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Miami Notes -- Fans get glimpse of new offense

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By Pete Conrad, Staff Writer Updated 12:07 AM Sunday, April 19, 2009

OXFORD — During the Red & White Spring Game on Saturday, April 18, Miami University football fans got their first glimpse of the offense first-year head coach Mike Haywood is installing.

Haywood has said Miami will run a pro-style offense with multiple formations and an emphasis on creating matchups, an offense which will vary week by week, perhaps running 40 times on Saturday, 20 times the next.

If Miami fans didn’t notice too much that was new, it should not be surprising. It was, after all, only a glimpse of a work in progress.

“We’re installing a lot of new stuff ... We didn’t use a lot of formations,” senior quarterback Daniel Raudabaugh said. “We kept it pretty basic.

“The No. 1 thing with the new offense is getting to understand it,” he said. “If you can’t think it, you can’t do it.”

Redshirt freshman Zac Dysert apparently has done well with his lessons.

“I thought I was going to have a hard time learning this offense,” he said, “but it’s simple once you get used to it.”

Now that the spring season is over, Dysert doesn’t intend to sit back and just chill out.

“I’ll keep throwing in the summer with Danny (Raudabaugh), try to get my arm strength where I want it to be,” Dysert said, “and watch a lot of film.”

Other QBs in action

Clay Belton, whose practice this spring has been limited by an unspecified injury, and Mike Scherpenberg saw some action at quarterback in the second half for the Red team.

Scherpenberg completed 2-of-5 passes for 21 yards and Belton was 1-of-5 for 0 yards and an interception (by redshirt freshman defensive end Evan Klepec).

Best-dressed award

Haywood was sporting a classy brown suit during Saturday’s scrimmage, something fans will want to get used to.

“Since 1982, I’ve never entered the stadium without a suit on,” he said.

Still making catches

Junior wide receiver Chris Givens picked up where he left off last year, by catching lots of passes from Raudabaugh. He finished the scrimmage with nine catches for 110 yards and a touchdown.

“Chris is a real physical receiver, the kind of guy who wants the ball on every play, and that’s what you want in a receiver, and it’s not just Chris,” Raudabaugh said.

Other receivers with multiple catches were Jamal Rogers, Kendrick Bruton and running back Danny Green for the White, and Eugene Harris and running back J.R. Taylor for the Red.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com.

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