Hello, TVD. ‘Intense’ Miami scrimmage No. 2 over. Cristobal’s take, with spring game on tap
One week before the highly anticipated Miami Hurricanes spring game, spring scrimmage No. 2 took place at Greentree Field on Saturday at the University of Miami campus.
Scores of former players going back to the 1970s attended to watch the Hurricanes’ rejunvenated program under head coach Mario Cristobal. ESPN College GameDay host and former Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard attended as well. One of the former players told the Miami Herald it was “intense” and “efficient” and extremely physical.
The situational scrimmage was closed to the media, but here’s Cristobal’s take from the scrimmage, as released to reporters in a video recorded immediately afterward:
“Progress, more progress. A lot more positives on offense this time.”
Cristobal, who said last Saturday’s first scrimmage was won by the defense, said “this one belonged to the offense.’’
When asked by former UM center and Canes radio commentator Don Bailey Junior if anyone jumped out on offense, the coach said quarterback “Tyler Van Dyke first and foremost.“
He also praised slot receiver Xavier Restrepo, who almost certainly will begin the season as a UM starter. “Xavier Restrepo took over,’’ Cristobal said. “Really made some big, big plays.”
Cristobal also praised tight ends Elijah Arroyo and Jaleel Skinner for “big plays.’’
He cited running backs Thad Franklin, Henry Parrish and Cody Brown’s positive play. “The running backs had a good day.’’
The ball was “spread around” Saturday, Cristobal said, mentioning receivers Jacolby George and Key’Shawn Smith.
“Most importantly,’’ the coach said, “the guys up front did a really good job.’’ He spoke about the tight ends being detailed in their blocking and “the protection — all that stuff was really good.’’
A source told the Herald the offensive line appears much improved.
More from Cristobal
“It started out front at the line of scrimmage. It started with finding ways to keep the sticks moving, overcoming penalties, overcoming situations. And then getting downhill. Got downhill in the running game and made some really big plays in the passing game. And everybody did — the tight ends, running backs, wide receivers.
“And then credit to the defense, for finding a way after the first drive to find a way to stop the offense in the red zone and force field goals and then eventually win the two-minute drills. So, pretty good back and forth, but overall the day belonged to the offense.’’
Cristobal said he appreciated that players “hung in there.’’
“We just gotta learn that we gotta create our own juice. A big play shouldn’t deflate us. ...I think it was a 15-play drive to start off before the offense scored should not deflate us. We gotta learn to rally around each other. We can’t be a front-running team. And you gotta practice that.”
Defensive wise, the coach said that “tackling has got to improve. We gotta be knock-back tacklers. We’re not there yet.”
But Cristobal lauded the play of sophomore defensive tackle Leonard Taylor, a 6-3, 305-pound former 5-star recruit out of Miami Palmetto High.
“There were some flashes of physicality,’’ the coach said. “I thought up front, Leonard Taylor really popped today with a couple of negative plays. We need to play a better technique up front. [Defensive end] Jahfari Harvey just goes 100-miles-per-hour all the time, always forcing plays.
“[Fellow defensive end] Thomas Davis is a guy that has to be singled out as well. He has made a lot of plays this spring.” Cristobal said Davis, a 6-2, 220-pound redshirt freshman out of Valdosta, Georgia, Lowndes High, plays “with relentless effort, technique and toughness.
How did Cristobal end his message?
“Go Canes.”
UM’s spring game is at noon April 16 at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
This story was originally published April 9, 2022 at 1:55 PM.
