Miami hosted their second scrimmage today at Traz Powell Stadium in North Miami and gave fans their first taste of the 2019 Miami Hurricanes. There are and will continue to be a lot of questions that need to be answered come August 24thwhen the Hurricanes head to Orlando to play the Florida Gators.

The offense, specifically, is under a microscope as people are vigilantly watching to find hope for an improved offense from the train wreck that the Canes fielded last year. In the first half, we saw an offensive line that was able to hold their own against the Hurricanes defensive line. Granted, it seems like the referees were being a bit generous as plays that looked like clear sacks played on.

Regardless, the running backs impressed early and often. No matter if it is junior Deejay Dallas or sophomore Cam’Ron Harris, plays were being made in the backfield. During the second drive of the game, led by redshirt freshman quarterback Jarren Williams, Harris had a 10+ yard run and a 30-yard run that was capped off by Dallas punching it into the end zone for his first of three touchdowns on the day.

Dallas finished the day with 13 carries for 108 yards and three touchdowns while Harris had 10 carries for 61 yards.

Of the quarterbacks, it looked like N’Kosi Perry and Williams were ahead. Tate Martell didn’t look all that great most of the time. His biggest blunders were an interception thrown right to D.J. Ivey and missing Evidence Njoku, who had a tremendous size advantage over the walk-on that covered him, on a slant route.

The stats are a bit misleading and virtually useless given the fact that they weren’t calling sacks the way they were a week ago and allowing them to play through delay-of-games. The eye test tells you that Williams and Perry are farther along than Martell is.

Had sacks been called, I don’t think the offense would have moved very much.

Buffalo grad transfer K.J. Osborn led all receivers in receptions and yards today with six catches for 67 yards. He could have had more and even brought in a touchdown, but Williams missed him for a touchdown.

Mark Pope is another receiver who impressed on the day with two catches for 34 yards and a 52-yard rush on an end around. The true freshman receiver Jeremiah Payton showed that he is ready for major college football with three catches for 60 yards and a touchdown as the scrimmage wrapped up. The Payton touchdown should have been intercepted, but instead landed right in the hands of the Jacksonville native who took it for a touchdown.

There were plenty of important people in attendance to watch the Hurricanes today — both of the past and, hopefully, the future. Michael Irvin, Warren Sapp, Russell Maryland, DJ Williams, Antrell Rolle, and Gino Torretta among them.

Among notable recruits in attendance were five-star California LB Justin Flowe, Deerfield Beach RB Jaylan Knighton, Miami Norland OT Isaiah Walker, and Miami Central DB Xavier Henry, and Miami commits Don Chaney Jr. and 2021 five-star DE Donnell Harris.

There were many, many more.