CORAL GABLES – We’re headed to the final week of Miami’s evaluation period for the upcoming 2019 season.
In what was proven to be a spirited and revealing closed scrimmage on the night of Sunday, Aug. 4, head coach Manny Diaz was encouraged by several actions that took place.
Let’s start with our very own Gurvan Hall, Jr.
The Palm Beach Gardens alum was clearly the team’s defensive star, as his two interceptions wowed Diaz and his coaching staff. He was arguably the most impactful player on the entire team.
“We’re looking for some guys to step up in the secondary, so seeing a guy like Gurvan Hall with two interceptions – one was on a pick, the other was on an outstanding break where he made an outstanding play, that we think he’s that type of guy – was really encouraging,” Diaz said.
Guess who was another standout on defense?
“Up front, we have to be a disruptive defense,” Diaz said. “A guy like Mike Pinckney, you see him popping through with a couple tackles for loss, which is right up his alley.”
What about the offense? Who was a standout to Diaz?
“DeeJay Dallas, I thought, ran the ball really well,” Diaz said. “He also caught a touchdown pass. He’s a really versatile guy, which we’ve already known. I thought, in terms of his day running the ball, it was his best day of training camp.”
One other offensive player made a positive impression on Diaz.
“In the back end, down the field, Mike Harley looked really dynamic running routes,” Diaz said. “He was dynamic when he had the ball in his hands and had some really good runs after the catch.”
What about the quarterbacks? How did Tate Martell, N’Kosi Perry, and Jarren Williams do?
“Collectively, I was pleased,” Diaz said. “We rotated the three guys with the ones [first string] and twos [second] evenly. Combined they completed 71 percent of their passes, which is encouraging. All three guys led a touchdown drive, which was very encouraging for me. The battle rages on. There’s a lot of stuff mechanically and organizationally we need to correct, but all three guys left with something to be proud of.”
By the time the next scrimmage ends, there could be a final decision made on every starting position. Diaz made that much clear.
“This is the most important week of their 2019,” Diaz said on Sunday night. “That’s what we’ve told them. Everything they trained for – every weight they lifted, every sprint they’ve run, everything they’ve done – has been for this six-day period between right now and next Saturday. Because after next Saturday, we have to set sail on the 2019 season and not everyone is invited on the boat. If you want to be on the boat, you’ve got to step up this week.”
The sense of urgency and sheer focus are literally everything now.
“You really have to bring it,” Diaz said of the players. “You have to compete all week. This is going to be a hard week, intentionally. We told them it’s going to be hard. We have to find out. This is really our last evaluation of separating the ones who like it from the ones who love it.”
LOCAL PROJECTIONS: While Hall is a near lock for one of the two starting safety positions, fellow Palm Beach Gardens alum and safety Amari Carter will be in a true dogfight for the other spot.
Jonathan Garvin (Lake Worth alum) will start a defensive end this season, while Zach McCloud (Santaluces alum) will see a lot of playing time at linebacker for his senior season.
