King goes off in last scrimmage before season opener

Manny Diaz and the Canes held their last fall scrimmage and what better setting than the site of next Thursday’s home opener vs. UAB. Last week, Diaz mentioned that Friday would serve more as a situational scrimmage to see how his players would react in and approach mid-game adversity. Coaches did their best to create a very game-like atmosphere with crowd noise as well as music being blared in between downs. Here are some key notes and stats from Friday’s scrimmage:

• Miami’s newest starter at QB and Heisman trophy candidate showed on Friday night that he thrives on adversity. The team started the second quarter down 24-0 and in response, D’Eriq King connected on 24 of 34 passes for 330 yards and six touchdown passes while running for 84 yards and 9 carries.
• The beneficiaries of King’s performance were spread out across the board. Freshman receiver Jeremiah Payton led the wideouts with 95 yards on 3 catches with a touchdown. Mike Harley caught five passes for 78 yards and a TD while Mark Pope had four catches for 65 yards and two touchdowns.
• Diaz on the team’s execution in the red zone: “That’s the whole key. You’ve got to finish drives and I thought our execution, we did a bunch of different things down there and I thought we were crisp. No assignment issues and everyone seemed to know what to do and do it at a high level.”
• Defensively, Miami started a front-4 of Jaelan Phillips, Jon Ford, Nesta Silvera, and Quincy Roche. According to a Canes press release, called their performance a “steady disruption” of the offense’s backfield.
• Stat-wise, Silvera, Roche, and freshman DT Jared Harrison-Hunte all had sacks while Cam Williams and Sam Brooks each had a QB pressure. Diaz added: “We’re going to have to have some depth as well, so even when the other guys went in I thought we were able to be disruptive with the front like what you would expect.”

While UAB won’t have any game film on the Canes, Miami will have film study as UAB opened up their season on Thursday night, winning 45-35 against Central Arkansas and Diaz knows that the scoreboard doesn’t fully acknowledge UAB’s talent.

“You still see a very, very good defensive football team in UAB, an outstanding rushing attack, very balanced, multiple guys going in there and running for big yards, and you still see Watkins as their leading receiver and the tight ends were dynamic — especially in the red zone. They’re a very experienced team who’s been in games. The moment will not be too big to them and we know we’ll have to play our best to beat them.”

Keep it locked at Five Reasons Sports for the latest in Miami Hurricanes coverage and be sure to tune into #TheSixthRing this coming Tuesday night at 7:30. We will dive deeper into the season opener as well as predictions the rest of the way.