 |
| Duke Johnson (Photo Credit: Bleacher Report) |
Written By: Nathan Skinner
Canes Rising Contributor
The 'Canes are entering the home stretch of fall camp, and battles are heating up. From quarterback to linebacker, players are doing everything they can to catch the attention of the coaching staff. Although fans only care about the highly publicized battle between quarterbacks Jake Heaps and Brad Kaaya, there are other battles that warrant attention.
Offense
Quarterback--The battle between Heaps and Kaaya is slowly coming into focus. During Wednesday's scrimmage, Heaps was a leader, he had full control of the offense. While Kaaya is slowly gaining confidence in the system, he still lacks command of the huddle. Physically Kaaya is ahead of Heaps and it's obvious to all observers including Head Coach Al Golden, who has spoken highly of the talented newcomer. Kaaya's physical gifts, and his quick grasp of the system is starting to cut into Heaps' advantage. What was once considered Heaps' job to lose, is now a dead heat. Kaaya was listed as the starting quarterback in the first depth chart released this fall, but this battle isn't over. This race, like the 2000 presidential election, is too close to call.
Running Back--Unlike the quarterback position, there is an unquestioned leader at this position, and his name is Duke Johnson. Duke has made some amazing plays during camp, and he looks to be stronger than he was last season. During his appearance on the ESPN U College Football Podcast, Golden remarked that Duke has gained 10 pounds of muscle. This weight gain has led to Duke being able to finish more runs during camp. Joseph Yearby has made some great runs this week, but he has looked hesitant when asked to make sharp cuts. This shouldn't be a concern over the long haul, but it is something we should all keep an eye on. Trayone Gray has been one of the best athletes on the field during camp, the problem is projecting where he will end up. Gray, an athlete that can play receiver, corner, or safety, may end up being the odd man out. Gus Edwards hasn't made the big plays, but he's been very consistent. His power was evident throughout the week, as he romped through the defense. The depth chart hasn't changed and barring injury, it will not. Duke and Yearby will be the primary backs, with Edwards being the short yardage specialist.
Wide Receiver--Braxton Berrios may not be a player most Miami fans recognize but they will, very soon. Berrios has been everywhere this camp. He's returned punts, he's been a factor in the passing game, and managed to become a staff favorite. If this young man can continue to develop, he will be a deadly weapon in the horizontal passing game. Stacy Coley continues to play well, as well as Philip Dorsett. Rashawn Scott, a player expected to provide depth, is still a non factor. He isn't listed on the depth chart, and is battling an injury. If Scott is unable to play, look for freshman Tyre Brady to fill that role. Brady has made some impressive catches, and is a big body who is great at creating space in traffic.
Tight End--Standish Dobard has arrived, and Clive Walford should take notice. Dobard has been listed as the starter on the first depth chart, which is shocking to those who haven't been to camp. Walford is a returning starter, a player who has been productive , but Dobard has great size, solid speed, and superior upside. I wouldn't be shocked if Dobard and Walford end up seeing an equal number of snaps, due to Coley's fondness of 2 tight end sets, but Dobard has made a compelling case to be the starter. With the evolution of the position over the last 5 years, having two talented, athletic players at the position is a luxury. I'd love to see Walford used as an HBack in short yardage situations, with Dobard at the traditional tight end spot.
Offensive Line--While last week's report overlooked the offensive line, this week's report will not. It's been a pretty hectic week on the offensive line, with injuries, and surprising depth chart leaders. Jon Feliciano, a player who was considered a surefire starter, is in a battle for his position, if the depth chart is to believed. Hunter Wells, a player that has been a total unknown, is battling Feliciano for the left guard spot. Is this a real battle, or is Art Kehoe making a statement? In my opinion, Feliciano will be the starter on Labor Day, but this is a situation that should be monitored. K.C McDermott continues to impress, despite being nicked up over the course of the week. Taylor Gadbois continues to be stuck in neutral, not doing much, but not making mistakes. Gadbois may end up starting, but he hasn't broken out of the pack. Ereck Flowers continues to be the best of this group, which isn't a surprise.
Defense
Defensive Line--David Harris has emerged as a legitimate player on the depth chart, thanks to his steady play. Harris, an overlooked player coming into camp, has impressed with his consistency, and his ability to execute the scheme. Michael Wyche continues to struggle with his conditioning, which is limiting his effectiveness. It's too early to say that Wyche will not be a factor this season, but this bit of news is disappointing, because Wyche is a sorely needed player. Look for Wyche to turn the corner by the end of camp, if he doesn't the 'Canes will have to look to someone else to fill that role. Calvin Heurtelou has found his way to the top of the depth chart, and he's a player who has lived up to the hype this camp. This group has been a factor in camp, and has shown flashes of being a unit that is vastly improved from last season. During Wednesday's scrimmage, there were a ton of batted passes, which is a significant difference from last season. Chad Thomas, Al-Quadin Muhammad, and Tyriq McCord have all been very active on the edge, with Thomas looking every bit the potential star. This position may be deeper than originally thought, especially if Wyche can get his conditioning issues under control.
Linebackers-- This position continues to be a bus terminal. Walter Tucker, who last week was seeing significant time at the position, was moved back to fullback. Taking his place this week is former wide receiver David Njoku. Njoku, a solid athlete, is a true freshman who played some 'backer in high school. This position switch has been a hot topic on message boards, with some people wondering why a player who has been spotted making plays at a position would be moved to another one where he is an complete unknown. Let's look at the likely reasoning. Njoku was a likely redshirt candidate, regardless of which position he played. There's too much depth at wide receiver, and he may not be ready to play linebacker right now. The point of this move is to see which position best showcases Njoku's talent. If he isn't a linebacker, he will get moved to wide receiver, or tight end. This staff has earned the benefit of the doubt in regards to this move, because they have done a great job in moving players and those players blossoming. Corn Elder and Dallas Crawford are two examples.
Secondary-- The injury bug has struck this position. Potential starter Rayshawn Jenkins is out for the season, after injuring his back during camp. Fortunately, this group is the deepest on the defense, and will be able to absorb this blow. That said, this injury now means that a freshman, likely Marques Gayot will see an expanded role. The rest of the secondary looks to be set. Fans should be looking forward to seeing Corn Elder, he's going to be a star provided he stays healthy.
This second week of camp has been very exciting. With all that has happened, the one thing fans should note is that there's legitimate competition at many positions. This is welcome news, and is also something that has been missing from the program for many years. Talented newcomers are coming in and pushing for playing time immediately. While depth continues to be an issue, this team is starting to resemble a legitimate top 25 program.
https://ct.yimg.com/mr/uploads/903/1574612.pdf (The first depth chart of the fall)
As usual, a special thanks to Manny Navarro of the Miami Herald for his camp notes, and the guys over at InsideTheU for practice footage.
Posts
