New Hurricanes offensive coordinator explains what fans can expect this season. And notes
A six-pack of Miami Hurricanes notes on a Monday:
▪ If you missed this, offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson was very insightful explaining his offensive system in recent days. Dawson will spread the field far more often than predecessor Josh Gattis did, but he will run the ball more than spread offenses traditionally do.
“I learned from the guys that revolutionized the pass game in college football,” Dawson told WQAM’s Joe Rose. “The important thing to understand is look, Air Raid is kind of a mentality. [Initially] they didn’t use tight ends, it was all four receivers.
“The game changes over time; you have to evolve with it. When I was at West Virginia we had tight ends on the roster, learned how to use them, be more physical in the run game and understanding that running effectively helps you throw more in terms of yards. What you really want to do is attack down the field, have to get defenses to play up on you.
“If you don’t run efficiently, they’re going to drop eight [in coverage]. So I’m going to try to get those [opposing defenses] to commit to stop the run, but my eyes are on those safeties 100 percent of the time. God forbid they inch up because we’ll go over the top of them.”
He said the Canes threw vertical passes on 18 of their 57 passes in the first scrimmage eight days ago.
“That’s where the space is; defenses like to crowd the box,” Dawson said. “If we’re going to throw deep balls, we have to throw deep balls. We overthrew nine of them. We were five for nine on balls we could actually get our hands on, 55 percent.
“So I told the quarterbacks this is simple math: If we give our guys a chance to catch the ball they will make a play for us. If we don’t, we are playing second and 10 football, which is not efficient football. You do have to be able to throw the ball vertically. I’m a firm believer in that. Defenses have to believe you can stretch the field, have to know in the back of their mind that I’m willing to take that shot at any time, even third-and-2.”
“That’s where the space is [important offensively]. Defenses like to crowd the box. If we’re going to throw deep balls, we have to throw deep balls. The throwing of the football mentality with the Air Raid has more to do with figuring out what people do good and pouring reps into them. Don’t try to be a master of everything. Maybe one guy is a great option route runner; that’s who we’re going to throw the option route to.”
UM will feature tight ends more than some traditional spread offenses do, and Dawson likes the group — Elijah Arroyo (out injured), Jaleel Skinner, eighth-year Oregon transfer Cam McCormick, Dom Mammarelli and freshmen Riley Williams and Jackson Carver.
“I evolved offensively to involve tight ends and heavy sets into what we do,” Dawson said. “The tight ends room has a lot of big, able-bodied guys. That room allows us to be very flexible. You don’t have to only line up in heavy sets with those guys because they can also play receiver.
“A tight end that can’t run and catch doesn’t do me a whole lot of good. I need a guy that’s actually a big receiver, and that’s what that room is full of. Even the young ones are really athletic, will gain weight and be good tight ends. From when I got here I was like `Wow.’ I haven’t had that in my career, that many good players in one room at that position. That’s an exciting part of being here.”
▪ Dawson on Van Dyke: “Tyler is very similar to the kid I had at Houston [Clayton Tune], predicted to be a mid-round [draft pick],” Dawson said. “Their body structure is similar. Tyler probably a stronger arm kid, little stronger arm. But the way they interact with people, their mentality is very similar. Tyler is very talented.”
Dawson said offensive line “is the group that is going to make or break us and everybody knows that,” Dawson said. “If you want to be good on offense you have to be good up front. … That group when they walk on the field looks different, man. Those young guys, they don’t look like young guys.”
Dawson also singled out one particular lineman.
“Matt Lee is a good football player, man,” Dawson said. “Our center in our offense does a lot. He has to be the one to set everything and get everyone going in the right direction up front. That kid right there is a really, really good football player.”
▪ UM coach Mario Cristobal loves what he has seen from running back Henry Parrish Jr.:
“Man, he’s different right now,” Cristobal said. “I felt like last year he just kind of bogged down, got nicked up, banged up. We were a little bit deficient up front and it affected him. That guy is determined to have a great season and great team. He’s getting downhill and be able to bounce up like I haven’t seen him be able to do. … And he’s catching the ball really well.”
▪ Cristobal told 247 Sports that he likes to add seven to 12 players through the transfer portal each offseason.
“You want to go get one if he can immediately make an impact,” Cristobal said.
The Canes already have added eight and will look for another receiver, another defensive tackle, quarterback depth, a sixth running back, another safety and perhaps another linebacker when the second window for players to enter the portal begins May 1.
▪ Departing offensive lineman DJ Scaife said emerging defensive end Nyjalik Kelly — who’s getting a lot of work this spring — ”has speed to power, can beat you with quickness off the line, can beat you with finesse moves. You can’t really know what he’s doing.”
▪ Jordan Miller is the only Hurricanes’ men’s basketball player whose college eligibility has expired. Isaiah Wong could turn pro or return to school...
Though Wooga Poplar shot 0 or 7 in the Final Four loss to Connecticut, UM people believe he has star potential. “By next year,” he’s going to be a monster, UM coach Jim Larranaga said.
Connecticut coach Dan Hurley said Poplar is “going to play in the NBA. This guy’s got to keep getting better, but he’s a draft-pick talent. He’s a much-improved shooter. He’s really good on a live dribble. He’s athletic. He’s tenacious.”
