaz said.
This story was originally published September 1, 2020 at 3:16 PM.
