MIAMI FOOTBALL

More work needed before opener

Brett Gabbert has been in fine form during fall camp. (MVSmith/MRO)

By MIKE SMITH
For those Miami football fans attending Saturday's "Kickoff with the Community" event at Yager Stadium, it was a chance to get a look at the 2024 squad that will soon embark on a very challenging schedule. 

Head Coach Chuck Martin, meanwhile, has been able to watch his squad almost daily during fall camp. At least from what he viewed Saturday, Martin didn't like what he saw. 

"Today we were terrible. We were not physical enough on either side of the ball. We did not play fast enough on either side of the ball. We did not have a good situational awareness," Martin said. "We've got two weeks to try to improve a lot."

For Martin, the annual . . . 

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Lynel Billups-Williams leas for a touchdown pass. (MVSmith/MRO)

. . . preview serves an important purpose: It is a dress rehearsal of sorts. So while he observed, "We've done a lot of good things in camp," he also noted that is usually with just coaches and teammates present.

"This is why you do (an event like Saturday). You allow fans to come. You allow media to come. You try to go through your pregame workout. We've got headphones. We've got our ipads out -- and then (suddenly) everybody's brain gets fried. They forget how to play football.

He continued, "You have these dress rehearsal days because it's different when its game time. It's different when the lights go on . . . (although today it was only) a little lights."

"Today was not a great day," Martin said, but "we've got another few days to keep working on the fundamentals -- to play the game the right way. To play physical. To play fast. To play smart . . .  Today will be a good day if we learn from it." 

Miami opens its season Aug. 31 at Northwestern. Martin said specific game preparation for that will begin the week before the contest. 

Here are more observations, including comments from Martin on fall camp and other 2024 topics. 

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Marcus White (69) and Michael Popov (67) block Oyeta Alexander during Saturday's fan preview. (MVSmith/MRO)

>>>> SATURDAY OFFENSE VS DEFENSE
Miami's defense, one of the MAC's better 2023 defensive units, controlled play early Saturday. However, the offense seemed to gain some traction as practice continued. A couple of touchdown catch pictures are included with this article. 

>>>> TWO DEEP
Martin said the two-deep is "settling in," but there are "some spots still open that guys are fighting for." 
One of the spots still to be determined is at place kicker, where Miami is replacing Lou Groza award winner Graham Nicholson (now at Alabama). 
"We have two really, really capable place kickers in Dom (Dzioban) and Kellan (McLaughlin). They both have had really outstanding camps. That (battle) will go down to the wire." Dzioban is a redshirt junior, while McLaughlin is a redshirt freshman. 

Cole Weaver pulls in a touchdown.The redshirt freshman is one of the young talents in Miami's receiving room. (MVSmith/MRO)

>>>> GABBERT'S RETURN
Gabbert's 2023 season ended early when he suffered a nasty broken leg in Miami's home loss to Toledo. He has recovered and according to Martin has been "excellent" in fall camp.
"He's thrown the heck out of it. He's sharp as ever. He allows us to have a chance on every down. He competes his tail off for our offense."

>>>> RECEIVERS
Miami lost several key targes (e.g. Gage Larvadain, Joe Wilkins) Martin however, feels good about MU's 2024 receiving corps. "We have plenty of talented receivers . . . We'll be really good at that spot if we can overcome our lack of experience." Among the more experienced options is senior Cade McDonald, who had a TD catch Saturday. He ranked second among Miami receivers last year with 28 catches for 365 yards and three TDs. Sophomore Javon Tracy recorded 22 catches for 348 yards and 2 scores. 

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Josh Ringer picks up yardage. (MVSmith/MRO)

>>>> RUNNING GAME
Rashad Amos ran 210 times, totaling 1,075 yards and 13 TDs for the RedHawks last year before transferring (Ole Miss). Martin noted this year will be more of a "running back by committee" approach. Senior Kenny Tracy, who averaged 5.4 ypc last year, returns to lead "the committee."

>>>> DEFENSE
Miami took some hits from what was one of the MAC's top defenses. However, Martin likes what is returning. Among the veterans are DL Corey Suttle, DL Kobe Hilton, LB Ty Wise and MAC 2023 Defensive Player of the Year Matt Salopek. 
"I think we have enough playmakers back there," Martin said, adding, "Can we figure out how to . . .  keep the game simple so (our less experienced players) can play the right way and make the plays they're supposed to make?"

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