Injuries give other University of Miami's linemen extra reps

Injuries give other University of Miami's linemen extra reps

The University of Miami offensive linemen are not letting recent injuries deter them, according to coach Randy Shannon. Instead, Shannon said, they are taking advantage of any temporary absences to bolster the younger players.

Brandon Washington has become one of the two latest casualties on the Hurricanes' offensive line.

Washington, a 6-4, 330-pound rising sophomore, was seen at the end of football practice Tuesday with a large brace covering nearly his entire left leg. He could not bend the leg, and limped slowly into the locker room. It is believed he sustained a medial collateral ligament injury last week.
Also hobbled is 6-6, 285-pound redshirt freshman Stephen Plein, who was converted from tight end and has been practicing at both tackle spots. His specific injury was not revealed.

Starting left tackle Orlando Franklin, 6-7 and 318 pounds, has back spasms and missed practice Tuesday. Guard Joel Figueroa is not participating this spring to rehabilitate his shoulder.

``It's not the season,'' Shannon said, explaining that the injuries won't affect preparation. ``The one thing it does is it gets a lot of guys a lot of reps and you build on that. Guys can see different formations. As far as where the defense is going, they learn from it and make their calls and checks and things like that. The more reps you get, the better off you're going to become [as] a player. You can see the improvement from Day One to now.''

Shannon said Harland Gunn, Jared Wheeler and Cory White are rotating at guard now. Franklin said White had been practicing at tackle last week.

`Those guys are really doing a good job,'' Shannon said.

One of the newcomers, freshman backup center Shane McDermott, said he needs to gain 10 to 15 pounds on his 6-3, 275-pound frame by the fall.

``Hopefully, that will put me in a better position to fight for the starting position,'' he said. ``It's physics. Newton's Laws don't lie. You can have technique and you can block a 300-pounder, but eventually the weight is going to attribute to everything.

``I've been doing really good against those guys, [but] every now and then my technique isn't perfect yet, so every now and then I screw up.''

McDermott said he is ``chugging Muscle Milks like there's no tomorrow.''

Tyler Horn is practicing at first-team center.

NOTABLE
Shannon and receivers coach Aubrey Hill said the receivers dropped too many passes Tuesday and in last week's scrimmage.

``When it's raining, it's pouring,'' Hill said. ``There are no excuses. We've got to do a better job. We're a veteran group.''

Shannon praised receiver Travis Benjamin, saying he ``got physical'' Tuesday during press coverage.

``Usually, he just wants to use his speed,'' Shannon said. ``But he got physical and used his strength. He's a strong guy in the weight room, but his frame doesn't look very strong. That was really big to see him do something else besides run around past a guy.''

Safety Jared Campbell had a boot on his right leg Tuesday and walked with crutches.