colleyvillesooner
8/20/2007, 09:06 AM
http://www.miamiherald.com/606/story/208727.html
UM's Wright wobbly on sore knee
Kyle Wright, competing for the Canes' starting quarterback spot, has a knee injury and might not play in today's scrimmage.
Kyle Wright, who has an injured left knee, is competing with Kirby Freeman at quarterback.
Kyle Wright's chances of winning the University of Miami starting quarterback job might have taken a hit.
Wright, a senior, attended practice Sunday morning wearing an elasticized brace over his left knee. He was limping noticeably, and did not participate in the stretching and running drills that precede the main part of practice.
UM coach Randy Shannon said Wright has been experiencing knee soreness for at least a few weeks.
''He's been competing the whole camp with it, but now it's time for us to relax him and get him ready for the [season],'' Shannon said after practice.
Shannon said Wright might miss today's scrimmage in the Orange Bowl. He had said it will be the final scrimmage of preseason camp.
Wright, who missed the last four games of last season recuperating from thumb surgery on his right (throwing) hand, is competing with Kirby Freeman for the starting spot. Shannon has repeatedly said he will name the starting quarterback Aug. 28, the Tuesday before the Sept. 1 opener against Marshall.
NO DEPTH
If Wright is unable to start the season, Freeman, a junior, would be the only healthy quarterback on scholarship. His backup likely would be junior walk-on Matt Perrelli of Jupiter.
Newcomer Robert Marve, a nationally touted quarterback who was named Mr. Florida Football after his senior season at Tampa Plant High, is expected to be redshirted. Marve is recovering from surgery on his left (nonthrowing) hand after a car accident last month.
When asked whether Wright's injury is worrisome, Shannon said, ``No. Not all.''
Shannon said Freeman and Wright are neck-and-neck in competing for the starting job. He said being injured and missing the final scrimmage would not preclude a player from starting in the opener.
The media is allowed to watch only the first 25 minutes of practice, and during that time Sunday, Wright was a bystander.
He stood on the practice field holding a football and watched Freeman and Perrelli during drills.
On Saturday, offensive coordinator Patrick Nix said Wright and Freeman had been impressive throughout camp. Nix said he was pleased to have depth at quarterback.
''You feel a little bit more comfortable, if something happens to one, you've got the other,'' Nix said. ``I've been in situations where we had one [quarterback], and that was all we had, so you had to be extremely conservative. . . . and [would] go to bed praying every night that he doesn't get hurt, because if he does you don't know what you're going to do.
``So it's nice to have two of them that have the ability they both have.''
NINE STARTS IN '06
In nine starts last season, Wright completed 152 of 250 passes for 1,655 yards, with eight touchdowns and seven interceptions. Freeman, who started the final four games of last season when Wright was injured, completed 59 of 108 passes for 872 yards with seven touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Wide receiver Darnell Jenkins said the offense has been making strides with Wright and Freeman, who until Sunday had been splitting reps. Jenkins said the offense has developed confidence in both quarterbacks, working to perfect timing with Freeman and Wright.
''Our quarterbacks are dealing real good and if one gets hurt we have confidence in both of them,'' said Jenkins, a senior. ``It's not do-or-die if one of them goes down.''
• Today's scrimmage in the Orange Bowl is closed to the public and media.
• Linebacker Colin McCarthy and cornerbacks Randy Phillips and Glenn Sharpe did not practice Sunday. Shannon said Phillips and Sharpe might miss the scrimmage.
Miami Herald sportswriter Susan Miller Degnan contributed to the report.
UM's Wright wobbly on sore knee
Kyle Wright, competing for the Canes' starting quarterback spot, has a knee injury and might not play in today's scrimmage.
Kyle Wright, who has an injured left knee, is competing with Kirby Freeman at quarterback.
Kyle Wright's chances of winning the University of Miami starting quarterback job might have taken a hit.
Wright, a senior, attended practice Sunday morning wearing an elasticized brace over his left knee. He was limping noticeably, and did not participate in the stretching and running drills that precede the main part of practice.
UM coach Randy Shannon said Wright has been experiencing knee soreness for at least a few weeks.
''He's been competing the whole camp with it, but now it's time for us to relax him and get him ready for the [season],'' Shannon said after practice.
Shannon said Wright might miss today's scrimmage in the Orange Bowl. He had said it will be the final scrimmage of preseason camp.
Wright, who missed the last four games of last season recuperating from thumb surgery on his right (throwing) hand, is competing with Kirby Freeman for the starting spot. Shannon has repeatedly said he will name the starting quarterback Aug. 28, the Tuesday before the Sept. 1 opener against Marshall.
NO DEPTH
If Wright is unable to start the season, Freeman, a junior, would be the only healthy quarterback on scholarship. His backup likely would be junior walk-on Matt Perrelli of Jupiter.
Newcomer Robert Marve, a nationally touted quarterback who was named Mr. Florida Football after his senior season at Tampa Plant High, is expected to be redshirted. Marve is recovering from surgery on his left (nonthrowing) hand after a car accident last month.
When asked whether Wright's injury is worrisome, Shannon said, ``No. Not all.''
Shannon said Freeman and Wright are neck-and-neck in competing for the starting job. He said being injured and missing the final scrimmage would not preclude a player from starting in the opener.
The media is allowed to watch only the first 25 minutes of practice, and during that time Sunday, Wright was a bystander.
He stood on the practice field holding a football and watched Freeman and Perrelli during drills.
On Saturday, offensive coordinator Patrick Nix said Wright and Freeman had been impressive throughout camp. Nix said he was pleased to have depth at quarterback.
''You feel a little bit more comfortable, if something happens to one, you've got the other,'' Nix said. ``I've been in situations where we had one [quarterback], and that was all we had, so you had to be extremely conservative. . . . and [would] go to bed praying every night that he doesn't get hurt, because if he does you don't know what you're going to do.
``So it's nice to have two of them that have the ability they both have.''
NINE STARTS IN '06
In nine starts last season, Wright completed 152 of 250 passes for 1,655 yards, with eight touchdowns and seven interceptions. Freeman, who started the final four games of last season when Wright was injured, completed 59 of 108 passes for 872 yards with seven touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Wide receiver Darnell Jenkins said the offense has been making strides with Wright and Freeman, who until Sunday had been splitting reps. Jenkins said the offense has developed confidence in both quarterbacks, working to perfect timing with Freeman and Wright.
''Our quarterbacks are dealing real good and if one gets hurt we have confidence in both of them,'' said Jenkins, a senior. ``It's not do-or-die if one of them goes down.''
• Today's scrimmage in the Orange Bowl is closed to the public and media.
• Linebacker Colin McCarthy and cornerbacks Randy Phillips and Glenn Sharpe did not practice Sunday. Shannon said Phillips and Sharpe might miss the scrimmage.
Miami Herald sportswriter Susan Miller Degnan contributed to the report.