Miami's Whipple talks transition, receivers, playbook and more
August, 24, 2009
Aug 24
5:17
PM ET
Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich
First-year Miami coach Mark Whipple seems like a no-nonsense kind of guy, and since he's arrived, he's wasted no time making a difference. The players have bought in, they respect his NFL background (he's not shy about name-dropping), and there is a confidence and a swagger that indicates they're eager to show what they've learned this offseason. Whipple was kind enough to answer a few questions recently about a variety of topics. Here is the first of a two-part Q&A series:
AP Photo/J. Pat Carter
Miami offensive coordinator Mark Whipple is still adjusting to the college game.
When you came to Miami and saw your personnel, is there something that stood out to you as a certain strength?
MW: I think the work ethic, the character and the hunger, attitude. And how young they were, coming from the NFL.
Yeah, people don't realize a lot of them are only sophomores.
MW: Well even the seniors seem young.
How did your relationship with Jacory [Harris] start, and how has it progressed? He told me you're like a father figure to him already.
MW: I'm a good father when he plays well and I'm probably a bad father when he doesn't. I think the thing, well, between him and all the players, is just a respect for one another. It continues to grow. As you get to know people, a lot of times it can be good, sometimes it can be bad. This has been really good.
Talk to me like you're watching Jacory on film and break it down for me. What are the things he does well, what are the things you've tweaked technique-wise, what are some things he needs to improve on?
MW: I just think the experience within this offense, he's a hard worker. He's a little more athletic than maybe I thought he was when I was watching tape before I met him. And me getting to know what his strengths are a little more in the throw game, in the passing game. I think he's becoming more of a leader, and the things I can allow him to do, check-wise or that way, how much he can handle. It's growing every day.
Do you guys need to narrow down that big group of receivers, or is it OK to have eight different guys catching the ball?
MW: I've never heard a coach say they've got too many good players, and I'm in that group.
How do you go about coming to a program and changing things?
MW: I don't think it's more change, I just hope I can add something. We have a great history and tremendous tradition, a tremendous university as a school. I think that's where it starts. When I got here I knew they had won five national championships, but this place has played for 10. I'm just trying to add to that and help the kids to get better. That's the one thing as a coach/teacher you try to do.
How does the offensive line look?
MW: They're growing, they're getting better. I think we've gained a little more depth. We're getting a little more flexible. That's the one thing that helps you coming from the NFL. A lot of times you go into the game in the NFL with seven guys dressed. We're going the same kinds of things here, where guys are learning different positions. Coming out of spring, I thought we were solid. Some of the young guys have gotten a little bit better. We're a little deeper, but never as deep as you'd like to be. I feel better about that group.
As far as you making the transition from NFL to college again, what are some of the adjustments you've had to make?
MW: I was fortunate to be with two great organizations that had two great teams, championship-type teams. At first, it's slower. They're not as big, not as fast, not as old, not as mature. Then when I look back, they did a really good job in the spring of embracing the playbook and the offense and the things we gave them. Everybody kept saying we have some young talent. It's hard for me to look at it that way, after the guys I was used to coaching the last five years -- the Roethlisbergers, the Westbrooks, the DeSean Jacksons, Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes -- those guys I was around, Heath Miller, Alan Faneca. I didn't even have a chance to even look at the University of Miami last year on offense and defense, and then once I looked at it, I said, 'Oh, I guess we do have some talent we can work with.' That didn't happen until after spring was over. When you look at high school teams, that was even more difficult.
Want to know how extensive Whipple's playbook is? Check back in a few for Part II."
First-year Miami coach Mark Whipple seems like a no-nonsense kind of guy, and since he's arrived, he's wasted no time making a difference. The players have bought in, they respect his NFL background (he's not shy about name-dropping), and there is a confidence and a swagger that indicates they're eager to show what they've learned this offseason. Whipple was kind enough to answer a few questions recently about a variety of topics. Here is the first of a two-part Q&A series:
AP Photo/J. Pat Carter
Miami offensive coordinator Mark Whipple is still adjusting to the college game.
When you came to Miami and saw your personnel, is there something that stood out to you as a certain strength?
MW: I think the work ethic, the character and the hunger, attitude. And how young they were, coming from the NFL.
Yeah, people don't realize a lot of them are only sophomores.
MW: Well even the seniors seem young.
How did your relationship with Jacory [Harris] start, and how has it progressed? He told me you're like a father figure to him already.
MW: I'm a good father when he plays well and I'm probably a bad father when he doesn't. I think the thing, well, between him and all the players, is just a respect for one another. It continues to grow. As you get to know people, a lot of times it can be good, sometimes it can be bad. This has been really good.
Talk to me like you're watching Jacory on film and break it down for me. What are the things he does well, what are the things you've tweaked technique-wise, what are some things he needs to improve on?
MW: I just think the experience within this offense, he's a hard worker. He's a little more athletic than maybe I thought he was when I was watching tape before I met him. And me getting to know what his strengths are a little more in the throw game, in the passing game. I think he's becoming more of a leader, and the things I can allow him to do, check-wise or that way, how much he can handle. It's growing every day.
Do you guys need to narrow down that big group of receivers, or is it OK to have eight different guys catching the ball?
MW: I've never heard a coach say they've got too many good players, and I'm in that group.
How do you go about coming to a program and changing things?
MW: I don't think it's more change, I just hope I can add something. We have a great history and tremendous tradition, a tremendous university as a school. I think that's where it starts. When I got here I knew they had won five national championships, but this place has played for 10. I'm just trying to add to that and help the kids to get better. That's the one thing as a coach/teacher you try to do.
How does the offensive line look?
MW: They're growing, they're getting better. I think we've gained a little more depth. We're getting a little more flexible. That's the one thing that helps you coming from the NFL. A lot of times you go into the game in the NFL with seven guys dressed. We're going the same kinds of things here, where guys are learning different positions. Coming out of spring, I thought we were solid. Some of the young guys have gotten a little bit better. We're a little deeper, but never as deep as you'd like to be. I feel better about that group.
As far as you making the transition from NFL to college again, what are some of the adjustments you've had to make?
MW: I was fortunate to be with two great organizations that had two great teams, championship-type teams. At first, it's slower. They're not as big, not as fast, not as old, not as mature. Then when I look back, they did a really good job in the spring of embracing the playbook and the offense and the things we gave them. Everybody kept saying we have some young talent. It's hard for me to look at it that way, after the guys I was used to coaching the last five years -- the Roethlisbergers, the Westbrooks, the DeSean Jacksons, Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes -- those guys I was around, Heath Miller, Alan Faneca. I didn't even have a chance to even look at the University of Miami last year on offense and defense, and then once I looked at it, I said, 'Oh, I guess we do have some talent we can work with.' That didn't happen until after spring was over. When you look at high school teams, that was even more difficult.
Want to know how extensive Whipple's playbook is? Check back in a few for Part II."
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ABOUT THIS BLOG
Heather Dinich
Dinich covered ACC and Big Ten football for five seasons before joining ESPN.com in November 2007. She's an Indiana grad but somehow her favorite day of the week is Saturday.
