Despite losing time together due to the coronavirus pandemic, Miami Hurricanes coach Manny Diaz remains confident that his players will pick up the team's offense under new coordinator Rhett Lashlee.
"I would be more concerned if we were going from an offense that was relatively simple to one that was relatively complex," Diaz told 560-AM on Thursday morning. "That's not the case. We're going from an offense that was fairly complex to one that's more user-friendly for our guys."
While Lashlee's spread offense that he brings with him from his most recent stop at Southern Methodist will increase the tempo for UM, its simplicity is what allows it to be executed at a quicker pace.
Diaz and Lashlee will also have a more experienced offense than the group under previous offensive coordinator Dan Enos, which put up pedestrian numbers last year. The Hurricanes now have grad transfer quarterback D'Eriq King to lead the way instead of Jarren Williams, who was a redshirt freshman getting his first meaningful game reps in 2019. Miami also brings back an entire offensive line that can improve upon youthful mistakes from last season.
"We have a much more experienced offense than we had a year ago," Diaz said. "Our age and experience, No. 1, in the quarterback room, bringing back our entire offensive line, bringing back the receivers, tight ends, running backs we do, we're just an older offensive football team than we were a year ago. The guys have a better understanding of what it's all about."
Now in the summer sessions of the academic calendar, players have been allowed to return to campus this month. They participate in voluntary activities, where a strength coach or trainer can be present at players' request. The team was communicating mostly through web video conferences since the initial outbreak of COVID-19 in March.
"The hardest part is not being in the same building," Diaz said. "Right now, more than ever, is a time that people need to be having conversations, talking, listening and being there for each other, and the fact that we're still apart and having to do those things either through video conferencing or the phone _ I just look forward to getting back around our guys and getting our team back into one place."
