University of Miami defensive coordinator Mark D’Onofrio knows his young defense has problems. But quitting isn’t one of them he said Monday during a post-practice interview in which he defended his players against comments made by a Notre Dame player.
Following the Fighting Irish’s 41-3 drubbing of the Hurricanes on Saturday night in Chicago, running back Cierre Wood told ESPN.com that he thought the Hurricanes gave up in the second half.
“They were all upbeat and jumping and all that stuff in the beginning,” Wood told the website. “But when you smack a team so many times in the mouth, eventually they’re going to want to stop playing, and that’s what happened today.”
D’Onofrio, whose unit is on pace to give up a record number of points in a season by a UM defense, disagreed.
“I don’t think that’s the case,” he said. “When you talk about the end of the game, you’re talking about Raphael Kirby, Dequan Ivery — those guys were playing their first football game. I don’t think any of those guys quit. We had our second- and third-team guys in for the remainder of the drive other than (Brandon) McGee. Guys played hard. We were on the field for 80 plays, 39 minutes. I wouldn’t say that’s accurate.”
In the wake of Saturday’s loss, two defensive starters have been demoted according to a depth chart released Monday. Senior defensive tackle Darius Smith was moved down to co-second team status, as was sophomore cornerback Thomas Finnie. Smith and Finnie started the Hurricanes’ first six games. Smith was not credited with a tackle against Notre Dame on Saturday and was flagged for a costly penalty that led to an Irish touchdown.
Wieclaw's struggles continue: Jake Wieclaw began the season kicking with the accuracy worthy of his inclusion on the Lou Groza Award watch list.
But since starting the year by connecting on his first seven field-goal attempts, the University of Miami senior has fallen into a bad slump.
Going back to the Georgia Tech game on Sept. 22, Wieclaw has missed 5 of his last 6 attempts. That included a 47-yard try near the end of the first half Saturday that would have reduced Notre Dame’s 1 3-3 lead going into halftime.
Wieclaw missed three field goals against North Carolina State on Sept. 29 and his last attempt against the Yellow Jackets. His one make in that span was a 28-yarder on Saturday, UM’s only points in a 41-3 loss to the Irish.
Wieclaw has missed from both short and longer range. He shanked a 19-yarder — the same distance as an extra point — against North Carolina State.
Coach Al Golden said he’s advised Wieclaw to “just keep swinging.”
“He just has to dig his way out of it,” Golden said. “That’s the only way out. Keep kicking, stick with it and develop the confidence.”
Golden said he is not considering benching Wieclaw and using redshirt freshman Matt Goudis, who has never attempted a place kick for Miami.
“I don’t think it’s time for that yet,” Golden said. “In our first 18 months here, Jake did a great job. He does need to kick better. He knows that.”
• Two defensive starters have been demoted according to a depth chart released Monday. Senior defensive tackle Darius Smith was moved down to co-second team status as was sophomore cornerback Thomas Finnie. Smith and Finnie started the Hurricanes’ first six games. Smith was not credited with a tackle against Notre Dame on Saturday and was flagged for a costly penalty that led to an Irish touchdown.
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